Manila Standard - 2018 October 28 - Sunday

VOL. XXXII • NO. 255 • 4 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

HALLOWEEN TREAT: OIL PRICE CUT

SIGN OF THE TIMES.

In the runup to Halloween, a giant toothless pumpkin smiles at passers-by Saturday beside the upscale Sta. Lucia Mall in Cainta, Rizal (below) while a house in Barangay Olympia in Makati City (above) entertains children with the scary decorations days before Halloween.

Sonny Espiritu, Diana Noche

DESTINATIONS / D1

BORACAY IS BACK

ENTERTAINMENT/ D3

KATHNIEL, ELLA, ZANJOE IN KBO'S

HALLOW WEEKEND

By Alena Mae S. Flores

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HE country’s oil players gave motorists and consumers an early Halloween treat by reducing pump prices effective Sunday. It was the third price rollback in as many weeks, this time by as much as P1.65 per liter for gasoline to reflect the movement of world oil prices in the domestic market.

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SPD TO SECURE TRANSPO HUBS

By Joel E. Zurbano

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result to the imposition of fines and penalties, it said.

Meanwhile, environmentalist group Ecowaste Coalition on Satur-

tation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines in the efforts “to ensure a hassle-free observation of the upcoming holiday.”

Marina will also assist the Philippine Coast Guard in manning helpdesks in major Philippine port areas from Oct. 29 to Nov. 5 to cater to the inquiries and needs of passengers.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency will also be visible at major transport terminals to ensure no illegal drugs will be smuggled amidst Undas 2018.

The public is enjoined to cooperate with the authorities by adhering to the safety and security regulations on port and other transport areas, and by reporting any suspicious person or incident observed amid the observation of Undas 2018 through Marina’s hotline at 0995-400-7336.

being sold in the market are safe for our children to play with. Some of these toys might be putting vulnerable kids in harm’s way,” said Thony Dizon, Ecowaste chemical safety campaigner.

Dizonwarnedthatsometoysmaypose chemical, choking, fire, and laceration hazards, and even blunt force trauma.

“Parents should only pick safe notified or registered toys for their children and supervise them as they play to prevent any untoward incident,”he suggested.

As for the police, personnel complements from the SPD’s Stations, consisting of 720 strong men and women will be having their skeletal deployment as early as Oct. 30 to provide police assistance.

“Considering that there are some who prefer to pay respect and/or visit the graves of their departed relatives and loved ones at an earlier date to evade congested cemeteries,” said Cruz.

To promote maritime safety, Marina day warned the public against unsafe ECURING the transport hubs and commercial centers offices joined fellow transpor- Halloween toys being sold by vendors will be the top priority of the Southern Police District this regional tation agencies including the Land in Divisoria, Manila. coming Halloween break.

Transportation Office, Land Transpor“There is no assurance that all toys

SPD director Senior Supt. Eliseo Cruz said he included in the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day security preparations the deployment of 870 police officers to intensify monitoring on all bus stations, airport commercial centers, and some segments of the Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit.

“Topmost priority for the security deployment and monitoring are the terminals, MRT and LRT stations to include commercial establishments and other places of convergence within the southern metropolis,” he said.

Cruz also ordered his men to be on full alert at the cemetery entrances to prevent entries of persons carrying liquor, bladed weapons, illegal drugs and other prohibited items.

Meanwhile, the Maritime Industry Authority reminded shipping companies to conduct safety assessment

on their vessels, in preparation for the surge of passengers this “Undas.”

In a statement, the Marina directed domestic shipping companies, operators, charterers, and ship management agents to uphold their roles and responsibilities in achieving and maintaining high standards of safety; and establishing safeguards against identified risks on sea transport.

The agency also ordered the continuous improvement of safety management skills of personnel ashore and aboard ships, including preparations for emergencies.

The stakeholders are specifically tasked to report any untoward maritime incident or accident to the Marina’s Enforcement Service, and to provide via written document the full details within 24 hours after its occurrence. Failure to comply will

PALACE BELITTLES RED CRIES OF ‘CRIMES’

By Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz THE Palace on Saturday belittled leftist groups’latest call for President Rodrigo Duterte to resign owing to “alleged crimes against the people,” saying the call was part of propaganda by Communist Party of the Philippines leader Jose Ma. Sison.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said there is nothing new with the leftists’latest call for the President to step down, saying the communist groups were the ones committing criminal acts against the Filipino people.

The Palace spokesman was referring to the “resign” call of the Kilusang Mayo Uno and Makabayan groups at a recent protest action in Davao City.

They called for ending violence and the killings of indigenous people, and the lifting of martial law in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, two party-list lawmakers condemned the “terrorist tagging”

by Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio of progressive party-lists and organizations.

ACT Teachers Reps. Antonio Tinio and France Castro responded to the statement issued by the mayor against the Makabayan bloc and other progressive organizations as they joined protests against the martial law extension in Mindanao, the continuing alleged militarization in communities, and extrajudicial killings.

“We strongly condemn the statements made by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio against progressive party-lists and organizations,”Tinio said.

He alleged that Duterte-Carpio “continues to sow terror against progressive groups to divert the public attention from the economic crisis, extrajudicial killings and the emerging dictatorship caused by the anti-people policies of the Duterte administration.”

BOMBER CLAIMS HE’S A FILIPINO

ANNIVERSARY. Members of the Jesus is Lord church fill the Quirino Grandstand grounds in Manila to celebrate their 40th anniversary on Saturday. Norman Cruz

‘SYNDICATE CAUSED LAPEÑA’S DOWNFALL’

By Vito Barcelo

MALACAÑANG reiterated its defense of former Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña on Saturday, saying a drug and smuggling syndicate was behind his downfall and eventual transfer to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Lapeña was not fired by President Rodrigo Duterte but was moved to TESDA—a position with a Cabinet rank—to sustain his program of reforming government offices, like what he did at the Bureau of Customs.

Lapeña, who was embroiled in the successful smuggling of P11 billion worth of shabu through Customs, was replaced by former Armed Forces chief of staff Leonardo Rey Guerrero, who was leading the Maritime Industry Authority.

Panelo also repeated that Duterte has announced Lapeña’s transfer a week early to spare him from intrigue amid the congressional probe on the multi-

WALK FOR POLIO.

Students and teachers of Francisco Benitez Elementary School hold a walk for a cause for the ‘End Polio Now’ awareness campaign around Barangay Sta. Cruz in Makati City on Saturday.

Norman Cruz

billion-peso shabu shipment into the country.

“With respect to Commissioner Lapeña, he had long been readied to be transferred to TESDA. But announcement was rushed because you know the President, he wants to spare him from intrigue because he was already being criticized,” Panelo said in a radio interview.

“His promotion was rushed. He is now a Cabinet member because BOC is just a bureau under the Department of Finance. The announcement was supposed to be made next week,” he added.

At the 117th Anniversary of the Philippine Coast Guard on Thursday, Duterte also fired the Customs deputy commissioners and placed all the bureau’s department heads on floating status.

He instructed Guerrero to train the PCG and military personnel to operate X-ray machines being used to inspect shipments in the BOC. The spokesman said corrupt Customs officials and employees linked to a smuggling syndicate were be-

hind the successful ouster of Lapeña from the bureau.

The Palace official said the former BOC chief was doing a good job, proven by his office consistently exceeding its target collections.

Panelo said Lapeña was a victim of a powerful syndicate “that continues to lurk at the bureau to protect their vested interest.”

“Lapeña instituted several reform initiatives resulting in a substantial increase in its revenue collection that even surpassed its given targets,” he said.

Panelo said it is “no secret” there are many corrupt people inside Customs, but Lapeña managed to get through it “without being swallowed by the system.”

He said Duterte continues to have complete trust and confidence on the competence and integrity of Lapeña.

A former police general and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director, Lapena is the second Customs chief under the Duterte administration to be tainted by a drug-smuggling incident, the first being former Marine captain Nicanor Faeldon. With PNA

CESAR Altieri Sayoc, the Florida man accused of sending pipe bombs to critics of Donald Trump, has claimed Filipino ancestry on his LinkedIn profile, saying his grandfather was a prominent surgeon in the Philippines.

Sayoc, 56, of Aventura, Florida, also made repeated references to the Seminole Indian tribe on his Twitter feed.

He was arrested on Friday for allegedly mailing at least 13 explosive devices to leading Democratic figures, former high-ranking officials and others, FBI Director Christopher Wray said.

Sayoc had plastered his social media accounts and the van where he was living with signs of his devotion to the Republican president and his hatred for Democrats.

A registered Republican with a criminal history and reported past as a stripper, Sayoc currently faces up to 48 years in prison, although further charges are expected to be filed against him for the mail-bombing campaign, which heightened political tensions and put the country on edge.

Television footage of Sayoc in custody showed a muscular man in a sleeveless black shirt with closecropped black hair.

Sayoc has been arrested several times previously, including in MiamiDade County in 2002 for making a bomb threat against a power company, according to court records available online. He was sentenced to a year on probation. He has also been arrested for theft and domestic violence. AFP

GROUP: PUSH AGE OF SEXUAL CONSENT TO 16

By Joyce Pangco Pañares AN ADVOCACY group has called on lawmakers to raise the age of sexual consent, which is used to determine statutory rape, from 12 to 16 years old.

Save the Children Philippines CEO Albert Muyot said under the 1997 AntiRape Law, a sexual act is considered statutory rape if the victim is under 12 years old or is mentally unstable.

This means sex with a child as young as 12 years old is not automatically considered as statutory rape, and the victim has to prove that rape occurred.

“We have the lowest age of sexual consent in Asia, and one of the lowest in the world. We call on our lawmak-

ers to raise the age of consent to 16 years old to make it consistent with international standards,” Muyot said in an interview during the launch of Save The Children’s #LahatDapat Christmas campaign.

Muyot said the need to amend the law becomes more pressing when juxtaposed with the country’s record of having one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancies in Southeast Asia—a problem that has not changed in the last 10 years—with three in every 50 pregnant women aged 15 to 19 years old.

Teenage mothers face health risks, including poor nutrition, bleeding after delivery, eclampsia and other complications, Muyot said. Their babies are also at

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risk of premature birth, low birth weight and neonatal death.

Meanwhile, Save the Children also highlighted the need to help at least 800,000 malnourished and some 3.3 million stunted children in the country, especially those in disadvantaged communities.

“Malnutrition is a silent killer,” Muyot said, noting how at least 95 children die of preventable diseases related to malnutrition.

“Inflation has hit more than eight million food-poor families in the Philippines. This means an estimated 1.5 million Filipino children go to sleep hungry every night, not having eaten a meal all day,” he said.

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WEATHER

'ROSITA' THREATENS CAGAYAN, ISABELA TYPHOON ''Rosita'' (international name: Yutu) was moving toward Luzon on Saturday and was expected to make landfall over Cagayan Valley, particularly Cagayan and Isabela, on Tuesday, weathermen told a news briefing.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals may possibly be raised over the eastern section of Northern and Central Luzon tonight and over Metro Manila tomorrow evening, weathermen added.

Light to moderate rains are expected over Northern Luzon, recently battered by a series of powerful typhoons, and the eastern section of Central Luzon, the country’s rice granary, tomorrow night.

On Tuesday, heavy rains are predicted over these areas, particularly Isabela, Cagayan, Aurora, and Quezon on Luzon’s eastern seaboard facing the Pacific Ocean.

Strong to very strong winds are also expected in the eastern section of Northern and Central Luzon starting Tuesday.

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PALACE VIEWS BORACAY AS LESSON OF POLITICAL WILL MALACAÑANG has pictured Boracay as a “lesson of political will” and “a lesson of neglect, misfeasance and mafeasance” by unidentified persons of responsibility in office.

Presidential Spokesman |Salvador Panelo issued the statement Saturday, a day after the paradise island was reopened to local and foreign tourists after six months when it underwent rehabilitation.

In a related development, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the widening of roads on the island was almost 80 percent complete, including the installation of drainage pipes.

“The cesspool that was Boracay would not have happened if political will was exhibited by those in authority and if only officials of the island paradise, as well as the stakeholders, operated following the law and the rules and regulations of pertinent government agencies,” Panelo said in a statement released to media.

“It has to take the strong and decisive

leadership of the President [Rodrigo Duterte] to put things in order and we should all learn from these lessons so that Boracay will become an attraction not only in this country but in the world,” he said.

Malacañang also reiterated the President was “pleased” with the results of the inter-agency government efforts on Boracay.

“We commend the different departments for the evolution and development of Boracay, as well as the patience and cooperation of everyone,” Panelo said.

Duterte earlier criticized local officials and other stakeholders in Boracay for alleged neglect that turned the worldrenowned island resort into what he described as a “cesspool.”

Meanwhile, Villar said the government was expecting to finish concreting of the roads “maybe in one month, more or less [when] the road works would be completed.”

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NEGROS LGU CREATES TASK FORCE ON SAGAY BACOLOD CITY—Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. has formed Special Task Force “Hustisya” (Justice) to ensure an in-depth and unbiased investigation on the killing of nine farmers in his hometown of Sagay City.

The governor announced the move in a press statement released Friday night, almost a week after the massacre took place at Hacienda Nene, Purok Firetree in Barangay Bulanon, which the victims occupied on Oct. 20.

“The special task force [will] ensure a thorough and impartial investigation on the Sagay 9 incident so that the real truth and proper justice shall be served to the families of the victims at the soonest time possible,” Marañon said.

The task force will consist of representatives of respective Social Action Centers of the dioceses of San Carlos and Bacolod, Public Attorney’s Office in Negros Occidental, and Provincial Agrarian Reform Office, in close cooperation with the national offices of the departments of justice and agrarian reform, and the National Bureau of Investigation.

“I will resolutely work that justice will be served and no amount of intimidation or threat can prevent me from bringing before the bar of justice those who are responsible and involved in the Sagay 9 incident,” he said.

Marañon said that he, his family, and the entire people of the province grieve over “such a very unfortunate incident, which victimized the poor farmers and sugarcane workers.”

“So therefore, we are in solidarity with the families of the victims to demand justice with urgency and decisiveness,” he said.

The governor added the task force would “make sure that those responsible as the criminal perpetrators of the Sagay 9 killings shall be brought before the bar of justice together with those who planned, organized, agitated and manipulated the poor farmers and sugar workers.”

Earlier on Friday, Marañon and his son, Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon III, joined Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol in a meeting with the families of the victims at the wake in the city gymnasium.

Piñol turned over financial assistance from the Department of Agriculture to the families.

Meanwhile, in a statement on Saturday morning, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, headed by Senior Supt.

Rodolfo Castil Jr., urged the public to avoid making conclusions on the Sagay 9 massacre. PNA

NFA WARNS RICE TRADERS VS SRP VIOLATIONS

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RADERS caught selling rice at prices higher than the government’s suggested retail price can lose their license, risk jail, and pay a fine of up to P1 million, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol warned on Saturday.

The government will start imposing the penalties on violators once the guidelines take effect, Piñol said during the launch of the rice SRP guidelines for Metro Manila and Greater Manila Area covering the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna, and Cavite.

National Food Authority Memorandum Circular AO-2018-10-002 dated Oct. 24, 2018 states that the guidelines will take effect 15 days following its publication in a news-

paper of general circulation and upon registration with the University of the Philippines Law Center.

A national broadsheet published the guidelines last Oct. 26, noted the NFA, which is now under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, NFA Circular OCS2018-J-01 classified rice as either regular-milled, well-milled, premium, or special.

“There will no longer be names like ‘angelica’ and ‘sinandomeng’ for rice sold to the public,”said Piñol, who signed both circulars as chairperson of the NFA Council.

Excluded from SRP coverage are special rice varieties, such as those produced in the uplands, he said.

The SRPs for local regular-milled, well-milled and premium rice are P39, P44 and P47, respectively, based on NFA Circular OCS-2018-J-01.

The circular also said the SRP for imported well-milled rice is P39.

“However, there’s no imported regular-milled rice,” NFA Quality Assurance Division assistant chief Mario Andrada said on the sidelines of the launch held at the Commonwealth Market, along Commonwealth Ave.,

Quezon City.

Andrada noted that imported premium rice has either 2 percent broken grains (PG1) with an SRP of P43, or up to 5 percent broken grains (PG2) to be sold at P40.

Piñol said the government has set the SRPs for rice to help protect consumers from profiteers.

In setting the SRPs, he said, the government considered not just production and related costs but profit as well, so rice traders must not over-charge consumers.

The rule of thumb is to multiply palay price by two to determine the selling price of rice, he said.

“That means if traders bought palay at P18 per kilogram., the selling price must be P36 only,” he said. PNA

PALACE...

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In an interview, Villar said that during the first phase of the island’s rehabilitation, the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force had to demolish structures that encroached on the right of way and move concessionaires to other locations.

“It was very challenging because when the task force began work, there were structures on the road. They encroached on the main road, that is why the right of way of about 12 meters was reduced to about 4 to 5 meters,” he said. PNA

'ROSITA' ...

From A1 Astronomical Services Administration said sea travel was dangerous over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon and the seaboard of Samar in Eastern Visayas.

Flooding and landslides are also possible, PAGASA said.

By Tuesday night, the rains would be concentrated over Western and Central Luzon including Zambales, Bataan, and Ilocos.

It will be rainy the whole day Tuesday over Northern and Central Luzon including Metro Manila.

On Wednesday morning, rains are expected over Bataan, Zambales, and Ilocos Region.

By Wednesday evening, the rains will be over the West Philippine Sea and weather conditions will start improving.

As of 10 a.m. on Saturday, the eye of Rosita—which has a diameter of 800 kilometers—was spotted at 1,345 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan and was moving west at 20 kph and has winds of 200-245 kph.

Rosita’s diameter is 800 kilometers, bringing rain to a wider area.

PAGASA said Rosita is highly similar to Typhoon ''Ompong'' which caused devastation in Cagayan and Isabela area in September.

ANTI-OVERPRICING. Customers avail themselves of affordable rice from an accredited outlet of the National Food Authority during the launch of the government’s suggested retail price campaign and prescribed labeling for milled rice at the Commonwealth Market along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. PNA

HALLOWEEN TREAT...

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Oil refiner Petron Corp. cut the price of gasoline by P1.50 per liter, diesel by P0.60 per liter and kerosene by P0.65 per liter effective 6 am Monday but Phoenix Petroleum Philippines cut pump prices as early as Sunday.

“In order for motorists to enjoy lower pump prices, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines will decrease the prices of gasoline by P1.65 per liter and diesel by P0.60 per liter effective 6 am of Oct. 27, 2018,” Phoenix said in an advisory Friday night.

Last Oct. 22, the oil firms also cut the price of gasoline by P1.85 per liter, P0.90 per liter for diesel and P0.90 per liter for kerosene to reflect movements in the international oil market.

The Philippines imports more than 90 percent of its fuel requirements, thus it is exposed to price volatilities in the world market.

Prior to the three-week rollback, world oil prices have been going up for several weeks.

Last Oct. 15, the oil firms also cut

pump prices by P0.85 per liter for gasoline, P0.65 per liter for diesel and P0.20 per liter for kerosene.

According to the Department of Energy’s latest oil monitoring report, prices continued the downward trend amid an unexpected strong build in US crude stockpiles and reports of supply availability towards end of the year into early 2019.

Analysts also noted that Iran’s exports have not declined as much as predicted even after US sanctions

are re-imposed next month.

Reports that refiners in Turkey, India and possibly China are reportedly negotiating with US officials over waivers to enable them to continue purchasing at least some Iranian oil after Nov. 4 imposition of sanction also helped ease prices.

Prior to the latest rollback, yearto-date adjustments are now at a net increase of P8.70 per liter for gasoline, P10.60 per liter for diesel and P9.60 per liter for kerosene.

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MAKATI LGU GIVES OUT HYGIENE KITS TO STUDENTS

By Joel E. Zurbano

CLEAN TOMBSTONES. Men and women start repainting and cleaning the tombstones at the Manila South Cemetery on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, ahead of the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, when millions of Filipinos are expected to flock to cemeteries to visit their departed loved ones. Norman Cruz

BILL GRANTING OFWS EQUAL PROTECTION ON CLAIMS OKD T

By Maricel V. Cruz

HE leadership of the House of Representatives, led by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, has granted overseas Filipino workers the right to equal protection on money claims in case their employment abroad has been terminated.

House Bill 1700, authored by PartyList Reps. Tomasito Villarin of Akbayan and Jesulito Manalo of Angkla, amends the fifth paragraph of Section 10 of Republic Act 8042, as amended by RA 10022, otherwise known as “Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995,” as amended.

The bill proposes to repeal the clause “or for three months for every

year of the unexpired term whichever is less” under Paragraph 5 of Section 10 of RA 8042, as amended.

The bill intends to give OFWs “full reimbursement of their placement fee and deduction made with interest at 12 percent per annum, plus his salaries for the unexpired portion of his employment contract.”

The Supreme Court in 2009 al-

ready declared as unconstitutional the clause “or for three months for every year of the unexpired term whichever is less” as it violates equal protection afforded by the Constitution.

An OFW who has been laid off from work for unreasonable causes shall also be entitled to receive his compensation for the unexpired portion of his employment contract.

Citing the case of Antonio M. Serrano vs. Gallant Maritime Services, Inc. G.R. 167614 dated March 24, 2009, Villarin said the Supreme Court found the phrase unconstitutional because “in the computation of the monetary benefits of fixedterm employees who are legally discharged, it imposes a three-month cap on the claim of OFWs with an

unexpired portion of one year or more in their contracts, but none on the claims of other OFWs or local workers with fixed term employment.”

The aforementioned provision in the law singles out one classification of OFWs and burdens it with a peculiar disadvantage, the Supreme Court stated.

Thus, the subject clause in the fifth paragraph of Section 10 of RA 8042 is violative of the right of the petitioner and other OFWs to equal protection.

During the 16th Congress, Akbayan Party-list lawmakers filed the proposal as House Bill 3871. The current version adopted the text based on House Bill 5988 which was passed on third and final reading during the 16th Congress.

HOUSE OKS BILL SIMPLIFYING REGISTRATION OF LABOR UNIONS REGISTRATION for labor unions and federations may soon be easier and faster after the House of Representatives has approved on second reading House Bill 8186 which streamlines the process of their registration and reduce the minimum membership requirement.

The bill aims to strengthen further the right of workers to self-organization by easing the restrictive Labor Code requirements for the organization of labor unions and federations.

To implement this, the bill, principally authored by Committee on Appropriations Chairman Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles of Davao City, proposes to amend Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines.

For one, the bill amends Article 234 of the Labor Code by lowering the present minimum membership requirement for the registration of independent unions from 20 percent to 10 percent.

Secondly, the bill amends Article 235 of the Labor Code by allowing submission of applications to be done in person or online to the appropriate Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office or Field Office or the Bureau of Labor Relations subject to verification by the appropriate office. The BLR shall prescribe such forms as maybe necessary for this purpose.

The BLR or the appropriate DOLE Regional or Field Office shall act on registration applications within three working days from their receipt.

At present, Nograles said the Labor Code provides that the BLR shall act on the registration applications within 30 days from filing. It also mandates that all requisite application documents and papers shall be certified under oath by the secretary or treasurer of the organization, as the case may be, and attested to by its president.

Thirdly, the bill amends Article 236 of the Labor Code so that in case the documents supporting

the application for registration are incomplete or do not contain the required certification and attestation, the DOLE Regional Office or the BLR shall, within three days from receipt of the application for registration, notify in writing the applicant or labor organization concerned of the necessary requirements and to complete the same within 30 days from receipt of notice.

Nograles said if the applicant or labor organization concerned fails to complete the requirements within the time prescribed, the application for registration shall be returned without prejudice to filing a new application or notice.

Lastly, the bill amends Article 237 of the Labor Code by reducing the number of affiliated local chapters required for purposes of registration as a federation or national union from 10 to five.

The bill was sponsored on the floor by Committee on Labor and Employment Chairman Rep. Randolp Ting of Cagayan. Maricel V. Cruz

RTC JUNKS TRO VS LTO

MOBILE LIBRARY. Police officers from the Manila Police District mobile force with streetchildren during the launching of the ‘Ang guro kong police mobile library’ at the Manila Bay along Roxas Boulevard in Manila. Norman Cruz

THE Department of Transportation’s Land Transportation Office on Saturday welcomed the decision of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court denying the petition for a temporary restraining order filed by a lawyer against the DOTC (now DOTr) Road Transportation IT Infrastructure Project.

In a decision dated Sept. 26, 2018 penned by Judge Maria Luisa Lesle C. Gonzales-Betic of Branch 225 of the QC RTC, the court denied the issuance of TRO for lack of merit.

“We welcome the decision of the QC RTC to deny the prayer for the issuance of the TRO due to lack of merit. With this, the LTO is able to freely pursue the implementation of the project,” LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar C. Galvante said.

The prayer for the TRO adjunct to the main suit of Injunction for the DOTr-LTO’s project titled, DOTC (now DOTr) Road Transportation IT Infrastructure Project, Component B, including its subcomponents which stemmed from the complaint filed by a certain lawyer Salvador B. Belaro Sr., who claimed that the splitting

of the project into components is in violation of Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act. In its decision, the court ruled that the complainant failed to present meritorious grounds for the issuance of a TRO. The only ground on which the application for a TRO is based is protection from unnecessary government spending should the project fail and the IT system becomes inoperative.

The court pointed out that the TRO/ Injunction is not designed to protect contingent or future rights.

“An injunction is not a remedy to protect or enforce contingent, abstract, or future rights; it will not issue to protect a right not in esse and which may never arise, or to restrain an act which does not give rise to a cause of action. There must exist an actual right.

It added that “there must be a patent showing by the complaint that there exists a right to be protected and that the acts against which the writ is to be directed are violative of said right.”

THE city government of Makati has started distributing free hygiene and dental kits to 46,763 students in 23 public elementary schools in line with the mission of Mayor Abigail Binay to promote health and intelligence among the youth in the city.

Each kit contains a toothbrush, toothpaste, bath soap, face towel and a comb.

Binay underscored the importance of good hygiene to ensure that they stay strong and healthy to be able to do well in their studies.

The mayor thanked the students for being present at the distribution ceremony, and reminded them of basic hygiene habits to avoid getting sick.

“First, wash your hands frequently.

Second, brush your teeth regularly.

Third, take a bath everyday. Because health is wealth. It is easier to be clean than to be sick,” she said.

Binay pointed out that she only had one child, but as mayor of Makati, she considers all the schoolchildren as her own. Thus, she said she wants them to go to school looking presentable, clean, healthy, pretty and handsome, just as she wanted for her own daughter.

Accompanied by Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo and Congressman Luis Campos during the distribution, Binay vowed that they will be back to distribute the promised rain coats and rain boots to students sometime this November.

The city chief executive also revealed plans to go back again to distribute anti-dengue kits in December and the much-anticipated new rubber shoes this coming January.

For the next school year, she said, the city government will be providing free school socks to the students.

The anti-dengue kit includes an arm band/bracelet with citronella capsules which can be used up to 90 days, and an anti-mosquito repellent lotion.

DAVAO LIGHT & POWER CO. TRAINS LINEMEN IN A bid to address the shortage of qualified workers in the power industry, Davao Light and Power Co. formally launched its first Basic Electrical Lineman’s Training Center in Mindanao on Friday.

Davao Light, an AboitizPower subsidiary, in partnership with the Aboitiz Foundation, turned over the facility to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in Davao Region (TESDA XI) last Oct. 26, 2018.

“Project BELT.CoM or Basic Electrical Lineman Training Center of Mindanao is an illustration of a strong collaboration of the private and public sectors,” said Anton Mari Perdices of the AboitizPower Distribution Group during the turnover ceremony at the TESDA XI Regional Training Center in Davao City.

The training facility aims to increase the number of qualified linemen in the region as well as in the rest of Mindanao.

With the increasing demand for power entailing the construction of new transmission and distribution lines, the need for skilled linemen is already quite high in Davao City alone.

Perdices said they have seen the need to align with the Davao City government’s thrust toward sustainable development by contributing to one of its priority development areas— poverty alleviation.

“The lineman’s training center is a venue to acquire and develop skills as a lineman, which will mean more and better employment opportunities that will create improved living conditions for their families,” Perdices added.

Among the components of the project is building and enhancing the capacity of TESDA to conduct its own lineman training programs.

TESDA has already professionalized and standardized its training program for linemen so that it can be used all over the country.

Furthermore, the project is seen to help produce skilled manpower for overseas work. Project BELT.CoM is expected to provide an alternative source of workers for all power distribution utilities, not just Davao Light.

On Nov. 27, Davao Light and TESDA kicked off the pilot run for Project BELT. CoM where it initially produced eight certified linemen.

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News

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SPD TO SECURE TRANSPO HUBS

By Joel E. Zurbano

S

ECURING the transport hubs and commercial centers will be the top priority of the Southern Police District this coming Halloween break.

SPD director Senior Supt. Eliseo Cruz said he included in the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day security preparations the deployment of 870 police officers to intensify monitoring on all bus stations, airport commercial centers, and some segments of the Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit.

“Topmost priority for the security deployment and monitoring are the terminals, MRT and LRT stations to include commercial establishments and other places of convergence within the southern metropolis,” he said.

Cruz also ordered his men to be on full alert at the cemetery entrances to prevent entries of persons carrying liquor, bladed weapons, illegal drugs and other prohibited items.

Meanwhile, the Maritime Industry Authority reminded shipping companies to conduct safety assessment

on their vessels, in preparation for the surge of passengers this “Undas.”

In a statement, the Marina directed domestic shipping companies, operators, charterers, and ship management agents to uphold their roles and responsibilities in achieving and maintaining high standards of safety; and establishing safeguards against identified risks on sea transport.

The agency also ordered the continuous improvement of safety management skills of personnel ashore and aboard ships, including preparations for emergencies.

The stakeholders are specifically tasked to report any untoward maritime incident or accident to the Marina’s Enforcement Service, and to provide via written document the full details within 24 hours after its occurrence. Failure to comply will

result to the imposition of fines and penalties, it said.

To promote maritime safety, Marina regional offices joined fellow transportation agencies including the Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines in the efforts “to ensure a hassle-free observation of the upcoming holiday.”

Marina will also assist the Philippine Coast Guard in manning helpdesks in major Philippine port areas from Oct. 29 to Nov. 5 to cater to the inquiries and needs of passengers.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency will also be visible at major transport terminals to ensure no illegal drugs will be smuggled amidst Undas 2018.

The public is enjoined to cooperate with the authorities by adhering to the safety and security regulations on port and other transport areas, and by reporting any suspicious person or incident observed amid the observation of Undas 2018 through Marina’s hotline at 0995-400-7336.

Meanwhile, environmentalist group Ecowaste Coalition on Saturday warned the public against unsafe Halloween toys being sold by vendors in Divisoria, Manila.

“There is no assurance that all toys being sold in the market are safe for our children to play with. Some of these toys might be putting vulnerable kids in harm’s way,” said Thony Dizon, Ecowaste chemical safety campaigner.

Dizonwarnedthatsometoysmaypose chemical, choking, fire, and laceration hazards, and even blunt force trauma.

“Parents should only pick safe notified or registered toys for their children and supervise them as they play to prevent any untoward incident,”he suggested.

As for the police, personnel complements from the SPD’s Stations, consisting of 720 strong men and women will be having their skeletal deployment as early as Oct. 30 to provide police assistance.

“Considering that there are some who prefer to pay respect and/or visit the graves of their departed relatives and loved ones at an earlier date to evade congested cemeteries,” said Cruz.

PALACE BELITTLES RED CRIES OF ‘CRIMES’

By Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz THE Palace on Saturday belittled leftist groups’latest call for President Rodrigo Duterte to resign owing to “alleged crimes against the people,” saying the call was part of propaganda by Communist Party of the Philippines leader Jose Ma. Sison.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said there is nothing new with the leftists’latest call for the President to step down, saying the communist groups were the ones committing criminal acts against the Filipino people.

The Palace spokesman was referring to the “resign” call of the Kilusang Mayo Uno and Makabayan groups at a recent protest action in Davao City.

They called for ending violence and the killings of indigenous people, and the lifting of martial law in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, two party-list lawmakers condemned the “terrorist tagging”

by Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio of progressive party-lists and organizations.

ACT Teachers Reps. Antonio Tinio and France Castro responded to the statement issued by the mayor against the Makabayan bloc and other progressive organizations as they joined protests against the martial law extension in Mindanao, the continuing alleged militarization in communities, and extrajudicial killings.

“We strongly condemn the statements made by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio against progressive party-lists and organizations,”Tinio said.

He alleged that Duterte-Carpio “continues to sow terror against progressive groups to divert the public attention from the economic crisis, extrajudicial killings and the emerging dictatorship caused by the anti-people policies of the Duterte administration.”

BOMBER CLAIMS HE’S A FILIPINO

ANNIVERSARY. Members of the Jesus is Lord church fill the Quirino Grandstand grounds in Manila to celebrate their 40th anniversary on Saturday. Norman Cruz

‘SYNDICATE CAUSED LAPEÑA’S DOWNFALL’

By Vito Barcelo

MALACAÑANG reiterated its defense of former Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña on Saturday, saying a drug and smuggling syndicate was behind his downfall and eventual transfer to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Lapeña was not fired by President Rodrigo Duterte but was moved to TESDA—a position with a Cabinet rank—to sustain his program of reforming government offices, like what he did at the Bureau of Customs.

Lapeña, who was embroiled in the successful smuggling of P11 billion worth of shabu through Customs, was replaced by former Armed Forces chief of staff Leonardo Rey Guerrero, who was leading the Maritime Industry Authority.

Panelo also repeated that Duterte has announced Lapeña’s transfer a week early to spare him from intrigue amid the congressional probe on the multi-

WALK FOR POLIO.

Students and teachers of Francisco Benitez Elementary School hold a walk for a cause for the ‘End Polio Now’ awareness campaign around Barangay Sta. Cruz in Makati City on Saturday.

Norman Cruz

billion-peso shabu shipment into the country.

“With respect to Commissioner Lapeña, he had long been readied to be transferred to TESDA. But announcement was rushed because you know the President, he wants to spare him from intrigue because he was already being criticized,” Panelo said in a radio interview.

“His promotion was rushed. He is now a Cabinet member because BOC is just a bureau under the Department of Finance. The announcement was supposed to be made next week,” he added.

At the 117th Anniversary of the Philippine Coast Guard on Thursday, Duterte also fired the Customs deputy commissioners and placed all the bureau’s department heads on floating status.

He instructed Guerrero to train the PCG and military personnel to operate X-ray machines being used to inspect shipments in the BOC. The spokesman said corrupt Customs officials and employees linked to a smuggling syndicate were be-

hind the successful ouster of Lapeña from the bureau.

The Palace official said the former BOC chief was doing a good job, proven by his office consistently exceeding its target collections.

Panelo said Lapeña was a victim of a powerful syndicate “that continues to lurk at the bureau to protect their vested interest.”

“Lapeña instituted several reform initiatives resulting in a substantial increase in its revenue collection that even surpassed its given targets,” he said.

Panelo said it is “no secret” there are many corrupt people inside Customs, but Lapeña managed to get through it “without being swallowed by the system.”

He said Duterte continues to have complete trust and confidence on the competence and integrity of Lapeña.

A former police general and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director, Lapena is the second Customs chief under the Duterte administration to be tainted by a drug-smuggling incident, the first being former Marine captain Nicanor Faeldon. With PNA

CESAR Altieri Sayoc, the Florida man accused of sending pipe bombs to critics of Donald Trump, has claimed Filipino ancestry on his LinkedIn profile, saying his grandfather was a prominent surgeon in the Philippines.

Sayoc, 56, of Aventura, Florida, also made repeated references to the Seminole Indian tribe on his Twitter feed.

He was arrested on Friday for allegedly mailing at least 13 explosive devices to leading Democratic figures, former high-ranking officials and others, FBI Director Christopher Wray said.

Sayoc had plastered his social media accounts and the van where he was living with signs of his devotion to the Republican president and his hatred for Democrats.

A registered Republican with a criminal history and reported past as a stripper, Sayoc currently faces up to 48 years in prison, although further charges are expected to be filed against him for the mail-bombing campaign, which heightened political tensions and put the country on edge.

Television footage of Sayoc in custody showed a muscular man in a sleeveless black shirt with closecropped black hair.

Sayoc has been arrested several times previously, including in MiamiDade County in 2002 for making a bomb threat against a power company, according to court records available online. He was sentenced to a year on probation. He has also been arrested for theft and domestic violence. AFP

GROUP: PUSH AGE OF SEXUAL CONSENT TO 16

By Joyce Pangco Pañares AN ADVOCACY group has called on lawmakers to raise the age of sexual consent, which is used to determine statutory rape, from 12 to 16 years old.

Save the Children Philippines CEO Albert Muyot said under the 1997 AntiRape Law, a sexual act is considered statutory rape if the victim is under 12 years old or is mentally unstable.

This means sex with a child as young as 12 years old is not automatically considered as statutory rape, and the victim has to prove that rape occurred.

“We have the lowest age of sexual consent in Asia, and one of the lowest in the world. We call on our lawmak-

ers to raise the age of consent to 16 years old to make it consistent with international standards,” Muyot said in an interview during the launch of Save The Children’s #LahatDapat Christmas campaign.

Muyot said the need to amend the law becomes more pressing when juxtaposed with the country’s record of having one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancies in Southeast Asia—a problem that has not changed in the last 10 years—with three in every 50 pregnant women aged 15 to 19 years old.

Teenage mothers face health risks, including poor nutrition, bleeding after delivery, eclampsia and other complications, Muyot said. Their babies are also at

risk of premature birth, low birth weight and neonatal death.

Meanwhile, Save the Children also highlighted the need to help at least 800,000 malnourished and some 3.3 million stunted children in the country, especially those in disadvantaged communities.

“Malnutrition is a silent killer,” Muyot said, noting how at least 95 children die of preventable diseases related to malnutrition.

“Inflation has hit more than eight million food-poor families in the Philippines. This means an estimated 1.5 million Filipino children go to sleep hungry every night, not having eaten a meal all day,” he said.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2018

Opinion

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

SOUNDS OF SCIENCE

PRAYING FOR THE FORGOTTEN

A

LL Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in this predominantly Christian country of 106 million people is a celebratory affair.

It’s a day of remembrance and honor for saints—and the names of these saints in the Gregorian calendar crowd each of the 365, if common, or 366, if leap year, boxes for days.

On Nov. 1, Filipinos, whatever their religious affiliations, do not just remember and honor the saints they have asked previously to intercede for them in seeking God’s blessings.

They go to the graveyards—the manicured greens of private memorial parks or the now urbanized population centers or the often heavily crowded public town cemeteries often outside the populated municipal blocks.

Days before All Saints’ Day, kin of the departed troop to the graveyards and clean up the tombs or uproot wayward grasses

PECIER DECIERDO

THE NUANCED SCIENCE OF BIOLOGICAL SEX

including the “cadena de amor,” the Antigonon leptopus Hook & Arn. coral vine which is abundant in Philippine cemeteries.

On the day itself, relatives go to the graveyards to remember their departed kin 12 years and below, with those 13 years old and above remembered, with candles, food and masses the day after, or All Souls’ Day. In the congested metropolis, where Manila lies by the placid bay, the celebration—often complete with ferris wheels and bunches of imported and locally grown different petals— approximates the hilarity of town fiestas marked by marching bands.

In some towns, the well-heeled surviving kin gather beside tombs or mausoleums of their departed and, among themselves, play cards, scrabble or mahjong, listen to music while killing time overnight until sunrise on All Souls’ Day when they pack for home.

These are days to remember the departed kin, but more importantly to pray for the forgotten.

IN MANY societies today, sex has been traditionally defined as immutable binary. In other words, many societies view everyone as belonging to either one of two categories: male or female. People who are male are men or boys. People who are female are women or girls. In such a view, gender is nothing but another word for sex.

While many aspects of this binary are cultural—for example, attitudes about the wearing of skirts or pants differ across cultures and time periods—it is rooted in the belief that biological sex is both an absolute binary and the sole determinant for a person’s gender identity.

However, as we learn more about the science of sex determination, we begin to realize that a neat binary is not enough to describe the full picture. The same goes for gender identity, if not more so.

The story of a child named MC illustrates the need for society to adopt a more nuanced view. MC was born with a condition that produces ambiguous genitalia with both ovarian and testicular tissue. When MC was 16 months old and under the care of the state of South Carolina, doctors performed a surgery that effectively assigned MC as female.

However, MC grew up as a boy and has always identified as a boy. Pamela Crawford, MC’s adoptive mother, said MC feels more like a boy and “wants to be a normal boy.” As a result, MC’s adopted parents sued those responsible for performing and signing off on the surgery.

After four years of legal battle, a judge ruled in MC’s favor last year. MC, now 13 years old, will be paid $440,000 in 16 years because of the surgery.

MC’s case, while rare, is not extraordinary.

Many people live with conditions that challenge the view that sex is an absolute binary.

The most basic view of sex involves chromosomes. People with XX chromosomes are female. People with XY chromosomes are male.

Surprisingly, the nuances of biological sex begin even at this very basic level.

The X and Y chromosomes contain genes that determine how an embryo develops.

One important gene is the SRY gene in the Y chromosome. SRY causes the development of an embryo’s testes, which in turn release hormones called androgens that signal the development of male organs.

This is why some people with XX chromosomes can develop into males if their cells have a fragment of a Y chromosome that contains SRY. Meanwhile, individuals who are XY but whose SRY genes are damaged can develop as females, a condition known as Swyer Syndrome.

People who are XY can develop as females because of a different condition called complete androgen insensitivity (CAIS). People with CAIS have a Y chromosome with a functioning SRY gene. Because of this they have an internal testes that releases androgens.

However, because the rest of their cells are not sensitive to androgens, they develop female external genitalia and grow up to be females at puberty.

Such conditions, called differences or disorders of sex development (DSDs), are not as rare as one might think. “Some researchers now say that as many as 1 person in 100 has some form of DSD,” writes Claire Ainsworth for Nature Magazine.

“But beyond this, there could be even more variation,” Ainsworth says. “[Next-generation] DNA sequencing in the past few years have uncovered a wide range of variations in these genes that have mild effects on individuals, rather than causing DSDs.” “Biologically, it’s a spectrum,” says Eric Vilain, director of the Center for GenderBased Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The complexity of biological sex does not stop there. “To varying extents, many of us are biological hybrids on a male-female continuum,” the editors of Scientific American write.

“Researchers have found XY cells in a 94-yearold woman, and surgeons discovered a womb in a 70-year-old man, a father of four.”

Given that biological sex is itself not an immutable binary, many argue that more so can be said of gender identity.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), gender identity is “a person’s deeply-felt, inherent sense” of their gender.

While most people are cisgender—they have a gender identity that aligns with their sex at birth—a large number of us are transgender. According to the APA, transgender people have a gender identity that “does not conform to what is typically associated with their sex at birth.”

When the brains of trans persons were scanned by scientists, they found that their brain activities matched their gender rather than their sex assigned at birth. This reveals that gender identity is indeed distinct from biological sex.

As we discover more about sex and gender, there is the hope that we, as a society, become more accepting of the diversity of the human experience.

WHO AM I? HUNT FOR HERITAGE DRIVES CHINESE TO DNA TESTS

By Danni Zhu and Elizabeth Law CHINESE executive Miao Qing spits into a specially designed container, destined for a lab where her saliva will be analyzed and sequenced, offering an insight into her genetic make-up and—more importantly—her ancestry.

A combination of factors—a lack of formal records or destruction during China’s wars and the Cultural Revolution—have meant there are few ways for Chinese to trace their genealogy in the ethnically diverse country.

But with a growing middle-class, an increasing number are now keen on tracing their roots, and DNA testing companies are cashing in.

China’s DNA sequencing market was worth about 7.2 billion yuan ($1.05 billion) last year and is forecast to grow to 18.3 billion yuan in 2022, according to estimates by Beijing-based CCID Consulting.

Over-the-counter genetic testing kits are not new—users simply buy the kit, spit into the provided container and

mail the sample back.

Their growing popularity in China has meant tests now cost as little as 199 yuan ($29) and can be easily purchased on e-commerce apps like Taobao and JD.com.

But the success of a test is very dependent on the data pool of the company offering the service, which allows a basis for comparison.

While firms like 23andMe and Ancestry DNA are popular globally, they have a relatively small Asian pool that lumps all Chinese into a single category, according to Chen Gang, the chief technology officer of Shenzhenbased WeGene.

“There’s a difference in the genetic makeup of Caucasians and Asians. For example people who get flushed easily after drinking alcohol,” Chen told AFP. “This gene has a higher mutation rate in Chinese people, but it is not as obvious in Caucasians.”

Northern or southern Han? DNA tests tailored to the Chinese market are able to discern different ethnicities, right down to whether one is a northern or southern Han Chinese.

And while people are freely giving

their DNA for the genealogy kits, human rights groups have voiced concern about China’s use of a national DNA database—which authorities say is especially aimed at helping people find missing children—and the collection of samples in Xinjiang, a region dominated by the Muslim Uighur ethnic group.

Other tests have an element of novelty—GeseDNA, which roughly translates to “Personality DNA,” works with behavioral geneticists who analyze the way they say genetics may affect one’s behavior, from personality right down to spending habits.

Although many experts dispute the extent to which genes influence or predict behavior, others insist reliable forecasts can be made from a DNA test.

“People have a misconception that physiology and psychology are separate... but this is an incorrect assumption,” said Zhang Leilei, Gese’s research and development director and a behavioral geneticist.

“Just like height and your looks, whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, whether you’re competitive

or have a stable temperament and communicate well with others, this is all affected by your genes.”

In Miao’s case, the test was prompted by the desire to discover her heritage and possible genetic issues with her future children.

“It was driven by a curiosity and three philosophical questions: who am I, where did I come from, and where I will go,” Miao told AFP. “Since I grew up in the south, I was quite certain that I’m a southerner, but I just wanted to be extra certain,” she said.

But when results of the test came back, Miao had 60 percent Manchurian ethnicity—a northeastern group.

This led to a search of her grandmother’s surname, which revealed that she was descended from the Red Banner—a division of Manchu society during the Qing dynasty period.

“I was curious about the whole thing and this has helped answer a lot of questions I had. It’s a good experience so I’ve just bought another kit that can reveal your personality,” she said.

“Who knows what else I’ll find out about myself!” AFP

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

ISRAEL: SYRIA FIRED GAZA ROCKETS WITH IRAN BACKING

TAIWAN GAY PRIDE PARADE PUSHES KEY REFERENDUM VOTE TAIPEI—Thousands gathered for Taipei’s Gay Pride parade Saturday —the biggest in Asia—ahead of a landmark vote next month on LGBT rights on the island.

Taiwan’s top court in May 2017 legalised gay marriage, the first place in Asia to do so, and ruled its decision must be implemented within two years.

But there has been little progress towards bringing in the mandatory change since then, with President Tsai Ing-wen saying society is still divided.

Anti-gay rights campaigners have mounted a referendum against amending the civil code to allow same-sex couples to marry, which will take place alongside local elections in November.

They say marriage should be defined as “a bond between one man and one woman.”

In response, pro-LGBT campaigners have put forward their own referendum proposing that the code should be amended, which will also go to the vote next month.

They have also put forward a referendum calling for same-sex education in schools, a counterpoint to another anti-gay referendum opposing it.

The theme of this year’s march was to support the pro-gay rights referendums.

Waving rainbow banners, placards and fans printed with slogans including “love is equal” and “vote for a happy future,” participants gathered at the square outside the presidential o ffi ce. AFP

THAI RAPPERS CAUSE STIR WITH ANTI-JUNTA LYRICS BANGKOK—A group of Thai rappers has touched a nerve with an impassioned and now-viral music video lobbing fiery rhymes at the ruling junta, as police mull filing charges against the lyricists.

The generals that toppled Thailand’s democratic government in 2014 have kept a tight lid on dissent but creative criticism through music and arts has been harder to control, even if its impact on political life has so far been minimal.

The song “Prathet Ku Mee” (Which is My Country), uploaded to YouTube on October 22, has racked up more than 6.4 million views and tens of thousands of comments since it went live on the platform, prompting authorities to take notice.

“It’s under consideration by investigators, and it will take a few days because it’s a sensitive issue,” Siriwat Deephor, the police spokesman for the Technology Crime Suppression Division, told AFP when asked whether they would file charges.

He also said the probe could decide whether those who share the video could be targeted. AFP

‘BOLIVIAN SCHINDLER’ SAVED 10 TIMES AS MANY JEWS LA PAZ, Bolivia—A Jewish immigrant to Bolivia who made a fortune mining tin saved 10 times as many lives during the Holocaust than the star of Oscar-winning Hollywood blockbuster “Schindler’s List,” a journalist and writer told Agence France-Presse.

Oskar Schindler was turned into a household name by the 1993 Hollywood epic directed by Steven Spielberg, telling the tale of the German industrialist who saved more than 1,000 Jews by employing them in his businesses in Nazi-occupied Poland.

But according to Veronica Ormachea, Moritz Hochschild saved 10,000 Jews from Adolf Hitler’s gas chambers during World War II. “It was an unprecedented historic event in the history of Jews in Bolivia and the world,” Ormachea told AFP from her office in La Paz. “It was a historic fact that he managed to save 10,000 Jews,” although not his sister, who was killed at Auschwitz.

Born in Germany in 1881, Hochschild became one of Bolivia’s three “tin barons” in the early part of the 20th century, alongside Simon Patino and Carlos Aramayo, who wielded great influence in the South American country until the 1952 revolution in which mining was nationalized. AFP

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor / Jimbo Gulle, Issue Editor

PLUME OF SMOKE. This picture taken on Saturday shows a smoke plume

rising following Israeli bombardment in Gaza City. A barrage of rockets from Gaza hit Israel overnight, the Israeli army said on Saturday, with Israel retaliating with dozens of strikes in a flareup that could jeopardize truce efforts. The rocket fire began late the day before, just hours after five Palestinians were killed during renewed clashes on the Gaza-Israeli border. AFP

M

JERUSALEM—The Israeli army accused the Syrian government Saturday of instructing a Palestinian militant group to fire dozens of rockets at Israel from Gaza with Iran’s supported and vowed to respond where it chose.

“The rockets that were launched against Israel... we know that the orders, incentives were given from Damascus with the clear involvement of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force,” army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said, referring to the Guards’ foreign operations unit.

Conricus told reporters Israel’s response“is not limited geographically.”

At least 39 rockets have been fired at southern Israel by the Islamic Jihad

group since late Friday, with 17 of them intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense system, and the rest hitting open fields, the army said.

Israeli aircraft carried out extensive retaliatory strikes in Gaza, targeting approximately 90 sites belonging to the territory’s Islamist rulers Hamas.

Conricus said that Israel held Hamas responsible for the fire, even though it was carried out by Islamic Jihad at the behest of Syria and its ally Iran.

“We hold Hamas responsible for everything coming from Gaza,” he said.

On Friday, six Palestinians died in renewed clashes on the Gaza-Israel border, while Hamas said Egypt was seeking to negotiate a return to calm.

AFP

‘KHASHOGGI MURDER MUST CONCERN US ALL’

ANAMA, Bahrain —Pentagon chief Jim Mattis warned a Middle East forum on Saturday that the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul “must concern us all greatly”.

Quoting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Mattis told a security conference in Bahrain that the United States “does not tolerate this kind of ruthless action to silence Mr Khashoggi, a journalist, through violence”.

“With our collective interests in peace and unwavering respect for human rights in mind, the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in a diplomatic facility must concern us all greatly,” Mattis added.

“Failure of any nation to adhere to international norms and the rule of law undermines regional

stability at a time when it is needed most.”

A critic of Saudi Arabia’s powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Khashoggi was murdered after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

On Thursday, CIA Director Gina Haspel briefed US President Donald Trump on the latest developments in the investigation after a factfinding mission to Turkey.

Pro-government Turkish media said that intelligence officers showed Haspel video images and audio tapes of Khashoggi’s killing gathered from the consulate.

His murder has generated international outrage and undermined relations with Riyadh, which Washington is hoping can help counter Tehran’s influence in the Middle East.

Prince Mohammed, the heir apparent to the kingdom’s throne, has denounced the “repulsive” murder, denying any involvement.

The Saudi leadership has pushed responsibility down the chain of command.

Trump has called the case “one of the worst cover-ups in history”.

Washington moved late Tuesday to revoke the visas of several Saudis. Britain followed suit on Wednesday.

Mattis said more measures would follow.

“We will maintain our ‘twin imperatives’, as stated by Secretary of State Pompeo, of protecting America and holding accountable those responsible for this murder,” he told the forum.

“Our secretary of state has already revoked visas and will be taking additional measures.”

Turkey said on Friday it wanted Saudi Arabia to extradite 18 Saudis it has arrested over Khashoggi’s murder.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has stopped short of directly blaming the Saudi government, said the 18 suspects must know who killed Khashoggi and repeated his call for the men to be tried in Turkey.

He urged Riyadh to reveal who ordered the killing and the whereabouts of Khashoggi’s body.

“You need to show this body,” Erdogan said.

“Unless you tell, Saudi Arabia will not be free from this suspicion.” AFP

FOR HADDAD. A street artist takes part

in a demonstration in support of Brazilian presidential candidate for the Workers’ Party (PT) Fernando Haddad, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday. The Brazilian presidential runoff election will take place on Sunday. (See story below). AFP

‘TROPICAL TRUMP’ POISED TO WIN IN BRAZIL

RIO DE JANEIRO—Sometimes called a “Tropical Trump” for his politically incorrect vitriol, Brazilian far-right presidential candidate and heavy favorite Jair Bolsonaro has successfully played to an electorate disgusted with politics as usual.

Bolsonaro, 63, has built an image as a political outsider ready to rough up the establishment—no small feat given that, unlike the US president, he is a longtime politician.

The seven-term congressman has few legislative initiatives to his record but, crucially, has not been caught up in the massive corruption scandals that have made Brazilians furious with the political class in recent years.

But he has made enemies with his intolerant comments directed at women, gays and blacks, while fondly recalling Brazil’s brutal military dictatorship (1964-1985), in which he served as an army captain.

“The dictatorship’s mistake,” he said two years ago, “was to torture and not kill” leftist dissidents and suspected sympathizers.

But Bolsonaro has promised that if elected he would govern “with authority, but not authoritarianism.”

Running against leftist Fernando Haddad, Bolsonaro has promised to relax gun-control laws so that “good people” can take justice into their own hands, in a country fed up with violent crime.

In an ironic twist of fate, he was himself stabbed in the stomach at a campaign rally in September, by an attacker who said God had sent him to kill Bolsonaro.

The front-runner spent three weeks in the hospital. But he did not let his injuries keep him off his beloved social media accounts, where he kept up his virulent campaign.

He survived without long-term damage, but, citing doctors’ orders, has since refrained from campaign rallies and—to Haddad’s chagrin— debates.

Bolsonaro calls himself an admirer of Donald Trump and has similarly tapped a deep national

malaise—in Brazil’s case, one caused by crime, an ailing economy and the never-ending “Car Wash” corruption scandal that has stoked fury at the political class.

“He talks about ‘politicians’ as if he weren’t part of that world.

He wants to come across as a strongman, a hardliner, who will fight corruption,” said Michael Mohallem, a law professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation.

Bolsonaro has sealed the support of the business sector, as well as Brazil’s powerful “Beef, bullets and Bible” caucus—comprising the agrobusiness lobby, security hardliners and Evangelical Christians. AFP

Images

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

GHOULISH PORTRAITS. Revelers join Mexico City’s annual “catrina” parade ahead of the Day of the Dead. AFP

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

ALL TRICKS. Scary masks are sold for P30 to P50 each along Juan Luna St. in Binondo, Manila.

Norman Cruz

NOT JUST FOR HUMANS. Halloween pumpkins filled with treats have been given to the animals at the Zoo in Hanover, western Germany on Oct. 25. AFP

FOR THE DEARLY DEPARTED. A male florist arranges a bunch of flowers at a stall in Dangwa.

Norman Cruz

SPRUCING UP. A worker starts repainting tombs in preparation for All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day at the Barangka public cemetery in Marikina City. Manny Palmero

LIGHTS FOR SALE. A candle vendor arranges her wares while waiting for customers in Tondo, Manila.

Norman Cruz

B4

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2018

Riera U. Mallari, Editor sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Sports

PHILIPPINE FENCING IS BACK ON TRACK (15-9) before losing to Azuma.

“Nag-mature talaga after the Asian Games. Nandoon kasi talaga ang mga tough players. Nag-mature din ‘yung mental strategy nila,” said Canlas who bared that they would hire three Korea coaches to further hone the team. “Ok din sana ang Russia pero iba ang style of training nila especially treatment sa players.

Mas makaka-adapt ang Koreans sa atin kaya gusto rin nila sa Pilipinas.”

UAAP’s 3-time MVP

Maxine Esteban (right) during her head-to-head battle against Hong Kong’s Sophia Wu in the Women’s Foil competition

R

EAPING the fruits of a no-nonsense, long-term program, Philippine fencing is back on track.

Thanks to the young faces and emerging stars, who are products of the Philippine Fencing Association.

PFA has been successful in producing new talents mainly because of its long-time partnership with University Athletics Association of the Philippines, which has adopted fencing as one of its regular sport disciplines.

Just recently, University of the East pride Samantha Kyle Catantan and Maxine Isabel Esteban of the Immaculate Conception Academy shone brightest for the Philippine side as they conspired solidly in pulling off a landmark gold medal finish in the 2018 Akari Asian U23 Fencing Championship at Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City.

The 16-year-old Catantan and 17-year-old Esteban teamed up with Justine Gail Tinio and Wilhelmina Lozada in finishing on top of the women’s team foil event of the Asian tourney organized by the Philippine Fencing Association and sponsored by Akari Lighting and Technology Corporation.

Catantan, the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games silver medalist, and international multi-medalist Esteban beat Yu Ching Kuan and Lee Areta in leading the Philippines to a 45-41 win over Hong Kong in the final.

The Philippines earlier defeated Southeast Asian heavyweight Thailand in the eliminations, 45-23, and upset Asian powerhouse Korea, 45-39, in the semifinals en route to the first-ever top podium finish in the Asian U23 since its inception in 2011.

“Kyle and Maxine are some of the

The Philippines women’s foil team that took the gold in the 2018 Akari Asian Under-23 Fenching Championship recently at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. They are (from left) coach Rolando “Amat” Canlas Jr., Wilhelmina Lozada, Justine Gail Tinio, Samantha Catantan and Maxine Esteban.

products of our long long-term program. They started playing at a young age through our grassroots program.

We have more young players on the rise in partnership with major collegiate leagues, which have adopted our sport and we are gearing up for more achievements in the years to come,” said Philippine Fencing Association secretary general Rene Gacuma.

The golden finish capped the milestone feat by the Philippines by bagging a pair of individual bronze medals courtesy of Nathaniel Perez and Catantan in the men’s and women’s foil event, respectively.

“Sobrang hirap bago namin nagawa ito. We will do more because our focus is the Olympics and not just the SEA Games next year. Foreign coaches and more foreign exposure will further boost our performance,” said national coach Rolando “Amat” Canlas.

Perez, 22, gave the Philippines something to cheer about in the opening day of the competition by claiming a bronze medal, owing to his victories over Saleem Ghaith of Iraq and compatriot Shaw Nicollei Felipe to reach the medal round.

He bowed in the semifinals to Korea’s Hwang Booyeong, who eventually clinched the gold medal.

Perez capped his colorful stint with University of the East last year with a third straight Most Valuable Player trophy after powering his alma mater to a fifth straight fencing championship trophy with a 4-2-2 gold-silverbronze haul.

“Sobrang saya dahil mahirap po talaga manalo sa Asian level dahil nandito lahat ng malalakas like Japan Korea and China,” said Perez, who was coming off a forgetful stint in the recent Asian Games in Jakarta.

Perez said he was invited by United States-based Sant Louis Fencers Acade my to train and compete for the club in international competitions. “This (medal finish) will inspire me to aspire for more,” Perez added.

The weeklong tourney drew 15 countries that included Kazakhstan, Thailand, Japan, Kuwait, Chinese Taipei, Hongkong, Australia, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Korea, Malaysia, Iraq, Brunei, Mongolia and India and host Philippines.

Powerhouse Korea again dominated with a haul of four gold, five silver and seven bronze medals. Hong Kong followed with four gold, three silver medals and bronze. Kazakhstan placed third with a medal tally of 3-13 tally. The Philippines’ 1 gold-2 silver finish was good for fourth place.

Asian Games lessons

Catantan and Esteban went home without a medal from the recent 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. They didn’t fare badly though.

Catantan reached the round-of-32 after defeating Thailand’s Ploypailin Thongchampa (5-1), Lebanon’s Rita Abou Jaoude (5-2) and Macau’s Ho Ka U (5-1) in the Pool C preliminaries, before losing a tight contest to Hong Kong’s Liu Yan Wei, silver medalist in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

Esteban fell to Japan’s Sera Azuma, 8-15, in the round-of-16 after beating Southeast Asian rivals Tyanne Fong of Malaysia and Mery Ananda of Indonesia. She also lost to China’s Huo Xingxin (4-5), Japan’s Sera and Singapore’s Amita Marie Nicolette Berthier.

She conquered Macau’s Ho Peng I

Nathaniel Perez gave the Philippines a good start by bagging a bronze in the men’s foil.

GOLF SWEEP. Members of Team Forest Hills celebrate after bagging the 2018 Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines Circuit crown in comefrom-behind fashion at home recently.

The hosts swept the three divisions in the final leg of the eight-stage circuit to nip Sta. Elena by one, 25-24, in the overall tally.

CLARK EXECS TO TRANSFORM PARADE GROUNDS TO WORLD-CLASS MULTI-SPORTS AREA CLARK FREEPORT—Sports enthusiasts and tourists in the country will soon have a greater experience here as the Clark Parade Grounds will be developed into a world class multi- sports area.

This was announced during a speech delivered by Bases Conversion and Development Authority President and CEO Vivencio Dizon at the opening ceremony of the Pinas Cup 2018 here.

“For next year, you’re going to find something very different when you play here because for next year, all of this will be transformed into a world-class football pitch starting next year for all of you. So, para narin kayong naglalro sa Europe at sa iba pang bansa kapag naglaro kayo dito next year,” Dizon said to the participants.

Dizon also mentioned that this Freeport serves as a major area for various events on Sports Tourism and Eco Tourism in the country as he also cited the support of the government for different sports activity like the Pinas Cup. “Kung pupunta kayo dito sa weekend, mapapansin nyo laging mgay mga events for Sports Tourism and Eco Tourism. All these events are happening in Clark on a regular basis and this is the third year already of Pinas Cup and it will just get bigger and bigger and the government is going to support it all the way. Kagaya nga ng sinabi ko, for next year gaganda na lalo itong napakagandang Parade Grounds na ito dahil i- coconvert na namin ito into a world-class football and multi-sports area katulad ng nakikita natin sa mga ibang bansa,” Dizon said.

Meanwhile, Clark Development Corporation President and CEO Noel F. Manankil said that about half of the Parade Grounds will be rehabilitated for its development into a more suitable area for football games.

Manankil also mentioned that aside from football, other sports activity like the World Record attempt of Trinx Bikes for longest line of bicycle parade will also be held here.

WIM CRISTINE ROSE MARIANO-WAGMAN: REDISCOVERING HER CHESS PROWESS

By Arman D. Armero Cristine Rose MarianoWagman

LIVING a thousand miles away from her homeland, Cristine Rose Mariano-Wagman still finds time to make her country proud.

Recognized as one of the Philippines’ top women chess players before migrating to Umea, Sweden, Cristine Rose now juggles her time as wife to husband Jorgen Wagman and as hotel employee and mother of two kids, while also actively pursuing her passion as a chess player, the game where she and her equally famous sibling, Grandmaster Nelson Mariano II, had excelled for years.

The passage of years and the daily challenges of family life may have sidelined Cristine Rose for some time, but she has since rediscovered her innate gift as a chess player.

After all, she will always be remembered as the youngest female chess player to become a national women’s champion at age 14, a record that stands to this day.

She later won four more national championships as a teenager and in her prime, and was a many-time member of the national team to the Chess Olympiad.

An active member of the Rockaden Umea Schack Klubb, a chess club based in Sweden, Cristine Rose recently earned an Arena Grandmaster (AGM) title from the FIDE, the world chess federation, an honor given to

players who excel in tournaments played online. She later became the first Filipina FIDE instructor.

Only last September, Cristine Rose finished a joint second in the Pia Cramling’s Ladies Open, a-30 minute rapid chess tournament held at the Scandic Foresta Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden.

She took second spot after emerging with the best quotient in a triple-tie with Swedish WIMs Jessica Bengtsson, Viktoria Johansson and Irina Tetenkina at 5.5 points each.

By finishing second, Cristine Rose won 3,000 Swedish kronor (about P18,000) and a finely crafted glass trophy and souvenir unique set of jewelry personally designed by Grandmaster Cramling, Sweden’s strongest woman player.

But more importantly, it gave Cristine Rose the confidence to join tougher tournaments.

On Nov. 1 to 4, she will see action in the Festival Juan Martinez Sola 2018 Liga International Chess Championships, an invitational, round-robin event in Almeria, Spain, a FIDE closed tournament.

Cristine Rose, whose Fide rating stood at 1906, will be going up against the likes of WFM Liudmila Kolotilina (2226) of Spain, WIM Aleksandra Lach (2205) of Poland, WIM Manuela Mader (2200) of Spain, WFM Ana Redondo Benavente (2055) of Spain, WFM Beatriz Garcia Porlan (2076) of Spain, Rebeca Jimenez Fernandez

(1917) of Spain, Zofia Frej (1964) of Poland and WFM Mireya Represa Perez (2151), also of Spain.

The star-studded roster initially intimidated Cristine Rose, but she is determined to prove that she still has the talent and the will to succeed.

“When I saw the line-up, sabi ko my God, ako ang may pinakamababang rating and I think I am the most senior so parang atras-abante ako if I will join,” she said.

But she vowed to give it her best shot, if only for the trust given to her by Spanish GM Juan Bellon, GM Cramling’s husband, who had endorsed her to the event organizers, and her sponsor ASSU (Akademiska Schack Spellare Umeå ), Scandic Syd Hotel Umea courtesy of Cathryn and Camilia, her family and her supporters back home.

“I just feel so fortunate that I was able to get advice from my father, brothers, my husband and true chess friends like Kuya Alex Dinoy (a chess organizer and arbiter), if I am doing the right decision. Given these pieces of advice, motivation and encouragement, oo nga naman, because opportunity only knocks one. At ang alam ko, wala pang Pinay na naiinvite sa isang FIDE closed tournament,” she said.

Cristine Rose-Wagman is grabbing the opportunity and as chess followers and fellow Filipinos, we can only hope and pray that she’ll make the country proud again.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2018

Business

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

MA’AM JO’S STORY

OF CHARM, WIT AND DETERMINATION

Josephine Floresca

A

S THE president of Nai Cha Food and Beverages Inc. and coowner and managing director of Le Charmé Suites, Josephine Floresca stands formidable despite the tough challenges she faced along the way.

Being a hotel owner did not happen overnight for Jo. In fact, she was once a house cleaner.

Le Charmé Suites, a popular hotel in Subic boasts of a European concept warmed by genuine Filipino hospitality. The business and leisure hotel started as an accident as it was conceived to be a furniture showroom before she saw its opportunity as something greater.

Jo, as she is fondly called, completed her formative education at St. Paul’s College. She took her bachelor’s degree in St. Scholastica’s College while working on the side. Financial struggles would not hinder her from gaining education and eventual success in life.

Her mother is the source of her inspiration.

“My mother always put our education first.

She wanted us to get the best education possible. I would help her in our meat stall in the market. Sometimes even my classmates in high school would see me with their moms. It wasn’t something to be ashamed of,” she said.

“We would even give discounts to them [laughs],” she said. She recalled a time she hid in the bathroom during recess so that none of her schoolmates would saw that her baon was once again hardboiled eggs and rice. “Then I would drink from the water fountain,” she said.

“My mom said to me,‘being poor is not a deterrent to strive better’. I would just write down all my frustration, all of the bad things said. Then I burned it.

I still do today,” she said, adding that negative things should be left out in anything she does.

In an interview with Manila Standard, the amiable executive said that she looked up to her mother for teaching her the value of hard work.

She continues to live up to this value to this day.

It was these life lessons that empowered her

when she became a single mother with three children. At a young age of 19, Jo flew to Taiwan to become a factory worker.

She decided to settle in Subic. To earn a living for her and her children, she took multiple jobs – full-time secretary, English tutor and foot massage therapist.

She did not have a shortage of difficulties.

However great the challenges were, she was steadfast, driven by her drive to make the lives of her children comfortable. Even as a house cleaner, she never ceased to dream big.

She would even take her kids to work and show them how beautiful the house was and

vowing that one day they would live in one too.

She persevered, hoping one day her fate would turn out for the best.

It was Jo’s fourth job – being a real estate agent - that brought the rags to riches story. She met a low-profile businessman who eventually became her investor in her ventures.

S h e u s e d t h e m o n e y, to g e t h e r w i t h commissions from her brokerage job, to set-up her first restaurant, a commercial building, and a fourstar hotel. In retrospect, fate has an interesting sense of humor.

The jobs she did as a means to make ends meet are now part of her growing repertoire of business assets.

“All of them became my business actually. See, I have a spa, real estate, house for rent, office, and English tutorial. So I’m glad that I could apply to my business all my work experiences in the past.”

Jo is not someone who would rest on her laurels, however many and broad they may be.

“Everything is temporary. The only constant is progress. It’s never downhill from here. That is something I’m very sure of. In an active lifestyle, everything is progressive, everything is improving,” she said.

She said she would not trade Subic for any other place. “I really admire Subic, how it turned from a military base into an industrial zone and a leisure destination in Luzon. No matter how much I was offered an opportunity in Manila, I did not consider them. Although I grew up in Parañaque, I fell in love with Subic. My passion is here.”

She now happily lives with her partner together with her four daughters. Her youngest is the inspiration and the namesake of her flagship business Le Charme Suites.

“I gave the generosity of space so that our guests will enjoy being inside the room. I really wanted the rooms to be spacious and homey for the guests,” she said.

“Being a mom, I’m very family-oriented so I made this hotel really a home away from home.

Whenever guests arrive, I make it a point that they would feel the convenience and comfort of being home. We have a playroom for kids and virtual reality games for the teens so they really enjoy the staycation,” she said.

“My being a mom is my background because in hospitality, caring is our business. This hotel and property is the expression of my passion in Subic.

This is my lifestyle.”

From being a receptionist, a factory worker, a house cleaner, an English tutor, a masseuse and a real estate broker, Jo finally found where she truly belongs and it’s only fitting for a strong, persevering woman.

“My classmates would tell me ‘Jo you have reached far in life. I would respond, ‘Why? We are still together, and we are eating on the same table,” she said.

“That brings us back to the way we were [back in the day]. It is not about the status in life.”

Peter Paul Duran

DUTIFUL WIFE FULFILLS DREAM OF BRAVE SOLDIER LIPA, BATANGAS—Leah Dinglasan stares blankly in the distance, wondering what happened to her husband, Marine technical sergeant Aldrin Cadiz Dinglasan, and if he is ever coming back.

This has been her routine ever since she lost her husband during the five-month siege in Marawi City after an ISIS-affiliated group from Mindanao took over the city.

While Leah keeps herself busy in managing the business her husband has left her, the widow is still coping with her loss.

“Mahirap, siyempre iniisip ko parin siya. Pero tuloy lang ang buhay,” Leah said, adding that she was left to care for their three children.

Leah Dinglasan, 41, fulfills the dream and her promise to husband.

Dinglasan, 41, was already three days into the siege after a sniper bullet struck his cheek on May 31, 2018. Moments before his death, he called Leah that once he returns from his tour of duty, they would manage together the small sari-sari store business they had started. The soldier was set to retire after his Marawi duty.

After receiving a call and hearing the news of the soldier’s demise from his commander, Leah was at first in disbelief. She argued that he just called moments before.

Leah narrated how Dinglasan’s body can’t be recovered due to heavy firing from enemy snipers.

His body was recovered three days after his death.

Sari-sari store Back in March 2017, the couple started a small variety store business for their family’s upkeep and finance their children’s studies.

With P20,000 in hand, Dinglasan bankrolled the variety store and started the business before leaving for his tour of duty.

Leah was left to manage the business, while her husband is in Marawi City.

The couple hoped that soon, once he retires, they would grow the business into a mini-grocery store.

Government assistance After her husband’s death, Leah received assistance from the government in various forms and from the private sector.

Leah in March 2018 received a P100,000 loan assistance from the Small Business Corp. (SB Corp.) under its special program, Woundedand-Killed in Action, an offshoot program to help soldiers and police who were either killed or wounded during the Marawi conflict, from the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso Turn to C2

3 RECLAMATION PROJECTS SET TO TRANSFORM MANILA, PASAY

THREE reclamation projects in Manila Bay will transform the coastal sections of Manila and Pasay City into modern business districts.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto signed a memorandum of agreement for a joint “utmost effort to cooperate with each other and extend mutual assistance” in connection with their separate partnerships with private groups to reclaim huge swathes of the Manila Bay to generate valuable coastal real estate as well as provide

employment and other economic opportunities in the two premier coastal cities in Metro Manila”.

The signing of the agreement by the two local chief executives along with the representatives of the three groups with respective reclamation proposals in the Manila Bay area clears the way for the reclamation projects.

The three groups involved are Manila Goldcoast Development Corp., SM Prime Holdings Inc. and the Pasay Harbor City consortium.

MGDC’s 148-hectare reclamation

project in joint venture with the Manila city government covers the southern parcel of the Manila-Cavite Coastal Road and Reclamation Project - North Sector, otherwise known as “Solar City’ Project”.

S M Pr i m e’s 3 0 0 - h e c t a re a n d 60-hectare projects are in joint venture with Pasay LGU. Pasay Harbor City consortium’s 265-hectare Pasay Harbor City project is also in joint venture with the Pasay city government.

Estrada described MGDC’s Solar City Turn to C2

Manila Goldcoast Development Corp. president Wilson Tieng (seated, second from left), SM Prime Holdings Inc. senior assistant president Noel Sanchez (right) and Charlie Gonzales (left) of Ulticon Builders, one of the consortium members of the Pasay Harbor City consortium sign a memorandum of agreement with Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto (second from right) for three reclamation projects in Manila Bay between Manila and Pasay City.

Business

C2

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2018 business@manilastandard.net

DUTIFUL... From C1 micro loan program.

“Mayroon ding pension from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, Employees Compensation Commission, financial and educational assistance para sa mga anak namin, at mayroon din galing sa private sector,” Leah said.

With the livelihood assistance she received, Leah made a few changes in the store, enlarging it and adding more supplies.

Five months after she received the financial assistance, the store is now worth P150,000, a 50-percent increase in capital.

On casual days, Leah could earn P8,000 while the minimum she could earn is P3,000 on Mondays.

“Minsan kumikita ako ng P8,000, yun na ang pinakamalaki. Pero kapag Monday, kumikita lang ako ng P3,000,” she said.

Leah explained that it was her husband’s dream for the business to grow.

“Ang sabi niya sakin ‘Ma, gusto ko yung tindahan natin magsimula sa maliit. Gusto ko palalakihin natin.

Hindi yung tulad noong dati na kaunti lang yung laman ng tindahan natin,’” she said, holding back tears.

She hopes that after she completes the payment for the P100,000 loan from SB Corp., she can borrow money from the P3 program to expand her business.

While she understands that her husband is gone, Leah is still grateful to Dinglasan that despite knowing that she won’t share the accomplishment with him, he had left her and their children something that they will treasure.

“Gusto kong magpasalamat sa nasa ‘Itaas’ at sa asawa ko, dahil hindi niya kami pinabayaan,” Leah said.

RECLAMATION... FromC1 Manila reclamation project as one that will generate an estimated P50 billion in revenues and create 500,000 jobs once the Philippine Reclamation Authority issues a notice to proceed to the project.

He said he expects the project to start early next year, becoming the biggest reclamation project between the Manila-Pasay border in the south and Roxas Boulevard in the east.

The project would cover around 3.5 kilometers of Manila Bay’s shoreline.

“Not only will these reclamation projects substantially increase the revenues of our city, it will also generate approximately 500,000 new jobs for our residents,” Estrada said in his speech.

Based on the study made by UP professors, Estrada said that Manila has the highest poverty incidence in the national capital region because many of them are jobless. “So in a sense, these reclamation projects are the answer to our prayers. We will be able to provide decent jobs opportunities to our citizens,” Estrada said.

“With this milestone project, we are getting close to achieving our dream of regaining the city of Manila’s old title, the ‘Pearl of the Orient’.

This will mean a lot to us in terms of revenues and employment and business opportunities,” Estrada said.

The project involves the construction of three 140-hectare islands in Manila Bay and is expected to start with the initial construction and dredging work next year.

“As a positive consequence, the RPT [real property tax] share of barangays will increase accordingly. In the first year, expected additional share will amount to P5 million and P15 million per barangay after five more years,” Estrada said.

The University of San Carlos, led by president Fr. Dionisio Miranda SVD (right), USC Alumni Association chairman Ronald Po (left) and Outstanding Carolinian Alumnus awardee Jesus Alcordo (second from right), presents the Lifetime Achievement Award to JG Summit Holdings Inc. founder and chairman emeritus John Gokongwei Jr. (seated). Joining them onstage are (from left) Augusto Go, Elizabeth Gan-Go, Edward Go, Elizabeth Gokongwei, Lily Ngo Chua, Judy Gaisano, Jack Gaisano, Edmund Gaisano Sr. and Antonio Go.

GOKONGWEI: NEVER STOP LEARNING

F

OURteen years after the University of San Carlos bestowed an honorary doctorate in Business and Enterprise Development on John Gokongwei Jr., the Cebu-based institution of higher learning has once again honored JG Summit Holdings’ founder and chairman emeritus.

At the first grand reunion for alumni champions of the University of San Carlos held on Oct. 18, 2018 at Summit Galleria Cebu hotel, USC officials led by president Fr. Dionisio Miranda and USC Alumni Association chairman Ronald Po presented the lifetime achievement award to Mr. John.

What a life it has been for Mr. John, now 92 years old. His arc has been described as a twist on the classic rags to riches tale, as Mr. John began his life born to privilege. However, a variety of circumstances pushed his family to lose everything, forcing the then-13-year old John Gokongwei, Jr. to rely on his wits, intelligence, hard work and perseverance to pull himself and his family out of despair, molding him into the man that he is today.

After the university presented Mr. John with the lifetime achievement award “for a lifetime, fully lived, of invaluable contributions that addressed the needs of local, national, regional, and global communities, and for having deeply touched, empowered, and transformed the lives of others through a legacy of entrepreneurship and education,” a commissioned portrait of Mr. John was unveiled. Then, it was time for the man of the hour to speak.

Addressing the crowd of school officials, fellow alumni and his close friends and family members, Mr. John began his brief yet inspiring acceptance speech by showing his

John Gokongwei Jr. expresses his deep appreciation for his hometown and his alma mater.

deep appreciation for his hometown and his alma mater.

“I flew this morning on the airline I named after the city I love, Cebu Pacific. I went to school here at the University of San Carlos for my primary and high school. I was valedictorian in grade school and I was number one in high school and because of that, I received free tuition in school. I thank the school for that,” he said with gratitude.

Displaying his still sharp memory, Mr. John then shared a recollection from his younger academic years, back when the school was still known as Colegio de San Carlos, drawing chuckles from the crowd.“I especially remember Fr. Smith, who was the disciplinarian, because one day he caught me running in front of his office, and I had to stand in the corner for one hour,” said Mr. John, providing a rare glimpse of his mischievous side.

Mirroring his own life, the speech then grew serious. “When I was 13 years old, my father died, leaving me to take care of my mother, my brother and my sister. At the time, my youngest brother James was only nine months old. I took care of them all because the family has always been my priority,” he said.

As life’s twists forced him to drop out of school, Mr. John honed his entrepreneurial skills, first by selling peanuts from his backyard, then by becoming a peddler at the market. Along the way, he also developed his legendary toughness and resilience.

“It was here in Cebu that I earned my first few pesos. I always used to wake up before dawn to ride my bicycle to the public market many kilometers away. I set up a little table in the market to sell spools of thread, bars of soap, and candles,” he said.

“I earned about 20 pesos a day by working longer and harder than everyone else, but it didn’t matter because I really loved my work.

I loved being an entrepreneur,” he said.

Using himself as an example, he proved that it’s never too late to learn and that you are never too old to be working—as long as you have the passion for it.

“Today, I am 92 years old. I still wake up early and I still love what I am doing. I still know everything that is going on in my company,” said Mr John, bring his speech to a close.

“I still love to learn and I’m always reading books, and now, online stories in this digital age. I always tell my children, my grandchildren, and my colleagues: Love your work, work hard at it. Love your family. Love your country, never stop learning, and always look back and be grateful to where you came from,” he said.

From a precocious, intelligent child to one of Asia’s most admired businessmen, it’s a lifetime achievement definitely worth celebrating.

FRIENDSHIP FORMS A UNIQUE RESORT IN TANAY THE story behind Qalmara Lifestyle Resort is one woven by friendship, gratitude and trust.

This started in the 1990s when Gen. Cesar Fortuno was travelling from Manila to Camp Capinpin in Tanay, a sleepy mountain town.

As his military convoy was going up the circuitous and deserted road, they found a car that had fallen into an embankment beside the road. After approaching the vehicle and seeing that there was someone inside, Fortuno immediately called for assistance to have the passenger airlifted by a helicopter to Manila.

The person he rescued was Gen. Agustin Marking, a World War II hero.

Upon arriving in Manila, Marking was immediately given medical care and survived the heart attack that caused him to steer his car off the road.

Recognizing what Fortuno had done to him, he gave a large piece of land to his rescuer.

Fortuno had a close friend named Col. Lito Santos, his mistah in the Philippine Military Academy. They treated themselves as brothers even after graduation. As the area of land

that was given to him was large, he offered a portion to Santos. The two of them eventually built their own rest houses that they enjoyed with their respective families for several years.

As years went by, going to Tanay became arduous for the two friends who were growing older. Fortuno then decided to give the rest house to his son, Dr. Edwin Fortuno who was intent to make it look aesthetically better. Seeing that the new owner was intent on improving the property, Santos sold his half to Doc Edwin’s Qalmara Lifestyle of Health Corp., a company formed by friends who have been together for decades through thick and thin.

It is a mixture of physicians, a nurse and a businessman. This unusual combination of backgrounds has made Qalmara Corp. develop swiftly because each member harnessed his unique talent to contribute to the growth of the corporation.

Qalmara is driven by a group of friends impassioned with a common goal – to make Tanay a top tourist destination.

They built Qalmara Resort on a 15-hectare property which is now

open to a select number of guests who want to enjoy clean and green surroundings. The temperature is often cool at Qalmara even during summer. It gets to be chilly during the afternoon up to the early morning.

Vistors wake up to a magnificent view of the mountains of Sierra Madre, Laguna de Bai and the windmills of Pililla, Rizal.

Qalmara is rising as a lifestyle resort. Aside from accommodation, it has a spa where one can get relaxing and therapeutic massage, a gym for health buffs, natural grounds for camping and bonfires, a chapel, cafes, restaurants, conference rooms, organic farms and more.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Tech & Gadgets

Manila

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2018 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

HIKVISION BRINGS AI DEEP LEARNING TO VIDEO SURVEILLANCE

LENOVO OPENS CONCEPT STORE IN TACLOBAN TECNOLOGY leader, Lenovo, has recently opened its newest concept store in Tacloban City, Leyte, as part of efforts to bolster presence in the Philippines.

This is the company’s first concept store in the Eastern Visayas region.

Located in Robinsons Place Tacloban, the store features Lenovo’s ever-growing product portfolio of notebooks, laptops, and desktops, designed and customized to cater to the different lifestyles and tech needs of various market segments.

“Lenovo position as a global leader is not just because of our innovative products, but because of our efforts in making them more visible and accessible to the public, especially in key cities with a bustling local economy such as Tacloban.

Through our concept stores, which we plan to expand all over the country, customers can have a unique first-hand experience of our products and at the same time discover what suits their lifestyle and needs through the advice of our professional staff,” said Lenovo Philippines Country General Manager Michael Ngan.

With the unique, face-to-face experience that customers can get from visiting the concept store, Lenovo gains crucial insight about its customers, which enables it to develop the best customized solutions to meet market requirements. This process is part of the company’s thrust to focus more on customers in its overall strategy on achieving growth by delivering excellent service solutions.

This strategy has helped position Lenovo as a worldwide leader in terms of PC and smart devices sales. Between the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2017-2018 and the first quarter of fiscal year 2018-2019, the company experienced double-digit growth and improved profitability as its revenue reached $11.91 billion, a 19-percent year-on-year growth. These figures earned Lenovo the number one spot in PC shipments by Gartner.

N today’s digital age, artificial intelligence is technology that has begun to revolutionize how we live, work and play. AI is offering businesses the prospect of increased productivity and innovation, while at the same time also enabling society to help solve some of its most persistent challenges—ike disease, natural disasters, and security.

Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd. or Hikvision, the world’s leading provider of innovative security products and solutions, recently embarked on an AI Tour across 40 countries spanning Asia, Africa, Middle East, Oceania, and Latin America. In the tour’s stop in the Philippines, Hikvision showcased AI innovations covering AI Cloud architecture, AI technologies, AI products, and other vertical solutions.

“As AI becomes more common and more powerful, deep learning will soon become the foundational technology for the security industry. AI will strengthen critical security efforts in every sphere, with new machine learning techniques giving CCTV cameras the ability to spot troubling behavior without human supervision,” said Ray Wu, General Manager of Hikvision.

Deep learning is the next level of AI development. It is beyond machine learning where supervised classifica-

tion of features and patterns are set into algorithms. Rather, deep learning incorporates unsupervised or “selflearning” principles. “Hikvision is building deep learning into its own analytics algorithms. The result of multi-layer learning and extensive data collection is enhanced accuracy and improved analytics. And this applies to vehicle and human recognition,“ explained Mr. Wu. Based in Hangzhou, China, Hikvision is a pioneer in intelligent video surveillance and has created diversified products and solutions that utilize AI to address today’s modern challenges. In Hikvision’s AI tour, the company introduced several product models equipped with deep learning algorithms: EXIR Flexible PanoVu Network Camera—This camera features 1/2.7” progressive scan CMOS sensors and four lenses with each lens supporting 1080p resolution at 30fps. A compression of up to H.265+ saves bandwidth and storage

PANASONIC...

From C4 PMPC assistant director Robert Pacheco; and Panasonic Precision Devices Philippines Corporation assistant director Mary Ann Diaz.

The five new Panasonic scholars are Miss Rizza Lei Mansilungan (Mechanical Engineering student at URS-Morong Campus; Mr. Allen

Unida (Mechanical Engineering student at URS-Morong Campus); Miss Maricar Mojar (Accountancy student at PnC); Mr. Joe Diether Cabelin (Electronics & Communication Engineering student at UPD), and Miss Kirsten Rae Hipolito (Electronics & Communication Engineering student at UPD). They were chosen after passing series of interviews, and assessment of their over-all performance as students

4.

6.

7.

8.

9.

PDEA Bldg., NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan Quezon City 1100, Philippines www.pdea.gov.ph

PDEA Bldg., NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan Quezon City 1100, Philippines www.pdea.gov.ph

Bid Ref. No. 2018-36 The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), intends to apply the following sum being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) (inclusive of VAT) to payments under the contract for the following item/s: Quantity

ABC (PhP) Funding Bid Security in any (VAT Inclusive) Source of the following forms; PHP 30,436,800.00

GAA 2019 Bid Securing Declaration

Delivery Place PDEA ACADEMY, CAMP GENERAL MARIANO N CASTANEDA, SILANG, CAVITE

A Prospective Bidder should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project.

“Similar” contract shall mean MESSING WITH DRINKING WATER SERVICES. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “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 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 Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours (8:00 am to 4:00pm) on weekdays only.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders during office hours (8:00am-4:00pm) but no later than 4:00pm from the address given below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB as reflected in the table above.

The Invitation to Bid and Copy of Bid Document Sheet (BDS) may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www.pdea.gov.ph, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

For the Pre-bid Conference, bidders are encouraged to send their authorized technical representatives or personnel who are familiar with the bid requirements and will prepare the Bidding Documents

ACTIVITIES 1. Sale and Issuance of Bidding Documents

TIME 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM only, Mondays to Fridays, starting October 25, 2018

2. Pre-Bid Conference

October 30, 2018, 04:00 PM

3. Submission and Opening of Bids

November 12, 2018, 01:00 PM *Late bids shall not be accepted

INVITATION TO BID

INVITATION TO BID SUPPLY, DELIVERY AND TESTING OF ONE (1) LOT AMMUNITION AND MAGAZINE Bid Ref. No. 2018-39

Bid Ref. No. 2018-38 1.

1.ThePhilippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), intends to apply the following sum being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) (inclusive of VAT)to paymentsunder the contractforthe following item/s: Description

2.

3.

Quantity

VENUE PDEA-Logistics Management Service, PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City PDEA Conference Room, PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City PDEA-Logistics Management Service, PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City

10. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the table above.

11. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below.

12. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat Mr.Armando B. Macalalag Jr. at the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 08:00 AM to 04:00 PMonly, Mondays to Fridays starting October 25, 2018(excluding holidays)at Tel No. (632)920-8082.However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.

13. PDEA 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.

14. For further information, please refer to: Mr. Armando B. Macalalag Jr. PDEA-Logistics Management Service PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City Tel No. (632)920-8082

ABC (PhP) (VAT Inclusive)

PHP 21,700,000.00

Funding Source

Bid Security in any of the following forms;

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

ACTIVITIES TIME VENUE 1. Sale and Issuance of Bidding 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM only, PDEA-Logistics Management Documents Mondays to Fridays, starting Service, PDEA Compound, October 25, 2018 NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City 2. Pre-Bid Conference October 30 , 2018, 04:30 PDEA Conference Room, PDEA PM Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City 3. Submission and Opening November 12, 2018, 02:00 PDEA-Logistics Management of Bids PM Service, PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National *Late bids shall not be Government Center, Quezon City accepted 10. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the table above.

ABC (PhP) (VAT Inclusive)

Funding Source

PHP 54,315,600.00 GAA 2019

Bid Security in any Cost or Price of the following of Bidding forms; Documents (Cash Payments Only) (PhP) Bid Securing Declaration

PhP 50,000.00

Cash or Cashier’s/ Manager’s Check** equivalent to at least 2% of the ABC Bank Guarantee/ Bank draft or Irrevocable LC** equivalent to at least 2% of the ABC Surety bond callable upon demand equivalent to at least 5% of the ABC

2.

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected during bid opening.

3.

The PDEA - BAC now invites bidsfrom authorized manufacturers, distributors, dealers or suppliers for theSUPPLY, DELIVERY AND TESTING OF ONE (1) LOT AMMUNITION AND MAGAZINE (hereinafter referred to as GOODS).

3.

Required Delivery Period for the Goods are as follows:

Delivery Period Delivery Place 60 Calendar Days PDEA National Office upon Receipt of Notice to Proceed PDEA-Logistics Management Service (LMS), NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City, 1100

A Prospective Bidder should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project.

“Similar” contract shall mean Military Supplies/Apparel (Tactical Shirts, Pants, Belts, Shoes, Bags).

The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “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 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 Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours (8:00 am to 4:00pm) on weekdays only.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders during office hours (8:00am-4:00pm) but no later than 4:00pm from the address given below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB as reflected in the table above.

The Invitation to Bid and Bid Data Sheet may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www. pdea.gov.ph, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

For the Pre-Bid Conference, bidders are encouraged to send their authorized technical representatives or personnel who are familiar with the bid requirements and will prepare the Bidding Documents The Bidding Activities shall be as follows:

Quantity

SUPPLY, 1 Lot DELIVERY AND TESTING OF ONE (1) LOT AMMUNITION AND MAGAZINE

GAA 2018 Bid Securing PhP 25,000.00 Declaration Cash or Cashier’s/ Manager’s Check** equivalent to at least 2% of the ABC Bank Guarantee/ Bank draft or Irrevocable LC** equivalent to at least 2% of the ABC Surety bond callable upon demand equivalent to at least 5% of the ABC

Description Quantity SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF ONE 1 LOT (1) LOT MILITARY SUPPLIES (TACTICAL SHIRTS, PANTS, BELTS SHOES, BAGS)

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), thru its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), intends to apply the following sum being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) (inclusive of VAT)to paymentsunder the contractforthe following item/s: Description

Cost or Price of Bidding Documents (Cash Payments Only) (PhP)

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected during bid opening.

The PDEA - BAC now invites bidsfrom authorized manufacturers, distributors, dealers or suppliers for theSUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF ONE (1) LOT MILITARY SUPPLIES (TACTICAL SHIRTS, PANTS, BELTS, SHOES, BAGS) (hereinafter referred to as GOODS).

Required Delivery Period for the Goods are as follows:

9.

The Bidding Activities shall be as follows:

PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF ONE (1) LOT MILITARY SUPPLIES (TACTICAL SHIRTS, PANTS, BELTS SHOES, BAGS)

SUPPLY AND 1 Lot DELIVERY OF ONE (1) LOT MILITARY SUPPLIES (TACTICAL SHIRTS, PANTS, BELTS SHOES, BAGS)

Cash or Cashier’s/ Manager’s Check** equivalent to at least 2% of the ABC Bank Guarantee/ Bank draft or Irrevocable LC** equivalent to at least 2% of the ABC Surety bond callable upon demand equivalent to at least 5% of the ABC

Delivery Period 180 Calendar Days upon Receipt of Notice to Proceed (PER DEOBC BATCH)

PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

Cost or Price of Bidding Documents (Cash Payments Only) (PhP) PhP 25,000.00

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected during bid opening.

The PDEA - BAC now invites bidsfrom authorized manufacturers, distributors, dealers or suppliers for theACQUISITION OF MESSING WITH DRINKING WATER SERVICES FOR DEOBC 19-15,16,17 & 18 (hereinafter referred to as SERVICES).

Required Delivery Period for the Goods are as follows:

Description SUPPLY, DELIVERY AND TESTING OF ONE (1) LOT AMMUNITION AND MAGAZINE

5.

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7.

8. .

9.

Quantity 1 LOT

Delivery Period 60 Calendar Days upon Receipt of Notice to Proceed

Delivery Place  PDEA-Logistics Management Service (LMS),PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City, 1100  PDEA Regional Offices (RO I, RO II, RO III, RO IVA, RO IVB, RO V, RO VI, RO VII, RO VIII, RO IX, RO X, RO XI, RO XII, RO XIII, RO CAR, RO NCR, RO ARMM)

A Prospective Bidder should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project.

“Similar” contract shall mean ammunition and magazine.

The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “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 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 Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours (8:00 am to 4:00pm) on weekdays only.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders during office hours (8:00am-4:00pm) but no later than 4:00pm from the address given below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB as reflected in the table above.

The Invitation to Bid and Bid Data Sheet may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and PDEA Website at www. pdea.gov.ph, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

For the Pre-bid Conference, bidders are encouraged to send their authorized technical representatives or personnel who are familiar with the bid requirements and will prepare the Bidding Documents The Bidding Activities shall be as follows:

ACTIVITIES TIME 1. Sale and Issuance of Bidding 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM only, Documents Mondays to Fridays, starting October 25, 2018 2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Submission and Opening of Bids

VENUE PDEA-Logistics Management Service, PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City

October 30, 2018, 04:45 PM

PDEA Conference Room, PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City November 12, 2018, 02:30 PM PDEA-Logistics Management Service, *Late bids shall not be PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, accepted National Government Center, Quezon City

12. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat Mr.Armando B. Macalalag Jr. at the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 08:00 AM to 04:00 PMonly, Mondays to Fridays starting October 25, 2018(excluding holidays)at Tel No. (632)920-8082.However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.

10. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the table above.

11. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below.

12. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the BAC Secretariat Mr.Armando B. Macalalag Jr. at the PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City from 08:00 AM to 04:00 PMonly, Mondays to Fridays starting October 25, 2018(excluding holidays)at Tel No. (632)920-8082.However, any queries relative to the contents of the bid documents and the project requirements can only be made by bidders who purchased the bid documents not later than Ten (10) days prior to the Submission and Opening of Bids.

13. PDEA 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.

13. PDEA 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.

14. For further information, please refer to:

14. For further information, please refer to:

11.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below.

Mr. Armando B. Macalalag Jr. PDEA-Logistics Management Service PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City Tel No. (632)920-8082

Mr. Armando B. Macalalag Jr. PDEA-Logistics Management Service PDEA Compound, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Quezon City Tel No. (632)920-8082 (Sgd) IRISH C. CALAGUAS OIC Deputy Director General for Administration Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee

(Sgd) DIR III IRISH C CALAGUAS OIC, Deputy Director General for Administration/ Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee (MS-OCT. 28, 2018)

commitment to contribute to the country’s continuing development as well.

“Please understand that the main objective of this scholarship program is to provide promising students, like you with the opportunity to obtain a college degree, and become dynamic assets of your community. So aim to become good leaders in your chosen fields, and contribute to society,” Mr. Hayashi said.

PDEA Bldg., NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan Quezon City 1100, Philippines www.pdea.gov.ph

Description Quantity ACQUISITION OF MESSING WITH 1 LOT DRINKING WATER SERVICES FOR DEOBC 19-15,16,17 & 18

5.

along with the expectation that they will make use of their scholarship not only for their personal gain, but also for their contribution to the progress and development of society by becoming good leaders in their chosen fields.

During the ceremony, Mr. Hayashi challenged the new scholars by reminding them that Panasonic is not just simply giving financial support, but out of the company’s

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

ACQUISITION 1 Lot OF MESSING WITH DRINKING WATER SERVICES FOR DEOBC 19-15,16,17 &18

2.

3.

series camera that adopts the patented dual-sensor design to process color and brightness independently, and outputs one full-color image. It is equipped with deep-learning-based target classification algorithms for auto-tracking and perimeter protection.

Facial Recognition Server—Powered by deep learning technology, the server incorporates algorithms for identity confirmation and support for up to 1 million blacklisted targets. It is compatible with third-party cameras and meets varied scenario requirements, including shopping malls and public squares.

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

INVITATION TO BID ACQUISITION OF MESSING WITH DRINKING WATER SERVICES FOR DEOBC 19-15,16,17 & 18

Description

space. The EXIR is capable of 6 behavior analyses as well as 4 exception detections.

PanoVu PT Series 2MP + 2MP Target Capture Camera—This camera is able to capture distant images as well as close-up images with the integration design of distant view camera and tracking PTZ camera. This series can be widely used in situations where wide monitoring range and high definition are required, such as the entrance or exit of an airport, park, or station.

2MP 25× IR Network Speed Dome —The speed dome is a DarkfighterX

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

1.

Dual-Lens Face Recognition Camera

(MS-OCT. 28, 2018)

(Sgd) IRISH C. CALAGUAS OIC, Deputy Director General for Administration Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee (MS-OCT. 28, 2018)

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TECH & Gadgets SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2018 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

HELLO TO GOOGLE WIFI; GOODBYE TO DEADSPOTS

OTHING ruins an online experience like an interrupted connection. Whether you’re streaming the final episode of your favorite series, uploading an important file to make a deadline or video calling with your bestfriend abroad, walking into a dreaded WiFi dead spot at home can spoil a precious online moment.

A Wi-Fi dead spot is a corner in your house or office where Wi-Fi signal just cannot get through. This is caused by several unavoidable factors like misplaced modems, metal objects, microwave ovens, LED lights, concrete walls and dividers, and even moisture from pots and vases.

It’s a common problem that you can now finally address with a mesh networking system. A mesh networking system consists of several points that allow Wi-Fi signals to penetrate strategic parts of your house. This way, you can enjoy consistently strong and fast Internet on all of your Wi-Fi enabled devices and smart appliances at every corner of every room.

In 2016, Google introduced their mesh technology called the Google Wifi. Researching for a school project in the bedroom? No problem.

Binge-watching your favorite Kdrama in the living room? You got it.

Playing an online game while waiting for the laundry to finish? Go for it. Google Wifi lets you truly enjoy all these activities in any corner of your home with absolute ease.

Google Wifi was first released in the United States and had an international rollout with the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore.

And just last June, leading telco

PLDT teams up with Google to give you the strongest and seamless connections at home

and digital services provider PLDT teamed up with Google to introduce Google Wifi in the Philippines and made it available with PLDT Home’s broadband services.

Through this power tandem, Filipinos can now enjoy not only the country’s fastest fixed broadband network but also a seamless home internet experience through Google Wifi.

You can now avail of the Google Wifi Plan 3799, which comes with an unlimited 50Mbps connection, three Google Wifi points and free service assistance from the Home Geek Squad. If you’re already an existing PLDT Home Fibr customer,

you can simply avail of Google Wifi units as an add-on for only P589 for a set of two, or P799 for a set of three.

Google Wifi works with the handy Google Wifi app - available on Android and iOS - which lets you easily set up your network and manage its settings.

The Google Wifi app also allows you to see which devices are connected to the Google points and monitor how much bandwidth each device is consuming. Additionally, you can use the app to give assign more bandwidth to specific devices, as well as manage online usage at home by creating scheduled pauses

on a certain device’s connection—a feature parents can use to monitor and control their children’s internet use.The best part is, Google Wifi is designed intuitively, ensuring that connected devices are always latched on to the channel with the strongest Wi-Fi signal. So even if you move around the house, the Network Assist feature will keep you connected online, leaving you with a seamless and uninterrupted internet experience no matter where you go.

Enjoy the strongest connections at home with PLDT Home’s Google WiFi Plan. Visit pldthome.com now for more details.

LAZADA LAUNCHES SALE OF iPHONE XS, XS MAX APPLE fans are in for a treat!

They can be among the first to get Apple’s latest products without even having to step out of their house when they buy it on Lazada, which launched the sale of the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and the Apple Watch Series 4 at the stroke of midnight last Oct. Saturday.

It will be hassle-free for Lazada shoppers because Lazada will deliver it to customers’ doorsteps for free! To sweeten the deal, the first 100 customers who will avail of iPhone XS 256/512GB and iPhone XS Max 256GB/512GB will get FREE Apple AirPods valued at P8,990!

Be among the first to get your hands on the newest Apple products on LazMall! Enjoy Lazada’s Express Delivery and shipping nationwide that comes with 1-year Official Apple warranty when you buy through the app or website via https://www.lazada.com.ph/apple-store/.

TREND MICRO CALLS ON PH IT PROS TO BOOST CYBER THREAT DEFENSE

By Jimbo Gulle IN ITS recently released Midyear Security Roundup 2018, Trend Micro, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, noted that cyber criminals are moving away from attention-grabbing ransomware attacks to more covert methods intended to steal money and valuable computing resources.

These methods include cryptocurrency mining malware, as well as fileless, macro, and small file malware, just to name a few.

“Cybercriminals will constantly shift their tools, tactics and procedures to improve their infection rates,” said Alma Alvarez, Director for Training and Cyber Threat Hunting of Trend Micro.

“The ‘spray and pray’ ransomware attacks we’ve seen in the previous years had become the norm, so attackers changed their tactics to be more covert, using entry vectors not previously seen or used extensively,” she added.

That said, tried and tested tactics still prove effective, as seen in the threats affecting the country and region, Alvarez noted.

IT professionals must evaluate not just their organization’s defenses, but also their own cybersecurity skills and knowledge to ensure sufficient protection is in place to stop these threats, she said.

“In addition, it’s more important than ever to have a complete, multilayered defense strategy that protects against these attack vectors. The latest attack types require sophisticated detection capabilities, but traditional protections are also required to stop often-overlooked methods of entry that may not be thought of as a risk,” Alvarez added.

Cybercrime and updates in the threat landscape were among the topics discussed in the DECODE security conference hosted by Trend Micro earlier this month at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

Now on its second year, DECODE continues to let Filipino IT professionals in on the most-upto-date technologies, tools available, and skills that they can use to better secure their organization’s digital infrastructure.

This year’s theme was “Connected Threat Intelligence” and it featured talks and track sessions, given by industry experts and Trend Micro’s own researchers, on Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things security, reverse engineering, and forensics.

With the ever-increasing interconnectivity between devices and organizations in and around the world, the risk of hacking and other security threats likewise become a major concern, Alvarez noted.

PANASONIC SCHOLARSHIP PURSUES VISION

Panasonic Corporation Groupwide Brand Communications Division leader for CSR & Citizenship Department Haruhisa Okuda (3rd from left, back), and Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation president Shinichi Hayashi (4th from right, back) led the 2018 Panasonic Scholarship Asia Awarding Ceremony for Undergraduate Category Witnessing the event were (left to right, back row) PMPC assistant director Robert Pacheco; Panasonic Precision Devices Philippines Corporation assistant director Mary Ann Diaz; URS VP for Academic Affairs Flordeliza Peñaranda; University of the Philippines-Diliman associate dean for Students Affairs of the College of Engineering Rhandley Cajote; Pamantasan ng Cabuyao president Isabel Inlayo; PMPC executive director Masaru Toyota; URS-Morong campus director Allan Conde; and URS vice president for Research, Development, Extension and Production Namerod Mateo.

The five new Panasonic scholars are (from left, front) Kirsten Rae Hipolito, Joe Diether Cabelin, Maricar Mojar Rizza Lei Mansilungan and Allen Unida.

PANASONIC, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, granted scholarships to five deserving university students during the awarding ceremony held recently at the University of Rizal System, Morong, Rizal as it continues to pursue its vision of a better life for everyone, and realizing a better world through its contribution to various activities, including the Panasonic Scholarship Asia program.

The ceremony was led by Panasonic Corporation Groupwide Brand Communications Division leader for CSR & Citizenship Department Haruhisa Okuda, and Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation president Shinichi Hayashi.

Other guests, who graced the occasion included Pamantasan ng Cabuyao president Isabel Inlayo; URS vice president for Academic Affairs Flordeliza Peñaranda; URS vice president for Research, Development, Extension and Production Namerod Mateo; PMPC executive director Masaru Toyota; URS-Morong campus director Allan Conde; University of the PhilippinesDiliman (UPD) associate dean for Students Affairs of the College of Engineering Turn to C3 Rhandley Cajote;

51TALK OPENS EDUCATION CENTER IN IMUS. 51 TALK, a leading online English language teaching platform, formally opened its Imus, Cavite recently. Jennifer Que (2nd, right), Vice President for Philippine Operations of 51TALK, was on hand to greet the company’s guests and spearheaded the ceremonial ribbon cutting. Que also underscored during the event the big support extended to 51TALK of the local government of Cavite and the Department of Information and Communications Technology Cluster 2. The center will serve as a launching pad of online English teachers, where they will be given the necessary training and real-time coaching.

51Talk now has six training centers, including those in Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, and Pasig. In 2016, 51Talk was listed on the New York Stock Exchange under China Online Education (NYSE:COE). Photo above shows (from left to right), 51Talk Public Relations & Branding Manager Estelamarie Papa, 51Talk Assistant Vice President for Human Resources Luz Castro, DICT Cluster 2 Director Reynaldo Sy, Que, and 51Talk Operations Director for Home-Based Teachers Rommel Quozon during the event. For more information, visit www.51Talk.ph or call Tel. No. 7795151.

Destinations D1

sunday, october 28, 2018

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

Boracay’s Back Desserts served at Lobby Lounge

No tricks, just treats MUCH-AWAITED REOPENING.

premier hotel and resort Discovery Shores Boracay reopens its doors to tourists eager to once again frolic on the white sand beach of the world-famous Boracay island.

O

ur country’s pride, the world-famous tourist destination Boracay, is now open to the public after it was closed by the government for a six-month environmental rehabilitation.

Tourism secretary Bernadette romulo-puyat, environment secretary roy Cimatu, and philippine National police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde led the opening of the now spotless shores of Boracay on Oct. 26. The island is ready to welcome only 6,405 tourists per day, as per the new guidelines.

Despite ongoing construction work around the island, many hotels and resorts, which are allowed to reopen, are now offering deals for visitors aching to frolic on the pristine white sand and take a dip in the crystal blue waters of Boracay.

Award-winning resort Discovery Shores Boracay is one of the 157 hotels and resorts that are allowed to accept tourists on the island.

Following an extended hiatus, Discovery Shores Boracay is raring to reopen its doors with a special and irresistible homecoming rate.

Valid until Dec. 31, with a stay period of Oct. 30 to march 31 2019, guests can stay in a Junior Suite, inclusive of breakfast buffet at Sands restaurant and round trip Caticlan Airport transfers for two for only p11,000++.

Coinciding with the rehabilitation efforts on the island, Discovery Shores Boracay has also been quite busy sprucing up the property, with refurbishments done in all guest rooms for a fresher, modern,

yet inviting look to delight guests.

Similarly, the popular dining outlets of the resort: Sands and indigo were also given a makeover, along with the front office reception area.

Further, the Signature Suites offer new levels of luxury never before seen or experienced on the island, bringing unique services and unparalleled experiences to the island’s most discerning visitors.

With its reopening, Discovery Shores Boracay introduces an allnew dining outlet called Forno Osteria that serves scrumptious italian fare in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere as well as a rooftop lounge that offers breathtaking views. return guests and loyal patrons will also be pleased to know that the warm, familiar, and attentive staff that has taken extra care of them each time will all be there upon reopening, after they were momentarily reassigned to other Discovery properties to allow them continuous employment. The Discovery Group said no jobs were lost throughout the island’s closure.

Discovery Shores Boracay is accepting reservations for stays in November onwards. For more details, call the Manila Sales and Reservations Office at (02) 720-8888, 719.6692 to 6695 and 6697 or email reservations@dsb.discovery.com.ph.

Tourism secretary Berna romulo-puyat proudly shows off the new Boracay.

The entrance to City of Dreams manila’s new attraction, The Garage.

Guests can spend a night in a Junior Suite, inclusive of breakfast buffet, among others.

A premier entertainment and leisure resort presents “scare-tacular” experience for guys, girls, and ghouls of all ages with iG-worthy installations, virtual reality experiences, spine-chilling music, and delectable delights.

Fun and freaky activities

Okada manila presents “Scare-tacular Affair,” a Halloween-lover’s paradise that brings multi-layered spookiness with larger-than-life decors perfect for taking season-appropriate selfies and groufies.

The stunning decorations along Crystal Corridor are complemented by four different kinds of virtual reality (Vr) experiences co-created with Samsung’s intellismart Games.

Guests can choose their own adventures fighting off Freaky Zombies, ambling along with eerie Bones, escaping the Scary mummy, or enjoying a smashing time with Creepy pumpkins.

They can also bring the thrill to real life with exciting games such as a timed Scavenger Hunt and an adrenaline-pumping round of Throw the Hoops for exciting prizes.

To enjoy these Halloween treats, present receipts from any Okada manila establishment, and every p1,000 spend gets customers a ticket to a Vr experience and an activity of their choice.

pLAY presents a lineup of fun-filled, educational, and creative activities.

Discovery Shores has refurbished all guest rooms for a fresh and modern look.

Kids’ playtime

The resort offers romantic dinner set-up by the beach.

meanwhile, the young ones are in for a Halloween treat at pLAY’s thrilling lineup of fun-filled, educational, and creative activities.

On Oct. 31, kids can come in their cutest, strangest, and spookiest duds and take part in the exciting costume parade, trick or treat session, and special prizes during the morning (11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) or afternoon (5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.) session.

They can also participate in other fun activities, whether it’s making their own masks and witch’s hats, joining fun games, or enjoying kidfriendly Halloween blockbusters.

Door charge is at p900 for kids and p300 for adults.

Turn to D2

FuN at the GaraGe WHO would think a former parking lot of top-notch food and beverage trucks could offer so much fun, excitement, and trailers. and culinary delight? Well, trust trendKevin Benning, City of Dreams masetting City of Dreams to come up with nila’s chief operating officer told everybig surprises all the time. one at the launch that they wanted to manila has a new fun place to go to. have something new to offer. After gorecently opened in what used to be ing over several options, they decided my favorite parking area in this luxury to partner with Bandai Namco Amusemercury rising ment which is known for the creativity integrated casino resort complex is

By BoB zozoBrado The Garage, a 2,714-square-meter airand cutting edge technology of their conditioned Vr Zone and Food park. video digital entertainment.

Here, guests, especially the young ones, can immerse There are three stations in The Garage’s Vr Zone. themselves in virtual reality entertainment and enjoy The three-minute mario Kart Arcade enables one to the wide range of casual dining choices from a selection Turn to D2

destinations

D2

sunday, october 28, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

no tricks...

HoliDay vacation on a luxury cruise

From D1

Paul van dyk will take center stage at the Halloween Haunted Party.

Dance party

the party-going lot can dance the night away at cove Manila’s Halloween throwback party on oct. 28. back in time, which starts at 3:00 p.m., will let guests journey down memory lane and dance all day to some of the greatest ‘80s, ‘90s, and 2000s anthems. the VIP pass is P1,000, while the sunset pass— which requires guests to be at the venue by 5:30 p.m.—is priced at P500. on oct. 31, from 10:00 p.m. onwards, Grammy award-nominated Paul Van dyk and talented dJ soda will take centerstage at the Halloween Haunted Party, a themed celebration of some of their best hits. Guests can have an epic Halloween with these globally recognized artists for only P1,500 (early bird ticket) or P2,000 (regular ticket).

H

ALL ABOARD. take the family on a luxurious holiday cruise on board superstar Virgo whose concept cruises will set sail starting dec. 4.

oLIdays are the most exciting time of the year when families get together and make wonderful memories. those who plan outof-town trips to celebrate the joyous occasion can enjoy the season traveling to new destinations aboard a luxury ship. star cruises’ superstar Virgo brings its extravagant concept cruises for a hassle-frree holiday cruise across asia’s top destinations. In december, holidaymakers can choose from a spectacular lineup of theme cruises and enjoy five-night journeys to the beaches in southern china and explore idyllic locations in Vietnam.

Concert cruise

those who want to watch the moonlight over the sea with accompanying classical music can book the much-anticipated concert cruise and be serenaded

by the talented vocal harmony group, the company. the quintet will perform their signature love songs and christmas carols for superstar Virgo guests to welcome the yuletide celebration starting dec. 4. the world-famous Manila PhilHarmonic orchestra will also board the ship on dec. 9 to showcase their masterpieces.

Festive cooking

celebrity chef sandy daza will lead the festive cooking cruise sailing on dec. 14 through Vietnam with cooking demonstrations on how to make his well-loved dishes

in time for christmas feasts and merriments. chef sandy will also share tips on how to create holiday memories with children over the love of food and cooking.

dJ soda will play spine-chilling hits during the party.

Delectable delights

For a feast fit for the occasion, okada Manila presents Halloweenthemed dessert offerings at the Lobby Lounge in the Pearl Wing Lobby and the Medley buffet by the retail boulevard, Pearl Wing.

White chocolate cake with banana and caramel Ghost and Pumpkin cheesecake with Pandan and Mango opera are served at the Lobby Lounge, while the Medley buffet offers chocolate Mud cake with rainforest Worms and creepy chocolate Mousse with almond Fingers.

Visit www.okadamanila.com or like Okada Manila on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information.

Reflection on vacation

star cruises' superstar Virgo offers extravagant concept cruises for the holidays.

Fun...

From D1 play either as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, or yoshi in the action-packed Mario Kart universe, racing through an exciting obstacle course filled with menacing creatures that attempt to crush the players. the Hospital escape terror is another thrilling adventure Vr station which may be played by up to four participants who are 13 years old and above. those who are pregnant or with medical conditions are advised not to play this game for the sheer horror and shock elements that come with it. the players have the goal to survive by escaping the dark, cursed, and abandoned hospital, within nine minutes, while being restrained on a wheelchair. the third Vr station was what I enjoyed the most. the ski rodeo makes the player ski down a vast snowy mountain course with sharp slopes and steep drops at an immense speed, with the goal to finish at the fastest time possible or within the allotted two minutes.

I enjoyed the cold wind caressing my face as I skied down the slope in this Vr game, enhancing the feeling of “really being there.” of course, I died four times as I smashed against a large tree trunk twice, crashed against a boulder once, and fell into a deep ravine once. but, it was fun and I enjoyed it.

Going hand in hand with these exciting one-of-a-kind Vr games is a selection of 10 food and beverage trucks and trailers offering a wide variety of culinary specialties from the global arena. and, what makes the casual din-

take a grandiose selfie with the family at the Grand Piazza.

Formally opening the Garage are (from left) yukiharu tamiya, manager of bandai namco amusement; Kevin benning, city of dreams Manila’s chief operating officer; and ruichi osada, project manager of Vr Zones

ing experience in this city of dreams venue truly significant is its sustainability drive, using only eco-friendly, biodegradable, and compostable plates, utensils, and take-out bags. the bar offers carefully prepared cocktails, iced teas, and mocktails, the names of which are enough to entice any thirsty, fun-loving individual—six Pack, sit on the beach, Love and Passion, and others.

of course, I had to queue up for everybody’s favorite food stand—chocol8, which sells handcrafted chocolates in many shapes, and enhanced by fruits, nuts, and spices. I ended up tasting everything on display, as each specially-made confection looked deliciously attractive.

Known here in Metro Manila as the home of street tacos, el chupacabra serves them in a freshly made soft corn

superstar Virgo partners with executive resources, Inc. to board preacher, bo sanchez, who will render inspirational talks on the cruise while en route to Vietnam starting on dec. 19. special daily masses will also be held throughout the trip to mirror the traditional Simbang Gabi, capped by the christmas eve mass. the ship will be ready and decked out in the most festive decorations and will also offer the

best onboard activities and gourmet delights fit for the holiday party at sea. special sales promotions of seniors cruise Free and Kids cruise Free are available for those who will book trips now until nov. 15. the concept cruises are set to sail starting dec. 4 and will make its way to Vietnam and china.

Vacationers can also toast to the new year on the tropical islands of coron, Puerto Princesa, or Kota Kinabalu with a grand finale cruise departing on Jan. 3, 2019.

Booking can be done through any local travel agency or via starcruises.com. Call (02) 836-6080 for more information.

tortilla made from corn masa, with angeles, so you can imagine how your choice of filling, then topped with glad I am to have them here in Manila. chopped onions and fresh cilantro. their hotdogs and burgers are beyond yum! I am now a fan of its supremely compare. they are so appetizing that, satisfying taste! sometimes, I can finish two servings in the Farmacy gives out the best one sweep. medicine any sweet tooth can ever also present at the Garage is the have—home-made ice cream in a va- younger “sibling” of Wild Flour—Little riety of flavors. of course, you can also Flour, which serves all-day brunch and have their thick milkshakes, sundaes, rice-bowls that are always attractive floats, ice cream sandwiches, or ice to the Filipino palate. then there is cream bars. I tell you, this food stall is a Juiced which offers freshly squeezed paradise of frozen delights. juices, smoothies, and slushies that there are can quench two Japaanybody’s nese food thirst, while trucks you the roaster YOUR weekend CHUCkLe can choose is where one from. one should go to Little Johnny asks the teacher, “Mrs. is Hokkaido for premium roberts, can I be punished for something ramen sanarabica and I haven’t done?” touka, which robusta cofMrs. roberts is shocked, “of course not, is widely fee freshly Johnny, that would be very unfair!” known for roasted inLittle Johnny is relieved, “oK Mrs. robits superb house. erts, I haven’t done my homework.” ramen in of course, mild, pearlItalian flacolored vor can be tonkotsu had at Pizsoup, with vegetables, dried fish, kelp, za Grigliata, serving artisanal pizza and other special ingredients. grilled and torched to perfection. the other is Katsu sora, which is talk- there are many varieties to choose ed about as having the highest quality from but my favorite is the Quattro pork tonkatsu. they use pork that is Formaggi Pizza. either Iberico Pork that has butter-like With the Garage in full operation, texture, or the marbled shimofuri Pork city of dreams Manila has certainly that is tender and flavorful, or the melt- changed the landscape of entertainin-your-mouth goodness of Kurobuta ment and dining here in the metro.

Pork, or the sakura Pork which has a thank goodness for that, you, your moist, mild flavor. as far as I’m con- family and friends can now park yourcerned, any of these four makes for a selves and have fun at the Garage. very appetizing meal.

Pink’s Hot dog has been my favorFor feedback, I’m at ite comfort food every time I visit Los bobzozobrado@gmail.com.

Entertainment

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2018

JB

SALIBA

ON A MISSION TO CONQUER THE WORLD FINE SPECIMEN. Mr. World Philippines 2018 JB Saliba is an budding actor, a fitness enthusiasts and an athlete.

By Eton Concepcion

J

ODY Baines “JB” Saliba was crowned Mr. World Philippines 2018 besting 15 other dashing contestants during the pageant’s coronation night held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Pasay City on Tuesday night.

Twenty-five-year-old JB Saliba edged out 15 other candidates at this year's Mr. World Philippines and will represent the country at the 10th edition of the international male pageant in January.

(Photo from Rappler).

JB, a 25-year-old Sports Science major of UP Diliman and a former member of the UP Maroons baseball team, earned the right to represent the country at the 10th Mr. World pageant which Manila will be hosting for the first time on Jan. 27 next year.

He succeeded Mr. World Philippines 2016 John Spainhour.

An aspiring actor from Olongapo City, JB, in tandem with father Jody, was 5th placer in TV5’s Amazing Race Philippines Season 2 in 2014 and appeared in an episode of GMA 7 drama anthology Karelasyon in 2015. He has finished co-starring in an upcoming indie movie.

During the pageant night, JB walked away with the Best Skin, Mr. Bench Body, Mr. Blue Water Day Spa and Mr. Techno Marine sponsor awards.

Right after winning the title, JB took to his Facebbok page to share his being overwhelmed and feeling surreal. He also thanked his friends, family, and the City of Olongapo for the trust and the support.

“I couldn’t have done it without you all. I am grateful for all the trust, support and love that you all have given to me. Thank you so much! To my family who has been always there for me, to my friends who believed in me since day 1, to the City of Olongapo, thank you for all the support,” he said.

Other winners were Marco Poli, a 25-yearold Filipino-Italian from Matabungkay, Batangas and a member of the U23 Philippine national football team, who was named Mr. Supranational Philippines; Robin Hanrath, a 20-year-old Filipino-Dutch from Laguna and a graduating student major in Agricultural Economics at UP Los Baños, took the title of Mr. Eco International Philippines; and Denver Hernandez, a 24-year-old native of Malvar, Batangas who was brought up in Italy, won as Mr. Multinational Philippines.

Poli also won Best in Formal Wear while Hanrath was named Mr. Photogenic. Hernandez bagged the Mr. Bench and Mr. Multimedia Challenge special awards.

Named first and second runners up were former college basketball players Ameen Sardouk, a HalfLebanese Export Management graduating student at College of St. Benilde and a finalist of Century Tuna Superbods 2016; and Wilfred Placencia, Jr., a Political Science graduate of Silliman University from Dumaguete City.

Showbiz scion Gabs Gibbs

MEET GABS GIBBS GABS Gibbs, the youngest daughter of actors Janno Gibbs and Bing Loyzaga, takes on the newest guest editor role for leading celebrity lifestyle website ABS-CBN Lifestyle this beauty month of October.

A beauty blogger, makeup artist, businesswoman, performer, brand ambassadress, and social media influencer, Gabs is keen on sharing her expertise on makeup, skincare, hair, and everything about looking good with gusto and youthful vibrance. She also shares her thoughts on more personal matters for the first time including family, fame, and relationships.

At 21 years old, Gabs is the youngest yet since the site started having monthly celebrity editors last July.

“It seemed like yesterday when Janno Gibbs and Bing Loyzaga’s bunso was just following her equally fashionable sister Chi’s foray into the world of style,” said ABS-CBN Lifestyle editor-inchief Barry Viloria.

“This time, we are seeing Gabs spread her wings more on her own to rule the beauty world one double tap at a time,” Barry added. “Albeit her age, our newest ABS-CBN Lifestyle Inspo carries the maturity in many of her writings. Better log on.”

Check out the exciting reads and videos with Gabs, the #ABSCBNLifestyleInspo for the whole month. Catch more Inspiring Stellar Stories on ABSCBN Lifestyle by logging on to Lifestyle.ABS-CBN.com.

KATHNIEL, ELLA, ZANJOE IN KBO’S HALLOW WEEKEND

SPOOKY BUT CUTIE HALLOWEEN WITH XIA IN ARANETA CENTER KIDS and the entire family are in for nothing but treats as Araneta Center celebrates “A Goosebumps Halloween” today at the Gateway Mall, Ali Mall and Farmers Plaza.

While this time of the year is generally associated with scares, Araneta Center amps up the cuteness with child star Xia Vigor who will grace the festivities at the Gateway Mall.

One of the adorable judges in the hit ABS-CBN show The Kids’ Choice, Vigor is tipped to give her expert opinion as she will serve as one of the judges in Araneta Center’s Halloween costume contest. The 9-year-old Vigor, of course, knows a thing or two about playing dress up, having placed fifth in Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids, where she had to imitate the appearance and singing style of various singers.

Kids aged zero to 12 who wish to join the costume contest are encouraged to draw inspiration for their “spooky” look from the movie Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween. Distributed by Columbia Pictures Philippines, the sequel to the 2015 hit will be shown in the Gateway Mall Cineplex, Ali Mall Cineplex and other cinemas nationwide starting Oct. 31.

D3

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

Cash prizes of up to P5,000 and other gifts are in store for the winners of the costume contest.

Aside from the costume contest, kid registrants will also be entitled to join the trick or treat around the malls and other side activities.

To register, one must just present a single receipt purchase worth P700 dated October 28 from any Araneta Center establishment. Registration starts at 11:00 a.m. .

Those who are not into ghost-hunting this season can bargain-hunt instead as Araneta Center will also hold a Halloween Sale from October 26 to 28. Shoppers will surely be spellbound by deals of up to 70 percent off in participating stores at the Gateway Mall, Ali Mall and Farmers Plaza.

The Araneta Center started its Halloween festivities last Oct. 13 and 14 with the “Hallowkiddies Film Fest,” featuring four exhilarating movies. Pets in their adorable get-ups then hogged the limelight on Oct. 21 in the “Pet Pals Howl-o-Ween Party” at the Ali Mall.

For more updates, visit www.aranetacenter.net and follow Araneta Center’s social media pages: @AranetaCenter on Facebook and Twitter and @TheAranetaCenter on Instagram.

A HALLOWEEN treat awaits KBO viewers this weekend as it features the suspense and horror films of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, Ella Cruz, and Zanjoe Marudo this weekend.

Airing for the first time is Cry No Fear, which stars Ella and Donnalyn Bartolome.

They portray half-sisters Kaycee and Wendy respectively, who don’t like each other. One night as they are left alone in their house, a group of intruders breaks into their home and tries to kill them. They are left with no choice but to get along and plan their escape.

Kathryn and Daniel’s only horror film, Pagpag, brings the story of a group of friends that stayed in a house of a woman who is currently mourning for her husband. During their stay in the house, each of them violates the ‘rules’ of Filipinos attending a funeral.

Soon, a series of unfortunate events happens to them.

Viewers will also get to watch To Love Some Buddy star Zanjoe Marudo in Maria, Leonora, Teresa as Julio, one of the parents whose child died in a field trip. To cope with their loss, their psychiatrist, Manolo (Cris Villanueva) gives them dolls. Little do they know that the toy they kept is controlled by a sinister master.

Joining the line-up this Sunday are Sue Ramirez’s The Debutants, and Pokwang’s Wang Fam.

'Cry No Fear' stars Ella Cruz and Donnalyn Bartolome

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sunday, october 28, 2018

Desiree Carlos, Editor

Pets

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

AnorexiA in cAts

MAy leAd to liver FAilure C

By Dexter Mercurio, D.V.M.

ATS can not go on for more than two weeks without any adverse effect on their bodily processes.

Cats require a relatively large amount of protein as fuel. In times of starvation, the cat’s liver will take up fat from the body’s reserves. This is a survival mechanism as the liver turns fat into usable energy. However, this process changes the liver and turns it into fat. The condition is called hepatic lipidosis, a disease that renders the liver nonfunctional if left untreated.

Anorexia or inappetence in cats may have dire consequences if not addressed quickly. There are many different reasons the cat does not want to eat. Your veterinarian will look for the underlying cause.

While the primary cause is being treated, the patient must be fed with a high quality diet to prevent the onset of hepatic lipidosis.

PetMD listed the following signs of hepatic lipidosis: 1. Prolonged anorexia (often if

several week duration) 2. Rapid weight loss 3. Vomiting 4. Diarrhea 5. Constipation 6. Muscle wasting 7. Depression 8. Downward flexion of head and neck 9. Jaundice (e.g. yellowing of eyes) 10. Drooling 11. Cat may collapse in the latter stages Other symptoms will be related to a concurrent, underlying disease.

Different techniques may be employed to get the cat to eat.

An appetite stimulant may be prescribed along with syringe feeding.

If the patient is not eating, an esophagostomy tube may be surgically placed.

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

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

Tigra, a rescued cat, and her kittens are now completing their vaccination to keep them healthy and protected against communicable diseases. Prevention is always better. So is bringing your pet to the vet, instead of "self-medicating," when you see something different in your pet like loss of appetite, weight loss, and vomiting, among others.

About the Author: Dr. Dexter Mercurio, or Doc Dex to patients and owners of pets, is a graduate from the University of the Philippine and the head veterinarian of Vets in Practice in White Plains, Quezon City.

Author Dr. Mercurio checks Blue, a rescued cat. Blue was immediately brought to the clinic when she started to lose her appetite. It is advised that an owner brings his or her pet to the clinic when there is a change in behavior. Immediate medical intervention will save your pet's life.

BELOVED PETS REMEMBERED. Owners of beloved dogs and cats who have crossed the rainbow bridge also visit their dogs and cats who they considered as members of their family on All Souls Day. As early as Thursday, October 25, 2018, owners asked boys at the Manila North Cemetery to clean the tombs of their pets. Other owners not only visit their pets' final resting place regularly but also adopted rescued animals from shelters and pounds to honor their pets. Norman Cruz

iMportAnt tips For cAring For kittens (Last part) AS THE furparent, you are now the kitten’s guide in a world which you can show the kitten as wonderful and awesome.

You can indeed make her/ his world such a wondrous place with a lot of love, patience, kindness, training and socialization.

Selllers enumerated the following training and socialization methods: • A kitten will use a litter box by instinct but do help the kitten by placing her in the box after every meal and play session.

“Make sure the litter box is always available to your kitten and cleaned frequently,” Sellers said.

• Pet her as often as you can.

• Comb and groom the kitten weekly.

• Give the kitten a lot of toys • Let the kitten walk on different walking surfaces like a carpet or linoleum, among others.

• You can bring her outside on a lead or in a carrier. “It can be very dangerous to allow a kitten outside without one. However, before providing any outdoor exposure ,be sure your veterinarian has administered the proper vaccines and enough time has passed for your kitten to build immunity,” Sellers stressed.

• Provide boxes, paper bags and other stuff to explore.

• It is good to play loud music and make noise so the kitten will get used to this.

Zac loves to play with carton boxes and is friendly with other cats—old or young.

When he was about two weeks old, he started his favorite activity: he would lie on his back and ask for belly rubs. After these "activities," specially after eating, he will find a cool place to sleep. Joey Salgado • Ask friends to visit and to play with the kitten and give treats.

• Make sure there is a scratching alternative like scratching posts or carton boxes.

Do reward the kitten with praise, treats and toys when she uses the scratching post.

• Never allow the kitten to bite or scratch during play. When she does, you can distract her or redirect her attention to a toy.

• It is best to expose her to other cats and kittens once their vaccination is complete. “There are even kitten socialization classes; do an internet search to see if any are available in your area, “ Sellers said.

• Kittens enjoy car rides. Give her treats the

whole time and let her get used to her carrier.

• Always reward friendly behavior with treats or praise.

• Ignore her when she displays inappropriate behavior. Do not reprimand bad behavior.

• Teach her tricks to challenge your kitten to think.

• Be patient. Always.

3) Preventive care should be a priority A kitten can enjoy good health for a lifetime if you provide preventive care. Here are tips from Sellers: *Schedule an appointment. Bring your kitten to the vet within the first week of

getting her. “Early and frequent vet visits will help socialize your kitten with the vet and help the vet establish a baseline for your kitten’s health,” Sellers said. *Ask the vet about intestinal parasites, fleas and heartworm. “Have a veterinarian check your kitten for worms and intestinal parasites, and have her de-wormed, if necessary. And while heartworms aren’t as much of a problem for cats as they are for dogs, some kittens may be susceptible, so also ask your vet if he or she recommends a heartworm preventative. The biggest parasitic threat to your kitten, however, is fleas. You can start administering topical flea preventatives when your kitten is around 8 to 12 weeks of age — although some brands are formulated for kittens as young as 4 weeks old, “ Sellers shared. *Ask about vaccinations. “ Preventive care for kittens may include vaccines for feline leukemia, rabies and distemper.

These shots are usually first administered when a kitten is around 8 weeks of age, with boosters given every few weeks until she reaches 16 weeks of age. After that, your veterinarian can set her up on an adult vaccination schedule. He or she may also recommend additional vaccinations.

These building blocks will give your kitten the best possible start in life, but don’t forget that she’ll still need plenty of attention and care when she gets older, Sellers stressed. DC

TWIXIE, born Aug. 8, 2018, is a chowchow who was supposed to be given to the aunt of Gab Barraquias as a gift.

But the family had “a change of plans,” Gab says.

At two months old, “our daddy taught her to sit patiently and wait for the go signal before she can start eating,” Gab says.

“Twixie is very fluffy and playful. Isn't she a cutie!!! We love her to the moon and back!!” Gab says.

DOXY (right), a dachshund born on July 5, 2013, was given to Elaine Joshua by a very close family friend.

“She is very patient and the smartest doggo in the group, says Elaine.

Elaine adds: “At four months old, she knows how to climb up the sofa bed and even finds her way up the tables.

She loves to bark at you if she wants a treat and shows you where the treat is.

That’s our Doxy girl!”

BEANNIE (left), is a dachshund born on January 24, 2016, and a younger sister of Doxy.

“She is our most well groomed dog in terms of smell! And our forever cry baby! But she is very sweet to everybody and loves the attention,“ Elaine adds.

Doxy and Beannie both love the beach.

“We super love our fur babies as they give us sooo much love and happiness in our home. They have different personalities which make it much more fun here . They are so sweet and they are our love cuddles,” says Elaine.

Editor's note: These stories were compiled by admin Miks Lim of Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL), a SEC-registered animal welfare group that helps animals in need, and encourages and promotes responsible pet ownership, adoption of rescued dogs and cats from fosters, shelters and pounds, and spaying and neutering of pets to control animal population in the country, among others.