Manila Standard - 2019 May 12 - Sunday by Manila Standard

EJK WORKED IN DAVAO—RODY By Vito Barcelo

“miting de avance,” said Davao was in the forefront in terms of developEXTRAJUDICIAL killings have been ment, citing that the incidence of going on for a long time in Davao, crime was low. President Rodrigo Duterte admitted “So even in the matter of the in his speech in Davao Friday. elements of progress, Davao is in The President, speaking in a the forefront and only because mixture of Bisaya and English during we decided to do so. You have to the final campaign push known as Turn to A2

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 87 • 4 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PRE-POLL GLITCHES, VOTE BUYING BARED

ENTERTAINMENT / C3

YAM

RULES OVER MYX AS CELEBRITY VJ

'TRILLANES BIKOY VIDEO PRODUCER' By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte claimed Senator Antonio Trillanes and the candidates of Otso Diretso were behind the production of the recently uploaded controversial ‘Ang Totoong Narco-list’ videos. During the “miting de avance” of Hugpong ng Pagbabago-Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod in Davao City on Friday night, Duterte said it was the outspoken senator who masterminded the production of the videos, which accused the first family of getting drug payoffs. The President claimed the Magdalo Group and the opposition senatorial slate Otso Diretso were also involved in the videos which featured “Bikoy,” a hooded figure. Turn to A2

TEACHERS TO A TEE. School teachers of Manila’s Araullo High School—like other teachers now getting ready for the midterm elections tomorrow—prepare election materials during the weekend for the political exercise. Ey Acasio

TINGOG VOWS 'FRUITFUL TERM' By Maricel V. Cruz

Tingog first nominee Yedda Romualdez

TINGOG First Nominee and Leyte First District Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez on Saturday pledged to sustain her fruitful term in the incoming 18th Congress to help boost President Rodrigo Duterte’s legislative agenda should her party-list group win seats in the midterm elections on Monday. “We had a fruitful term in Congress and we will continue our malasakit (compassionate) legacy to carry out the legislative agenda of President Duterte. With the bills we passed, with the projects implemented and the leadership role that was given to us. Despite being a first-termer, we were able to deliver strong results, positively impacting the quality of life in our district, of course with the help of our partners, including Tingog,” said Romualdez, the chairperson of the House committee on accounts. Turn to A2

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LMOST 700 Secure Digital (SD) cards to be used in tomorrow’s midterm polls were found to be corrupted, the Commission on Elections has admitted. The admission coincided with declarations by the Philippine National Police that while security measures set up were effective, there had been an observed rise in vote-buying incidents in different parts. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez disclosed that as of 6 p.m. Friday, some 686 SD cards were found to be corrupted during the Final Testing and Sealing of vote counting machines. Jimenez noted there were 85,769 SD cards with the same number of back-up cards. “Contingency SD cards allocated per regional technical hub (RTH) (amount to) 125 per RTH,” he said in a statement. The poll body official, meanwhile, said it was good they were seeing this problem now, noting that “this is the actual purpose of the FTS.” Jimenez said they had addressed the problem by deploying replacement SD cards. “We respond by preparing replacement cards, which are Turn to A2

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#VOTEFORMOM. Amid the election season, families #VoteForMom this week in celebration of Mother’s Day this May 12. SuperMom-shoppers at SM Southmall enjoyed their 'FAMoments' with the many dining and shopping deals plus some quality me-time with the different pampering and wellness treats at the comfort of their favorite mall.

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PRESIDENT STUMPS FOR KIDS IN DAVAO

FINANCE EXECS: PH WON’T FALL INTO CHINA DEBT TRAP

By Macon Ramos-Araneta DAVAO CITY—President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday night urged voters in his hometown to rally behind his three children—despite them running unopposed for elective positions—and all their allies under the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod, the counterpart of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago regional party, during latter’s miting de avance at the Davao Recreation Center here. “Ang aking anak na si Inday, botohan [my daughter Inday, vote for her],” said Duterte, who he endorsed the mayoral bid of eldest daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio, who is seeking her third and last term leading Davao City. He described Sara as “guapa na tisay na Pilipina” (a beautiful mestiza Filipina), which made her smile coyly as she fixed her hair. “For the first district congressman, Pulong,” added the President, referring to eldest son Paolo Duterte, who resigned as vice mayor of this city over drug allegations but is now running for congressman. The Chief Executive then asked for the whereabouts of Paolo Duterte, whose seat between Sara and younger brother Sebastian remained vacant until the program ended at 11 p.m. “Asan si Pulong?” asked the President, who jestingly told Davaoenos that he foresees his eldest son to be always absent for congressional hearings. “Tamad (lazy),” the President then blurted out about Paolo, eliciting laughter from the crowd who diligently listened to their former mayor and congressman, who served Davao City for over two decades before becoming president in 2016.

EJK...

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understand me because extrajudicial killing has been going on for a long time,” Duterte said. The people who cannot stomach the extrajudicial killings are not from Davao because those who are from Davao would understand. But the ones who cannot understand are the bishops and the elitists in Manila, Duterte said during the “miting de avance” of Hugpong ng Pagbabago-Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod in Davao City. He said Davao under his ad ministration was free from illegal activities, saying “look at Davao. Do we have a 1.1 problem... we have a problem. Are there illegal drugs, killings, and robbery? None.” Duterte, who was criticized for his drug war, claimed the government’s continuing fight against illegal drugs was making positive results, like the decline in crime rate. Duterte, who was also linked by retired cop Arthur Lascañas to extrajudicial killings in Davao City during his term as mayor, vowed to continue the drug war until the last day of his term in 2022.

TINGOG...

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“A lot has been accomplished, yet so much remains to be done. When the opportunity to serve comes your way, I believe we need to embrace with a deep sense of duty. That is why when Tingog nominated me to its first seat—I readily accepted the challenge, knowing that if we work together as hard as we did in the last three years—we can do so much more, not only for the First District of Leyte but for the rest of the region,”Romualdez, a registered nurse and a vice chairperson of the House committee on government enterprises and privatization, pointed out. With the support of her colleagues, Romualdez was instrumental in the passage into law of the Expanded Maternity Bill, Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which provides for free college education in all state colleges and universities and the Ease of Doing Business Act, which intends to help our budding small and medium entrepreneurs. In the pursuit of bringing more “ˆ” reforms under the Duterte administration, Romualdez vowed to eliminate poverty and economic concerns, push for pro-poor programs and genuine developments to be felt by ordinary people and make the country less vulnerable to disasters. The House leader reiterated to sustain her “malasakit” brand of service and performance in serving the electorate under the Duterte administration as her team ended the 90-day grueling campaign period Saturday. Romualdez, a vice chairperson of Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Diplomacy, underscored the need for Region 8 to be represented under the party-list system to ensure that marginalized sector will have one strong voice in Congress. She is also a member of House committees on climate change, labor and employment, tourism, trade and industry, women and gender equality.

HE Philippines would never fall into China’s looming debt trap, finance and central bank officials said Saturday, as the PH external debt is “very manageable” and the communist country’s portion of that is “relatively small.” At a media forum in Quezon City on Saturday, Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Lambino and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo brushed off concerns that Manila might wind up surrendering its patrimonial assets to Beijing if it defaults on loans from the Chinese. The Philippines has about $980 million (P51.17 billion) in loans from China as of the end of 2018, Gunigundo said, while the interest rates on the loans, which are primarily for infrastructure projects, range from only 2 to 3 percent, Lambino added. That is considerably small, the finance official said, compared to gains Filipinos stand to get once

the infrastructure projects—which are seen to improve the country’s transportation systems and widen business centers—are completed in the near future. “Our strategy is to really improve our infrastructure program for logistics, for productivity, for efficiency not only because it’s good for the economy, it’s also because it’s good for the Filipino families,” Lambino said. Guinigundo noted that President Rodrigo Duterte is doing “sensible economic management” on how he deals with China regarding the unresolved dispute over the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea. He expressed confidence that the Philippines’ external debt, totaling

$79 billion, is very manageable, citing the country’s good credit rating. Two weeks ago, S&P Global raised the Philippines’ score to BBB+, one notch below the minimum “A” rating, over the country’s above-average economic growth, a healthy external position, and sustainable public finances. “Our credit rating captures the essence of our economic reality… and what kind of management capacity can we show to the world,” said Guinigundo. “On the basis of these, we have experienced periodic, successive, and continuous (rating) upgrades since 2012 and 2013.” Of the total of $980-million debt to China, the central bank official noted the short-term debt or the revolving credits is around $520 million, while the medium to long-term loans or those with maturity of more than five years amounts to $420 million. Considering that all of the loan agreements in the pipeline with China will be signed, the contribution of Chinese loans compared to the size of

the country’s external debt will only be about 4 to 5 percent by the end of 2022, according to Guinigundo. “We have an existing law, the Foreign Borrowings Act, which prescribes an elaborate system of processing foreign loans,” he said, emphasizing that a foreign loan-funded project undergoes tedious procedure before being approved for implementation. The central banker assured there is no collateral and commitment of national patrimony to support the loans. “All I can say is that on the basis of those loans contracted, there is no collaterals there and if there are issues between two parties, including the Philippines, all of these are subject to arbitration,” he said. Lambino also said the P7.8-trillion national debt—34 percent external and 66 percent local—is relatively small compared to the P18-trillion size of the economy. Thus, he said, the country’s economy can pay for its debt.

‘WIDOW CANDIDATE’TRADITION GOES ON VILLAR, POE, HNP BETS STILL TOP SURVEY

GERTRUDES Batocabe never wanted to enter the Philippines’ cutthroat politics, but after her husband was shot dead, allegedly by a rival in next week’s midterm election, she felt bound to take his place. “It’s not really automatic that the wife takes over, but in this case I cannot see my opponents sitting down (quitting)” she told Agence France Presse, holding back tears. “I have a lot of things to do for Rodel, for the people of Daraga,” she said, referring to her husband and the central city where she is running for mayor. The incumbent mayor of Daraga is charged with orchestrating the killing, leaving Batocabe acutely aware of the risks she faces in running. “I’m careful, is the word, but I’ve been given so much protection by the president,” she said, referring to an armed security detail. Daraga Vice Mayor Victor Perete assumed on Friday the mayoral post based on the order of the Department of the Interior and Local Government designating him as acting town mayor following the detention of Mayor Carlwyn Baldo, the suspected mastermind in the killing of Rodel Batocabe. Baldo, accused of double murder and six counts of attempted murder, is being detained at the Legazpi City jail. He has been tagged by the police as the alleged mastermind in the assassination of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his security escort in December 2018. The order, signed on Friday by DILG 5 Director Anthony Nuyda, said that after deliberation of the joint committee task force of the Com-

mission on Elections and the DILG, it found no impediment to implement the rule on succession under the provision of the Local Government Code. “In view of the detention of Baldo and rendering him temporarily incapacitated to perform his duties, Perete being the vice mayor and upon receipt of this memorandum order may already assume as acting mayor of the town in accordance with Section 46 of RA [Republic Act] 7160.” In compliance with the DILG order, Perete also issued a memorandum before the closing of office hours, informing Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara, members of the municipal council, and department heads of the town, that he is assuming as acting mayor of Daraga effective May 10. Perete and Gertie Batocabe are both contesting the mayoral post of Baldo, who is also running for reelection. Some of Asia’s most powerful political families have been marked by the same phenomenon. India’s Sonia Gandhi was pushed into politics after her husband, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, was assassinated. Benazir Bhutto led Pakistan’s return to democracy about a decade after her father was ousted as prime minister in a coup and subsequently executed. Political analyst Franco said the rise of the Philippine widows also marks a way into the nation’s male-dominated political area. “Many of our female politicians, especially at the local level, are members of political dynasties,” she added. AFP, PNA

REELECETIONIST Senator Cynthia Villar has topped the latest pre-election survey, breaking the weeks-long statistical tie with Sen. Grace Poe, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey released during the weekend. Villar’s voter support rose to 55.9 percent, a 4-point rise from the 51.7-percent support she got in April, according to Pulse Asia’s May 3-6 survey results. Poe’s voter support declined to 47.7 percent, from 50.5 percent last month—but there was no explanation for the decline. Other candidates in the top 12 were administrationbacked bets Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano, former special assistant to the president Christopher Go, returning former senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Lito Lapid, former police and corrections chief Ronald dela Rosa, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, and reelectionists Juan Edgardo Angara, Nancy Binay, Aquilino Pimentel III and JV Ejercito. Former senator Jinggoy Estrada trailed behind his half brother, followed by reelectionist Paolo Aquino and former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino. Others seeking a return to the chamber were out of the winning roster, like former senators Sergio Osmeña III and Mar Roxas, tied at the 16th to 17th spot, while former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile landed on the 18th to 19th rank. Some 1,800 registered voters took part in the survey that used ballots with names of all 62 senatorial candidates. It had a 95-percent confidence level and an error margin of +/- 2.3 percent. Pulse Asia said“5.8 percent of Filipinos who are registered to vote in the coming midterm elections refused to fill up the sample ballot used [in] this survey.” Some 3.7 percent, meanwhile, had invalid ballots for overvoting, while 1.9 percent said they “were not inclined to elect any of the 62 senatorial candidates,” the pollster said.

PRE-POLL...

'TRILLANES... From A1

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then swapped for the corrupted SD cards. We don’t issue out new SD cards unless we get the corrupted SD cards in return,” he said in a separate interview. In the 2010 polls, the compact flash cards of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines were found to have been misconfigured, also during the FTS. The Comelec and its service provider, Smartmatic—Total Information Management (TIM) Corp. immediately replaced all the estimated 76,000 CF cards nationwide with just a week left before Election Day. The Board of Election Inspectors started the conduct of the FTS this week. The process involves the initialization of the machines, the voting, the feeding of the accomplished ballots to the VCMs, until the printing of election returns. After the FTS, the VCMs will be sealed and locked and will only be opened on Election Day. In related incidents: • The decline in election-related incidents means security measures in place are effective, but the rise in vote buying is a cause for concern, PNP said Saturday. Philippine National Police spokesperson Col. Bernard Banac said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, heard nationwide, some candidates shifted their concentration to buying votes instead of using violence to defeat their opponents. With the rise in vote buying incidents, Banac said the PNP had formed around 100 tracker teams nationwide to ad-

dress complaints against vote buying. • The National Capital Region Police Office and the five police districts are all set, ready and on full alert status to ensure a safe, orderly and credible midterm elections in Metro Manila. “This is not just in polling centers or canvassing areas but also to maintain our anti-criminality efforts. There’s no room to be complacent, the criminal elements might strike anytime,“ said Metro Manila police director Guillermo Eleazar. This developed as the NCRPO reported vote buying activities in the cities of Malabon and Muntinlupa. Along Governor Pascual Avenue Barangay Concepcion in Malabon, police arrested Joel Adoza, 48, who was seen receiving a bundle of envelopes from an unidentified person on board a gray Toyota Vios. Recovered from his possesion were 17 pieces of small envelope containing P300 cash, 15 pieces of unsigned acknowledgement receipts with name of a candidate for councilor and a list of voters beneficiares. In Muntinlupa, authorities also arrested 17 individuals for alleged vote buying activities inside Minerva Compound, along National Road in Barangay Putatan late Friday night. Recovered from them were 17 pieces letter envelope containing P500 each; 122 letter envelopes containing P300 each, list of voters with their address and precinct numbers, sample ballots, and details of amount of cash distibutions.

Eleazar ordered his men to arrest and prosecute those committing election offenses. “Arrest those who violate the Election code, charge them and pursue their cases in court—that is my order to all our police officers. As such, I am requesting all candidates and stakeholders in this coming elections to exercise prudence and fair play,” he said. • Voters may now be able to know the polling precincts where they will vote for tomorrow’s mid-term elections. The Department of Information and Communications Technology announced on Friday that the public may access the Precinct Finder through its website www.gov.ph/web/precinctfinder to confirm their voter status, as well as the location of their voting precincts, by filling up the required field items—first name, middle name, last name and address. The website also contains options for voters who would not be able to locate their polling precincts due to certain circumstances. “We encourage voters to visit the Precinct Finder website in order to confirm their voter status and the location of the voting precinct before they vote on May 13 (Election Day),” DICT Acting Secretary and Commission on Elections Advisory Council Chairperson Eliseo Rio Jr. said in a statement. • Two Commission on Elections commissioners have expressed reservations over the poll body’s decision to name the Nacionalista Party as the dominant minority party. PNA, Joel Zurbano

“Yung Bikoy, Magdalo ‘yan at Otso Diretso, produced by Senator Trillanes,” the President said in the Bisaya language, the lingua franca of Cebuanos in the Visayas and Mindanao. “Bikoy” is a soldier because his voice sounds like a soldier who is allied with Trillanes, the President said, without getting into details how a soldier speaks differently from a non-soldier. The “Ang Totoong Narco-list” videos claimed drug money was funneled into the bank accounts of Duterte’s son, former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, his son-in-law Atty. Manases Carpio, and former aide Christopher “Bong” Go, the last running for a senatorial post. A certain Peter Joemel Advincula later went public and introduced himself as Bikoy. Advincula surfaced days after the arrest of Rodel Jayme, who admitted to creating a website that hosted the''Totoong Narco-li'' videos. Jayme said two supporters of the opposition Liberal Party tapped him to create the website, which it denied. The government filed inciting to sedition raps against Bikoy for releasing the video. Advincula said he had no links to any political party or the LP-backed Otso Diretso lineup. “I have no connection to any candidate, especially the candidates of Otso Diretso, or any political party,” Advicula said.

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PHOENIX ROLLS BACK GASOLINE BY P1.30/L PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines beat other oil firms in reducing its gasoline price by P1.30 per liter starting at 12 noon on Saturday, May 11. Other oil companies, however, are expected to announce their rollback by next week. Phoenix Petroleum said it decided to roll back the gasoline price as early as Saturday to “provide the motoring public longer period to avail of cheaper fuels.”

ECO GROUPS LAUD BETS AGAINST INCINERATION MASS FOR COPS. Fr. Neofil Aguillon of Santa Clara De Montefalco Parish held a Mass for a hundred policemen at the CCP Complex parking area in Pasay City on Saturday May 11, during a send-off ceremony for the 2019 national and local elections on Monday, May 12. Norman Cruz

DUTERTE TOUTS MARCOS ‘TANGIBLE LEGACY’ ANEW PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday praised anew the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, whom he said was the only Philippine leader that left “a tangible legacy.” In his speech during a campaign rally in Davao City, Duterte asked his audience who was the Philippine president that build “magnificent infrastructures” like the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Philippine International Convention Center, and Manila’s light rail transit system. Duterte said the former strongman was always being faulted for corruption, “but it was his deeds that was corrupted.” The President also hit at other politicians he did not name, saying: “Was there anyone who did what Marcos had accomplished? All talks.” Duterte is a political ally of the Marcoses and a vocal admirer of the late strongman, who ruled the country from 1965 to 1986, and under martial law from 1972 to 1983. Duterte had also allowed the late president to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, despite the objections of the families of victims of martial law atrocities and general criticism from his political opponents and the public. The President is supporting the senatorial bid of Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, one of the three children of the late dictator, who is running under the administration’s banner. Vito Barcelo

IMEE VOWS TO PUSH LAWS TO IMPROVE MOMS’ WELFARE By Rey E. Requejo

ENATORIAL candidate and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos has vowed to push for legislation that will promote the well-being of mothers, especially those who are solo parents like her. “Sabi nila, the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world. At ang mga nanay na tulad natin ang tunay na rockstars,” Marcos said. “Tayong mga nanay ang nagkakandakuba sa trabaho habang nagsisilbi pa ring ilaw ng tahanan; tayo ang napipilitang iwan ang mga sariling anak natin upang mangibang-bansa at mag-alaga ng anak ng iba; at tulad ko, tayo ang tumataguyod sa ating mga anak nang mag-isa,” she added. Marcos said the almost decade-old Solo Parents Welfare Act must be updated to reflect the needs of single parents, especially mothers who have to raise

their children on their own. “Extending a 20 percent discount on basic goods and services to single parents will greatly benefit them and help ease their plight,” she said. “We will also push for laws that will empower women more by addressing discriminatory practices and providing immediate assistance for women in distress situations. Child care centers for solo working moms must also be mandatory,” Marcos added. The governor noted that empowering women, especially mothers, should go beyond lip service as this will be crucial in improving the country’s economic growth. “Mothers are usually left out of the political discourse. But really, they are present everywhere—mula bahay hanggang bukid, mula sa mga sari-sari store hanggang sa ibang bansa—women and mothers are movers in government and the corporate world, not just in households,” she said. “This is why I am excited to work hand-in-hand with fellow mothers in the Senate,” she added. “By God’s grace, I could be the fifth, and solo mother pa!”

ISKO SEES WIN IN MANILA WITH SUPPORT OF INC, BARANGAY EXECUTIVES MANILA mayoralty candidate Isko Moreno on Saturday thanked the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) for supporting his candidacy, saying that the endorsement of the influential church together with the support of barangay captains would tip the balance in his favor on election day. “Malinaw na maraming Manileño gusto ng pagbabago. Nakikita ito sa mga survey, nakikita ito sa pagsalubong sa amin sa kampanya,” said the former vice mayor. (It is clear that many Manila residents want change. That is apparent in surveys, that is apparent in the reception we have gotten during the campaign.) “Ang importante ngayon, wag maging kampante ang mga tagasuporta namin. (The Isko Moreno important thing is not to be complacent.) We have to continue to work hard as our opponent is the incumbent, and he still has the resources of City Hall behind him,” stressed Moreno. “Hangga’t di nabibilang ang huling balota, hindi kami pwede magpahinga.” (Until the last ballot is counted, we cannot rest.) Recent polls have shown that Moreno is the only challenger with better numbers than the incumbent among mayoralty races in Metro Manila.

Moreno revealed that in recent weeks, barangay captains from all over Manila had decided to support his candidacy after they learned that he had a concrete plan to reverse the deterioration of Manila. “Nakikita naman nila na naiiwan na kami ng ibang lungsod sa NCR. (They can see that we have been left behind by other cities in NCR.) They know we need new blood, a fresh perspective, and a dynamic approach. Yan ang handog natin. (That is what we offer.)” Moreno touted his 10-year infrastructure plan that would atrract jobs to the city, as well as improved healthcare and tourism initiatives. These include building a new city hall at the Liwasang Bonifacio and the conversion of the current historic city into a museum, cultural and retail center. Also among the proposed projects is an elevated walkway similar to the OCBC Skyway of Singaporeâ€™s Gardens by the Bay called the “Manila Skydeck” along Roxas Boulevard, and a proposed “City Walk,” an urban concrete overpass exclusively for pedestrians and bikers along Ermita, Manila.

PLDT, SMART PROVIDE COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT FOR 2019 ELECTIONS LEADING telecoms and digital services provider PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications have extended support to various groups to ensure the success of the 2019 national and local elections. PLDT recently formalized its support to the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting for the midterm elections by boosting the PPCRV headquarters’ connectivity facilities. These services include high-speed fiber, computer servers, Smart LTE SIMs and prepaid load credits, and smartphones for its personnel and volunteers. In Cebu, PLDT-Smart teamed up with SunStar and dyLA and provided connectivity for the use of media personnel at the Philippine National Police Region 7 office, Cebu Provincial Capitol, Guadalupe Elementary School, and the city halls of Cebu and Mandaue. Smart also provided connectivity support to reporters and photographers to help them as they break the news and file real-time election updates. PLDT and Smart also turned over communications support to volunteers of Cebu-Citizens Involvement and Maturation for Peoples Em-

powerment and Liberation. C-Cimpel serves as a poll watchdog and is the local counterpart of PPCRV. The group’s headquarters on Election Day is at Seminaryo Mayor de San Carlos. Smart likewise committed election support to the Diocese of Dumaguete through Msgr. Julius Heruela, head of the Diocesan Electoral Board. In October 2018, PLDT and Smart also signed an agreement with GMA Network to collaborate in delivering an efficient election coverage. With PLDT-Smart’s fast and reliable data and communication services and GMA’s indepth and up-to-date multiplatform coverage, the public can stay updated on what’s happening in their area as well as on the national front. PLDT Global Corp., the international arm of the PLDT group that provides telecommunications services to Filipinos abroad, also offered assistance to overseas voters. In partnership with Philippine consulates, embassies, and overseas labor offices in most parts of Asia, Middle East, Europe, and the Americas, PGC launched a social media information drive to help overseas Filipinos know how and where to cast their votes.

DyLA station manager Jhunnex Napallacan and SunStar director of content Nini Cabaero inspect the phones turned over by Smart public affairs junior manager NN Navarro as part of the company’s support for the midterm elections coverage.

By Joel E. Zurbano ENVIRONMENTALIST groups on Saturday praised a number of senatorial candidates, including reelectionists Nancy Binay, Grace Poe and Bam Aquino, for their strong positions against waste incineration. In a survey conducted by the Ecowaste Coalition and No Burn Pilipinas, along with the Green Thumb Coalition, the senatorial aspirants were asked if they support or oppose proposals to repeal the incineration ban in the Clean Air Act (RA 8749) enacted in 1999, a landmark piece of legislation that was further strengthened by the passage of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003) in 2000. The candidates were also asked to reveal what legislative or oversight remedies they would introduce to ensure that RA 9003 and zero waste programs are mainstreamed across the country. “We are encouraged and energized by the positions of some senatorial bets on keeping the incineration ban intact, which surely is a boost to our advocacy. We need many strong voices at the Senate, as well as in the House of Representatives, to preserve and uphold the waste incineration ban— an essential resource conservation and pollution prevention law—amid undying threat to have it repealed,” said Glenn Ymata, campaign manager of No Burn Pilipinas. Ecowaste Coalition coordinator Aileen Lucero seconded Ymata. She said their groups, informal waste workers and affected communities are keeping a close watch on recurring attempts to rescind the ban on waste incineration and propagate ‘waste-toenergy’ incineration as a ‘solution’ to the country’s garbage woes. “We intend to work with our proenvironment and pro-sustainability lawmakers to have the incineration ban effectively enforced,” said Lucero. The responses of candidates Aquino, Binay and Poe, together with Neri Colmenares, Leody de Guzman, Florin Hilbay, Sonny Matula and Erin Tañada, according to the groups, provided a much-needed shot in the arm for the country’s zero waste movement. “I approve of technologies that do not constitute incineration,” declared independent candidate Grace Poe, who added that she “fully supports policies that pursue energy diversification, focusing on renewables, geothermal, and natural gas, to eliminate the need for waste-to-energy facilities, reduce our dependence on coal and oil, and prevent or reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.” United Nationalist Alliance candidate Nancy Binay was equally uncompromising in her response. “The ban on incineration in the Clean Air Act should be retained and defended.” Binay noted the responsibility of manufacturers in achieving zero waste. “While we can put up stiffer penalties and strengthen oversight on local government units towards zero waste, what is missing is responsibilizing other key actors that are more responsible for waste generation—manufacturers and industry in general,” adding that “this is a track we want to study about waste reduction and eventual elimination.” Liberal Party candidate Bam Aquino said “if reelected, I would oppose any proposal to lower environmental standards already provided by RA 9003.”

SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2019

Riera U. Mallari, Editor sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Sports

ARKANGEL PUBG TEAM GETS PREDATOR BOOST

ITH ArkAngel PUBG Team ranking 5th in Southeast Asia in just over a year, bagging the Predator League PUBG Philippine Finals in January, and placing 7th at the Predator League Finals in Thailand last February, it’s no surprise that the ultimate gaming hardware and electronics brand Predator has taken notice to officially become the Title Sponsor of the Arkangel PUBG Team.

“We are overwhelmed by the support of Predator not only for ArkAngel but also for the entire Filipino gaming community,” said ArkAngel co-founder Danry Milag. The team members—DanIo “Mad Dog” Noya, Christian Joy “Ceejay18” Estrella, Yves “Killa” Navarro, Kirk Robin “Momonjii” Amable and Mark Christian “Unexpected_” Dedal—all veteran gamers are amped up with the sponsorship. The team is thrilled to be working with Predator especially after finishing strongly in their last tournament, a winning partnership that can look forward to a good year for real. “We’re a team that’s just a year old so we’re really excited about this sponsorship. Personally, monitors have always been Predator. It’s really the best in gaming electronics,” said 19-year-old Mad Dog, ArkAngel team captain. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is an online multiplayer battle royale game developed and pub-

ArkAngel, one of the country’s top eSport teams for PUBG has just taken Predator as their title sponsor following the teams notable winning streaks, landing 7th at the Predator League Finals in Thailand this year being the latest.

lished by PUBG Corp., a subsidiary of South Korean video game company Bluehole. Unlike other eSports, PUBG has higher hardware specifications. “Many Internet cafes here don’t offer PUBG because their hardware capacity cannot handle it,” said Killa. Milag shared that PUBG made ArkAngel famous as members who are very different from each other

somehow has kept it together and has been working well and strong together. Mad Dog is the youngest and the leader. He is dedicated and hardworking. Milag said he is mature for his age. Killa is loyal and quiet. “His heart is in ArkAngel,” said Milag. Ceejay18 loves McDonald’s delivery and is a very skilled and intuitive player. Momonjii is a tactician and

an all-around excellent player himself. Finally, Unexpected_ is a thinker whose intelligence is shown in the way he plays. “Predator is very proud to sponsor the country’s top PUBG team. We’ve always believed ArkAngel would be a worthy addition to the Predator family,” said Predator Sales and Marketing Director Sue Ong Lim.

DUMAGUETE IS BEST SPORTS TOURISM ORGANIZER THE City of Dumaguete was given the coveted Organizer of the Year (Government Sector) in the recent Philippine Sports Tourism Award held at Savoy Hotel Manila in Newport, Pasay City. The awardees were selected by a panel of judges from various sectors, including the Department of Tourism, the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee and organizer Selrahco Management and Consultancy Services. It was also a runner-up in the Sports Destination of the Year category, having hosted a variety of sporting events which brought in thousands of athletes and tourists. Last year, the city hosted the Dumaguete Triathlon, Children’s Games, the Dumaguete Dragon Boat Challenge and the Beach Volleyball Republic On Tour, in line with its 70th charter anniversary. The Philippine University Games has made the city their default venue because of its strategic location, splendid facilities, reasonable costs, conducive environment, and warm hometown crowd. Earlier in 2017, Little League Philippines Series, National Frisbee ultimate Championship, Philippine National Games, Batang Pinoy, Philippine Super Liga Spike on Tour, and the 1st Southeast Asian Beach Handball made the city their playground.

Shown here is the recent Dumaguete Dragonboat Challenge, dominated by paddlers from the host city and Boracay Island.

Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo said they have been positioning the city as a sports hub in the central Philippines by organizing and hosting national events. “This award will top off all the tourism awards we got. I always believe that sports is a great equalizer and unifier,” he said at the PSTA awarding ceremonies. In-mid February this year, Dumaguete host-

ed the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association, the regional qualifying round of the Palarong Pambansa where the city’s sports excellence and trademark hospitality were once again put to the fore. The city also recently became the venue of the Visayas Regional Selection Camp of Jr. NBA Philippines last March with coaches led by Rob Newson of the NBA and PBA Legend Jeffrey Cariaso. Remollo also disclosed that the city will be hosting the 20th Asean University Games in 2020, the biggest regional sporting event for students from the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The provincial capital of Negros Oriental, Dumaguete has been known as “The City of Gentle People” due to the extraordinary warm hospitality of its people and genteel way of life. Aside from its sports award, the city was named by The Philippine Retirement Authority as the top in their Retirement Area Deemed as Retiree-Friendly (RADAR) index which measures a place’s compliance with global lifestyle standards set by the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and International Living. It was also listed as the world’s fifth best place to retire by the prestigious Forbes Magazine.

PAGUNSAN, CHAN TAKE DELIMONDO PRO-AM CROWN LAUREL, Batangas—Rey Pagunsan and Aidric Chan used a solid frontside game to regain control then ripped the field with an equally superb backside stint to crown themselves the new Delimondo Pro-Am champions with a whopping six-stroke victory over Spain’s Marcos Pastor and Nicole Abelar with a closing 69 at Taal Splendido Golf Club here yesterday. Not even a bogey in the rain at the finish could stop Pagunsan and Chan from nailing the crown they had virtually bagged with a 34 start as the duo stormed to leads to as many as seven after Chan rolled in their fourth birdie on No. 16 as their rivals faded one after the other in overcast skies. “I couldn’t have picked a better partner. Aidric’s so good,” said Pagunsan of his teammate, a fellow Southwoods bet and the reigning national junior champion, who set up Pagunsan for two birdies at the front that they used as a springboard to overpower the field with a 54hole total of four-under 212. The first on No. 1 from 10 feet and the second from 45 feet on the par-3 No. 8. “Tsamba ‘yun (No. 8) but I really didn’t expect we could win it until we pulled away at the back,” said Pagunsan, ecstatic after earning a juicy P500,000 purse he said he would use for his campaign on the

Philippine Golf Tour starting in Bacolod next month. It was actually Pagunsan’s second victory in team play after his partnership with Ryan Monsalve at Veterans last year but the 51-year-old former national team mainstay remained winless in individual competition that stretches back to over a decade ago. Chan received merchandises and gift packs from the sponsoring Delimondo and organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. with the victory also boosting his confidence and giving him some kind of momentum heading to the SEA Games team qualifying tournament at Luisita next month. While their rivals hobbled and stumbled over the rolling, hazard-laden layout, Pagunsan and Chan kept their poise and kept playing as one solid team, overcoming a two-stroke deficit to second round leaders Daniella Uy and brother Lanz early to move 3-up over Art Arbole and Joel Yamyamin. They sustained their form at the back that proved too much for the Uy siblings and Arbole and Yamyamin, who yielded strokes after strokes trying to match Pagunsan and Chan’s impressive games. That enabled the erstwhile 10th-running Pastor and Abelar to snatch second place at 218 after a 69 worth P335,000 for the pro while Joseph Suarez and Paqo Barro also snared third place at 220 worth P190,000 for Suarez.

Rey Pagunsan (left) and Aidric Chan whoop it up after scoring a runaway victory in the Delimondo Pro-Am.

BULLDOGS TAKE GAME 1 By Peter Atencio SHRUGGING off a bad start, the National University Bulldogs came to life in the third period and went on to repulse the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 21-25, 25-23, 2523, 25-18, yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum. The Bulldogs sustained the momentum they got in third set until the fourth and this allowed them to take Game 1 of their best-of-three finals series in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s volleyball tournament. Season MVP Bryan Bagunas scored 18 points for the Bulldogs, who can finish off the Tamaraws in Game 2 on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The Tams, led by Richard Solis with 13 points, were able to adjust to the Bulldogs’ defensive place in the first set of their one-hour, 42-minute encounter, 25-21. The Bulldogs pulled even in the second set with a 25-23 win, and then fought their way out of a 23all deadlock after Tams spiker Sam Padon committed a service error. They took matchpoint in the third set after Bulldogs spiker Angelo Almendras scored against blockers Peter Quiel and John Paul Salabsab. The Bulldogs capitalized on the Tams’ service errors in the fourth to move away, 7-2. They widened their lead to six, 14-8, after the Tams committed a couple of mistakes with their reception plays. “Nagkaproblema kami sa first set dahil sa mga adjustment na ginawa nila. Buti na lang, nakapag-adjust kami pagdating ng third and fourth set. Sana, magtuluy-tuloy na sa next game,” said Bulldogs’ coach Dante Alinsunurin. James Natividad hit 16 points for the Bulldogs, while Kim Malabunga and Madzlang Gampong had 10 each. So far, the Bulldogs have won 15 straight games after losing their opening match in the first round to the Tams.

BICOL IS 27TH MPBL TEAM GENERAL SANTOS CITY—The province of Bicol became the 27th member of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League after it was formally accepted by league officials on Friday here at the Road Hauz Hotel. The Volcanoes, headed by coach Monel Kallos, is the newest squad approved by the fastest growing regional amateur basketball league this year. Another applicant is Iloilo, which has two groups hoping to secure the rights to run the basketball organization of the squad. League founder and CEO Senator Manny Pacquiao has yet to decide between the two groups and he wants to see which between the two has a better offer and capable of handling the team in the long run. Bicol is reportedly asking to have 10 home games in the coming season, which was initially set to start June 12 at the Mall of Asia Arena. League commissioner Kenneth Duremdes believes those number of games in the province that has become a tourist attraction is doable. “OK ‘yan, as long as they will provide buses for the delegation and hotel accommodation, of course,” added Commissioner Duremdes. Also approved by league officials is the entry of a new management group which will operate the Pasig Pirates. Long-time Sta. Lucia Realty team manager and two-time PBA Executive of the Year awardee Buddy Encarnado has been delegated as general manager of the Pirates, now being owned by Gene Pineda. The Pirates, owner of the worst record in the Datu Cup (4-21), had been under two managements —James Ong Machate and Paolo Mercado.

SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2019

Opinion

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

FRENCH MPS APPROVE LAW ON SPEEDY NOTRE-DAME RESTORATION

EDITORIAL

HONORING FAMILY CARETAKERS

ODAY, we pause from our rather unhinged personal and professional schedules and, like others in other continents, mark this day in honoring and celebrating mothers, recognizing the importance of motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in the various rungs of society.

springtime, if we thumb through the pages of Greek mythology. In later historical folios, Mothering Sunday used to be celebrated in the United Kingdom as a traditional feast when people visited the church where they were baptized. Today, it seems like treating mothers to a splendidly opulent breakfast, lunch, or dinner in a stylishly luxurious establishment would be sufficient a substitute for unspoken phrasal verbs of the love of offspring—in that lengthy travel from womb to the present. Sometimes there are creeping thoughts that an extortionate gift will articulate an unsaid attachment to and friendship with the ascendant. This celebration of and honoring Some go for cards with expressions of regard motherhood dates back to the Mother of and affinity writ in long hand, or a bouquet of Gods, Rhea, an event that merges with the the mother’s favorite flowers, pieces of jewelry,

or gifting mothers with some days vacation away from the dizzying velocity of the metropolis, or a guided trip to the city for those in the countryside. While we take exception to the concept that one day is set aside to honor and celebrate mothers—for that affection must be every day 365 days every common year and 366 every leap —we join others in this solicitous observance of Mother’s Day which beats the drum on the spirit of motherhood. Today may be an assigned day to appreciate, honor, and respect mothers as well as mother figures in life. And we remember what Joseph Rudyard Kipling, the India-born English journalist, short story writer, poet and novelist said, not without good reason, that “God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.”

DUTERTE, GUTTER TALK, AND THAT ‘IPIS’ PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte was in the news again recently and for the wrong reasons. First, because a cockroach landed on his shoulder while he was speechifying at a campaign rally in Bohol. An aide saw the insect on his shoulder, tried to brush it off with a folder, but it crawled down his front and the President coolly brushed it off. This was just as he mentioned the name of senatorial candidate Imee Marcos. Second, at the same event, he used gutter language to praise the looks of Mayor Tita Baja-Gallantes of Garcia Hernandez town in Bohol. “You are truly beautiful,” he said in public about the mayor, whom he also alleged was separated from her husband. “If it were me, why would I ever break up with you? I will really grab and hold on to your panty if you try to leave, even until the garter snaps. You’re just too beautiful.” I witnessed a similar incident a year or so before the 2016 presidential election that he won. It was at a turnover of donated equipment in Davao City and the then-mayor Duterte embarrassed

a young woman, a member of the broadcast media, with his remarks. She was kneeling in front of him with a microphone, and he said in Tagalog, “You are very beautiful. Do you have a boyfriend? I cannot concentrate while you are there in front of me,” and so in similar vein for quite some time, enough to make the donors from Manila visibly uncomfortable. Netizens are laughing at the absurd conjunction of incidents in Bohol. An ipis lands on Duterte’s shoulder just as he is talking about Imee Marcos—it’s a sign! The ipis also appears at the same occasion as his smutty slavering over Mayor Baja-Gallantes—also a sign! No, these are not good signs. Why is it important to call out rude and offensive remarks, particularly those uttered by a prominent person? There is a chance that the behavior or attitude of famous people, even if negative, will be normalized or seen as acceptable, desirable, or even necessary, if it is done often enough to reach a tipping point. Often, words and actions that conflict with the norm or reflect

its negative aspects are called out or shamed, in an effort to instill social order. For the perpetrator to regain their former status in the community, they must perform restorative rituals; for example, apologizing, making amends, or changing their ways. However, sometimes the behavior displayed by the prominent person gains traction. In the case of Duterte and his indecent remarks, his popularity serves to reinforce patriarchal attitudes towards women, and this could jeopardize the safety and wellbeing of individual women. Not only is the content of such remarks offensive, his propensity to use gutter talk is likewise alarming. This is not the language of statesmen, nor of the president of a nation that seeks to place itself on a global footing. Despite what has been said in the past to excuse his behavior, this is not the language of the poor, the uneducated, the ordinary man on the street. Philippine Star columnist Elfren S. Cruz wrote in 2016, “The use of gutter language is not limited to the poor since I have heard many of the rich in the most exclusive

By Pierre Rochiccioli FRENCH lawmakers on Friday approved a controversial law for restoring Notre-Dame within five years, after the famous Paris cathedral sustained major fire damage last month. Renovating the 850-year-old Gothic cathedral, whose wooden roof was largely destroyed in the April 15 blaze, will be an unprecedented challenge for the government, which drafted a special bill for managing the huge project. Images of the ancient cathedral going up in flames sparked shock and dismay across the globe as well as in France, where it is considered one of the nation’s most beloved landmarks. Days after the fire, French President Emmanuel Macron set a target for the restoration to be finished within five years, meaning it should be ready by the time Paris hosts the Olympics in 2024. But the legislation, aimed at speeding up the construction process, sparked controversy because it would involve removing some of the red tape protecting the ancient structure. After 13 hours of debate, the bill was adopted by 32 votes in favor, five against and 10 abstentions. It will now be forwarded to the Senate for further scrutiny scheduled for May 27. As the session opened, Culture Minister Franck Riester told MPs that although five years was “an ambitious timeframe” for renovating NotreDame, which took 200 years to build, the project would “not be done in haste.” “Yes, we want to move quickly. Some have accused us of wanting to move too quickly but the outpouring of generosity was very fast so we can and must respond, which is what we are doing,” he said. So far, nearly one billion euros ($1.1 billion) has been donated or pledged for Notre-Dame, with Riester pledging that the funds will go “entirely and exclusively” to its restoration. Experts believe the total bill will come to between 600-700 million euros, with some raising questions over what will be done with any leftover money, suggesting it could be channelled to other crumbling churches and cathedrals. France’s Observatory for Religious Heritage (OPR) says there are between 40,000 and 60,000 churches and chapels in France, 5,000 of which are in a state of dilapidation. ‘Precise rules’ The law also outlines the creation of a public body to oversee and carry out the work within a rapid time frame, but more controversially grants the government power to override regulations on planning, environmental and heritage protection and public tenders. But Riester said the provision would not be used to cut corners. “There are very precise rules which apply to the restoration of heritage buildings and property which are formalized in the code on cultural heritage and which correspond to France’s excellence in this field,” he said. “It goes without saying that these rules will be applied, I will guarantee it.” The law does not mention the architectural aspects of the project, with some MPs keen to push through legislation stating that the work will ensure the cathedral is rebuilt exactly as it was without any creative additions. Notre-Dame has figured as a central character through the ups and downs of French history since construction began in the mid-12th century. It was vandalized and plundered during the French Revolution in the 18th century, but went on to feature as a central character in a Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame” which is credited with helping save it. It survived the devastation of two global conflicts in the 20th century and famously rang its bells on Aug. 24, 1944, the day of the Liberation of Paris from German occupation at the end of the World War II. AFP

POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE subdivisions in the country use profane or obscene language… “I strongly object to the belief that the poor use gutter language as part of their everyday language —that vulgarity is part of the culture of being poor. This is such a demeaning view of the poor. “I have met people who work with the poor every day—public school teachers, parish priests, social workers. They have told me that there is no difference between rich and poor in the use of language.” None of this fazes President Duterte, of course. He doesn’t seem to feel the unease of his audience when he makes vulgar, even obscene, remarks to women. He doesn’t see that his lewd and salacious comments brand him as a lecher. He doesn’t appreciate that he is now on a world stage and his words and actions reflect on our country. Words have power. Take care of those that come out of your mouth. /FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

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MEXICANS MARCH FOR MISSING KIDS

SHOW OF FORCE. Indonesian

soldiers from the Raider 112 infantry battalion transport a “rescued hostage” from a helicopter as they participate in an anti-terror drill in Banda Aceh, Aceh province on May 11. AFP

HONG KONG TO CULL 6,000 PIGS AMID FIRST SWINE FEVER CASE

ONG KONG—Hong Kong will cull 6,000 pigs after African swine fever was detected in an animal at a slaughterhouse close to the border with China, the first case of the disease in the densely populated financial hub.

“In order to minimize the risk of ASF virus spreading from the slaughterhouse, all pigs in Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse will be culled so that thorough cleansing and also disinfection could be conducted,”

Sophia Chan, Secretary of the city’s Food and Health Department, said. She added that the pig detected with African swine fever was imported from a farm in the southern mainland Chinese province of Guangdong.

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES National Capital Region

REGIONAL BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID Procurement of PABX, Structured Cabling & SIP Trunk Regular 1.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – National Capital Region (DENR-NCR), through the GAA CY’ 2019 intends to apply the sum of One Million Five Hundred Forty Two Thousand Six Hundred Twenty Three Pesos (PhP1,542,623.00) for the lease of PABX (installation and equipment), Structured Cabling (voice cabling / 34 ports) and SIP Trunk-Regular (15 sessions), being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the Lease Contract. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

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:

Description

Quantity

Straight Lease per month

Unit Cost 73,673.60

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) 884,083.20

PABX (Installation and Equipment) One-Time Charge

5,600.00

Lease per month

31,125.00

373,500.00

5,600.00

Structured Cabling (Voice Cabling / 34 Ports) Includes: Supply of Labor & Manpower Mobilization / Demobilization Installation & Testing Documentation Acceptance One-Time Charge

SIP Trunk-Regular (15 sessions) per month with managed router

20,720.00

248,640.00

Service Connection Charge

25,200.00

TOTAL

PhP1,542,623.00

Interested bidder may bid in whole/lot basis. Delivery of the Goods is required starting seven (7) 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.

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

Interested bidders may obtain further information from 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.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on May 09 to 29, 2019 from the address below and upon payment of the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (PhP1,500.00). 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.

The DENR-NCR will hold a Pre-Bid Conference May 17, 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.

Bids must be duly received by the RBAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 10:00 A.M. of May 29, 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 May 29, 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.

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 (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-MAY 12, 2019)

Pork is a staple of Chinese cuisine. Every day Hong Kong imports around 4,000 live pigs from China with only around 200 pigs coming from local farms in the crowded city. After African swine fever spread across more than half of China’s provinces last year, Hong Kong imposed import bans from any Chinese farms where the virus were detected. With some of the world’s most densely populated streets, Hong Kong

remains on high alert to diseases. In 2003, some 300 people died during an outbreak of severe acute respiratory disease (SARS). Chinese officials have said hundreds of thousands of pigs were culled in a bid to stop its spread —an effort that has also seen restrictions placed on moving pigs from affected areas. The virus is not dangerous to humans but is fatal to pigs and wild boar. AFP

TRUMP: NOKOR’S MISSILE TEST NOT ‘BREACH OF TRUST’ WASHINGTON—North Korean missile launches over the past week have not affected Donald Trump’s relationship with Kim Jong Un, the US president said Friday, in a change of course after initially expressing his dissatisfaction. Pyongyang fired two short-range missiles Thursday following an earlier drill the previous Saturday—the first in 18 months. The North had not launched any missiles since November 2017, shortly before once reclusive Kim embarked on diplomatic overtures. “I don’t consider that a breach of trust at all. And, you know, at some point I may. But at this point no,” Trump said in an interview with Politico. “These were short-range missiles and very standard stuff. Very standard.” Twenty-four hours earlier, however, Trump showed his irritation and impatience on an issue where he hopes to succeed while all his predecessors – Republicans and Democrats— have failed. “Nobody’s happy about it,” he told reporters, in reaction to the launches. “We’ll see what happens,” Trump added. “I know they want to negotiate, they’re talking about negotiating. But I don’t think they are ready to negotiate.” Will the US president at some point lose faith in Kim? He has met twice with the North Korean leader and claimed that the two have a special friendship and even “love.” “I mean it’s possible that at some point I will, but right now not at all,” he told Politico. ‘Undiminished threat’

The first face-to-face historic meeting between the two men in June 2018 in Singapore produced only a vague statement about denuclearization, allowing both sides to make very different interpretations of it. February’s second summit, in Hanoi, broke up without a deal after they failed to agree on what Pyongyang would be willing to give up in exchange for sanctions relief. Since then, Kim has accused Washington of acting in “bad faith” and given it until the end of the year to change its approach. North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun newspaper, the mouthpiece of the ruling party, devoted its entire front page and half of page two to the launch on Friday, with 16 pictures, the main one of Kim watching the launch from a camouflaged shelter. Despite recent threats by the North to seek a new path, the nature and presentation of the two recent launches demonstrate that Pyongyang does not intend to walk away from talks any time soon, analysts say. On Friday at the United Nations, 70 countries urged North Korea to scrap its nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles and related programs, decrying the “undiminished threat” posed to world peace. Signatories included the United States and South Korea, as well as nations in Asia, Latin America, Africa and Europe. Russia and China, supporters of Pyongyang, did not sign the document drafted by France. According to a diplomatic source, about 15 countries asked to sign on to the request for North Korean disarmament after the new missile firings. AFP

FACEBOOK SUES SOKOR DATA ANALYTICS FIRM SAN FRANCISCO—Facebook is suing South Korean data analytics firm Rankwave to make sure it isn’t breaking the leading social network’s rules, the US company said. A lawsuit was filed against Rankwave in a California State court in Silicon Valley to enforce terms the company agreed to in order to operate apps on the social network, according to director of platform and litigation, Jessica Romero. Facebook was investigating Rankwave data practices relating to advertising and marketing and the South Korean company didn’t co-operate with efforts to confirm it

NOTICE OF LOSS Notice is hereby given that Holy Garden Memorial Certificate of Ownership with No. 943 and Deed of Sale with No. 2757 under the name of Angelita de Leon Manapat was declared lost as per Doc. No. 471; Page No.95; Book No. XXXVI, Series of 2019; before Notary Public Atty. Honorato J. De Leon, Jr. (Manila Standard May 5, 12 & 19, 2019)

was complying with policies for all developers synching to the platform, Romero said in an online post. Facebook suspended apps and accounts associated with Rankwave, and asked the court to order Rankwave to abide by its rules for applications, according to Romero. “By filing the lawsuit, we are sending a message to developers that Facebook is serious about enforcing our policies, including requiring developers to cooperate with us during an investigation,” Romero said. In a quarterly report last month that sent shares higher, Facebook said its profit in the recently-ended quarter took a hit from setting aside billions of dollars for an anticipated fine from US regulators. Facebook estimated that it would be hit with a fine of $3 billion to $5 billion by the US Federal Trade Commission for “user data practices,” and factored that into its earnings report. The FTC announced last year it was reopening its investigation into Facebook for potential violations of a 2011 settlement over privacy practices. AFP

MEXICO CITY—Mexicans with missing children led marches on Friday—when Mother’s Day is celebrated here—to protest the government’s failure to find their sons and daughters or bring their cases to justice. There are more than 40,000 missing persons in Mexico, which has been hit by a wave of violent crime in recent years linked to powerful drug cartels. Protesters marched in 16 cities— including around 2,000 people in the capital—to voice their outrage and anguish over the thousands of clandestine graves that have been discovered in the country, and the tens of thousands of other missing persons who have never been found. “I’ve been crying for the past eight years. I just want to know what happened to him,” said Maria Guadalupe Aguilar, 64, a demonstrator at the Mexico City march whose eldest son, Jose Luis, disappeared in 2011 on his way to a business meeting in the city of Guadalajara. “We’re raising our voices so that what happened to our children doesn’t keep happening,” said a sobbing Lourdes de la Cruz, 61, whose youngest son, Daniel, disappeared in the city of Coatzacoalcos along with 30 other people in 2015, when he was 21. The mothers carried large photographs of their missing children, shouting to passersby, “It could be your children, too.” President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador gave a Mother’s Day message at a press conference, in which he said he was thinking especially of “the mothers who are looking for their missing children.” Critics accuse the leftist leader, who took office in December, of failing to keep his promise to curb the violence plaguing the country. This year is on track to be the most violent ever, with a record 8,943 murders in the first three months of the year. Highlighting the problem, gunmen attacked a bus carrying prison guards home for Mother’s Day visits in the central town of Puente de Ixtla, killing five people and wounding three others. The bodies were left splayed on the ground in front of the town’s monument to mothers. The town is located in Morelos state, which has been the scene of turf wars between rival criminal groups. AFP

GUNS N’ ROSES SUING OVER ROSE-STYLE BEER LOS ANGELES—The band Guns N’ Roses is suing a Colorado brewery for naming one of its beers “Guns ‘N’ Rose,” saying the alleged trademark infringement has caused the hard rockers “irreparable damage.” The offending craft beer – whose moniker is stylized with an accent on the e, referencing the type of wine—is made by Oskar Blues Brewery, part of the Canarchy Craft Brewing Collective in the western US state. In its complaint filed Thursday in Los Angeles federal court, the band, which is seeking undisclosed damages and legal costs, accused the brewery of selling products that “intentionally trade on the GNR’s goodwill, prestige, and fame without GNR’s approval, license, or consent.” “As a direct and proximate result of Defendant’s wrongful acts, GNR has suffered and continues to suffer and/or is likely to suffer damage to their trademarks, business reputation, and goodwill,” the complaint read. The rock group’s partners include Axl Rose, Slash and Michael McKagan. The headbangers hold the brewery is falsely implying a connection to the band by using an alleged play on its name to market its ale, which the Guns N’ Roses says has been sold since 2018 in canned and keg form. Oskar Blues Brewery did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. The firm had attempted to trademark its logo in 2018 but dropped the bid after pushback from the band. According to documents, the beer and accompanying merchandise is set to be sold until March 2020. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Tech & Gadgets

SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2019 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

PURSUE PASSIONS WITH GREATER FLEXIBILITY USING HP PAVILION X360 N

OWADAYS, pursuing one’s passion takes more than just commitment and hard work. In a world that is connected and made smaller by the internet, it also pays to have equally hardworking and reliable devices and equipment that can help you continuously improve your craft, learn and develop new skills, and reach out to other people who share your interests.

Recently, HP Philippines introduced the Pavilion x360, its latest flagship laptop that boasts of power and unmatched flexibility to help young individuals further pursue their passions and aspirations, in more ways than one. At a YOUnique Gathering at the Yardstick Coffee in Makati City, HP Philippines welcomed some of the country’s leading bloggers and gave them a first-time, first-hand experience of how the HP Pavilion x360—featuring the latest technology and an ultrathin and light design—is made flexible so passiondriven individuals like them can truly have the means to pursue their interests and freedom to express their individuality, through different points of view. “HP Pavilion x360 combines power and flexibility not only to meet the discriminating needs of goaloriented individuals, but also to make it more convenient for them to achieve their passions, no matter where they are, through whatever way they want,” said Dos Roque, HP Philippines Marketing Manager for Personal Systems. “With the HP Pavilion x360 laptop, passionate people now have more power and flexibility in their hands to accomplish goals that they have set for themselves.”

SIGNS THAT YOU ARE A COOL TECHIE MOM The Pavilion’s tent mode and micro-edge bezel design enables for more immersive playing and viewing of photos.

Expressing one’s passion in the internet

The event showcased an intimate audience discussion on expressing one’s passion in the digital age. YouTube influencers Kali Vidanes, Nate Punzalan and Nadine Felice led the conversation as they shared insights on new ways of establishing one’s uniqueness on social media through their passions. HP also invited the bloggers to express their passion and uniqueness, and test the reliability and flexibility of the HP Pavilion x360 by asking them to create on-the-spot YouTube videos, artistic sketches and drawings, and Instagram-worthy photos using the latest HP laptops in the YOUnique video, design and photo booths. Among those who made the rounds of the YOUnique booths were Kali, Nate and Nadine, who guested

in each other’s vlogs covering the event, entirely created and uploaded using the HP Pavilion x360. As a highlight of the launch event, a “Passion Show” was held where all the unique content created by the bloggers was showcased, to celebrate their individuality and the flexibility of the HP Pavilion x360.

Achieving one’s passion with flexibility

For people who are always on the go, the HP Pavilion x360 is a convertible personal computer that can serve as a laptop and a tablet. A durable 360-degree geared hinge lets you easily use the HP Pavilion in four modes—work in laptop mode, watch in stand mode, play in tent mode, and write or draw in tablet mode. The HP Pavilion x360 PC has a micro-edge bezel design which makes the 14-inch screen seem bigger, for a

more immersive viewing experience, especially when you need to watch DIY videos and other self-help content to continuously improve your craft. The Full HD IPS touchscreen also helps you navigate sites with ease. Running on up to 8th generation Intel® Core™ i7 quad-core processor, INVIDIA® MX130 GDDR5 discrete graphics options and a 512GB SSD and 1TB HHD dual storage, the HP Pavilion x360 can handle numerous photo and video editing and curating tasks that come with keeping an online presence and engaging people about your passion and aspirations. On select models, there is the 16GB of Intel® Optane™ memory for storage acceleration. The HP Pavilion x360 is available in Pale Gold, Sapphire Blue, Natural Silver, and Mineral Silver colors for only P62,990 at all authorized HP reseller outlets nationwide.

LAZADA BRINGS FASHION TO ITS CUSTOMERS LAZADA, a top eCommerce platform in the Philippines, is bringing fashion to everyday consumers in the Philippines, connecting brands and sellers, eCommerce and entertainment, in its first-ever “see-now-buy-now” fashion show. The May 17 mega-event will kick off Lazada Philippines’ first-ever three-day Women’s Festival, which runs until May 19, during which shoppers can choose from over 50,000 new styles and enjoy deals of with up to 90% off. The “see now, buy now” fashion show held at the The Atrium of Eastwood Mall, leverages on the cutting edge in-app live streaming technology and Lazada’s eCommerce platform. This will allow both fashion show attendees and customers to watch the event on their Lazada app and buy products or brands that they see real time on the fashion runway. Viewers may also get a chance to interact with influencers and win special prizes and collectible vouchers as they tune in live. The event is among a series of moves by Lazada to combine shopping and entertainment as the eCommerce platform spearheads Shoppertainment in Southeast Asia. “Lazada continues to be the game-changer by revolutionizing the way consumers get access to and shop for their fashion wants and needs. With seenow-buy-now, we are bringing together the best of our technology, fashion assortment, entertainment to better engage Filipinos and offering them a one-

ing their top styles include FitFlop, Olay, and Benefit and local brands like Bench, Penshoppe, and Silverworks. “Lazada has been at the forefront of innovation for eCommerce especially in Southeast Asia. And now, with the shoppertainment concept they’ve come up with, we see this to be the future of retail and are excited to be one of the first local brands to not only experience it but be part of it!” said Abbey Weston, Digital Marketing Head of Bench Get in style with the Lazada Beauty Studio and Fashion Hub which will be open to the public from May 18 to 19. Various activities await customers which include make-up tutorials from premier brands like Revlon, L’Oreal and Maybelline, a hairstyle talk from Tresemme or a booth filled with Lazada local and overseas fashion assortment.

Watch, shop and play all day during Women’s Festival

of-a-kind multi-sensory shopping,” said Jason Huan, Lazada Philippines Chief Marketing Officer

Championing Success with Brands

The “see-now-buy-now” fashion show is also an innovative retail solution for Lazada’s top LazMall fashion and beauty brands. Some brands showcas-

To engage Lazada shoppers, Lazada is rolling out innovative ways in which shoppers can get additional discounts and attractive vouchers from brands like BUM, Wrangler and Garnier when you play LazGame beginning May 14. Earn cupcake points with every game and exchange these for your favorite vouchers. Lazada also launched a new game called “Shop and Match” which challenges customers to a multi-level puzzle matching game.

ALL moms are special, but some are techie cool. This special breed of moms need not put any effort in keeping up with the tech savvy millennials because they are on the game. Are you one of them? Here are some signs that you might be a member of this team: They know the secret to a great selfie Kids these days sure know how to pose for their best angles but you know how to take it for them. You’re the best cameraperson that your child could ever ask for her Instagram updates. Your secret? Knowing your equipment. Having a good smartphone is one but understanding how to maximize its features like its multicamera set-up, the lossless zoom, low-light mode, etc. puts you on a different level. They know which games to play with the right specs Who said games are only for kids? Not for you. You have the latest gaming smartphone available and you team up with your kids in Mobile Legends or maybe beat them in Fortnite. Which is it? They are usually both. You have your smart OOTD Fashion is not only your territory but you put your own twist to it—your favorite wearables. You will always find a way to keep your tech close to you without sacrificing your sense of fashion whether it’s your wireless earbuds, your reliable smartwatch, or even your color gradient phones. You don’t worry about losing power This isn’t just about who has complete control of every situation. For the super techie mom who’s always on the go, this is also about making sure that you have extra charge for the day’s battles with a powerbank. Whether it’s for remotely answering emails or for staying in touch with your family, you are ready. You know how to spot a legit tech You will never be fooled. As how every mom makes sure that they get the best bang for their hardearned buck, you make sure that you get your and your family’s gadget needs from a trustworthy online shop like argomall.com. Established by its innovative founders in November 2015, argomall.com was born out of a creative dream by Filipino-owned conglomerate Transnational Diversified Group to deliver trustworthy and efficient solutions to the discerning Filipino tech shopper. Moms come in all shape and “techieness”. Regardless of that, their love brings about their own unique swag. Cheers to all the mothers in the world!

IMPROVED BORACAY NETWORK BOOSTS LOCAL BUSINESSES, TOURISM THE Boracay Women’s Producer Cooperative, which makes Pinay Boracay specialty soap shampoo, tea, and other organic products, used to struggle to spread the word about their items. “Today, thanks to social media, more people now know about us and our products,” said Angelyn K. Roda, general manager of BWPC, whose specialty soaps include gumamelainfused “gwapamela” soap, and variants with moringa, papaya, and oregano. Technology has played a significant role in BWPC since its early days. According to Roda, their chairman Desiree Segovia actually first had the idea of making soap after watching a video on Youtube. “We use social media and chat apps like Messenger to promote our products and to talk to our customers,” said Roda. And because Smart’s signal is strong in the island, posting about BWPC products is a breeze for Roda and her fellow members. “Whether we want to watch videos on Youtube, post photos on Facebook or send messages on Messenger, Smart has really

helped us a lot in our business,” Roda said. BWPC is among the local businesses benefiting from PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc.’s (Smart) improved connectivity in Boracay, which has recently been reopened after rehabilitation. Tourism boost Since then, the island has seen the return of many tourists, among them travel blogger Finn Snow, who has been based in the Philippines for the past two years. “I first learned about the Philippines through social media and Youtube,” said Snow, whose travel vlogs feature both popular tourist spots like Boracay as well as lesser-known, off-the-beaten-path places like Balabac in Northern Palawan. A Smart subscriber, Snow said his phone has been his lifeline over the years. “The internet plays a huge part in my work. If I can’t upload, I can’t work,” he said. “With Smart, I can upload videos and answer emails—just through my phone.” Local biz boost As more local and foreign tourists re-

The reopening of Boracay has boosted local businesses in the island.

turn to Boracay, local shops on the island have begun feeling the boost in their earnings, as business picks up the pace. Sheila Mae Oczon, who works at G&C Medicine Center, said sales are brisk at

their pharmacy, especially since they also sell load aside from medicine. “When the island was closed for rehabilitation, we had only a few customers. Now that it’s open again, more people now come to

buy medicine and load from our store,” said Oczon. Oczon said they serve both local and foreign tourists. “With the internet more accessible, tourists can easily share the beauty of Boracay to the world,” she said. Tech for sustainable tourism Since the island’s reopening, the local government’s thrust has been for sustainable tourism in Boracay. For environment advocates like actress Antonette Taus, who founded non-profit organization Communities Organized for Resource Allocation (Cora), technology also plays a big part in increasing awareness about sustainable tourism. “With social media, we can show the world that sustainable tourism is possible,” said Taus. “Everything we post online is powerful. As soon as you type those words, or post that photo—you have to think of how they can affect others. In the end, I believe that is what sustainability is all about—caring about the effects of your actions.”

Desiree Carlos, Editor

SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2019

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

Pets

URINARY TRACT INFECTION U

(UTI) IN CATS

RINARY tract infection (UTI) is a disease that should worry any cat owner. UTI, like in humans, becomes painful when it progresses, and can damage the kidneys. UTI occurs when bacteria “colonize” areas in the urinary tract when these should be sterile or clean, says vetSTREET in “How to Prevent and Treat Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs and Cats.” “Normally, the bodies of dogs and cats naturally help prevent bacteria from adhering to and multiplying in the urinary tract. A UTI develops when something compromises your pet’s natural defense mechanisms, allowing bacteria that normally live around the urethral opening (for example) to ascend up the urethra and into the urinary bladder, “ vetSTREET said. “UTIs can be painful for both cats and dogs. Fortunately, prompt veterinary treatment can frequently relieve your pet’s discomfort. The good news is ”there have been many medical and nutritional advances made to help resolve urinary tract disease,” PetMD said. It is important to help owners understand UTI to keep cats safe and well: how to detect it at the early stage, the medical intervention, and how to PREVENT the illness. This is more important because the most common reason a cat is abandoned in shelters is due to urinary issues, said PetMD in “5 Signs Your Cat Has Urinary Tract Disease.” Sadder still is the fact the cats are euthanized or put to sleep when they are not adopted.

Symptoms of UTI in cats

Early detection is, of course, very important. Here are the symptoms from PetMD: 1. Your cat strains when urinating. Feline idiopathic cystitis, or bladder inflammation, is the most common cause of lower urinary tract disease in cats, PetMD said. “This inflammation, in turn, can lead to straining when urinating. It can eventually even lead to more severe and emergency type of situations like the formation of stones in the bladder or the for-

MY FURRY BESTIE THIS corner features pets of animal lovers every week. We hope new owners and those thinking of getting a pet will be encouraged to be responsible “furparents” through these features. We also hope more people will be moved to be kind to animals when they read about the great relationship that can be created between humans and animals. For contributions, please email to daycarlos28@yahoo.com and put My Furry Bestie as subject.

come up with a proper diagnosis for the proper medical treatment. The vet will give your cat medication and may even prescribe a special diet or prescription diet like urinary or renal care food if your cat has feline urinary tract disease or FLUTD. Please follow the instructions strictly to prevent progression of the disease into a kidney problem or worse, a kidney failure.

How to prevent UTI in cats

mation of a urethral plug, which is a life-threatening condition that causes the cat (almost always male) to become ‘blocked’ (i.e., unable to urinate),” PetMD added. 2. Your cat attempts to urinate frequently. Cats with UTI often urinate more frequently. There is little to no little water/urine coming out. “This is obviously very frustrating and also dangerous for the cat because when a cat is blocked, they are unable to rid themselves of bodily toxic waste products through their urine, “ PetMD said. 3. Your cat is in pain when urinating When the cat is in too much pain, he or she will start to lick the penile or vaginal area or even the abdominal area. This is the cat’s way of trying to ease the pain or soothe themselves. The cat can also be more irritable than usual. 4. There is blood in the urine. Always check the litter box and your cat’s urine (and poop for other diseases). “Cats with urinary tract disease

will often have urine which is blood-tinged or discolored. Females are at greater risk for urinary tract infections that lead to blood in the urine than are males,” PetMD said. 5. Your cat urinates outside the litter box. Urinating outside the litter box is not always a medical issue, PetMD says, but it is a cause for concern if combined with the symptoms mentioned earlier.

What to do

Please bring your cat to the veterinarian immediately when you see any of these symptoms. PetMD said: “you should schedule an appointment with your veterinarian immediately, especially if your cat is male or has stopped urinating altogether (possibly due to being blocked).” The following will be done: 1. Urine analysis 2. Blood test 3. Possible x-ray 4. Possible abdominal ultrasound These tests will help the vet

“Prevention is the best cure, “ stressed vetSTREET. “Your veterinarian can provide specific guidelines to help your dog or cat stay healthier and reduce the risk of UTIs in the future,” vetSTREET said. Here are tips from vetSTREET to prevent UTI in cats (and dogs): 1. Give plenty of water. Pets like their water clean and fresh just like humans. Do change the water every 2 hours. 2. Talk to your vet regarding your pet’s diet and make some changes as recommended. 3. Provide easy access to your cat’s litterbox and keep it clean. Additional litterboxes for a multi-cat household is ideal so that all cats will have access to a litter box. Clean the litter box always. 4. If your pet is a dog, exercise and walk him or her to encourage your pet to urinate. 5. Keep your pet’s environment clean. 6. Maintain the appropriate weight for your pet to keep your pet healthy. 7. Pay close attention to changes in your pet’s daily routine and urinary habits, which may require you to bring him or her to the vet. “Catching a urinary tract problem early will help alleviate pain and may prevent an easily treated infection from becoming an even more serious health concern, “ vetSTREET stressed. DC

PRINCE is a “rescue” dog, says owner Linda Caedo Lupton. “Not in the ordinary sense in that we did not find him in a shelter but we bought him. My husband passed away and the house would have seemed much lonelier had we not bought him and brought him home, “ Linda says. “He served as such a comfort in those early months and was a much beloved companion to me and my family for the next 13.5 years until his death last July, “ adds Linda. Linda adds: “He was plagued with various ailments and our house looked like a mini hospital with a nebulizer, oxygen tank and medicines that exceeded the cost of my maintenance meds. We think of him often and losing him was really like losing a beloved member of our family. “ “We didn't rescue him. He rescued us,” Linda says. 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.

DEMAND PROPER STORAGE OF PET FOOD FROM PET SUPPLIES STORES PET TALES

BY DESIREE CARLOS DEAR pet owners, please ensure the proper storage of dog and cat food in pet supplies stores and poultry shops. How? 1. Do not buy from pet supplies stores who display OPEN sacks of dog or cat food. 2. Suggest to owners that the pet food be stored properly. Food is essential to our pet’s health. It should be clean and stored properly to prevent illnesses. Proper storage also means the food maintains its ideal nutritional value to keep our pets healthy. I cringe whenever I see open sacks of dog food or cat food on display in pet supplies stores and poultry shops. I cringe all the more when I see a cockroach or a rat inside the store or pass by a poultry shop with the door left open. I wonder why poultry shops are allowed in dirty areas, beside streets with mud and dirt. It is so saddening that despite a law on animal welfare, most Filipinos do not know that animals should be given access to clean, good food, clean water, medical care and shelter, must not be hurt, and must not be made to suffer. The law punishes neglect, abandonment, killing of do-

Provide clean, nutritious food for your pets always. They will remain healthy for many years.

Rescued dogs Mags (white) and Sassy (black) of Save ALL remain healthy due to good food they are given everyday. The food are properly stored.

mesticated animals, among others. Hundreds of thousands of animals suffer in the hands of humans everyday: tied to a fence rain or shine 24/, caged and not exercised or allowed human and dog interaction, fed dirty food in a dirty bowl, thrown inside pounds which are dirty with most pounds unable to provide food and water and even treatment for wounds that the animal got while being caught…

The list of acts of cruelty against animals goes on and on. The violations of the Animal Welfare Act are committed everywhere. This includes, to me, the improper storage of pet food by sellers. The pets are put in harm’s way. Improper storage of dog food should not be tolerated by owners. You are not getting your money’s worth because the

food is not fresh anymore. Your pet might also get sick. Worse, when the dog gets sick of leptospirosis, the owner will incur more expense, this time for medical treatment. Why can’t the simple act of storing pet food properly be done by those who earn a lot from selling pet food? This is where owners can make a difference. As the ones who buy pet food, owners can boycott a store or not buy food from pet supplies stores and poultry shops who do not properly store pet food. Be afraid for yourself and your pets. Those dog or cat food in open sacks could have been contaminated with rat urine that infects dogs and humans with leptospirosis. Let us also properly store food at home. “How you handle [cat/dog] food once you have it at home can make a big difference in how long it remains fresh and maintains its ideal nutritional profile,” says Dr. Jennifer Coates in PetMD’s 5 Cat/ Dog Food Storage Mistakes You DON’T Want to Make. How to store pet food properly : a guide for pet owners and those who own pet supplies stores: 1. Keep the food in the original packaging. You need to know the expiration date. “High-quality cat/dog food bags have been designed to keep out the elements and maintain its freshness for as long as

possible. Keeping the cat food bag also has the added benefit of retaining the cat food’s barcode, expiration date, and batch code—all of which are important information to have, especially in the event of a cat food recall, “ PetMD said. 2. Never expose pet food to air. “Sealing the cat/dog food bag after every feeding helps prevent unnecessary exposure to air and humidity—both of which speed up the rate at which pet foods degrade and increase the risk of bacterial contamination like Salmonella, “ stressed PetMD. 3. Keep pet food away from sunlight. “Exposing the cat/dog food bag to sunlight can elevate temperatures and humidity inside. This will also speed up food degradation and increase the risk of Salmonella contamination as well as other bacteria,” PetMD said. 4. Do not keep or give pet food beyond the expiration date. “Cat/dog food expiration dates (sometimes known as “best by” or “use by” dates) are established to ensure the safety of your cat. Don’t take the risk by feeding your pet expired cat/dog food, “ PetMD said. 5. Do not mix the new pet food with the old one. “You may be tempted to transfer that last bit of cat/dog food from the old bag to a new bag. Don’t! You may be unknowingly tainting your brand new bag of dry cat/dog food,” PetMD said.

SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2019

Business

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

KANSAI PAINT APPOINTS NEW HEAD FOR PH

By Othel V. Campos

SOCIALLYDRIVEN startup stands out among coffee shops that litter busy streets across the country for its strong sense of patriotism and social responsibility.

Sari Café, a coffee shop and diner owned by entrepreneur Vanna Gonzalez-Rodriguez and her husband AJ, is the first cafe to open in Dasmariñas City. Using what remained from their wedding fund and chipping in a bit from their savings, the couple who were social volunteers at Ateneo de Manila University during their college days, decided to establish the cafe near the city plaza, a busy corner where government offices meld with businesses and the church. W h a t re a l l y p u s h e d t h e budding entrepreneurs to create the perfect coffee shop in the city was the lack of a decent cafe within the area. “In all 30 years I spent in my father’s hometown, there wasn’t a single coffee shop in the city center. There were fastfood [outlets] but not one coffee shop where we could enjoy good coffee. We love coffee as much as we love traveling in the Philippines. We want to promote Filipino products,” Vanna says. Sari Cafe which was put up in October 2017 quickly earned the patronage and love of Dasmariños and those who have heard about the cafe either by word of mouth or from a television interview that featured the cafe. With P600,000 in initial capital outlay, the couple transformed an abandoned building into a thriving cafe-cum-diner-store located along the main road. To cut costs and preserve the environment, all furnishings were upcycled like the reupholstered seats and stools, tables and counters. The interiors exude festivities with a splash of a variety of colors and adorned with banderitas. Social enterprise On its wall shelves sit a variety of homegrown products, which Sari Cafe proudly endorses. It gives opportunities to backyard industries to gain recognition and

Outgoing Kansai Paint Philippines Inc. president Takushi Yamamoto and incoming president Akiyoshi Watanabe during the turnover ceremonyat KPPI office in Calamba, Laguna.

Sari Cafe owner Vanna Gonzalez-Rodriguez

CAVITE CAFE FUELS PATRIOTISM following by showcasing the products on a special nook within the store. There are more than 10 backyard products that the store promotes, mostly crafted by women, especially mothers. As a social enterprise, Sari Cafe does not charge a single centavo on products on display, an opportunity given to MSMEs and backyard industries for creating well-crafted products. “As the name suggests, Sari Cafe is short for ‘sariling atin’. We use and promote products that are proudly Philippine made. I believe that these products are our pride as a nation. We have strong conviction for our homegrown products. It does not matter whether their MSMEs or backyard, we believe in the quality of their products,” says Vannah. She says these social enterprise products don’t compromise quality. Many of SKUs brought in by the micro-entrepreneurs are also being

used by the cafe as ingredients of a dish in the menu. For the serving of brewed coffee, Sari Cafe uses Basilio Coffee, a product of social enterprise Bote Central. There are four kinds of coffee sold from the shelves, among them Likha Ni Inay and Cafe Amadeo’s Pahimis Blend, one of the best-selling coffee blends in the Philippines. Other homegrown products on the shelves are Tsaalaya, a lemon ginger tea concoction; tablea or cacao chocolate from Alfonso; chili flakes from Dasmariñas; and Uraro biscuits from Marinduque. Cafe menu On top of brewed coffee, Sari Cafe’s most loved beverage is its selection of milk teas, all carrying local flavors like mango graham and ube quezo. It serves Filipino food-inspired pizza. Longganiza pizza is an all-time favorite alongside Angus beef tapa pizza. Non-meat pizza are also served for vegetarians and vegans. Rice meals are available any time of the day with choices ranging from boneless bangus to other popular meals. The cafe also serves pasta which has won the hearts of adults and millennials. “We realized that there’s a following for local flavors. This made us even more enthusiastic to create more menu using local ingredients. Just to let you know, we already have thought of and had been selling the mango graham milk tea even before it became a local hit,” Vanna says. For special occasions, the cafe offers special pastries such as bibingka cheesecake and ube cheesecake during Christmas. It serves vegetarian fares like

supery cheesy pizza during Lent. Sari Cafe has teamed up with neighborhood and home-based bakers for its pastry and bread requirements. It is another means to uplift the baking industry and support small bakery businesses. Expansion plan In a span of three years, the cafe has expanded with a satellite store near De La Salle University also in Dasmariñas. Vanna says that she and her husband felt it is time to build more satellite stores within Cavite and go outside the province first, before bringing the brand to different Filipino communities in foreign countries. “This is the reason why we joined the Next Generation contest of the Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc. We’re hoping that our business, our idea was good enough to create interest in our brand. Now that we’re starting to equip ourselves with the technical know-how of franchising, it will be easier for us to expand across the country,” she says. Sari Cafe won second place at the NextGen contest which raised hopes for the couple to work doubly harder to improve their brand. The winnings and earnings from the three-year operation will be used to build more company-owned satellite stores while the brand rolls out its franchising plan. “Most of what we need and what we use are sourced all over Cavite. We dream that in the succeeding years, our advocacy store will spread all over the Philippines, so we can also make use of the native, raw ingredients each locality has to offer,” says Vanna.

FOODPANDA MARKS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY WITH SURPRISES FOODPANDA, the on-demand food delivery service in the Philippines, celebrates five years of operations this month. It currently operates in the key cities of Manila, Cebu and Davao and the provinces of Pampanga, Cavite and Laguna. Sporting the bright pink colors, foodpanda delivers good food from more than 5,000 restaurants with the best deals for food lovers. “ We are a food-loving nation and to us, food is a form of celebration. Hence, foodpanda thought of merging our birthday celebration with food and to give back to those who have been with us during our journey—we’ll be offering five great surprises. Customers should stay tuned to see exactly how we will celebrate our fifth birthday, on the fifth month, with special surprises starting on the fifth day. We believe these amazing deals will give our food-loving customers a reason to celebrate with us for the whole month of May,” says foodpanda managing director Iacopo Rovere.

As part of foodpanda’s fifth anniversary, the food delivery service is holding a month-long celebration surprising customers with top surprises. 5.5 Delivery fee Foodpanda decided to provide super-fast delivery for only P5 by using the code: TREAT5 on May 05 - 09. Customers can order from their favorite restaurants and enjoy megadeals, with added benefits of paying the delivery fee at a very minimal cost on all orders. Deals of the week To mark foodpanda’s momentous occasion of five years in the Philippines, foodpanda will be offering its users the best deals from top restaurants in the country. It offers up to 50-percent discount. On top of that, some restaurants will be extending their Hot ‘n Hungry deals on their entire menu. 7 days of raffle Foodpanda teamed up with Samsung as a birthday treat to loyal customers. Customers who order straight for seven days will have

chances to win prizes from Samsung. Customers can win prizes by placing an order worth P500 daily and using the voucher code PANDANNIV to join the raffle and win. Refreshing treats To beat the heat, foodpanda teamed up with Dole pineapple juice to help foodpanda customers stay refreshed and hydrated. Selected restaurants will be giving free 200ml Dole Pineapple juices on all orders for the entire month of May! Bites & vibes The highlight of the birthday party of foodpanda will be the weekend food fair Bites&Vibes. The global event adapted by the PH will be taking place in Davao. This event aims to showcase Davao’s favorite local eats from foodpanda’s platform and to gather everyone for a weekend coupled with music and entertainment. Foodpanda is also promoting the fight against single-use plastics by selling eco-friendly items.

KANSAI Paint Philippines Inc., one of the country’s growing paint suppliers, announced the appointment of KPPI president and general manager Akiyoshi Watanabe effective April 14, 2019. Watanabe takes over from outgoing president Takushi Yamamoto, who star ted his Philippine assignment in April 2015. Under Yamamoto’s leadership, the company saw a steady growth in sales and client base. He also spearheaded the c o m p a n y ’s f o r a y i n t o t h e protective and decorative paint business, which was bolstered by the KPPI partnership with Japanese contractors for the construction of the newly opened Bohol Panglao International Airport. Upon his return to Japan, Yamamoto will assume the position of manager at Kansai Paint’s Kyushu Office. Taking over from Yamamoto at KPPI is Akiyoshi Watanabe, who has been with Kansai Paint Japan for 15 years. A seasoned salesperson, Watanabe was last posted as assistant manager of sales at Kansai Paint’s Kyushu Office before his appointment as KPPI president and general manager based in Laguna. During turnover ceremonies at the KPPI office, Yamamoto advised his successor to always “keep a healthy mind and body, and to take care of his family, including his new KPPI family.” Watanabe said he was very eager to serve in the Philippines. “I am very proud to say that Kansai Paint is the No. 1 paint company in Japan, and with the support of our business partners and colleagues, I am hoping that we can also achieve the same here in the Philippines,” he said. Building on the plans and programs that Yamamoto had established, Watanabe said he was looking forward to helping further boost Kansai’s Philippine business as well as keeping KPPI employees well-motivated and happy.

Business

SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2019 business@manilastandard.net

IP APPLICATIONS GREW 13% IN Q1 APPLICATIONS for intellectual property

increased by 13 percent in the first quarter, reflecting the steadily growing innovation culture in the country. Applications for patents, covering inventions, utility models, industrial designs and trademarks received by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines reached 11,327 in the first quarter, up from 10,031 a year ago. “This growth is the product of our expansion of satellite offices last year, launching three in 2018. Our Bureau of Trademarks likewise implemented a trademark incentive program which we believe aided the increase. In broader terms, our continued information, awareness and capacity-building programs especially for R&D institutions and universities for IP holders stoked this demand,” said IPOPhl. The demand for intellectual property is indicative of both a rise in innovative capacity, demand in protection of new technology and invention as well as increasing of business activity demand in protection of trademarks in business, the agency said. Applications for trademarks climbed 11 percent from 8,405 to 9,312. This does not necessarily reflect the growth of new businesses, but signals expansion of business as trademarks are often acquired when enterprises reach a certain size in capitalization, it said. Othel V. Campos

AMAIA SCAPES RISING IN ILOILO

A RESIDENTIAL development is rising on 15 hectares of land in Barangay San Jose in San Miguel, Iloilo where gentle, fun-loving people take pride in their rich cultural heritage and where modern trade and commerce now thrive amid the lure of ancestral homes and old churches. Set in the heart of the Iloilo-Guimaras Metropolitan Area, Amaia Scapes Iloilo provides easy access to the city’s best restaurants, shopping districts and vibrant nightlife. Amaia Scapes Iloilo is as charming as its city. With innovatively designed homes in a well-managed community and patio greens that serve as an extension of the residences, the development appeals to individuals and families who appreciate its proximity to lifestyle hubs. For one, the Amaia community is near retail places like Shops at Atria, Robinsons Place Iloilo and SM City Iloilo—and other establishments such as Iloilo Technohub, Western Visayas Medical Center and Qualimed Iloilo. Educational institutions like the University of San Agustin, University of the Philippines Visayas and Central Philippine University are also a short drive or commute away. With 314 available homes, Amaia Scapes Iloilo offers different housing options to prospective homeowners: the bungalow pod, carriage pod, single home, twin home and twin pod. All units feature cleverly laid-out living and dining areas, a kitchen, one or more bedrooms and one or more bathrooms. There are multi-level units, while most units have provisions for expansion. As Amaia Scapes Iloilo acknowledges how a wholesome lifestyle benefits the family, kids and adults can spend weekends and leisure hours bonding or making new friends at the basketball court or at the minisoccer field. Residents can rush over to the swimming pool for refreshing dips. Amaia La nd ma ke s a f fo rd a b l e, functional and stylish homes more available to Filipinos by offering low monthly amortization rates and flexible payment options such as cash, deferred cash and bank financing.

ABOTIZ MAKES HISTORIC $10-M DONATION

The Aboitiz Group through the Aboitiz Foundation donates $10 million to the Asian Institute of Management. Leading the ceremonial turnover are (from left) Luis Miguel Aboitiz, Aboitiz Foundation trustee; Erramon Aboitiz, Aboitiz Foundation chairman; Jikyeong Kang, AIM president; and Peter Garrucho, AIM chairman.

HE Aboitiz Group, through Aboitiz Foundation Inc, made a historic donation amounting to over half a billion pesos ($10 million) to the Asian Institute of Management’s Scientific Research Foundation Inc. to help address the demand for skills and talent in data science and innovation in the country as well as the region. The Aboitiz 100th Anniversary Commitment Fund is in celebration of Aboitiz & Co.’s 100th anniversary in 2020. “This is our way of giving back to the country that has been very good to us for 100 years now. The group has made a name for itself in its corporate social responsibility efforts, but we truly believe that it is through our businesses that we actually make the greatest impact on improving the quality of life of our fellow Filipinos. The donation is in line with our promise of advancing business and communities,” said Aboitiz Foundation chairman Erramon Aboitiz. The fund will support degree programs, professorial chairs, student loan programs and site and facilities improvement of the newly-renamed

Aboitiz School of Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship at AIM—a move that the institute believes will address the demands of an emerging knowledge and technology economy in Asia. “Over the past 50 years, AIM has contributed immensely to sustaining the growth of businesses and societies, not only in the Philippines, but in Asia, by developing professional, entrepreneurial, and socially responsible managers and leaders. Similarly, sustainability is at the core of our growth story anchored on our philosophy that we can do well by doing good, always making the right longterm decisions that balance the interests of people, planet, and profit,” said Aboitiz. “ Wi t h t h e A b o i t i z 1 0 0 t h A n n i ve r s a r y Commitment Fund, we hope that this new innovation-focused school will be able to benefit AIM as it leads and blazes new trails, to inspire real-world learning, and to transform principled leaders,” Aboitiz said. AIM offers the following programs at ASITE: Master in Entrepreneurship, the Master of Science in Innovation and Business and the Master of Science in Data Science degree programs. These programs are expected to generate a new breed of professionals whose competencies in leadership and management are strongly complemented by an entrepreneurial, innovative and tech-oriented mindset and skill set adept at navigating the complexities of Industry 4.0. “Indeed, the establishment of the new ASITE is a key innovation of the institute, acting as a catalyst

SHOPBACK RAISES $45M AS E-COMMERCE SURGES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA SHOPBACK, the one-stop rewards and discovery platform, has secured $45 million in its latest funding round. Participants are co-led by EV Growth and Rakuten Capital, as well as EDBI, the corporate investment arm of Singapore’s Economic Development Board. The new capital injection brings the company’s total funding to $83 million. “The fresh funding adds firepower to our innovative efforts centered on simplifying shopping experiences for users while building smarter marketing solutions for merchant partners. We’re now better equipped to not only deliver costefficient sales to our merchant partners, but also to leverage user insights across categories to do cross-selling efficiently,” said Prashant Kala, country head of ShopBack Philippines. ShopBack is cashing in on the region’s growth by linking online merchants to the most engaged mobile internet users in the world. Apart from rewarding users with cashback for making online

purchases, ShopBack also helps merchants make better business decisions with data insights powered by ShopBack’s growing user base. In 2018, ShopBack saw 250-percent year-on-year growth in orders and sales. The company powered over

2.5 million monthly transactions for more than 7 million users in seven Asia Pacific countries and delivered close to $1 billion in sales for over 2,000 merchant partners in both the online and offline spaces. In the Philippines, ShopBack is a strong marketing channel for Lazada, Zalora, Shopee, FoodPanda, Agoda, Booking.com and more. ShopBack Philippines saw a 900-percent increase in the number of users last year, propelled by traffic that grew by nearly 10 times in the fourth quarter of 018. Today, it sustains a month-on-month growth of up to 75 percent. ShopBack’s new round of funding will be deployed into simplifying shopping experiences, expanding data capabilities to fuel personalization and business insights, as well as accelerating growth in key markets. The company remains focused on building rewards and discovery features to enhance both online and offline shopping experiences for consumers across the Asia Pacific.

STARTUP TAPS LENOVO TO REVOLUTIONIZE ADVERTISING

TECHNOLUX BAGS GREENEARTH DISTRIBUTORSHIP TECHNOLUX Equipment and Supply Corp.,

the country’s largest importer and supplier of a complete line of foodservice, small wares and laundry equipment for over 43 years, has been appointed as an international distributor for GreenEarth licensed dry cleaners. The GreenEarth Optimized System uses Siloxane D5 developed after over 15 years of extensive research and testing for human health as well as environmental safety by government agencies in multiple countries. Because of its safety, Siloxane D5 has been used in a wide variety of consumer products for the past 40 years including shampoos, deodorants, lotions and cosmetics. The dry cleaning fluid is perfect for all types of garments and cleans more clothes per liter of fluid, thereby allowing a greater return on the initial investment. GreenEarth also has no smell, making it a good choice for those who are sensitive to fragrances. When using the activated clay-cold filtration method, no distillation is required after every cycle, thereby reducing further the operating cost per cycle. GreenEarth is known to produce better quality dry-cleaned clothes. Because of the chemical characteristics of its proprietary dry cleaning fluid, clothes that are cleaned in siloxane D5 are odor-free, soft to the touch, easy to finish as there is very little wrinkling, lint-free, no dye pull so colors are bright and vivid, no shrinkage and longer “like-new” life span.

that engenders impactful change. It boosts AIM’s commitment to training future-ready leaders who can create, develop, and sustain new engines for growth within the region,” Dr. Jikyeong Kang, president and dean of AIM, said. ASITE provides a stage for innovators, data scientists, and entrepreneurs to work together and produce actionable insights that foster innovation, create value across industries and society, and generate positive impact, especially within the Asian context. “In the midst of exponentially growing technological progress, the school’s goal is to provide our students with a collaborative environment that enables them to develop their core competencies while interacting and networking with peers who can and would be potential partners,” said Peter Garrucho Jr., chairman of the AIM board of trustees. The donation will also sustain the school’s interest-free student loan program, which AIM expects to broaden its target market and give talented and motivated young people who cannot otherwise pay their tuition fees the opportunity to have an AIM education. The Aboitiz School enrollees totaled 167 students in ME, MSIB and MSDS in 2019, a big jump from only 75 students in ME and MSIB in 2017. AIM expects the number to exceed 200 next year. “We are growing the number gradually to ensure that the quality of the teaching and learning experience is maintained,” Kang said.

A D M O V Tr a n s p o r t M a r k e t i n g Solutions Inc. teamed up with global innovation leader Lenovo to deliver highly interactive and personalized advertisements to commuters via tablet devices as a part of the company’s plan to revolutionize the local advertising industry. A startup that is making waves in the local advertising industry, AdMov uses tablets to show suited content and advertisements to commuters as its method of bridging the gap between brands and customers. Tablets are attached behind the front seat

headrests of cars that are on ridehailing services such as Grab and its software can analyze the passenger’s gender, age and even mood through facial detection technology. The software then allows AdMov to present the appropriate content based on the information gathered. The program also uses geo-fencing to consider the vehicle’s real-time location. If, for example, the vehicle is traveling within Taguig City, the tablet will show content about nearby establishments. Integrated augmented reality technology is implanted in the

software to further add interactivity. “Personalized and interactive ads are simply more attention-grabbing as they greatly enhance the experience of those watching. Augmented reality, for example, allows interested buyers to try on products like accessories while inside the car,” says Ellard Capiral, cofounder and chief executive of AdMov. Despite data being examined, they are not stored by any means in which AdMov and its advertisers do not see the faces of passengers. If a person wishes to buy the product after seeing the generated advertisement, the software will provide links to the advertiser’s e-commerce site or social media accounts via QR codes, coupons and email lead generation, so the passenger can conduct the transaction at his or her own time and device. “It is a great opportunity to showcase Lenovo’s innovative capabilities in the advertising industry, where digital technology is steadily being integrated into the creation of new content,” says Lenovo Philippines country general manager Michael Ngan. Ngan says with people being flooded with tons of content every day, it is difficult for brands to connect with their audience. “The interactive

advertisements shown by AdMov helps them stand out because the software has increased the efficiency of their ads in terms of reaching out and attracting potential customers, and we’re very excited that our products are part of this development within the advertising industry,” he says. Streamlining the process Until the discovery of Lenovo Tab 4, AdMov had trouble in finding a tablet model that could support its program. Yet with the popularity of Lenovo Tab 4, the company still had to deal with multiple stores to fulfill its hardware requirements. Under this partnership, Lenovo is streamlining the whole device acquisition process by directly providing AdMov 10,000 Lenovo Tab 4 tablets. Through this, Lenovo is helping AdMov to reach its goal at a faster and much more efficient rate. “Our services are built on a flexible framework that helps us develop the best solution for our customers’ requirements and business goals. By providing AdMov with a device that is powerful and robust enough to handle its software and facilitating direct acquisition, we help them to be on track in targeting their clients’ preferred audience,” says Ngan.

Entertainment

SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2019

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

ANC GEARS UP FOR

HALALAN 2019 COVERAGE Beyoncé comes in second as the most streamed mom on the music streaming platform.

MOST STREAMED MOMS ON SPOTIFY ANC Halalan 2019 anchors Karen Davila, Tina Monzon-Palma, Lynda Jumilla, and Cathy Yang

BS-CBN News Channel, the 2019 Gawad Tanglaw Best TV News Station, gears up for its round-the-clock coverage of the May 13 midterm elections led by the country’s top news anchors Tina Monzon-Palma, Karen Davila, Lynda Jumilla, and Cathy Yang.

The 36-hour “Halalan 2019” coverage starts at 4:00 a.m. tomorrow until 6:00 p.m. of May 14. Viewers can expect live reports and up-tothe-minute updates delivered by

ANC reporters in precincts around the country and around the world. Also contributing to the comprehensive news coverage are key government officials like COMELEC

spokesperson James Jimenez, political scientists Julio Teehankee, Edmund Tayao, andFrancisco Magno, poll watchers from organizations like KontraDaya, YouthVote, and PPCRV, representatives from advocacy groups, and citizens, who will deliver in-depth analyses and developments during the national elections. Aside from on-air and onground coverage, ANC will also provide up-to-date online news via Twitter (@ANCAlerts) and Facebook (www. facebook.comANCAlerts). Regular programming will

resume at 6:01 pm on May 14. Following the elections, ANC will also air the second edition of the election special “My Vote” on May 15 at 8:00 p.m. anchored by Monzon-Palma and Karmina Constantino. The special, whose first part aired on May 8, featured five voters from diverse backgrounds as they discussed their concerns about the country, their preferred criteria for candidates, and various issues. The second part will feature the same five voters talking about their experiences during the elections.

YAM RULES OVER MYX AS CELEBRITY VJ TV STAR Yam Concepcion sits on the MYX throne this summer as she chills with the country’s number one music channel as Celebrity VJ for the month of May. The 28-year-old actress swoops in to brighten the month as she ushers in the freshest tunes, and even answers some of the hottest questions from fans. Itchyworms, meanwhile, also conquers this summer as the band settles in as “MYX Headliner.” Watch out for Itchyworms’ MYXclusive performances of hits “Sisikat Muli Ang Araw”, “Loco” and “‘Di Na Muli.” The band’s video for “Sisikat Muli Ang Araw” is also nominated for Rock Video of the Year at

the upcoming MYX Music Awards 2019. Singer-songwriter Rice Lucido steps up as she serenades the music channel under the “MYX Spotlight.” Rice showcases her “Hele Ng Maharlika” album as well as “The Hows Of Us” OST “Dalawang Tao” to bring in feels this hot season. Meanwhile, MYX Music Awards 2019 is finally happening at the ABS-CBN Vertis Tent on May 15 (Wednesday). The much-awaited event gathers outstanding performers such as Julie Anne San Jose, Moira Dela Torre, This Band, St. Wolf, and Unique. Check out the #MYXMusicAwards2019 nominees playlist on Spotify and vote for your favorite nominees until today by logging on to www.myxph.com.

HOT MOMMA. Rapper Cardi B is the most streamed mom on Spotify THIS Mother’s Day we’re celebrating the moms who juggle the demands of parenting with life in the limelight. Spotify’s global list of moststreamed moms is topped by Cardi B, whose first child, Kulture Kiari Cephus, was born in July 2018. Momof-three, Beyoncé comes in second, followed byAdele, P!nk, and Shakira. Rounding up the top 10 are Kehlani in no. 6 followed by Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, and Mariah Carey. And for anyone looking for a way to celebrate their own superstar mom for Mother’s Day, look no further than a trend started by Spotify’s very own listeners; creating a personalized playlist just for mom. Spotify noticed Happy Mother’s Day playlists have grown in the last few years, with their streams increasing 19 percent from 2016 to 2018. Overall, users have created more than 7.8 million momthemed playlists. “A Song for Mama” by Boyz To Men is the most-added song to Happy Mothers Day playlists created by listeners, followed by Meghan Trainor’s track “Mom,” which features vocals from her IRL mom, Kelli Trainor. ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” and Bruno Mars’s “Just the Way You Are” are also popular picks. And while thoughtfully-chosen tracks make each playlist special and unique to each mom, some listeners add an even more personalized touch by uploading a photo of their mom, or a nostalgic pic as the playlist cover. Most included songs in Happy Mother’s Day playlists on Spotify, globally also include “Dear Mama” by 2Pac, “Mama” by Spice Girls, “Hey Mama” by Kanye West, “Happy” byPharrell Williams, “Mama’s Song” by Carrie Underwood, and “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrisson.

‘AMAZING EARTH’ TAKES VIEWERS ON A JOURNEY TO THE UNCHARTED WILDLIFE

‘Amazing Earth’ anchor Dingdong Dantes

IT HAS been a year of exploring the depths of the ocean and into the abyss of the Planet Earth. For its newest season, high-rating infotainment show Amazing Earth will transport Kapuso viewers to the feral and predatory side of wildlife. Hosted by award-winning actor Dingdong Dantes, the program will be featuring the actionpacked and suspense-filled BBC documentaries entitled –The Hunt. The Hunt is a celebration of nature’s most determined, specialized and cunning predators and their equally shrewd and elusive prey. Using the most technologically-advanced cameras and up-to-date cinematography, the docu showcases life and death situations in nature that demonstrate the remarkable strategies of hunters and even the hunted in the cycle of life. Dingdong, a well-known advocate of

environmental protection, sets out to hunt through the most extraordinary and exceptional members of the wild in BBC’s The Hunt episodes. For this latest season, he will tag along the audience to his journey to the most breathtaking places in the Philippines with interviews from environmentalists on ways how to deal and care for Mother Nature. Airing for almost a year now, Amazing Earth has embarked on a number of adventures across the world and has taken its viewers to some of Mother Earth’s most evasive yet fascinating flora and fauna. Under the helm of Rico Gutierrez, make it a family habit to explore, enjoy and learn about our one and only planet in Amazing Earth every Sunday night after 24 Oras Weekendon GMA Sunday Grande.

Pharrell William’s ‘Happy’ is one of the most included songs in Happy Mother’s Day playlists on Spotify, globally.

Destinations C4

SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2019

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

WHERE ADVENTURERS TAKE A BREAK Take a dip in the property's rooftop swimming pool.

THE ONLY WAY IS UP. Le Charme Suites in Subic has its own outdoor rock climbing wall, along with other adventure-focused facilities.

By Sara Grace C. Fojas

OST hotels focus on the same things: comfortable beds, swimming pool facility, delicious f&b offerings, indulgent spa services—the vital elements of a relaxing stay. But this new hotel in Subic climbs up a little bit higher with its rock climbing wall and adventure-focused facilities. “Most of the corporate crowd now is into active lifestyle. Everyone is doing the swimming pool and I saw a niche on the biking sport and that’s what we provide here at Le Charme. Our rooms are big enough for your bike and other sports equipment,” says Josephine Floresca, founder and managing director of Le Charme Suites. Le Charme Suites in Subic was conceptualized specifically for the active person. One of its most unique features are the bike racks placed in front of the rooms and along the hallways. Its lobby and elevators were designed to accommodate guests with bicycles and other large baggage and recreational equipment. Throughout guests’ stay, they are promised to experience the charmed life. Aside from being spacious, each room is complete with topnotch amenities and services. Its Standard Room and Deluxe King are perfect for on-the-go professionals who need to unwind after a long business meeting and relax in the space of luxury.

The Deluxe Twin is nothing short of comfort with its two queen size beds, perfect for barkadas and families. The Suite, on the other hand, lets guests soak up the sun from the veranda and leisurely lounge in their own mini living room. Le Charme’s Taichi spa offers relaxing signature massages such as Taichi Foot Reflexology, Traditional Hilot, Chinese Dry Massage, and Sports Massage. It also has Swedish Massage, Shiatsu Massage, Combination Massage, and Body and Foot Massage. Guests can also opt for Ventosa, Hot stone, Quaasa, and Hand and Scalp Massage. Guests can also use its Jacuzzi and sauna, or avail services at the salon. “We also do functions here. Our conference room is equipped with video conference equipment. We currently have a very high demand because the Subic Bay Convention Center is under renovation; people are inquiring if we have a function hall for workshops and seminars so that’s what we’re working on now,” shares Floresca.

Cyclists staying at Le Charme can park their bikes inside the hotel's guests rooms.

The hotel even has its own fitness coach to guide guests should they want to bike around the area or ride a stationary bike on the rooftop beside the 4-ft pool. Beginners can also try their hand at rock climbing. Completing the fun experience is the hotel’s VR (virtual reality) facility. Outside the property are mountains and seas. A 30-minute to an hour drive takes guests to various adventure spots such as the Zoobic Safari, where they can have a close encounter with tigers and other animals; Camayan Resort, where they can enjoy sand and sea; and Ocean Adventure, where they can have an encounter with dolphins. Further immerse in nature at Pamulaklakin Trail where Tata Kasoy teaches trekkers

how to craft survival tools made of bamboo and how a person can get by without having much. The trail, true to its name, is blooming with nature’s bounty such as trees standing there for over a century. And in between those adventures, guests can fuel up with sumptuous delicacies served at Mi Tapas or try the only Asian fusion restaurant in Subic—Teppan 101. After staying a night or two, guests return to their busy lives filled with stories of adventures. Go to www.lecharmehotels.com or Le Charme Suites on Facebook or Instagram for more information. Photos by Via Baroma and Louise Santiano

THE VICE PRESIDENT’S DOMAIN MERCURY RISING

The imposing facade of the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Peñafrancia and its towering belfry

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO

IF THERE is one destination in the country that surprised me the most, it’s Naga City. This is because, aside from being the home city of our Vice President, Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo or Leni Robredo, and of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, I have not really heard of any other tourism attraction the city is known for. But when I got there, I was practically overwhelmed by the many remarkable and interesting tags attached to the city, after all. People refer to Naga City as the Heart of the Bicol Region because of its central location in the Bicol Peninsula. It is also more popularly known as the “Pilgrim City” because it prides itself on being the home of the largest Marian Festival in Asia—the yearly fluvial procession for Our Lady of Peñafrancia. What is even more noteworthy is the city’s multifaceted tag as the financial, religious, cultural, medical, and educational center of the Bicol Region. Having learned all these upon arrival, I was already awed on the first day of my visit. Added to these noble labels are the city’s award as the Most Competitive Component City in the Philippines, and its being recognized as a Center of Good Governance in the Philippines. I was easily won over, totally convinced that the city and the province have many beautiful things to offer to skeptical tourists like me. However, due to a very hectic schedule, I only had time for a short city tour, so I made sure I got to visit the most important, the iconic destination that is the “soul” of the city. The Minor Basilica of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia, located on the outskirts of Naga City, houses the image of the Blessed Mother, a 309-year-old wooden replica of the original which is enshrined in a church in Salamanca, Spain. Thousands of devotees join the yearly fluvial procession along the Naga River, while several thousands more line up along the river banks, all of them venerat-

One of the beautiful stained glass windows in the basilica

ing the image which is believed to be miraculous. religious significance, as the house of the most The modern Basilica itself is something to marvel venerated statue of the Blessed Mother in Asia. at. It boasts very colorful stained glass windows done I also had time to see the Porta Mariae, the triumphal by renowned mural artist Pancho Piano. The pavil- arch which commemorates the 300 years of Bicolano ion in front of the church devotion to Our Lady of Peis another showcase of ñafrancia. On the top censtained glass art. Each ter of this 18-meter wide, glass pane of the dome11-meter high concrete YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE like structure tells a story arch is a 3-meter statue of SIGN IN A BAR: Those of you who are of miracles attributed to Our Lady, with two angels drinking to forget, please pay in advance. the Marian image and on each side. how these have changed The 4-meter depth of the lives of people. the arch gave me the feelBut what caught my ing I was looking at the attention immediately as I was walking toward the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It certainly is an InstagramBasilica is its towering belfry. Its height, soaring able piece of architecture. In fact, there was a conaround eight storeys high into the sky, makes the tinuous flow of people posing in front of it. I could church even more impressive. I guess its builders never find the opportunity to capture on camera want the facade to call attention to the structure’s the imposing image of the arch by itself because

there were always many tourists posing in front of it from whichever angle I viewed it. As I was mulling over the religious value of the city’s main attraction, I couldn’t help thinking of its VIP daughter, Vice President Robredo and her ongoing battle with the electoral protest filed against her. I’m sure the miraculous image made it possible for the Vice President to remain confident of her win against her protesting opponent. I learned that VP Robredo’s winning lead over Marcos remained intact following the conclusion of the recount and re-appreciation of ballots from the three pilot provinces designated by the losing candidate. In fact, for the recount to proceed in the other areas that he questioned, I am told that Marcos needs to show a substantial recovery in his designated pilot provinces. I believe in the power of prayer and in life’s many small miracles. I know that Our Lady of Peñafrancia’s caring hands continue to cuddle the city’s favorite daughter, protecting her from the ongoing dastardly efforts to shake her off from her domain. Now, I’m totally convinced there’s more to Naga than meets the eye. For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com.

other’s

By Felina Alcabaza

OTHER’S Day is an annual celebration to honor our mothers’ hard work and

Mostly, they spend their time at home, doing chores. But nowadays, there are also mothers who work for the family’s stability. But whatever their work is or wherever they may be, it’s time to take them out of their zones and treat them with love. Here are some places where you can spend your payback to your hardworking mothers. Staycation at City of Dreams First on the list is the City of Dreams in Paranaque. It has different hotels and restaurants that will indulge and pamper our mothers. It offers overnight “staycations”

with great deals and great offers. You can also enjoy its luxurious casino. But, if you just want to chill and relax, you can just seat back under the sun at the grand resort. Relaxation at Onsen Spa Next is the Onsen Spa, which is located at I’M Hotel in Makati City. It offers high-class experience for a very affordable price. Onsen Spa is known to be the largest urban spa in the Philippines. It is best for relaxation for the whole family, especially for our hardworking mothers.

Take her to a fresh environment—My Mother’s Garden If you just want to eat and catch up with your mother, My Mother’s Garden is the best place for you. The place is a healthy environment and you will be surrounded by plants. You can enjoy your bonding moment while enjoying the food, which is great. The owner of the My Mother’s Garden is very hospitable and willing to tell you the stories of her mother. Nostalgia at Mama Rosa Most mothers would always love Filipino dishes. Mama Rosa is known for its grilled dishes and Filipino food. It is also popular for its variety of kinilaw. It has a simple relaxing interior which is best for simple mothers. It will give you nostalgia because of the different Filipino specialties. Continued on D3

Places to Visit on Mother’s Day

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By Felina Alcabaza

OR our mothers, celebrating Mother’s Day is a cliché. But what makes it special is when you do something from the heart.

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Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day be helpful. For her mind to keep active and healthy, give her books that will poke her interest. Together with that, make her a customized bookmark. You can put your name, her name, your family name, scripture or favorite quotations.

Here are some gift ideas that may help you express your love for your mother. Coloring Book Who says that coloring is just for kids? Coloring has proven to help reduce stress. Our mothers face stress every hour of every day. Do a personalized coloring book. Use the power of technology to help you create prints. You can also use applications to make it much easier. If you are the artist kind and you can do it yourself, it would be much special. Take note to print ﬂowers, mandalas, leaves, plants and abstracts, as they are known to be more helpful.

Photo-Album Create a scrapbook-like photo album. Printed pictures never go out of style. Parents, speciﬁcally our mothers tend to be sentimental especially when their kids are growing old. It takes them back to the time when you were young and innocent. Put photos and leave pages where she can put photos of her choice. Let her keep memories.

Pillow Case Who wouldn’t love a squishy pillow especially when the case is from someone you love? You can put your initials or short message through embroidery, patches or beads. You can also do quilting, but use satin cloth to make it more huggable.

Cook her Favorite Food Anyone can cook if you only know the recipe. Imagine thinking what to cook every day – a routine that our mothers have to live by constantly. It is your chance to save her from thinking what to cook and prepare for the family. Surprise her with your skills in cooking. Without burning the food, of course. A gift is not always something expensive that you can buy. It is something where you put your best effort and offer it with love.

Clean House and Finish Chores Nothing more is more appealing to the eyes than a clean and organized home, especially if those eyes are your mother’s. Give her a break even just for a day and experience what it’s like to do the things that she’s been doing.

Book and Bookmark To have a healthy mind, read books. Know your mother’s ideologies, favorite writer, favorite topics and things she should know that can

Celebrity mothers’ quotes

“Having children just puts the whole world into perspective. Everything else just disappears.” -Kate Winslet

“Motherhood has changed everything for me, of course. I am a lot braver and I am more secure; I have more purpose.” -Beyoncé “Different women make different choices. But for me, being a mother is priceless.” -Marian Rivera

“My most important title is ‘mom-in-chief’. My daughters are still the heart of my heart and the center of my world.” -Michelle Obama

“My favorite thing about being a mom is just what a better person it makes you on a daily basis. Every morning when I wake her up, the endgame is, ‘Can I get her to smile?’ And that puts me in a good mood. It’s deﬁnitely a different way to live—and a much better one.” -Drew Barrymore

“Ngayon na-realize ko how strong women are—to carry a life and to give birth to a life and to take care of it, nurture, and nourish it. I now have so much love and respect for every woman who gave birth kasi iba pala talaga ‘yong pinagdadaanan ng isang babae.” -Toni Gonzaga

“[Having children] made me understand that there was a purity to love. That there is an unconditional love.” -Jennifer Lopez

“I see myself as a mom ﬁrst. I’m so lucky to have that role in life. The world can like me, hate me or fall apart around me and at least I wake up with my kids and I’m happy.” -Angelina Jolie

“Being a mother is probably the hardest job in the world. I feel like, in a lot of ways, children come into the world to teach us.” -Mariah Carey

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Jollibee showcases power of a mother’s nurturing love in inspiring Mother’s Day video

ROM the moment mothers feel a heartbeat inside their womb, to the first time they see and hold their newborn, they have made a promise to remain strong and shower their children with eternal love and support throughout their life. This May, Jollibee and creative agency McCann World Group Philippines honor all loving moms as they release a special “Kwentong Jollibee Mother’s Day” special that will remind everyone of the power of a mother’s unwavering affection and nurturing love. Directed by Sheron Dayoc, ‘Schoolboy’ follows the story of a young boy as he overcomes his insecurities in his new school and achieves his dream with the help of his mother’s care and encouraging words that gave him the confidence he needed. “There are many types of love in this world -- one we share with friends, relatives, and significant others. But we know that it is the love that we receive from o u r mothe r s

that make us feel more confident to embrace ourselves,” said Francis Flores, Jollibee Global Brand Chief Marketing Officer and PH Marketing Head. For a child, there is no greater gift in life than having a mother who is there by their side and cheer them on as they grow up. “This Mother’s Day, we want to showcase the unique bond that a mother and child have and how this encourages the child to love themselves and live their life with a purpose no matter their personal condition,” added Flores. As the guiding light of every Filipino household, mothers play an inspiring figure in the life of each member of the family. Last year, Jollibee touched the hearts of netizens with its successful Mother’s Day trilogy - Amor”, “Tess”, and “Helen” - which reached over 27 million views in Facebook and YouTube and touched hearts of over 65.8 million netizens. Jollibee once again celebrates the red-letter day with a new heartwarming “Kwentong Jollibee Mother’s Day” special. This year, Jollibee aims to once again shine the spotlight on moms as a fitting tribute to the person

who never fails to provide encouragement and support every step of the way. Watch the ‘Schoolboy’ Kwentong Jollibee Mother’s Day special on Jollibee’s ofﬁcial Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/JollibeePhilippines/ videos/2382580938502113/ and YouTube channel: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UNDpEUCB Ykk&feature=youtu.be. In time for this year’s Mother’s Day celebration, everyone is invited to bring their beloved mother and the whole family for a langhap-sarap feast at Jollibee. From May 10 to 12, customers who purchase a 6-pc Chickenjoy Bucket will get a free sweet-sarap Jolly Spaghetti as a treat for the special day. Meanwhile, every purchase of an 8-pc Chickenjoy Bucket comes with two free Jolly Spaghetti. Promo is also available for take-out, drive-thru, and delivery.

Places... From D1 Get Healthy and Be Happy at Happy Garden Café We all want to be healthy as possible, especially since our mothers are not getting any younger. Happy Garden Café offers gluten-free and organic menu. It can give you options to make your meal more satisfying. Its ambiance is relaxing to the eyes. Happy Garden Café is very healthy and vegetarian friendly. Always remember that it doesn’t really matter how fancy or how modest the place is. That moment of bonding will always be the best part of it.

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MINNIE CLET,

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proving motherhood has many facets

By Peter Paul Duran

INNIE Clet, General Manager of JDC Advertising, just one of her several accomplishments, is a mother of two.

She grew up in a poor family in a simple house along the shorelines of Quezon. Theirs was not a sprawling estate, but it was home big enough to house all 10 children and their parents. The sea was their sustenance and their parents supported them through it. Looking back, she shared that in this environment was where she would learn the value of responsibility. “I’m actually the eighth of 10 siblings (laughs),” shared Minnie when Manila Standard visited her home in Cavite recently. “Ito talaga ang pangarap ko na mula nu’ng maliit ako, magkaroon ng bahay na masasabi ko’ng sa akin, simple pero maganda,” she said when she welcomed our team for an afternoon shoot and interview. As you enter her three-story residence, one of the many fruits of her labor in putting up her advertising ﬁrm JDC from the ground up, you see picture frames of her family. Among the photos, she is seen with her supportive husband Tommy and their two children, whose both names’ initials are JD--the inspiration behind the name of her company. In time for Mother’s Day, she shared some of the things she learned as she went through the wonderful experience of motherhood. “With every child, ibang experience. May matutunan ka rin sa mga anak mo. Like me, there are lessons that I am now applying to my youngest which I learned when I was bringing up my ﬁrst born,” she said. Minnie believes that having a child is just a one-way ticket to being a parent and motherhood is a cliché. “It’s hard to be a mother, but there is no proper schooling for being a mother,” she said. She admitted being strict to her children, a trait she says she got from her mother. She says that tough love is necessary to foster respect, but is quick to remind that she never goes overboard. “I discipline my sons in a hard way or as we all know the traditional way, especially ‘yung panganay ko noon.

Pero with my bunso, medyo iniba ko na,” said Minnie. Raising her younger one, Daniel, is another story. Daniel’s emotional quotient is maturing slower than his age. Minnie’s traditional way of discipline doesn’t apply to Daniel, she says. Thus, she seeks professional help. She also learns from other mothers who have the same experience and at the same time, she gives tips to other mothers as well. At that time, she is relieved that she is not the only one who experience challenge with their children. Favoritism is not a thing in their family because of raising two boys with different personalities. Which is a good thing because Minnie is learning a lot from her children, both boys and 15 years apart. “My challenges in life are ﬁnancial and being distant from my sons. Pero alam niyo, I am blessed to be surrounded by good people who help me with the expenses,” said Minnie. “It was a problem na pinaghandaan pero thankfully never namin kinailangan i-face,” she added while giving a tour of her humble abode, which features a bahay kubo at her terrace up top—the spot which she says is her favorite of all, reminding her of simpler times back when she was a child. “And I am very thankful kay God for all of these blessings, especially when I got sick and given only 20% chance of living. I am proud to be blessed to be given a chance to live more,” she said. For Minnie, it is necessary to teach her children in a way that she can learn from them, too. She teaches them the value of the scriptures as they go to church every Sunday and appreciate simple values. Minnie believes that there is no right age to be a mother, but there is a right maturity to be a mother. “Being all-knowing doesn’t mean knowing all angles. You have to put yourself on your child’s shoes and understand their personal issues. You have to be mature for them to mature,” she said. With Bea Alcabaza