Manila Standard - 2018 November 4 - Sunday

OIL PRICE ROLLBACK: P1.10/LITER

By Alena Mae S. Flores

VOL. XXXII • NO. 262 • 4 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

EARLY XMAS RELIEF BAN ON ROAD DIGGINGS STARTS—MMDA

PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines led the latest price rollback of as much as P1.10 per liter effective 6 am Sunday.

“For the 4th straight week and for motorists to enjoy lower pump prices for the long weekend, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines will decrease the prices of gasoline by P1.10 per liter and diesel by P1 per liter effective 6 am of 04 November 2018,” the company said in its advisory.

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DESTINATIONS/D1

EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE DESTINATIONS IN

By Joel E. Zurbano

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EGINNING tomorrow until next Jan. 14, there will be no road works and diggings in Metro Manila to provide relief to commuters and motorists during the Christmas season when traffic is expected to be heavy.

ASIA PACIFIC

Jose Arturo Garcia Jr., general manager of the Metro Manila Development Authority, said the agency would impose the three-month moratorium on road works to somehow reduce anticipated traffic congestion, particularly along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, during the holidays.

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SERENE SURROUNDING.

Pico de Loro—or Parrot’s Beak—Cove, a 40-hectare 'Residential Resort Village' in Batangas south of Manila, offers a quiet environment for dwellers of the metropolis wanting to escape from the roughand-tumble atmosphere and levels of stress of the national capital, giving them an exhilarating view of mountains and placid waters of the cove.

Sonny Espiritu A4

CROP DAMAGE, DEATH TOLL PILING UP

RED-HOT SEARCH. This handout from the Department

of Public Works and Highways, taken and released on Oct. 31, shows rescuers looking for survivors after a landslide in Natonin, Mountain Province where they used hand tools in a desperate search for some 20 people buried after Typhoon 'Rosita' whacked northern Philippines. AFP

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By Vito Barcelo

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FOX LEAVES PH, LOSES BID FOR VISA EXTENSION

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POWERFUL Typhoon ''Rosita'' has left a heart-rending trace of destruction in lives and the agriculture sector, with more than 90,000 hectares of land smashed in the Cordilleras, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said Saturday the agriculture sector damage had reached, as of weekend, P1.82 billion although the figure had yet to be validated.

In the meanwhile the number of bodies retrieved from the landslide area in Natonin, Mountain Province in the Cordilleras had climbed to 14, according to local officials.

In a report by James Agustin on GMA News’ Balitanghali on Saturday which was heard nationwide, Natonin Mayor Mateo Chiyawan said of the 14 bodies recovered, 11 had been identified while three remained without identities.

The incident command post data still lists 12 bodies as having been recovered from ground zero as of Oct. 31, excluding the body parts, while 16 are still missing.

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2018

By Joel E. Zurbano

USTRALIAN missionary sister Patricia Fox is banned from returning to the Philippines after the Bureau of Immigration included her name in the list of blacklist order and ordered her to leave after the bureau denied the nun’s petition to extend her Temporary Visitor’s Visa.

BI Spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval said the BI has denied with finality Fox’s request to extend her stay in the country in an order dated Oct. 31.

The 72-year-old missionary was to leave the country before her visa expired on Nov. 3 or she will be declared overstaying and undocumented alien, according to her lawyers.

“It is not mandatory for the BI to extend an alien’s visa, especially a foreigner who has been proven to have violated immigration laws,” Sandoval said.

“The law is clear, the entry and admission of an alien is a matter of privilege, and not a right,” she added.

Fox had been the subject of a deportation order last July for violating the conditions of her stay and for undesirability, due to her participation in partisan political activities, which she has not denied.

“These activities do not fall within the ambit of the religious missionary visa given to her,” said Sandoval. “She never represented her congregation in these events, but instead represented different cause-oriented groups.”

The denial of her plea for extension, Sandoval said, is without prejudice to her appeal to the Justice Department on her deportation.

“For now, she is required to exit the country

BLACKLISTED. Australian nun Patricia Fox waves as she leaves her house on Nov. 3, 2018. The Australian nun, who battled a government bid to expel her from the Philippines after she angered President Rodrigo Duterte, said she will leave rather than face certain arrest and deportation. AFP before the expiry of her visa. She is also currently in the blacklist,” but added that they have to “wait for the decision of the Department of Justice on her deportation” to know if she can still return to the Philippines.

Fox on Saturday joined a thanksgiving Mass in Quezon City, hours before her departure from the country.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in a statement on Saturday said that the expulsion of Sr. Fox is a “great injustice.”

“Her being forced to leave the Philippines is a great injustice. The Duterte regime has treated her solidarity with the poor as something undesirable and criminal,” Bayan secretary general Renato

Reyes said in a statement.

Immigration denied the nun’s application for the extension of her temporary visitor’s visa and ordered her to leave the country on Nov. 3, said the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), which is representing her.

Fox was accused of joining “political activities” prohibited among foreigners. While she admitted to participating in fact-finding missions and advocating for social justice causes, she maintains her activities are within the scope of her missionary work and are protected by guarantees to free speech and assembly.

She was first arrested then released pending further probe by Philippine authorities in April.

ZAMBO COPS ARREST 2 FUGITIVES

XMAS IN THE CITY. Eastwood City Mall in Quezon City has installed its Christmas lights at the mall’s plaza in preparation for a months-long Christmas celebration. Manny Palmero

ZAMBOANGA CITY—An escapee and a most wanted person were arrested in separate operations in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, a police official said Saturday.

Chief Insp. Helen Galvez, information officer of Police Regional Office 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), identified the two as Bernabe Lumawas, who escaped from prison more than five years ago; and Edwin Ongub, 45, listed as most wanted person.

Lumawas was arrested in Purok 3, Barangay Macasing, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur at about 5 a.m. Friday.

He is facing an additional charge of illegal possession of firearms after a caliber .38 revolver with six ammunitions was seized from him during his arrest, Galvez said.

Lumawas was serving prison time for double homicide when he escaped from the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Barangay Talisayan, this city on May 12, 2013.

Meanwhile, Ongub was arrested in Purok Matamad, Barangay Tabon, Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur at about 3:30 am Friday. He yielded two fragmentation grenades.

Galvez said Ongub is listed as the No. 1 most wanted person in Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur. He has two standing warrants of arrest for the crime of murder with no recommended bail and qualified theft with P24,000 recommended bail. PNA

BAR EXAMS AT UST START; ALCOHOL BAN TAKES EFFECT—PNP AT LEAST 434 policemen will tighten security around the vicinity of the University of Santo Tomas as the annual bar examination starts today (Sunday, Nov. 4), National Capital Region Police Office Director, Chief Supt.

Guillermo Eleazar, said Saturday.

Eleazar reminded all examinees, their relatives and friends, and residents in the vicinity that the ban on alcoholic drinks, starting Saturday evenings until the whole of Sunday, will be strictly enforced.

Violators, he said, will be brought to police precincts and booked accordingly.

The Supreme Court’s Office of the Confidant announced that 8,701 examinees have applied to take the bar examinations that will be held in UST for four consecutive Sundays this November.

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MAKATI SETS EMERGENCY MEET IN WAKE OF GAS LEAK

“The Annual Bar Exams are milestones in our yearly calendar. The police will uphold the importance of these days and protect the significance of these days to our country’s judicial system,” the NCRPO chief said.

“We will exhaust all efforts to ensure peace and order for the sake of the examinees and their families,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Manila Police District has organized and activated Task Force “2018 BarOps” to direct, administer and supervise security, anti-criminality operations, emergency preparedness, and crisis response procedures for the peaceful and orderly conduct of the activity.

More than 400 MPD personnel would be deployed in and around UST. The establishment of the Advance

Command Post and emergency lane will start at 7 a.m. of Saturday (Nov. 3).

Explosive and Ordnance Disposal (EOD) paneling and CCTV monitoring in all four corners of the UST campus will be done as early as 4 a.m. on Nov. 4.

The MPD, under Chief Supt. Rolando Anduyan, said it will also double its efforts and heighten security on several points of convergence.

Anduyan also warned the public against criminal modus operandi in the area, urging them to be vigilant and alert.

“This year has the highest number of bar candidates in recent years,” the SC said in a statement.

A total of 6,831 examinees took the 2016 bar exams and there were 6,748 examinees

during the 2017 bar exams.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has set up contingency plans for examinees and duty personnel in case of heavy rains and flooding during the examination dates.

The SC said 10 buses shall be available to transport examinees and duty personnel to the UST from several pick-up points and will be stationed as early as 4:30 a.m. and will leave at 5 a.m.

These pick-up points are the Quezon City Memorial Circle near the Philippine Coconut Authority (two buses); Park and Ride, Lawton, Manila (one bus); SC New Building Compound, Taft Ave. (two buses); Greenbelt and Glorietta, Ayala Center, Makati (two buses); and Marikina Sports Complex (one bus). PNA

MAKATI City government officials on Monday will hold an emergency meeting with operators and owners of all gasoline stations in the city to prevent a repeat of the potentially disastrous gas leak in Barangay Bangkal.

Mayor Abigail Binay tapped acting city administrator Michael Camina to call for an urgent meeting scheduled at 1 pm Monday in City Hall to discuss preemptive measures and security matters to ensure public safety.

Camina said Binay wants the gasoline station owners to ensure regular inspections of their fuel line and tanks, and to promptly notify City Hall should there be any problem.

“We need to reiterate safety guidelines for gasoline stations to prevent any more gas leaks in the future.

Business owners should see to it that their fuel line and tanks are regularly and thoroughly inspected. Their managers must also keep track of daily sales volume versus inventory to detect any large discrepancy that may indicate a leak,” Camiña said.

Binay, meanwhile, commended the Makati Fire Department and city officials comprising the Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for their immediate response to contain the leak from Phoenix Gasoline Station located at the corner of Estrella and Evangelista Streets that flowed into the drainage system in the barangay.

The gas leak was verified Wednesday evening by an investigation team from the fire bureau, and was subsequently traced to the Phoenix Gasoline Station.

Binay said within 24 hours after Makati Fire Marshal Roy Quisto first notified MDRRMC members about the gas leak, it was effectively resolved without causing any damage to lives and properties.

“A potentially disastrous incident has been averted, thanks to the fast action and effective collaboration among key officials of the local DRRM Council from the protective and administrative sectors,” said Binay.

The mayor attributed the successful resolution of the incident to the close coordination between key officials of City Hall and the fire bureau, who maintained constant communication and exchanged real-time and accurate information on the ongoing operations at the site of the gas leak.

‘UNDAS’ GENERALLY PEACEFUL IN MM THE observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in Metro Manila was generally peaceful, National Capital Region Police Office Director, Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar said Saturday.

“This evident success is a product of our effective law enforcement and tight security measures implemented across the region,” Eleazar said in a statement.

He said that despite the anticipated influx of people to vital installations and areas of convergence, particularly cemeteries during the holiday, the NCRPO managed to maintain peace and order and public safety.

“In addition, there was no major untoward incident nor atrocious activity reported except confiscations of several prohibited items,” he said.

Eleazar also commended the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, local government units and other government agencies for working hand in hand to provide and ensure safety and security in carrying out “Ligtas Undas” 2018.

He likewise thanked the public for their vigilance and cooperation, which has been “part and parcel of this year’s safe and sound observance.”

Meanwhile, an estimated 1.5 million people visited the Manila North Cemetery, the country’s largest public cemetery.

Most of the country’s leaders are interred there, among them former presidents Sergio Osmeña, Manuel Roxas, and Ramon Magsaysay. PNA

ENTERTAINMENT/ D3

DFGJD KJDSF DSF DSKFKD DFGJD THERESE MALVAR

AN ACTING GEM IN LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT SCENE

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REDS DOWNPLAY DU30'S CREATION OF TASK FORCE THE Communist Party of the Philippines has described the anti-NPA Task Force of the Duterte administration will “fail in weakening the NPA [New People’s Army]”—a description that immediately was critized by Malacañang.

“Duterte’s anti-NPA Task Force will...fail in weakening the NPA. On the contrary, with his strongman tactics, [President Rodrigo] Duterte is succeeding only in pushing more and more people to join and support the New People’s Army,” the CPP said in a statement released on Friday.

The day earlier, Duterte announced the creation of a national task force to “address the armed conflict occasioned by the local communists.”

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said: “The President was unwavering with regard to the issue as a result of the communist group’s efforts in infiltrating and overthrowing the government.”

But the CPP said such a move was merely a rehash of the “whole-of-government” approach of the Aquino administration “in line with the US counterinsurgency doctrine.”

The CPP said in its statement: “It aims to mobilize and train efforts of all state agencies to deceive the people by pretending to address poverty with superficial programs.

“This will be combined with so-called ‘localized peace talks’ combined with corruption-laden ‘integration programs.’”

Malacanang said: “Sison’s statement is self-serving, obviously he cannot say that the creation of the Task Force will weaken the NPA.” The Armed Forces of the Philippines proposed to Duterte the creation of a national task force to end insurgency, an apparent bid to counter communist rebels’ broad coalition to oust Duterte.

In the proposal, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. said the primary aim of such task force was to cut off recruitment by the CPP and the NPA, its armed component.

“We have to stop the recruitment and the recruitment is coming from the schools, from the student activism,” the AFP said, adding that the most vulnerable sectors for the CPP-NPA “brainwashing” were the schools, the labor sector and the indigenous people.

The primary aspect of the strategy was to cut off recruitment by the CPP-NPA. However, the CPP claimed that such plan would eventually fail, saying, Duterte is succeeding only in pushing more and more people to join and support the New People’s Army.

Panelo, however, said it is the communist rebels who have failed in their struggle to overthrow the government.

“The fact of the matter is that it has not succeeded in 50 years overthrowing the government,” the Presidential Spokesperson said.

“It has only succeeded in alienating itself from the masses of our people by their atrocious assaults on hapless victims by their ambushes of soldiers, policemen and civilians alike, by their unlawful and forcible collection of revolutionary taxes and their destruction of the properties who fail to fail or refuse to give in,” he added.

OIL PRICE...

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Other oil companies are expected to follow suit.

On Nov. 1, the oil firms cut cooking gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices by a hefty P7.50 per kilo or P82.50 per 11-kilo LNG tank effective 12:01 am Nov. 1 to reflect the lower contract price of LPG in the world market for November.

The oil firms also cut auto LPG prices

by P4.20 per liter.

The huge rollback for LPG followed the big-time rollback implemented by the oil companies early in the week of as much as P1.50 to P1.65 per liter for gasoline, P0.60 per liter for diesel and P0.65 per liter for kerosene.

Year-to-date adjustments prior to the rollback implemented by Phoenix 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.

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

World oil prices have declined recently but the market remains positive on the supply security due to the several developments, the Department of Energy said in its monitoring report.

It said oil prices continued the downward trend after reports of strong build in US crude stockpiles and increased confidence about availability of supplies towards the end of the year and into early 2019.

Traders also noted that Iran’s exports have not declined as much as predicted a couple of months ago and it is now clear they will not fall to zero, even after US sanctions are imposed against Iran.

WAR ON IS-LINKED MAUTE GAINING STEAM—POLICE

By Francisco Tuyay

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IDE-SCALE military and police operations against the identified terrorist Islamic State-inspired Maute group operating in Maguindanao and nearby provinces continued to gain ground, forcing an operative to yield at the adjoining province of Lanao del Sur. Chief Supt Graciano Mijares, police director in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, identified the alleged Maute/IS group member as Camal Tawakal Marcos, a farmer and resident of Barangay Tambac Man-

tapoli, Lumbatan town.

Mijares said an M16 rifle, a supposedly issued firearm of Marcos in the terrorist organization, was given to police authorities.

Marcos’ surrender brings to 40 the

number of Maute fighters to have surrendered following the demise of their leader Omar Maute who was killed by security forces during the five-month intense fighting in Marawi City in 2017.

Mijares said the surrender of the Maute group member occurred after the Lumbatan Municipal Police Station received an information on Marcos plan to yield, prompting town mayor Allan Lao to help in the surrender.

Mijares said after receipt of Marcos’ plan, police led by SP01 Tohamie Mortaba proceeded to Tambac village to do “a profile” parallel to the synchronize efforts of the Army’s 55th Infantry Battalion deployed in the area.

“We are working closely with the Philippine Army and our stakeholders to convince the remaining ISIS-Maute terrorist group members to surrender and live normal lives,” Mijares said.

Earlier, seven Maute members surrendered to the military in Pagayawan, Lanao del Sur along with three Garand rifles, a carbine, four caliber .45 pistols and a 9mm pistol.

Recently, the composition of the Maute terrorist group had dwindled with the surrender of six members in Lanao del Sur. They also brought in high-powered firearms, including a locallymanufactured caliber .50 rifle, three M79 grenade launchers and a carbine rifle.

BY THE BAY. Metro Manila promenaders take advantage of the long holiday raised by All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day to catch on the seawall a whiff of fresh wind from Manila Bay, with its picture perfect weekend sunset before 5:27. Ey Acasio

EARLY XMAS...

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“Traffic is already bad and we expect it to get worse as the number of vehicles increases,” he said.

Garcia said the moratorium on road works was also aimed at lessening the impact of ongoing infrastructure projects to heavy traffic situation until holidays were over.

The measure, according to Garcia, covered any diggings in the road right-of-way, including passage ways and sidewalks, within the cities or municipalities of Metro Manila for the installation, repair, or improvement of water pipes, telephone or telegraph wires or cable conduits, sewers and drainage systems, communication and power line improvements being undertaken by any government agency, public and private contractors.

Meanwhile, business hours at shopping malls and other commercial centers in Metro Manila will be open at 11 am beginning tomorrow, the MMDA added.

The MMDA will also start enforcing the ban on daytime delivery of goods to malls in line with the program to ease traffic in the metropolis as the Christmas shopping months draws near.

MMDA Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Celine Pialago said business establishments on major thoroughfares in Metro Manila, especially along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, will begin their operations by

11 am, an hour later from the usual 10 am opening time, during weekdays.

But she said the closing time, would depend on the malls although the MMDA had suggested 11 pm. “It is up to them.”

In a consultative meeting at the MMDA headquarters early last month, mall owners and operators agreed to the implementation of the adjusted mall business hours from Nov. 5 to Jan. 14 next year.

Under the agreement with the MMDA, shopping mall operators will also deploy additional security personnel to facilitate long lines of vehicles going inside mall parking areas that cause traffic gridlock.

The agreement also stated that the nighttime delivery policy would be implemented until Jan. 15 next year.

Delivery trucks and container vans loaded with goods, imported items and other salable merchandise, piled up the streets of Metro Manila, which the government claimed, add to the worsening traffic during the peak buying “ber months”—in reference to the months of September, October, November and December.

The MMDA is expecting a 20 percent increase in traffic volume this Christmas season because of the influx of people and vehicles from Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, and Central Luzon.

Even without the moratorium, the MMDA urged contractors to cover the

diggings with steel plates so that the road could still be used by motorists.

The MMDA had designated 17 routes as Mabuhay or Christmas lanes to help private motorists to avoid heavy traffic along EDSA during the holiday rush.

The special lanes were opened as alternate routes to shorten the travel time of motorists.

Last week, the MMDA gave a go signal to the Department of Public Works and Highways to resume its weekend road reblocking and repair works along major thoroughfares in the metropolis.

The DPWH—National Capital Region Office is now undertaking road reblocking at the following areas: • Southbound lane of Circumferential Road - 5 after Lanuza Avenue and the second outermost southbound lane of C-5 Road near the area of SM Mall Aura, and along the third southbound lane from sidewalk of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in the areas of Scout Albano and Scout Borromeo.

• Northbound lane of EDSA before Oliveros Footbridge near Times Street and UCCP. MMDA chief information officer Sharon Gentalian said the DPWH also startted the restoration and concreting works along the first northbound lane from sidewalk of Roosevelt Avenue corner Baler Street; first southbound lane of West Avenue from Baler Street to Examiner Street;

second and third northbound lanes from sidewalk of Visayas Avenue, and on Commonwealth Avenue near the pedestrian foorbridge, Jocfer Building and Commonwealth Avenue near Zuzuaregui Sreet, all in Quezon City.

“All affected roads will be fully passable by 5 am on Monday. Motorists are advised to avoid the affected areas and use alternate routes instead,” the MMDA advisory stated.

The MMDA clarified that deliveries of perishable goods such as food and ice cream were exempted from the ban.

The mall operators gave their nod to the submission of traffic management plan, which includes deployment of their own traffic personnel, and the management of the queuing of vehicles going to the shopping centers will be coordinated with the MMDA. They also agreed to the no conduct of sales and other crowd-drawing events during weekdays.

Shopping malls and other commercial establishments are said to be traffic generators during ber months, the peak buying months.

MMDA records showed that traffic volume rises 15 to 20 percent between November and December.

It also showed that “midnight sales” or extended mall business hours contribute to the worsened traffic in the metropolis during the Yuletide season.

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But two bodies have since been found after search and retrieval operations in the area, which is near a creek, were extended up to seven kilometers from ground zero on Friday. Some 300 rescuers have been deployed for the operations.

Thirty percent of the operation remains at ground zero while 70 percent is focused on the creek itself and its nearby areas, according to witnesses.

Piñol said rice was the mos t affected commodity by the typhoon, the 18th to hit the country since January, as it recorded damage and losses worth P1.39 billion, affecting 4,921 farmers in Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mt. Province,

La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Zambales.

“This commodity also contributes mainly to the overall damage and losses at 76.67 percent,” Piñol said.

“The affected area is now at 76,696 hectares out of the total rice standing crop of 543,993 hectares, while the volume of production loss is at 73,337 metric tons,” Piñol added.

“Region II is the most affected region in terms of damages and losses in rice amounting to P 1.20 billion (86.47 percent) with Isabela as the most affected province with an amount of P 745.15 million (61.84 percent),” he said.

For corn, the damage incurred was worth P47.02 million affecting 6,824 farmers in the provinces of Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya.

“The affected area is 6,317 hectares out of the total corn standing crop of 96,030 hectares. The estimated volume of production loss is at 519 metric tons.

Most of the affected corn crops are on their seedling stage,” Piñol said.

“Region II is also the most affected region in terms of damage and losses in corn amounting to P45.11 million (95.90 percent) with Isabela as the most affected province with an amount of P 37.61 million [61.84 percent],” he added.

As far as high value crops were concerned, Piñol said the damage and losses reached P373.86 million affecting 7,375 farmers with 7,040 hectares of area and an estimated production loss volume of 24,203 metric tons.

Affected crops included coffee; fruit trees such as banana, mango and rambutan; and assorted vegetables in Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.

For the livestock sector, the damage totaled P2.51 million affecting 20,408 head—comprising 20,334 poultry, 55 swine, 15 goat and 4 sheep—and 81 farmers in Isabela in Cagayan Valley.

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HOUSING RENTALS ROSE DUE TO TRAIN VAT LAW—SOLON

By Maricel V. Cruz

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LEADER of the House of Representatives has called for a drastic cut in the taxes imposed on construction materials.

1-PACMAN Party-ist Rep. Michael Romero said Malacañang should seek ways to prevent an increase in house rental rates that will surely happen if the cost of building houses increases.

Under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, the tax imposed on construction materials increased. In addition, the TRAIN Law imposed higher taxes on other materials and services related to construction.

Construction experts said that the implementation of the TRAIN Law starting this

year has resulted in an increase in the cost of building houses by as much as 30 percent.

“It is clear from the data of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas that housing rentals have increased and this has contributed to the rise in inflation over these past months,” Romero, a House assistant majority leader, said.

Citing the latest inflation data for September, Romero said housing rentals accounted for 0.40 percentage points of the total 6.7 percent inflation that month.

He said Malacañang should jointly task the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council to ensure that landlords and other lessors are not abusing or finding reasons to charge their tenants more to make up for the VAT imposed by the TRAIN Law, as well as pile on additional charges to inflate rent.

“Only those lessors who are VAT-registered should legally claim VAT. Non-VAT-registered

lessors should not use the TRAIN Law as their excuse for raising rent because they are not paying VAT and therefore not paying the right tax on that,” Romero said.

The TRAIN Law (RA 10963) provides that only residential units with monthly rentals not exceeding P15,000 are exempted from VAT. “It so happens that current HUDCC rent control applies only to units ranging from P100 to P10,000.00. Lower middle income households whose monthly rent exceeds P10,000 are therefore at the mercy of lessors and landlords. It is the moral duty of government to protect them from abuse,” Romero said.

Romero added that one way to protect tenants is for the HUDCC to deputize the mayors, governors, and other key LGU officials.

“HUDCC and DILG can formulate implementing rules and regulations on the deputization and details on how LGUs can prevent, detect and take action against abusive lessors and landlords,” Romero said.

DESAPARECIDOS. Families of Desaparecidos, who have nowhere to offer candles or flowers to their disappeared loved ones gather at the Quiapo Church in Manila on All Souls‘ Day, to grieve and call for justice for all victims of enforced disappearances. Norman Cruz

By Vito Barcelo MALACAÑANG heeded the comments of foreign media comparing President Rodrigo Duterte to Brazil’s newly-elected President Jair Messias Bolsonaro who both advocate a hardline policy to stop corruption and criminality.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the comparison is “understandable” given that both are populist leaders who came to power because of their respective peoples’ desire for formidable and decisive leadership.

But Panelo said Duterte’s only similarity with Bolsonaro as of now is that they were both elected by people who want genuine change.

However, the Palace spokesman said that Duterte already has a track

record as chief executive since 2016, while Bolsonaro has yet to assume his post.

“The comparison ends there since Bolsonaro has yet to assume the presidency and will only do so come Jan. 1, 2019. Everything is merely speculative at this point,” Panelo said in a statement.

The Palace official also noted that the comparison was no different from Duterte being likened to US President Donald Trump and other “strong and tough heads of state who implement gallant measures against lawlessness.”

The foreign media observed that both leaders have advocated “shoot to kill” orders against suspected criminals, indulged in outright misogynistic statements, glorified their countries’ past dictators

throughout the 1970s and early1980s, and portrayed their political rivals as enemies of the state.

Both leaders have a similar level of democratic impunity once in power with former military men appointing to Cabinet posts with the promise of bringing stability under firm “iron-fisted” leadership, the media observed.

Bolsonaro is a former officer from the far-right Social Liberal Party who has been accused of misogyny and of being a homophobe.

Bolsonaro’s support for torture and threats to jail political dissidents have prompted political analysts to brand him as Brazil’s first authoritarian leader.

Duterte, on the other hand, has been criticized for his harsh and insensitive remarks against women,

church leaders, and human rights advocates.

The Palace official also said that Duterte has his own unique but effective style of managing the affairs of the bureaucracy and the country—similar to none.

Panelo listed down Duterte’s efforts to reduce crime rate and how the President commenced the dismantling of the drug apparatus with the voluntary surrender of already more than a million drug personalities and for taking a stand against terrorists.

The Palace also noted that Duterte has reduced criminality rate, waged a war on illegal drugs, fired corrupt government officials, thwarted the spread of terrorism in the country, and promoted and protected the country’s environment.

DOH-CALABARZON MEET TACKLES CHALLENGES DOH-CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) recently conducted a “Collaborative Meeting with Development Partners” to commit a coordinated effort and define strategies for overcoming the critical challenges in the operation and management of health facilities in the region held in Pasay City.

The purpose of the meeting was to familiarize health partners in the current health situation in CALABARZON and build a consensus among partner agencies in formulating strategies to address the shortage in health human resource in the operation and management of health facilities.

Among the identified gaps were inadequate hospital staff, unfilled vacant positions, multi-tasking,

‘TOWER SHARING OF TELCOS A BIG BOOST’

AN OPPOSITION leader in the House of Representatives on Saturday is counting on “shared wireless communications towers” to help boost Internet connectivity all over the country.

“The immediate beneficiary of new common towers will of course be the third telecommunications player that the government is bringing in precisely to drive competition in the supply of superior Internet services,” Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr. said.

Campos, a deputy minority leader, made the statement ahead of the Nov. 7 opening of bids for the would-be third player which will be awarded all the licenses and radio frequency bands needed to compete with PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc.—the country’s two dominant Internet service providers.

“We support every initiative that will help quickly improve public access to faster Internet connection speeds at a lower price,” Campos said.

“Assuming we have independent private firms putting up new towers for collective use, the third player should be able to quickly scale up service coverage, since it can opt to just lease the new structures,” Campos said.

The third player would spend less to build fewer towers on its own, thus enabling it to spend more for faster network expansion, according to Campos.

“As a business model, tower sharing is nothing new. In fact, one of the Fortune 500 firms is American Tower Corp., which owns and operates over 170,000 shared wireless and broadcast communications sites in 13 countries,” Campos said. Maricel V. Cruz

PCSO OPENS 2 NEW BRANCHES, 2 MORE BEFORE YEAR ENDS

DU30 COMPARISON WITH BRAZIL’S NEW LEADER NOTED

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

excess duties, performs beyond job description, no trained personnel to complement available equipment and inadequate capability for patient transport.

Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo said that the region will introduce tactical stop gap measures for immediate implementation.

He cited the need for immediate output and outcome to address these insufficiencies. By adapting the whole of government approach, such as working with a unified goal, complementing and in concurrence with health services organizations, the academic sector and the health authorities.

“We can place the right people in the right places, achieving an equitable distribution of health professionals and skill sets throughout all geographic areas of the region,” he added.

MARIJUANA BUY-BUST. Quezon City Police District Station 10 under P/Supt. Benjamin Tremor conducts a buy-bust operation, resulting on the arrest of three suspects, including a minor, and confiscated three sachets of marijuana at Barangay Roxas District, Waling Waling St. in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander Balutan said they have opened two new provincial branches in Mindanao recently and will open two more before the year ends.

“We are proud to announce that PCSO has recently inaugurated and opened provincial branches in Maguindanao and Surigao, and by December, we will open two more in Agusan del Sur and Guimaras, with the aim to serve the people better,” Balutan said.

In an interview at “Mandirigma sa Kawanggawa” program aired over DzRH, PCSO Assistant General Manager for Branch Operations Remeliza Gabuyo explained that with the four new offices PCSO will now have a total of 67 PCSO provincial branches nationwide.

“By opening more branches, our services are reaching out to people where they needed most. These provincial offices act as a mini-PCSO. They are responsible with the fund generation and fund provision in their areas of responsibility,” she said.

Each branch will now be in-charge of sales and collections of Lotto, Small Town Lottery, Keno and Sweepstakes (fund generation); and will be responsible for the fund provision or managing its funds for charity purposes.

Gabuyo also disclosed that PCSO will be creating more satellite offices in the National Capital Region to decongest the main office of work load and charity work.

MARHO HOLDS 23RD BREEDERS CHAMPIONSHIPS

THE Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners holds the prestigious MARHO Breeders Championships today, Sunday, Nov. 4 at Sta. Ana Saddle & Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite.

MARHO hosts one of the biggest racing events in the Philippine horse racing industry—its annual MARHO Breeders’ Championships.

For the coveted MARHO—San Miguel Beer Classic race, watch out who among the following athletes will get the trophy —Kanlaon, Bull Session, Stand in Awe, Salt and Pepper, Lucky Toni and Mandatum.

MARHO has 4 stakes races today plus the annual Ambassador Danding Cojuangco Cup and the 2nd Leg of the 3yo Open Challenge Series, sponsored by Philracom.

This year’s MARHO Racing Festival is another milestone for its members as they invite the racing public to witness the continuation of this grand racing tradition.

MARHO would like to thank their major sponsors for all their support— San Miguel Corp., Philracom, Andok’s Litson Corp., Sta. Ana Park and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Special thanks as well to the following: Ciara Marie Abalos Foundation, PAGCOR, Uratex Foam, Esicor Incorporated, Manila Horse Power Organization, SC Stock Farm, Inc., DLTB Bus Co., Dr. Nicomedes G. Cruz, Bingson U. Tecson, Shelltex Bed and Siomai House.

For the free stud services of their select stallions, MARHO extends its gratitude to Herma Farms and Stud Inc, Stormbred Farm, Antonio V. Tan, Jr. and professor Benhur Abalos. Lastly, for the special prize for all the winning grooms, thank you to Eduard Vincent M. Diokno.

Please watch the races today and be a part of this racing tradition.

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By Vito Barcelo

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2018

News

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

FOX LEAVES PH, LOSES BID FOR VISA EXTENSION

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By Joel E. Zurbano

USTRALIAN missionary sister Patricia Fox is banned from returning to the Philippines after the Bureau of Immigration included her name in the list of blacklist order and ordered her to leave after the bureau denied the nun’s petition to extend her Temporary Visitor’s Visa.

BI Spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval said the BI has denied with finality Fox’s request to extend her stay in the country in an order dated Oct. 31.

The 72-year-old missionary was to leave the country before her visa expired on Nov. 3 or she will be declared overstaying and undocumented alien, according to her lawyers.

“It is not mandatory for the BI to extend an alien’s visa, especially a foreigner who has been proven to have violated immigration laws,” Sandoval said.

“The law is clear, the entry and admission of an alien is a matter of privilege, and not a right,” she added.

Fox had been the subject of a deportation order last July for violating the conditions of her stay and for undesirability, due to her participation in partisan political activities, which she has not denied.

“These activities do not fall within the ambit of the religious missionary visa given to her,” said Sandoval. “She never represented her congregation in these events, but instead represented different cause-oriented groups.”

The denial of her plea for extension, Sandoval said, is without prejudice to her appeal to the Justice Department on her deportation.

“For now, she is required to exit the country

BLACKLISTED. Australian nun Patricia Fox waves as she leaves her house on Nov. 3, 2018. The Australian nun, who battled a government bid to expel her from the Philippines after she angered President Rodrigo Duterte, said she will leave rather than face certain arrest and deportation. AFP before the expiry of her visa. She is also currently in the blacklist,” but added that they have to “wait for the decision of the Department of Justice on her deportation” to know if she can still return to the Philippines.

Fox on Saturday joined a thanksgiving Mass in Quezon City, hours before her departure from the country.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in a statement on Saturday said that the expulsion of Sr. Fox is a “great injustice.”

“Her being forced to leave the Philippines is a great injustice. The Duterte regime has treated her solidarity with the poor as something undesirable and criminal,” Bayan secretary general Renato

Reyes said in a statement.

Immigration denied the nun’s application for the extension of her temporary visitor’s visa and ordered her to leave the country on Nov. 3, said the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), which is representing her.

Fox was accused of joining “political activities” prohibited among foreigners. While she admitted to participating in fact-finding missions and advocating for social justice causes, she maintains her activities are within the scope of her missionary work and are protected by guarantees to free speech and assembly.

She was first arrested then released pending further probe by Philippine authorities in April.

ZAMBO COPS ARREST 2 FUGITIVES

XMAS IN THE CITY. Eastwood City Mall in Quezon City has installed its Christmas lights at the mall’s plaza in preparation for a months-long Christmas celebration. Manny Palmero

ZAMBOANGA CITY—An escapee and a most wanted person were arrested in separate operations in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, a police official said Saturday.

Chief Insp. Helen Galvez, information officer of Police Regional Office 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), identified the two as Bernabe Lumawas, who escaped from prison more than five years ago; and Edwin Ongub, 45, listed as most wanted person.

Lumawas was arrested in Purok 3, Barangay Macasing, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur at about 5 a.m. Friday.

He is facing an additional charge of illegal possession of firearms after a caliber .38 revolver with six ammunitions was seized from him during his arrest, Galvez said.

Lumawas was serving prison time for double homicide when he escaped from the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Barangay Talisayan, this city on May 12, 2013.

Meanwhile, Ongub was arrested in Purok Matamad, Barangay Tabon, Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur at about 3:30 am Friday. He yielded two fragmentation grenades.

Galvez said Ongub is listed as the No. 1 most wanted person in Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur. He has two standing warrants of arrest for the crime of murder with no recommended bail and qualified theft with P24,000 recommended bail. PNA

BAR EXAMS AT UST START; ALCOHOL BAN TAKES EFFECT—PNP AT LEAST 434 policemen will tighten security around the vicinity of the University of Santo Tomas as the annual bar examination starts today (Sunday, Nov. 4), National Capital Region Police Office Director, Chief Supt.

Guillermo Eleazar, said Saturday.

Eleazar reminded all examinees, their relatives and friends, and residents in the vicinity that the ban on alcoholic drinks, starting Saturday evenings until the whole of Sunday, will be strictly enforced.

Violators, he said, will be brought to police precincts and booked accordingly.

The Supreme Court’s Office of the Confidant announced that 8,701 examinees have applied to take the bar examinations that will be held in UST for four consecutive Sundays this November.

MAKATI SETS EMERGENCY MEET IN WAKE OF GAS LEAK

“The Annual Bar Exams are milestones in our yearly calendar. The police will uphold the importance of these days and protect the significance of these days to our country’s judicial system,” the NCRPO chief said.

“We will exhaust all efforts to ensure peace and order for the sake of the examinees and their families,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Manila Police District has organized and activated Task Force “2018 BarOps” to direct, administer and supervise security, anti-criminality operations, emergency preparedness, and crisis response procedures for the peaceful and orderly conduct of the activity.

More than 400 MPD personnel would be deployed in and around UST. The establishment of the Advance

Command Post and emergency lane will start at 7 a.m. of Saturday (Nov. 3).

Explosive and Ordnance Disposal (EOD) paneling and CCTV monitoring in all four corners of the UST campus will be done as early as 4 a.m. on Nov. 4.

The MPD, under Chief Supt. Rolando Anduyan, said it will also double its efforts and heighten security on several points of convergence.

Anduyan also warned the public against criminal modus operandi in the area, urging them to be vigilant and alert.

“This year has the highest number of bar candidates in recent years,” the SC said in a statement.

A total of 6,831 examinees took the 2016 bar exams and there were 6,748 examinees

during the 2017 bar exams.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has set up contingency plans for examinees and duty personnel in case of heavy rains and flooding during the examination dates.

The SC said 10 buses shall be available to transport examinees and duty personnel to the UST from several pick-up points and will be stationed as early as 4:30 a.m. and will leave at 5 a.m.

These pick-up points are the Quezon City Memorial Circle near the Philippine Coconut Authority (two buses); Park and Ride, Lawton, Manila (one bus); SC New Building Compound, Taft Ave. (two buses); Greenbelt and Glorietta, Ayala Center, Makati (two buses); and Marikina Sports Complex (one bus). PNA

MAKATI City government officials on Monday will hold an emergency meeting with operators and owners of all gasoline stations in the city to prevent a repeat of the potentially disastrous gas leak in Barangay Bangkal.

Mayor Abigail Binay tapped acting city administrator Michael Camina to call for an urgent meeting scheduled at 1 pm Monday in City Hall to discuss preemptive measures and security matters to ensure public safety.

Camina said Binay wants the gasoline station owners to ensure regular inspections of their fuel line and tanks, and to promptly notify City Hall should there be any problem.

“We need to reiterate safety guidelines for gasoline stations to prevent any more gas leaks in the future.

Business owners should see to it that their fuel line and tanks are regularly and thoroughly inspected. Their managers must also keep track of daily sales volume versus inventory to detect any large discrepancy that may indicate a leak,” Camiña said.

Binay, meanwhile, commended the Makati Fire Department and city officials comprising the Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for their immediate response to contain the leak from Phoenix Gasoline Station located at the corner of Estrella and Evangelista Streets that flowed into the drainage system in the barangay.

The gas leak was verified Wednesday evening by an investigation team from the fire bureau, and was subsequently traced to the Phoenix Gasoline Station.

Binay said within 24 hours after Makati Fire Marshal Roy Quisto first notified MDRRMC members about the gas leak, it was effectively resolved without causing any damage to lives and properties.

“A potentially disastrous incident has been averted, thanks to the fast action and effective collaboration among key officials of the local DRRM Council from the protective and administrative sectors,” said Binay.

The mayor attributed the successful resolution of the incident to the close coordination between key officials of City Hall and the fire bureau, who maintained constant communication and exchanged real-time and accurate information on the ongoing operations at the site of the gas leak.

‘UNDAS’ GENERALLY PEACEFUL IN MM THE observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in Metro Manila was generally peaceful, National Capital Region Police Office Director, Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar said Saturday.

“This evident success is a product of our effective law enforcement and tight security measures implemented across the region,” Eleazar said in a statement.

He said that despite the anticipated influx of people to vital installations and areas of convergence, particularly cemeteries during the holiday, the NCRPO managed to maintain peace and order and public safety.

“In addition, there was no major untoward incident nor atrocious activity reported except confiscations of several prohibited items,” he said.

Eleazar also commended the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, local government units and other government agencies for working hand in hand to provide and ensure safety and security in carrying out “Ligtas Undas” 2018.

He likewise thanked the public for their vigilance and cooperation, which has been “part and parcel of this year’s safe and sound observance.”

Meanwhile, an estimated 1.5 million people visited the Manila North Cemetery, the country’s largest public cemetery.

Most of the country’s leaders are interred there, among them former presidents Sergio Osmeña, Manuel Roxas, and Ramon Magsaysay. PNA

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Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Opinion

EDITORIAL

SOUNDS OF SCIENCE

RUSH

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ITH only six weeks to the start of Midnight Masses in the Philippines, many Filipinos, particularly those in the metropolis and some urban centers of this predominantly Christian country, have geared up to the hardly controllable rush for some Yuletide shopping.

Fact is, even before November hit the calendar, many were already preparing to cash in on the low-priced gift items available in modish malls and the usual department stores not far from the capital’s skyline.

Some, particularly the millennials—men and women aged between 18 and 35—have started their shopping online, arguing this was the best to beat the terrible traffic and poor public transport system that have hounded the capital where nearly 13 million people work and live for nearly a decade now.

PECIER DECIERDO

WHY WE ARE AFRAID OF THE WRONG THINGS

Many say they can order from shops that sell stuff online, which would be as good, if not better, as those bought in heavily crowded malls and other stores through ghastly traffic and hours on the city’s boulevards and avenues.

Shopping in the urban centers like Metro Manila began as early as September, although the bulk of purchases was restrained then.

The image, of course, is utterly different in the countryside, where Filipinos go shopping at even slower than cruising speed.

Given the Filipino culture of doing things on a rush, the heaviest shopping month would still be December—up to before Christmas Eve when “Jingle Bells” and “Joy To The World” continue to be blasted from variety stores including gated subdivisions.

With the cold winds starting to blow from the Mongolian steppes, which have whipped this country as early as September, not to mention the ruthless typhoons that stormed into the country, we join others in praying for those who have lost kin and property from natural disasters.

THIS week many of us celebrated Halloween or, if you prefer the more local version, Undas. This season, which in many traditions involve remembering the dead, also involves celebrating the scary and the spooky.

So, what things scare and spook us?

Judging by our horror stories, most of us are scared of ghosts, vampires, and monsters. But are these the right things to be scared of?

Why are we afraid of the things we are afraid of? And does it matter?

Here are the short answers. One: We are scared of the wrong things. Two: Our fears come from our evolutionary heritage, our life experiences, and our intuition about risks.

Three: It matters because fear is a powerful emotion that drives a lot of our important decisions.

Now for the longer answers.

Fear is an emotion that evolved to help us deal with threats. This is why our main response to fear, which is triggered by the part of our brain called the amygdala, is the “flight-or-fight” response. When we are scared, our body prepares us to either fight the threat or to flee from it.

If we based our fears on what is actually a threat to most of us, what should we be most afraid of?

According to official government records, the main cause of death in the Philippines are non-communicable diseases (NCDs), in particular diseases related to lifestyle such as heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, and neoplasms or abnormal tissue growth. According to the Department of Health, the most threatening lifestyle related diseases are linked to “smoking, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and stress.”

During a health symposium held last July, Dr. Anthony Leachon, president of the Manila Doctors Hospital Medical Staff Association, said that almost 300,000 Filipinos die annually because of lifestyle diseases. “That’s 800 deaths every day, equivalent to two jumbo jets crashing every day,” Dr. Leachon said.

Why aren’t we all terrified of the things that increase the risk of said lifestyle-related diseases? Why don’t sugary and fatty foods, inactivity, or second-hand smoke trigger the fear response in us?

In his book Snakes, Sunrises, and Shakespeare, evolutionary biologist Gordon H. Orians explains that many of our deepest fears can be traced back to the biggest threats faced by our ancestors. Our evolutionary history explains why we have a primal fear of heights, strangers, snakes, and spiders— they represent the things that were an everpresent dangers to our ancestors.

Our ancestors were also constantly under threat of being cornered or ambushed by predators, and this might explain our primal fear of closed spaces, the dark, and of “monsters.”

In a way, our brains are still calibrated for the stone age, which is why many of us fear harmless, non-venomous snakes more than we fear greasy foods.

Not all of our fears are primal. For example, many of us fear flying, terrorist attacks, sharks, or nuclear energy, fears that are mostly ingrained to us by the media.

Unlike our primal fears which come from evolution, our fear of things such as flying are a result of our ineptitude at assessing risks.

In his essay Living Is Fatal, Massachusetts Institute of Technology engineer Seth Lloyd writes, “People are bad at assessing probabilities… They overestimate the probability of rare but shocking events—a burglar breaking into your bedroom, say.

Conversely, they underestimate the probability of common but quiet and insidious events— the slow accretion of globules of fat on the walls of an artery, or another ton of carbon dioxide pumped into the atmosphere.”

“Why do we fear flying, when, for most of us, the most dangerous part of our trip is the drive to the airport?” asks David G. Myers, professor of psychology at Hope College.

Myers explains that this is due to something called the “availability heuristic.”

“We fear what’s readily available in memory,” Myers writes. “Vivid, cognitively available images—a horrific air crash, a mass slaughter— distort our judgement of risks. Thus, we remember—and fear—disasters (tornadoes, air crashes, attacks) that kill people dramatically, in bunches, while fearing too little the things threats that claim lives one by one.”

In other words, our brains treat newsworthy events as if they were commonplace and therefore threatening. Our brains don’t know that events have to be uncommon to be deemed newsworthy.

Given how powerful fear can be, it is therefore important that we as a society reevaluate what we are afraid of. In the words of media researcher George Gerbner, “Fearful people are more dependent, more easily manipulated and controlled, more susceptible to deceptively simple, strong, tough, measures and hard-line postures.”

In other words, when we fear the wrong things, we are more likely to make the wrong decisions, and that is dangerous not only for us but for everyone else.

PEOPLE WANTED TO HAVE FUN: HOW JAZZ INFECTED POST-WWI EUROPE

By Nicolas Pratviel AMONG the many novelties that crossed the Atlantic when the United States entered World War I in 1917, jazz was arguably the most upbeat—and infectious.

Then known as ragtime, the new syncopated sound emanating from American military bands had an irresistible energy and newness that turned the European music scene upside down.

“It was really striking,” said musicologist Laurent Cugny. “They performed at every railway station they passed through, something most French people had never heard before.”

The genre was also set apart by the performers, who were all black, Cugny told AFP. “Beyond any racism, it was an extreme oddity for the time.”

Historians pinpoint the jazz’s arrival in France to December 1917, with the 369th infantry’s Harlem Hellfighters under the baton of Lieutenant James Reese Europe.

While the Harlem Hellfighters gave their first official jazz concert in Europe

in the western French city of Nantes on February 12, 1918, the music had already begun making inroads on the Old Continent.

Sheet music from London started crossing the Channel in 1912, with British and French editors striking copyright agreements, according to popular music expert Bertrand Dicale.

Piano sales boomed between 1900 and 1914, when some four million were sold in France alone, Dicale said.

Inevitably, the new sound infiltrated classical music, influencing composers including Erik Satie, Igor Stravinsky, Maurice Ravel and Darius Milhaud.

Satie, for example, brought the curtain down on his ballet “Parade” with a ragtime number in the hope of drawing more punters, according to Russian choreographer Leonide Massine.

Cugny said these avant-garde musicians were reacting to Wagner’s “sublime, grandiloquent side” as well as Debussy’s “impressionist, too ethereal” music. “What they liked was (jazz’s) rhythm, its vigor, even if they lost interest in it in the end.”

On the other hand, France’s burgeoning music hall stars truly

caught the bug.

The emblematic Maurice Chevalier first came across ragtime sheet music in 1914.

Chevalier’s 1920 “Les Jazz Bands,” among his first recordings, was the first French song to mention jazz.

‘Black Montmartre’ “During this time, American brass bands were improvising with Parisian orchestra and bistro musicians,” Dicale told AFP. “The influence of jazz was growing, but there was an exchange.”

For example, the 1920 song “Mon Homme” by Chevalier’s composer Maurice Yvain later turned up in the United States, sung by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, Dicale noted.

Jazz bands ruled Paris cabarets, clustered in the shadow of Sacre Coeur in the district dubbed “Black Montmartre” at the time.

Black American jazz chanteuse Josephine Baker burst onto the scene in 1925 with her sensational, risque performances at La Revue Negre.

Duke Ellington’s first recordings began taking Europe by storm at the same time.

“The perception of black people

changed,” Cugny said. “Jazz became the stuff of dreams. It was associated with insouciance, life, dynamism. It was linked to the modernism of the time.”

Most important, Cugny said, Europe was recovering from World War I. “After four years of slaughter, people wanted to open the windows, to have fun.”

Many of the American military performers who initially came over to entertain the troops lingered on, eager to discover Europe rather than return home.

Pushing east, some came across the Ashkenazi Jewish genre klezmer, which has had a lasting influence on jazz— and vice versa.

Jazz and Dixieland saxophonist Sidney Bechet, who performed across Europe including with Baker in Paris, made it as far as Moscow in 1926.

Jazz was also popular in postwar Germany, where Charles Trenet, who would go on to become one of France’s most prolific songwriters, discovered the genre as a teenager, living in Berlin with his artiste mother, Dicale said.

“It was the beginning of talking movies, and studios were starting to use these musicians. [Trenet] watched them work.” AFP

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KHASHOGGI CRISIS MAY TIP MIDDLE EAST POWER BALANCE TOWARDS TURKEY ISTANBUL—The murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi could alter the power dynamic in the Middle East by strengthening Turkey’s influence at Saudi Arabia’s expense as they compete for leadership of the Islamic world, analysts say.

This certainly appears to be the goal of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the main regional supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood, which Saudi Arabia and its allies Egypt and the United Arab Emirates consider a terrorist group.

The killing inside the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul by a team sent from Riyadh on October 2 has already severely tarnished Saudi Arabia’s global reputation.

But it is the potential involvement of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, the oil-rich Gulf nation’s de facto leader known by his initials MBS, that could permanently damage Riyadh’s influence in the region.

After initially insisting Khashoggi left the consulate unharmed, then saying he died in a brawl, the Saudi regime finally stated he was killed by a “rogue operation” and arrested 18 suspects, some with links to the crown prince.

Analysts say Erdogan could use the ensuing crisis to weaken the 33-year-old prince, even potentially leading to the royal family removing him from power— though that seems unlikely.

“The killing of Khashoggi has proven to be a golden opportunity for President Erdogan to pressure Saudi Arabia and work towards presenting Turkey as the new leader of the Muslim world,” said Lina Khatib, director of Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House.

“The Khashoggi crisis is a big geopolitical gamble for Turkey and so far it looks like it is playing the game masterfully.

But Turkey alone will not be able to push for the removal of MBS. The ball lies in the American court,” she added.

‘Opportunity’ for Erdogan For Erdogan, promoting the Muslim Brotherhood – which Saudi Arabia has sought to marginalize in the Arab world and which was ousted from power and brutally repressed in Egypt in 2013 by current President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi—is at the heart of this power struggle. AFP

DESPITE CRACKDOWN, ‘JUNK NEWS’STILL FLOURISHES ON SOCIAL MEDIA WASHINGTON—Despite an aggressive crackdown by social media firms, so-called “junk news” is spreading at a greater rate than in 2016 on social media ahead of the US midterm elections, according to researchers.

Oxford Internet Institute researchers concluded that Facebook and Twitter remain filled with “extremist, sensationalist, conspiratorial, masked commentary,” and other forms of “low-quality” news.

In analyzing some 2.5 million tweets and 6,986 Facebook pages over a 30-day period, the study found that less than five percent of the sources referenced on social media were from public agencies, experts or political candidates themselves.

“We found that the proportion of junk news circulating over social media has increased in the US since 2016, with users sharing higher proportions of junk news than links to professional content overall,” the report said.

It added that “junk news once concentrated among President (Donald) Trump’s support base has now spread to include communities of mainstream political conservatives.”

Philip Howard, director of the institute and a study author, said the latest research did not seek to analyze how much of the content came from automated accounts or “bots,” or whether it was directed from foreign entities. AFP

TRUMP BANNERS ECONOMIC HOPE, IMMIGRANT FEAR

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NDIANAPOLIS, United States— With four days to save the Republican Party’s grip on Congress—and his own dominance of US politics—Donald Trump unleashed his two main weapons: boasts about the economy and fearmongering over immigration.

Trump flew to West Virginia and Indiana for campaign rallies, with more planned on the weekend and Monday. Less than 24 hours earlier, he was in Missouri.

“It will be a very exciting five days,” Trump said at the White House before departing on the Marine One helicopter.

Trump said his Republicans are in a good position ahead of Tuesday’s midterm congressional elections, particularly with new employment figures out showing the economy booming.

But polls point to the Democrats capturing at least the House of Representatives, threatening Trump with the specter of an opposition finally able to block policies and dig into his highly opaque personal finances.

The campaign trail Friday also saw arguably the one Democrat able to match Trump’s sheer media star power—his predecessor in the White House, Barack Obama.

Obama, employing his trademark oratorical flourishes, spoke in Florida, where Democrats and Republicans are locked in a series of tight races,

President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally on Nov. 2 at Southport High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. Trump is campaigning across the Midwest supporting Republican candidates in the upcoming midterm elections. AFP telling supporters to “cut through the lies, block out the noise.”

“Out of this political darkness, I see a great awakening of citizenship all across the country,” Obama said.

Celebration and fear Trump, who has brought an unprecedented brand of populism and confrontational politics to the White House, clearly enjoys a fight.

The latest job figures gave him a golden opportunity to crow over what he near daily claims to be the world’s “hottest economy.”

“Wow! The U.S. added 250,000 Jobs in October—and this was despite the hurricanes,” Trump heralded in a typically high-energy tweet.

“Unemployment at 3.7%. Wages UP! These are incredible numbers. Keep it going, Vote Republican!”

Equally good news for Trump and his bid to spread that elusive voter

feel-good factor was that wages appear to be strengthening – a sign that average Americans may be enjoying the fruits of economic growth.

He also signaled that a budding trade war with China—which he says will force Beijing to drop what Washington has long considered unfair barriers and theft of intellectual property – will end with “a very good deal.”

“We are getting much closer to doing something,” he said.

Scorched earth But if on one hand the president touts the United States as a land of plenty, with jobs for all, on the other he’s doing everything possible to stir fear and loathing.

Even as illegal immigration dips to a quarter of what it was in 2000, Trump claims that the country

literally faces an “invasion” of Central Americans.

He has ordered regular army troops to the US-Mexican border, announced “tent cities” to detain people demanding political asylum and claimed power to scrap the right to citizenship for anyone born on US soil—until now considered protected by the US Constitution.

Referring to a group of a few thousand impoverished Central Americans currently trying to walk to the United States through Mexico, Trump says the nation could be “overwhelmed.”

But Obama decried Trump’s deployment as a “political stunt.”

Obama said the deployment was serving to “get folks angry and ginned up,” adding: “There’s just constant fearmongering to distract from the record.” AFP

MYANMAR BY-ELECTION RARE LOCAL TEST FOR AUNG SAN SUU KYI YANGON—Myanmar voters cast their ballots in a small but key by-election Saturday, a rare local test of support for embattled leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party more than halfway through her time in office.

Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD) swept to power in 2015 in a landslide victory ending decades of military rule.

But her tenure has been marred by a failure to speak up for Rohingya Muslims driven out of the country by the army and stumbling peace talks with insurgent groups in lawless border areas.

A mere 13 positions are in play in the country’s second by-election since the national poll three years ago, but they are spread out across the country and include parliamentary and regional assembly seats.

Some two-dozen parties are in the mix

‘GODFATHER’ OF HONG KONG FILM DIES HONG KONG—Raymond Chow, the film producer credited with bringing kung fu legend Bruce Lee to the silver screen and widely regarded as the “godfather” of Hong Kong cinema, has died aged 91, reports said Saturday.

Chow co-founded the Golden Harvest studio in 1971 and was seen as largely responsible for bringing the city’s films to an international audience.

He produced more than 170 films over his career, according to industry website IMDB, and nurtured the careers of several action stars, including Jackie Chan.

Chow first worked with Lee on “The Big Boss”—released as “Fists of Fury” in the United States—in 1971, making the actor a martial arts legend overnight. The film broke box office records both in Hong Kong and overseas.

He went on to produce or co-produce two of Lee’s best known films: “Way of the Dragon” in 1972, followed a year later by “Enter the Dragon,” the first cinema collaboration between a Hong Kong studio and Hollywood.

He repeated the success with Chan, first working together on “The Young Master” in 1980. AFP

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor / Jimbo Gulle, Issue Editor

and 69 candidates are taking part.

At one polling station in Yangon’s Tamwe township residents showed support for Suu Kyi while acknowleding some of the criticism.

“I voted NLD this morning,” Maung Maung, 34, a software engineer who lives in Tamwe, told AFP. “I was a strong supporter of the NLD for years but during the years when NLD took power, there were some failures that they are working on,” he added, without going into detail.

Aye Soe, a 52-year-old street vendor, expressed full-throated backing. “I will support her until I die,” she said.

Initial results are expected to be announced on Sunday.

Nobel laureate Suu Kyi’s reputation at home is more secure than it is abroad, where her image as a rights icon has been shattered by the Rohingya crisis. AFP

DIVER DIES IN SEARCH FOR INDONESIA JET CRASH DEAD JAKARTA—An Indonesian diver died while recovering body parts from the ill-fated Lion Air plane which crashed into the sea killing 189 people, an official said Saturday.

Syachrul Anto, 48, who died on Friday, was part of the team searching for body parts and debris from the jet in the Java Sea. “He was a volunteer with the Search and Rescue Agency,” Isswarto, commander of the Indonesian navy’s search and rescue division, told AFP. It is believed he died from decompression, he added.

Anto had previously served in Palu which suffered from an earthquake and tsunami in September and also took part in the evacuation process of an Air Asia plane crash nearly four years ago.

The Lion Air plane which plummeted Monday was on route from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang city on Sumatra island.

It plunged into the water just minutes after takeoff, killing everyone on board.

Officials on Thursday retrieved the Flight Data Recorder but are still searching for the second black box, the Cockpit Voice Recorder, which could answer the question as to why the brand new Boeing-737 MAX 8 crashed.

The budget carrier’s admission that the doomed jet had a technical issue on a previous flight—as well its abrupt fatal dive—have raised questions about whether it had mechanical faults specific to the new model.

At least 73 bags containing body parts have been retrieved from the waters so far but only four have been identified. AFP

The wheels of the Lion Air flight JT 610 is lifted into the Indonesia’s KRI Banda Aceh warship during a salvage operation in the Java Sea on Nov. 2. Seats, wheels and other parts of a crashed Indonesian Lion Air jet were hauled from the depths as authorities analyzed black box data that may explain why the new plane plummeted into the Java Sea, killing 189 people. AFP

Images

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD. A worker uses an acetylene torch to cut through metal bars at a construction site in Manila. AFP

THE REAL DEAL. A human skull is seen at a cemetery in Manila on Nov. 1. Millions across the Philippines visited cemeteries to pay respects to their dead in an annual tradition that combines Catholic religious rites with the country’s penchant for festivity. AFP

WHY SO SERIOUS? Showbiz couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera dressed up as Batman villains The Riddler and Poison Ivy. Their daughter, Maria Letizia, looked menacing as Joker.

ACQUIRED TASTE. A female durian vendor awaits customers along Amai Pakpak Road in Marawi City. Revoli Cortez

GAS LEAK. Members of the Bureau of Fire flushed sewage pipes surrounding a Phoenix gasoline station along Evangelista cor.

Estrella in Makati City after one of its underground pump leaked gas. Norman Cruz

STARTING THEM YOUNG. A mother and her two kids collect plastic bottles to be sold at a nearby junkshop in Manila. Lino Santos

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2018

Riera U. Mallari, Editor sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Sports

DRUG-FREE BODYBUILDERS EYE CEBU FOR 3RD STAGE

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

Participants of the 2nd leg of the WNBF show off their well-sculpted physique at the Johhny B. Good in Glorietta, Makati. Angelica Villanueva

HITTING SPREE TO DEFEND COJUANGCO JR CUP CROWN ALL eyes will be on five-year-old reigning titlist Hitting Spree as she tries to foil the challenge of seven other rivals in the 2018 Ambassador Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr. Cup today (Sunday) at the Saddle & Clubs Leisure Park Racetrack in Naic, Cavite.

Hitting Spree, which pulled off a masterful coastto-coast win in ruling last year’s edition of the Cojuangco Cup, will be tested in the long 2000-meter race offering a total purse of P2 million and held in honor of the San Miguel Corp. Chairman, a stalwart in the horseracing industry.

The SC Stockfarm star will be ridden again by jockey Kelvin Abobo, who delivered last year’s emphatic win.

Standing in the way of Hitting Spree are her stablemate Brilliance (jockey JB Hernandez); last year’s third placer She’s Incredible (jockey OP Cortez) of owner Joseph Dyhengco; Pangalusian Island (jockey JP Guce, owner Wilbert Tan), Sky Dancer (AP Asuncion, Cool Summer Farm), Tin Drum (RG Fernandez, Cool Summer Farm), Truly Ponti (JA Guce, Narciso Morales) and UND Kantar (RO Niu Jr., Melanie Habla).

The eight-horse cast will be shooting for the top purse of P1.2 million in the rich racing weekend put up by the Philippine Racing Commission, the Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners and the Philippine Racing Club.

The Cojuangco Cup will be supported by the 2018 Philracom 3YO Open Challenge Series, featuring the country’s best three-year-old horses.

Entered in the 3YO Open offering a guaranteed total prize of P1.5 million are Brown Sister (Jockey RD Raquel Jr., owner Joy Raymundo), Bingson Tecson’s coupled entries Certain to Win (JP Guce) and Garantisado (MM Gonzales), Dragon Butterfly (OP Cortez, Narciso Morales), Helushka (JB Hernandez, Juanito Tionloc), Pride of Laguna (JD Juco, Emmanuel Santos) and Viva Morena (Dan Camanero, Bienvenido Pierre M. Niles III).

On the other hand, the MARHO (Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners) Breeders Classic Championship, on the other hand, is one of the biggest racing events in the Philippine horse racing industry and is a culmination of a three-leg series of high-powered events held simultaneously with the MARHO Invitational Races leading to the big race.

A

FTER two successful stagings in June and last week at the Johnny B. Good in Glorietta, Makati, the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation of the Philippines plans to bring the tournament outside of Manila next year, with an eye on Cebu hosting the third stage.

The second leg of the WNBF drew more than 30 bodybuilders, with Grant Teng winning the Bodybuilding Category and Harold Goma topping the Physique Division. The cast included participants from Taiwan and Japan.

The WNBF isn’t just your international bodybuilding association as it puts a premium of being a drug-free tournament.

The competition strictly features ‘all natural’ method for bodybuilders without the benefit of banned substances.

“It’s how you train and the amount of protein you eat, the amount of fat, the amount of carbs you eat,” said WNBFP Vice President Chris Byrne, explaining the proper way of achieving a sculpted body even without the benefit of performanceenhancing drugs.

“When you guys come to the show, you’ll see amazing bodies and you’ll be blown by their physiques and what they’ve accomplished just from eating well and working out well,” Byrne added.

As an affiliate of WNBF, the local chapter will

also be promoting stringent drug-testing among tournament participants.

Competitors are required to pass a polygraph test performed by an officially registered examiner before they are permitted to step on stage.

All overall winners and random athletes, meanwhile, are required to undergo urine tests to ensure the absence of banned substances in their system.

Athletes who fail the polygraph and urine test will be banned from the federation for at least seven years.

“We’re even more stringent than the Olympics.

The Olympics I think, they ban one year or a year and half, where we ban for seven years,” said Byrne.

“We follow the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) list (of banned substances) just like any other Olympic sports.”

Including the Philippines, the WNBF already has 28 member countries, five of which just joined the federation last July.

And more are expected to join, in time for the Cebu stage next year.

AUSSIES TARGET 5I50 SWEEP

SUBIC—Australians Sam Betten and all geared up to snap back-to-back Dimity Lee Duke set out for a repeat runner-up finishes in the event of their last year’s feats, upbeat of organized and produced by Sunrise their chances but wary of the comEvents Inc. pact cast of rivals in the Black Arrow Others vying in the centerpiece Express 5150, which fires off today men’s pro event, backed by venue (Sunday, Nov. 4) here. hosts Subic Bay and ACEA Subic Bay Winner of the Regent 5150 races and major sponsors David’s Salon, the last three years, Betten seeks to Pioneer Insurance and Wicked Active extend his reign to the first of three Gear, are Jakub Langhammer of the Sam Betten Black Arrow Express 5150s with the Czech Republic, American Tim Linn Aussie ace hinting at banking again on his ex- and Dan Brown, also from Down Under. perience and preference to race in the faster pace Duke, meanwhile, goes all out for a second of an Olympic distance event. straight 5150 title here after scoring a breakthrough “I have really enjoyed the hard and fast racing last year but, like Betten, she faces a fierce challenge over the 5150 distance here and it has been great to from Manami Iijima of Guam and Hong Kong’s have had so much success,” said the 6-foot-4 Betten, Leanne Szeto in the event which also serves as SEI’s who also won a 5150 event in Bohol in 2015. “Since final triathlon on its milestone 10th year of staging I’ve been racing this distance for so long, I have so the premier endurance race in the country. much experience which really allows me to make the For one, IIjima, who actually finished ahead of most of the opportunity to succeed.”

Duke at eighth in the Ironman 70.3 in Cebu last He beat compatriot Mitch Robins by five minutes August, brims with confidence of pulling off a big in wet conditions to complete a three-peat in upset in one of her favorite race courses. last year’s edition of the 1.5k swim-40K bike-10K “No worries. I’m feeling good. I love Subic Bay run race in what has long been considered as the where I did my first Ironman 70.3 in 2017. So, I’m country’s triathlon capital last year. But he braces excited to be back. I’m here to have fun and enjoy for a tougher outing this time with Robins also the Philippines,” said Iijima.

RATES EDGES KASKE IN PLAYOFF LIPA City, Batangas—Joenard Rates battled back from six down to force a playoff with a closing six-under 66 then out-steadied Janne Kaske of Finland on the second extra hole to snatch the Philippine Golf Tour Asia’s Summit Point World 18 Challenge crown here yesterday.

On a course designed for the big hitters, the diminutive Rates leaned on his big fighting heart, coming through with a sizzling start and putting up a strong finish that netted him a pair of 33s four flights behind the championship group to tie Kaske at 12-under 276.

Kaske outduelled third round leader Micah Shin and Elmer Salvador in a pressure-packed finale

and finished with a 70 but missed clinching it outright with a flubbed birdie putt on the par-5 16th.

Rates and Kaske traded birdies, not par on the first playoff hole but the Filipino bet finished off the Finnish on their third trip on the par-4 18th, two-putting for par then watched his rival miss the green and miss a playoff-extending par putt from 10 feet.

“It’s all hard work, resiliency and patience,” said the 5-foot-3 Rates, whose length off the tee has often put him at a disadvantage against the tour’s long hitters.

But he proved this week that it isn’t all about power, rallying from a 72 start with a 67, spiked by seven

straight birdies from No. 12. He slowed down again Friday with a 71 and fell six shots off Shin but produced a near-solid closing round behind superb iron game and putting to nail what was only his second victory in a 14-year career.

“I just played it cool and tried to ride the pressure in the playoff,” said Rates, who beat multi-titled Tony Lascuña at John Hay for his first tour victory in 2014.

But his second victory, worth $17,500, in this seventh leg of the region’s newest circuit put up by ICTSI more than washed away all the heartbreaks of his fruitless campaign in the past four years.

Joenard Rates flashes the No. 2 sign after pocketing what was only his second victory in a 14-year pro career with a playoff win over Finland’s Janne Kaske

MILLIAM SUSTAINS HOT RUN ALEXA Milliam continued to stamp her class in three divisions, hiking her title collection to 12 in four weeks after another dominant campaign in the PPS-PEPP Pintaflores national age group tennis tournament at the Sacata courts in San Carlos, Negros Occidental last Friday.

Milliam, 14, toppled Faith Banico, 6-3, 6-0, to rule her age division then mastered doubles partner Sydney Enriquez twice with a 6-3, 6-4 victory in the 16-and-under finals and a 7-5, 6-2 triumph in the premier 18-U class of the Group 1 tournament presented by Dunlop and sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala.

The Pontevedra, Negros ace’s three-title feat thus stretched her girls’ singles run to four weeks after similar romps in Dumaguete, Argao, Cebu and Negros Occidental.

Davao’s John David Velez likewise kept his winning spree in the boys’ side of the event sponsored by Mayor Gerardo Valmayor, Vice Mayor Renato Gustilo, Vice Gov. Eugenio Lacson and Julio Ledesma and organized by councilor Criston Carmona and backed by TJ’s Clear Art, winning the 16- and 18-U titles in straight-set fashions.

The top-seeded Velez trounced No. 2 Daniel Estanislao III, 6-3, 6-3, in the 16-U finals then overpowered Norman Gaspar, 6-1, 6-2, to rule the centerpiece event and share the MVP honors with Milliam for the fourth straight week.

“There seems to be no stopping these two players, whose feats should inspire and motivate the other young players in pursuit of tennis excellence,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro. “The PPS-PEPP circuit will continue to provide the youth the venue to train and develop their talent and skills.”

Meanwhile, top seed Johnny Arcilla and No. 4 Fritz Verdad arranged a semifinal clash in the Open division with the former overpowering Rodolfo Barquin, 6-1, 6-2, and the latter easing out Norman Enriquez, 6-4, 6-1.

Second seed Vicente Anasta and No. 8 Leander Lazaro were disputing the third semis berth while defending champion Bryan Otico and Rolando Ruel Jr. were clashing for the fourth slot at presstime. For details, call PPS-PEPP Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

TORRE EYES 2ND STRAIGHT CHESS CROWN THE 9th Asian Seniors Chess Championship gets underway today (Sunday) at the Tagaytay International Convention Center with defending champion GM Eugene Torre seeking to become the second back-to-back winner in nine years.

Torre, who swept the nine-round tournament held in Auckland, New Zealand last year, is the overwhelming favorite to rule the competition being organized by Asian Chess Federation in cooperation with the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and the Tagaytay City government.

“I am looking forward to another successful tournament and defend the title in front of our countrymen,” said Torre, who will also celebrate his 67th birthday today.

Cavite 7th District Cong. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Tagaytay Mayor Agnes Tolentino have been invited to grace the opening ceremony at 9 a.m. today.

Tournament director Mike Lapitan said the first round is scheduled at 10 a.m.

Among the notable foreign participants are Oleg Rinas, Kuanishbek Jumadullayev, Aitkazy Baimurzin, Timur Kazzymuv and Alnagul Chekeyeva, all of Kazakhstan; Muhammad Novian Siregar, Syarif Mahmud and Hendry Jamal of Indonesia; Than Khin of Myanmar, Ahmad Ismail and Kian Hwa Lim of Malaysia, Tony Davis of Australia, Mahmood Dodean of Palestine and three-time female winner Helen Milligan of New Zealand.

The local challenge will also be bannered by IM Chito Garma, Cesar Caturla, Rosendo Bandal, Casto “Toti” Abundo, Efren Bagamasbad, Adrian Pacis, Stewart Manaog, Rolzon Roullo and Olympian Mila Emperado.

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Business

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

SINGLES’ DAY GAINS TRACTION IN PHILIPPINES

LAZADA COO EXPECTS TO DOUBLE SALES THIS YEAR T

HE 28-year-old Spanish chief operations officer of electronic commerce platform Lazada Philippines, which is now backed by Jack Ma’s Alibaba Group, sees online transactions doubling this year as more Filipinos embrace digital technologies.

Carlos Barrera, who has been with Lazada Philippines for three years now, says he is particularly excited about the 11.11 campaign, or the e-commerce day on Nov. 11, when online sales are expected to double from last year.

“Our rule of thumb is we should be doubling our volumes. We are quite confident that with the plan we have, we will be able to do that,” Barrera says in an interview at Lazada’s swanky office at Net Park Building in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Lazada is an e-commerce platform initially funded by Rocket Internet AG of Germany but is now 90-percent controlled by Alibaba Group of China. It focuses on Southeast Asia and established its presence in the Philippines in 2012.

“The first few years of Lazada was about growing the business and setting up the foundation of a start-up e-commerce,” says Barrera.

Alibaba acquired a 51-percent stake in Lazada in 2016 and raised this to 90 percent this year.

The Chinese group appointed Lucy Peng, one of the co-founders of Alibaba, as chief executive of the Lazada group and Ray Alimurung as CEO for the Philippines, in place of Turkish national Inanc Balci.

“One thing you will find very special about Lazada and Alibaba is everyone is trying to learn and train others. Most founders of Alibaba are teachers. They really care about how you train your people, how you are learning yourself, and how you are growing. So far, I am excited about the role. I really feel confident that we are in the right track,” says Barrera who was appointed COO in June 2018.

Barrera’s role as COO is how to improve the platform, ensure that sellers are successful and customers find what they want. He says by using Alibaba’s technology, Lazada has improved its platform to become “90-percent personalized”.

“Almost everything in there is being constantly updated and learning from you to offer the best products. If we open the app, none of us will see the same. This is very unique. We have all the data in the market, what our customers search for, what our customers want, and what our sellers offer.

Lazada Philippines COO Carlos Barrera

We mix around 50 to 60 variables of your customer patterns, your browsing experience, your actual orders, to offer you the best technology and best products, and to make sure you find something that is relevant,” he says.

“We want to make e-commerce fun. We want to make shopping better. This personalization really increases relevance,” he says.

The entire Lazada Philippines has more than 2,000 employees covering the logistics business and the platform, excluding the BPOs. “When we look at the platform site, we have around 300 plus people, out of which we break it down into marketing, the admin staff, commercial team and e-commerce platform,”says Barrera. “My team is around 110 to 120 people.”

Barrera grew up and studied in Spain and worked in South America and Southeast Asia.

“My background is mostly in consulting and corporate finance. I don’t have that e-commerce background. Having Alibaba behind us, it is like an e-commerce superschool,” he says.

“I am very grateful to the Philippines. This is how much I believe in e-commerce in this part of the world. I came from a different background, from a different place. I believe that the opportunity in the Philippines is massive and that Lazada is the right company,” he says.

Barrera says he quickly felt at home in the country. “The moment I came to the Philippines, it was very clear to me.

It is very similar to my culture. People are always very kind, very friendly. There is this

FILIPINO CONSUMERS DESCRIBED AS CRITICAL ONLINE SHOPPERS MAKING smart choices in online shopping comes as a priority for Filipino consumers.

The Philippine e-commerce is directly benefiting from the rising middle-class, tech-savvy and millennial population as majority of them are active in different social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

To understand the online behaviour of Filipino consumers, iPrice Group analyzed more than 1,300 merchants in the Philippines and other Southeast

Asian countries including some of the biggest players in the region like Lazada, Shopee and Zalora.

The Southeast Asian state of e-commerce report 2017 found that the Philippines had the third highest share of mobile traffic in Asean with 71.25 percent. However, the country’s purchase rate was only 0.8 percent in mobile and 2 percent in desktop.

Compared to the rest of the region, the Philippines ranked one of the Turn to C2

whole family mindset that I can relate to because it is very, very Spanish. In the company, we have a very strong community. We do a lot of activities together. Filipinos are very outgoing which we really like. This is something very special. I am planning to stay here for good,” he says.

Barrera led a two-month preparation for the e-commerce day on Nov. 11, considered the biggest e-commerce event in the world which was started by Alibaba ten years ago. “We have 20 million deals on that day. To give you an idea, even the largest stores, the largest malls very rarely have half a million SKUs [stock keeping units]. Our website today has 80 million products.

And 20 million products will be at discount, with a minimum of 10 percent discount and up to 99 percent. We are gonna have all types of products, including one-peso deals,” he says.

Barrera says in the Philippines, 11.11 is the kickoff of the month-long Online Revolution. “For 12.12, we will do a Christmas deal special. So there will be a special section for gifting, for Filipino products like Christmas baskets. 12.12 will be as big as 11.11,” he says.

These big events will put to test the logistics sector in the Philippines, he says. “The business grows so much that in just one, two or three days, it puts the entire capacity to constraint. But we also love that, because for us it is a proud moment and it is very exciting for us. We are prepared,” he says.

“We really put the capacity to the test on a day like this. When you look at the volumes that we achieve in the millions of orders in just one day, that basically involves the whole process from pickup to warehousing and packing to last-mile delivery. There is a big, big chain of stakeholders that we need to prepare. One of our main objectives is the shortest delivery time possible. We offer next-day delivery, even sameday delivery for lots of products. This requires lots of coordination,” says Barrera.

“Our objective really is to send all the items in the shortest time possible with very cheap rates so that it becomes a no brainer. We want to grow Turn to C2

IT ALL started with a few students from Nanjing University who decided to break away from the monotony of being single for one day.

They chose 11.11 or Nov. 11 because of the solitary implications of the number 1 which symbolize being single. However, this simple celebration turned into one of the largest shopping days in the world, according to global discount provider Picodi.com.

The event also gained great interest in Southeast Asia. According to Google, the popularity of Singles’ Day in the Philippines has increased more than four times in the last five years.

A survey by Picodi.com suggests that more than half of the participants are women—57 percent. In accordance with the event’s name, three out of four consumers are single. Not only singles went on a shopping spree though. An increase in interest was also noted in the group of people in relationships.

The interest in Singles’ Day is especially apparent among young Filipinos. Compared to a regular day, the number of transactions on Singles’ Day among people aged 18 to 24 grew by 1,022 percent. However, getting great discounts is not restricted to younger people—there was a noticeable interest in this shopping festival among all age groups.

The results of the survey show that while more than half of Filipinos do not prepare for the Singles’ Day shopping craze, they buy impulsively on that day.

About 43 percent compare the prices in different stores and only 11 percent declare that they make lists before shopping. It looks like most people treat 11.11 as an occasion to meet their desires rather than an opportunity to execute a wellthought-out shopping plan.

On top of that, most of the consumers—more than 60 percent— declare that they buy things just for themselves. Only a third of the respondents also buy gifts for other people on that day. It appears that—as the name of the event suggests— Singles’ Day is a perfect day for getting a present for yourself.

An average man buys less than an average woman—2.4 and 4 products respectively. The most desirable items among men are clothes, delivery food and electronics. Similarly, women buy mostly clothes, delivery food and cosmetics.

It’s not surprising that Filipinos buy more than usual on Singles’ Day. According to Picodi.com platform’s statistics, the number of online transactions increased significantly— there were 970 percent more purchases compared to a regular day.

A survey indicates that an average Filipino is willing to spend P3,050 on a Singles’ Day shopping spree. The sales reached a peak right in the middle of the day, at 1 p.m.

Majority of the consumers—70 percent—use desktops when doing their shopping on Singles’ Day. Only 26 percent of Filipinos make their purchases on mobile phones.

Most of the transactions are made on Apple devices, followed by Samsung, Oppo, Asus and Huawei appliances.

The report was created based on internal data provided by Picodi. com. About 600 participants from the Philippines took part in the survey.

Business

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LAZADA... From C1 the online business in the Philippines by reducing the friction,” he says.

B a r re ra s ays t h e Ph i l i p p i n e e-commerce sector still has a lot of room for growth. “Today, it is less than 2 percent [of retail]. We see that number going up to double digit. We see it as a market with huge untapped opportunities,” he says.

“This market grew more than 50 percent yearly. We grew significantly faster than that of course. Our ambition is to outgrow the market.

But we really believe that this is the biggest entrepreneurial opportunity in the Philippines. Everyone that is offline will end up going online. This is what happened in other countries, in the US and China,” he says. “We are very optimistic about the market and definitely, we can see this market getting to double-digit of the retail volume in the next five years.”

Barrera says despite the rising competition, Lazada remains the leading industry player. “We understand there are now more competitors and we expect to have even more, because it is a very interesting market and of course a lot of people will follow. We are still by far the largest player in the Philippines, by most of the public sources. This means larger volume of traffic, larger volume of installers base, larger volume of products and larger volume of sales,” he says.

“The value proposition that Lazada offers is very, very different. Many of the players offer second hand items. They focus a lot on customer to customer. We offer all the global brands with fantastic customer experience, with very fast lead time, with fast delivery, with very good quality...

What we see ourselves is a platform that brings sellers to the top seller levels to million peso sales a month.

This is what we really do. Our ultimate ambition is to get all these sellers is to grow their business with us and to build a strong, long-term business,” he says.

Barrera says Lazada aims to redefine the retail experience in the Philippines.

“We are all involved in a new way of buying, a new way of selling. There is a big social empowerment to it. When you look at what Lazada is trying to do today, we are really making selling and buying as easy as possible, with the smallest friction, in the lowest time possible, with pretty much no cost,” he says. “ We w a n t t o b e t h e m o s t competitive platform for buying and selling. And we are also making it very fun,” Barrera says.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

FILIPINO... FromC1 lowest in terms of both mobile and desktop retail purchases.

While the results could indicate a lagging factor in terms of consumer penetration, the country’s average total amount spent (basket value) suggests that Filipinos’ confidence in online shopping is high.

Analysing the macro-perspective of Philippine economy, the country has one of the lowest GDP per capita ($2,951.07) in Southeast Asia (which is closely related to basket value).

However, its basket value in online shopping (the minimum average spending) is the second highest in the region with $56 (P2,887) per order, after Singapore with $91 (P4,736).

Meanwhile, ‘A Path to Purchase’ report 2017 found that Filipino consumers first do a series of searches particularly from price comparison, product reviews and videos before purchasing a product.

The mode of payment in e-commerce also largely influences purchasing activity in the country.

A majority of local and international e-commerce platforms offer easy payment such as cash on delivery which is the second most common payment method.

As most online shoppers are millennials, credit card is now the most common payment method in the country. Based on the State of E-commerce report, about 95 percent of e-commerce merchants in the Philippines offer credit card payment method. This is followed by cash on delivery with 80 percent.

The report was prepared by iPrice Group, which is operating as a onestop shop e-commerce aggregator across seven markets in Southeast and East Asia with price comparison as a key feature.

ASHA graduate Sreeram Devarajan has come a long way as a multi-faceted chef and hospitality professional.

PH HOSPITALITY SCHOOL DRAWS FOREIGN STUDENTS

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TUDYING abroad offers ambition-driven individuals the opportunity for both personal and professional career growth. With globalization changing many industries, it is vital for aspirants to gain the experience and edge through overseas academic learning.

For Indian national Sreeram Devarajan, coming to the Philippines for advanced study is one lifechanging decision that brought him closer not only to his academic goals but also to rewarding career prospects.

Investing on his future, Sreeram enrolled at the Asian School of Hospitality Arts where extensive learning and hands-on training readied him in his career in the hospitality industry.

Broad learning perspectives Hailing from a third-generation family of hoteliers and restaurateurs –- his late grandfather, T. N. Narayanan owned the Kerala Bhavan and Madras Café since 1948. Sreeram has the roots and makings of a professional cook. From his hometown in Kerala, India, the learner in Sreeram led him to Malaysia where he started as a culinary student at KDU University Malaysia and later as a sous chef and banquet chef at the Holiday Villa Hotel & Suites in Subang, Malaysia.

But the awarded young chef—he was a gold and bronze medalist at the India Premier Culinary Unilever Challenge 2008 and bronze medalist (2nd Best Asian Chef ) in Culinare FHM 2005, Malaysia -– was far from resting on his laurels. He explored

the world for higher study and work opportunities.

From Malaysia, Sreeram went to Vietnam as well as in Mauritius where he earned a Higher Diploma in International Hotel Management at HTTC. He also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Hotel and Tourism Management from IMI Switzerland.

“It was during those travels that I saw the expanding progress of the hotel and tourism industries. I also understood that to set yourself apart from others and to be well-positioned in management-related careers, I need to add an international dimension to my specialization,”he said.

By the time he went back to Malaysia, Sreeram was determined to level up his professional qualifications. From being an accomplished chef, he decided to specialize in a new field of study -- in F&B Operations Management.

“As I was doing online research for a reputable hospitality school within Asia, I chanced upon ASHA and was attracted by the various degree and certification programs offered,” he said.

From the start, Sreeram already experienced the hassle-free access to ASHA’s education. “One of the great things about ASHA is communication.

After I sent my application, Dean Angie Blanco of ASHA was supportive and helped me with all the paper works,” he said.

Sreeram never felt being a stranger in the Philippines. This country is where his love for the hospitality and F&B industry kept on burning.

“When I came here, I instantly knew that this is the right country for me because everywhere I go, there is food. Even on the streets, I see people eating. There are also a lot of tourists. The opportunity to learn more about hospitality and food is right here, because the demand for food

is high,” he said.

Sreeram graduated in ASHA in 2011. Because of his experiences in ASHA and his passion in the field, he successfully mastered the key skills of Hospitality Management in the F&B industry.

ASHA’s education made him ready to become an F&B business consultant, a restaurant manager, sales and nanquet management, an Asian food consultant, among others.

Sreeram is currently in the Philippines to work as an Indian cuisine and business management consultant. “There are a lot of hospitality schools in the Philippines but I think ASHA has the unique advantage compared to other schools. They offered practical training that are very useful in this industry,” said Sreeram.

According to ASHA Dean Angie Blanco, it is more important now than ever for students and even established professionals to gain global competency skills so that they can succeed in the global marketplace.

“Sreeram is our first foreign national graduate, and we are proud to see how he has made tremendous strides in his hospitality career. ASHA commits itself in leading the way in making the Philippines known for world-class hospitality arts education. With a vision of excellence, values, and passion, ASHA ensures that international students like Sreeram are taught the vital strategies and tools required for thriving careers in the industry,” she said.

ASHA’s graduates has a 95 percent employment rate because of its wide network in the hospitality industry such as partnerships with hotels, restaurants, theme parks, convention centers and cruise ships. Internships are also available in the US for graduate students to expand further their work experience.

MOBILE APP CONNECTS NURSES AND CAREGIVERS TO PATIENTS AFTER a successful launch among nursing home facilities in New York City in 2017, SLF Management Systems Inc., together with Advanced World Solutions Inc., launched its first mobile app in the Philippines, BackApp—an around-the-clock staffing solution that connects healthcare facilities and professionals, home-based patients, and staffing agencies that need top-notch nurses and caregivers.

BackApp comes in three types. These include Long-Term Care, a staffing solution used by affiliated staffing agencies; Acute Care, a staffing solution for hospital-based nurse managers who are looking for lastminute staff replacements; and Homecare, an easy access to private nurses and caregivers for home-based patients.

The all-mobile service does not only provide a hassle-free access to nurses and caregivers at the comfort of home or healthcare establishment, but it also promotes job opportunities and further develops the healthcare standards in the country.

Every health professional hired via the mobile app is carefully matched by a case manager and under close clinical

monitoring by the patient’s attending physician.

With at least 23,800 health care workers deployed across the Philippines, of which 17,538 are nurses, the developers behind BackApp, a group of seasoned healthcare practitioners and IT experts, are seeing an unprecedented increase in demand for both nurses and caregivers in various settings.

Edwine Joseph, assistant director of nursing at Mary Manning Walsh, a 362-bed skilled nursing facility in New York City, says, “Before BackApp, for us to find staffing when we are short on a shift, what we would do was to pick up the phone and start calling people. The process used to be lengthy because you had to call around 15 people just to get one nurse. BackApp makes our lives easier,” he says.

Joseph says with BackApp, “Finding manpower now is prompt: we put the request on the app, we get a notification saying, ‘this is what you need,’ then all the nurses get the notification, too. After a few minutes, you’ll get a notification, again, saying ‘this person has accepted your request.”

Gertrudes de Guzman, director of

nursing at Amsterdam Nursing Home, shares the same positive experience. “We find the mobile app very easy to use, at the same time, we get prompt responses.

It facilitates our staffing needs very well.

Plus, the fact that we get to know who are the nurses we are deploying is really a good thing—they are reliable, competent, and dedicated workers,” he says.

For home-based patients, BackApp ensures reliable and safe health care services, in coordination with the attending physician. It limits the cost of hospital admission through home-based monitoring and family health training.

For staffing agencies, it develops a talent pool of top-quality healthcare professionals.

It creates additional revenues for urgent requirements.

“Specifically, the Homecare BackApp aims to keep the Filipino family together by eliminating the need to send your sick family member to the hospital or nursing home. This ultimately reduces hospitalization costs, thus lessening the financial burden on the family,” says SLF Management System Inc. president and chief executive Sally Nunez.

Tech & Gadgets

DELL UNVEILS THINNEST, SMALLEST XPS 15 PORTFOLIO

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ELL Philippines officially unveiled the refreshed XPS 15 laptop for those looking for a device that offers a blend of style, luxury and power.

This XPS device maintains the XPS tradition of expert craftsmanship to deliver the best computing experience on the planet.

“At Dell, we are passionate about creating technologies that go beyond the boundaries of what’s possible,” said Jay Ranola, Consumer Head, Dell Philippines.

“The XPS 15 continues to flawlessly combine sophisticated exterior only found in XPS brand with the latest innovations that offer amazing computing performance experience for power users such as content creators, as well as for everyday users.”

New XPS 15: Pushing innovation to the edge

Powered by the latest 6-core 8th Gen Intel® CoreTM processors, the new XPS 15 delivers up to 50% more performance and up to 20% more graphic performance than the previous generation processors, enabling users to enjoy maximum performance for what comes next in gaming and creation.

Powered by up to NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050Ti graphics, memory up to 16 GB and storage up to 512GB PCIe SSD, the new XPS 15 allows users to get the content they need quicker without being slowed down by memory-intensive applications.

The new XPS 15 features a stunning 4K UltraSharp™ 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) InfinityEdge optional touch display with 100% Adobe RGB color. Dell Cinema completes users’ entertainment experience with Dell Cinema that brings state-of-the-art sound, color and streaming. With weight starting from just 4 pounds, this laptop can last up to 11 hours and 30 minutes with UHD, making it a perfect choice for creative professional on-the-go.

Immersive experiences with Dell Cinema

Now more than ever, people watch movies and TV shows on their PCs with the expectation of a full cinematic experience,

XPS 15

including studio sound and visual quality, as creators intend. That experience is now also available on XPS PCs through Dell Cinema, an immersive audio and visual experience.

• CinemaColor: powered by Windows HD Color in partnership with Microsoft, decodes and displays high dynamic range streamed content with enhanced detail, more vivid hues, sharper brightness and a wider color gamut • CinemaSound: a Dell exclusive audio innovation powered by WavesMaxx Audio Pro that delivers clearer highs, enhanced bass and higher volume for a true cinematic audio experience • CinemaStreaming: Killer wireless optimizes online streaming and interactive video resulting in less buffering, more bandwidth and better resolution

Dell Premium Support Services

All Dell XPS PCs come with Dell Premium Support Service and Accidental Damage support. The Dell Premium Support service packs the

most features in one support plan. It is enhanced with features that include virus removal, repairs for accidents and automated PC health-optimizing scans to keep PC running at its best.

Premium Support comes with SupportAssist, Dell’s exclusive technology that helps make managing PC easier.

Users can unlock its maximum performance when they select it.

Users will also have expert help from a team that is ready to deliver personalized, one-on-one support for nearly any hardware or software issue.

Whether it is setting up parental controls, backing up data, or optimizing your hard drive and software settings to get that like-new performance from the PC, Dell experts are ready to tackle the challenges users might face.

Premium Support includes: • 24x7 direct access to expert hardware and software phone support.

• Onsite support after remote diagnosis.

• Repairs for accidental damages like drops, spills and electrical surges.

• Collaborative help to resolve everyday software issues.

• Personalized help with software for more complex issues, or for help with setting data backup, parental controls, and more.

• International support.

• Parental control software support.

• SupportAssist technology-enabled features to: • Proactively find issues and contact Dell while notifying users.

• Predict problems before they start.o Remove viruses and malware.

• Optimize PC performance automatically.

This service is accessible nationwide and customers can easily call Dell’s Hotline at 1800 1601 0061 (Toll-Free) or 00632-8830677 (Non Toll-Free) to access this service. For further information, please visit www.dell.com/premiumsupport.

Availability: • New Dell XPS 15 is available beginning November with starting at P95,990.

PREMIUM-DESIGNED NOKIA 5.1 NOW IN PH aging and contemporary design in an accessible HMD Global, the home of Nokia device. With the Nokia 5.1 Plus, we aim to bring phones, today announces exciting gaming and entertainment experithe availability of the Nokia ences closer to a wider group of Filipino fans.

5.1 Plus in the Philippines.

Through this, more people can play mobile With its impressive progames, binge-watch their favourite series and cessing power, the Nokia 5.1 capture great content. The Nokia 5.1 Plus is for Plus delivers great gaming our tech-savvy fans who love finding the best performance and AI imagprice-performance combination,” said Shaning in an accessible, stylish non Mead, HMD Global country manager. package. Combining conFlagship performance made accessible. temporary design and qualThe Nokia 5.1 Plus is one of the most-afity build, the Nokia 5.1 Plus fordable smartphones powered by the is sure to offer a unique and most-advanced MediaTek chipaccessible experience to all set to date, the MediaTek Filipino Nokia mobile fans.

Helio P60. The enThe Nokia 5.1 Plus may gine has been debe availed at authorized onsigned to deliver line Nokia mobile resellers Dr. Park precise power to MemoXpress and Argomall Nokia 5.1 handle gaming, video or for P12,990. Every purchase multitasking applications with ease. The advanced AI comes with a free game pad.

This early holiday treat allows users to enjoy an im- built into Nokia 5.1 Plus’s chipset enables deep-learning mersive gaming experience even before the holiday face recognition and real-time photo enhancement.

Equipped with all the essential sensors, you can expeseason starts.

To further its positioning as a powerful smartphone rience the latest games and apps to the fullest.

The phone’s advanced imaging allows users to capture for optimized casual gaming experience, the Nokia 5.1 Plus is also the official mobile device partner of Syner- studio style shots with depth-sensing imaging and selectgy 88, the producer of the all-Pinoy mobile game—Ba- able‘bokeh’blur and portrait lighting. The dual 13MP/5MP rangay 143. This partnership also includes on-ground rear cameras with electronic video stabilisation help enactivations in malls and schools as well as participation sure steady filming, sharp videos and perfectly captured special moments with friends. Phase Detection Auto Foin the recently concluded ESGS. “Our vision was to deliver reliable performance, AI im- cus helps in taking clear and focused photos.

On-trend design The stunning 5.8-inch edge-to-edge notched display gives fans maximum content with a minimal footprint. The Nokia 5.1 Plus features a pure design with 2.5D curved front and rear glass, complemented by curved edges and a high-gloss finish.

At about 8mm thin, the ergonomic design with continuous curvature makes for the ultimate premium feel in the hand. The Nokia 5.1 Plus has a sturdy metal structure, quality-tested in extreme temperatures and drop-tested to ensure that it meets the exacting quality standards of a Nokia phone.

Pure, secure and up-to-date, reinforced with Android One commitment The Nokia 5.1 Plus joins the Android One family of Nokia smartphones, offering an experience designed

by Google that is smart, secure and simply amazing.

The Nokia 5.1 Plus stays up-to-date over time with three years of monthly security patches and two years of guaranteed OS updates after launch. As with all Nokia smartphones in the Android One programme, users get more battery and storage space out of the box brought by a carefully curated set of preloaded apps. Stay ahead of the game with the latest Google services such as Google Assistant and Google Photos with free unlimited high-quality photo storage.

By shipping with Android Oreo™ out of the box, Nokia fans can enjoy the latest features. This includes Google Lens, picture-in-picture for multitasking, Google Play Instant to discover and run apps with minimal friction, and battery-saving features such as limiting background app use. It is also ready for Android Pie.

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2018 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

IELTS NOW MORE CONVENIENT FOR TAKERS OVER the years, the British Council, through the delivery of the International English Language Testing System, has been providing new opportunities and helping make dreams come true for Filipinos who dream to go overseas.

And as the needs of test takers change, the British Council Philippines continuously enhances the way it delivers the IELTS to make the test experience as convenient as possible.

Proof of this is the recently introduced computer-delivered IELTS test. With this new platform, test takers now have more test dates to choose from with at least 3 test dates per week. In addition, they now have the choice of taking the test on paper or computer.

The paper-based and the computerdelivered test both adhere to the same security, trust and integrity of the British Council’s approach in the delivery of the IELTS. Both are also the same in terms of content, scoring, level of difficulty and test format. Test takers will get the same test sections: the Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking sections.

In addition, whether test takers choose the standard or computer-delivered IELTS, they will be able to access the British Council’s various resources all the same, online and offline, at the British Council Learning Hub. Taking the computer-delivered IELTS has its own advantages, though, especially for those who are more comfortable with using computers. This is especially true for Indra Manahan, who took the IELTS for the first time as a requirement for his Canada immigration application.

Manahan said that with the computer-delivered IELTS, he didn’t have to worry about penmanship and word count, which made the experience smoother for him. “Everything is done on a computer nowadays, and personally, I’m not even used to writing with a pen and paper anymore.”

For Christopher Blancaflor, his good performance in the IELTS test is something that he attributes to taking it on a computer. “During the writing test, I was able to focus more on putting my thoughts into words than worrying about erasures, which I think helped me achieve my target score. In the speaking test, the headphones allowed me to hear the sound clip clearly,” said Blancaflor.

Another benefit of taking the computer-delivered IELTS is the quick turnaround time for the test results, which are delivered within seven days after testing day. “It’s a real advantage for someone who needs the test results right away,” said Manahan.

“It didn’t even take seven days for my results to be delivered. I called in five days after my scheduled test and I was told my results are already posted,” said Blancaflor.

When asked about his experience in taking the IELTS test with the British Council, Manahan said: “Everything went very smoothly, and it was convenient because all the tests were done on the same day at the same location. The testing facilities were also quiet and comfortable.

The staff, while strict because they were required to be, were still friendly.”

“For users like me who are more comfortable with using the computer, the computer option is definitely a must when taking the IELTS test,” Blancaflor said.

The computer-delivered IELTS can be availed in Manila at the British Council office in Taguig, and in Cebu at SMEAG Global Education Inc.

LBC ENHANCES PROGRAM, OPENS PAMPANGA WAREHOUSE LBC has recognized the need for an enhanced program to serve the burgeoning consumer market developing in the northern part of the country. As part of their resolve to continuously build and grow their capability, LBC has kicked off operations of the new Warehouse named Kapayapaan.

Located within the Mexico Industrial Complex, Panipuan, Mexico Pampanga, the 6,300 sqm. Kapayapaan Warehouse compound is 90 kilometers or two hours travel time from Metro Manila via the North Luzon Expressway.

The facility has elevated loading bays that can receive up to 20 x 40w trucks and side loading bays that can accommodate 4 x 10w trucks simultaneously; and has adequate spacious parking for big trucks and vehicles. The state of the art warehouse, which has an optimum capacity of 5,200 pallets, is properly lit and ventilated; equipped with a Fire

Detection and Alarm System.

Jerome S. Santos, LBC Vice President for Corporate Sales, said LBC is seeing a significant consumption boom in the northern part of the country and the Kapayapaan Warehouse will serve as an initial take off point for increased warehousing demand in the north. The opening of the warehouse is the first step of a planned program of northward expansion that includes the opening of another warehouse in the Pangasinan—Tarlac area by next year.

LBC’s goal, Santos explained, is to make transport going to and from the north more efficient by situating warehouses close to TPLEX, thereby minimizing the entry of big trucks into congested and traffic prone cities.

In addition to increasing their warehousing services, LBC continues to offer other solutions to meet the needs of various businesses. These include: Cold Chain services, which

offers a dedicated, fully monitored and temperature-controlled movement of sensitive products anywhere in the Philippines for volumes of Container or Full Truck Load; Specialized Logistics which helps businesses fulfill their quality service promise to customers nationwide; and, NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier) which makes maximum use of LBC’s extensive logistics expertise to import and export domestic and international cargo—moving container shipments to gateway ports.

According to Santos: “The Filipino people’s unwavering support encourages LBC to improve and do better. Rest assured that we will endeavor to evolve, develop and expand LBC so that we can reach more people, cater to more businesses, and deliver the superior professional service that we believe every Filipino individual, family or business truly deserves”.

(L-R) Maria Adelle Aguado, Account Executive, Dienelle Charm Binas, Account Executive, Jet Paulo-AVP for Sales, Rizalyn Caranto-Warehouse Manager (Mexico), Jerome S. Santos-VP for Corporate Sales, Julie Ann Canimo-Warehouse Manager-Alabang, Allan Asuncion-RYM Manager, Recolle delos Reyes-Account Executive, Albin Pia-Warehouse Manager (Cavite)

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TECH & Gadgets SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2018 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

OPPO PIONEERS 5G INTERNET CONNECTION

OtterBox Symmetry

OTTERBOX ANNOUNCES CASE LINEUP FOR IPHONES

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PPLE iPhone is more than a device, it is an extension of one’s self and style. With the announcement of iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max, now is the perfect time to accent iPhone with something that makes it uniquely yours and protects it from the daily grind. OtterBox, the No. 1-most trusted in cell phone case protection,1 offers a full portfolio of style, color and graphic case options available now for iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max and coming soon for iPhone XR.

and design of each of our case series to make them better than ever,” said Jim Parke, OtterBox CEO. “Whether facing drops, dings or scratches, OtterBox protection keeps your device looking like new.

That way, when it’s time to use Apple GiveBack, you will get every penny that you deserve.”

Each iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max and iPhone XR case design undergoes a minimum of 24 tests across more than 238 hours to earn the OtterBox Certified Drop+ Protection seal. These tests ensure lasting protection from drops, bumps, scratches and dings.

OtterBox offers a broad suite of cases, because iPhone users are as diverse and complex as their phone features. There’s an OtterBox case for everyone: Symmetry Series has been redesigned with a slimmer Cover iPhone Xs, iPhone form and easy-push buttons Xs Max and iPhone XR with and comes in a broad array protection ranging from of colors and graphics in a trendy and slim to rugged sleek, one-piece design. With and burly—plus everything an ultra-slim form, Symmetry in between.2 The OtterBox Series is the perfect fashion line-up continues to evolve statement to slide in and out with every iPhone generaof pockets. tion. For example, this year Defender Series offers the Symmetry Series case is rugged protection for iPhone slimmer than ever—without X, iPhone Xs Max and iPhone compromising trusted OtterXR. The multi-layer design Box protection that everyone absorbs and dissipates shock, knows and loves.

OtterBox Commuter while port covers keep dirt “We watch Apple improve and enhance its technology every year, and we are and debris out. Available in a wide variety of colors doing the same by enhancing the protection, style and build-your-own options.

OtterBox Defender

Pursuit Series is OtterBox’s thinnest, most protective case with protection against drop, dust, dirt and snow intrusion. The two-piece design seals together around iPhone and features audio scoops, a sealed camera opening and an included lanyard to tether it to your arm.

Crafted for luxury seekers, Strada Series Folio features a genuine leather cover, magnetic front clasp and folio design to keep the screen from scratches.

The inside cover offers a card slot ideal for holding a credit card and ID. Thin, protective and ready to go, Commuter Series is perfect for the everyday trek to work. The outer shell and inner slipcover absorb shock and stay slim, while port covers keep dust out of ports.

Available in a wide variety of colors and build-yourown options.

All OtterBox cases are compatible with Alpha Glass fortified screen guards. Alpha Glass guards against scuffs, scratches and dings to the brilliant display on iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max and iPhone XR.

IPHONE XS, XS MAX AVAILABLE AT POWER MAC CENTER POWER Mac Center, the premier Apple partner in the country, recently welcomed the arrival of iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, and Apple Watch Series 4 with a midnight launch party at its flagship store in Greenbelt 3.

Customers in line were given starter kits and a quick discussion about the features of the new iPhones and iOS 12

by Certified Trainers.

Minutes before midnight, pop rock band IV of Spades hyped the crowd with their famous hits using iPads. As the doors finally opened, several Power Mac Center brand ambassadors including Daniel Matsunaga, Sam YG, Megan Young, Mikael Daez, Cesca Litton, Mari Jasmine, and Jojo the Love Survivor welcomed the loyal

customers. They were rewarded premium accessories worth up toP19,000, while holders of the 1 Infinite Card, Power Mac Center’s loyalty rewards card, received double the points for their purchase during the midnight launch.

“This is Power Mac Center’s biggest iPhone launch yet and we’re truly grateful to all our loyal customers who patiently waited and joined us until the wee hours. Every year, we make sure to come up with the best deals and complement it with topnotch service all for the Filipino Apple fans,” said Joey Alvarez, Power Mac Center Director of Product Management and Marketing.

The newest iPhone sports Super Retina in two sizes—including the largest dis-

play ever on an iPhone. It has faster Face ID, a dual-camera system, and the smartest, most powerful chip in a smartphone. iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, and Apple Watch Series 4 are now available in se-

lect Power Mac Center stores nationwide. Customers may also avail of additional insurance protection for damages not covered in the standard warranty through Power Mac Center Protect Plus.

For more information on products and services, visit the Power Mac Center website www.powermaccenter.com or its official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts (@powermaccenter).

PRICE LIST: iPhone Xs 64GB - P69,990; iPhone Xs 256GB - P79,990; iPhone Xs 512GB - P93,490; iPhone Xs Max 64GB P76,990; iPhone Xs Max 256GB -P86,990; iPhone Xs Max 512GB - P99,990 *Color: Space Grey, Silver, Gold Apple Watch Series 4 starts at P24,990 (Size: 40mm, 44mm)

BRAIN Shen, OPPO Global Vice President and President of China Business Department, claimed on Sina Weibo, one of the most popular social media platforms in China, that an OPPO mobile phone successfully completed 5G internet access for the first time.

In the research and development of 5G, OPPO has once again taken the lead in the industry and has laid a solid foundation for commercially launching 5G phones next year.

OPPO VP Brain’s Weibo post detailed how OPPO made the connection successfully between an R15 smartphone terminal and the 5G network, in their 5G communication protocol laboratory environment. It is said the connection was carried out on a pre-commercially available 5G smartphone developed on the basis of OPPO R15. It was customized with fully integrated 5G components including System board, RF, RFFE and antenna. The “5G” logo also appeared in the top right corner of the screen.

As a pioneer of 5G, OPPO committed to be one of the key contributors to the 5G standard and has become an important promoter of 5G product development and commercialization. Brain stated they would strive to become the first brand to release real commercial 5G smartphones as well.

Recently at the Beijing 2018 Qualcomm China Technology and Cooperation Summit, OPPO announced the partnership with the Qualcomm Technologies’, also known as “5G Pilot” program to jointly explore mobile technology innovations in the 5G network. After then, the OPPO Research Institute was unveiled to comprehensively enhance the company’s technological innovation and research capabilities. This will facilitate the pre-research of core technology based on the user’s needs or even more, to create technical qualification for the company’s future product competitiveness. The OPPO Research Institute is headquartered in Shenzhen with other R&D centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Yokohama, and Silicon Valley.

Started with the participation of the 5G standard project in 2015, OPPO kept solidly growing in 5G research and development. Contributing to the freezing of the international 5G standard, OPPO also took the lead in the development of 5G mobile phones and also explored what the 5G mobile phone can do.

International standards organization 3GPP stated that OPPO ranked first in the number of documents submitted by a global tech company.

Also, OPPO began to explore 5G applications, including 3D vision and ambient intelligence. In May 2018, OPPO announced the successful implementation of the world’s first 5G video call demonstration using 3D structured light technology. Conducted at the OPPO Research Institute, a 3D image camera was integrated with an OPPO mobile phone to capture 3D portrait information.

The Qualcomm 5G new air interface terminal prototype was used to finally restore the 3D portrait image at the remote receiving display.

HOW LG IS SHAPING KITCHEN OF FUTURE FOOD is a precursor for bonding in the Philippines. But in an age of fast-paced lifestyles and minute meals, the act of preparing and enjoying good, home-cooked meals with a loved one has become a precious, if rare, moment.

Technology, however, is slowly helping us reimagine the kitchen as the center of the home, where family and friends typically congregate, and meals are cooked and shared. A new generation of smart appliances are transforming life in the kitchen and reshaping expectations about kitchen staples like the refrigerator and oven. With these new intuitive, user-friendly appliances, we find ourselves back in the kitchen, able to cook better, healthier meals but with half the cooking time and labor.

LG Electronics is focusing on modern products that are slowly shaping the kitchen of the future, one where preparation time is reduced, efficiency is improved, error is minimized and energy usage optimized. And one where smart fridges, dishwashers and ovens “communicate” with one another.

We are now entering the moment of the connected kitchen. LG’s kitchen of the future will host a number of intelligent appliances designed to work

SmartThinQ App

in close cooperation with one another using the LG SmartThinQ artificial intelligence platform.

SmartThinQ in the kitchen is not yet fully optimized in the Philippines, but other markets reveal how this new technology is making appliances more intuitive than ever and lets you control just about everything in your home from your smartphone, starting with the new LG InstaView ThinQ refrigerator.

This refrigerator is the next step in smart home

evolution. A massive glass screen lets you manage mealtimes,create a shopping a list, and even post expiration dates of your food. It also allows you tocheck the contents of your fridge at a glance—just tap the screen twice to see everything inside, and plan your meals better without even having to open your fridge (saving energy in the process). It can even suggest recipes based on the ingredients you currently have on hand.

With the SmartThinQ app, you can see a wide-angle view of the inside of your fridge wherever you are.

So next time you’re out grocery shopping, you won’t have to think if you need to broccoli for dinner. The app also allows you to connect with other smart LG kitchen appliances. For example, when you look up a recipe, your LG InstaView ThinQ can set the smart LG oven to automatically preheat to the correct temperature, allowing you to get dinner on the table faster, not to mention giving you more time to enjoy a meal with your loved ones.

The kitchen has always had technology at its heart— and with LG’s intelligent, consumer-centric appliances, it’s advancing in ways you’ve never imagined. Today’s recipe for success is invention, integration and innovation—and LG is definitely serving all of these in heaps.

LG InstaView ThinQ Refrigerator

Destinations D1

sunday, november 4, 2018

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heRe are different kinds of travelers: there are those who explore a place for its food, those who are always on the hunt for the best bargain, those who want to take in the “feel” of a place leisurely.

And then there are those who are always looking for thrilling activities to satisfy their thirst for adventure. home to some of the world’s most extraordinary locales, Asia Pacific offers endless possibilities for those with a sense of adventure. hence, automobile firm Ford and travel site TripAdvisor have teamed up to find out the best extraordinary adventure destinations in the region in a bid to encourage explorers to discover amazing locations around them.

“Our consumer research shows that nearly 50 percent of Ford ever-

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

extraordinary adventure destinations in asia paciFic est owners in Asia Pacific are using their vehicles for weekend trips at least once a month. In fact, we also see an increasing trend of people across the region using their SUVs for off-roading,” shared Brett Burin, marketing director for Asia Pacific operations of Ford Motor Company.

hill Tribe Villages in Chiang Rai, Thailand (Photo from TripAdvisor)

Ford and TripAdvisor uncover the best “off-road”, “extreme destinations” with “tough roads” using the latter’s machine learning to identify the popular road trip destinations.

“We know that travelers want to discover new places that are off the beaten track when they’re

looking for adventure,” said Janice Lee Fang, TripAdvisor’s communications director for Asia Pacific. “These were some of the more popular ones for adventurous road trips that we know, through our data, are already loved by TripAdvisor’s global travel community.”

@MStandardLIFE

The 55-kilometer hong Kong-ZhuhaiMacao Bridge is the world's longest bridge and tunnel sea crossing

World’s longest bridge opens The world’s longest bridge and tunnel sea crossing, which connects hong Kong to the cities in the Greater Bay Area of southern China, has finally opened on Oct. 24.

The 55-kilometer hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge provides a major boost to regional tourism, bringing attractions of Macao and Guangdong within easy reach.

The bridge will consolidate hong Kong’s position as a hub for multidestination travel within the Greater Bay Area, which includes nine cities in the Guangdong Province and two Special Administrative Regions.

It shortens the journey from hong Kong International Airport to Zhuhai from four hours to just 45 minutes.

Franz Josef Village in New Zealand (Photo from everythingqueenstown.com)

Chiang Rai, Thailand

Located in northern Thailand near the borders of Laos and Myanmar, Chiang Rai offers a sense of tranquility for those looking to escape the stress of the city. If driving up from Chiang Mai, explorers get to experience 197 kilometers of scenic forested mountains along the long and winding highway.

Franz Josef, South Island, New Zealand

In a small clearing in the middle of the rainforests of South Island, Franz Josef is a small town just seven kilometers from the awe-inspiring Franz Josef Glacier. The area is composed of untouched rainforests, waterfalls, and lakes surrounded by snow-capped mountains. The nearest major city to drive from is Queenstown, which is 350 kilometers to the south.

hK Link Road's viaducts at Western Waters

Canyoning and Abseiling Adventure in Katoomba, Australia (TripAdvisor)

Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia

Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet (Wikimedia/Xiquinho)

The perfect place to explore Australia’s rugged Blue Mountains, Katoomba is a small town and artistic hub bordering the mountains and its bushwalking trails. Situated on the Great Western highway, 110km west of Sydney, it’s ideally located for a short weekend getaway. The area is mountainous with steep cliffs, dense rainforests, and several waterfalls.

Lhasa, Tibet, China

At an elevation of 3,656 meters on the Tibetan Plateau, Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world. It is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, winding rivers, and vast marshlands. As such, the roads in the area are rough, rocky, and challenging. If driving in from outside of Tibet, one of the nearest major cities is Xining, China, nearly 1,900 kilometers away.

Turn to D2

The first port of call for travelers using the new bridge is hong Kong’s Lantau Island, home of the city’s international airport and Disneyland.

Visitors can ride the famous Ngong Ping 360 cable car to the Big Buddha statue and Po Lin Monastery and take a walk along Wisdom Path, a peaceful and spiritual trail featuring carved wooden pillars. For an authentic cultural experience, visitors can explore Tai O Fishing Village with its distinctive stilt houses.

In addition, the hZMB puts a wealth of diverse cultural attractions in Macao and Guangdong within easy reach of hong Kong, including the stunning ruins of St. Paul’s in Macao, the Statue of Fisher Girl in Zhuhai, the Kaiping Diaolou and the Seven Star Crags in Zhaoqing, and many more.

A fast and convenient cross-border bus service is available to take

French vineyards and the grand Wine experience mercury rising

By BoB zozoBrado

AT The recent media launch of this year’s edition of the very popular Grand Wine experience, I enjoyed the “Wine 101” impromptu “seminar” of Moët hennessy Philippines' international account manager, Matthieu Lerat, as he chatted with me about the beautiful vineyards of France.

I learned from him how factors like the type of soil and the locale›s year-round climate combine to give wine grapes distinct characteristics, and how these con-

tribute to the flavor that a particular wine is known for. he also told me that certain types of grapes grow best in certain areas.

As an example, the red wines of Bordeaux are usually blends of two or more of five grapes that grow best in the area: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.

The vineyard's altitude is another important factor to the wine's unique flavor and Turn to D2

Vineyards on a slope in southwest France.

Turn to D2

destinations

D2

sunday, november 4, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

A new hAngout ‘within the wAlls’

extraordinary...

From d1

sTudenTs, professionals, and foreign tourists in manila have a new place to enjoy good food and discover great finds at the new night market in the historic walled city, Intramuros.

The Wall Intramuros night market has recently opened its gate to the public with a free concert featuring pop rock bands.

Lijiang, China

Lijiang, Yunnan, China

The Wall Intramuros night market combines food and shopping.

Home to the unesCo Heritage site old Town, the city has been preserved to look the same as it did when it was part of the legendary ancient silk road. Lijiang is also the perfect base camp when checking out the beautiful surrounding areas, being only an hour drive from the Jade snow mountain range and two hours from Tiger Leaping Gorge.

The nearest major city to drive from is Kunming, which is 518 kilometers away. on the drive, travelers can expect rough roads with sand, mud, and rocky areas.

The night market features more than a hundred stalls, from a wide selection of food concepts to businesses offering locally made products, such as gift items, souvenir items, accessories, apparel, and other bazaar finds.

The concept of combining food stalls and shopping were inspired by the mongkok night market in Hong Kong, the myeongdong night market in Korea, and the shilin night market in Taiwan.

“We are different from the other food parks because The Wall is a combination of good food and a great shopping experience. Foreign tourists, students, and professionals will definitely find a new reason to visit Intramuros. This is also perfect for the whole family!” enthused denver Chua, owner of The Wall Intramuros night market.

Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines

Located on a peninsula at the southwestern tip of Cebu, moalboal is surrounded by water with a mountainous inland covered with dense jungles and divided by rivers and canyons. driving to moalboal from Cebu City is a memorable part of the experience, with 89 kilometers of beautiful coastline to take in from the comfort of one’s vehicle.

Patong beach in Phuket (Wikimedia/rene ehrhardt)

Phuket, Thailand

Tianzi mountain in Zhangjiajie (Wikimedia/chensiyuan)

Phuket is an island in the andaman sea off the coast of southern Thailand, and home to several famed destinations such as Karon beach, Patong, and Phuket City. The island is covered with mountainous rainforests from north to south, with white sandy beaches lining its west coast and rougher, muddier terrain on the east, offering drivers a variety of terrains to conquer.

The night market features a hundred stalls, offering food finds and locally made products.

Located in the heart of manila, the historic Intramuros, also called the “Walled City,” was the seat of government and the center of power during the spanish era. It was also the center of religion and education, which is why at present, the country’s top educational institutions are still inside Intramuros such as Colegio de san Juan de Letran, Lyceum of the Philippines university, mapua university, and the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng maynila, to name a few. aside from the universities, other attractions inside Intramuros are the manila Cathedral and the san agustin Church—a unesCo World Heritage site.

The Wall Intramuros Night Market is located at Gen. Luna corner Victoria Street, Intramuros Manila. It is open everyday from 4:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

world's...

From d1

The HZmb is 20 times longer than san Francisco's Golden Gate bridge.

pioneering travelers over the iconic new bridge. at 55 kilometers, the HZmb is 20 times longer than san Francisco’s Golden Gate bridge. It contains enough steel to build 60 eiffel Towers and is designed to last 120 years—two decades longer than the average lifespan of most major cross-sea bridges.

sardine run in moalboal, Cebu (Wikimedia/pescadorescebu)

Zhangjiajie, Hunan, China

Home to the famed Wulingyuan scenic area, visiting Zhangjiajie can feel like visiting another world. The area consists of vast forest, winding rivers, and cascading waterfalls. For a truly extraordinary experience, drive up Tianmen mountain road, which rises to 1,200 meters in 11 kilometers with 99 hair-raising bends.

French...

From d1

aroma. In wine-making lingo, “altitude” means that a vineyard is on a slope. a vineyard on a flat surface, even if it's 4,000 feet above sea level is less desirable than one at 4,000 feet on a gentle slope. Why so? because drainage is important to the vines which don't like to grow on a wet surface. slopes also enable a gentle breeze to easily blow through the entire vineyard and help protect it from heat-stress when the weather gets too hot.

Lastly, I learned that the vineyard's location in the globe is the most important factor to consider when growing different kinds of grapes. The area's distance from the equator is the first thing to consider. Wine grapes are most commonly successful in countries found within 30 to 50 degrees north and south of the equator. europe is between 40 and 50 degrees north of the equator, thus most of the best wines in the world come from there.

It was such a learning experience chatting with Lerat for just a few minutes, after which I felt like I just graduated from a semester's course on wine-making. In fact, it made me more curious about the wine-making processes involved that, when I got home, I decided to research more on it, which I plan to share with you in some future column. on to the matter at hand... I certainly am looking forward to what has been bannered as the biggest and grandest wine gathering in southeast asia. as in the previous years, this year's edition of the Grand Wine experience will be at the Grand ballroom of the manila marriott Hotel on nov. 16.

This vintage brew's yearly spectacle is presented by Philippine Wine merchants of the Joseph brothers—robert, ralph, ronald, and raymond—the largest familyowned wines and spirits distribution company, servicing the top markets, convenience stores, restaurants, and hotels throughout the country since

manila marriott's sommelier, giving me a taste of what to expect at the Grand Wine experience.

1975. The company leaves no stone there is no other event of this mag- wines and spirits from 22 countries, unturned, attending to the thou- nitude anywhere else in asia. It cer- and attended by winemakers, wine sand-and-one details involved in the tainly has become the Grand event connoisseurs, oenophiles, celebrities, and government dignitaries. preparations, to ensure a grand cel- that it claims to be. of course, the Joseph brothebration that is always raved ers always ensure that the about, even several weeks event is not just about lavishafter the event, by celebrities ness and extravagance but is and stalwarts in business, govYOUR weekend CHUCkLe also for a good cause. Foundaernment, and social circles.

Give a man a fish and you will feed him tions like Lingkod Kapamilya of and why not? during the for the day. Teach a man to fish and he’s abs-Cbn is one of its beneficiaevent, one has the privilege going to spend a fortune on gear he’ll be ries. more importantly, since of discovering new selections using only twice a year!

Philippine Wine merchants guaranteed to whet one's apchairman robert Joseph is a petite. There will be approxiwell-known tourism advocate, mately 500 wines, spirits, he uses this event to help probeers, and Japanese wines Taking a look at its history, in the year mote the country's tourism industry, (sakes) on display, along with a bountiful buffet of culinary special- 2000, the four Joseph brothers put up in cooperation with the department ties that will pair very well with the The Grand Wine experience mainly of Tourism. to raise local awareness of wines and so, the stage is set. I'm ready...for many wine selections. during the media launch the other spirits. since then, it has evolved from some Grand Wine experience! day, I learned that even wine con- what used to be just a small gathering For feedback, I’m at noisseurs from other countries make to what it is today, the biggest wine bobzozobrado@gmail.com. it a point to attend the event because event in southeast asia, featuring

Entertainment

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2018

D3

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

THERESE MALVAR AN ACTING GEM ON LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT SCENE

Miss Earth 2017 Karen Ibasco

By Nickie Wang

I

T WAS her coming-of-age party at Sequioa Hotel last night. Her friends and family gathered to a night of celebration as she marked her 18th birthday with back-toback milestones in her career.

A CUT ABOVE THE REST. At an early age,

teen actress Therese Malvar already has numerous acting accolades under her belt.

Yes folks, she’s only 18, and that makes the awards and accolades under her belt even more impressive.

After bagging the Best Supporting Actress award for both of her films, School Service and Distance, at this year’s Cinemalaya Film Festival, Therese flew to Japan to represent the latter movie at the 2018 Tokyo Film Festival last Oct. 26. This is her second time to represent a local film in the international scene.

The GMA Artist Center star opened her grateful heart when asked about her experience in the festival, “Having the opportunity to put my passion into action is an honor, and I am thankful that I’m being trusted to tell these stories. Malaking karangalan po sa akin na maipakita ang gawang Pilipino, ang talentong Pilipino, sa ibang bansa.”

But being a multi-awarded teen actress comes with so much pressure. Therese admits that she puts her best foot forward almost all the time. She’s aware that people expect a lot from her because of the recognition she has received from her peers in the acting community.

“People expect that you would deliver, that you’d give an outstanding performance in all your projects. Although I feel the pressure, I just use it to motivate myself,” Therese told Manila Standard.

At the early age of 17, Therese already has a number of awards to her name including Best Actress at the 1st CineFilipino Film Festival 2013 for Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita, Best Actress at the 11thCinemaOne Originals Film Festival, Screen International Rising Star Asia Award at the 15th New York Asian Film Festival, Award of Distinction at the 7th Inquirer’s Indie Bravo, Silver St. George Best Actress at the 38th Moscow International Film Festival, and 9th Ani ng Dangal Awardee—all for her performance in Hamog.

In 2017, she was recognized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines as one of the recipients of Artistic Excellence Award. She also won as Best Supporting Actress at the Eddys 2018 for Ilawod.

Asked how she manages to give impressive portrayal of her characters on the big screen and on TV, Therese just humbly said, “I’m fortunate that I’ve been working with people who mentor me to be at my best.

But to be more specific, I always do character sketch. I make sure that I understand the characters I play so I could portray them as truthful as possible.”

The Kapuso star has also become a household name on the local indie scene, and as she is bound for adulthood, her grit to keep doing what she loves and tell stories that represent different facets of life remain relentless.

She will be sealing the year with a heartwarming drama with a powerhouse cast in the upcoming GMA Afternoon Prime series entitled Inagaw Na Bituin.

BIGGER, BOLDER SEASON OF

‘ONE MUSIC POPSSS’

AFTER five successful seasons, One Music’s live online show One Music POPSSSS returned bigger and bolder than ever as it welcomed its newest hosts, rising stars and online personalities Ryle Santiago, AC Bonifacio, and Jayda.

They joined Maris Racal and Iñigo Pascual, whose candid moments and impromptu jamming sessions are eagerly anticipated by fans when the show airs every Tuesday afternoon.

One Music POPSSSS features musical guests and exclusive performances and airs on the YouTube page of One Music, ABSCBN’s music portal.

Adding excitement to the sixth

season is its new segment “MarNigo’s Hangout,” where Iñigo and Maris chats with industry veterans, fast-rising stars, and celebrities in the country.

In “Dance with AC” and “Guitar with Ryle,” the new hosts teach viewers dancing 101 and the basics of playing the guitar.

Fans can also tune in to “In My Room by Jayda,” where she opens up about her music and songwriting process.

In the fan favorite segment “Inigo VS Maris,” the Twitter-trending duo battle it out in fun and exciting challenges.

One Music, which also offers audio and video streaming and music news,

'One Music POPSSSS' hosts Ryle Santiago, AC Bonifacio, Jayda, Maris Racal, and Iñigo Pascual

is only one of the digital initiatives of ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ leading media and entertainment company, which is rapidly transitioning into an agile digital company with the biggest online presence among all media companies, and a growing list of digital properties.

One Music is a digital venue where

fans, music lovers, and aspiring artists can come together to be discovered, connect with artists, and share their love for music.

One Music POPSSSS every Tuesday, 5:00 p.m. on ONe Music’s YouTube page. For music news, visit www. onemusic.ph. For updates, just like or follow @OneMusicPH on Twitter and

MISS EARTH 2018 TELECAST TONIGHT GMA Network proudly brings viewers a glamorous spectacle as it airs the grand coronation night of Miss Earth 2018 on Sunday Night Box Office (SNBO).

Commemorating its 18th year, Miss Earth promises a night beyond glitz and glamour that will surely captivate the audience.

Eighty-seven beautiful ladies from around the world are vying for the crown and title with the winner serving as a role model dedicated to promoting environmental protection and engaging the public in various issues affecting the environment.

The prestigious international beauty pageant, which will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena yesterday, is hosted by renowned road-safety advocate James Deakin, with a special performance from international R&B and Soul icon Brian McKnight.

Miss Earth stayed true to the organization’s advocacy which is the preservation of the environment on its Greek and Norse mythology-inspired stage design made from recyclable materials that are environment-friendly.

JUGS JUGUETA’S RARE EXPERIENCE IN ‘BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY’ MV

Itchyworms frontman Jugs Jugueta

20TH CENTURY Fox has just revealed the global influencers› music video with a medley of the legendary band Queen wherein a group of fans of the band gathered together to create an unforgettable thrilling piece to share with the world.

The Philippines is represented by Jugs Jugueta (from Itchyworms) in the global music video created for the worldwide release of Bohemian Rhapsody.

Jugueta is joined by other equally known and talented influencers from different parts of the globe who went into an immersive Bohemian Rhapsody experience in London. Immersing themselves in all things Queen, the influencers got the chance to record at the Metropolis Studio which is home to the best mastering engineers in the world, they were also brought to dine at The Champion Club that was once frequented by 1970s rock stars where Freddie Mercury wrote the song “We Are The Champions” and piles and piles of Queen-inspired costumes, makeup and accessories to complete that rare unforgettable experience.

During the trip, Jugueta was also able to play the same piano that Freddie Mercury used.

Nobody knew how to put together a set list like Freddie Mercury and his band Queen, along with Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon – respectively played on screen by Rami Malek, Gwilym Lee and Joe Mazzello in Bohemian Rhapsody movie.

The film is the epic inspirational story of Freddie Mercury - a man who believed in himself and his music when no one else did, defying all stereotypes and breaking all the rules to become one of the greatest musical icons of all time.

The movie is a journey of love, pain, and acceptance and yes, music.

Bohemian Rhapsody is in cinemas nationwide from 20th Century Fox. “Bohemian Rhapsody” influencer music video debut can be watched on 20th Century Fox PH YouTube channel and Facebook page.

D4

sunday, november 4, 2018

Desiree Carlos, Editor

Pets

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

Warning: soMe snake oWners Feed kittens to their pets

T

a responsible rescuer, and a 3. Again, ask for details such as HERE have been pet tales responsible reporter. PLEASE the address, and visit the woulda lot of warnings By desiree carlos SCREEN WOULD-BE ADOPTERS be adopter’s home to check if the from several OF YOUR KITTENS. address given is real.

4. Have an adoption contract cat lovers and animal Here are some suggestions to signed which states that the welfare advocates in social media about snake ensure the safety of the kittens: adopter will: 1. Do not post the location of a. Provide an update on the owners feeding kittens to the snake ALIVE. the kittens found abandoned on kitten; the streets or in a grassy area. b. Have the kitten dewormed at Many have also warned about ten to adopt already has 12 kit- Instead, ask those interested to the appropriate age; c. Have the kitten vaccinated at cats being used for laboratory tens. But we really do not know get the kittens to message you. experiments. how many kittens she has because Ask for details of the “rescuer” the appropriate age; d. Have the kitten given the antiI am disturbed by two things afrabies shot at the appropriate age; ter five years in the animal welfare e. Have the kitten given yearly world, and after seeing videos of shots as advised by the vet to keep kittens being eaten by snakes, and the cat safe from communicable warnings about cats being sold for diseases; lab tests and used in experiments. f. Have the cat spayed or neuThese are: tered at the appropriate age so 1. A number of persons post kitthat the cat will not be used for tens for adoption. This is not wrong breeding for whatever selfish per se. But they do not state that a reasons; screening will be done to ensure g. Inform you if they have to the safety of the kittens. I am also give up the kitten for various reaworried about the statement that sons like moving to another locathere is “no adoption fee” as if to tion where pets are not allowed entice people to get the kittens (The contract must state that you immediately. The adoption fee is have to give your approval or you required by animal welfare groups can pull out the kitten or cat); to find out if the applicant is willh. Inform you of the death of ing to shell out even just a small the kitten or cat with proof of amount for the kitten, and to dedeath such as a photo (this is the termine if the adopter will and can hard part but this is needed to spend for a kitten’s needs . ensure the adopter is telling you 2. A number of persons post kitthe truth). tens found abandoned and ask that Take a photo of the adopter the kittens be rescued. Again, there signing the contract and with the is nothing wrong about this per se. kitten. If you need a sample conBut do not put the location of the tract, please contact admins Marikittens unless you have screened Uno and Dos are babies of Apple, a pregnant stray cat rescued by Save ALL. cel Mondejar or Joanne Zamora the “rescuer” or possible “adopter.”

Uno has been adopted while Dos has been spayed and roams freely in a Save ALL foster home. of Save ALL Inc. - Save Animals of I cringed when I saw a number Love and Light, an animal welfare of persons replying to a post of a person who wanted to adopt a in one group, she said she has 12. or “adopter” such as his/her ad- group registered with the Securikitten. They posted in the com- Then in another group, she said dress and a photocopy of a valid ties and Exchange Commission.

5. Adopters need not be rich. ment box the photos of the kittens she has 10. So what happened to identification card showing his/ her address to verify details he/ But please make sure the adopter and even the location. Everyone the other two kittens? seemed to be scrambling to have Most disturbing was a post she gave you. Please make time has a certain source of income kittens in their care to be adopted wherein a person was looking for to meet him/her at the location, which will allow him/her to protake a photo of him/her with the vide the right food (not table without checking first if the per- a “day old” kitten. son who said she wanted to adopt A check by animal welfare kittens, and ask that he/she pro- scraps) for the kitten, have the kitis indeed a loving cat person, and advocates showed this person vide an update in your chatbox. ten vaccinated, and treated if the not just a: owns snakes. After being ques- If he/she refuses, think again. This kitten gets sick.

While we want to help more kit1. Hoarder of cats; or tioned by animal welfare advo- person may not be a real kitten 2. Snake owner who does not cates online, the person deacti- lover. If you can not meet the per- tens, specially those abandoned son immediately, please bring the on the streets or vacant lots, want to buy or can not afford to vated his account. buy the “right” food for his/her The work done by animal wel- kittens home and ask an animal please go an extra mile in helping snake; or fare advocates—monitoring posts welfare group for tips on how to them by making sure they will go to a better place and will not be 2. Someone who sells kittens to and questioning questionable take care of the kittens.

2. Do not just give away a kitten harmed or killed instead. schools for lab experiments. “kitten lovers”—is admirable. But Bless all the genuine cat lovers A check by concerned animal they can not monitor all posts and to anyone during a meet-up. You will never know the real address of and rescuers out there! You are welfare advocates showed the all these fake cat lovers. one of a kind, indeed. Namaste! person who was looking for a kitPlease be a responsible owner, the adopter.

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.

KEESEY was 10 months old when he became a part of EA Bartolome’s family.

“The night we got him, it's like he knew us, and without hesitation, he jumped in the car with us, “says EA. Since then, he has filled their home with love. EA’s daughter (in the photo with Keesey) simply adores him.

“He is a blessing! And he's a healthy 10 year doggo years or 70 years old in human years,” EA adds.

POPOY was a puppy when he was rescued by Ena Roldan. This rescued asong Pinoy (aspin) was malnourished, infested with ticks and fleas, and was suffering from demodectic mange (galis) when he was found on the street.

With love, attention and care, he grew up to be a sweet, confident doggy whose happiness is a rub behind his ears from his humans. He is now seven years old.

“He truly is a fun dog who gets along well with our two rescued cats.

Just look how pogi (handsome) and healthy he is right now!” Ena says.

BanDage Care

By Dexter Mercurio, D.V. M. YOUR pet has had a recent procedure that requires a splint or bandage. Bandages are put on either to protect a wound or to stabilize a limb.

Your pet’s bandage needs to be cared for at home. The affected area is usually swollen when the bandage is applied and will have to be adjusted a few days after.

It is important to keep a close eye on your pet and his/her bandage.

What to do: 1. Keep the bandage dry.

2. Check the bandage for any foul smell.

3. Keep your pet on an e-collar (cone) to keep him/her from chewing his/her bandage.

4. Check your pet for any discomfort with the bandage.

5. Give the prescribed medications on time.

Shakti on the way home from the clinic after a follow-up check-up by Doc Dexter. Her e-collar was already removed. It is important to bring your dog on the scheduled appointment for a recheck.

Never miss this appointment, specially for a bandage change. Also, never remove the e-collar unless the vet says so.

5. Do let the bandage get wet.

What to avoid: If the bandage is wet, it needs to be re1. Do not neglect the bandage. placed immediately.

2. Do not fail to give the prescribed If the bandage smells, it also needs to be medication. replaced immediately.

3. Do not forget your pet’s appointment If the pet is in pain, the pet needs to be for a recheck. seen by the vet immediately.

4. Do not remove the e-collar.

It is very important to schedule a ban-

dage change on the THIRD day from the application, then WEEKLY thereafter.

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.

An e-collar (cone) was put on Shakti, the fourth shih tzu from foreground, to stop her from licking parts of her body where betadine was applied due to hot spot.

A dog with a bandage needs an e-collar more to prevent the dog from licking the bandage which can cause an infection.