Manila Standard - 2018 June 10 - Sunday by Manila Standard

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VOL. XXXII • NO. 115 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

WPS PATROLS HALTED? NOT REALLY—AFP

By Maricel V. Cruz and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

PPOSITION lawmaker Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano on Saturday claimed the Duterte administration had ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to stop patrolling the disputed West Philippine Sea, a claim immediately impugned by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

“I received information that the Duterte administration ordered our Armed Forces not to patrol West Philippine Sea anymore,” Alejano said, citing what he called military sources. “Isn’t that an impeachable offsense already?” he asked during a weekend forum. Alejano, however, clarified he did not have hard evidence to support his claim but added he trusted his sources. “I’m confident with the information coming from my sources,” he said. But Lorenzana, sought for comment, underlined “there was no such order” but he stopped short of elaborating. The lawmaker also claimed the alleged order to stop patrols in the disputed waters had been in place since the latter part of 2017. In a related development: • The militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan on Saturday Turn to A2

PORTRAIT FOR POSTERITY.

Kevin Durant, #35 of the Golden State Warriors, poses for a portrait with the Larry O-Brien Championship trophy after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the 2018 NBA Finals on June 8 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. AFP

REPEAL OF TRAIN LAW PUSHED By Maricel V. Cruz A MILITANT lawmaker on Saturday appealed to the House leadership to prioritize the passage of a measure which repeals the ‘antipeople” provisions of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. Anakpawis Party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao said House leaders would be able to prove being the true representatives of the Filipino people if they acted on House Bill 7653 filed by the Makabayan Bloc. Casilao was one of the co-authors. HB 7653 proposes to strike out the new add-on taxes on prices on basic products, including oil and sweetened products. It also wants to restore the exemption of electricity sales and low-cost housing from Value Added Tax.

“Oil price hike which is the nth of this year had already jacked up the prices of fuel products to unprecedented heights. Since the implementation of the TRAIN Law, oil companies and the government are having a blast in increasing the prices,” he said. Casilao also assailed the continuing implementation of the Oil Deregulation Law. This, he said, has been the main weapon of oil companies in justifying price increases of their products. “Under the law, the government has no control on pricing, even regulating oil prices. Meaning, the public is held hostage of (sic) oil companies,” Casilao said. He said petroleum products were widely used for electricity and transportation as well as for producing and processing a wide array of goods and services. Turn to A2

DUTERTE-SERENO WORD WAR RAGES By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte described ousted Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno as an unrespectable lawyer filled with gimmickry to gain sympathy as word war between the two flared up anew. The President’s remark was in response to the former SC Chief Justice’s recent verbal attack on the chief executive that the firing of top government officials was “mere

gimmickry” and all for show. “ I don’t believe her. And I don’t respect her also (sic). Full of gimmick eh. She’s the one who makes gimmick, while we do our job,” the President said in his speech during the inauguration of Mactan-Cebu International Airport. The President erupted in anger after Sereno said the President was recycling his officials who were fired after being found to be engaged in graft and corruption and reappointed to other agencies. Sereno accused the President of having a hand in her ouster but Duterte has repeatedly denied this, yet Solicitor General Jose Calida initiated the quo warranto petition that led to her removal from the Supreme Court. Turn to A2

DEPED CAUTIONS PNP ON SPOT CHECK THE Department of Education is asking the Philippine National Police for a meeting regarding the latter’s plan to conduct surprise inspections of student lockers as part of its anti-drug campaign. In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Saturday, DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said Education Secretary Leonor Briones had expressed concern regarding the PNP plan. National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar on Wednesday proposed to implement random bag and locker inspections in schools to nip the country’s drug problem in the bud. “Briones wants to make sure we have coordination and protocols are in place,” Malaluan said. “If there are law enforcement operations or initiatives that would, example, target students, we would like that to be properly coordinated with the Department of Education due to considerations such as child protection policy and schools as zones of peace,” Malaluan said. Malaluan noted that for the school year opening last Monday, the DepEd and the PNP coordinated well, and he was confident this would continue for the drug prevention campaign. In a related development: • The military has intensified its support to law enforcement campaign against terrorism and illegal drugs, which both target young people, following the opening of academic year 2018. Turn to A2

YOUNG LIFE/ D1

WOMAN WHO DARED TO ASK

RODMAN BOUND FOR SUMMIT WA S H I N G TO N —Flamboyant former US basketball star Dennis Rodman has said he will fly to Singapore to support his “friends” Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un at their historic peace summit on Tuesday. Turn to A2

SLOVAKS MOURN SLAIN PINOY EXPAT

COLLECTIBLE BOBBLEHEADS. The owner of these caricature dolls, known only as Boy, poses with his wobblers of President Rodrigo Duterte and Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go—selling at P500 each, on display in Valenzuela City. Lino Santos twitter.com/ MlaStandard

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia—Thousands of Slovaks rallied in the capital Bratislava on Friday to pay tribute to a murdered Filipino expat, beaten to death by man believed to be a neo-Nazi. Henry Acorda, a 36-year-old Filipino living in Slovakia, was assaulted in the heart of the capital on May 26 by 28-year-old Juraj H., whose surname has been withheld pending trial. Five days later, Acorda died in hospital

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from injuries he sustained in the attack. Organizers told the local Dennik N daily that around 3,000 protesters, mostly in their twenties, turned out for the memorial rally that began with a violinist playing a mournful tune. Some carried banners reading “Justice for Henry” and “Nazi brain burn in hell.” Others laid flowers and lit candles at an improvised memorial where the attack occurred. Turn to A2

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DUTERTE...

From A1

Duterte said it was Sereno who started gimmickry, saying “You ask people who are in state of playing gimmicks with government.” “She thinks the Supreme Court is hers...” the President said in Tagalog. The President also defended his move to reappoint some of the officials he removed, saying it was part of a revamp and they were transferred to other offices where their expertise was needed. “She was claiming recycle? Who…? I place people to their appropriate capacity. Now it doesn’t mean that I transfer you from one another—it might be a revamp. But it does not mean to say you have some performance lapse,” the President said, replying to Sereno’s accusation of recycling fired officials. “You know Sereno is a lost cause. She had it coming, she asked for it. That’s what happened to her. She was playing gimmickry. Impressing people and this and that,” Duterte said of the former Chief Justice. “Now that she is out, she is full of adjectives and gimmickry. The Supreme Court magistrates have minds, they are lawyers like you, gimmick?” Duterte said. “I don’t believe her. And I don’t respect her.” the President said.

LAGUNA POLICE PRODDED TO SOLVE PRIEST'S SHOOTING

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

HE Diocese of San Pablo on Saturday condemned the shooting of former chief of chaplains priest Rey Urmenta this week, urging the government to bring to justice the triggerman or whoever was responsible for the crime. Although the priest survived the gun wounds, Urmenta’s fate was the third after the killing of Cagayan priest Mark Ventura in April under President Rodrigo Duterte. “The Diocese of San Pablo condemns the incident that involves the shooting of the priest,” Diocese of

CCTV footage made available to the media showed that Juraj H. hit Acorda, who then fell and became unconscious. The attacker continued to kick Acorda in the head and used a mobile phone to photograph him laying in the street. Prosecutors have charged Juraj H. with manslaughter and placed him in pre-trial detention. If found guilty, he could face up to 12 years in behind bars. Police have neither confirmed nor denied that the attack was racially motivated. Juraj H. said he “will be sorry for what happened for the rest of my life. But I don’t remember anything,” while being escorted from court on Monday. The Friday rally was organized on Facebook by four anti-fascist groups. “The information that we have about Juraj H. makes it clear that he is inclined to support the far right,” they wrote. “Let’s make sure this brutal murder does not go without consequences for him.” The organizers pointed to the fact that Juraj H. used his Facebook profile to post a white Ku Klux Klan robe captioned: “Ku Klux Klan outfit not bad.” He also posted a photo of a Russian vodka bottle captioned “white powe.” Several Slovak politicians have also condemned the attack, including leftist Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini. “These are very bad signals to our society. We must not have mercy on the murderer and justice must be served immediately,” he told the Dennik N daily. AFP

REPEAL...

From A1

Oil price hikes always have ripple effects on price increases in families’ basic needs. Citing figures culled by the consumer group SUKI, Casilao said what made things worse for consumers was that the final increase in oil prices was the TRAIN’s excise taxes of 12 percent on top of the 12 percent value-added tax. “Thus, consumers now suffer a double whammy—price increases now include TRAIN’s excise tax per product unit plus 12 percent of the excise,” Casilao said.

RODMAN...

From A1

His tweet came after the White House Thursday ruled out any role for the high-profile retired player in the hotlyanticipated talks with the North Korean leader, with whom Rodman has struck up an unlikely friendship. Rodman has made five trips to Pyongyang since Kim took power and once called him his “friend for life.” “Thanks to my loyal sponsors from @ potcoin and my team at @Prince_Mrketing, I will be flying to Singapore for the historical Summit,” the former Chicago Bulls forward tweeted late Friday. “I’ll give whatever support is needed to my friends, @realDonaldTrump and Marshall Kim Jong-un.” Cannabis cryptocurrency PotCoin also sponsored Rodman to visit North Korea in 2017. The message included a photo montage of Rodman standing between Kim and Trump, who is giving a thumbs-up. The US and North Korean flags appear in the background, and the trio stand above the word “UNITE” in large capital letters. AFP

“Fr. Rey Urmenta, though not incardinated to the Diocese of San Pablo, has contributed to the pastoral needs of our faithful by performing his priestly ministry in some parishes in Calamba, Laguna. After his retirement as chaplain in the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines, he opted to reside in Calamba,” Famadico said. Urmenta became the third victim of violent attacks against clerics in the span of six months. In April, Ventura of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao was shot dead shortly after celebrating Sunday Mass in Gattaran town in Cagayan. On Dec. 4, Fr. Marcelito Paez of the San Jose diocese was also shot and killed by still unidentified men in Jaen, Nueva Ecija.

3 RUSSIAN WARSHIPS ON GOODWILL VISIT

SLOVAKS...

From A1

San Pablo Laguna Bishop Buenaventura Famadico said in an interview over Church-owned Radyo Veritas. He also called on the government to immediately investigate the crime. “We call on the authorities to bring to justice those who did such

action. We continuously pray for the immediate recovery of Fr. Rey,” he added. Last Wednesday, a man fired shots at Urmenta’s car in Calamba City. Urmenta of the St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Calamba was rushed to a hospital for treatment of his wounds. A police report said the priest with his secretary were on their way to a meeting when the attack occurred at around 9:40 am. Urmenta, a former police chaplain, suffered wounds in his left upper back and left arm, but is now in a stable condition. Authorities said the suspect escaped on board a motorcycle driven by another man.

By Francisco Tuyay THREE Russian vessels, which arrived in the country last year, berthed anew at the Port of Manila for a fiveday goodwill visit, which came after last month’s bilateral talks between officials of Russian and the Philippines in Moscow aimed at strengthening security relations. Philippine Navy director for Public Affairs Capt. Lued Lincuna said the Russian’s Navy Large Anti-Submarine ships Admiral Tributs (564), Admiral Vinogradov (572) and Large Sea Tanker Pechenga anchored at Pier 15 at the South Harbor Thursday. The Russian Navy contingent led by Captain Oleg Korolev was warmly welcomed by Philippine Navy officials despite the heavy rains brought

WPS... From A1 condemned the China Coast Guard’s “unacceptable” harrassment of Filipino fishermen in the waters of Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal), urging the Department of Foreign Affairs to file a diplomatic protest. “Bayan condemns the recent harassment of Filipino fishermen by the Chinese Coast Guard at Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal. The actions of the Chinese Coast Guard are unacceptable,” it said in a statement. • In the Senate, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III on Saturday said the recent incident of Chinese Coast Guard taking Filipino fishermen’s catch from Panatag Shoal did not call for another international arbitration. Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio on Friday said Manila could bring another case against Beijing before the court that invalidated the latter’s excessive claims over the South China Sea, after Chinese Coast Guard was caught on video taking Filipino fishermen’s catch in Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal. Alejano said Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano filed only one diplomatic protest against China on the WPS dispute, belying the Foreign Affairs chief’s earlier claim the Duterte administration filed between 50 and 100 diplomatic protests in the last two years. “The reality is [Foreign Affairs

DEPED... From A1 This developed as 10 Abu Sayyaf bandits surrendered on Saturday to the 64th Infantry Battalion headquarters in TARBIDC Compound, Tumahubong, Simisip, Basilan, the Western Mindanao Command said. Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, WestMinCom chief, said the group led by Abu Sayyaf sub-commander Bobong Mastul was compelled to lay down firearms following severe losses in the military’s intensified campaign against lawlessness. At the frontline of the persuasive campaign is the 64th IB under Lt. Col.

by Tropical Storm ''Domeng.'' Lincuna said Russia’s AntiSubamarine Admiral Vinogradov was piloted by Captain Alexey Bolotnikov; Admiral Tributs is skippered by Arten Kolpaschikov while its Large Sea Tanker Pechenga is commanded by Sergey Litvinenko. Philippine Navy delegates led by Captain Domingo Noel C. Tilos, who represented the Flag Officer In Command, Philippine Navy (FOIC, PN), Vice Adm. Robert A. Empedrad accorded a warm welcome to the visitors upon their arrival with simple rites. Philippine Navy officials conducted a security briefing aboard Admiral Vinogradov. This is the first visit of the Russian Navy this year and its sixth since 2012.

Lincuna said the visit is not the first time the three Russian vessels had visited the country. Admiral Tributs visited last year in January, Admiral Vinogradov in October was Pechenga visited the country only last April. Russian navy officials laid a wreath at the Rizal monument upon arriving and made a courtesy call at the office of Flag-Officer-in-Command led by Vice Admiral Empedrad at the Navy headquarters. “A series of confidence building activities with their PN counterparts will be conducted such as reciprocal reception, goodwill games followed by a boodle fight and shipboard tour that is also open for civilians. A send-off ceremony with customary Passing Exercise [PASSEX] will cap off their visit,” Lincuna said.

“The visit aims to strengthen the relationship between the two navies. It will further enhance and sustain the promotion of peace, stability, and maritime cooperation of the two countries through naval diplomacy and camaraderie,” he added. Last month, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon held talks with his Russian counterpart Secretary Nikolay Patruchev of the Security Council of the Russian Federations in Russia to enhance security cooperation between the two countries. Philippine and Russian security officials also explored cooperation mechanisms on information exchange, capacity-building, training, and other matters that are mutually beneficial to both nations.

Secretary Cayetano] only filed one protest...in the form of a note verbale; and he was forced to do that because there was a demand within the administration on what the Foreign Affairs [department has been doing to address the issue involving China],” Alejano said on Saturday. Alejano alleged that Cayetano did the filing of the protest “in haste” and that it was sent to the residence of the Chinese ambassador on a weekend in May. Alejano also hit the seeming uncertainty of Cayetano as regards the number of protests the government had filed against China when the latter responded during a congressional hearing “maybe 50 to 100” protests. “The information coming to us is that only one diplomatic protest was filed by the government; and it was done in haste to prepare for the hearing in the House of Representatives,” Alejano said. He added Cayetano was justifying “the meaning of diplomatic protest that if you say something against the direction of China it’s already a protest.” Meanwhile, the DFA has kept mum on a video footage where Chinese coast guards were seen taking fishes from the Filipino fishermen in the Philippines’ maritime territory. In a comment sought for hours, DFA acting spokesman Elmer Cato said they would “respond to requests for statements, reactions, clarifications, etc,” as soon as they got necessary clearance that would

allow the Philippines to respond. “We will respond to requests for statements, reactions, clarifications, etc that are posted here as soon as we have the information and necessary clearance to allow us to respond,” Cato said. Sought again for reaction this Saturday, but the question fell on deaf DFA officials’ ears. The DFA has been quiet on any foreign-related issues, particularly on China’s continuous militarization in the disputed South China Sea. During the Congress hearing, Cayetano admitted there were incidents of Filipino fishermen being harassed by China in the fishing ground at Scarborough Shoal. However, instead of explaining the incident, Cayetano insisted the situation in Scarborough Shoal was better now than the tension during the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III and former DFA secretary Albert del Rosario. Several Filipino fishermen have alleged in television interviews that the Chinese Coast Guard had made a habit of taking their catch. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Friday dismissed the video footage, explaining he did not actually see any bullying by Chinese Coast Guards. “If established, it’s a ground for protest. I have asked GMA 7 to authenticate it, but the video that I saw was inconclusive. I didn’t actually see any bullying,” Roque said. “Anyway,” he added, “I asked the fishermen for their written statement.”

Maritime expert and University of the Philippines professor Jay Batongbacal rejected Roque’s comment, saying his belief that there was no bullying done by the Chinese men in the video footage was “impertinent.” Batongbacal said such action by the Chinese coast guard was not bullying but it was “robbery or piracy.” “Government statement that there is no bullying is impertinent. The fish caught are already the fishermen’s property, and it has been taken without their consent by armed men. That’s robbery or piracy, not bullying,” Batongbacal said. He added it was a dismay the government was too quick to defend the Chinese Coast Guard and doubt its own people. He also rejected the request of Roque for authentication. “The need for authentication and written statement is likewise impertinent given the video evidence and news report. It demonstrates government reluctance to act on the grievances of its own fishermen vs China despite the evidence before it,” Batongbacal said. He said that that China’s persistent action in the disputed sea demonstrated the Philippines’ ineffectiveness of the government’s actions. In a statement, Del Rosario, on the other hand, said the President’s recent admission that he was unaware that Filipino troops guarding Ayungin Shoal had been harassed by Chinese forces showed he needed “a fuller briefing from his people.”

Philip Fagel, which formed part of JointTask Force Basilan, Dela Vega added. Basilan Gov. Hajiman Salliman Hataman said Basileños were thankful for the military efforts in the surrender, which signalled assurances of more peaceful season of schools reopening. Hataman said locals had asserted that Bobong’s group had been enlightened by persistent community engagement by ulama (religious authorities) and other sectors on the teachings of Islam. “It was also said that they finally decided to re-embrace Islam and ask forgiveness for all their wrong-doings upon [learning of the challenges posed by] the Armed Forces and by President Rodrigo Duterte himself,” said Dela

Vega in a press statement. Hataman also said much of the grievance had been addressed by the social and infrastructure programs of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, under his brother, ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman. In a related development, elements of the 5th Special Forces Battalion here backed the ARMM field unit of the Philippines Drug Enforcement Agency in two operations that netted high-value targets that posed drugs menace in local schools. Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, 6th Infantry Division commanding officer, told Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia GuianiSayadi that the military would continue its law enforcement support operations

to the City Local Government Unit, and other government agencies to intensify the government’s campaign against terrorism and illegal drugs. Arrested in PDEA’s drugs watchlist Thursday were Alton Sansawi Racman, 27, and Nasrolah Sambolawan Salipada, 33. They were caught selling illegal drugs for P65,000 in marked money to an agent at a business establishment in Barangay Rosary Heights 10 in Cotabato City. Seized from the suspects were two pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, weighing 25 grams and 50 grams, with a total street value of P510,000. Nash B. Maulana

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DANISH ENVOY CITES PH-DENMARK VIBRANT RELATIONS

LTFRB UPHOLDS GRAB’S RIGHT TO SET OWN FARE STANDARD THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board upheld the validity of the Department of Transportation order in 2015 allowing transport network companies like Grab and Uber to set their own fares. “There is no doubt that we were authorized to set our fares because even LTFRB in February 2016 said in an order that the DO was “valid, legal and subsisting until nullified by court,” said Miguel Aguila, Grab legal counsel. That means, Aguila said, that all the fares Grab charges are legal, including the P2 per minute fare component that LTFRB suspended in April upon the instance of Rep. Jericho Nograles. Grab had filed a petition for the P2 to be restored but it was immediately opposed by Nograles. The suspension caused losses for the drivers since they get 80 percent of the

P2 as income. The remaining 20 percent is spent by Grab largely as incentives for the drivers and the riders, he said. “In effect, it was the drivers Nograles hurt. And since many drivers decided not to drive anymore because of low income or even losses, the riders are also affected since they have to wait for a long time to get a ride, or not get one at all, or pay more since fare surges come about when there is a lack of vehicles,” he said. Aguila said Grab hopes the LTFRB restores the P2 so that the drivers will go back to serving the public and address in part the acute lack of vehicles. Grab gets about 600,000 daily bookings but has only about 35,000 vehicles. This number is much less actually since only a few thousands are on the road at any given time of the day, Aguila said.

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

EAGLE’S WEEK. A three-year-old sea eagle named Hero is shown by DENRBMB Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez and MOP’s executive vice president/chief operating officer Francis Low, during the 20th Philippine Eagle Week Celebrations at the Manila Ocean Park on Saturday, June 9, 2018. Norman Cruz

PALAWAN AIRPORT ORDERED CLOSED AFTER PLANE MISHAP By Joel E. Zurbano

Pacific Air’s sister airline CebGo and six flights of Skyjet to and from Manila on Friday and Saturday. HE Civil Aviation Initial reports from CAAP showed Authority of the that the Magnum Air Skyjet Inc. flight Philippines has or- M8-717 that left the Ninoy Aquino Airport Terminal 4 dered the tempo- International overshot the runway after landing rary closure of Francisco the Francisco Reyes Airport around Reyes Airport in Palawan 4:40 pm Friday. CAAP chief information officer after a Skyjet plane with and spokesperson Eric Apolonio said 80 passengers and six the passengers and crew on board were all safe and were transferred to crew on board overshot the airport terminal upon landing. the runway late Friday He added the agency also issued afternoon. notice to airmen (Notam CO423/18) The closure also resulted in the announcing that all flights to and cancellation of eight flights of Cebu from Busuanga have been cancelled

on Saturday. “The aircraft was stalled 150 meters at the end of Runway 08 and had to be removed while awaiting the arrival of the equipment that will tow the aircraft to a remote parking bay,” said Apolonio. Apolonio added that the CAAP has sent Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry board investigators led by Col. Aberto Dulay and Reineer Baculinao to conduct an investigation and determine the cause of the accident. The Francisco Reyes Airport handles at least 16 domestic flights daily from carriers, CebGo, Philippine Airlines Express, Skyjet

and Air Juan. Formerly known as Busuanga Airport, the facility is an airport serving the general area of Coron, located on Busuanga Island in the province of Palawan. On Nov. 10, 2008, the airport has been named after Francisco B. Reyes, the mayor of Coron from 1936 to 1939 who donated the land that forms the current airport complex. Meanwhile, the Manila Internatonal Airport Authority also announced the cancellation of Skyjet flights (Manila-Basco-Manila) and CebGo flights (Manila-San JoseManila) because of the bad weather condition brought by Tropical Storm “Domeng” on Saturday.

BILL ON TOURISM STAMPS TO PROMOTE PH PUSHED By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives has recommended for Senate action a measure mandating the Philippine Postal Corp. to print postage stamps depicting the country’s tourist attractions and destinations. The Lower House approved on final reading House Bill 7510, or the proposed “Philippine Tourism Stamps Act,” authored by Parañaque City Rep. Eric Olivarez. Under HB 7510, the PHLPost shall be mandated to coordinate with the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotion Board “to identify, illustrate and label” the tourist attractions and destinations to be depicted in the postage stamps. Meanwhile, the DoT and the TPB shall assist the PHLPost in the preparation of posters and other promotional materials to be displayed in strategic places in the Philippines and in foreign countries, in support of the promotional drive to elicit interest in the Philippines as a major and worldclass tourism destination. Olivarez, a member of the majority bloc, said that to further accelerate the tourism promotion efforts using the campaign slogan “It’s more fun in the Philippines,” there is a need to make known the existence of the famous tourist destinations in the country and whet foreigners’ appetite about the extraordinary beauty of these Philippine tourist spots. “This we can do by means of postage stamps affixed on outgoing mail especially to foreign destinations. These postage stamps will depict the tourist areas in the country and advertise the beautiful spots to these foreign potential tourists without extra cost for the government,” said Olivarez.

SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

THE Philippines continues to attract attention from Danish companies, Denmark ambassador to Manila Jan Top Christensen said on Saturday. Citing a vibrant diplomatic relationship since it reopened its embassy in Manila four years ago, Christensen said that there are already rich potential for greater economic engagement between the two countries. “The Philippines continues to attract attention from Danish companies. They are certainly interested in doing business in the Philippines,” the envoy said during the celebration of Denmark’s Constitutional Day in Taguig this week. The envoy said that from 2013 to 2017, Denmark’s export of goods to the Philippines rose by 82 percent, which it said is a good indication of a vibrant economic relationship between the two countries. The increase in trade is due to the preferential trade status, or GSP+, granted by the EU, where Philippine manufacturers are given preferential opportunity to sell more products tariff-free to the European market including Denmark. In 2017, the Danish embassy reported that more than 25 percent of Philippines goods went to the EU market. “European companies are playing an important role in the Philippine economy,” Christensen said. He added that due to the recent ease of Doing Business Act, which was approved by the Congress in March, more Danish companies are looking into the possibility of doing business in the Philippines. “With the recent ease of Doing Business Act, the Philippine market will become even more interesting for foreign companies,” he said. The approved “The Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018” will relax rules that will govern the conduct of business transactions in the country. The measure seeks to amend Republic Act 9485, otherwise known as the “Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007.” The consolidated bill covers business-related transactions (and other transactions specified by the Act) on all government offices and agencies including local government units, government-owned or controlled corporations and other government instrumentalities, whether located in the Philippines or abroad.

HOUSE OKS BILL ON NUTRITION RESEARCH

RUNWAY EXCURSION. A Skyjet (B461) plane sits at the end of Busuanga runway 08 after experiencing ‘runway excursion’ upon touchdown on Friday. All 80 passengers and six crew members are safe, while extraction of the aircraft is still in progress. Eric Apolonio

NTC AGENTS NAB USERS OF ILLEGAL UHF, VHF RADIOS AGENTS of the National Telecommunications Commission have joined the campaign against colorum and out of line vehicles going after drivers and operators of Asian Utility Vehicles using high frequency handheld radios to avoid apprehension. The Interagency Council for Traffic sought the NTC’s help following reports that operators and drivers of UV Express are illegally using ultrahigh frequency (UHF) and very high frequency (VHF) handheld radios in their operations. On June 6, the authorities apprehended a number of drivers and confiscated 18 pieces of unlicensed UHF and VHF handheld radio and mobile phones in an operation conducted in Ortigas and in Quezon City. I-ACT chief Thomas Orbos said the crackdown against illegal handheld radio telephones is meant to target particularly colorum vehicles which use those radios to avoid apprehension. “Some drivers avoid being caught by our law enforcers by using their

handheld radios to alert fellow drivers of ongoing I-ACT operations,” he said. Republic Act 3846 stated that anyone who uses radio telephone will have to undergo Restricted Land Mobile Radio Telephone Operations Seminar before the NTC can issue permit or license to possess. The NTC also issues permit to purchase and can either approve or deny requests depending on the purpose of applicant. It will also recommend brands that are approved by the Commission. “Anyone who wants to buy or operate a handheld radio must secure permits from the NTC, first. No permits or license would warrant apprehension and confiscation of units,” NTC Deputy Commissioner Delilah Deles said. Orbos said that the campaign versus unregistered and non-NTC approved handheld radios will continue as the NTC will now be officially part of I-ACT. “We are determined not only to

minimize, but to put a stop to the problems, which if left unattended will further cause more headaches to the general public and the authorities,” Orbos said. The I-ACT reported that since July 2016 until April this year, a total of 2,470 (41.4 percent) colorum PUVs were apprehended through the intensified drive and the recently established Task Force Kamao. “We owe it to the public and their increased awareness of the perils these colorum vehicles might bring to them. Through their cooperation and participation coursed through our complaint channels, we were able to identify areas with prevalent colorum activities and easily apprehend them,” said Orbos. I-ACT is composed of personnel from the Metro Manila Development Authority, Land Transportation Office, Police-Highway Patrol Group and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board. Joel E. Zurbano

THE House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill for the establishment of a research program that shall serve as a government partner in providing proper nutrition for the poor. House Bill 7512, principally authored by Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, seeks to establish the Barangay Integrated Development Approach for Nutrition Improvement program that would tap all state universities and colleges, as well as community colleges to assist the national government in improving the nutrition and general well-being of the poor. By providing proper nutrition to the poor, the authors of the bill hope the measure would also improve and also make them more productive and increase their chances of getting a job. BIDANI is also intended to serve as a comprehensive model for countryside development programs, which makes nutrition as an entry point, an ultimate goal and objective, and an indicator and a measure of development. It is a strategy to combat malnutrition, insufficiency of food, social deprivation and poverty alleviation. Among others, the measure creating BIDANI requires all SUCs and community colleges to help in achieving the “nutrition-in-development” objectives of the National Nutrition Council. Likewise, BIDANI would promote the best nutrition practices of successful local government units through the participation of local nutrition management teams and involvement of other stakeholders such as government organizations, non-government organizations, as well as the private sector. To facilitate the local implementation of the BIDANI program, innovative strategies like the formulation of a Barangay Integrated Development Plan and Participative Nutrition Enhancement Approach, among others, shall be used.

SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2018

Sports

Reira U Mallari, Editor sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A SPORTS MEMORABILIA COLLECTOR’S HAVEN Kevin Durant

From the jersey Kobe Bryant wore when he scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 22, 2006, to a ball signed by NBA great Wilt Chamberlain, sports memorabilia are as rare as that scoring mark by the Laker legend.

AVING a hard time looking for authentic sports memorabilia in the Philippines? Look no further. Just take a look at Hall of Fame Authentics, a one-stop shop of authenticated signed sports memorabilia. The brainchild of a triumvirate of basketball diehards and avid collectors Elvis Gutierrez, Ron Uy and Stephen Songco, HOFA is a dream come true for those fans who could only pine for signed memorabilia from their sports idols—whether it’s that jersey commemorating a championship game, a signed photo, or anything else that captures a pivotal moment in sports history. HOFA offers authenticated signed sports memorabilia that are 100% guaranteed to be signed by athletes, at prices close or equivalent to international SRP. For collectors, this means getting their prized finds without having to deal with the headaches of dealing with logistics and customs, not to mention the heartache of discovering that their prized purchase is a fake. HOFA’s founders are no strangers to the nightmares that sports memorabilia collectors in the Philippines deal with. In 2009, Ron bought what he thought was an authentic Kobe Bryant-signed Spalding basketball for $100 from eBay. He forked over an additional $100 for shipping and taxes. He still recalls how heartbroken he was when he found out that the ball was a fake. In retrospect,

he realized that since he was new to collecting and didn’t have access to sound information and advice, he had no clue that he was not dealing with legit sellers. Tep also had a similar experience when he bought a fake Air Jordan 11 Concord Retro 2011 but, unlike Ron, he was thankfully able to return the item and get a refund. Since then, through a series of hits and misses, the three have learned the inner workings of the authenticated signed sports memorabilia trade —valuable knowledge that they would now like to share with fellow collectors in the Philippines through HOFA. As an official distributor of authenticated signed sports memorabilia, HOFA gives Philippine-based collectors access to major companies in the sports memorabilia trade—Upper Deck and Steiner Sports. HOFA will focus on providing items that are signed by sports greats, which command greater value. Those who place orders through HOFA can get their authenticated signed sports memorabilia in as short as two weeks. It helps that HOFA’s founders understand the passion that drives sports memorabilia collectors, and would like to help them enjoy their shared interests. “Signed sports memorabilia are like pieces of art in a sense that they are meant to be enjoyed, both aesthetically and by reliving history as well. Whenever you look at your piece, you can’t help but think back to the day when your favorite athlete did something incredible that gave you so much inspiration in your life. That feeling for me is priceless. And if that’s your mindset from the get go then you’re a winner every time,” says Ron. “To own something that was signed personally by your idol

is almost as close as it gets to meeting that person.” Collectors would go to seemingly great lengths to acquire the items they want. Tep recalls that he once sold his extra car so that he could buy a game used Air Jordan 11 “Breds” from the Game 3 finals of the Bulls against the Sonics. “I thought what would be the value of the car after 10 years? Nothing, right? So I sold the car to have the money, but even if I was the winning bidder for the item, it still wasn’t awarded to me,” he said, recalling his frustration. Beyond being a mere hobby, collecting authenticated sports memorabilia can also be a form of investment. “Be a fan first, and an investor second,” says Ron. “Timing plays a big factor. Case in point, in 2012 I was able to purchase a signed game used pair of Nike Kobe 7s which Kobe wore against the Boston Celtics for $5,000 retail. Fast forward to Kobe’s retirement and a pair of signed game used shoes was going for $18,000 retail.” Besides basketball memorabilia, HOFA also carries a range of authenticated golf, baseball, boxing, football, soccer and hockey memorabilia. HOFA can also assist buyers in acquiring hard-to-find items. Payment can be done through credit card or Paypal, and layaway plans may be arranged. Through its service, HOFA wants to provide knowledge on collecting signed sports memorabilia to Filipino collectors and sports enthusiasts, educating them and helping them to become savvy collectors. HOFA will be their “best friend, financial adviser, and best influence”—an ally that would make collecting sports memorabilia truly fun, satisfying, and rewarding. For more information visit Hall of Fame Authentics’ website at www.hofa.ph.

PASSION FOR HOOPS REMAINS CONSTANT By Reuel Vidal MAC Cuan has had a successful basketball career as any. His journey in the sport has found him become a varsity player with the De La Salle University, a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association and a coach with Alab Pilipinas in the Asean Basketball League and now with Mandaluyong El Tigre in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. Throughout his journey the one constant is the love for the game of basketball. “Playing the game is much different from coaching. When you play

you focus on yourself. In coaching you get joy when you see other players get better. You are more a guide to 15 players in a team. But ang constant is the passion, the love for the game,” said coach Cuan. The El Tigre mentor says his coaching philosophy is to pay full attention on the work at hand. He doesn’t like to look too far ahead. He’d rather concentrate on what he can do, day to day. “I don’t focus on long term goals. I always look at what can be done immediately. You take care of today then the future takes care of itself. Take care of today then the following day you get better.

Then the following day you again get better. If you do that every day then the results will come,” said coach Cuan. With a powerhouse lineup there are high expectations for the Mandaluyong El Tigre team. There may be pressure to succeed and win. Coach Cuan choses to set those concerns aside and just think of ways to improve his team every single day. “Winning a championship that’s outside and too far ahead. We have our own expectations on this team. We take it day by day. We just focus working the hardest to become better every day,” said coach Cuan.

Coach Mac Cuan

MANDALUYONG EL TIGRE TO PROWL AT MPBL THE Mandaluyong El Tigre will be among the favorite teams when the community-based Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) launches its Datu Cup on June 12 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. El Tigre battles inaugural season runners-up Muntinlupa Cagers. Expansion teams Marikina and General Santos City will clash in the other opening-day match. Ray Parks, two-time Asean Basketball League Most Valuable Player with Alab Pilipinas and easily the most celebrated Filipino basketball player not in the Philippine Basketball Association, makes his much awaited debut for the El Tigre.

Mandaluyong City Government, led by Mayor Menchie Abalos (center), formally presents to the public the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) El Tigre Basketball team. The MPBL is a regional men’s professional basketball league in the Philippines. Manny Palmero

The team will be led by coach Mac Cuan who says he wants to build a team of hard workers in Mandaluyong. “I want to build that character. I want players with persistence. No matter how hard the situation they should push through. I want a team that works as hard as it could. Hard work always beats talent. I believe that and that’s why I want players who share that mindset,” said coach Cuan. Parks will be joined by Alab teammate JR Alabanza, former La Salle standouts Thomas Torres and Prince Rivero as well as veterans Mac Andaya and Jeff Javillonar making

the El Tigre easily one of the most formidable teams in the MPBL. Also with the team are multiawarded actor and celebrity athlete Xian Lim and former PBA player and Bagani actor Mark Andaya. “What I like about this team is that everybody is willing to learn. Everybody listens. Masarap sila tulungan. They come to practice every day and give their all. They could be successful in any league. Hindi lang sila nakakuha ng break,” said coach Cuan. El Tigre will rely on much more than its star players. They will have a veteran mentor in Cuan and an effective system to work with.

WARRIORS SWEEP CAVS FOR 6TH TITLE CLE VELAND —The Golden State Warriors captured their third NBA title in four seasons Friday, routing the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-85 to complete a sweep in the best-of-seven NBA Finals. Stephen Curry scored 37 points and Kevin Durant added 20 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists as the Warriors inflicted the first 4-0 NBA Finals blanking since the Cavaliers were swept by San Antonio in 2007. Golden State claimed the sixth crown in club history, matching the Chicago Bulls for third on the all-time list. The Warriors also won in 1947 and 1956 when based in Philadelphia plus 1975, 2015 and 2017 after their move to the San Francisco Bay area in 1962. Cavaliers star LeBron James, playing in his eighth consecutive finals, scored 23 points, grabbed seven rebounds and passed off eight assists but fell to 3-6 in the championship series for his career, having twice won with Miami and triumphed again with Cleveland in 2016. James might have played his final game for the Cavaliers. He can opt out of his contract and become a free agent next month. James revealed Friday he played the last three games with a broken right hand. “I let my emotions get the best of me and played the last three games basically with a broken hand,” James said, displaying his soft cast. James had become upset in the final seconds of regulation time in the 124-114 opening defeat in California, w h e n a fo u l c a l l wa s re versed to allow Golden State to equalize and J.R. Smith grabbed a late rebound with the score level but dribbled away from the basket, thinking the Cavaliers led. I mages of a frustrated James talking to Smith became an internet sensation. ESPN reported James hit a blackboard in the locker room after that game and underwent two MRI exams that showed the fracture, a fact he kept hidden so the Warriors would not know. “Obviously, I don’t have a boxing hand,” James said. AFP

SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2018

Opinion

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

FROM WHERE I STAND ERIC JURADO

MEN ARE VISUAL PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte once said that he had ogled Vice President Leni Robredo’s legs during a Cabinet meeting. The disclosure led Mrs. Robredo to decry the comment as “inappropriate” and “tasteless.” Duterte defended himself, saying he should not be faulted for staring at her legs, and blamed the media for making the incident an issue. “It’s appropriate. As a matter of fact, it is good.” “So what’s the problem there? Why make an issue? Sexist? There goes the media again,” he continued. He said he mentioned how he used to ogle Mrs. Robredo’s legs “to make people laugh…” He said: “What’s so special about the body of a woman? … Do not exact standard for me. I will do what I say and I say what I do. Those jokes like that are nothing.” Mrs. Robredo said: “Tasteless remarks and inappropriate advances against women should have no place in our society. We should expect that most of all from our leaders.” Why are men so easily turned on sexually by a woman’s legs, but not vice versa? In fact, every year, men spend billions to look at women with little clothing on—such as FHM and the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue—or with no clothing on—such as on Internet sites and in so-called men’s magazines. Women, on the other hand, spend virtually nothing to see unclothed men. Why? Some say that the reason is that men are socialized into viewing women as sex objects and that women are socialized into not viewing men as sex objects. But if that’s true, how do these people explain gay men? They are as aroused by pictures of naked men as heterosexual men are aroused by pictures of naked women. Obviously, then, it’s not socialization. It’s that men are programmed by nature—not by society—to respond sexually to the visual. This is an area in which men are so different than women it’s probably impossible—no, not probably, just outright impossible—for a woman to truly understand. Of course, women find some men attractive. And, of course, a woman can have an intense reaction to seeing a very appealing man. But there’s still no comparison. The visual alone arouses men. It takes far more to arouse a woman than seeing naked men. If that’s all it took, most husbands would walk around the house naked whenever possible—or at least every time they wanted sex. And the average heterosexual man is excited countless times a day simply by seeing women—in person, on billboards, in magazines, on television, and even in his imagination. This is not the case for women. Yes, there are some male strip shows for women. But few women ever go, and the few who do, attend them in groups, a “girls’ night out.” And for every one of those shows there are probably thousands of female strip shows for males, most of whom attend alone, not as a participant in a guys’ night out. Let’s be honest. There is no magazine featuring men’s legs for women to look at and get aroused by. But there are websites and magazines of women’s legs for men. And are women paying to view topless men? Men pay good money to look at topless women. Again, that doesn’t mean women never get turned on by merely looking at some men. Of course they do. But it’s

HYPOTHETICAL T HE immediate past administration of President Benigno Aquino III is remembered for many things, and among those that stand out is its callousness.

This was a President who was made notorious by his words “Buhay pa naman kayo, diba?” which he uttered to a hapless survivor of Typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013 who had raised the issue of looting in his store. That statement exposed Mr. Aquino’s inability to put himself in the shoes of others, and made his poverty-alleviation initiatives appear less genuine and more mechanical. Unfortunately, we have the National Economic and Development Authority to remind us that no single administration has the monopoly on indifference. Last week, the Neda released a stupefying breakdown of how a family of five can allocate an income of P10,000 a month. The “hypothetical situation” presented by Neda showed the “consumer basket of an average Filipino family” which consisted of: • P3,834 for food and non-alcoholic beverages, • P158 for alcoholic beverages, • P293 for clothing and footwear, • P2,204 for housing-water-electricity-gas and others, • P295 for furnishing and maintenance,

• P389 for health, • P806 for transport, • P293 for communication, • P141 for recreation and culture, • P328 for education, and • P1,259 for restaurants and miscellaneous goods and services. After the computation caused an uproar among the people—and occasioned numerous memes online—the agency was compelled to issue a clarification that the P10,000 budget it had mentioned was merely hypothetical. Neda Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon insisted they merely wanted to show how P10,000 will be affected by a 4.6 percent inflation rate. The agency also did not say that P10,000 was enough. That explanation sounds hollow and does little to tens of millions of Filipinos reeling from the daily struggle of making ends meet. It also does not reflect the hardships of those who do not even get their wages paid adequately and on time. That a breakdown for how a five-member family could break down P10,000 to survive was even provided in the first place is an insult to those who try to do it every month—and fail. We are certain the Duterte administration does not wish to be remembered as one that told its citizens to stop whining and to make do with so little. It would instead want to show us that its compassion and commiseration are not hypothetical at all.

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HINDIPENDENCE DAY RALLY, KOMISYON NG WIKANG FILIPINO CALL FOR PAPERS

VARIOUS human rights, faith-based, and sectoral groups have organized a mobilization for June 12 dubbed “HINDIpendence Day: Ipaglaban ang Inang Bayan,” a march/rally to mark Araw ng Kalayaan. All are welcome to join. Among the marchers will be the supporters of the #BabaeAko movement, which actively

posts on social media about women’s rights and other feminist issues. Artworks by National Artist Ben Cabrera adorn the digital posters for the event, which are tagged “#Babae Ako, LumaLOVEan.” In addition to human rights, women’s rights, and gender issues, other issues carried by the

HINDIpendence Day march are, in a tweet by veteran journalist Inday Espina Varona: territorial integrity, judicial independence, the TRAIN law, extra-judicial killings, labor contractualization, charter change, corruption, misogyny, historical revisionism, and other important matters that have great impact on

Filipino lives today. #BabaeAko supporters are to gather by 3:00 pm at Luneta Km. 0, Roxas Blvd., by the carabao statue (right across the street from the Rizal Monument). The march to Liwasang Bonifacio starts at 3:30 pm for the HINDIpendence Day rally which will last from 4:00 to 7:00 pm.

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BANNED WEAPONS STOKE VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA

KANO, Nigeria—A flood of illegal small arms has swamped Nigeria, bringing with it a surge of violence that has left hundreds dead. Boko Haram Islamists, whose insurgency has killed at least 20,000 in the northeast since 2009, have long been reputed to have received weapons smuggled from North Africa. But a recent influx of small arms is also fueling violence in other arenas, including clashes between cattle herders and farmers in central states. It is also adding to the plague of kidnapping and cattle-rustling by gangs in the north of the country, and of armed robbery and attacks on oil installations in the south. “Without the firearms... we would not have the kind of violence of the magnitude we have today,” Interior Minister Abdurrahman Dambazau said in January. In April, Kano state police commissioner Rabiu Yusuf said the solution to illegal weapons was clear: “We need to put them out of circulation.” Doing that is a tall order, however. The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament (UNREC) has said more than 350 million small arms and light weapons are circulating in Nigeria—nearly two for every member of its population. AFP

TRANSGENDER US VETERANS HONOR THEIR OWN ARLINGTON—President Donald Trump has made clear his opposition to transgender Americans serving in the military, but that didn’t deter transgender veterans from laying a wreath on hallowed ground: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Trump’s July 2017 tweet that people who have undergone gender transition should not serve “in any capacity” in the US armed forces raised alarm throughout a movement that had been counting gains in recent years. “We, as transgender people, bled like anyone else,” Yvonne Cook-Riley, a US Air Force veteran, and a spearhead of the transgender rights movement, told AFP after the Friday ceremony, as she walked a tree-lined path through rows of white headstones in Arlington National Cemetery. The Vietnam war veteran was among a dozen members or friends of the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) who witnessed the somber ceremony at the marble sarcophagus on a hill overlooking Washington. For years Cook-Riley, who began her transition after returning from Vietnam, advanced the cause of transgender rights. AFP

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World

SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2018 B2 Standard TODAY Manila

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor / Jimbo Gulle, Issue Editor

TRUMP IN AND OUT OF TESTY G7 SUMMIT L

A MALBAIE, Canada— Donald Trump and America’s closest allies will bid to paper over the cracks Saturday after a fractious G7 summit, before the US president sets off on a mission to make peace with a traditional enemy.

WIND BLOWN. French First Lady Brigitte Macron (left) catches the wind full in her hair as she and French President Emmanuel Macron arrive at Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport on Thursday in Montreal, Canada ahead of the G7 summit. AFP

CHINA HOSTS RUSSIA, IRAN FOR 2-DAY MEET QINGDAO, China—Chinese President Xi Jinping will open late Saturday a two-day regional security summit attended by Russia, Iran and other allies confronting rising tensions with the US over trade and Washington’s withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal. Armored vans lined the streets of the coastal city of Qingdao as world leaders arrived Friday for the 18th annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a regional security bloc led by China and Russia. Its member states also include four ex-Soviet Central Asian republics, Pakistan, and India. Iran is an observer member. Authorities emptied an entire oceanside swathe of the city -- clearing out shopkeepers, residents, and day-trippers to make way for Xi, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani.

Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also attend the meeting. The leaders will be addressed by Xi this evening at an opening banquet from 7.45pm (1145 GMT), according to the official schedule, before taking in a fireworks display. The SCO meeting comes after President Donald Trump controversially pulled Washington out of the 2015 international pact with Iran that placed limits on its nuclear programme in return for easing economic sanctions. Though not officially on the agenda, analysts say that one key topic of discussion this year may focus on whether Iran will be allowed to ascend from its position as an SCO observer to become a full member state -- a development it has sought since 2008 but has been unable to achieve while subject to UN sanctions. AFP

The last of the leaders to arrive in Canada for the two-day summit, Trump is also expected to be the first one out on Saturday morning as he heads towards Singapore for his meeting on Tuesday with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump is likely to be thankful for a good excuse to leave a gathering where he has found himself in a minority of one — pitted against peers angered at being slapped with tariffs that could trigger a wider trade war. While officials are trying to find a formula for a traditional end of summit communique that everyone can sign up to, any statement will do little to mask the sense of divide between the Group of 7’s most powerful member and the rest of the group. Even before he flew out of Washington on Friday to hook up with the rest of the group, Trump managed to put the cat among the pigeons by saying it was time that Russia be brought back into the fold. The idea was swiftly shot down. With his wife Melania staying at home, Trump cut a lonely figure on arrival at the golf resort in rural Quebec, as he posed with his host Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie and other first couples. He was then confronted with a litany of complaints over his decision to impose tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum, when the leaders held roundtable talks chaired by Trudeau. A member of French President Emmanuel Macron’s team characterized the talks as “frank and robust,” with Trump first repeating his lengthy diatribe about what he regards as unfair trade restrictions — before the Europeans responded with their own gripes. Sources in two European delegations said Merkel was working on a proposal for a mechanism which would allow them to reopen a dialogue with the US on trade through a de facto working group that would develop mutually agreed statistics. AFP

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health CENTRAL OFFICE BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE InvItatIon to BId for Procurement of cartrIdge-Based nucleIc acId amPlIfIcatIon test reagents IB no. 2018-269 1.

The Department of Health (DOH), through the General Appropriations Act of 2018intends to apply the sum of Four Hundred Thirty Seven Million Five Hundred Eighty One Thousand One Hundred Ninety Two Philippine Pesos (PhP437,581,192.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of Cartridge-Based Nucleic AcidAmplification Test Reagents under IB No. 2018-269. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The DOH now invites bids for the procurement of the above-captioned package. Delivery of the Goods is required within period specified under Section VI. Schedule of Requirements. Bidders should have completed, within the past five (5) years:

At least two (2) similar contracts for local and/or international contracts and the aggregate contract amounts should be equivalent to at least twenty five (25%) of the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC); and

The largest of these similar contracts must be equivalent to at least half of the twenty five percent (25%) of the (ABC) as required above.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the COBAC Secretariat, G/F, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given above during 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 11 June 2018 to 03 July 2018from the address above and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Fifty Thousand Philippine Pesos (PhP50,000.00). It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The DOH will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 19 June 2018, 10:00 A.M. at the COBAC Conference Room, Ground Floor, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, Sta. Cruz, Manila, which shall beopen to prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the COBAC-D Secretariat at the address below on or before 03July 2018, 9:00 A.M. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bid opening shall be on 03 July 2018, 9:00 A.M. at the COBAC Conference Room, Ground Floor, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, Sta. Cruz, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The DOH reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: COBAC-D Secretariat Department of Health San Lazaro Compound Sta. Cruz, Manila Tel. Nos. 651-7800 local 1625 to 1627; 1650 to 52 Facsimile No.: 741-9775; 740-6830

(MS-JUNE 10, 2018)

(SGD) HERMINIGILDO V. VALLE, MD, MPA Undersecretary of Health COBAC-D Chairperson

‘FUEGO’ FATALITY. Partial view of a victim of the Fuego Volcano in San Miguel Los Lotes, a village in Escuintla Department, about 35 km southwest of Guatemala City, taken on Monday, a day after the eruption. At least 25 people were killed, according to the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred), when Guatemala’s Fuego volcano erupted Sunday, belching ash and rock and forcing the airport to close. AFP

NEW MASS SITE OF CHILD SACRIFICES FOUND IN PERU LIMA, Peru—A group of archaeologists has discovered the remains of more than 50 children who were ritually sacrificed by the preColumbian Chimu culture on the northern coast of what is now Peru. The site is located a close to another where evidence of the biggest-ever sacrifice of children was found, with more than 140 youngsters were slain. But the most recent discovery may be even bigger. “So far we have found the remains of 56 children who were sacrificed by the Chimu culture,” archaeologist Gabriel Prieto told AFP.

“At this new site, we can easily double the number of remains we found in Huanchaquito,” he said, referring to the nearby location where over 140 dead were found. The new sacrifice site was discovered in the Pamapa La Cruz area in Huanchaco, a coastal district of Trujillo, Peru’s third-largest city. In Huanchaquito, the remains of over 140 children and 200 llamas slain some 550 years ago were discovered, National Geographic reported in late April. Prieto said that the remains of the children, who were aged between six and 14,

were found in early May wrapped in cotton shrouds facing the sea, a kilometer (less than a mile) north of Huanchaquito. “The interesting thing is that they were sacrificed with a cut in the sternum and display opened ribs like in Huanchaquito,” which reinforces the idea that “Huanchaco was a place where massive sacrifices of children were made during the Chimu culture,” he said. Those excavations date back to 2011, when the remains of 42 children and 76 llamas were discovered in a 3,500-year-old temple, according to the report. AFP CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

FOR FARM ANIMALS. Senator Cynthia A. Villar tells graduates of the Native Animal Production training at the Villar SIPAG Farm School, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan to grab every opportunity they can get in the industry. Lino Santos

Bureau of Corrections Director General Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa gamely poses for a selfie with the corrections officers during his visit to the Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog, Leyte. Ronald O. Reyes

‘BATO’ WARNS JAIL GUARDS By Ronald O. Reyes

BUYOG, Leyte—Bureau of Corrections Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa warned all BuCor employees not to engage in illegal drug activities under his watch, or else they will face immediate dismissal from service. “Everybody should be with me. And nobody should not be with me, otherwise we’re going to have a problem,” Dela Rosa said Friday during the donning and pinning of ranks of 131 corrections, corrections technical, and non-uniformed officers in their promotional ceremony at Leyte Regional Prison here. Also attending the event were Leyte Schools Division Superintendent Ronelo Al Firmo, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Edgar Tenasas, Abuyog Mayor Lemuel Gin Traya, Army Captain Bard Caesar Mazo, and Leyte PNP provincial director Norberto Tuazon, among other government officials. In his speech, the tough-talking former Philippine National Police chief reiterated that President Rodrigo Duterte appointed him to the prisons bureau “to

stop the proliferation of all drug activities inside the facilities of BuCor and to uplift the dignity of the agency.” “We want to correct the impression that BuCor is not good,” added Dela Rosa, while urging all the correctional officers to be with him in cleaning the agency of its bad reputation. “This is now the time that we’ll deliver what is expected of us. This is the right time that we’ll show that the Bureau of Corrections is not an ordinary agency,” Dela Rosa told the promoted and reappointed correctional officers. The director general also acknowledged the enactment of the Republic Act 10575 or the Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013. Signed into law by then-President Benigno Aquino III, the law calls for the state to “provide for the modernization, professionalization and restructuring of the Bureau of Corrections by upgrading its facilities, increasing the number of its personnel, upgrading the level of qualifications of their personnel, and standardizing their base pay, retirement and other benefits, making it at par with that of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.” “What do this wearing of new ranks and the new set of uniforms signify? It means the significance of RA 10575, that we’ll be professionals,” Dela Rosa said. However, he warned the jail officers that

along with the rising of the agency’s level of professionalism is also the increase of expectations from the public to them. According to the BuCor director, the agency is mired in deep controversies because of the wrongdoings of others. “But now we’ll be leveling up our status to that of PNP and BJMP because of the modernization. Let’s work together and move forward,” he said. Meanwhile, Leyte regional jail superintendent Geraldo Aro also called on the promoted officers to do their best in the service. “May this be a constant reminder to us that the promotion we deserve entails sacrifices and competence in the service,” he said. Corrections Senior Inspector Virgilio Rosauro, the most senior corrections officer at LRP, also expressed gratitude to Dela Rosa for his long-awaited promotion and increase in his salary. According to Rosauro, who rose from the ranks of prison guard I in 1978, he had a starting salary of P370 before he earned his promotions. Meanwhile, Dela Rosa thanked the different government agencies who gave support to their various rehabilitation programs inside the Abuyog penal colony, particularly the Department of Education in Leyte Division for launching its first senior high school program to the selected inmates. He said they really need such kind of help.

‘KEEP POLS OUT OF GRADUATION RITES’ By Rio N. Araja

sion office of Quezon City] can consider this to maintain order and fairness in 2019 QUEZON City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte graduation ceremonies,” she said. “I have suggested this to our divihas asked the Department of Education to discourage schools from inviting poli- sion superintendent several times [that] those who are running for public office ticians to any graduation rites. To avoid turning graduation rites into are not allowed to speak to avoid polipolitical events, public school officials ticking. They can only attend and be must not invite or allow candidates recognized,” Belmonte stressed. According to the vice mayor, DepEd to speak in any commencement or moving-up ceremonies, especially in regional directors who joined her in the the months or weeks leading to the May weeklong learning and partnership visit 2019 mid-term elections, Belmonte said. on education governance, sponsored by With the upcoming election season, the Australian Agency for International those running for public office would Development, raised the issue with her. Last April, Education Secretary Leonor naturally compete for a chance to appear and speak in public events, such as schools’ Briones reminded school officials to avoid making the graduation and movinggraduation ceremonies, she added. “Perhaps our local division [schools divi- up ceremonies as a political forum.

FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT. Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista

(center) leads the inspection of the new reinforced concrete revetment wall built by the city government to protect low-lying areas in Barangay Apolonio Samson and Roxas District from flooding due to the swelling of the San Francisco River. With Bautista are barangay chairman Elizabeth de Jesus and engineer Rolando Mamaid, officer in charge of the vertical division of the City Engineering Department. Manny Palmero

SMART DATA POWERS ‘SARBAY’ FEST

FUN AND GAMES. Cavite Rep. Strike Revilla plays with daughter Chayeli (inset) as he helps formally introduce the Bacoor Strikers team of the City of Bacoor, which will compete in the Maharlika Philippines Basketball League. Lino Santos

TALK about Philippine beaches, and world-famous Boracay quickly comes to mind. But it’s a province in Mindanao that holds the distinction of hosting what the Department of Tourism bills as the country’s “biggest beach party,” the Sarangani Bay Festival. Held in the third week of May, SarBay Fest draws local and foreign tourists to outdoor events such as boat racing, skimboarding, beach soccer and volleyball, sand sculpting, all-night concert, and partying. While boosting tourism, the festival also brings a bonanza to local entrepreneurs. Fisherman Rene Boy Sajulga, from the quiet barangay of Gumasa in Glan town, says he and his wife make brisk business on the shore, selling food and water. Of late, another commodity in big demand is prepaid load. “Usually, our load wallet gets drained on the first day alone, the kids are very fast when it comes to buy-

ing load,” Sajulga’s wife says. Cellular and data communication are an integral part of the SarBay experience, she adds, and this means extra income for the family. PLDT wireless arm Smart Communications Inc. has been supporting the Sarangani Bay Festival since it began 12 years ago. Every year, Smart boosts the cellular and data connectivity in Gumasa to help improve the mobile and Internet experience of SarBay Fest revelers. The area further leveled up this year when Smart rolled out Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) technology, boosting the download speeds in Gumasa to as high as 40 Mbps. Festival-goers were able to stay connected with their families and share their SarBay Fest experience on social media while on the beach. “Data signal this year is stronger,” confirms Devine Alberca, a student, and SarBay Fest regular. “My friends and I were able to post live videos and stories on social media easily.”

BDO FIXES SURIGAO HEALTH CENTER NOW that the rehabilitation of their offices, consultation rooms and facilities has been completed, the health workers of San Juan District Reproductive Health Center and Birthing Facility in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte are even more motivated to serve their constituents. The health center is the second health facility in Surigao del Norte rehabilitated by BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank. Weeks earlier, the foundation also completed the renovation of San Francisco Rural Health Unit in the neighboring town of San Francisco. In San Juan, BDO Foundation’s initiative helps improve the delivery of primary health services to 14 barangays, some of which are island barangays. “We are so grateful that our health center was chosen by BDO Foundation as its beneficiary,” said assistant city health officer Dr. Charito Arriba as she accepted their new and improved rural health unit. “This will inspire us to work harder. In fact, we are all excited to get back to work.” The rehabilitated health center was turned over to local officials by BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito, BDO Foundation program director Rose Espinosa, BDO Surigao branch head Domilyn Villareal and officers of One Network Bank, the rural bank subsidiary of BDO. BDO and ONB branches support the foundation’s corporate citizenship initiatives nationwide. BDO Foundation improved the health center’s reception and waiting areas, doctor’s and nurses’ offices, consultation room, multi-purpose room, dental office, and laboratory. Its birthing facilities were also refurbished so good quality patient care is available to mothers and their babies. The health center averages around two births per day.

‘KUSINA NG KALINGA’ IN BULACAN FOLLOWING the success of the Taysan Kusina, Republic Cement is expanding the “Kusina ng Kalinga” program to Norzagaray, Bulacan. Committed to building a “Stronger Republic” through stronger children, Republic aims to provide free nutritious meals to 1,500 schoolchildren with the opening of the Bulacan Kusina. “Last year, we were testing the waters to see whether this program would address hunger and malnutrition. We are happy to work with Gawad Kalinga once again because we continue to see how our vision is aligned and how we can work together towards our shared aspirations for a hunger-free Philippines,” said Republic Cement Services Inc. president Nabil Francis. The Bulacan Kusina will be mounted in Timoteo Policarpio Elementary School. This is where parents and volunteers can help prepare daily meals for the schoolchildren. The program will initially feed approximately 1,500 schoolchildren from Timoteo Policarpio Elementary School, Banahaw Elementary School, Bigte Elementary School, and Apugan Elementary School. The program also benefits local farmers from Bulacan, who are tapped to produce and supply fresh vegetables for the Kusina, giving them a chance to help and earn extra income. These farmers now join Gawad Kalinga, the Department of Education, and Republic Cement in the fight against hunger.

SUNDAY, JUNE10, 2018

Opinion

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EIGHT MONTHS ON, #METOO CONQUERING THE US By Catherine Triomphe NEW YORK—A “Miss America” pageant without swimsuits, tougher sexual harassment laws, more women running for office: Eight months after the downfall of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, the #MeToo movement reverberates across America. At first, #MeToo, a social media movement against sexual misconduct, made its mark through accusations against high-profile men accused of sexual abuse in a range of sectors from entertainment to media and politics. Many were forced out of their positions, and #MeToo’s influence spread around the world. In January, the birth of the Time’s Up movement marked a new stage. Victims of abuse moved to action, taking to court their alleged harassers and broadening the fight to malefemale discrimination such as salary gaps in the workplace. Since then, hardly a day passes without the #MeToo spirit dominating news in the United States. The momentum has touched the powerful National Football League, which is being sued by cheerleaders

from three teams over their treatment. Gretchen Carlson, chairwoman of Miss America’s board of trustees, said the pageant is dropping its swimsuit and evening gown competition and will no longer judge contestants on their physical appearance. The pageant was a type of “institutionalized misogyny,” said Timothy Patrick McCarthy of the Harvard Kennedy School Carr Center for Human Rights Policy. #MeToo “is extending and having an influence on a whole range of conversations and practices,” he said. It grew after nearly 100 women said they were harassed or sexually abused by Weinstein over more than two decades. He has pleaded not guilty in New York to two charges, rape and sexual assault. Former president Bill Clinton found himself drawn into the #MeToo conversation this week, which overshadowed his tour to promote a thriller novel he co-wrote with best-selling author James Patterson. Clinton was repeatedly asked whether, in light of #MeToo and the abuses of male power it exposed, he should have resigned over his relationship more than two decades ago

with an intern, Monica Lewinsky. The scandal led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives but he was later acquitted by the Senate and stayed in office. Even the death of Philip Roth in May unleashed on social media an avalanche of commentary about the supposed misogyny of the giant of American literature. #MeToo and Time’s Up have also scored points in the political arena. About a dozen US states have reexamined their laws on sexual harassment. Some have forbidden, or plan to outlaw, employers from imposing staff confidentiality clauses which prevent them from filing public complaints. Two senators, one Democratic and the other Republican, on Tuesday presented a federal bill along similar lines. Feminists hope the #MeToo spirit will soon allow adoption of an amendment to the US Constitution that would enshrine equal rights for men and women. ‘We are going to win’ Approval by only one more state will meet the constitutional requirement for the Equal Rights Amendment to take effect. It has been envisaged since the 1920s but has not yet

received ratification by the 38 states necessary for it to come into force. “I think we are going to win, we are going to have that in the next couple of years,” Toni Van Pelt, president of the National Organization for Women, told AFP. She sees continued force in the #MeToo movement. “I don’t think it is going to play out. I don’t think this is going to stop,” especially with a record number of women running in November’s mid-term congressional elections. This female momentum is largely a Democratic phenomenon, illustrating the country’s political polarization but also the origins of #MeToo, McCarthy said. Nearly a year before Weinstein’s fall, the electoral defeat of Hillary Clinton “was one catalyst” of the movement, he said. The Democrat Clinton, Bill Clinton’s wife, was the first major-party female candidate for president. She lost to Donald Trump despite video which emerged in which he boasted that his fame allowed him to grab women’s genitals and get away with it. Even though Clinton lost, a “women’s march” held the day after Trump’s inauguration in January 2017 attracted millions of participants around the country. Van Pelt says the increased number of women running for public office this year is “going to make a huge difference in state and legislative bodies,” as the more women who are in a room, the more that men are aware of their views. McCarthy is more reserved, and sees a long-term struggle. “It has gotten a jolt in this particular historical moment,” he said, “but it’s going to take a while for that impulse to become the cultural norm, to become law, to become politically institutionalized.” AFP

MEN... From B1 only some men—on rare occasion a stranger, and more usually a celebrity. Men get turned on by any sight of female flesh on almost any female. The effect of the visual in men is so powerful that it even amazes men. During a high school reunion, a male friend came over to our group after hearing us discuss male and female sexuality and said: “I’ve got a story to tell you guys. I was in front of a department store and in the window was a seated mannequin. I couldn’t believe it, but I found myself looking up her skirt.” Here was a perfectly normal, responsible man—who found himself looking up a skirt on an inanimate object shaped like a woman. That’s how instinctive it is for men to look at female flesh. It’s perfectly understandable that women cannot fully relate to this. But if a woman wants to understand male sexuality, the first thing she has to understand is the power of the visual. That’s why you see ads on billboards, on TV, and in magazines for every sort of product a man might buy accompanied by a scantily clad woman—or, sometimes, just a part of her. I recall a famous liquor ad that showed a woman’s legs and a bottle of liquor. No face, just beautiful legs. Would you ever see an ad showing men’s legs? People would laugh; it would be considered absurd. An ad with women’s legs is not absurd—it’s alluring. None of this is in any way meant to excuse inappropriate male behavior. Men must always control themselves. But to deny the power of the visual on men is like denying that the earth is round. eric.jurado@gmail.com

HINDIPENDENCE... From B1

There will be free t-shirt printing— just bring a plain white or purple t-shirt. Pre-printed shirts will also be on sale. Those who wish to make their own t-shirts may do so in any color. There will be facepainting at 2:30 pm as well. Marchers can come in costume. Organizations may carry one streamer or banner for marching, and one flag per group to be carried alongside the formation and the march itself. Speaking of #BabaeAko, veteran women’s rights advocate and fellow Manila Standard columnist Beth Angsioco recently called for an art exhibit of #BabaeAko-related art. According to Varona, one is already in the works. They need volunteers who are experienced in event organizing; please get on Twitter and follow @ bethangsioco and @indayevarona. *** Why must women and their allies march? It is to draw attention to pressing societal concerns that need to be addressed. Wrongs must be righted, repressive policies lifted, and and oppressive mindsets corrected. Good has no color, it is neither “yellow” nor “red.” As beings with consciousness and conscience, we should be able to tell right from wrong. We should be able to separate politics from virtue and morals. Ultimately, being on the side of good is always on the right side of history. To be silent in the face of abuse and corruption is to be complicit. At least be on record as having stood in opposition to the darkness, and in doing so spread the light into all the shadowy corners until evil cowers and flees. *** The Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino invites researchers to submit papers for its Gawad KWF sa Sanaysay competition, which offers a cash prize of P30,000 to the winner. The contest is open to all. The second placer will receive P20,000, the third placer P15,000. The papers should tackle concepts or findings of research in the fields of environment science (aghampangkalikasan), social sciences (agham panlipunan), mathematics, and the like. Entries must be original and unpublished works written in Filipino. Works translated from another language will not be accepted. The length of the manuscript should be between 15 to 30 pages, font 12, double-spaced, on short bond paper. Only pen names must be written on the MS. To submit: send four hard copies and a soft copy on CD to Gawad KWF sa Sanaysay 2018, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, 2/F Watson Bldg., 1610 JP Laurel St., San Miguel, Manila 1005. Entries must be accompanied by two 2x2 photos, a short bionote, and an official entry form available for download at the KWF website. For more details, visit kwf.gov.ph or call (02)736-2519. As research works, the essays must conform to the guidelines in the KWF Manwal ng Masinop na Pagsulat. Download a copy for free at http://kwf. gov.ph/libreng-download/. The deadline for submission of papers is July 6, 2018, at 5:00 pm. Dr. Ortuoste is a writer and communication consultant. FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

HOPE AND INDIFFERENCE IN THE SHADOWS OF KOREAN DMZ

By Sunghee Hwang

YEONCHEON, South Korea—The way to rice farmer Choi Ki-joong’s paddy fields goes through a military checkpoint where soldiers stand guard against nuclear-armed North Korea only a few kilometers away, a legacy of the war that stopped in 1953. Declaring a formal end to the Korean War, when hostilities ceased with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, will be on the agenda when US President Donald Trump and the North’s leader Kim Jong-un meet next week in Singapore for their unprecedented summit. Although residents living along the Demilitarized Zone dividing the Korean Peninsula have grown indifferent to the

propaganda broadcasts and gunfire that punctuate their daily existence, they still hope the diplomatic drive will lead to peace. Choi lives in the northernmost border village of Samgotri in Yeoncheon county, alongside the DMZ. The 75-year-old is only allowed to access his fields during daylight hours, and at times of high tensions cannot do so at all. “We just put up with it and live our daily lives,” he said. “We can live like this, in peace with no war, or if both sides want it we can hold hands and live together as Koreans and go back and forth.” Yeoncheon county saw heavy fighting during the war, including the ‘Battle of Pork Chop Hill’ which killed thousands of US and Chinese troops.

US Vice President Mike Pence’s father was among the Americans who took part and received a Bronze Star for his service—which now sits on Pence’s desk in his White House office. The rural farming area, only 60 kilometers away from the capital Seoul, brims with the legacy of a war that never technically ended. A group of soldiers patrolled Samgotri’s empty roads on a weekday afternoon, where a fading wooden sign read: “If you want true peace, be ready for war.” In recent years, the residents have been forced to evacuate twice after the North fired gunshots and artillery rounds to protest the South’s propaganda activities along the border. The holes made by North Korean

bullets in 2014 are on display in front of the district office as a glaring reminder, with a quote: “The war has not ended. We are still in a truce.” ‘Used to gunshots’ But the villagers’ sense of fear has diminished. “I actually feel safer” with Seoul’s armed forces nearby, said Lee Kyung-ae, who runs a cold noodle restaurant in Myungpari, at the eastern end of the DMZ. The recent peace-making efforts on the peninsula could bring travellers back to her village, Lee said, and to her restaurant, named after the North Korean capital. A formal declaration to end the conflict could gradually reduce the number of troops stationed along the Korean

border. For Heo Beom-koo, who has sold backpacks, face paint and other military goods to soldiers in Yanggu county for around 40 years, that would mean a major setback in business. “That’s my problem,” Heo said. “As a South Korean... I think an improvement in relations between the US and North Korea is necessary.” If things go really well, the 63-year-old imagines he could even relocate his store to the North, “since the military is vital for defending the Korean Peninsula.” But if conflict erupts again he has a different vision for his future. “If a war breaks out, I will take all these goods to the military and fight the war with the army.” AFP

SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2018

Business

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

XEROX UNIT NAMES CEO FOR PH AND MALAYSIA

OSEPH Agustin ‘Jaeger’ Tanco, the 37-year-old president and chief executive of PhilhealthCare Inc., a leading health maintenance organization, is using digital technology to redefine customer experience in the healthcare sector. PhilCare, which has over 300,000 members, 30,000 accredited physicians and 1,400 accredited hospitals and clinics, is the pioneer in prepaid health cards in the country. It is also the first to introduce mobile apps with artificial intelligence capability that allow members to consult with doctors using smartphones, skip the long lines in waiting for medical care, produce electronic vouchers, find the nearest clinics, generate letters of authority or obtain an electronic medical prescription.

PhilCare president and CEO Jaeger Tanco

MOBILE APPS CHANGE PH HEALTHCARE SECTOR Tanco, a son of STI Group founder Eusebio Tanco, employs a team of developers in PhilCare led by vice president for information technology James Indino Jr. “We would like to share some of the innovations we have done in our company and how we could better serve the Filipinos,” says Tanco, who has a Bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurial Management from the University of Asia and the Pacific and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Ateneo de Manila University. “There is a growing population that starts to move towards technological features. We are coming up with different ways through technology to give better service. We value our clients a lot. The way to show that we value them is by giving them a better service than what they would expect,” he says in a news briefing at Azuthai Restaurant in Makati City. About 70 percent of PhilCare’s members belong to the millennial generation, as the company is one of the biggest healthcare providers to the business process outsourcing sector. The company has around 1,000 corporate clients. Tanco says PhilCare aims to reach out to more clients including uninsured families through social media. Of PhilCare’s existing 9,000 prepaid members, about 7,000 enrolled through the company’s website. A subscriber of ER Vantage prepaid package pays a one-time fee of P1,200 for P40,000 coverage in case of emergency or hospitalization. Tanco cited a 2018 report by We Are Social which claimed that Filipinos had the highest social media usage in the world (three hours and 57 minutes) despite having an internet penetration rate of only 67 percent. The study also found out that 59 percent of Filipinos were using their mobile phones for social media, games and searching for products or information. Tanco, however, says only 4 percent of Filipinos had healthcare coverage which were mostly provided by employers. He says that with the help of social media, PhilCare aims to increase healthcare awareness to the other 96 percent of the population. “Health insurance is very important. There is a lack of government support for healthcare. I know a few people, who after being hit by a

CONDUENT Inc., the world’s largest provider of diversified business services and a unit of Xerox, named Rishi Pradhan as chief executive for its operations in the Philippines and Malaysia. Rishi has been serving as interim leader for these countries since November 2017 and prior to that was finance, accounting and procurement service delivery leader for the Philippines, responsible for all the FA&P services delivered to the company’s clients from the Philippines. “Rishi has extensive experience in account management, transition and solutions positions in the business services industry,” said Pr a t a p S a r k e r, g r o u p c h i e f executive for financial services and healthcare of Conduent. “As CEO for Conduent’s operations in the Philippines and Malaysia, Rishi will execute the company’s growth strategy for each country, and work to ensure excellent service to clients.”

Conduent Inc. CEO for Philippines and Malaysia Rishi Pradhan From left: PhilCare vice president for IT James Indino Jr., assistant vice president for customer experience Sonia Nono and senior vice president for sales and marketing Christian Cristobal

certain illness, ran into debt. This is why heath insurance is important,” says Tanco. Christian Cristobal, the senior vice president for sales and marketing of PhilCare, says the company aims to change traditional experience of HMO subscribers in falling in line and waiting for an hour or two for letter of authority approval. “Those are the things that we want to eliminate through technology,” says Cristobal. Tanco says PhilCare introduces different ways to help clients have easier access to hospitals and clinics. “We really want to give the clients the service that they deserve,” he says. Indino’s team developed apps such as PCare EASy (PhilCare Electronic Approval System) for a faster and more convenient way for LOA issuance; PhilCare Snap, or Near Field Communication enabled membership which is designed to make hospital transactions faster, more efficient and paperless; and Hey Phil, a mobile app that uses artificial intelligence to help members find doctors, clinics and hospitals. Indino says an exciting innovation that PhilCare will soon introduce is Digimed, or digital medical experience, as a feature of Hey Phil. “It can do online consultation. Think of

Uber for doctors. Unlike others that launched a telemed app where doctors are confined to a call center setting, ours is truly mobile. This means that the doctors can answer patients’ calls at his or her mobile phones at the convenience of his or her house. It is borderless. We can even get doctors from abroad. There are some foreign doctors who want to partner with us,” says Indino. Digimed now has 20 doctors on board, a number that is expected to reach 200 soon, according to Indino. Hey Phil app has been downloaded 52,000 times and now has 10,000 active monthly users. Indino expects the number of active Hey Phil users to double this year. “We’re confident that the rest of the HMO industry will take our cue and work towards improving our industry as a whole. Technology has been the focus of PhilCare for the past five years and we have more in store to keep our trajectory moving forward,” Indino says. Tanco says technology offers a growth opportunity to the healthcare sector. “Healthcare has to make sense to Filipinos for them to purchase it and we need to provide them with sensible healthcare from acquisition, to benefits and up to actual utilization,” he says. Roderick T. dela Cruz

Conduent is a business process services company headquartered in New Jersey that was formed in 2017 out of Xerox. Conduent ’s operations in the Philippines include 8,500 employees, based in Metro Manila and Cebu City, and in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 700 employees, that are engaged in a range of activities including finance and accounting services, HR services, transaction processing, healthcare and customer experience services. “Conduent has a significant presence in both the Philippines and Malaysia which are key service delivery locations for the company in the Asia Pacific region,” said Pradhan. “Our employees, that we will continue to grow in both countries, are our most valued resource and key to delivering excellent customer service. We will continue to enhance the employee experience as we grow.” Pradhan will continue to be based in Manila and report to Sarker, the group CEO. Prior to Conduent, Rishi held various management positions at IBM Philippines in the company’s finance and accounting group.

HOW A YOUNG AETA’S DREAM TO FINISH COLLEGE CAME TRUE DANILO and Marissa Salonga are a picture of pride as they witness their daughter Riza graduate from Sta. Catalina College. Where they are from – being members of a tribal community in the Kinaragan Mountains in Limay, Bataan – receiving proper education much less graduating from college is uncommon. In fact, Riza, 20, is only the second one from their family and the third Aeta from Kinaragan to ever earn a college diploma. Riza finished with a degree in Elementary Education major in Religious Education, following in the footsteps of her sister who studied to become a nurse. Turning a little sentimental, she looks back on how her father, a former tribal

chieftain and currently the IP mandatory representative in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Bataan, influenced her to finish school and to never give up. “There were times when I just wanted to come home to Limay. My father was always there to encourage me,” she recalls. She also used her father’s own hardships as an inspiration to chart her own path. “Whenever I thought about returning home, my father would insist that I finish school because he does not want us to experience the hardships he went through. His words made an impact on me,” she says. Right around the time when Riza’s father left his post as tribal chieftain, an unexpected blessing came their way in

the form of a scholarship program from Petron Corp. called Fuel Hope or Helping Overcome Poverty thru Education. “I was in my second year in college when I became a Petron scholar, which I am proud of. It’s not just financial assistance that they provide. They also encouraged me to be unwavering in my studies,” she says, while expressing gratitude for the opportunity. Through the Petron scholarship, Riza’s parents were eased off the pressure of having to pay for her tuition. Her journey was far from easy but with the much-needed support, she managed to persevere and make her parents proud. Armed with a new hope and a new story to tell, Riza is now ready to pay

back and inspire others especially whose families cannot support their education. “Through the scholarship program of Petron, I am now in a position to influence the youth in my community to also pursue college education. I want them to know that there is hope because there are those who are willing to help,” she says. Upon graduating from college in April, Riza returned to her hometown in Kinaragan. This coming school year, she begins her work as a Christian Living teacher at the San Sebastian School in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. The former Petron scholar is now ready to spread the same hope that she was once fortunate enough to receive.

Riza Salonga

Business

SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2018 business@manilastandard.net

BANK ASKS OFWS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF STRONG DOLLAR THE Bank of the Philippine Islands is encouraging overseas Filipinos to maximize their dollar earnings by taking advantage of the high peso-dollar rate. “O n e s e c t o r t h a t g re a t l y benefits from the strong dollar is the overseas Filipinos,” says Ritche Fariñas, head of BPI retail banking group’s overseas Filipino segment. “The higher conversion means their beneficiaries will have more money to spend. These workers abroad may not get any salary increase, but because of the exchange rate, whatever they send back home is bigger,” Fariñas says. The strong dollar performance is due to higher interest rates in the US, with the exchange rate hitting a monthly average of 52.2 pesos to a dollar in May. Contracting remittances also contributed to the weakening of the peso. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, remittances went down 9.8 percent in March, the lowest in 15 years. Fariñas, however, says he is optimistic that remittances will pick up by the end of the year, and that peak cycles in remittances may have shifted because of the change in schools’ academic calendars. “An overseas worker usually gets his salary and remits it to his family, where it gets converted to peso immediately. The OF can play the forex market by waiting when the exchange rate is high before remitting and converting to peso,” he says. Another way to make the most of the peso-dollar rate is to open separate accounts for the remitter and their beneficiaries, and accounts in two currencies, one for peso and one denominated in foreign currency used to pay their salaries. “This in itself is a form of portfolio diversification, where a client is not purely just in peso but has forex exposure as well,” says Fariñas. He says banks like BPI offer clients access to their online foreign exchange, or FX services so they can convert US dollars into pesos in real-time. Preferred clients, for example, get better rates for their forex conversion. There is also access to virtual relationship managers, or RMs, who serve as their point of contact for assistance and advice when opening an account, making a transaction or creating an investment portfolio. These RMs can be reached through email, Skype or Viber. “Not all overseas Filipinos may know about bank services that can help them manage and invest their money well. With the strong dollar, they may as well get to know how banks’ FX services can help them make wise financial decisions,” says Fariñas.

FILIPINO AMONG WORLD’S TOP 100 OPHTHALMOLOGISTS

HE Ophthalmologist, a UK-based publication, named Asian Eye Institute glaucoma and cornea and refractive surgery specialist Dr. Robert Edward Ang as one of the world’s most influential eye doctors in the eye care industry. He is the only Filipino doctor in the list.

Asian Eye Institute glaucoma and cornea and refractive surgery specialist Dr. Robert Edward Ang

Through its Power List, The Ophthalmologist recognizes the leaders, pioneers and gamechangers in the field of ophthalmology. Every year, it asks its readers to nominate individuals or organizations that they believe have made the biggest impact in the world of ophthalmology. Apart from ophthalmologists or eye surgeons, the list also includes scientists, engineers and CEOs. As the director of Asian Eye’s Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service, Ang is a renowned Lasik (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) surgeon who specializes in treating patients with nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia. He has also worked on cutting-edge research on new technologies that improve diagnosis and treatment of different eye conditions. By working with the biggest pharmaceutical and medical device companies in the cataract, refractive and glaucoma spaces, he has contributed to developing innovative surgical techniques for Lasik and cataract surgeries and applying new glaucoma treatment options. As a result, he has been invited to conduct numerous lectures and authored several book chapters and international publications. He and his research team have been recognized by prestigious international organizations, including American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology and Asia-Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. He is a five-time winner of Best Paper Session Awards at the ASCRS. He also received the APACRS Certified Educator that recognized his experience in using Supracor technology that allows patients with presbyopia (difficulty reading at close distances) to reduce or eliminate the need for reading glasses. In 2017, he bested other American and Asian doctors and was recognized as the TopGun Best Overall Instructor for his expertise and contributions in the field of ophthalmology. Ang recently won runner-up honors at the 36th ASCRS Film Festival in Washington D.C. for his video on exchangeable intra-ocular lenses. IOLs are artificial lenses that replace the natural lens with cataract. They usually come in one piece and have two parts – the optic (the lens with grade) and the haptic (the side struts that hold the lens in place inside the eye). His video showed his ongoing study on a 2-piece IOL, wherein the optic can be exchanged with a new one. This is beneficial for people who have undergone cataract surgery and might need to have their IOL replaced in the future. It was Ang’s first time joining the festival. The Film Festival showcases the best ophthalmological videos and serves as a venue for eye specialists worldwide to share their knowledge and experiences about newly-developed technologies and surgical techniques. “I’m extremely honored to be included in the Power List and be among innovators and game-changers. This motivates me as a researcher to continue working on new technologies and methods that can help more people improve their vision and enjoy happy and productive lives,” Ang says. “With the help of my fellows and my research team, we look forward to continuing to provide patients with the best quality care across our expanding clinic network. Filipinos deserve the best and the work we do is our way of thanking them for trusting Asian Eye Institute with their eye care needs,” he says.

FISH VENDOR WINS P1-M PRIZE FROM PILIPINAS SHELL FOR 56-YEAR old fish vendor Ruchineec Bulalong, her life’s journey is all about working hard for the family. Taking over the family business when she was just 15 years old after her father died, Bulalong, of Sigaboy, Gov. Generoso, Davao Oriental, did not have it easy. Through hard work and determination, she was able to successfully manage the fish vending business that her father left behind, allowing her to take care of all the needs of her mother and send four of her eight siblings to school. “My other siblings did not want to study and went into farming instead. The rest help me in the market,” Bulalong said. Her daily grind is no easy feat. She wakes up at 3 a.m., heads off to Tibanban to get the fish that she will be selling, then to the Shell gas station at Lapu-Lapu to fuel up their two service vehicles and then proceeds to deliver these to fish sellers at the public market

in Tagum, Davao del Norte. Her work day ends at 5 p.m. “Every single day since I was 15 years old, that was my daily routine,“ Bulalong said. Eventually, Bulalong was able to buy two farm lands in Tagum, Davao del Norte. One fine afternoon on April 13, Bulalong’s daily routine had a happy twist. She was informed that she was the lone winner of a P1-million cash prize, tax-free, from Pilipinas Shell as their way of thanking their loyal customers. “I did not believe it immediately when they called me up but when I went to the Lapu-Lapu Shell station in Tagum City, I saw my name posted as the winner and that’s the only time that I believed I won and I was very happy,” Bulalong said. Bulalong revealed that Shell has been practically a “partner” in their business because they’ve been fueling up exclusively at Shell for the last 45 years. “Even when my father was still

From left: Brandon Briones, fuels marketing implementor of Pilipinas Shell; Mark Genesis Bulalong, nephew of winner; Ruchineec Bulalong, Shell’s Choose Your Own Adventure winner; Mary Joy Calugas, daughter of winner; Llex Denia, district manager Mindanao; and Jerome David, territory manager (Pilipinas Shell).

alive, we were already fueling up at Shell because he said it’s good for the vehicle’s engine. So even now that he’s gone, we continue to have our delivery vehicles gassed up at Shell Lapu-Lapu station,” Bulalong said.

Bulalong recalled that since January, she has been given raffle coupons at the Shell gas station and despite the other exciting prizes to choose from, she has already set her eyes on winning the P1 million.

“I was determined to win the one million because I know that it could help us a lot in our business and in my future plans,” she said. With her winnings, Bulalong plans to buy a coconut farm land. World-class destinations Aside from the cash prize, a number of world-class adventures were up for grabs in Shell’s Choose Your Own Adventure raffle draw. By simply gassing up with P1,000 worth of Shell Fuels from January 15 to March 15, nine other lucky customers won trips to either Disneyland USA, the South African Safari or the London F1 Grand Prix. “The adventure of a lifetime starts with a single choice, having your tanks filled with Shell quality fuels, the truly world-class fuel preferred by millions in over 60 countries globally,”said Anthony Lawrence Yam, Pilipinas Shell vice president for retail. He said this offer was only one of many exciting offers from Shell year-round.

Tech & Gadgets

CYBERSECURITY A MUST FOR PH ORGANIZATIONS By Lou Marquez-Hernandez

STUDY commissioned by Microsoft revealed that huge cybersecurity breaches can result in economic losses to organizations in the Philippines. The Frost & Sullivan study titled “Understanding the Cybersecurity Threat Landscape in Asia Pacific: Securing the Modern Enterprise in a Digital World” reported that the potential economic loss in the Philippines due to cybersecurity incidents can hit a staggering US$3.5 billion, which is 1.1 percent of the country’s total GDP of US$305 billion. The study also found out that a large-sized organization in the Philippines may suffer an economic loss of US$7.5 million and that cybersecurity attacks have led to job losses in seven out of ten (72 percent) organizations over the last year. Half of the organizations surveyed in the Philippines have either experienced a cybersecurity incident (18 percent) or are not sure due to the lack of proper forensics or data breach assessment (34 percent). Some 1,300 business and IT decision makers ranging from mid to large-sized organizations participated in the said study which aims to provide business and IT decision makers with insights on the economic cost of cybersecurity breaches in the region and identify the gaps in organizations’ cybersecurity strategies. “With traditional IT boundaries disappearing, the adversaries now have many new targets to attack. Companies face the risk of significant financial loss, damage to customer satisfaction and market reputation —as has been made all too clear by recent high-profile breaches,” said Hans Bayaborda, Managing Director, Microsoft Philippines during the study launch recently at the Grand Hyatt in Bonifacio Global City. Frost & Sullivan calculated the cost of cybercrime based on an economic loss model that included macro-eco-

Security experts discuss the economic impact of cybersecurity in the PH during Microsoft’s study launch. They are (from left) Hans Bayaborda, Managing Director, Microsoft Philippines; Mary Jo Schrade, Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit, Microsoft Asia; Angel “Lito” S. Averia, Jr., President, Philippine Computer Emergency Response Team; Atty. Raul Cortez, Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs Lead, Microsoft Philippines.

nomic data and insights shared by the survey respondents. Three kinds of losses which could be incurred due to a cybersecurity breach are direct (financial losses like loss of productivity, fines, remediation cost), indirect (opportunity cost to the organization such as customer churn due to reputation loss), and induced (impact of cyber breach to the broader ecosystem and economy, such as the decrease in consumer and enterprise spending). “Although the direct losses from cybersecurity breaches are most visible, they are but just the tip of the iceberg,” said Edison Yu, Vice President and Asia Pacific Head of Enterprise for Frost & Sullivan. “There are many other hidden losses that we have to consider from both the indirect and induced perspectives, and the economic loss for organizations suffering from cybersecurity attacks can be often underestimated.”

Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed said that fear of cyber-risks has deterred the digital transformation of Philippine organizations and their ability to capture future opportunities in today’s digital economy. Data exfiltration and data corruption are the biggest concerns as these have the highest impact with the slowest recovery time. According to the research, there are key gaps in the organizations’ cybersecurity approach. These gaps include putting security only as an afterthought, creating a complex environment, and a lack of cybersecurity strategy. “The ever-changing threat environment is challenging, but there are ways to be more effective using the right blend of modern technology, strategy, and expertise,” said Bayaborda. “Microsoft is empowering businesses in the Philippines to take advantage of digital transformation

by enabling them to embrace the technology that’s available to them, securely through its secure platform of products and services, combined with unique intelligence and broad industry partnerships,” he added. The five best practices against cyberattacks are to: position cybersecurity as a digital transformation enabler; invest in strengthening security fundamentals; maximize skills and tools by leveraging integrated best-of-suite tools; assessment, review and continuous compliance; and leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation to increase capabilities and capacities. In particular, AI is seen as a potent solution against cyberattacks as it can detect and act on threat vectors based on data insights. In fact, four in five (79 percent) organizations in the Philippines have either adopted or are looking to adopt an AI approach towards boosting cybersecurity.

SAMSUNG GALAXY A6, A6+ NOW AVAILABLE THE sleek and stylish SAMSUNG Galaxy A6 and A6+ just hit stores nationwide. Designed to stand out, the Galaxy A6 & A6+ feature an elegant, full-metal unibody case and the all-new blue color. This smartphone is also available in black and gold variants. Completing its sophisticated look is Samsung’s outstanding Super AMOLED Infinity Display, delivering brilliant colors and captivating content under any lighting condition. Capture stunning photos with Samsung’s newest smartphones. The Galaxy A6 carries a 16MP resolution front and rear camera, while the Galaxy A6+ sports a 24MP front camera and a 16MP + 5MP Professional Dual Camera. Equipped with adjustable LED and selfie flash, the front cameras let you take gorgeous selfies that make you

look good every day. These smart- camera aperture capability. phones can also produce clear phoThe Galaxy A6 & A6+ also support tos even in low light with its F1.7 rear Bixby, the tech giant’s intelligent vir-

tual assistant, to help you get more things done with your phone and applications. The phones also give you access to Samsung-exclusive benefits, such as exciting treats and perks via the Samsung Members App, anti-theft app through Find My Mobile, and quick emergency access with the Samsung 321 app. The Samsung Galaxy A6 & A6+ are now officially available in the Philippines starting today with a suggested retail price of P16,490 (A6) and P22,990 (A6+). The Galaxy A6 comes in black and gold, while the Galaxy A6+ comes in black and blue color options. For more information, log on to samsung.com.ph/, visit facebook.com/ samsungph or visit the Samsung Galaxy Studio located at Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2018 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

SMART...

From C4

Earlier, Smart also achieved 5G speeds of 2.5 Gigabits per second (Gbps) for the first time over a live network in a demo conducted at Nokia Manila Technology Center in Quezon City. VoLTE, VoWifi calls As part of its continuing efforts to improve and evolve its services, Smart, together with technology partner Ericsson, also made the first voice over LTE (VoLTE) mobile call last year. Enabled by the improved LTE network, VoLTE uses LTE to transmit voice calls, unlike the current practice where calls go through 2G or 3G networks. With VoLTE, customers with VoLTE-capable devices can stay on the 4G/LTE network when making and receiving calls, which makes call set-up time in LTE faster. Call set-up time is the amount of time it takes for the voice call to connect. And because LTE is very efficient in carrying data traffic, a voice call made over LTE is crystal clear quality, with almost no background noise. Earlier this year, Smart also made the first Voice over Wifi (VoWifi) mobile call with technology partner Huawei. With Wifi Calling, customers can make voice and video calls wherever there is Wifi connection, using the native dialer of their Wifi calling-capable handsets and without the need for third-party applications. Parent company PLDT has committed historic levels of resources for network transformation. For 2018, PLDT capex is expected to reach P58 billion, which includes allocations for the aggressive roll-out of its fiber broadband service, which also supports the stepped-up deployment of the mobile network by providing high-capacity links for cellular base stations.

THINGS...

From C4

4. IELTS Pre-tests Organized in partnership with Cambridge Assessment English, IELTS pre-tests allow potential IELTS test takers to experience a simulation of the actual IELTS test. Test takers answer sample questions under test conditions and receive raw scores from IELTS test administrators and markers. Through the raw scores given, test takers can have an idea about the test sections they need more work on and increase their confidence in taking the actual test. The IELTS Pretest is offered free quarterly to British Councilregistered test takers. 5. Information sessions IELTS Information Sessions, conducted through the British Council’s expansive network of partners, aim to inform potential IELTS test takers about the different destinations all over the world where IELTS is recognized. Details and steps on how to secure visa for work, study or immigration are discussed along with how IELTS can help test takers land their dream countries of destination. 6. Resource library The IELTS Library houses a full shelf of IELTS books, practice test materials, audio CDs, and other resources made available for British Council IELTS test takers. Test takers are given unlimited access to this library and may schedule their visit through the British Council IELTS website. The new British Council Learning Hub is located at the British Council’s new office on the 7th floor of The Curve at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City. To learn more about the learning hub, the IELTS test and the British Council, visit their website at www.ieltsasia.org/ph or connect with them on social media via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ ielts.britishcouncil.philippines.

APPSOLUTELY INKS PACT WITH CEBUPAC

Bringing blockchain technology to air miles: Appsolutely Inc. forges strategic partnership with Cebu Pacific’s GetGo lifestyle rewards program, enabling frictionless redemption and conversion of points. In photo from left to right: Queenie Amaranto (Marketing Manager, Appsolutely), Paolo Bediones (COO, Appsolutely), Francis Patron (Regional Sales Head, Appsolutely), Anthony Vipond (Lead Developer, Appsolutely), Nik Laming (General Manager, Cebu Pacific Loyalty Division), Bernard Tan (Programs Director, Cebu Pacific), Katryn Ann Supapo (Partner Manager, Cebu Pacific), Mary Frances Riano (Partner Specialist, Cebu Pacific), Bernadette Intoy (Marketing Specialist, Cebu Pacific).

ENTERPRISE software services and fintech firm Appsolutely announced that that it added local airline Cebu Pacific to its growing list of corporate partners. The alliance integrates Appsolutely’s digital asset, LoyalCoin, with Cebu Pacific’s GetGo lifestyle rewards program. “The partnership is a natural response to our mutual commitment to help consumers maximize the rewards they earn from their purchases”, shared Patrick Palacios, CEO of Appsolutely “Building a strong loyalty economy means making redemption and transactions easier for industries that generate demand among its customers. Through our technology, we hope to influence more people to experience the convenience and practicality created by a digitally-integrated loyalty ecosystem. Teaming-up with Cebu Pacific helps showcase LoyalCoin within the travel industry which continues to grow thanks

to the Pinoy’s penchant for travelling,” Palacios added. For Cebu Pacific, adding LoyalCoin to its line-up of lifestyle partners brings more value to its members. “The partnership provides GetGo members an even wider network to earn more points which they can use to redeem free flights with Cebu Pacific” says Nik Laming, Loyalty Divisions General Manager for Cebu Pacific. “We both strive to give users full control of how they want to make use of their points. Through the LoyalWallet application, users can easily convert their points without having to go through an additional third party, such as calling customer service”, Laming added. “Building the roster of big brands in our loyalty ecosystem formally introduces LoyalCoin as a utility token backed by actual goods and services

from our partners merchants. Through the alliances we hope to build in the coming months, we are confident that we help more customers and merchants understand the value of modernizing and streamlining loyalty systems through blockchain technology”, adds Paolo Bediones, COO of Appsolutely. The LoyalPlatform, LoyalCoin and LoyalWallet are integral components of Appsolutely’s new loyalty ecosystem that aims to make the exchange of rewards points easier to increase adoptions among participants. At the heart of it all is blockchain technology—a highly secure decentralized database containing a continuously growing list of data records or transactions. The platform is designed for a new “Loyalty Economy” wherein consumers are able to use a single currency (LYL) to redeem, exchange and purchase products and services across partner brands.

TECH & Gadgets SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2018 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

OPPO F7 UPS ITS SELFIE GAME By Angelica Villanueva

PPO is giving its Filipino fans another wonderful phone experience as it has officially launched the newest member of its family, the OPPO F7. Manila Standard was able to test latest OPPO smartphone first-hand. Let’s take a look at its features.

Eye-catching design

OPPO really knows how to give its loyal consumers the best color and design that perfectly match their lifestyle. In the Philippines, OPPO F7 comes in two colors—Solar Red and Moonlight Silver. If you are a tech enthusiast with a strong character, Solar Red is the perfect partner for you, but if you are the kind with a “chill” personality, then Moonlight Silver is the better one to grab (which I really prefer). Both colors, though, have the kind of metallic glossy look that gives elegance to its overall design. What I also appreciate with the F5’s successor is that aside from its Corning Gorilla Glass 5, the phone comes with a screen protector and a jelly case that will spare your phone from scratches and smudges. Of course, with its triple-slot tray on the side, you can put two nano-sized sim cards and a micro-SD.

Back and front shooter

Going to its back part, you will see a mediumsized lens and an oblong-shaped scanner. Do not underestimate them as these are some of the main features of the phone. The F7 is equipped with a 16MP back shooter that will let you to take photos like a pro. Camera scenes can be in HDR, Depth Effect, Panorama and Expert mode, the settings of which you can adjust manually. The thing is, you do not need to install an app to edit your photo to have a blurred background as with Depth Mode, you can adjust the focus to your subject, making the background to be blurred. OPPO proves that the brand is the real Selfie Expert with its 25MP front camera, to go with its

Depth Effect

The writer (left) is shown enjoying Oppo F7's AR stickers with a friend. At right, the F7 has a metallic glossy look that gives elegance to its overall design.

AI technology and Beauty Mode. With the Beauty mode, you can adjust the filter in six levels, thereby giving you a blemish-free and less-pore selfie. The camera has also features such as the built-in AR stickers, which are perfect for wacky and witty shots with friends.

Overall performance

period of the kid’s usage that will automatically turn off when the time is up.

Real security

When it comes to security, OPPO is surely taking it to the next level as it features three kinds of security: (1) finger scanner at the back which is easy to use, just need to enroll your fingerprint; (2) face recognition which lets you “enroll” your face features and the (3) passcode. It has also a Private Safe which stores all the files and photos that you don’t want deleted. It also features a Harassment and Fraud Prevention that allows you to block phone calls and messages from strangers and unknown people.

OPPO F7 is powered by a MediaTek Helio P60 octa-core processor, with an Android 8.1 Oreo software that gives me a lag-free experience all throughout, even though I was using two or more apps at the same time. Gaming experience is great as it can run heavy games like Sniper 3D (I was not able to try PUBG and Such, though) and Temple Run. Take note that the music and audio add more thrill to Battery, storage, and connectivity your playing experience, and so does viewing movOPPO F7 let me have a long-lasting fun experiies and answering voice calls. But I would rather sug- ences as it has an exceptional battery life (3,400 mAh) gest the use of its perfectly-matched earphones for even when my mobile data is in use. Gaming while a more real-life audio experience. listening to music will never be an issue as the battery Kid-friendly phone remains strong after the use of so many apps. What I definitely love about OPPO is that it has The F7 also has a 4GB RAM with a 64 GB device a built-in Kid Space feature that limits the usage storage that gives space for your favorite apps. of phone which is, of course, especially made for Verdict young kids who love to use their parent’s phone. If you are a tech enthusiast looking for a stylish, This feature has three main functions: To pre- on-the-go phone that fits your lifestyle or a simply vent sending chargeable cellular features, to pro- a “selfie person,” the OPPO F7 is the one for you. hibit system modification, and to prevent addicThe phone’s price is P17,990, available online tion. The owner will be able to set the duration and OPPO outlets.

HONOR OPENS ITS STORE ON LAZADA HONOR recently announces the opening of its store on Lazada starting June 5, as part of the Company’s aggressive plans to expand in the Southeast Asia and in the Philippines. Powered a 2.36GHz Octa-Core processor coupled with 4GB of RAM, the Honor 7X is built to handle even the most graphically intensive games, providing the best-in-class mobile gaming experience. At the discounted price, the Honor 7X is an absolutely steal. Moreover, with its 64GB built-in storage, which can be expanded to 256GB via a microSD card—you can pack the smartphone with multiple large games installed on just this one phone. In addition to the flash sale of the

7X, the award-winning and fashionable, first quad-camera phone, Honor 9 Lite, is also available in in Sapphire Blue and Glacier Grey for only P7,990. Honor is a leading mobile device e-brand and a part of the HUAWEI Consumer Business Group. In line with its slogan, “for the brave”, the brand was created to meet the needs of millennials through internet-optimised products that offer superior user experiences, inspire action, foster creativity and empower the young to achieve their dreams. In doing this, Honor has set itself apart by showcasing its own bravery to do things differently and to take the steps needed to usher in the latest technologies and innovations for its customers.

SMART BATS FOR INNOVATION WITH 5G TECHNOLAB AS part of efforts to future-proof its network, PLDT wireless arm Smart Communications Inc. has launched its 5G Technolab, a facility that will focus on the research and development, standardization, and testing of 5G, or fifth-generation wireless broadband technologies and services. “Even as 5G network technology is still at its early stages, and keeping in mind that it may take some time before 5G can be available commercially, we are already investing in pilot testing our 5G system and paving the way toward having a ‘5G-ready’ network by 2020,” said Ernesto R. Alberto, PLDT and Smart Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, adding that 5G-compatible devices have yet to be available in the market. Road to future-proofed network With its capability to deliver extremely high speeds coupled with low latency, 5G opens up exciting possibilities for Internet of Things (IoT) applications for Filipinos, particularly in healthcare and smart cities. “Our vision for 5G is to be able to provide services that are relevant for our customers. There is more to what 5G can do, which includes enhanced mobile broadband services, massive machine type communications, and ultra-reliable and low-latency communications,” said Mario G. Tamayo, PLDT and Smart Senior Vice President for Network Planning and Engineering. “We are working to transform our network to be able to address the needs of the future. To do this, we are investing not only in radio access, but also in upgrading the core and transport elements of our network,” he added. Part of these efforts toward future-proofing the network is Smart’s ramped up roll-out of Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTEAdvanced (LTE-A) and carrier aggregation technology across the country. “By firing up LTE and LTE-A in areas from as far north as Batanes to as far south as Sarangani, we are working to make sure that our network is ready to bring world-class connectivity and the digital connected society to our customers, wherever they may be,” Tamayo added. 5G partnerships Last year, PLDT and Smart announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Huawei Philippines “to shape the strategic and commercial development of the 5G ecosystem in the Philippines.” In particular, the two parties were looking to identify and develop the areas of technological innovation needed to deliver 5G, which is expected to provide the foundation for the digital connected society. Turn to B3

THINGS TO EXPECT FROM BRITISH COUNCIL’S NEWEST LEARNING HUB

David Akast, British Council Tests Manager, East Asia; Nicholas Thomas, Country Director, British Council in the Philippines; Ian Cortez, Head of Partnerships and New Business, British Council in the Philippines

TOGETHER with the celebration of its 40th year in the Philippines, the British Council opened the doors of its new Learning Hub last May 18 at The Curve, Bonifacio Global City. The Learning Hub is a center for learning English and preparing for English tests, particularly the International English Language Testing System. Yearly, tens of thousands take IELTS to fulfill requirements for employment, study or migration to English-speaking countries like the United Kingdom, Aus-

tralia, Canada, United States and Ireland. Through the Learning Hub, IELTS test takers can avail of high-quality and reliable services to help them prepare for their tests and achieve their best possible scores in the IELTS. Here are some of the offers available at the British Council Learning Hub that potential test takers of IELTS can expect: 1. IELTS Orientation The IELTS Orientation is a free 2-hour talk for those who plan to take IELTS test. This seminar provides attendees with an overview

of the IELTS test, the different test sections and tips and techniques to achieve their desired band score. 2. One-day preparation workshops The IELTS One-day Preparation Workshop familiarizes test takers with the test format, along with test-taking tips and techniques. The workshop takes a practical approach to learning covering all four sections of the IELTS test: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. This is open to both registered and non-registered test takers for a fee.

3. Writing workshops The IELTS Exceed Writing Workshop aims to assist IELTS test takers and prepare them for the Writing section of the IELTS test. It uses content derived from evidence-based research using the writing task outputs of IELTS test takers in the Philippines. This offer was developed by a group of British Council IELTS practitioners to address common mistakes in the Writing section. This is a free offer to all British Council IELTS-registered test takers. Turn to B3

Young Life D1

sunday, june 10, 2018

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

Anne Hathaway pl Daphne Kluger ays , th actress who's w e ea the necklace D ring ebbie ocean and her crew are planning to stea l.

kicking it off with coffee

ARATe is a demanding sport which requires dedication, sacrifice, and discipline. It also demands the best nutrition which is why two-time karate world champion and six-time Philippine National Games gold medalist James delos Santos relies on nourishment that’s good for his body.

James delos Santos relies on a healthy and delicious drink of Kaffea as his main source of energy before practice or competition.

5 facts

Delos Santos makes it a point to train and prepare. He prepares by working out with weights and doing sprints and plyometric activities. one of the things he relies on to give him a boost of energy during training and competition is Kaffea coffee. The 28-year-old karateka displays the fine form which gave him two world titles and six Philippine National Games gold medals.

about the necklace

in ‘ocean’s 8’

“It gives me that natural energy that I need for my rigid workouts. It is known to have several health properties,” said Delos Santos. He benefits from Kaffea’s healthy ingredients like collagen which strengthens the muscles, tendons, and joints. It also tightens the skin which makes him look well-nourished and glowing. The coffee blend also helps keep Delos Santos slim and fit. It promotes weight management because of the combination of glutathione (which is a liver cleansing agent) and L-Carnitine. Kaffea gives energy and promotes focus because of the combined power of Co-Q10 and grape seed extract. Health benefits, aside, Delos Santos said that he simply loves Kaffea’s taste, which highlights the flavor of coconut sugar mixed with coconut cream. “I remember when boxes of Kaffea arrived in my dorm. I didn’t hesitate to open one right away. Honestly, I loved it at first taste. I’ve been drinking it regularly. I love the taste, especially with the hint of coconut,” he related. Delicious Kaffea coffee gives Delos Santos that needed boost for workout or competition. “Kaffea wakes me up and gives me the energy to keep me active during training and competition. I love the taste and aroma of the coconut sugar. I would recommend it to people who have health problems since most cheap instant coffees have unhealthy ingredients. Kaffea is a very healthy alternative,” shared the young athlete. The 28-year-old karateka discovered his love for the sport back in March 2003. when he was in Grade 6, he became a victim of bullying. His uncle suggested that he try combat sports and he hasn’t looked back since. Delos Santos won a world title when he represented the Philippines at the 2016 ISKF world Shotocup held in Cape Town, South Africa. He also won gold in the 2012 edition of the ISKF world Shotocup. He is currently focusing on the 2020 olympics where karate will be a medal sport. “Currently I’m preparing for the Asian Games this coming August. But before that, I’ll be looking forward to the Asian Karate Championships this July. There will also be Karate 1 Series A, which are qualifying tournaments for the olympics,” he shared. Kaffea is available nationwide at Rustan’s Supermarkets, Marketplace at Rustan’s, Shopwise, SM Kultura, SM Supermarket Market Street, CityMall GoLokal stores, and online at lazada.com.ph and beautymnl.com. Call (02) 4779920 for orders and inquiries.

Now that we’re only a few days away from the Philippine premier of Ocean’s 8, the all-girl spin-off from Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s trilogy, let’s talk about first the pivotal “character” in the film—the target of the heist. The film, directed and co-written by Gary Ross, follows Debbie ocean (played by Sandra Bullock), the estranged sister of Danny ocean. After serving time in prison, Debbie gathers a crew of women (Cate Blanchett, Mindy Kailing, Sarah Paulson, Helena Bonham Carter, Rihanna, and Awkwafina) to pull off a heist at New York City’s star-studded Met Gala. The target of the con is the Toussaint—a legendary diamond necklace worn by actress Daphne Kluger (played by Anne Hathaway). Impress your friends and movie buddies with these five facts about that necklace.

The Toussaint necklace

It was made in only eight weeks in Paris

Cartier mobilized the resources of its High Jewelry workshops on rue de la Paix in Paris. The best jewelers were required to accomplish this feat in no more than eight weeks, a demanding task on top of their everyday assignments. Turn to D2

The woman who dared To ask

Marine scientist named 2018 ‘For Women in Science’ National Fellow By Danielle Macadangdang MARINe scientist Dr. Charissa Ferrera was named National Fellow of the 2018 L’orealUNeSCo For women in Science Fellowship in recognition of her outstanding research on the water quality in coastal areas in Anda and Bolinao, Pangasinan. Dr. Ferrera, who’s currently a post-doctoral researcher at the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines, specializes in marine biogeochemistry—studying the rela-

tionship among chemistry, geology, and biology of the marine ecosystem. Her research on the water quality of the two western towns in Pangasinan led her to discover the excessive amount of phosphorus in the water and sediments leading to phosphorus pollution, which is linked to harmful algal blooms or red tide. Dr. Ferrera pushes for sustainable mariculture by advocating for effective science communication to help communities recover from the effects of phosphorus pollution. Turn to D2

WOMAN IN SCIENCE.

Marine scientist Dr. Charissa Ferrera was named National Fellow of 2018 L'orealUNeSCo For women in Science fellowship.

young Life

sunday, june 10, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

5fromfacts... D1

Bulletin BoarD BenilDe launches senior high school for Deaf stuDents

jeanne Toussaint

The original necklace was a tribute to Jeanne Toussaint

The necklace is a tribute to jeanne Toussaint, Cartier’s creative director in the 1930s, whose role was decisive in establishing the maison’s stylistic identity. according to Cartier, she was the first woman to embody the brand’s bold and fearless spirit. Throughout her career, she favored Indian style as a source of inspiration among others, paying homage to the splendor and opulence of the Maharajas.

THe de La salle-College of saint Benilde is set to open the Benilde deaf school, a senior high school exclusively for deaf students in Grades 7 to 12. Classes will commence in august 2018. The institution will follow the department of education curriculum with enhancements to make the subjects bilingual-bicultural, such as deaf studies and Filipino sign Language. Benilde Chancellor Robert L. Tang has appointed May T. Cabutihan, Ph.d. as school principal of the Benilde deaf school under the Office of the Chancellor. The de La salle-College of saint Benilde is opening its senior high school for deaf students in august

southville international school offers specializations in ai, moBile applications Las Piñas-based southville International school and Colleges offers Bachelor of science in information technology students artificial Intelligence (aI) and mobile applications courses. undergraduates opting to major in mobile applications can hone their skills in designing and hosting applications for gaming, entertainment, and productivity. On the other hand, students majoring in aI will tackle real-world projects that can provide solutions to today’s challenges. From handwriting/speech recognition to stock trading with neural networks, aI students will learn the skills that will be beneficial to organizations and to society. Visit www.southville.edu.ph or call (02) 820-8702 or 825-6374 to know more.

The sketch of the original Toussaint necklace by jacques Cartier

The original necklace was designed in 1931

jeweler jacques Cartier designed the necklace in 1931 for the Maharaja, or the ruler, of nawanagar, an Indian princely state. described as “the finest cascade of colored diamonds in the world,” it was, according to Cartier, “a superb realization of a connoisseur’s dream.” This jewel no longer exists, however, Cartier preserved in its archives a design drawing and photographs of the piece and its owner. The sketch was used as a reference for the realization of the Toussaint necklace used in the film.

anne Hathaway in 'Ocean's 8'

It was reduced to fit Anne Hathaway

since the necklace was made for a man, it was adjusted to Hathaway’s measurements and reduced by 15 to 20 percent of the original size. dismountable bezels were devised to successfully adapt the jewel to match the actress’ proportions. Thanks to Cartier jewelers’ expertise, the necklace fit her perfectly when she wore it for the first time in new york.

Zirconium oxides were used in place of diamonds

It was not made of diamonds

In the film, the Toussaint is said to be made of flawless, colorless diamonds. However, the Toussaint used for the film was made with zirconium oxides, a natural material, mounted on white gold. Meticulous attention was paid to the finishing of the settings and polishing, to make it look authentic in close-up shots.

southville's newly upgraded computer laboratory powered by acer desktop computers with high-end specifications.

faith colleges opens school of graDuate stuDies FaITH (First asia Institute of Technology and Humanities) Colleges announces the launch of its school of Graduate studies. It will initially offer two courses: Master in Business administration and Master in Information Technology with specialization in systems development. The school is located inside the campus of FaITH Colleges on President Laurel Highway in Tanauan City, Batangas. The MBa and MIT programs will be offered on a modular schedule. Instructional approach will combine strong theoretical foundations with practical applications delivered through interactive discussions and mentoring. students will be exposed to real business situations through fieldworks, project studies and presentations, business application papers, system and process observations, and case analysis and studies. Email inquiries@firstasia.edu.ph for more information.

FaITH Colleges campus in Tanauan, Batangas

the woman... from D1 during the awarding on june 5, dr. Ferrera said she hopes to encourage women who want to become researchers to stay motivated and confident to ask. “I see my win as an opportunity to create a ripple effect that will allow for more individuals to be inspired to pursue careers in science,” she said. The FWIs fellowship aims to recognize women scientists and encourage a new generation of women to pursue careers in science. The awarding ceremony marked a milestone for the Philippines as FWIs has been reintroduced in the country this year. “The L’Oreal-unesCO For Women in science program was founded with the mission to ensure that critical research across various fields in science takes full advantage of the intelligence, creativity, and passion of women,” Carmel Valencia, corporate communication manager of L’Oreal Philippines, said during the awarding ceremony. according to Valencia, the Laureates, Fellows, and awardees across various fields, who are con-

dr. Charissa Ferrera (third from left) receives her award from L’Oreal Philippines managing director Thibault de saint Victor, national academy of science and Technology president dr. Rhodora azanza, FWIs Global Laureate dr. Lourdes Cruz, and unesCO Regional science Bureau for asia and the Pacific director shahbaz Khan.

tributing to the advancement of science, are proof that women in science have the power to change the world. along with Valencia, L’Oreal Philippines managing director Thibault de saint Victor, unesCO Regional science Bureau for asia and the Pacific director shahbaz Khan, and national academy of science and Technology president dr. Rhodora azanza took to the stage to tackle the multifaceted challenges of gender inequality in the field of science, recognize women’s contributions across various fields, and underscore the critical need of

atheir full participation in driving the sustainable development agenda. The event also featured distinguished panel speakers and women leaders from the science field, which included dr. didith Rodrigo, dr. Laura david, dr. Marieta sumagaysay, and dr. aletta yñiguez. The panel of women scientists shared their views and experiences as a woman in the field of science, thus encouraging young women to enter the field. The ceremony was indeed more than just awarding one Fellow but recognizing women in all fields of science as people capable of change and power.

Entertainment

SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2018

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

JULIE ANNE

MARKS HER

TERRITORY

ALDEN

RICHARDS PLAYS JOSE RIZAL ANEW

PAMBANSANG Bae Alden Richards has showcased his acting prowess in GMA shows Ilustrado as Jose Rizal and Alaala: A Martial Law Special as human rights advocate Boni Ilagan. As part of the country’s celebration of Independence Day, Alden once again plays the role of Jose Rizal in Daig Kayo Ng Lola Ko’s episode today entitled “Pepe and the Werpa Kids.” Together with Zymic Jaranilla and Mona Louise Rey as Thirdy and Kristine, witness Pepe’s fight for freedom and find out what lesson Lola Goreng (Gloria Romero) will impart to the Kapuso viewers. Daig Kayo Ng Lola Ko airs after 24 Oras Weekend on GMA Sunday Grande.

By Nickie Wang

IX years ago, Julie Anne San Jose released her eponymous debut album, which eventually became one of the best-selling records in the recent history. The album, which was released six months after she signed an exclusive contract with GMA Records in 2012, received a Diamond Record Award from the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) for selling it sold more than 150,000 units. Meanwhile, its carrier single, “I’ll Be There”, used as an original theme song for the ‘tagalized’ version of the Korean Drama Lie To Me, was also certified Quadruple Platinum. This year, the 24-year-old singer-actress is optimistic that her fans would give her the same support as she is bound to release an Extended Play by the end of the month. Julie Anne clarifies though that her goal is not necessarily for the record to be as successful as the previous ones she has released. She wanted her supporters and other music consumers to appreciate her artistry and recognize her as a mature musician. This goal complements her activities in the past few months and her other plans leading to the release of the EP. Last month, she had a back-to-back surprise for her fans. Julie graced the last print cover of n magazine, where she bares all her thoughts on her new music, her inspirations, and plans on her future. Also in May, the daytime drama My Guitar Princess was also launched. She stars in the series as Celina, an aspiring singer who hides her identity in order to reach her dreams. My Guitar Princess sees her first onscreen pairing with rising matinee idols Gil Cuerva and Kiko Estrada. “I am just happy that I can still do all the things I love and I am given the opportunity to explore other facets of my career. My goal is to make people happy by reinventing myself. I want to do new stuff. I love my job and my craft so much. Ever since, it’s all about my passion, and of course my music, which is my territory,” she told the entertainment media during a recent pocket press conference. On May 17, she celebrated her birthday with her closest friends and family. She also prepared a birthday performance in Sunday PinaSaya, where she was cheered on by her closest showbiz friends. In a prior interview, Julie shared how thankful she is for the overwhelming reception of her most recent single “Nothing Left,” the first single off her upcoming EP. Following this, fans will have another single to look forward to this month as she releases “Tayong Dalawa,” her third single under Universal Records. On Thursday she will fly to Dubai with Regine Velasquez and Christian Bautista for the international leg of their 3 Stars, 1 Heart concert happening on June 16 at Dubai World Trade Center.

Alden Richards plays Pepe in today's episode of 'Daig Ka ng Lola Ko.'

BRET JACKSON, CURTIS SMITH PARTY AND DRESS TO THE NINETIES

ON A ROLL. Multi-platinum recording artist and TV actress Julie Anne San Jose has lined up a few treats for her fans and supporters both on TV and on concert stage.

ELISSE LEARNS

KINDNESS AS MERMAID

Elisse Joson in a scene from 'Wansapataym Presents: Ofishially Yours.'

AFTER turning into a mermaid to survive the depths of the sea, Stella (Elisse Joson) takes on a new mission that will change her conceited and wicked heart into one filled with love and kindness in Wansapanataym Presents: Ofishially Yours. To repay the king of the mermaids, Pinunong Agos (Jeric Raval), for saving her life, Stella will do her best to find his long lost wife. However, her journey will not be easy as she is hindered by her fish’s tail. Rebel mermaids Merlina (Ria Atayde) and Balintuna (Giselle Sanchez) will also make sure she fails her mission. Amidst the obstacles, Stella will get her hands on a magic stone, which will temporarily give her human feet. However, every time she becomes cruel to others, she will return to being a mermaid. She will experience this for the first time when she bumps into Jason (Joao Constancia) and they get into a heated confrontation. After mocking her former suitor, Stella will transform into a mermaid in front of everyone. When will Stella learn her lesson? Wansapanataym Presents: Ofishially Yours tonight on ABS-CBN and ABSCBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).

GUESS Girls and Boys came out to play at the GUESS Originals Spring 2018 Party held at Cove Manila recently. Decked out in pieces from the latest GUESS collection, musical performers Bret Jackson and Curtis Smith performed to everyone›s excitement. Not to be outdone, Marga on the Mic, Kat DJ, and Astrokidd spun out the best hip hop beats to keep the crowd on its feet all through the night. A GUESS Party wouldn’t be complete without our stylish GUESS Squad. GUESS Girls and VJs Kim Cruz and Debbie Then, models Jennica Sanchez and Angela Martinez, beauty queens Angelia Ong and Michelle Gomez, bloggers Ida Anduyan, Chinchin Obcena, Kas Perez, Ira Oyco, Trish Denise, and Bea Marin graced the party in their trendy GUESS outfits. The GUESS Guys didn’t fall short with bloggers Kerwin King, JP de Leon, and Mike Miguel in attendance. Other celebrities spotted that night were Lauren Reid Fabio Ide, Gab Valenciano, and Phoemela Barranda. The GUESS Originals Spring 2018 Collection Party featured an 11-piece capsule made for both men and women. This top-only collection is comprised of 90’s logo mania t-shirts, old-school baseball jerseys and sweatshirts, and dresses dipped in 90’s pop colors including bright yellows and aqua blues complimented by muted pink, green and gray tones. Each oversized style in this collection embraces GUESS’ roots with its mixture of wide and thin stripes and logo-heavy pieces. Never go out of style when you party with the GUESS Originals Spring 2018 Collection.

Bret Jackson performs with Careless Team at Cove Manila.

sunday, june 10, 2018

Desiree Carlos, Editor

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

Pets

How to Feed Veggies to your raBBit By Christian “Nonoy” Parlade

organic vegetables to lessen the risk of your rabbit digesting pesticides and fertilizers.

TeRRiBle but common misconception is that rabbits just need to eat carrots and cabbage. That can be fatal to your rabbits. Don't do it. however, rabbits do love veggies. But there is a correct way to feed them. here are tips on proper feeding:

5. Choose The Veggies. There are a lot of vegetables that rabbits can eat. A few personal favorites of my bunnies are kangkong, kamote leaves, basil, dill, cilantro and romaine lettuce. Avoid the broccoli family and any other vegetable that can make one gassy since the gas can cause your rabbit to bloat and die. Nothing starchy like potatoes and corn. Nothing sweet. Do your research before feeding veggies.

Carrie eating a bowl of mixed veggies and herbs

3. Give Human-Quality Veggies. Rabbits are not waste disposal units. if the lettuce is all spotted and wrinkly and not good enough for you, then it's definitely not good enough for your rabbit. When you cut kang kong and dispose of the hard stems, the stems are not for rabbits. Rabbits need fresh, clean vegetables just like us. The parts you eat are also the parts you give them. 4. Feed Only Clean Veggies. Before feeding your rabbit, clean the vegetables by removing the bad spots, soaking the veggies in a 10 per cent salt solution for 10 minutes, and then rinsing thoroughly with drinking water three to four times. Otherwise, your rabbit may develop diarrhea which can be fatal to your rabbit. You should also consider getting

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.

6. Introduce Veggies Carefully. By this time, you would have concluded that rabbits have a very sensitive digestive system. That is correct. Any rapid change in the diet can kill your rabbit. so whether it is because you just got a new rabbit (#adoptdontshop) or you are introducing a new vegetable, do it very, very gradually (like one small leaf a day). This will help your rabbit's tummy adjust. it is also a good idea to give your rabbit Benebac (rabbit probiotic) to help stabilize your rabbit's digestive bacteria during this period of adjustment. While this is happening, you should observe your rabbit's behavior and poop. if the introduction of the veggie causes tummy issues or soft poop, stop and resume again in a few days once his digestion normalizes.

1. Limit the amount to one bowl per day. A rabbit's primary diet is grass hay and a rabbit should be given an unlimited amount. When buying online, just look for Timothy or Meadow hay as these are the most common in the country. The bowl of veggies should just be around 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the total intake for the day. if you feed more, you will risk fatal indigestion. 2. Veggies Are Not For Babies. Another fatal mistake most new rabbit owners commit is feeding veggies to rabbits under six (6) months old. if you feed your young rabbit veggies, he will most likely get diarrhea and die in a few days. The more you feed, the higher the risk of course.

My Furry Bestie

7. Consider the Time. As a purely personal preference, i tend to give rabbits veggies at their sleepiest part of the day (noon) just so they won’t get hungry. it also helps hydrate them at the hours when the temperature outside the house reaches 40 degrees. if you will consider doing these seven (7) tips, you greatly increase the chances of having your rabbits enjoy their beloved veggies while minimizing the risks to their health. About the author: Christian “Nonoy” Parlade is a director for finance in TaskUs. He facilitates rabbit adoption / rescue via the SaveRabbitsPH FB page. He is also an informal educator for overall rabbit care and welfare.

Daisy eating a bowl of cilantro

Jac, one year and seven months old, is a mix labrador and asong Pinoy (aspin) who was abandoned at the sha sha Veterinary Clinic . Marie Jamie Rellosa Angeles says Doc Anthony Prado Basa took care of Jac until Jamie adopted the poor abandoned dog. Jac is now having the best days of his life inTarlac. he loves playing, running and doing the ‘paawa’ (have pity on me) look to persuade his furmom to give what him what he wants just like in the photo. Jamie says she and Jac are praying and wishing rescued and stray dogs and cats “will also get the chance to live a happy life and be made to feel loved like Jac.”

ZOe is Miks lim’s three-year-old labrador who loves to eat and eat and eat... “she also loves to play catch and fetch, “ Miks says. After eating and aside from eating, “Zoe loves belly rubs (like she's still a baby), the spa and travelling with her furparents,” Miks adds.

How to clean your dog's ears

Cassie, a beagle, had otitis when she was rescued from a puppy mill by save All. it took months to treat this condition. her ears are now regularly examined and cleaned.

A DOg’s ears must be checked every week to see if there is no bad smell, dirt, or worse, some thick wax coming out of the ear. To clean the ears, you only need to clean the OUTeR area inside the ear flap, and not inside the canal. Only vets should clean the part leading to the canal as you might hit the eardrum. But vets can teach you to “irrigate” the canal or drench the canal to remove the hardened wax. here are tips on how to clean your dog’s ears from Wikihow: 1. You can buy a bottle of dog ear cleaner or you can make your own using common household products. Use only for the outer portion of the inside of the ear flap. To make your own ear cleaner, mix a few tablespoons of alcohol and a few tablespoons of vinegar in a clean bowl. The mixture should not be cold. Dogs, like hu-

mans, do not like cold fluid on their ears. Use this mixture only on the visible inner part of your dog’s ears. DO NOT POUR This MiXTURe iNsiDe The eAR CANAl. DO NOT Use This MiXTURe iF YOUR DOg hAs AN eAR iNFeCTiON . 2. Dip a cotton ball into the MiXTURe, or the commercial ear cleaner. You have to squeeze out the excess liquid so that the cotton is wet but not dripping. if your dog is very small, you can use half of the cotton ball. You can also use a piece of gauze by wrapping this around your pointer finger. Again, remove the excess liquid. This is less likely to make your dog uncomfortable than using cotton buds because gauze feels more gentle on the ears. To be continued next week

VON sPARKle is a sweet aspin (asong Pinoy) who loves to play with his mama and his siblings and eats vegetables with gusto, says his furmom hazel Delfin layagin.