Manila Standard - 2019 January 13 - Sunday

DFA ALLAYS FEARS OVER DATA 'THEFT' THE Department of Foreign Affairs has assured the public that most of the people renewing their passports will not be affected by the recent incident involving the government’s formerly outsourced passport maker running off with all its applicants’ data.

DFA Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato said most of the current passport holders already had electronic or e-passports issued from 2009 onward and therefore no longer need to submit birth certificates issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

In a tweet Friday, Cato said “Applicants renewing brown or green passports or maroon machine-readable passports are required to submit birth certificates because we need to capture and store the document in our database.”

According to Cato, the agency no longer possessed the physical copy of the documents submitted by applicants when they first applied.

He said the DFA stopped issuing the maroon machine-readable passports in 2010 or 2011, which was replaced by the upgraded and more Turn to A2 secure e-Passport.

VOL. XXXII • NO. 332 • 4 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PNP KEEPS AN EYE ON 19 'HOT SPOTS'

NATURAL HARBOR.

Manila Bay, gateway for socioeconomic development known for its sunset, serves the Port of Manila and drains about 17,000 square kilometers of watershed area, with the Pampanga River contributing about 49 percent of the freshwater influx. With an average depth of 17 meters, it is estimated to have a total volume of 28.9 billion cubic meters. At the sprawling Luneta Park in Manila, Sunday strollers make postcard perfect frames for family memories. Sara Fabunan

FEWER POOR LAST XMAS, SWS SAYS

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By Vito Barcelo

INETEEN cities and towns have been identified by the Philippine National Police as hot spots in the May midterm elections—just a few days before the start next week of the election period while security authorities begin deploying troops to ensure a peaceful political exercise.

THE number of Filipino families who considered themselves “poor” went down by 2 percent in the last quarter of 2018, according to the Social Weather Stations survey.

In its latest non-commissioned survey released this January, the SWS said that 50 percent of the families (estimated as 11.6 million) described themselves as poor, which is two points below the 52 percent (estimated at 12.2 million) results in its September survey.

The survey conducted between Dec. 16 and 19 classified themselves as poor, 7 percent were “newly poor” while 6 percent were “usually poor.”

The remaining 37 percent said they were “always poor.”

The SWS, a social research institution in the Philippines founded in August 1985, is a private, non-stock, non-profit institution and describes itself as the foremost public-opinion polling body in the Philippines.

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The 19 have been categorized as each having a tense political atmosphere arising from rivalries among aspirants and existing private armed groups and other threat groups.

These are two cities and nine towns in Mindanao and eight towns in Luzon.

PNP Spokesman, Chief Supt Benigno Durana, citing data from the Directorate for Operations enumerated the 19 hot spots as: Sudipen and Balwan towns in La Union; Jones in Isabela; Lemery in Batangas; Roxas in Oriental Mindoro; Balud and Dimasalang towns in Masbate and Daraga in Albay.

The other hot spots were Pagadian City and Cagayan de Oro City in Zamboanga del Sur and Misamis Oriental, respectively; the towns of Hadji Mofacebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

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hammad Ajul, Lantawan and Tipi-Tipo in Basilan.

They also include the town of Sultan Dumalondong, Basilan; and five towns in Maguindanao—Masasapano, Shariff Aguak, Shariff Saydona, Mustapha and Datu Unsay.

The latest hot spot area to be included in the list is Daraga, Albay, following the death of Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his escort SP01 Orlando Diaz on Dec. 22.

Incumbent Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo has been linked by a self-confessed gunman of Batocabe to have masterminded the murder.

Durana said the decision putting the town of Daraga as hot spot came two days following the recently-concluded Turn to A2 manilastandard.net

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SAFETY NET FOR HANJIN WORKERS PUSHED

By Maricel V. Cruz and Vito Barcelo

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LEGISLATOR on Saturday ruled out a congressional inquiry into the bankruptcy of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines “at this time” as a labor group urged the government to prepare safety net plans for some 23,000 workers who stand to be displaced over the shipbuilder’s debt woes.

“I do not think a congressional probe is necessary at this time. The responsible government agencies and the banks must be given time to sort everything out, but Congress will be following this case very closely,” said Leyte Rep. Henry Ong, chairman of the House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries.

Ong said the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Department

By Francisco Tuyay

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of Labor and Employment must jointly intervene “to make sure the interests of all stakeholders are protected.”

“According to media reports, some banks did not have collateral protection when they extended loans to Hanjin’s Philippine unit. The pay and benefits of the 23,000 Hanjin workers must be among the priorities in the aftermath. The Hanjin workers and the government must not be left out of the decision-making process

because this case is imbued with national public interest,” he said.

“This bankruptcy case must be handled methodically and delicately.

The banking and shipping sectors must be protected from any aftershocks. I want verification from the BSP and SEC that the banks, their shareholders, and depositors will not be adversely affected because of the Hanjin bankruptcy,” he added.

For its part, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said the government must not be complacent in cushioning the impact of the Hanjin bankruptcy on the affected workers.

“We urge the government officials not to be complacent. The government must prepare safety net program to save thousands of Hanjin workers who might lose their jobs in case Hanjin company shuts down due to

its financial troubles. It could become a national economic and security disaster issue for the country if we just stand by and do nothing,” said TUCP president Raymond Mendoza.

“It’s not just the workers who might be affected. It’s also their families who will also suffer with the consequences.

So, there must be a multi-government plan to cushion the impact of unemployment and loss of income just in case,” he added.

Companies the size of Hanjin are usually required by DOLE to have a retrenchment plan for their employees.

However, in the case of Hanjin, the TUCP is not aware of any contingency measure yet, Mendoza said.

Hanjin earlier filed a voluntary rehabilitation because of growing financial obligations to banks and financial institutions in Philippines and Korea.

DENR TESTS MANILA BAY WATERS

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources tested the quality of water on several portions of the Manila Bay following the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to rehabilitate Manila’s popular coastline starting Jan. 27.

“Establishments have to put up their own sewage treatment plants [STPs]. They cannot discharge their wastewater in the esteros,” Environment chief Roy Cimatu said.

“We are giving them three months to put up their own STPs,” he added.

Cimatu earlier described Manila Bay as a “magnified cesspool” because of the high coliform level of 330 million most probable number (MPN) per 100 milliliter, compared to the safe level of 100 MPN per 100 milliliter.

The DENR’s goal is to reduce the coliform level to less than 270 MPN by December 2019.

Cimatu vowed to apply the same “political will” in rehabilitating Boracay in efforts to clean up the 19-kilometer-long Manila Bay and make the waters fit for swimming, diving, and other forms of contact recreation.

The DENR said the government is considering the use of “special road funds” to finance the cleanup and rehabilitation of Manila Bay. Earlier, Malacañang said it will use the road users’ tax for government projects including the massive cleanup of Manila Bay and Pasig River.

“We need to confront difficulties in cleaning up the bay because of the informal residence and establishments along the bay. Discipline would play key role in making Manila Bay clean,” he said.

AHEAD OF THE REHAB. Personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and volunteers from the city of Manila start a clean drive along Manila Bay on Saturday, Jan.12. Norman Cruz

IMMIGRATION RESHUFFLE CONTINUES

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration has reshuffled several officials holding key posts in its headquarters in Intramuros and its satellite offices across the country following reports that some of them are engaged in illegal activities.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente signed a string of personnel orders transferring and reassigning several BI officials to institute reforms and professionalize the bureau.

“These reassignments are in compliance with the Commissioner Morente’s instructions to effect reforms

aimed at achieving good governance and instituting a dynamic bureaucracy,” Immigration chief of staff Jess Castro said.

Morente designated Alnazib Aljun Decampong as new chief of the Sea Port Operations Section vice Dennis Opina, who was reassigned to the satellite office in Laguna.

Rizminh Alonto is the new head of BI Davao in place of Decampong, while Mark Leslie Gonzales is the new chief of Tourist Visa Section vice Jennifer Seneca.

Morente likewise issued an order transferring the Tourist Visa Section from Office of the Commissioner to the Immigration Regulation Divi-

sion, which is headed by Rogelio Gevero.

Former SM North Satellite Office head Justin Galvez was replaced by Aileen Sta Ana. Galvez was transferred to the BI Student Desk.

Office of the Commissioner office manager Arnulfo Maminta was replaced by Rumaine Pascual; while former Personnel Office chief Cris Villalobos was reassigned to the Legal Division and Oliver Dato is the new warden of BI’s jail in Bicutan, replacing Steve Parcon who was detailed to Iloilo City.

Morente also designated Editha Mercader as head of BI-ACO SM Aura Satellite office.

MUSK UNVEILS PHOTOS OF MARS ROCKET WASHINGTON—SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has unveiled the first pictures of a retro-looking, steely rocket called Starship that may one day carry people to the Moon and Mars.

Musk posted pictures on Twitter of the Starship Hopper prototype, which awaits its first flight test in Texas in the coming weeks.

“Starship test flight rocket just finished assembly at the @SpaceX Texas launch site. This is an actual picture, not a rendering,” he wrote.

The prototype built in Boca Chica, along the Gulf Coast of Texas, is nine yards (eight meters) in diameter—like the future rocket will be—but is shorter.

Its first test flights—suborbital “hops”reaching several miles (kilometers) in the air before landing back on Earth—could come in March or April.

An orbital prototype is expected in June. That version will be paired with a massive rocket booster known as the Super Heavy.

SpaceX has said the duo could one day transport people from city to city on Earth, as well as propel passengers around the Moon, to the lunar surface, and even to Mars and back. AFP

LPA UNLIKELY TO DEVELOP INTO STORM THE trough of a low-pressure area affecting Mindanao and the northeast monsoon affecting Luzon and Visayas will bring rains to most parts of the archipelago, the weather bureau said on Saturday.

The LPA, however, is unlikely to develop into a storm, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorm will prevail over Mindanao while the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon and the Visayas will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains.

Moderate to strong winds will blow over the eastern section of the country and the rest of Luzon and Visayas. Coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. PNA

US POSTS LONGEST GOV’T SHUTDOWN WASHINGTON—The US government shutdown that has left 800,000 federal employees without salaries as a result of President Donald Trump’s row with Democrats over building a Mexico border wall entered a record 22nd day Saturday.

The Democrats’ refusal to approve $5.7 billion demanded by Trump for the wall project has paralyzed Washington, with the president retaliating by refusing to sign off on budgets for swaths of government departments unrelated to the dispute.

As a result, workers as diverse as FBI agents, air traffic controllers and museum staff, did not receive paychecks Friday.

The partial shutdown of the government became the longest on record at midnight Friday (0500 GMT Saturday), when it overtook the

21-day stretch in 1995-1996, under president Bill Clinton.

Trump on Friday backed off a series of previous threats to end the deadlock by declaring a national emergency and attempting to secure the funds without congressional approval.

“I’m not going to do it so fast,” he said at a White House meeting.

Trump described an emergency declaration as the “easy way out” and said Congress had to step up to the responsibility of approving the $5.7 billion.

“If they can’t do it... I will declare a national emergency. I have the absolute right,” he insisted.

Until now, Trump had suggested numerous times that he was getting closer to taking the controversial decision.

Only minutes earlier, powerful Republican ally Senator Lindsey Gra-

ham tweeted after talks with Trump: “Mr. President, Declare a national emergency NOW.” It was not clear what made Trump change course.

But Trump himself acknowledged in the White House meeting that an attempt to claim emergency powers would likely end up in legal battles going all the way to the Supreme Court.

Opponents say that a unilateral move by the president over the sensitive border issue would be constitutional overreach and set a dangerous precedent in similar controversies.

The standoff has turned into a test of political ego, particularly for Trump, who came into office boasting of his deal making powers and making an aggressive border policy the keystone of his nationalist agenda. AFP

PIMP MY RIDE. Souped-up cars were on display during the 3rd Invitational Navotas Motor Show to mark the 113th Navotas Day celebration. Andrew Rabulan

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PEACE ADVISER SEEKS UN HELP IN MORO AREAS PRESIDENTIAL Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. has urged the United Nations to continue its assistance in providing capacity development to key leaders in the Bangsamoro region.

“Our focus now is how to have good governance on the new Bangsamoro government. I would like to request the UN family to help us in mentoring key leaders on how to be efficient and effective in governance,” Galvez told officials of various UN agencies who called on him at his office on Friday.

Galvez also thanked the UN for its continued support for the peace process in the Philippines.

“I think your projects that are peoplecentered and those on human resource development are good. I would like to thank you for helping us and sharing the same goal,” he said.

Galvez cited the role of UN agencies in helping counter violent extremism, preventing the recruitment of child soldiers, empowering women, and developing the whole Mindanao region.

“I believe that if we have peace in Mindanao, we have peace in the Philippines. If we have development in Mindanao, we have development in the Philippines,” he said.

The United Nations’ partnership framework is anchored on the Sustainable Development Goals 2019-2023.

It aims to achieve outcomes related to people-centeredness, economic prosperity, and peace.

In his remarks during the courtesy call, UN Resident Coordinator Ola Almgren expressed interest in OPAPP’s practices in the peace process.

“OPAPP has contributed a lot to the global practice. UN is looking forward to your experiences and best practices, hoping that you can participate in global fora and share them as well as to work with you and your staff,” he said.

Among the UN agencies present in the meeting were the United Nations Development Program, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, UN Women, International Organization for Migration, and Prevention on Violent Extremism.

ANOTHER BOMB ATTACK FAILS IN SULTAN KUDARAT

By Francisco Tuyay

Office, swooped down on and raided the terrorist lair at around 3 a.m.

As troops approached their target, ILITARY and police forces foiled another five persons who were in the area planned bomb attacks, this time were arrested and seized from them four improvised bombs and three cal. centered at urban centers in Sultan 45 pistols. The suspects handed over Kudarat—following the seizure of to village officials. improvised explosive and detonating devices at a However, the primary objective of the troops—Abu Kihad and Ustadz village in the province early dawn Saturday.

Yasser—eluded arrest by jumping into the murky waters of Liguasan The terrorist plot was the third ported to the heart of Cotabato City Marsh.

Pursuit operations were launched attempt by terrorists to sow violence or Midsayap town for an attack there. in Mindanao ahead of the upcoming Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, com- against the fleeing high-profile terplebiscite on the Bangsamoro Or- mander of the 33rd Infantry Battalion, rorist.

Hours after the discovery of the ganic Law after security forces foiled said the planned attack was thwarted two bomb attacks in two areas in after military and police elite units explosives, the military pressure Maguindanao last Wednesday. launched counter-terrorist opera- against terrorists in Mindanao had The first bomb plot was intended tions in a remote village of Pagalad forced a commander of the Islamic State-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic to disrupt the turnover of a school where the bombs were kept. building by Maguindanao Gov. Cabunoc said the motive of the Freedom Fighters and four of his folEsmael Mangudadatu to education terrorists to detonate bombs in high- lowers to surrender.

Cabunoc said Commander Mayofficials in Radja Buayan town. populated centers was attested to ogantong Bansil, a notorious rebel The explosive devices—three by a civilian informant who showed bundles of 81 mm mortar shells security authorities a photo of two involved in atrocities against governconcealed in a plastic bag—were bombers testing the explosive devices. ment troops and the civilian populadiscovered by military personnel “Our informant showed us the tion, along with his four members minutes before they went off during pictures of terrorist bombers Ustadz turned themselves over in Makainis the event.

Yasser Saligan and his cohort, Sheik Village in General Salipada K PenThe second was to replicate the Makakena a.k.a. Abu Jihad, as they datun.

Cabunoc said Mayogantong sent New Year’s Eve explosion at the South detonated a bomb to test its lethality,” surrender feelers after knowing the Seas Mall in Cotabato City, but failed Cabunoc said. after army troops from the 40th He revealed they had been track- presence of security forces in the Infantry Battalion intercepted three ing down the two bombers since adjacent town of Paglat 5 kilometers away. unexploded “Anti-Personnel Mines” November 2018.

“His relative contacted me by from two Dawlah Islamiya terrorists Under cover of darkness, troops of shortly after an encounter. the 33rd Infantry Battalion, 4th Spe- phone to confirm his willingness to Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, com- cial Action Battalion, Criminal Inves- lay down his arms. He was afraid that mander of Joint Task Force Central, said tigation and Detection Group-ARMM we will launch offensives against his the mines were supposed to be trans- and Maguindanao Provincial Police group on the same day,” Cabunoc

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added.

Bansil and his men surrendered four high-powered firearms including a Cal. 50 Sniper Rifle, two M1 Garand Rifles, and a 40mm M79 Grenade Launcher which were presented to Brigadier General Robert Dauz, the commander of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade, which has operational control over the 33rdInfantry Battalion.

“You have shown the expertise in handling the security threats without incurring casualties. Share these best practices in the conduct of operations to (sic) all Army units in Central Mindanao,” said Dauz.

Sobejana, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the BIFF terrorists had nowehere else to hide.

“We have won the support of the people in Central Mindanao. The people themselves have voluntarily provided information about the hiding places of the terrorists,” said Sobejana.

The 33rd Infantry Battalion has facilitated the surrender of various threat groups both in Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat through the employment of combat operations, community engagements, and civil affairs activities.

Since February 2017, the unit has successfully facilitated the surrender of 203 communist rebels and 37 BIFF fighters, setting a benchmark in the conduct of military operations in a ‘two front war’ against distinct threat groups, Sobejana said.

PNP...

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FEWER...

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The down trend in self-rated poverty in December was recorded following a 10-point spike registered in two straight quarters.

Families who said they were poor rose to 48 percent in April-June period from 42 percent in the first three months.

In the third quarter, it jumped by four points to 52 percent.

The SWS survey questions about the family’s self-rated poverty and selfrated food-poverty were directed to the household head.

Self-rated poverty fell by 16 points in Mindanao, from 65 percent in September 2018 to 49 percent in December 2018. On the average, Mindanao has a self-rated poverty of 54 percent for 2018.

In the Visayas, self-rated poverty decreased by 6 points, from 67 percent in September to 61 percent in December.

Visayas has an average self-rated poverty of 62 percent for 2018.

However, self-rated poverty increased by 4 points in Balance Luzon, from 47 percent in September to 51 percent in December. For 2018, the Balance of Luzon has an average self-rated poverty of 43 percent.

In Metro Manila, there was also a fourpoint increase in self-rated poverty, from 26 percent in September to 30 percent in December.

The average self-rated poverty for Metro Manila for 2018 is 32 percent.

The December 2018 survey found that the median self-rated poverty gap—the amount poor families lack in monthly home expenses relative to their stated threshold—was unchanged at P5,000, or half of the self-rated poverty threshold.

FEAST PREPARATION. Barangay workers mount heart-shaped balloons along a street in Manila’s Pandacan district a week ahead of the annual feast of their patron saint Sto. Niño. Ey Acasio

conference between officials of the Commission on Elections, Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Camp Crame.

“Daraga town was considered as hot spot due to the intense political rivalries among aspirants in the coming midterm elections,” Durana said.

Officials have yet to determine whether to include Cotabato City as hot spot area considering the tense security atmosphere relating to the forthcoming Bangsamoro Organic Law plebiscite this month.

Dozens of elected local officials have been killed—blamed on the involvement of illegal drugs or intense political contention since 2016 till 2018, the latest victim being Batocabe.

Among those killed were mayors Alexander Buquing of Sudipen, La Union; Mariano Banco of Ronda, Cebu; Ferdinan Bote of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija; Antonio Halili, Tanauan, Batangas; Ronald Lowell Tirol, Buenavista, Bohol, whose death was in 2018.

Several vice mayors also killed in 2018 were: Alex Lubigan, Trece Martirez, Cavite; Al Rashid Mohammad Ali, Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-Tawi; and Jonah John Ungab, Ronda, Cebu.

Due to the prevailing tense political atmosphere in the 19 hot spot areas, PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde said considerable police forces would be deployed not only to defuse tension but more importantly preserve peace and tranquility before, during and after the conduct of elections.

Thousands of military and police personnel have been dispatched critical areas in Luzon and Mindanao to prevent any serious incidents in the runup to the elections.

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The reminder came following the perception that the submission of birth certificates for passport renewal was a new requirement.

“We have clarified that only those holding expired machine readable ready and machine readable passports issued before we initially launched the electronic passport in 2009 would have to meet

this requirement,” Cato said in a separate statement Saturday.

“All the valid passports in circulation now are e-Passports,” he added.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. disclosed that the previous outsourced passport maker did not transfer the previously acquired data back to the government when their contract was terminated.

“Because (the) previous contractor got pissed when terminated, it made off with data. We did nothing about it or couldn’t because we were in the wrong. It won’t happen again,” Locsin said.

“Passports pose national security issues and cannot be kept back by private entities.

Data belongs to the state,” he added.

In a Twitter exchange with Locsin, Cato

said“Applicants renewing brown or green passports or maroon machine-readable passports are required to submit birth certificates...” “... because we need to capture and store the document in our database as we no longer have the physical copy of the document submitted when they first applied,” Cato said.

Locsin has earlier aired concerns on why applicants renewing their passports repeatedly need to submit their birth certificates.

“Isn’t the expired passport sufficient ID? How many times do you have to prove you are what the State declared you are in the expired passports?” the DFA chief said. PNA

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LEAVE WAR VETS ALONE, SOLON TELLS LOAN SHARKS

BOC AGENTS SEIZE DRUGS FROM AMERICAN TRAVELER

By Joel E. Zurbano

name was withheld, failed to show necessary permits from the Food and Drug Administration.

“Through the joint efforts of our front liners UTHORITIES confiscated and operatives, the baggage of an American 15 kilos of assorted passenger from Vietnam flight was intercepted, yielding medicines with no health clearance,” she medicines from an said.

American passenger at Early this month, Customs men also foiled an the Ninoy Aquino International attempt of two Chinese nationals to smuggle assorted medicines at the airport.

Airport.

The foreigners, Zhang Xin and Huang Wen Cong, concealed the assorted Chinese Customs airport collector Carmelita Talusan pharmaceutical products weighing eight said her men at the NAIA Terminal 3 confiscated kilograms in plastic bags and brought the items the assorted antibiotics after its carrier, whose without the necessary permits from FDA.

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Customs personnel assigned at the NAIA Terminal 2 International Arrival area noticed the images of medicines when they placed the foreigners’ luggages on X-ray scanning machine.

Talusan warned air travelers that importation and exportation of pharmaceutical products without FDA clearance is a violation of Republic Act 9711 or the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009 in relation to provisions of RA 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. “Port of NAIA with our vigilant frontliners and X-ray machines in place will continue to protect the borders against entry and exit of prohibited goods and regulated goods without necessary permits,” she said.

NCRPO RECRUITS 366 NEW OFFICERS THE National Capital Region Police Office has recruited 366 new officers as the police force strengthen its thrust to be more professional and responsive to the country’s security, protection and national development.

NCRPO director Guillermo Eleazar administered the oathtaking of the new batch of recruits composed of 85 women and 281 men in a simple ceremony held in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.

Eleazar is optimistic that the latest batch of police recruits will reinforce the dedicated and committed members of NCRPO in its intensified campaign against any form of criminality and its Internal Cleansing Program.

The recruits, who have temporary rank status as police officer 1 (PO1), will become permanent after completing the year-long training.

The oathtaking ceremony serves as their entrance to undergo the Public Safety Field Training Program for one year wherein they must endure the painstaking physical conditioning to develop their efficiency and to instill discipline and camaraderie within them.

“They will undergo the Public Safety Basic Recruit Course [PSBRC] training for the duration of six months at the Regional Training Center and another six months of Field Training Program.

During the training, the recruits will be exposed to police science, combat and tactics, operations and traffic procedures, among others,” said Eleazar.

The NCRPO chief said the training is aimed at measuring the endurance and determination of the new recruits as well as to further introduce them the Police Operational Procedure and Basic Laws; and nonacademic such as self-defense and firearm proficiency that will enhance their competence, and institute their proficiency in the field of investigation, patrol and traffic management.

Joel E. Zurbano

DEPED URGED TO LOOK DEEPER INTO ‘BAKWIT’ SCHOOLS CASH DONATION. A donation of $200,000 was handed by Taiwanese Ambassador to the Philippines Michael Peiyung Hsu to the Philippine government through Vice Chairman Gilberto F. Lauengco as assistance to the victims of Typhoon ‘Usman.’

Earlier this year, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office donated $250,000 to the victims of Typhoon ‘Ompong.’ In photo are (from left) Lauengco and Ambassador Michael Peiyung Hsu. Diana B. Roche

DU30 PRESSES CREATION OF DDR DURING BICOL VISIT PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s recent announcement about his plan to establish a separate department to address the need for effective preparedness and quick response to disasters with a Department of Disaster Resiliency as proposed

by Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda in HB 8165 and which the House approved last September. It now awaits consolidation with its Senate version.

The President made the announcement in a recent briefing in Pili, Camarines Sur following the onslaught of Tropical Depression “Usman” that killed about 140 people —105 of them in Bicol—and displaced thousands in Bicol and the Visayas.

Usman packed winds of only 55 kilometers per hour but brought torrential rains that triggered flash floods and landslides. Several provinces were declared under a state of calamity.

During the briefing, Duterte said

he plans to turn the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council into a “regular department” to address challenges during natural disasters and other emergencies.

Salceda said HB 8165 will breathe life into Duterte’s concept of a strong disaster agency needed to meet the ever-increasing frequency of natural calamities that regularly hit the country.

Salceda said that while disasters, particularly typhoons, could not be prevented, their dire effects could be mitigated.

In the last three years, the President had continuously urged Congress to pass such a law. He said the proposed DDR will be “mandated to carry out a consistent and fortified calamity defense program to ensure the country’s sustainable development and inclusive growth through strategic and systematic approaches to disaster prevention and mitigation.”

Enacting the DDR law, Salceda added, also amounts to social justice since “poor people face more risks due to their unsafe locations and weak shelters, which could be effectively mitigated through proactive state action like preemptive evacuation and relocation.”

The tragic effects of Usman have emphasized the urgency of enacting the DDR law which could possibly happen within 2019 under the new Congress.

A noted economist and disaster resiliency advocate, Salceda noted that climate change has spawned more frequent and disastrous weather disturbances that necessitate well-coordinated planning and execution of strategies.

DDR will also integrate warning agencies with risk reduction and response structures and functions that will facilitate decisive contingency planning and warning communications.

HOUSE LAUDED FOR DECLARING MAY 17 AS ‘NATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA‘

By Maricel V. Cruz A MILITANT lawmaker on Saturday welcomed the move of the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality to approve the amended substitute bill declaring May 17 of every year as the “National Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.”

Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate was referring to the unnumbered bill substituted House Bill 4413 and 8364 which he was among the main authors. The committee is chaired by Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy of Bagong Henerasyon party-list.

Zarate said May 17 is known as the “International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia” or IDAHO in commemoration of that day in 1990 when the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its International Classification of Mental Disorders.

“Every year on this date, people all over the world pause and ponder on the high human and social cost of

SENIOR Citizen Party-list Rep. Francisco Datol appealed to the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and local government units officials to protect war veterans from loan sharks now that the law on the P20,000 monthly pension of senior veterans has been signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte and will take effect soon.

“Loan sharks and other financial predators will most likely surround and approach the senior war veterans. Given their old age, they are vulnerable to usurious lenders and scammers. It is now up to government officials to protect them from the predators,” Datol, one of the principal authors of the law, said.

“Tiyak ‘kong mayroon nang maiitim na balak ang ilang may maiitim na budhi riyan ngayong lumabas na ang balita tungkol sa P20,000 monthly pension para sa mga buhay na war veterans. Gagawa at gagawa sila ng mga paraan para makabiktima ng senior veterans,” Datol also said.

The congressman said that “PVAO should ask the help of the Bangko Sentral and Securities and Exchange Commission, which are the government agencies with the mandates on financial literacy. The BSP and SEC also know the ways of the scammers and usurious lenders.

Datol, vice chairman of the House Special Committee on Senior Citizens, said the PVAO and PhilHealth must work together to make sure all the surviving veterans get the health care benefits due them under all our laws.

“Some of the war veterans may not be aware that they are covered by PhilHealth,” the congressman said.

He also asked PVAO to make sure the database and all their information on war veterans are secure and “safe from scammers using high-tech means to seek out veterans using PVAO data.”

discrimination, violence and harassment against LGBTs all over the world, especially in 80 countries where acts, speeches, works, and other things related to same-sex and same-gender relations are still punished or fined,” said Zarate.

He said that in some countries such as Uganda, there is even a pending legislation making homosexuality punishable by death.

Zarate said that despite modest gains in social and legal rights for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBTs) in the Philippines, much still has to be done for them to achieve full legal and social equality.

“Thousands of LGBTs still suffer the harsh reality of homophobia [fear of homosexuals] and transphobia [fear of transgenders] in their daily lives,” Zarate explained.

He said that many are refused employment, the use of public facilities or health care services, among others, because of their sexual orientation and

THE Save Our Schools Network reacted to the Department of Education Region 11’s statement that bakwit schools in UCCP Haran will not be recognized, saying it fails to address the problem of schools displaced due to militarization.

This comes after DepEd 11 spokesperson Jeinelito Atillo said they will not recognize the bakwit school of Salugpongan Community Learning Center for their displaced grade 6 and 7 classes of Nasilaban and Dulyan, Talaingod as they are held outside of the areas of their school permits.

SOS network spokesperson Rius Valle said the DepEd should not just look at the mere technicality of the permits of Salugpongan, but should rather address why Lumad schools are being driven away from Talaingod in the first place.

“If we have to be technical about it, what about the violations made by the military against international humanitarian law and the rights of the children? This is the reason why these Lumad children are in bakwit schools because the soldiers and paramilitary are encamped in the campus and padlocking them, and DepEd need to act on this,” Valle said.

The SOS urged DepEd to investigate instead these cases of attacks on schools which have been reported to them by Salugpongan administrators and other Lumad schools.

Valle believed this is within the mandate of DepEd to enforce the protection of schools and ensure the right to education of the Lumad school children and youth.

“Rather than zeroing in on the issue of technicality, the way to address these bakwit schools is to enforce the soldiers leave the Lumad schools and communities, and disband the paramilitary, so that the Lumad schools can return,” said Valle.

Valle said that DepEd 11 has long made technicalities an issue. On 2015, a MISFI Academy school was forcibly closed in Kapalong, Davao del Norte and evacuated to Haran due to attacks

by Alamara. Yet the DepEd ignored the dangers by urging the Lumad evacuees to return to their communities and continue their schooling in areas specified by their permits.

gender identity. extend their full support for exercises Zarate said that of late, there have and activities in the observance, probeen increasing reports of violent crimes motion and protection of LGBT rights. perpetrated against LGBTs. He said that while laws protecting marginalized sectors such as women, children, migrants, national minorities, and the elderly have been passed, Congress has yet to pass measures protecting the rights of Notice is hereby given that TAGUM WATER COMPANY, INC. with office address at Door the LGBTs. 3, Domingo Arcade, National Highway, Magugpo, Tagum City, Davao Del Norte is applying for Under the bill, the National registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Operator of Bulk Water Supply Project Day against Homophobia, Bi[Tagum Bulk Water Supply Project (Hijo River Water Source)] under the 2017 IPP under the phobia and Transphobia shall Preferred List – Infrastructure and Logistics – Bulk Water Treatment and Supply/Distribution on a be commemorated in the PhilPioneer status with project site located at Magdum, Tagum City, Davao Del Norte. ippines every year in recogniAny person with valid objection/s on the above-mentioned project may file his/her objection in tion of the rights of LGBTs in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication. the country and the need to end the discrimination, oppression and intolerance they are faced with in society.

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News

SAFETY NET FOR HANJIN WORKERS PUSHED

By Maricel V. Cruz and Vito Barcelo

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LEGISLATOR on Saturday ruled out a congressional inquiry into the bankruptcy of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines “at this time” as a labor group urged the government to prepare safety net plans for some 23,000 workers who stand to be displaced over the shipbuilder’s debt woes.

“I do not think a congressional probe is necessary at this time. The responsible government agencies and the banks must be given time to sort everything out, but Congress will be following this case very closely,” said Leyte Rep. Henry Ong, chairman of the House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries.

Ong said the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Department

of Labor and Employment must jointly intervene “to make sure the interests of all stakeholders are protected.”

“According to media reports, some banks did not have collateral protection when they extended loans to Hanjin’s Philippine unit. The pay and benefits of the 23,000 Hanjin workers must be among the priorities in the aftermath. The Hanjin workers and the government must not be left out of the decision-making process

because this case is imbued with national public interest,” he said.

“This bankruptcy case must be handled methodically and delicately.

The banking and shipping sectors must be protected from any aftershocks. I want verification from the BSP and SEC that the banks, their shareholders, and depositors will not be adversely affected because of the Hanjin bankruptcy,” he added.

For its part, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said the government must not be complacent in cushioning the impact of the Hanjin bankruptcy on the affected workers.

“We urge the government officials not to be complacent. The government must prepare safety net program to save thousands of Hanjin workers who might lose their jobs in case Hanjin company shuts down due to

its financial troubles. It could become a national economic and security disaster issue for the country if we just stand by and do nothing,” said TUCP president Raymond Mendoza.

“It’s not just the workers who might be affected. It’s also their families who will also suffer with the consequences.

So, there must be a multi-government plan to cushion the impact of unemployment and loss of income just in case,” he added.

Companies the size of Hanjin are usually required by DOLE to have a retrenchment plan for their employees.

However, in the case of Hanjin, the TUCP is not aware of any contingency measure yet, Mendoza said.

Hanjin earlier filed a voluntary rehabilitation because of growing financial obligations to banks and financial institutions in Philippines and Korea.

DENR TESTS MANILA BAY WATERS

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources tested the quality of water on several portions of the Manila Bay following the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to rehabilitate Manila’s popular coastline starting Jan. 27.

“Establishments have to put up their own sewage treatment plants [STPs]. They cannot discharge their wastewater in the esteros,” Environment chief Roy Cimatu said.

“We are giving them three months to put up their own STPs,” he added.

Cimatu earlier described Manila Bay as a “magnified cesspool” because of the high coliform level of 330 million most probable number (MPN) per 100 milliliter, compared to the safe level of 100 MPN per 100 milliliter.

The DENR’s goal is to reduce the coliform level to less than 270 MPN by December 2019.

Cimatu vowed to apply the same “political will” in rehabilitating Boracay in efforts to clean up the 19-kilometer-long Manila Bay and make the waters fit for swimming, diving, and other forms of contact recreation.

The DENR said the government is considering the use of “special road funds” to finance the cleanup and rehabilitation of Manila Bay. Earlier, Malacañang said it will use the road users’ tax for government projects including the massive cleanup of Manila Bay and Pasig River.

“We need to confront difficulties in cleaning up the bay because of the informal residence and establishments along the bay. Discipline would play key role in making Manila Bay clean,” he said.

AHEAD OF THE REHAB. Personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and volunteers from the city of Manila start a clean drive along Manila Bay on Saturday, Jan.12. Norman Cruz

IMMIGRATION RESHUFFLE CONTINUES

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration has reshuffled several officials holding key posts in its headquarters in Intramuros and its satellite offices across the country following reports that some of them are engaged in illegal activities.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente signed a string of personnel orders transferring and reassigning several BI officials to institute reforms and professionalize the bureau.

“These reassignments are in compliance with the Commissioner Morente’s instructions to effect reforms

aimed at achieving good governance and instituting a dynamic bureaucracy,” Immigration chief of staff Jess Castro said.

Morente designated Alnazib Aljun Decampong as new chief of the Sea Port Operations Section vice Dennis Opina, who was reassigned to the satellite office in Laguna.

Rizminh Alonto is the new head of BI Davao in place of Decampong, while Mark Leslie Gonzales is the new chief of Tourist Visa Section vice Jennifer Seneca.

Morente likewise issued an order transferring the Tourist Visa Section from Office of the Commissioner to the Immigration Regulation Divi-

sion, which is headed by Rogelio Gevero.

Former SM North Satellite Office head Justin Galvez was replaced by Aileen Sta Ana. Galvez was transferred to the BI Student Desk.

Office of the Commissioner office manager Arnulfo Maminta was replaced by Rumaine Pascual; while former Personnel Office chief Cris Villalobos was reassigned to the Legal Division and Oliver Dato is the new warden of BI’s jail in Bicutan, replacing Steve Parcon who was detailed to Iloilo City.

Morente also designated Editha Mercader as head of BI-ACO SM Aura Satellite office.

MUSK UNVEILS PHOTOS OF MARS ROCKET WASHINGTON—SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has unveiled the first pictures of a retro-looking, steely rocket called Starship that may one day carry people to the Moon and Mars.

Musk posted pictures on Twitter of the Starship Hopper prototype, which awaits its first flight test in Texas in the coming weeks.

“Starship test flight rocket just finished assembly at the @SpaceX Texas launch site. This is an actual picture, not a rendering,” he wrote.

The prototype built in Boca Chica, along the Gulf Coast of Texas, is nine yards (eight meters) in diameter—like the future rocket will be—but is shorter.

Its first test flights—suborbital “hops”reaching several miles (kilometers) in the air before landing back on Earth—could come in March or April.

An orbital prototype is expected in June. That version will be paired with a massive rocket booster known as the Super Heavy.

SpaceX has said the duo could one day transport people from city to city on Earth, as well as propel passengers around the Moon, to the lunar surface, and even to Mars and back. AFP

LPA UNLIKELY TO DEVELOP INTO STORM THE trough of a low-pressure area affecting Mindanao and the northeast monsoon affecting Luzon and Visayas will bring rains to most parts of the archipelago, the weather bureau said on Saturday.

The LPA, however, is unlikely to develop into a storm, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorm will prevail over Mindanao while the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon and the Visayas will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains.

Moderate to strong winds will blow over the eastern section of the country and the rest of Luzon and Visayas. Coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. PNA

US POSTS LONGEST GOV’T SHUTDOWN WASHINGTON—The US government shutdown that has left 800,000 federal employees without salaries as a result of President Donald Trump’s row with Democrats over building a Mexico border wall entered a record 22nd day Saturday.

The Democrats’ refusal to approve $5.7 billion demanded by Trump for the wall project has paralyzed Washington, with the president retaliating by refusing to sign off on budgets for swaths of government departments unrelated to the dispute.

As a result, workers as diverse as FBI agents, air traffic controllers and museum staff, did not receive paychecks Friday.

The partial shutdown of the government became the longest on record at midnight Friday (0500 GMT Saturday), when it overtook the

21-day stretch in 1995-1996, under president Bill Clinton.

Trump on Friday backed off a series of previous threats to end the deadlock by declaring a national emergency and attempting to secure the funds without congressional approval.

“I’m not going to do it so fast,” he said at a White House meeting.

Trump described an emergency declaration as the “easy way out” and said Congress had to step up to the responsibility of approving the $5.7 billion.

“If they can’t do it... I will declare a national emergency. I have the absolute right,” he insisted.

Until now, Trump had suggested numerous times that he was getting closer to taking the controversial decision.

Only minutes earlier, powerful Republican ally Senator Lindsey Gra-

ham tweeted after talks with Trump: “Mr. President, Declare a national emergency NOW.” It was not clear what made Trump change course.

But Trump himself acknowledged in the White House meeting that an attempt to claim emergency powers would likely end up in legal battles going all the way to the Supreme Court.

Opponents say that a unilateral move by the president over the sensitive border issue would be constitutional overreach and set a dangerous precedent in similar controversies.

The standoff has turned into a test of political ego, particularly for Trump, who came into office boasting of his deal making powers and making an aggressive border policy the keystone of his nationalist agenda. AFP

PIMP MY RIDE. Souped-up cars were on display during the 3rd Invitational Navotas Motor Show to mark the 113th Navotas Day celebration. Andrew Rabulan

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Opinion

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

SOUNDS OF SCIENCE

TRUSTING PRE-ELECTION SURVEYS

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EADING pre-election polls appears to have approached the level of the Filipinos’ favorite pastime: cockfighting, which touches every hair and heartbeat from Tawi-Tawi up to Batanes.

Surveys have been conducted repeatedly, on supposedly different issues, in this country of 106 million people, who have different levels of appreciation or tolerance for such.

But when it comes to pre-election surveys, where the questions are sometimes hardly published and corollary caveats none, it appears something is missing.

LONG STORY SHORT ADELLE CHUA ON NEW Year’s Day my youngest child, 16-year-old Lance, cleaned his room and brought out a family “heirloom”—a study table made of narra that I had since I was in kindergarten. He asked me again if I was sure it was all right to bring it out to the building basement for disposal. We had talked about this before, and again I said yes.

As he was pushing the desk out the door his sister asked me to embrace the desk and say goodbye to it. I didn’t budge from where I was sitting, but I cast a fond look toward the table’s direction.

A scene flashed in my mind: The day my mother brought it home. Six-year-old me, in pigtails and in socks with lace around the ankle, arrived from school to find her seated in front of it. For a while I thought she had gotten me a piano.

That desk saw me through many days and nights of study—on to grade school, high school, university, my first (financially challenged) attempt at grad school, my (aborted) pursuit of a law degree, and finally the completed MA. Over the years I had also let some of the children use it, but I had no idea whether the desk gave them the same satisfaction and companionship as it did me. After all, I didn’t just use it for study—I read and wrote and stared into nothing and sorted out my life while sitting in front of it.

After a long pause I was jolted back to

For the frequency with which these so-called surveys—and they indisputably well up months into E-Day—are released to media by name and new groups of pollsters raises some subliminal thoughts.

Which invites the question: Should we trust pre-election surveys?

In the latest Pulse Asia survey of 2019 senatorial candidates, for instance, the public opinion polling body founded in 1999 as a forprofit private company came out with its report, picked up by print and broadcast media, that incumbent Senators Grace Poe (Independent), Cynthia Villar (Nacionalista Party) and Juan Edgardo Angara (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino) would grab the first three positions for the allotted 12 posts in the May midterm elections—if the elections were held in the survey period of Dec. 14 to 21, 2018.

PECIER DECIERDO

WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THE STRANGE SIGNAL FROM SPACE?

As published, these surveys merely identify who are the probable winners, with the news organizations chasing those probable winners for a publishable quote or sound bite—which feeds the passions and expectations of the electorate not within the diameter of “respondents.”

We feel there is a need for a publishable and therefore more transparent methodologies in conducting the surveys to help readers and listeners understand better why the probable winners are in their respective places.

Have pre-election surveys always been firmly fixed that many come up with speed of lightning particularly in the months before E-Day to persuade voters who are supposed to have not made up their minds as yet and vote for candidates who commission these bodies before the efforts?

ASTRONOMERS have received a strange signal from space. What makes the signal strange? What might have caused that signal? What is all the buzz about? And can the signal be coming from aliens?

Let me answer the last question first. No, scientists do not think the signals come from aliens. For one, the source of the signal is 1.5 billion light years away. That means the signal detected by the scientists left its source 1.5 billion years ago. Saying hello and expecting a reply 3 billion years later is not a likely thing for intelligent aliens to do.

More importantly, however, astronomers dealing with strange signals from space always work under the assumption that “it’s never aliens”—until of course it is. What this means is that astronomers are humble enough to know that there is so much that they do not understand about the universe.

Our universe is populated by strange things, and the history of astrophysics is filled with the detection of strange, at first inexplicable signals that later turn out to be produced by crazy objects that expand our understanding of the universe.

So what is all the fuss about?

One day it might be aliens. In the meantime, astrophysicists work hard to understand the limits of what natural objects can do. The more they understand the kinds of signals that can be generated by exploding stars, colliding black holes, or some other yet undiscovered phenomenon, the better they will be at distinguishing natural signals from signals that cannot be explained by astrophysics alone.

To understand fully understand what this means, it helps to review the facts.

The signal in question is an example of a fast radio burst or FRB. It was detected by astrophysicists working with the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment or CHIME in British Columbia, Canada. The team announced their discovery on 9 January of this year.

As the name suggests, FRBs are very fast, very bright bursts of radio waves.

Radio waves are a kind of electromagnetic radiation. Radio waves are similar to visible light, except we cannot see them because our eyes are not sensitive to them.

We can, however, detect them with instruments. We even use them in technologies such as radio and television broadcasting.

Astronomers have so far detected around 60 FRBs. Of that number, 13 were detected by the CHIME observatory, which began operation last year. Astronomers do not know yet what causes these strange signals.They are, for now, a cosmic mystery.

One thing about FRBs that puzzles astronomers is how bright they are. During its brief flash, lasting only a fraction of a millisecond up to a few milliseconds, an FRB can produce more energy than our Sun does in a day. Whatever produces these FRBs are very violent events, and we are lucky we are not near a source of an FRB. Anything within a few light years of an FRB source would probably be fried during the event that causes them.

The recently detected signal is an even stranger thing than most other FRBs. Most sources of FRBs only produced one burst of radio signal. The signal detected by the team at CHIME came from the second source that produced repeating FRBs. Almost every other FRB so far detected consisted of one burst of radio signal. The signal detected by the team at CHIME represents only the second time astronomers observed a repeating FRB. The first repeating FRB was discovered by astronomer Paul Scholz at McGill University in Canada. He noticed that several FRBs seemed to come from the same location as a previously discovered source 3 billion light years away.

With the second discovery of a repeating source of FRB, scientists have confirmed that whatever produced these strange flashes in the sky were capable of doing it repeatedly, at least some of the time. This helps in narrowing down the list of possible suspects.

For now, the top candidates are merging very dense objects, such as neutron stars or black holes. Neutron stars are very dense stars that can be as small as a city but have masses up to 29 times greater than the Sun’s. Black holes, on the other hand, are so dense and massive that not even light can escape their strong gravitational pull.

Other suspects are very bright supernovae, which are the explosions produced by dying stars, and so-called blitzars, small spinning stars that collapse into black holes.

Although probably not produced by intelligent extraterrestrials, solving the mystery of FRBs is still an important step in cataloging the kinds of signals we expect from natural sources. Because one day, we may finally detect one that cannot be explained by the usual suspects.

TIDYING UP IS NOT ABOUT THINGS earth. “It’s okay, I’m good,” I said.

“Won’t you miss it?” my daughter asked.

“I will, but it’s time for it to go.”

••• On the same day, a show called “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo” started airing on Netflix. Kondo, in the show as she does in her bestseller book “The LifeChanging Magic of Tidying Up,” exhorts people to tidy up using a certain mindset and certain manner.

Her overarching criteria for keeping or ditching items? Whether or not they spark joy.

In the show, Kondo would come to people’s homes and help them sort their clutter. The people whom she helps are vastly different: newlyweds, a young couple with toddlers, adolescents, retirees, a widow.

These people welcome Kondo into their home, but she is not some kind of heavensent magician or a glorified cleaning lady.

She just guides them how to declutter their homes and their lives. They do it on their own, being mindful about their possessions, what is truly important to them, what they would like to keep, and what they can do without.

The show is an instant hit, and many viewers are talking about how transformational it is, how it could really occasion change not just in their housekeeping but in family relationships and personal dispositions.

Is the hype justified?

I think there does not need to be a hype, and the Kondo method is just one way of making sense of our lives. People can use it if it works for them, but are free

to use other means—or none at all—if it doesn’t.

That is started airing in January is perhaps one of the best decisions the producers made. Many people, still heady from the holidays, are eager to begin the year with resolutions: To get fit, to work harder or smarter, to tidy up.

Kondo’s method is doable because she lays out only the basic principles and leaves the person to do the rest on their own. And while she suggests a manner of doing things, starting, for instance, from emptying one’s closet and putting clothes on a pile in the middle of the room, or folding shirts and stacking them in a certain way, or touching an article of clothing and asking oneself whether that sparks joy or not, Kondo neither judges nor dictates.

That said, nothing precludes anybody from starting the process in January, or in April or November. There are no deadlines to beat here, just the one you set for yourself.

The positive response, however, has not been universal. For instance, Anakana Schofield writes in The Guardian that she does not completely agree with the method. “Do not listen to Marie Kondo in relation to books. Fill your apartment and world with them,” she writes. “Every human needs an extensive library—not clean, boring shelves.”

As a student of tidiness I have also had self doubt about the books, particularly the unread ones, I continue to keep and accumulate in my home. I feel pretentious at worst and embarrassed at best that I

have all these titles on my shelves but not the time or energy to claim I have read them.Then again, there is joy in possibility —even if it were covered in dust. Unread books spark a joy of their own even if you have yet to experience what they offer.

In this, Schofield’s words provide affirmation: “Success is, eventually, actually reading your unread books, or at least holding on to them long enough that they have the chance to satisfy, dissatisfy or dement you. Unread books are imagined reading futures, not an indication of failure.”

There are also books I have enjoyed and will probably not read again, but keeping them still occasions happiness.

Books notwithstanding, Kondo’s method is one worth keeping primarily because it ultimately reminds us of impermanence.

It is said one needs to practice detachment, ruthless detachment, even, when organizing one’s possessions. But this is not of the ruthless, unfeeling kind.

Instead, you touch things and express gratitude for them or to them—your favorite shirt, a handbag, or a bulky, heavy, decades-old study table—that sparked joy in you at one time. Things are hardly just things; we associate them with memories and emotions at certain points.

But when you tidy up, and decide what to lose and what to keep, you acknowledge, too that nothing lasts, and most times the unencumbered, uncluttered way forward is the only real way to go. adellechua@gmail.com

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PROTESTS VS VUCIC GROW AS SERBIAN REVOLT MOOD RISES BELGRADE, Serbia—Major opposition protests in Serbia have been relatively rare over the past decade, but the icy January air has ushered in a swelling mood of revolt.

Since last month, thousands of demonstrators have rallied each Saturday through Belgrade’s frozen streets against President Aleksandar Vucic, accusing him of stifling media freedoms and cracking down on the opposition.

This Saturday, for the sixth time in a row, the marchers will again hoist their flags and banners in a united display of discontent against Vucic’s increasingly controversial rule.

“Dictator!” cried the crowd at a recent demonstration in the capital.

More than a dozen people carried a giant banner reading: “Stop bloody shirts”—a reference to opposition politician Borko Stefanovic’s bloodstained shirt after he was beaten up last November.

It was that incident that triggered the first protests.

The assault was reminiscent of the violent attacks on political opponents in the 1990s under the rule of late strongman Slobodan Milosevic. AFP

2 LINKED TO DEADLY SHOOTING AT THAI SOUTH SCHOOL SLAIN BANGKOK—Two insurgents believed to be tied to a motorcycle drive-by shooting at a school in Thailand’s south were shot dead Saturday, police said, as UNICEF warned of trauma for children near the scene of the lunchtime violence.

Since 2004 clashes between MalayMuslim rebels and the Buddhistmajority Thai state that annexed the area over 100 years ago have killed nearly 7,000 people, mostly civilians of both faiths.

The conflict rarely makes global headlines but is a reality for residents of border provinces where security forces maintain a large footprint, aided by poorly paid defense “volunteers” drawn from local communities.

The four men killed in Thursday’s shooting were all Muslims and were guarding a school in Pattani province when the attackers struck just before lunchtime with students mere meters away.

Pattani provincial police commander Piyawat Chalermsri told AFP Saturday that two people with alleged ties to the school violence were killed in a shootout Saturday morning.

Though he did not give information about their identities or affiliation, he said he was “confident that they are the same group who carried out the attack Thursday” by driving by on motorbikes. AFP

CAMBODIA HELD ‘HOSTAGE’ BY EU, SAYS PM HUN SEN PHNOM PENH—Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen blasted the European Union on Saturday for holding the country “hostage” with threats to axe trade preferences after it held elections with no credible opposition.

The EU threatened in October to withdrawal the duty-free Everything But Arms scheme (EBA), which benefits exports from Cambodia’s garment and footwear sector, the largest formal employer.

The multi-billion dollar sector employs hundreds of thousands of laborers and is seen as one of the 66-year-old’s few vulnerable positions in a country he has run for nearly 34 years by building up vast patronage networks.

In recent months he has requested pardons for activists and eased up on the crippled opposition, which was banned in a Supreme Court ruling ahead of the July vote swept by Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party.

The moves were seen as concessions to avoid any loss of the trade preferences, but Hun Sen has baulked at the idea of his hand being forced, and said so in his most direct comments on the issue yet in a meeting with former Irish prime minister Enda Kenny in Phnom Penh.

After bringing up several historical grievances with the bloc he said it was making another mistake by “using EBA as a threat to sanction Cambodia ... and take about 16 million Cambodians as hostage of the so-called EBA.” Hun Sen’s spokesman conveyed the remarks to reporters. They were also posted on the leader’s official Facebook page and quickly picked up by state-friendly media. AFP

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Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor / Jimbo Gulle, Issue Editor

TRUMP WORKING FOR RUSSIANS?

ASHINGTON—The Federal Bureau of Investigation opened an inquiry in 2017 into whether US President Donald Trump was working on behalf of Russia, The New York Times reported on Friday.

The investigation—a dual counterintelligence and criminal probe—was launched after the president fired FBI director James Comey in May 2017, the Times said, citing anonymous sources.

The counterintelligence aspect consisted of determining whether Trump was knowingly or unknowingly working for Moscow and whether he was a threat to national security, the newspaper reported.

It added the criminal portion related to Trump’s firing of Comey.

The FBI investigation was soon folded into

Robert Mueller’s inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 vote and possible collusion between his campaign and Moscow, it said, adding that it was unclear if the counterintelligence aspect was still being pursued.

The Times said that the FBI had been suspicious of Trump’s ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign.

But it held off on opening an investigation until the president sacked Comey, who refused to swear his allegiance and roll back the nascent Russia investigation, which is now being spearheaded by Mueller.

Trump has repeatedly criticized the Mueller investigation as a “witch hunt” and views it as a stain on the legitimacy of his presidency.

But while Trump has slammed the probe as baseless, Mueller has issued dozens of indictments and steadily chalked up convictions of some of the president’s close associates -- including his former national security advisor, his former personal lawyer, and his ex-campaign chief.

The ex-national security advisor, Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about his Moscow ties.

The lawyer, Michael Cohen, has been sentenced to three years in prison for multiple crimes, including felony violations of campaign finance laws he undertook, prosecutors alleged, under Trump’s direction.

And Trump’s former presidential campaign chair, Paul Manafort, has been convicted in one case brought by Mueller and pleaded guilty in another, over financial crimes related to his work in Ukraine before the 2016 campaign, and for witness tampering.

Cell phone records show that Cohen was near Prague during the summer of 2016, supporting claims that he met there with Russian officials during the presidential election campaign, McClatchy news service has reported.

Cohen, who will testify in Congress on February 7, insists that he has never been to Prague, but added in a tweet: “#Mueller knows everything!”

As for Manafort, two pro-Russia Ukrainian oligarchs were the intended recipients of US polling data that Manafort admitted to sharing with a Russian during the 2016 presidential race, CNN reported. AFP

SNOW TRACKS. A man walks past tire treads and footprints in the snow at the Gorky Park in Moscow on Thursday. AFP

VENEZUELA OPPOSITION CALLS FOR MADURO OUSTER CARACAS, Venezuela—Venezuela’s sidelined opposition-controlled legislature is calling for a mass protest against President Nicolas Maduro in a bid to oust the socialist leader in favor of “a transitional government.”

Maduro, 56, was sworn in for a second term on Thursday, having won a controversial election in May that was boycotted by the opposition and branded a fraud by the United States, European Union and Organization of American States.

The president of the National Assembly, Juan Guaido, said Friday that the constitution gives the legislature the right to assume transitional power after declaring

Maduro a “usurper,” but said it would need military backing and for people to take to the streets to demand change.

“Is it enough to lean on the constitution in a dictatorship? No. It needs to be the people, the military and the international community that lead us to take over,” said the 35 year-old Guaido, speaking to a crowd of around 1,000 opposition supporters in Caracas.

In response, prisons minister Iris Varela threatened Guaido on Twitter, saying she had a cell ready for him -as Maduro dismissed the opposition as “little boys.”

“I hope you quickly name your

cabinet to know who is going to accompany you,” Varela said.

But Guaido’s announcement was welcomed outside of Venezuela.

US National Security Advisor John Bolton said the administration of President Donald Trump “resolutely supports the Venezuelan National Assembly, the only legitimate branch of government duly elected by the Venezuelan people,” and especially supports “the courageous decision” by Guaido to “declare that Maduro does not legitimately hold the country’s presidency.”

In Washington, OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro recognized Guaido as head of state, as the

person at the top of Venezuela’s only legitimate governing body.

“We welcome the assumption of @jguaido as interim President of Venezuela,” Almagro tweeted.

Brazil’s far-right government welcomed Guaido’s readiness to “constitutionally assume the Venezuelan presidency.”

Guaido called for a mass protest on January 23—the day in 1958 on which the military dictatorship of Marcos Perez Jimenez fell.

The National Assembly has dismissed Maduro’s election as illegitimate, but the body has been sidelined by the president’s power grab. AFP

OBAMA PROTEGE JULIAN CASTRO TO JOIN 2020 RACE

GREAT LEAP. A dancer of the Czech National Ballet performs during a general rehearsal of “La Bayadere” at the Maestranza Theatre in Sevilla on Wednesday. AFP

SAN ANTONIO—Former mayor of San Antonio, Texas and Obama-era cabinet member Julian Castro is expected Saturday to launch his bid to become the nation’s first Hispanic president, scheduling his announcement in a border state central to America’s immigration debate.

Castro would become the most highprofile Democrat to date to officially enter the 2020 race, which is expected to include a diverse field of candidates eager to challenge President Donald Trump.

But the 44-year-old would be among the underdogs in a political showdown that may well feature heavyweights like former vice president Joe Biden, US senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris, and perhaps even billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a progressive Democrat, said Friday she will officially announce her

presidential run in the coming days.

Castro’s strong oratory skills, experience as Barack Obama’s housing secretary and as mayor of the nation’s seventh largest city, not to mention his telegenic charisma, could help propel the Texas native into the top tier.

He would also become the third prominent Latino presidential candidate in four years, after Republican senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio fought Trump for their party’s nomination in 2016.

Castro’s candidacy could also help revive Democratic enthusiasm among Latino voters, who supported Hillary Clinton but at a lower rate than Obama.

Trump made immigration a flashpoint of that race, and it remains among the nation’s most contentious issues. The US government remains locked in a partial shutdown, soon to begin its fourth week, over Trump’s demand for $5.7 billion in border wall funding. AFP

Images

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

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NAZARENE BIZ. A vendor proudly shows off her assortment of handkerchiefs and other Black Nazarene-themed items during the feast of the miraculous icon outside the Basilica Minor de Nazareno in Quiapo, Manila on Wednesday. Ey Acasio

GRIM PARADE. Members of the Alyansa ng Samahang Pantao or ASAP stage a rally along Mendiola Street in Manila to protest the two-peso excise tax on petroleum products on the second implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN Law. Norman Cruz

CARMAGEDDON. Bumper-to-bumper traffic greets motorists on Monday morning, Jan. 6, the first full

HOUSES FOR HEROES. President Rodrigo Duterte shakes hands with a wounded soldier who is one of the beneficiaries of housing units the government built for them at Pleasant View Residences in the City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan on Thursday. Toto Lozano/Presidential Photo

MURKY WATER. Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu peers through a grate as he inspects the polluted

YES TO ‘BOL.’ Officials and members of the One Bangsamoro Movement and communities outside the

planned Bangsamoro Autonomous Region express their approval of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in their National Leaders Assembly on Friday in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

working day of 2019, along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. Revoli Cortez

Estero de San Antonio Abad along Mabini Street in Manila to determine how a large number of coliform bacteria made its way to the Manila Bay, which the government will rehabilitate. Lino Santos

SHABU BUST. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Special Enforcement Service Director Levi Ortiz (seated, right) points to a group of five suspects who were arrested for possessing nine sachets of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia worth P306,000 during a buy-bust operation at a high-end condominium in Mandaluyong City on Monday. Manny Palmero

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Riera U. Mallari, Editor sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Sports

PH AZKALS LEFT WITH ONE LAST CHANCE TO ADVANCE

PH Azkals’ Kevin Ingreso tries to seek control of the ball against three Team Dragon defenders. Dennis B. Mallari

By Peter Atencio

T

HE Philippine Azkals now have one chance left to make it to the next stage after they suffered their second consecutive defeat in the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup 2019 late Friday.

The Azkals were able to create few scoring chances in the second half, but Team Dragon of China showed too much class.

The Mainland Chinese penetrated the Azkals’ determined defensive effort for a 3-0 win on Friday night at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

China has now joined Korea and Jordan in the Group of 16.

With their second straight loss, the Azkals are set to close out their Group C campaign on Jan. 16 against Kyrgyzstan.

After losing to South Korea, 0-1,

Kyrgyzstan also needs a big win like the Azkals.

Both are now keeping their fading hopes alive.

On other hand, Jordan reached the Group of 16 after their 1-0 win over Australia and 2-0 triumph over Syria.

The four best third-placed teams from the six groups will advance to the knockout stage.

In Friday’s encounter, China’s first goal came after four attempts in the first half, when Wu Lei right-footed a

shot from the right side of the box to the top left corner and off an assist by Hao Junmin in the 40th minute.

Wu found his chance to knocked the first goal after receiving a pass from the right wing at the edge of the penalty box on the half turn.

From there, Wu unleashed a volley into the top corner, beyond the reach of Azkals’ keeper Michael Faalkesgaard, who could only watch the ball sail over his head.

After four more attempts, they got another goal off Wu, who hit the ball from the center of the box to the high center of the goal, with Hao Junmin assisting with a cross in the 66th minute.

Moments after he came in as a sub, Yu Dabao came through with another goal came in the 80th minute very close range to the bottom right corner

following a corner.

China’ second win in Group C put them in strong contention to make it to the knockout stages with Korea.

The Azkals, now almost out of contention, had two chances to score.

The first came in the 23rd minute, when an attempt by Javier Patiño was blocked after he unleashed a volley shot from the center of the box.

John-Patrick Strauss tried to score for the Philippines, but his left-footed shot from the center of the box was too close and missed.

Korea Republic, in claiming a 1-0 win over Kyrgyz Republic at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, found their scoring chance some four minutes before the break when Hong Chul’s corner kick was received by Kim Min-jae with a glancing header into the bottom corner.

TALL ORDER FOR MIGHTY SPORTS IN DUBAI

WHILE former LA Lakers star Lamar Odom has been doing almost everything to be in tip-top shape, Mighty Sports coach Charles Tiu has expressed apprehension after learning that three top Middle East teams will also compete in the Dubai International Basketball Tournament slated Feb. 1 to 9.

Aside from reigning titlist Coastal Star of Tunisia, Mighty Sports might also face the national team of Jordan and Al Riyadi of Lebanon depending on which group it will play in the preliminaries of the 10team tournament.

Adding to Tiu’s concerns is the fact the team is yet to practice together so it needs to work double time once the team is complete if it wants to contend for the title.

“That’s a big challenge, while other teams have been playing together for a couple of years now we will only have at least seven practice days. I think we need a miracle this time,” said Tiu with a smile.

Team owner Alex Wongchuking echoed Tiu’s observation, saying the team, also sponsored by Healthcube, Go For Gold and Oriental Group, is hardpressed to mirror its impressive 2016 Jones Cup sweep in Taiwan and a runner-up finish in the Merlion Cup—also on the same year.

“When they will all arrive, they will only have a week of preparation, and that is our biggest concern right now. We can’t rely on talent alone, there must be a good chemistry,” said Wongchuking.

In his Instagram account, Odom vowed to help

Mighty Sports capture the championship after the team won only one game in their initial foray in the annual event two years ago.

Tiu and Wongchuking, however, refused to be swayed.

“We really don’t know his condition yet,” said Tiu. “Working out is very different from actual game.”

Beefing up Mighty Sports are Ginebra resident import Justine Brownlee, Chinese Basketball Association veteran Randolph Morris, and a pair of exciting Fil-Am players.

Other members of the team are former PBA players Jett Manuel and Joseph Yeo, exciting UP playmaker Juan Gomez de Liano, La Salle forward Santi Santillan, and College of St. Benilde’s Justin Gutang.

LBC RONDA TO HELP IN PH’S OLYMPIC QUEST THE LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2019 has set its sights on helping the country qualify a cyclist to the Olympics for the first time in decades as it holds a five-stage race slated Feb. 8 to 12 that will start in Iloilo City and pass through Guimaras, Roxas City and Antique.

Sanctioned by the world governing Union Cycliste Internationale for the first time in the nine-year history of the country’s biggest cycling race, the event has drawn participation from 15 teams including seven local teams headed by reigning champion Navy-Standard Insurance and international teams Go for Gold and 7 Eleven CLIQQ-Air21 by Roadbike Phls.

LBC Ronda executive project director Moe Chulani yesterday said they are in one with the country’s bid in gaining enough points that will secure the country a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“LBC Ronda Pilipinas was conceptualized to discover talents and give our local cyclists a chance to shine and earn a living. After eight editions, we at LBC Ronda Pilipinas decided to focus our shift to our ultimate goal from the start, which is the Olympics,” said Chulani.

“And it’s been almost three decades since a Filipino made it to the Olympics and this is LBC Ronda Pilipinas’ way of helping the country achieve its dream of sending a Filipino cyclist back in the Olympics,” he added.

UCI is using a new qualification rule in this Olympic cycle leading Tokyo will allows the top 50 countries to make it straight to the quadrennial meet and LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2019’s presence gives the country a chance to earn more qualifying points.

Other local teams seeing action are Army Bicycology, Team Franzia, Team Tarlac and Bike Xtreme while the international challenge will come from Matrix Powertag Japan, Nex Cycling, Korail Team Korea, PGN Road Cycling Team, Sri Lanka Navy Cycle Team, Customs Cycling Indonesia, Terengganu Cycling Team and Cambodia Cycling Team.

The Navymen will be spearheaded by former Ronda champions Ronald Oranza and Jan Paul Morales while Go for Gold and 7Eleven Cliqq-Air21 by Roadbike Phls are expected to rely on their international experience to fend off the strong foreign charge.

The race opens with the 197.6-kilometer Iloilo-Iloilo Stage One on Feb. 8 and will proceed with the 101.8km Guimaras-Guimaras Stage Two the next day.

The cavalcade will then go back to Iloilo for the 179.4km Iloilo-Roxas City Stage Three on Feb. 10 followed by the 146.9km Roxas-Roxas Stage Four on Feb. 11.

It will conclude with the 148.9km Roxas-Antique Stage Five on Feb. 12.

The awarding ceremony will be held in the island paradise of Boracay the same day.

GO FOR GOLD PH SEPAK TAKRAW TEAM READY FOR SEA GAMES’ BUILDUP THE Philippine sepak takraw team has a busy calendar aided by the solid backing of Go For Gold on its bid to claim the ultimate prize in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Aiming for no less than the gold medal in the SEAG, the 2016 world champions will begin their journey to success by competing in the coming Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia on April 26-May 4 where the toughest teams are anticipated to show up. ``The key is to expose our players to as many overseas tournaments as we can for them to gain more experience against a variety of opponents,’’ said Pilipinas Sepak Takraw Association Inc. president Karen Tanchanco-Caballero.

Go For Gold godfather Jeremy Go recently committed to throw his all-out support to sepak takraw’s buildup for the 11-nation Games on Nov. 30-Dec. 11 to be held in the cities of Clark, Subic and several venues in Metro Manila.

Right after their campaign in the Arafura meet, both the men’s and women’s squads are bound to set up camp in South Korea and Thailand for a few months before joining several leagues in Thailand to polish their

The PH Go for Gold Sepak Takraw team

skills and competitive spirit.

They brought home a silver and three bronze medals from the 2018 King’s Cup

Sepak Takraw World Championships held in Nakhon Rachasima, Thailand where the toughest sepak performers

from 31 countries suited up.

Caballero bared that they had tapped new athletes purely for exposure, but

the team still came up with good results.

“With more games and tournaments coming up, they are really bound to improve in time for the SEA Games,’ said Go, also the vice president for marketing of Powerball Marketing and Logistics Corporation, the company behind the Go For Gold project.

Aside from sepak takraw, Go For Gold is also a staunch supporter of several national teams in cycling, wrestling, dragonboat, triathlon and skateboarding.

Seasoned players Rheyjey Ortouste, Ronsited Gabayeron, Emmanuel Escote led the men’s team along with Joshua Gleen Bullo, Alvin Pangan, John Carlo Lee and John John Bobier.

Joining the squad backed by Go For Gold and the Philippine Sports Commission are John Jeffrey Morcillos, Joeart Jumawan, Nestleer Bandivas, Christian George Encabo and Regie Reznan Pabriga.

Forming the women’s squad are Mary Melody Taming, Abegail Sinogbuhan, Gelyn Evora, Josefina Maat, Jean Marie Sucalit, Jea Mae Pepito, Jocielle Fernandez, Aisa Sabellita, Allyssa Bandoy and Lhaina Lheil Mangubat.

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Business

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

LADY BANKER PUSHES

A

CASHLESS SOCIETY IN PH

LADY banker who now heads the Philippine operations of a European financial technology company encourages local merchants to undergo digital transformation amid the changing face of retail in the country.

“The Philippines is well-positioned for digital transformation,” says Martha Aguila-Borja, country manager of Wirecard Philippines, a unit of German financial technology company Wirecard AG. Borja says to take advantage of recent developments, companies should be able to facilitate payments in a digitally-driven world.

With a high smartphone penetration and still a large unbanked population, the Philippines is considered a fertile ground for fintech innovation.

However, the country faces roadblocks on its cashless journey with slow digital payments penetration. Data show that 99 percent of all payment transactions in the country are still settled in cash.

This is where Wirecard hopes to make a difference. “Wirecard, as a global innovation leader in payment solutions and acceptance, will play a key role in enabling BSP’s [Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas] National Strategy for Financial Inclusion. We are one with BSP’s thrust to grow digital transactions from 1 percent to 20 percent by 2020 and it is Wirecard’s commitment to help our partners flourish in this age of digital transformation,” says Borja, who has worked for various financial institutions such as Bank of America, ABN-AMRO Bank and Citibank over the past 20 years before joining Wirecard in 2018.

SEASONED BANKER Before joining Wirecard, Borja spent 14 years in Citibank’s consumer business, most recently as the senior vice president for retail marketing for credit payment products and the head of merchant acquiring business. Wirecard makes online payment for merchants and consumers transparent and secure and offers end-toend services for merchants, airlines and travel operators, banks, telecom operators and service providers.

Wirecard established its Philippines presence in 2017 and was registered as Wirecard e-Money Philippines Inc. Borja says the business was founded on the back of two major acquisitions from Citibank.

The first was the acquisition in March 2017 of Citi’s Prepaid Card Services, which was already one of the leading issuer and program managers in the area of institutional cards. The second deal was the regional acquisition of Citigroup’s prepaid card business and customer portfolio for card acceptance in the Asia Pacific region. “ This has enabled Wirecard to provide merchants and businesses in the Philippines with payments, issuing and acceptance services,” she says. “This has accelerated Wirecard’s direction towards establishing a worldwide network of service and technology locations while enabling our regional partners to benefit from our established technology and experience.”

DIGITAL PAYMENTS Borja says digital payments in the Philippines saw tremendous expansion last year and are expected to see further growth in 2019. “Most of this can be attributed to the proliferation of mobile technology – which has been a catalyst for change and growth and is largely driving digital payments adoption,” she says.

A 2017 study by Visa shows that more than half (53 percent) of Filipinos prefer e-payment methods to cash, up from 46 percent in 2015.

The use of mobile wallets has also become

BDO Capital & Investment Corp. president Eduardo Francisco

BDO CAP’S FRANCISCO NAMED CHAIR OF IAFEI

Wirecard Philippines country manager Martha Aguila-Borja

increasingly popular among Filipinos.

“We can expect to see more card holders moving towards mobile technology platform.

There is strong potential there with contactless payments expected at 15.2 percent and reaching $91.9 billion by 2021,” says Borja.

CASHLESS SOCIETY Borja says the Philippine government is now making great strides to steer the country down the path to becoming a cashless society, with the launch of the National Retail Payments System which has played a key role in reaching the unbanked. The NRPS enables easier and real-time interbank transfers, as well as merges the various ARM, mobile money and electronic point-of-sale networks.

“But we’re still some ways off being a fully cashless society. Key areas which require continued improvement include infrastructure as well as mindsets to drive wider acceptance usage by both businesses and consumers. At the moment, there is still a significant majority of Filipinos who remain unbanked. Furthermore, slow internet speed and lack of trust in the digital systems hinder its evolution,” she says.

Borja wants to see a cultural shift to getting people comfortable with new technology. “As we look forward to 2019, collaboration and innovation is essential – to spur wider acceptance usage of digital payments. The payments ecosystem needs to work towards empowering customers with choice and capabilities that not only digitize

payments but make it easier for them to create new and more secure ways to pay. And that means a concerted effort across the government, financial institutions and businesses alike,” she says.

OMNI-CHANNEL EXPERIENCE Borja says in today’s fast-paced, increasingly digital environment, retailers are facing huge pressure to rapidly innovate and meet the needs of the connected consumer. Results of Wirecard’s International Holiday Shopping Report 2018 show that consumers have high expectations for omnichannel shopping experiences.

“In particular, Asian consumers had the highest expectations to have omni-channel shopping experience, with 90 percent saying they were likely to combine channels [mobile, app, in-store or desktop] to shop for their items. The main reason for using this approach was to compare prices,” she says.

Borja says Filipinos also tend to use different online platforms to assess purchases. A Path to Purchase report 2017 found that Filipino consumers could make six to seven searches from price comparison websites, product reviews and online videos. However, merging channels between offline and online channels are still a challenge for merchants.

E-COMMERCE GROWTH “With e-commerce in the Philippines growing by 30 percent in 2018, and its share of the

13 FILIPINO COMPANIES PARTICIPATE IN US FOOD SHOW THIRTEEN Philippine food companies are set to exhibit this week in the 44th Winter Fancy Food Show at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, the United States on Jan. 13 to 15, 2019.

Led by the Department of Trade and Industry, through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, the Philippine participation will exhibit and sample the country’s range of healthy, organic and premium food products.

“The FoodPhilippines pavilion in San Francisco will have grand a showcase of the Philippines’specialty food products that are targeted for export in the North American region as well as other neighboring regions,” said DTI-Citem executive director Pauline Suaco-Juan.

WFFS is the US West Coast’s largest specialty food and beverage event with an estimated 20,000 annual visitors and 1,500 exhibitors from across the US and 28 other countries.

“Specialty food” refers to products of the highest grade, style or quality, derived from their uniqueness, origin, processing method and design.

Exhibiting in WFFS for the first time are CJ Uniworld Corp. with their variety of banana chips; Filipinas Oro de Cacao with their singleorigin‘Auro Chocolate’from Davao; Grand Asia Integrated Natural Coco Products Corporation with their processed coconut products under ‘Gaincoco’; Innovative Packaging Industry Corp. with their ‘Oh So Healthy!’ fruit crisps.

Meanwhile, Philippine companies that are

making a comeback in WFFS are Bethany Sales Inc.; Century Pacific Food, Inc./Century Pacific North America; Islamic Da’Wah Council of the Philippines, Inc.; Magicmelt Foods Inc., PasciolcoAgri Ventures; Prime Fruits International Inc.; Profood International Corp.; SL Agritech Corp. and San Miguel Corp..

“Backed with these firms, we are confident that this Philippine delegation will significantly boost the government’s high-impact export strategy to widen our export reach in Western countries,” said Suaco-Juan.

According to Almay See, general manager of Innovative Packaging Industry Corp., the US market is a lucrative export market for the Philippines since it“has many Filipinos who are looking for products from their home country.”

Turn to C2

BDO Capital & Investment Corp. president Eduardo Francisco is this year’s chairman of the International Association of Financial Executives Institutes.

He becomes the third Filipino elected to helm the top post, apart from the late Romeo Co, who was chairman in 1979-1980, and Dr. Conchita Manabat, who was IAFEI’s chairperson in 20052006.

IAFEI is a professional association of National Financial Institutes composed of financial executives of leading businesses all over the world engaged in financial policy making and control, sharing a common interest in financial management, financial accounting and reporting.

The year 2019 will be a significant year for IAFEI as it will celebrate its 50th year. Plans for hosting an IAFEI Asian Day in Manila in conjunction with IAFEI’s golden anniversary is now in the works, said Francisco.

Prior to his election, Francisco was the vice chairman of IAFEI and also a former president of the Financial Executives of the Philippines.

The other members of the IAFEI Executive Committee for the year 2019 are Juan Alfredo Ortega (Mexico) as vice chairman; Aberlardo Cortez (Philippines) as secretary; Nicolaas Van Wyk (South Africa) as area president for Africa; Fernando Lopez Macari (Mexico) as area president for the Americas; Hirohaki Endo (Japan) as area president for Asia; Anastassios Rodopoulos (Greece) as area president for Europe & the Middle East.

It was established in 1969 with the Finex as one of its founding members together with the Financial Executives Institutes of Argentina, Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Spain, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the combined Institutes of USA and Canada.

IAFEI has 17 active members with a total membership of over 10,000 financial executives.

Business

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2019 business@manilastandard.net

PACKAGING INDUSTRY PUSHES FOR SUSTAINABILITY

COMPANIES are now looking into elevating packaging to a tool for sustainable environment.

This was stated by Dennis Jocson, president of Packaging Institute of the Philippines, at a roadshow for Propak Philippines, one of the biggest processing and packaging trade shows in the world.

The trade show is scheduled on Jan. 24 to 26 at the World Trade Center Manila in Pasay City.

“Packaging is not inherently sustainable, but used packaging material that has served its primary purpose as a container is not necessarily an environmental waste. There are now modern ways to manufacture packaging products that support sustainability,” said Jocson.

The PIP head said there are three pillars of sustainability that manufacturers now have to seriously consider: the environmental aspect, the economical aspect and the social aspect.

“For the environmental aspect, the use of renewable materials, the matching of material usage with the desired performance level for packaging optimizations, the impact on natural resources, as well as the appropriate methods for recycling, reusing and disposing of materials after use must all be considered. Economic considerations include costs that ensure minimal damage to products. For the social aspect, manufacturers have to have reasonable work hours, fair competition, a healthy work environment, and product safety,” Jocson said.

TECHNOLUX TO HOLD FIRST OVEN BUSINESS SERIES OF 2019 TECHNOLUX is holding its first business series in 2019, featuring Convotherm, Lincoln and Merry Chef ovens at Mall of Kitchens in Makati City on Jan. 24.

It will give businessmen and entrepreneurs the opportunity to start or grow their food business with hot tips from Technolux’s technical, sales and R&D teams who present the features of the said equipment and conduct a cooking/baking demo to show their proper use to maximize efficiency and profits.

Convotherm, one of the preferred brands of chefs and professional kitchens around the world, is equipped with the latest innovation, is userfriendly and provides an intuitive system of operation. Customers are assured that they can serve any type of dish with utmost consistency and excellent quality, according to Technolux.

The versatile Lincoln conveyor oven boasts of reliability and durability that culinary professionals can count on.

It uses the latest advancement in air impingement technology that allows for rapid heating, cooking, baking, and crisping of foods.

Another featured brand is Merry Chef that innovatively combines three heat technologies (tuned impingement, microwave, and convection) allowing the ovens to cook up to 20 times faster than conventional ovens.

SINGAPORE COMPANY GETS LICENSE FROM CEZA SINGAPORE-BASED 6x.com, a leading digital trading asset exchange, said it secured a license from the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority to conduct financial technology solutions and offer offshore virtual currency exchange services.

Having undergone a series of stringent probity and integrity check, 6x.com is one of the leading cryptocurrency exchange operators to be granted the license.

As pioneers in developing a trading exchange based on blockchain technology, 6x.com said it would contribute to the economic development of Ceza in the area of blockchain, crypto and financial technology solutions.

“We are happy to be granted the license to offer financial solutions and offshore virtual currency exchange services to our global customers. We are glad to have the support in the Philippines and be part of the government’s master plan to establish a clear cryptocurrency ecosystem in the country,” said 6x.com international vice-president Vanessa Koh. 6X Digital Asset Trading Platform is registered in Singapore, with over one million global users in more than 100 countries.

Bianca Baluyut and Gela Encanto are former graduate trainees of Mondelez Philippines who now hold leadership positions within the company.

M

TRAINEE PROGRAM GUIDES FUTURE MONDELEZ LEADERS

ONDELEZ Philippines aims to empower people to snack right. This means offering the right snacks, for the right moment, made the right way.

To do this, the company for the past 55 years has been developing a great place to work and building a winning culture.

The company believes that as it nurtures the capabilities of its people, it can also bring about sustainable growth for its business.

One effective initiative which has helped the company achieve this goal is the Graduate Trainee Program, popularly known as the GT program.

The GT program is an 18-month leadership development program for new graduates. Within this time, they are set on a leadership development path with learning experiences in different functions of Mondelez Philippines.

Since it started in 2007, the GT program has offered hundreds of new graduates an accelerated career growth, a joyful work experience and a promising future with Mondelez Philippines.

Mondelez Philippines’ Graduate Trainee Program offers not just an entry position. It is a distinguished

leadership program that provides them with learning and knowledge to help jumpstart their careers and develop them not only as employees, but as leaders.

What further differentiates the program is that as leaders, GTs are not only given training and knowledge about their home function. For example, if a GT is assigned to sales, he or she will also learn about marketing, finance, HR and other functions within the company. This way, GTs are not only trained, they are truly honed as future leaders.

At the onset, the GT program selects students who show the makings of leaders including above average scholastic performance and leadership experiences. Key leadership characteristics are also sought among applicants.

Bianca Baluyut, one of the many exemplary graduate trainees who now holds a management position in Mondelez Philippines, shared her experience of being part of the GT program. “After being selected as a graduate trainee, I was hired as a regular employee trainee for 18 months. Within this period, I was able to learn the business through Sales exposure and projects. I was also provided with cross-functional experiences like in HR, manufacturing, marketing, finance and customer service and logistics,” she said.

Graduate trainees are given regular coaching and feedback sessions to help in their development during the 18-month period.

Gela Encanto is another best-in-class alumna from the GT program who is currently growing her career not only in the Philippines but in Mondelēz International in Southeast Asia. She explained the process that she and other trainees went through.

“When we were hired as graduate trainees, we were able to enjoy all the benefits of regular employees. We were also treated as high-potential talents and were given specialized training and regular exposure to the leadership team of the company,” she said.

“Each of us was assigned with ‘buddies’ or peers who were often graduates of the GT program as well, to serve as our guide as we navigate our 18-month stint. At the end of the 18 months, we GTs undergo a graduation ceremony of sorts where we share our final case study and what we have learned in the past months,” Baluyut said.

After the 18-month program, the graduate trainees are formally welcomed to their home function and positions, and begin their new role within the company. To date, 12 GT alumni now occupy managerial positions within Mondelez Philippines.

Several GTs have also accepted positions across Southeast Asia and Australia as market leaders in the last five years. About 55 percent of all GT graduates continue to be employees of the company as well.

‘FIRST 1,000 DAYS OF LIFE’ LAW IS TIMELY—ODYSSEY FOUNDATION A PRIVATE Foundation whose mandate is to help eradicate malnutrition in the country described the newly passed “First 1,000 Days of Life” law as a timely and sustainable program. “ We s e e t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f initiatives to eradicate malnutrition among children. We consider the enactment of Republic Act No. 11148 as a comprehensive and sustainable intervention that will benefit the Filipino children’s first 1,000 days of life,” said Dindo Danao, Executive Director of Odyssey Foundation Inc. (OFI).

OFI was organized in 2004 as the corporate social responsibility arm of CDO Foodsphere Inc. with the key mandate to help eradicate children malnourishment.

“We believe that the problem can be resolved better, if there is a joint effort between the private sector and the national government,” Danao said.

President Rodrigo Duter te on November 29, 2018 signed into law RA 11148 to reduce malnutrition in the country and make Filipino children healthier. The law aims to improve the

LADY... From C1 Southeast Asian market expected to be worth $10 billion by 2025 according to Google and Temasek, we see a tremendous opportunity for businesses that can provide truly omni-channel experience. This will be key to customer satisfaction and retention,” says Borja.

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality and the Internet of Things can also help retailers gain a competitive advantage. She says Alipay tested facial recognition payments at KFC in China while Wirecard launched its Internet of Things shelf which also uses biometric facial recognition. “ These innovative financial technologies will continue to disrupt the industry, and we can expect to see cashless payments being integrated further into the customer journey, making the entire shopping experience more seamless than before. Businesses need to evolve the way they interact

nutritional status of Filipino children and prepare them to become productive citizens.

The law, which is also known as ‘Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act’ aims to scale up the national and local health nutrition programs through a strengthened integrated strategy for maternal, neonatal, child health and nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life.

More than a decade before the passage of the law, OFI launched Gabay Nutrition supplemental feeding program to provide physical nourishment the children need to grow and become healthy and productive individuals.

Data from the government show that about 3.7 million Filipino children are stunted while 800,000 are undernourished.

Under the Gabay Nutrisyon program, OFI and community partners were able to transform undernourished children into healthy netizens. In particular, it helped bring back 25,000 malnourished children to normal life for the past several years in more than 40 poor

with customers, offering a seamless omni-channel experience that is fast, convenient and secure,” she says.

Omni-channel has become the new shopping standard, says Borja, adding that a Wirecard report found that AsiaPacific is home to some of the most ‘integrated’ shoppers, with 68 percent likely to make purchases via a desktop, mobile app or mobile site. “ To keep up with the evolving consumer, retailers need to evolve and innovate in order to provide better customer experiences. Innovative technologies such as AI and analytics can play a crucial role in harnessing an omni-channel experience, where retailers can leverage insights to make informed decisions catering personalized offerings based on individual needs,” she says.

Borja cited for example Wirecard’s new click and collect platform which provides merchants with flexible purchase and pick-up option. This means that retailers can provide a positive and seamless customer experience, a key factor for customer

communities.

Early this year, the foundation launched a series of trainings in cooperation with Department of Health (DoH) and local government units (LGU) to let people know about the importance of the first 1,000 days of life.

The trainings were participated in by barangay nutrition scholars and barangay health workers in areas that need major intervention. These nutrition and health workers, in turn, will cascade the knowledge and information to health and daycare centers who will share them with mothers, pregnant women, and teenage mothers in their respective areas.

OFI President Jerome D. Ong said the foundation’s maxim “We help Nurture Life” should be true not only to those who have financial capability to purchase CDO products, but also to those who have less in life.

“We took this maxim to the heart of OFI as the corporate social responsibility arm of CDO Foodsphere Inc. As a CSR unit, OFI serves as a catalyst for social

development that benefits the less privileged and marginalized members of our society,” he said.

OFI was born out of CDO Foodsphere’s vision to help improve the lives of the people in the communities where the company operates its business.

“It is said that a journey of a thousand miles start with a single step.

Odyssey Foundation’s 14-year journey started with our desire to reach out to communities,” said Ong. “We envision seeing healthy and wellnourished children in our communities.

The supplemental feeding program became our maiden way of sharing our resources by giving children a chance for healthier and better life,” he said.

Ong said OFI will continue to embrace the hallmarks of good values, best practices and good governance through transparency, accountability and high level of professionalism.

“We are grateful for the steadfast support of our partners who continue to walk with us, carrying the same vision and values to help nurture life,” he said.

retention, she says.

WIRECARD SOLUTIONS Borja says the Philippines has made some positive steps towards embracing digital payments in recent years, driven by telco players and the rise of new technology players which are introducing e-wallets into the economy.

“While this obviously provides different options for consumers, more can be done to help businesses make sense of these new options and integrate it into better customer experiences for end-consumers. This is where Wirecard provides invaluable support – where we promote the use of financial technologies among B2B partners to help them with digitizing payments,” says Borja.

As an enabler, Wirecard helps banks, money exchange houses, remittance par tners and others to provide consumers with the products and the tools to transition from traditional products to one that is cash-lite and eventually go cash-less, she says.

This involves providing POS systems to using technology to transform

backend operations and processes.

Borja says this helps businesses to have greater control of their payments processing as well as improving security in the payments process to reduce risk and potential fraud.

“As e -commerce gains greater prominence, we also see a significant opportunity to partner with retailers to help transition their businesses using our omni-channel platform, which will help provide a seamless platform to track various payment interactions across multiple channels,” she says.

“Globally, digital and cashless payments are gaining traction and it is an exciting time for us in the Asia Pacific.

While we are still in the nascent stages, there are a multitude of opportunities for the region to leap forward in our digital payments journey. Being able to shape what the future of payments will look like is definitely a gamechanger. With Wirecard’s established global presence and international partnerships, we are well positioned to support the Asia Pacific in its evolution,” says Borja. Roderick T. dela Cruz

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2019 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

ARGOMALL...

A LEAP FOR SENIORS AT VEGAS TECH SHOW

From C4

hold, expect more smartphones to carry more than five cameras around second half of 2019.

Your smartphone right at your wrist Another thing to watch out for this year is the emergence of wearables, particularly smartwatches. While most of these devices were introduced for fitness functions, this year, smartwatches are expected to deliver more, making them extensions of your smartphone. We’re looking forward to see more smartwatches that allow answering calls, quick message and email replies, and basically every simple thing that can be done using smartphones.

Start the year right For consumers, it is always important to always seek for a worthy purchase no matter what the trend is. With e-commerce becoming a widely-used means of purchasing goods, every consumer must have a trustworthy go-to online store.

With a strong value for consumer trust and authenticity, Argomall is an online shopping hub which sell only authentic smartphones from brand manufacturers and official distributors. All products bought from Argomall always come with an official Philippine warranty, invoice, and receipt.

Established by its innovative founders in November 2015, argomall.com was born out of a creative dream by Filipinoowned conglomerate Transnational Diversified Group to deliver trustworthy and efficient solutions to the discerning Filipino tech shopper.

AS VEGAS—With artificial intelligence to detect falls, virtual reality to combat isolation and “powered” clothing to assist the incapacitated, the tech world is stepping up its effort to “disrupt” aging.

At the Consumer Electronics Show this week in Las Vegas, exhibitors were showcasing new ways to help the elderly remain independent, mentally fit and connected.

Some systems took a page from the gaming world of youngsters to help seniors “travel” to new places and connect with loved ones.

“Everyone knows seniors get lonely but that isolation can also lead to a lot of medical problems, including the acceleration of dementia,” said Kyle Rand, founder and chief executive of Rendever, a startup which works with assisted living homes to give seniors a way to virtually visit remote locations.

“They can stand atop the Eiffel Tower, they can go on an African safari, or revisit their childhood home.”

Rendever was launched in the Washington DC tech incubator created by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), which in recent years has been funding efforts to develop new technologies for seniors.

In the consumer space from the AARP incubator, Alcove VR enables seniors to be part of a virtual world with loved ones who may be far away.

“You can step into a virtual living room (with a friend or family member and just hang out,” said Cezara Windrem, the AARP product manager for Alcove.

Alcove was launched this week as a free application on Oculus, the Facebook-owned virtual reality unit.

The AARP exhibit also included VRHealth, which offers cognitive behavioral therapy using virtual reality, and Pillo, a device which serves as a personal assistant and medication dispenser focused on health for seniors.

Virtual caregivers Other exhibitors showcased technology that could help seniors remain in their homes, and give family members peace of mind by monitoring their condition, in some cases using predictive analytics to determine if they are at risk.

The Walabot Automatic Fall Detection Device For Seniors is displayed during CES 2019 consumer electronics show, on January 10, 2019 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

Walabot, a wall-mounted monitoring system developed by the Israeli startup Vayyar, uses radio waves and three-dimensional imaging to keep tabs on seniors living alone.

“You don’t need to wear anything, there are no cameras,” said Ofer Familier, head of business development for Vayyar.

The company, which makes a range of sensor equipment, says Walabot can detect subtle changes in gait, movement or breathing which could signal a risk of a fall or other problem.

“We can detect falls, but the predictive aspect of it is to monitor changes in behavior so we can alert family members,” Familier said.

Also launched at CES was the Addison Virtual Caregiver, a video-based assistant with a female avatar which can converse, offer reminders on medication and detect potential health issues.

With the data gathered from the device, “we

BUSINESS PRINT NEEDS WITH HP LASERJET PRINTER N ANY business, it always pays to invest on reliability, whether through employing highlyskilled and experienced manpower or acquiring hard-working office machines, as both can help ensure continuously smooth operations while maintaining quality outputs.

The HP LaserJet MFP M72630dn is a multifunction printer & copier solution which enterprises can rely on for their business printing needs as it boasts of legendary HP performance and dependability, as seen in its multifunctionality and robust paper handling options.

The multifunction printer or MFP can help minimize a company’s operating costs and lessen budget by consistently printing quality documents with sharp text and crisp graphics at a low cost, using original HP toner cartridges and drums.

To meet the demands of high-volume printing, the HP LaserJet MFP M72630dn can print up to 30 pages per minute (ppm) on A4 and letter-size paper.

The HP LaserJet MFP is equipped with two paper trays that can support a total of 1,040 sheets of standard, A4, or A3 paper sizes. It can

also load up to 100 sheets of up to A3-sized paper into the auto document feeder as conveniently as its output bin can accommodate 500 sheets.

The MFP can also be relied on for heavy duty copy and scan functions which makes sure scanned copies are directly and securely sent to email addresses, fax recipients or network computers. Its auto document feeder can also be used to continuously scan and copy up to 100 A3-sized pages.

The MFP’s reliability also extends to its security capabilities as it protects data from unauthorized access with encryption, overwriting, and industry standard security.

Printer use can also be regulated to limit costs by assigning which users can have authorized permissions.

Users can conveniently operate the multifunction printer through a control panel with touch screen and buttons for fax, eco mode which reduces toner consumption and paper usage, and interrupt mode which temporarily stops the current printing job for an urgent copy job.

With its paper handling capability and mul-

GLOBE..

can classify people as high-risk or low-risk fallers,” said David Keeley, research director for Addison parent firm SameDay Security.

“We can predict the rate of functional decline.”

Alicia Mangram, a Phoenix-based trauma surgeon who is an advisor to Addison, said the system can be useful in helping seniors remain independent.

“Right now when we send people home (from a hospital) we don’t know what happens to them,” Mangram said. “This allows us to check on them.”

Florida-based startup CarePredict exhibited its system based on a wearable band that helps monitor seniors in assisted living facilities.

“We can passively and unobtrusively monitor the daily activities of seniors, and our predictive tools can help identify if they are at risk of falls, depression, malnutrition or urinary tract infections,” said CarePredict’s Jerry Wilmink. AFP

From C4

tions, and a unique self-install process, this new technology makes Internet at home as reliable, accessible, and userfriendly as it can get.”

Globe At Home Air is available in select areas in Cavite and Bulacan. Plans are as low as P1299 for up to 5Mbps and 400GB, P1599 for up to 10Mbps, 500GB, and P1699 for up to 20Mbps and 600GB with six months FREE subscription to DisneyLife, FOX+ and HOOQ. To avail a plan, you may visit participating stores at SM Dasmariñas, SM Rosario, SM Bacoor in Cavite, and SM Baliuag and SM Marilao in Bulacan. This new service from Globe At Home will be available in more areas soon. Learn more via this page: https://www.globe. com.ph/broadband/air.html.

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES National Capital Region REGIONAL BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID Procurement of Gasoline, Diesel, Oil & Lubricants 1.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – National Capital Region (DENR-NCR), through the GAA CY’ 2019 intends to apply the sum of Two Million Six Hundred Four Thousand Pesos (PhP2,604,000.00) for the supply and delivery of Gasoline, Oil & Lubricants, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the Contract for Procurement of Gasoline, Oil & Lubricants. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The DENR-NCR now invites all interested Phil-GEPS registered contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, authorized franchised dealers to bid for the following item/s, to wit:

Item No. 1 2 3 4 5 6

tifunctionality, the LaserJet MFP M72630dn is truly a reliable hard-working machine that every company should have. Get it at any authorized HP Premier Partners nationwide or contact HP Managed Print Service specialist Rannie Medina at rannie.medina@hp.com.

PARTNERSHIPS BOOST DISASTER PREPAREDNESS emergency solutions for those affected by COMMUNICATION services, technologithe typhoon. Smart and Vodafone set up cal innovations and partnerships with free charging and Wi-Fi stations at the comvarious organizations—these factors mand center and the retrieval site in Itogon have helped communities all over the for the use of both responders, evacuees Philippines bolster disaster preparedand family members of landslide victims ness and response efforts. and others in need of assistance.

As the Philippines faced typhoons, volNokia also tapped Smart to be its concanic eruptions and other hazards in 2018, nectivity partner for a program that emseveral communities weathered the storm ploys drones and network solutions for with the help of solutions initiated by PLDT disaster response. The Nokia Saving Lives wireless unit Smart Communications. program seeks to provide communications As part of its #SafePH advocacy, technology and technical assistance to Smart ensured the availability and quick emergency response teams. In the Philiprestoration of its services in areas hit by pines, Smart will provide high-speed concalamities. These areas include Albay, nectivity to the drone system to help boost which was affected by the eruption of A volunteer prepares for drone takeoff during the the disaster response efforts of the Philipthe Mayon Volcano; Benguet and other launch of the drones and network solutions for pine Red Cross. provinces in the Northern Luzon, which disaster response collaboration by Smart, Nokia For its pioneering and collaborative bore the brunt of Typhoon “Ompong” and Philippine Red Cross. system, the Nokia Saving Lives project (Mangkhut) and “Rosita” (Yutu); and other areas all over the country that experienced heavy rains, strong received funding from GSMA, the organization representing mobile operators globally. Early this year, GSMA selected Nokia Saving Lives winds and floods.

In areas where communication services were limited because as a recipient of its Humanitarian Innovation Grant.

On the local front, Smart joined forces with the academe and local of damage to infrastructure and power lines, Smart offered libreng tawag (free calls), charging and Wi-Fi services to both affected resi- government units to help bring disaster preparedness closer to the youth. Through its TNT brand, Smart brought its Tropang Ready didents and responders.

Smart also forged cooperation with international organizations to fur- saster preparedness caravans to more state colleges and universities ther enhance its emergency communications services and enable these all over the country. TNT Tropang Ready aims to train the youth and their friends (tropa) on disaster preparedness. With their agility and solutions to serve more communities.

When Ompong hit Northern Luzon and triggered a deadly landslide technological know-how, the youth are best suited to mobilize their in Benguet, Vodafone Foundation teamed up with Smart to provide communities in times of calamities.

Description Gasoline – unleaded/regular Diesel Motor/Engine Oil Brake Fluid ATF Coolant

7

Engine Wash and Under Chasis Wash

8

Fleet Card TOTAL

Quantity 10,800 liters 51,600 liters 192 liters 96 liters 96 liters 64 liters 64 times (16 car every quarter) 16 pieces

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC)

Php 2,604,000.00

Php2,604,000.00

3.

Interested bidder may bid in whole/lot basis. Delivery of the Goods is required within thirty (30) calendar days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

4.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from DENR-NCR and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during Monday to Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

6.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on January 11, to February 05, 2019 from the address below and upon payment of the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (PhP5,000.00).

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the DENR-NCR website (http://www.ncr.denr.gov.ph), provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

7.

The DENR-NCR will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 24, 2019, 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon at the Conference Room. 4th Floor, DENR-NCR Bldg., National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Quezon City, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

8.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 10:00 A.M. of February 05, 2019. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18..

Bid opening shall be on 10:30 A.M. onwards of February 05, 2019 at the Conference Room 4th Floor, DENR-NCR Bldg., National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Quezon City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

9.

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

10. For further information, please refer to: RBAC Secretariat Procurement Section, 3rd Floor, DENR-NCR Bldg.

National Ecology Center East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Tel. No. 932-13-71 January 08, 2019.

(SGD) GWENDOLYN C. BAMBALAN Chairperson, Regional Bids and Awards Committee DENR-NCR National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Telephone No. (02) 426-38-46

(MS-JAN. 13, 2019)

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TECH & Gadgets SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2019 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

ARGOMALL PREDICTS ’19 PHONE TECH SCENE

ACER BRINGS IN NEW GAMING NOTEBOOKS

CER unveiled two new Windows 10 gaming notebooks, the Predator Triton 900, a 17-inch performance notebook featuring a slim design and convertible 4K display—and the Predator Triton 500—a 15-inch allmetal gaming powerhouse measuring just 17.9 mm (0.70 inches) thin.

Both gaming notebooks combine new, functional designs with powerful internals that rival gaming desktops.

“We are pushing the envelope on what a gaming notebook can be with designs that offer more uses while still packing in the computing power,” said Jerry Hou, General Manager, Consumer Notebooks, IT Products Business at Acer. “The Predator Triton 900’s one-of-a-kind flipping screen allows for multiple gaming scenarios and better ergonomics, while the Triton 500 offers superb gaming performance in a slimmer, all-metal body for gamers on the go.

“We’re excited that our new GeForce RTX 2080 GPU is helping Acer redefine gaming experiences on notebooks,” said Kaustubh Sanghani, General Manager, GeForce OEM at NVIDIA. “With breakthrough technologies including real time ray tracing and next-gen, and ultra-fast GDDR6 memory, gamers can confidently choose the Predator Triton 900 for a robust, feature-rich gaming platform.”

“8th Gen Intel Core H-series processors are designed as a complete platform that combines industry leading notebook computing performance and technologies that are increasingly critical for premium gaming and content creation,” said Chris Walker, Vice President of Client Computing at Intel.

“CPU performance is key to the best possible gaming experience, and the new Predator Triton gaming notebooks put this performance and robust platform on full display with innovative designs.”

The Predator Triton 900 and 500 both earn their gaming cred with Acer’s advanced cooling system that includes 4th Gen AeroBlade™ 3D metal fans that increase airflow by 45 percent, and Coolboost™ technology that keeps the notebooks cool during extended gaming sessions and while playing demanding AAA titles.

The Predator Triton 900—the Convertible Gaming Notebook Evolved The Predator Triton 900 is a gaming notebook in an inventive form factor with innovative new design features. It features a CNC-machined Ezel Aero Hinge™ that flips, extends, or reclines the 17-inch display. Users can switch between four usage modes: Display mode for sharing the screen with friends during gaming sessions, Ezel mode for playing games on the touch screen, notebook mode for traditional gaming scenarios, and stand mode—

Predator Triton 500

Predator Triton 900

effectively turning the Triton 900 into a tablet for gaming or using creator tools. The Triton series 900’s trackpad is placed beside the keyboard, giving users natural hand placement for gaming using both the keyboard and trackpad. It’s also amazingly thin at just 23.75 mm (0.94 inches).

Featuring the new NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 2080 GPU and a 4K IPS display with NVIDIA G-SYNC™ technology, the Predator Triton 900 pulls no punches in bringing gamers a best-in-class gaming experience. With up to a six core high performance 8th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor, NVMe PCIe RAID 0 SSDs, and up to 32GB DDR4 memory, gamers can power up the most demanding games and expect smooth, tear-free gameplay. It comes with an Xbox wireless receiver that lets users play their favorite PC games on Windows 10 with an Xbox controller. To round out the package, it features audio by Waves.

Waves Maxx™ delivers superior sound quality made immersive with Waves Nx™ with head tracking for a hyper-realistic 3D audio experience.

The Predator Triton 500—Thinner and Meaner The Predator Triton 500 is a powerful 15.6-inch Full HD gaming notebook slimmed down to just 17.9 mm (0.70 inches) thin and weighing 2.1 kg (4.6 lbs.). It has a durable, all-metal chassis and narrow bezels measuring just 6.3 mm (0.25 inches) for an impressive 81 percent body-to-screen ratio. The slimmed down Triton 500 can easily be slipped in a backpack or briefcase, but once taken out and powered on, it becomes a gaming powerhouse. And with up to 8-hours of battery

life, users can play their favorite titles on the road or with friends away from home.

The Predator Triton 500 features up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 GPUs with Max-Q design, up to 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processors, NVMe PCIe RAID 0 SSDs, and up to 32GB DDR4 memory. Its GPU is overclockable and VR-Ready, letting gamers enjoy the latest cutting edge gaming and VR experiences.

The 15.6-inch 300 nits IPS display brings games to life with 144Hz refresh rates in overdrive at 3ms. NVIDIA G-SYNC technology creates fluid images as they zip across the screen while gaming or watching movies.

Control from a Smartphone Available later this year, the PredatorSense mobile app gives control of the Predator PC from a smartphone. The app can control settings for overclocking, fan speeds, lighting, and audio modes.

Users can show active lighting profiles preset on the PC, or switch lighting profiles remotely. Additionally, users can view and set customized macro key sets for physical hotkeys.

The Triton 900 also comes with support for Predator RGB Assault, an app for League of Legends gamers, which shows pre-defined keyboard lighting effects while champions cast their abilities.

Users can customize lighting effects for each of the abilities of their champion.

Product pricing and availability are yet to be announced. Stay tuned for more details coming soon via www.acer.com.

GLOBE AT HOME AIR: HIGH-SPEED DIY INTERNET AT HOME GLOBE Telecom beefs up its home Internet portfolio by introducing yet another breakthrough.

Globe At Home Air is the latest in wireless internet technology that is capable of higher speeds and higher data allocations. With speeds of up to 20Mbps, data capacity of up to 600GB, and free access to content, Globe At Home Air offers great value for money.

The new addition to the Globe At Home Postpaid portfolio introduces a fully DIY end-to-end experience for its customers.

To apply for a Globe At Home Air subscription, you only need to drop by at the nearest participating Globe store with one (1) valid ID. You can then start filling out all required forms via the online digital form. Once application is approved and necessary fees are paid, you can already get your Globe At Home Air modem for easy self-setup at

home on the same day. No appointments, no waiting for an installer!

Setting up the modem at home is a breeze—just plug in and connect! Plug in your modem and wait for the blue light to turn on. Once the blue light is on, you can connect to the WiFi by logging in with the designated WiFi Key. In just two easy steps, you can download videos faster, play more games, and stream all you want, whenever you want. Check out the video on how to set up your modem in a snap at https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi-kxVEK3gQ. “Globe At Home Air aims to elevate customer experience to a level that no one has ever seen before in home Broadband services,” said Martha Sazon, SVP and Head of Broadband Business at Globe Telecom.

“Built with faster speed, higher data allocaTurn to C3

EPSON LAUNCHES 1ST 12K, 20K LASER PROJECTORS EPSON, the number-one selling projector brand, announced the launch of two new 3LCD laser projectors – The EB-L12000Q, which is the industry’s first 12,000 lumen native 4K 3LCD laser projector and is one of the lightest in class, and the EB-L20000U, Epson’s first model in the 20,000 lumen WUXGA installation projection sector.

The new EB-L12000Q projector comes with the Epson-developed native 4K panel, delivering stunning 4K resolution at 3840 x 2160 pixels for more than ultrahigh definition quality projections.

Driven by Epson’s proprietary laser light source, these powerful projectors are designed to expand Epson’s line-up in the high-end AV rental sector, and are suitable for use in demanding environments including rental and staging

events, large auditoriums and digital signage installations.

The EB-L12000Q and EB-L20000U comes in a light and compact design, making them easy to integrate into existing infrastructure, and is a breakthrough in terms of size at this level of brightness.

With Epson’s original laser light source structure and advanced electrostatic filter, the projectors deliver up to 20,000 hours of maintenance-free use.

The projectors come with a triple layer dust-proof structure housing a sealed optical engine for excellent durability and resistance, reducing airflow by 86% compared to the previous models, greatly reducing the risk of dust and smoke intrusion. A newly developed liquid cooling system maintains optimal temperatures of key optical ele-

ments within the sealed optical engine.

Additionally, the projectors come with a mechanical shutter that protects the lens from laser light damage.

The projectors are designed to ensure maximum installation flexibility, and are able to rotate 360 degrees in any direction without loss in image brightness. A built-in camera enables remote diagnostics and setup. Epson’s new Professional Projector Tool software simplifies set-up of multi-projector installations and offers intuitive geometry correction such as automated edge-blending, curve correction and colour matching. Additionally, interchangeable interface boards mean greater flexibility and futureproofing, allowing for new interfaces and interface updates in future.

Both models are also compatible

with the same 4K-compatible lenses used by Epson’s EB-L1000 series projectors for interchangeable use. Both projector models are compatible with the new zero lens offset ultra-short throw lens ELPLX02 with wider lens shift, useful for environments with extremely limited lens-to-screen distances. The new projectors also feature support for Hybrid Log Gamma and HDR10.

THERE is nothing inconsequential that is happening in the tech scene, and it’s safe to say that the previous year is a solid testament to that.

The year 2018 brought us new innovations that we didn’t think was possible years ago. While we’re grateful for all the tech boost that the last year brought, 2019 has even more exciting tech news and updates that await every smartphone enthusiast. Filipino online retailer, Argomall.com shares some of their predictions: Farewell, bezels!

If you’re familiar with the techparanoia anthology Black Mirror, chances are you’ve already seen their smartphones which flaunt literally an all-screen display. 2019 might see the same display setup, since the tech scene has seen enough of different types of notches last year.

This year, we’re seeing more smartphone brands following what Chinese smartphone manufacturers Oppo and Vivo did—smartphones with simple, bezel-less, and a real allscreen display.

Eye Catchers Apart from being excited about smartphones with real all-screen displays this 2019 we can also look forward to seeing foldable screens.

This is in addition to the already existing dual display technology. And since more screen means less space to put different hardware, upcoming smartphones will carry face unlock technology and in-display fingerprint unlocking.

Longer stamina As we’ve mentioned, 2019 will be about bigger screens, which equates to the need for bigger battery capacity. So we expect more smartphones with even larger stamina which can be fueled faster and more efficiently since fast charging technology is also expected to become mainstream this year.

Amazing Connection Micro-USB connectors will be a thing of the past because with fastcharging technology taking the limelight, USB-C ports and Bluetooth will be the standard for most smartphones. With Apple introducing wireless listening with the iPhone 7, 3.5mm jacks will also become extinct to bring Android users the same music experience.

Stronger internals Smartphone manufacturers are sure to bring better configurations in terms of the internals. With Android obviously the dominant name for operating systems, smartphone manufacturers will bring more attention to regular android updates. We also expect heightened security to reach consumers since 5G rollout is slated to commence late this year, although this will not yet be a main consideration for purchase.

The battle for the top spot in the smartphone department will benefit consumers even more, since this will mean that more brands are compelled to bring devices that are competitive despite an affordable price.

With this, upcoming smartphones tagged at sub-P10,000 are expected to carry an onboard storage of up to 128GB and even more. For the high-end smartphone department, it is very likely that we’ll be seeing smartphones concealing 10GB of RAM, and who knows, by the end of this year, we’ll also be welcoming smartphones running on 12GB of memory. Entry-level and low-end smartphones, on the other hand, are most likely to carry 3GB of RAM out of the box, from the usual 2GB of RAM. Asian companies will also remain to be the top players in the smartphone market, with Chinese firms bringing more powerful chipsets to the market. However, with even more players entering the competition to remove chipset dependence on Qualcomm, we’re expecting more fast processors sold at lower price points.

Oh Snap!

With smartphone cameras clicking essential breakthroughs every year, we expect the year 2019 to be another year for camera-centric devices. With most manufacturers competing on how many cameras a device can Turn to C3

Destinations D1

SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2019

MERCURY RISING

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO

Grand Hyatt Manila My former colleagues, a closely knit group from the old Hyatt Regency Manila, meet occasionally for dinner just to touch base. This time, we decided to hold it at this hotel’s The Cellar, which I find unique, simply because it is the only cellar I know that is two floors above ground level. However, the food quality and the service are beyond compare, especially because we had both the hotel’s Executive Chef Mark Hagan and Chef de Cuisine Mark Zaragoza whip up a superb dinner for us.

Located at Bonifacio Global City, the hotel brands itself as a “destination within a destination,” highlighting the many de luxe facilities it offers. Its “history” is also worth a mention. The building’s groundbreaking ceremony was held 10 years ago, but construction stopped due to weakening economic conditions worldwide.

When the world’s financial atmosphere improved, construction resumed in 2017, and the hotel was inaugurated last year.

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

UNIQUE FEATURES OF SOME NEW T

HOTELS

hanks to invitations to several events, I had the opportunity to visit some of the newer hotels we have in the metro. I was thrilled to see these awesome additions to our accommodations industry.

Although belonging to different rating categories, they nevertheless further strengthen our tourism industry through the world-class standards of their facilities and services.

@MStandardLIFE

Soaked in serenity

TAIWAN’S location in the CircumPacific Seismic Belt, also known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, provides it with an abundance of volcanic and geothermal resources. Hightemperature springs with crystal-clear water abound various regions in the country, thus earning the name the “Hot Spring Kingdom.”

According to the website taiwanhotspring.net, more than 100 hot springs have been discovered in Taiwan, located in different geological areas including plains, mountains, valleys, and oceans. The highest concentration of hot springs are in northern Taiwan, where the Tatun volcanoes are located.

Hot spring varieties in Taiwan include sodium bicarbonate, white sulfur, green sulfur, iron sulfur,

Hu Shan Hot Spring Hotel

sulfur, mud spring, sulfate chloride, carbonate, alkaline carbonate, and seabed hot spring—each has unique features and benefits.

When the weather is cold, soaking into a hot spring is extremely comfortable. It also provides multiple health benefits to the body such as improving overall health and reducing allergic reactions.

Some of the clinical symptoms, taiwanhotsprings.net said, that can be improved by soaking in hot springs are asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic bronchitis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and common colds.

Taiwan’s top 10 hot springs and Taiwanese delicacies are awaiting visitors during the Taiwan hot spring

Grand Hyatt Manila's elegant lobby leaves guests in awe.

A room with a loft, which has a separate entrance.

Tryp by Wyndham Mall of Asia Manila

The Mini-Suites Eton Tower Makati

The Mini-Suites Eton Tower is the only hotel with direct access to Makati CBD's elevated walkways.

This hotel’s general manager, Carlo Gomez is an old friend I haven’t seen for many years. We both finally found the same breaks in our respective hectic schedules, so we decided to meet up for lunch. Located at the heart of Makati’s Central Business District, this is the only hotel with direct access to the business district’s elevated walkways, making it very easy for guests to move around without having to contend with the area’s heavy vehicular traffic.

The guest rooms are beautiful; functionally designed mini-suites that certainly make guests very comfortable. The ground floor restaurant, Dean and DeLuca serves as the hotel’s food and beverage outlet. However, its location puts it adjacent to side streets which offer a variety of dining venues mixed with an eclectic assortment of shops, bars, and pockets of refreshing greenery, making it perfect for yuppies to live, work, and play in.

MERCURY FREQUENTRISING FLYER

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO

Airline offers global fare promotion DUBAI-BASED airline Emirates starts the year right with a global fare promotion for flights to Milan, New York, London, and Madrid, among others.

From today until Jan. 17, jet-setters in the Philippines can look forward to great deals to key destinations in Emirates’ global network with special Business Class and Economy Class fares that starts at less than US$900 The airline offers Business Class fares to Dubai at US$2,179, to Milan at US$2,459, to Johannesburg at US$3,449, and to New York at US$3,629.

Passengers traveling on the Boeing 777 Business Class from Manila, Clark, and Cebu can enjoy unprecedented levels of comfort with wider and more ergonomic seats that recline into a lie-flat position.

As the perfect living space, the A380 Business Class, meanwhile, offers travelers their own personal minibar with the A380 Onboard Lounge.

Emirates’ Economy Class fares to London start at US$849, to Venice at US$869, to Stockholm at US$889, and to Madrid at US$909.

Economy Class travelers can also experience the comforts of flying with Emirates.

Amenity kits ensure that passengers arrive feeling refreshed, and environmentally friendly soft fleece blankets make passengers feel cozy.

All flights in the promo are for travel between Jan. 21 and Dec. 31. Blackout periods and other terms and conditions apply.

Emirates Skywards members can also earn double miles during this promotion.

Customers can join Emirates Skywards, the airline’s award-winning frequent flyer program, which allows customers to enhance their travel experience and be rewarded every time they travel.

Go to www.emirates.com for more information.

We had one Pacific Asia Travel Association Board of Trustees Meeting at this contemporary hotel which offers a stunning view of Manila Bay. Located in the bustling Mall of Asia complex, the hotel’s other big advantage is its being right next to One Esplanade, a massive and very popular conference and events venue.

The food served to us in one of the private function rooms tasted like very good home cooking, we even asked for extra servings. I stayed at this hotel early last year and what I like the most are the rooms with a loft which my sons preferred to stay in, while I kept myself to the main room below, both rooms connected with a stairway.

The loft may also be accessed through its separate entrance located on the higher floor. Such convenient and functional design makes it conducive to a relaxing stay, especially with the awesome view of Manila Bay providing that much needed antidote to stress.

Emirates offers global fare promotions for flights to Dubai, Milan, and New York, among others.

Onsen Papawaga

Turn to D2

Destinations

D2

SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

SOAKED...

From D1

Soaking in hot spring provides multiple health benefits.

season, ongoing until March 31 this year.

The Tourism Bureau of Taiwan holds series of events to promote the journey of hot springs, delicacies, and culture in Taiwan.

In 2018, the bureau hosted a contest and selected Top 10 hot springs in Taiwan, which are Guanziling Hot Spring, Xinbeitou Hot Spring, Jiaoxi Hot Spring, Jhihben Hot Spring, Kukuan Hot Spring, Taian Hot Spring, Jinshan Wanli Hot Spring, Wulai Hot Spring, Ruisui Hot Spring, and Baolai and Bulao Hot Spring.

Each of top hot springs has different kinds of spring quality, landscape, and local foods. The hot spring towns in Taiwan also offer hot spring healthy menus, taking advantage of local and seasonal ingredients.

SIT BACK AND RELAX. Delta Air Lines boasts a variety of cabin types to cater to different kinds of travelers.

Choose the right cabin W

flight entertainment screen to watch Delta Studio movies and shows during your flight; experience a more personalized service with a dedicated in-cabin flight attendant; savor seasonal meals; and freshen up with a TUMI amenity kit filled with Malin+Goetz Travel Essentials, socks, eye shades, earplugs, and more.

hether traveling to a dream destination or for work, the quality of one’s flight depends on a good seat. That's where you’re spending a good amount of your time, thus it’s important to choose the right one.

United States’ major airline, Delta Air Lines has a variety of cabin types to cater to different kinds of travelers. Delta offers this guide to help passengers choose for their trip.

Delta Comfort +

noise-canceling LSTN headsets, and a TUMI amenity kit with Kiehl’s products.

Jioaxi Hot Spring

and premium trim and finishes to create an unparalleled business class experience with a residential feel.

In addition to full flat-bed seats with direct aisle access, which the airline introduced eight years ago, the award-winning Delta One suite features in-suite, customizable ambient lighting, including soft blue lit horizon light and “Do Not Disturb” feature; memory foam-enhanced comfort cushion; and a universal power outlet and high-powered USB port at every seat

If you prioritize convenience and want a step up from the main cabin, fly at ease with Delta Comfort +. You get a dedicated space with up to 4-inch of extra legroom and your own overhead bin just for your items.

Delta Premium Select

Delta One Taiwan's mud hot spring

If you’re traveling for more than 20 hours and have to go straight to your first event right after landing, choose Delta One for its unparalleled comfort, privacy, and luxury.

Arrive at your destination well-rested and refreshed with exceptional services and amenities such as 180-degree flat-bed seats, featuring Westin Heavenly InFlight bedding; a refined dining experience; in-seat power and USB outlets, seat-back entertainment screens with free entertainment,

If you choose Delta One you also get complimentary Delta Sky Club access on day of your flight, Sky Priority check-in, security, and baggage handling, and Premium Boarding.

Delta One Suite Designed with an emphasis on exceptional customer comfort and privacy, the Delta One suite offers each passenger a private space accessed by a sliding door with thoughtfully designed personal stowage areas, an advanced in-flight entertainment system

If your international flight is less rushed but you’d still like to make the most of your time, fly with Delta Premium Select. You’ll enjoy your trip right from the start as the added features and amenities on this cabin will let you feel relaxed and completely content in the air.

You can be at ease in a reclining seat with an adjustable and elevated foot and leg rest; enjoy a larger in-

An access to Sky Priority boarding is also provided so you can settle in sooner. Enjoy inflight experiences and rest during your flight with carefully thought out add-ons like a pillow, blanket, complimentary headset, and amenity kit; entertain yourself with a large library of films, TV, music, and games; have the option of streaming on your personal device; and snack on fresh fruit and other premium treats, in addition to standard onboard meals.

Delta One and Delta Comfort+ are currently available on the flight (B767) between Manila and Narita, and Narita and Portland.

Guanzling Hot Spring

UNIQUE...

From D1

Citadines Bay City Manila

The PATA Board of Trustees had our Christmas lunch, which we decided to hold at this new hotel near Entertainment City, thanks to the arrangements earlier made by Ascott area Savoy Hotel Manila sales director Edison Rosales who also oversees the sales activities of this hotel.

This 212-unit apartment-type hotel opened only in October last year, and already, they As far as I’m concerned, this hotel in run almost full on weekends, with balikbayan traffic. They have studio and one-bedroom Newport City is full of surprises. The 2nd units which can be conSports Tourism Awards was held here verted into connecting and I was invited to give out some of the rooms, making way for twoaward trophies. Naturally, I took the time bedroom units. Some units to do an ocular of its facilities and rooms. even have a fully equipped First thing that surprised me: I didn’t kitchen and a washing maeven know the hotel is already open for chine and dryer, perfect for business. According to area director of staycations on long weekoperations Rey Fabricante, they opened ends or holidays. in June. The next thing that really surBut I have to say that the Savoy Manila's refreshing and well-lit room. prised me is that the hotel has 684 rooms, food served at the Allmaking it among the biggest hotels in Day Dining Restaurant the metro, with suites that can be as big as 50 square is so good, you’ll lose all YOUR WEEKEND meters. I didn’t realize the hotel is this big. But the most inhibitions and will likepleasant surprise is that it runs a 90 percent average ocCHUCKLE ly ask for second servcupancy, so when I heard this from the front office suTwo hunters are out in the woods ings. We enjoyed our pervisor, all I could say was “Wow” because, these days, when one of them collapses. He meal so much, feastour hotels find it hard to reach this desirable average doesn’t seem to be breathing and his ing on the appetizers occupancy. eyes are glazed. The other guy whips that we almost did not out his phone and calls Emergency There is another feature unique to this hotel: Your have space for our main Services. He gasps, “My friend is dead!

Space, a lounge area right outside the guest rooms course and dessert. AnWhat should I do?”

The operator where checked-in guests may entertain visitors, or other distinct feature says, “Calm down.

I can help.

First, work on their laptops, or just relax and have a bite to of the hotel is its swimlet’s make sure he’s dead.” There is eat or have some coffee. I find this very useful for peoming pool, which is on a silence. Then the operator hears ple like me who don’t want to be cooped up in my hoa gunshot. Back on the phone, the the 5th floor and has a tel room all the time, as this design feature provides an distraught guy says, “Ok, now what do commanding view of opportunity to get to know other guests.

I do next?” the bay area.

Citadines Bay City Manila's pool has a great view of the bay area.

Entertainment

SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2019

D3

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

Jessica Soho interviews Miss Universe Catriona Gray in New York

JESSICA SOHO MEETS CATRIONA GRAY IN NEW YORK

LEGASPI TWINS

MAVY AND CASSY TURN 18

COMING OF AGE. Carmina and Zoren's twins Cassy and Mavy Legaspi turned 18 on Jan. 6 and were featured in a video that serves as a good reminder of how they have grown before our eyes and become celebrities in their own right.

T

HEIR charm has enamored the public since they were just a few years old, being in-demand brand endorsers and commercial models and coming from one of the local showbiz industry’s well-loved families.

Incredibly close, often appear to think in unison, completing each other’s sentences, and connected from day one, there is no better way to mark a new milestone in their life but together for Mavy and Cassy Legaspi.

As they celebrate their 18th birthday, the talented twins of Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legaspi decided to veer slightly from the traditional path with a Hollywood awards night-themed coming-of-age party.

“I want to share the celebration with Mavy and make it a night to remember for our friends and loved ones as well. There will be no usual 18 roses, candles, wishes. Instead, I created the 18 MC awards where we thank the people closest to our hearts,” shared Cassy.

She also revealed that they are hands-on with the preparations of the muchawaited celebration, making sure every detail would reflect their personalities, “Our theme is our very own awards night which isn’t too uptight, a little more

millennial and loose. We decided on the theme, the food, invites and mostly everything - from as little as the color of the invitations to the menu, the set up and venue itself.

Our parents have also been with us through the whole preparation, they’re very hands-on and they help us weigh our choices.”

Last year, Mavy and Cassy have officially followed their parents’ footsteps when they signed up with GMA Artist Center.

They are regularly seen hosting with their mom every Saturday morning on the family-oriented program Sarap, ‘Di Ba?. Aside from this, they are also mainstays of the top-rating musical variety show Studio 7 where they showcase show-stopping

performances.

“For the both of us, it humbles us constantly when we hear good feedback. We take each taping day as a fun learning experience. Whether the comments are good or bad, we take note to always do better after every episode,” said Mavy.

Despite being occupied with showbiz commitments, the two young achievers still consider education as their top priority, especially with college just around the corner. Their close family ties is where they draw their biggest inspiration as manifested in their sunny disposition in life.

Mavy shared, “My mom and dad’s hard work and selflessness motivate us.”

Cassy echoed the same sentiment and added, “No family is ever perfect,

and that is what everyone should know. There is no secret recipe to a happy family but to always put love first.”

Smarter beyond their years, the Kapuso stars aim to be mature and more responsible individuals as they come of age, steadfast with a strong heart and clear mind.

And as they step into adulthood, Cassy and Mavy keep in mind their parents’ most important lesson, “Always be yourself. Remember that you cannot please everybody. Being an adult is harder than you think, what is important is you learn from your mistakes and never give up.”

The incredible duo proves that growing up only gets sweeter with each other by their side.

TONIGHT in Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS), get to know Miss Universe Catriona Gray up-close and personal as she embarks on a new journey at the Big Apple.

Jessica Soho flew to New York to interview Catriona and to give viewers updates as the reigning Miss Universe embarks on her U.S. media tour. The Pinay Ms. Universe even teaches Jessica her signature lava walk.

How will Catriona answer classic Miss Universe questions while eating her favorite green mangoes? Find out her reaction to kids who became viral because for imitating the way she walked and answered during the completion; as well as to the fan arts and memes about her that have been making rounds online.

Meanwhile, delicious dishes deserve a “hot” name. Find out why certain food in the country have “suggestive” names.

Could “superpower” be the real reason behind the ability of a kid from Iloilo to read even when blindfolded?

Paranormal expert Ed Caluag also investigates a mysterious “ghost ship” that allegedly appears and vanishes in the seas of Siquijor.

Know the secret of Milaine who successfully worked her way from being a janitress to now a millionaire.

Just like the story of Boyet and Aubrey in My Special Tatay, self-confessed former sex worker Abegail seemed to have found forever in her husband Patrick.

And fishermen from Camarines Sur found what they believed to be valuable ambergris or whale vomit. Can this be their ticket out of poverty?

Watch these stories and more in the award-winning magazine show and 2018’s most-watched GMA program, Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS), tonight, after Studio 7 on GMA-7.

Miss Universe Catriona Gray teaches Jessica Soho her signature lava walk

‘WORLD OF DANCE’ SHAKES UP WEEKEND VIEWING

World of Dance Philippines" hosts Pia Wurtzbach and Luis Manzano

ABS-CBN brings the country’s newest talent search World of Dance Philippines with Luis Manzano and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach as hosts and Billy Crawford, Maja Salvador, and Gary Valenciano as judges. The adrenaline filled program premiered last night.

Luis is a veteran host, who has won many awards for his skills. On the other hand, Pia brings a new energy as a freshman host. This is the beauty queen’s biggest hosting project so far.

Meanwhile, the judges bring their years of dance experience and expertise to the table as they find out who deserves to win the competition.

There is international R&B sensation Billy, who has made different parts of Europe dance with his hit songs; Dance Royalty Maja, whose dance battles with other celebrities always electrify crowds; and Mr. Pure Energy, Gary V, whose decades-long career has produced multiple hit dance songs, such as “Hataw Na,” “’Di Bale Na

Lang,” and “Heto Na Naman.”

The winning act will get to win P2 million and an all-expenses paid trip to the United States to give them a chance to audition in World of Dance, touted as the ‘biggest dance competition’ in the world.

Divided into three divisions, the contest allows contestants to showcase any dance genre.

The Junior Division is open to 8 to 17 year old contestants; the Upper Division, to an individual or a group of up to 4 who are 18 years old or older; while the Team Division is open to a group of five members or more who are 18 years old or older.

Contestants will go through the Qualifier, Duels, and The Cut rounds until they reach the Division Finals where only one per division will compete. The three winners will then dance off in the Grand Finals.

Watch World of Dance Philippines every Saturday (after MMK) and Sunday (after Rated K) on ABS-CBN.

D4

SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2019

Desiree Carlos, Editor

Pets

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

LUIS:

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.

THE DOG WHO SAVED HIMSELF FROM BEING SLAUGHTERED A

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

DOG, with its mouth tied shut with a plastic string, was seen running wildly on the village road.

Earlier, the Luckily, an PET TALES Animal KingAKF underBY DESIREE CARLOS dom Founcover investidation (AKF) gator was in received an urBatangas on gent and desperate private mes- that fateful day. sage: a couple of men in a tricycle “What transpired in the followwere going around a village in La- ing hours disappointed AKF but, guna snatching dogs. at the same time, made them cele“They look maniacal doing it, brate a wonderful event. While on says the tipster, “ according to his way to the village, the AKF inGreg Salido Quimpo, AKF’s cam- vestigator received a message that paign manager. the dog snatching has stopped AKF suspected that the dog but a dog was running around meat traders were hurriedly filling with his muzzle tightly tied shut, “ up a delivery to areas in Northern Quimpo said.

Luzon . The trip to the North, QuiLuckily, the tipster's group has mpo said, was expected to be late cornered the dog and was already that night or early the next day. guarding it.

Luis is but one of the reminders of this cruel act of humans: the dog meat trade. #EndTheDogMeatTradeNOW.

His face may have been disfigured by the plastic string tied tightly around his snout when he escaped meat traders, but Luis is still one handsome dog, specially with that beautiful smile.

“They were helpless to do anything except to corner the dog and not let the dog loose, “ Quimpo said.

The dog they named Luis was calm but in pain.

Luis was “obviously in great distress when the investigator arrived at the scene and he had to act quickly because the injury on the dog's snout looked painful, “ Quimpo said.

Quimpo said: “ the skin on Luis’ snout was greatly disfigured and the upper gums were bleeding and looked to have been damaged badly.”

“The AKF investigator is trained to handle situations like this and he was able to cut the plastic string that was forcefully tied to the dog's muzzle and got him to calmly sit on the back seat on their way to AKF's sanctuary in Capas, Tarlac,” Quimpo said.

To this day, Luis, the dog meat trade survivor, is “the only rescued dog that AKF knows who saved himself from being slaughtered by escaping the dog traders,” Quimpo said.

“Obviously, he struggled so hard to get free causing himself further injuries that permanently disfigured his face, “ Quimpo added.

AKF built its sanctuary in 2006 on a leased property in Capas, Tarlac to give dogs who have been rescued from being slaughtered a new lease on life, Quimpo said.

Quimpo said “AKF believes that once the traumatized dogs are rehabilitated, loving families will eventually adopt them.”

As of this date, AKF has saved almost 10,000 dogs from being slaughtered since it started its End The Dog Meat Trade campaign in 2002. Nearly half of the dogs have been rehomed or adopted since 2006, Quimpo said.

“The rest have naturally lived a full life at the sanctuary and Luis will, too. He is now one of the friendliest survivor at the sanctuary and, with a face that looks dif-

ferent from the rest, he stands out, “ Quimpo said.

“Nobody has inquired about his availability (for adoption) but AKF feels Luis should stay with them if only to remind people the kind of painful cruelty these dogs go through and, with the right company, they can be the most loving and affectionate dogs anyone can encounter, “ Quimpo stressed.

Just last Monday, 17 slaughterbound dogs were rescued by AKF and the CIDG of the Philippine National Police, in coordination with the International Aid for the Protection and Welfare of Animals (IAPWA), in Gumaca, Quezon The raid exposed an employee of the dog pound as the one behind the sale of dogs to local butchers.

“This recent raid with the CIDG exposed a #DogPound employee who was deliberately selling impounded strays to local dog butchers as an easy, but cruel way of discarding them. A total of 17 dogs were rescued and will be rehabilitated in our Capas Rescue Center, “Quimpo said.

AKF needs help to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome dogs who were victims of dog meat traders.

BELLA is an eight-year-old baby that was given to Wilma Sab Mateo by her patient.

“She loves to run around to play catch me and when you think you've got her, she'll snap away for a good chase,” shares Wilma.

Wilma adds: “She loves to eat steak and would beg for everything, especally pasta. Maybe she's Italian. Hehehe” Bella also “loves to be cuddled especially when cold. Christmas is Bella's fave time of the year because she loves sniffing for presents around the tree.

Bella means beautiful,” Wilma says.

*BPI: AKF Inc. (1681 0015 88) *RCBC: Animal Kingdom Foundation (1046 0083 64) *BDO: Animal Kingdom Foundation (0069 1011 0365) *Paypal: heidimc10@yahoo.com *M. Lhuillier: Mention 'Animal Kingdom Found

SADIE, now two years and nine months old, is a female, domestic short hair tabby who was adopted from an animal shelter when she was only five months old.

“She is very active when she is awake, she likes to explore. She also likes boxes,” says adopter-owner Eunice Tibay.

Eunice says Sadie’s favorite food is salmon and her favorite toy is a string and pointer.

“Sadie likes to cuddle when sleepy.

She also likes to sun bathe and stare out the window for hours, “ Eunice adds.

But Sadie hates bath time and her nails being clipped.

Whatever mood she is in, Eunice says Sadie “makes us so happy and laugh hard.”

For information that may lead to saving dogs from slaughter and dog meat traders, please contact AKF thru their social media accounts: AKFanimalrescue on Facebook, www. animalkingdomfoundation.org.ph, Instagram and Twitter, and through email at akfadvocates@gmail.com.

You can contact them through mobile: 09399142403 and 405.

Editor's note: These stories were compiled by admin Miks Lim of Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL), a SEC-registered animal welfare group that helps animals in need, and encourages and promotes responsible pet ownership, adoption of rescued dogs and cats from fosters, shelters and pounds, and spaying and neutering of pets to control animal population in the country, among others.

Please donate for AKF to continue its work:

PEARS AND APPLES ARE HEALTHY TREATS FOR YOUR DOGGO

Putzi, a five-year-old shih tzu, loves a thin slice of apple or pear as a treat. These fruits are safe for dogs without the skin, core and seeds and are healthier alternatives to manufactured treats which may contain artificial coloring and flavoring, and preservatives.

YES, you can give a pear or an apple as treats for your dog.

But make sure to remove the skin, the core and the seeds.

Apples contain vitamin C that is good for your dogs. It is also crunchy which big dogs like very much.

For small dogs, give one thin slice only to avoid choking once or twice a week.

As in humans, apples can cause constipation so please give only one thin slice to small dogs, and about two to three slices of apple to a big dog.

Some owners grate the apple as dogs love “slurping” the liquid that comes with it.

As for pears, the American Kennel

Club says pears may be a healthy snack for dogs but this does not mean “your dog should eat a lot of pears on a regular basis.”

“In moderation, pears are a healthy snack, full of vitamin C, vitamin A, and fiber. However, just like with any food you give your dog, too many pears could lead to an upset stomach, “ it adds.

What is the recommended amount to give to your dog?

“Veterinarians recommend limiting your dog’s treat intake to 10 percent of his daily food intake. For small dogs, this means that one slice of pear every now and then is plenty, and a whole pear is probably too much. When in

doubt, ask your vet, “ the American Kennel Club says.

It also warns about some risks of giving pears to your dogs.

“There are a few risks associated with feeding pears to dogs. Pears are safe for dogs to eat, but even safe foods can be a choking hazard. Cut pears into bite-sized pieces and monitor your dog carefully as he eats to prevent choking, “ it says.

It adds: “Pear seeds contain traces of the toxin cyanide. As tempting as it is to toss your dog your leftover pear core, refrain from giving your dog the parts of pears with seeds in them, as not only are they toxic in large quanti-

ties, but seeds can also cause choking.

Canned pears are not good for your dog, it says.

“Canned pears contain too much sugar, which can irritate your dog’s digestive tract and lead to obesity. Fresh, ripe pears are the best pears to feed to dogs, “ it stresses.

Lastly, it says, “ It is always a good idea to ask your veterinarian before starting your dog on a new treat. Your veterinarian has years of experience and knowledge that can help you keep your dog safe from harmful people foods, and she can also help you find other healthy snacks that are safe for dogs to eat.”. DC