Manila Standard - 2019 June 2 - Sunday

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 108 • 4 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

RODY: JAPAN TIES 'EMPOWERING' PH

12 DEAD IN VIRGINIA MASS SHOOTING WORLD B2

US 'FIRES OFF' NEW WARNING VS. SINO THREAT SINGAPORE—The United States warned China on Saturday against threatening its neighbors’ sovereignty and said Washington was investing in new military technology in the next five years to keep Asia stable.

Washington and Beijing have been vying for influence in the region, which hosts potential flashpoints such as the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula and the Taiwan Strait.

Ties between the two powers are once again taking center stage at the weekend Singapore conference known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, which gathers defense ministers and top military officials from around the world.

While the forum is purely on security, the discussions are also being held against a backdrop of Sino-US trade tensions and high-tech rivalry.

“China can and should have a cooperative relationship with the rest of the region ... But behavior that erodes other nations’ sovereignty and sows distrust of China’s intentions must end,” acting US Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan told the forum.

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PHOENIX CUTS OIL PRICES BY P1.75/LITER

By Alena Mae S. Flores PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines rolled back gasoline prices by P1.75 per liter and P1.05 per liter for diesel effective 12 noon, June 1 to reflect the movement of prices in the world market.

Phoenix implemented the rollback ahead of the other oil firms who usually adjust prices every Tuesday.

This is the second consecutive oil price rollback after the oil firms cut the price of P0.35 per liter and diesel by P0.45 per liter last week.

Phoenix also announced a price cut for cooking gas and autoLPG to reflect the lower contract price of liquefied petroleum gas in the international market.

“Please be informed that Phoenix LPG Phils. Inc. will decrease the prices of Phoenix Super LPG by P6.25 per kilogram and Auto LPG by P3.45 per liter effective 12:01 a.m. of 01 June 2019,” Phoenix said.

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LET THERE BE LIGHT.

US First Lady Melania Trump (right) visits the Mori Building Digital Art Museum, flanked

by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s wife, Akie Abe in Tokyo on May 26. AFP

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US SEEKS ANTI-TRUST PROBE VS. GOOGLE

SOLEMN PRAYER. Muslim men of all ages pray at the Manila Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Manila as the end of Ramadan draws near on June 5.

LOCAL MEAT PRODUCTS REMAIN ASF-FREE THE country’s largest group of meat processors assured consumers that locally-processed meat products such as canned meat and hotdogs do not contain meat materials from countries infected by the African Swine Fever.

The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. issued the statement on the heels of a nationwide campaign of the Food and Drug Administration to recall processed meat products purportedly imported from ASF-infected countries.

The Bureau of Customs, for its part, said it is closely monitoring the country’s borders to prevent the entry of banned meat products.

Only importers with proper clearances and permits from the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Industry, and FDA, among others, will be allowed to bring in meat products into the county, the BOC said.

ASF is a fatal animal disease affecting pigs and wild boars with up to 100-percent mortality, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Countries affected by disease include China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia and North Korea.

PAMPI president Felix Tiukinhoy said most of the ASF-infected countries do not export meat products to the Philippines.

Tiukinhoy urged the FDA to be cautious and specific in its pronouncements as vague statements could lead to confusion and uncertainty among consumers.

Recall orders, he said, should be product specific as he asked the FDA to identify the brands and countries of origin instead of issuing general statements that are prejudicial to local manufacturers.

STIFFER ANTI-DRUG PENALTIES SOUGHT

By Joel E. Zurbano

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MEASURE aimed at penalizing owners and operators of warehouses used as laboratories and storage houses of illegal drugs is now being pushed at the Senate.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian filed Senate Bill No. 1225 seeking to amend Section 8 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Gatchalian came up with the proposed measure following the recent discovery of P1 billion worth of shabu at a warehouse in Malabon City.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency officials said the seizure of illegal drugs in Malabon is connected to the agency’s operation in Dasmariñas, Cavite on Feb. 13 where 36 kilos of shabu worth P244 million wereseizedandanotheroperationinTanza, Cavite on Feb. 3 where 274 kilos of shabu worth P1.9 billion were confiscated.

In May 2017, government agents also raided two warehouses in Valenzuela City where they seized more than 600 kilos of shabu worth P3 billion.

Under Gatchalian’s proposal, owners or lessors of houses, buildings, warehouses, or any edifice utilized as storage facilities or laboratories for the manufacture of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors, or essential chemicals face the penalty of imprisonment ranging from 12 years and one day to 20 years, and a fine from P100,000 to P500,000.

“This bill is another weapon in the government’s arsenal in the anti-drug campaign,” Gatchalian said.

“It seeks to place the onus on the property owner or lessor to ensure that his property and premises are not utilized as a clandestine laboratory for the manufacturing or storage of dangerous drugs or chemicals used as raw materials for these banned substances,” he added.

The lawmaker said under the bill,

the maximum penalty shall be imposed upon the owner, lessor, or person having the authority to lease the property, if such person had prior knowledge that the property and its premises will be utilized to manufacture or store dangerous drugs.

If the property subject of the lease is government-owned, government officials or employees who fail to observe the requirement of diligent inspection mandated under the bill shall be subjected to absolute perpetual disqualification from public office in addition to the maximum penalty that can be imposed.

If the property subject of lease is owned by a partnership, corporation, association or any juridical entity, the person liable under the law shall be the partner, president, director, manager, trustee, estate executor or administrator, or their duly authorized representative.

“With the passage of this bill, it is expected that owners will be more circumspect in leasing their properties because of the liability they will face under the law. Drug manufacturing activities should be abated under this initiative,” Gatchalian said.

GROUPS LAUD RETURN OF CANADA TRASH VARIOUS environmentalist groups described the reimportation of the controversial shipment of garbage to Canada as a victory for the Filipino people.

After six years, the 69 shipping containers of illegally dumped Canadian trash finally left the port of Subic midnight last Friday on its way back to the North American country to comply with the Basel Convention.

The Basel Convention prohibits the transportation of hazardous waste from country to country within the Pacific. “[This is] a victory for the rule of law, morality and the environment,” said Ecowaste Coalition, RightOnCanada, and IPEN in a joint statement.

“We feel jubilant that 69 containers of Canadian rubbish are now homeward bound after being stranded here for so long. The Philippines is not the world’s dumpsite. Never again shall we allow other countries to trash our dignity, our

people’s health and the environment,” said Aileen Lucero, Ecowaste national coordinator.

“This is a victory for the environment and a victory for the rule of law. The Canadian government is now finally going to comply with the Basel Convention and take responsibility for its own wastes. This is what environmental responsibility means,” added Kathleen Ruff of RightOnCanada.

From 2013 to 2014, more than 100 containers containing 2,400 tons of trash from Canada arrived in the Philippines, declared as scrap plastics for recycling but eventually found to contain unsorted plastics, household garbage, used adult diapers and electronic waste.

At least 48 container vans consigned to Live Green Enterprise arrived with no prior importation clearance from the Environmental Management Bureau in four batches between December 2013 to January 2014. Joel E. Zurbano

SAN FRANCISCO—The US Department of Justice is preparing an anti-trust investigation of Internet titan Google, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

The Journal cited unnamed sources close to the matter as saying the department would look into Google practices related to web search and other businesses.

Justice department officials share anti-trust oversight with the Federal Trade Commission, which conducted a wide-ranging investigation of its own into Alphabetowned Google that ended in 2013 with no action taken.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A new investigation would come as backlash grows against major tech companies that dominate key segments of the online economy.

Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has argued that big firms such as Facebook, Google and Apple should be broken up through antitrust enforcement.

Alphabet’s profit in the first three months of this year sagged under the weight of a hefty antitrust fine in the European Union.

Alphabet said profit in the firstquarter fell 29 percent to $6.7 billion on revenue that climbed 17 percent to $36.3 billion.

The earnings took a hit from a European Commission fine that amounted to $1.7 billion at the end of March, according to the quarterly update.

Google’s lucrative advertising platform remained the largest revenue driver for Alphabet, delivering more than $30 billion in revenue, but costs rose sharply as well.

But Google continues to face pressure around the world from regulators, notably in Europe amid multiple investigations over alleged abuse of its dominance in Internet search, advertising and its mobile system.

The latest fine imposed by Brussels cited Google’s AdSense advertising service, saying it illegally restricted client websites from displaying messages from ad service rivals.

Google is separately working to satisfy EU regulators investigating its hugely popular Android devices following a $5-billion fine last year.

Google earlier this year said it would offer smartphone users five browsers and search engines as part of the company’s effort to meet EU competition concerns.

Brussels accused Google of using the Android system’s dominance of smartphones and tablets to promote the use of its own Google search engine and Chrome browser and shut out rivals.

In the United States, Google has been a target of President Donald Trump and his allies who have accused the search giant of “bias” and silencing conservative voices, claims denied by the Silicon Valley firm. AFP

PH MUST INCREASE OIL, GAS RESERVES THE Philippines may experience regular power outages unless the country beefs up its oil and gas reserves and push for energy independence in the next few years, several expert studies showed.

“The growing population is driving electricity consumption in the Philippines. As a result, new investment in capacity addition is urgently needed,” said GlobalData power industry analyst Harshavardhan Reddy Nagatham.

Studies have shown that the country’s oil and gas reserves are steadily declining, driving greater reliance on imports.

The problems in the country’s oil and gas exploration initiatives only make the situation worse

as investors have been taking a wait-and-see stance due to currently unresolved issues that pit the government auditors against the Department of Energy.

According to a report done by First Solutions Macro Research, a unit of the Fitch Group, the energy department has placed the country’s oil dependency at a hefty 48 percent.

The report likewise noted that the dependency is expected to increase in the coming years.

“The Philippines remains in dire need of more oil and gas exploration as existing reserves decline and as its sole producing Malampaya gas-to-power project approaches the end of its production life.”

The Malampaya project accounts for 98 percent of domestic oil and gas production.

However, the Malampaya field is expected to start producing less gas in five years’ time, although the consortium behind the project is confident of extending the life of the gas field—underscoring the need to extend the Malampaya license beyond 2024 to help beef up the country’s energy reserves.

International arbiters have recently ruled in favor of the DOEMalampaya consortium in its legal battle with the Commission on Audit, a development that bodes well for the influx of more foreign investment on oil and gas explorations into the country.

WHO’S A GOOD BOY? A retired

member of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Narcotic Detection Dogs is held by her new owner during the turnover of adopted K9 dogs at the PDEA K9 Unit Facility in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan on May 31.

Manny Palmero

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

By Vito Barcelo

M

ALACAÑANG on Saturday said Manila’s relations with Tokyo were now on “even stronger footing” after President Rodrigo Duterte capped his visit to Japan, his third since assuming the presidency in 2016.

In a statement, the Palace said President Duterte’s meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was successful as the President managed to sign trade deals worth P288 billion.

These deals “are expected to generate 82,737 jobs,” the Palace said.

The President arrived in Manila before dawn Saturday after “a successful” bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Abe and participated in the 25th Nikkei International Conference on The facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

Future of Asia.

“President Duterte and Prime Minister Abe agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in infrastructure development, trade and investments, agriculture, labor, defense, maritime security and maritime domain awareness, people-to-people exchanges, and the pursuit of just and lasting peace and progress in Mindanao,” the Palace said.

“The President conveyed appreciation for Japan’s renewed Turn to A2 manilastandard.net

'MOST HONORED'. SM Supermalls SVP for Marketing Jonjon San Agustin (right) receives the ‘Most Honored Organization’ Grand Stevie from The Stevie Awards president Michael Gallagher. Forty-five of SM’s winning campaigns nationwide were recognized in the prestigious 2019 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards at the gala night on May 31, held at the InterContinental Hotel in Singapore. From the 29-nation APAC region, a Grand Stevie Award is one of the most coveted recognitions given by the award-giving body that recognizes outstanding businesses for creating innovations in the work place.

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'YOLANDA' REHAB FUND NON-USE CLARIFIED CIVIL Defense officials revealed Saturday some difficulty in validating qualified ''Yolanda'' beneficiaries was reason more than P40 million in typhoon funds had remained unspent six years on.

Office of Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, in an interview on Radyo dzBB, beamed nationwide, admitted the difficulty by target beneficiaries to provide proof like death and medical certificates which he said were needed for their claims.

But Jalad, who retired in 2015 from the Philippine Army with the rank of a brigadier general, and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive director, said the agency had continued to distribute funds for the victims.

Being a former military officer, military and disaster analysts said Jalad had developed an early appreciation for the mandate of the Office of Civil Defense and NDRRMC. His active involvement in rehabilitation and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Tropical Storm ''Sendong'' that struck Iligan City in December 2011 is just an example of his earlier efforts as a strong advocate of DRRM. Jalad admitted it was hard to establish proof of being a Yolanda victim—if they were hurt but did not go to hospital for a medical certificate—adding the process that challenged him was proof of death, where surviving kin can show proof of death from the typhoon which struck the region in 2013.

He said they disseminated information through the media and the local government units in Region 8 that victims could approach the OCD to claim the funds, adding no one was going to the OCD office – the last time being two months ago.

According to Jalad, then Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez requested for funding of water supplies in resettlement houses.

He stressed the local government of Tacloban City did not have funds to buy water meters.

Jalad said the request was being validated since last year for the procurement of the water meters. The OCD already signed the memorandum of agreement with the head of the Water Disctrict in Tacloban City.

The Commission on Audit earlier revealed that P40.98 million remained at the OCD out of the P135.39 million it received from donors for Yolanda victims.

In early November 2013, category 5 cyclone Yolanda (international name Haiyan), the strongest typhoon ever to make landfall in recorded history, left over 6,000 people dead and affected over 16 million people in central Philippines as it cut a trail of death and destruction across the regions.

PHOENIX...

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Petron Corp. and Isla LPG also announced price cuts of its LPG products over the weekend.

Petron announced on Friday it will cut the price of its cooking gas

by P6.25 per kilo or P68.75 per kilo effective June 1.

Petron also cut autoLPG prices by P3.45 per liter.

Isla Petroleum, for its part, said it is “decreasing our Solane-branded LPG price by P6.09/kg VAT inclusive effective Jun 1, 2019 at 6 a.m. “ This is the second oil price rollback after the oil firms cut the price of LPG last May 1 by P0.20 per kilo equivalent to P2.20 per 11-kilo tank.

Prior to the increase, an 11-kilo LPG tank sells from P613.50 to P798 per 11-kg tank in Metro Manila.

Gasoline sells from P50.85 to P61.96 per liter, diesel from P41.10 to P49.74 per liter and kerosene from P47.92 to P55.65 per liter, as of the latest monitoring of the Department of Energy.

The oil firms implement price adjustment for LPG on a monthly basis while gasoline, diesel and kerosene prices are adjusted every Tuesday.

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LOCSIN URGES CAUTION ON EU FUNDING FOR NGOS OREIGN Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Saturday reminded European states to get clearance first before funding nongovernment organizations in the Philippines.

“Over a month ago, I fired off a memo to all our European embassies to tell their host governments to clear any and all donations to their NGOs in the Philippines with the Department of Foreign Affairs. Or we will deregister them in the SEC [Securities and Exchange Commission]. If that hasn’t been done, do it now,” Locsin said on his Twitter account.

In March, the Philippine govern-

ment urged the European Union to stop funding local organizations in the country allegedly linked to the Communist Party of the PhilippinesNew People’s Army.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

Documents obtained by the Armed

Forces of the Philippines revealed that the EU has reportedly released its first tranche of more than 621,000 Euros (P36,663,840) to the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines and is expected to release 1.3 million Euros (P76,752,000) this year until the Philippine government flagged them.

The Belgian government, on the other hand, has allocated a 15-million Euro (P885,600,000) grant or 3 million Euros per year to some Belgian NGOs for the 2017-2021 program.

A Philippine delegation presented this information before the EU and the Belgian government in February.

According to the National Task Force to End Local Communist

Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), the Belgian government, through different NGOs based in Belgium, has indirectly and unwittingly partnered with NGOs that act as a legal front of the CPP-NPA. These Belgian NGOs include the SOLIDAGRO, Viva Salud, and KIYO. In a text message responding to the tweet of Locsin, EU Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen said the bloc regularly engaged the Philippine government on the issue and that an audit was ongoing.

“We have a constructive and very regular dialogue with the government on this issue. As concerns the audit, it is still ongoing,” he said Saturday. PNA

WEEDED OUT. Law enforcement authorities destroyed in one fell swoop 5,100 fully grown marijuana plants in two plantation sites in Kibungan, Benguet. Police Col. Lyndon Mencio, Benguet provincial police office director, said joint operating troops from Kibungan Municipal Police Station, Benguet Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit and Philippine Drug Enforcement Unit of the Cordillera Administrative Region discovered the two sites, planted to an estimated P1.02 million worth of the prohibited plants. PDEA CAR

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support for the government’s Build, Build, Build program, citing Japanese development assistance as the gold standard for the country’s development cooperation with other partner countries,” the statement said.

Japan committed to make available around 25 billion yen ($230.89 million) for Mindanao’s development covering its road network, vocational training facilities and equipment, water supply development in the Bangsamoro, and livelihood projects ,among others.

Also discussed was the possibility of Japan accepting skilled foreign workers, regional maritime security, non-traditional threats, the Korean Peninsula tensions, free trade, and advancing the rule of law including in the South China Sea. The Palace said the two leaders discussed opportunities to tap the demographic complementarity between the two countries to drive economic growth, including the possibility of Japan opening its door to skilled foreign labor.

Both Duterte and Abe exchanged views on regional maritime security, non-traditional threats, ongoing efforts to secure peace in the Korean Peninsula, supporting free trade, and advancing the rule of law, including in the South China Sea, the Palace statement said.

Meanwhile, at the Nikkei International Conference, Duterte “stressed that the destruction caused by natural disasters is more painful for developing nations and for the poorest of the poor.”

The Palace said“the President urged for greater accountability among developed countries stressing that ‘when the lives of millions hang in a balance, there has got to be a way.’”

Duterte likewise hailed the partnership between the Philippines and Japan as one that “empowers rather than fosters dependency” and is the “kind of relationship that the Philippines seek with other countries.”

“President Duterte thanked Japanese partners for their vote of confidence in the Philippines as a trade market and investment destination,” the Palace said.

The President “also met key Japanese tourism industry partners who expressed optimism in doing more business in the Philippines, affirming that the country has remained one of the preferred tourism destinations of Japanese nationals.”

The President also met the Filipino community in Japan, and thanked them for the overwhelming support given during the recent Philippine midterm polls.

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“Until it does, we stand against a myopic, narrow, and parochial vision of the future, and we stand for the free and open order that has benefited us all, including China.”

Washington has been pushing back against Beijing’s aggressive militarization of the South China Sea, where China rejects the conflicting territorial claims of Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Beijing is also regularly angered by US warships transiting through the Taiwan Strait, which it considers part of its territorial waters.

Without naming any country, Shanahan referred to nations using a “toolkit of coercion” to destabilize the region, including “deploying advanced weapons systems to militarize disputed areas” and “promoting state-sponsored theft of other nations’ military and civilian technology.”

For the first time since 2011, China has sent its defense minister, General Wei Fenghe, to the Singapore gathering. Wei is scheduled to speak on Sunday during which he is expected to respond to Shanahan’s remarks.

‘Indo-Pacific is our priority’ Shanahan said the United States was investing heavily in new military technology to combat fresh threats and maintain its superiority and capability to defend its Asian allies.

He said North Korea “remains an extraordinary threat and requires continued vigilance” and stressed Washington would continue to meet its defense obligations to Taiwan, which China sees as part of its territory to be reunified.

“The Indo-Pacific is our priority theater.

We are where we belong. We are investing in the region,” he added.

Over the next five years, the Pentagon

would invest “significantly” in programs needed to ensuring regional stability, he said.

“When we talk about preparedness, we mean having the right capabilities in the right places to respond to crises, and to compete with and deter high-end adversaries,” the Pentagon chief said.

While the United States does not seek conflict, it knows that having the capability to win wars is the best deterrence.

“We want to ensure no adversary believes it can successfully achieve political objectives through military force,” he said.

He said the Pentagon has requested $104 billion globally—its most ever—for research and development in the next fiscal year and $125 billion in operational readiness.

On Friday, Beijing warned that the US should not underestimate China’s military during a meeting between Shanahan and Wei on the sidelines of the conference.

Chinese defense ministry spokesman Wu Qian said both had “reached some consensus” on issues of common concern, adding that Wei “particularly emphasized the Taiwan issue.”

China sees Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified, despite the two sides having been ruled separately since the end of a civil war on the mainland in 1949.

“He [Defense Minister Wei] pointed out that the US has recently had a series of negative words and actions on this issue”, Wu said, adding that Beijing was “firmly opposed” to this.

“On the issue of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the US should not underestimate the determination, will and ability of the Chinese military.”

AFP

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TNCS TOLD: ABIDE BY FARE DISCOUNT LAW FRUITFUL TRIP.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte disembarks from a plane at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on June 1, 2019 after a highly successful working visit to Japan which, the Palace said, strengthened the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Japan.

Presidential Photo

LIGHT PLANE CRASHES: PILOT, STUDENT SAFE

By Joel E. Zurbano

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CESSNA 172type aircraft with a pilot and an aviation student on board crash-landed in Comillas, Tarlac while on its way back to the Clark International Airport in Pampanga Saturday morning.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said that the C172 aircraft of Alpha Aviation with registry number RP-C3567 departed the airport in Clark at 7:29 a.m.

“At 9:44 a.m. on their way back to

Clark, pilot Capt. Irineo Manguba requested for an emergency landing citing engine failure. Clark’s tower cleared the aircraft for landing but no reply came from the aircraft,” said CAAP chief information officer and spokesperson Eric Apolonio.

Apolonio said Capt. Manguba reported that he and student pilot Jeny Jerome, an Indian national, crashlanded in the town of Comillas and requested for rescue and assistance.

The Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center informed the Air Force, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Alpha Aviation, and the CAAP Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board about the incident.

“Manguba was able to contact the Air Force and informed the pilot of a Sokol rescue helicopter that they have been rescued and are already on their way to the nearest hospital

via land travel,” said Apolonio.

CAAP Go team duty officer AAIIB chief Reineer Baculinao dispatched an investigation team to the crash site.

Last Tuesday, CAAP officials led by Director General Capt. Jim Sydiongco met with the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia Dr. Abdullah Al Bussairy and discussed the status of the government’s search and rescue operation involving the Orient Aviation Beechcraft 55 aircraft that went missing on May 17 in San Jose, Mindoro.

One of the aircraft’s passengers was Saudi Arabian student pilot Abdullah Khalid Al Sharif.

The meeting, held at the CAAP office in Pasay City, also clarified findings that debris from the aircraft has been found.

The agency said as of today, no confirmed connection between the debris and the missing BE55 aircraft have been established.

NEW HAT. Ayala Corp. chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala and National Teachers College president Alfredo Antonio share a light moment during the 2019 commencement exercises of NTC in Pasay City. NTC marks its first commencement exercises under the Ayalas who acquired the institution through Ayala Education. Ey Acasio

ARROYO LAUDS ILOILO AIRPORT EXPANSION

By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has congratulated the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines for obtaining the required approval to proceed with the expansion of the Iloilo International Airport.

Speaking during her visit in Iloilo Friday, Arroyo, who has been strongly pushing for the expansion of the airport which was built during her presidency in 2007, said she was informed by CAAP that the Department of the Interior and Local Government had finally signed the agreement Thursday.

DILG’s signing was the crucial step before the resolution is sent to the National Economic and Development Authority for the next phase of the project.

“I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines [CAAP] for finally getting the green light to start the expansion of the Iloilo International Airport,” Arroyo said.

The Iloilo Airport was built during Speaker Arroyo’s presidency and opened its doors to commercial operations in 2007 with a capacity of 1.2 million passengers a year.

Arroyo said more than a decade later, its demand for capacity has doubled as it is now operating for 2.4 million passengers a year.

“Indeed an expansion is much needed,” she said.

To facilitate the expansion, Arroyo had previously conducted an oversight hearing at the Lower House on the Iloilo airport to determine the status of its expansion projects. This paved the way for fast-tracking of the signing of the board resolution to start the process to pave the way for its expansion.

LAWMAKERS EMPOWER DOH ON HOSPITALS’ BED CAPACITY THE leadership of the House of Representatives has supported the bill authorizing the Department of Health to set and approve the bed capacity of all government hospitals.

The House, led by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, approved HB 9155 by a unanimous vote of 177 lawmakers.

The bill, authored by a Baguio City lawmaker, gives the DOH the power to address the mismatch in occupancy and improve the quality of government health services.

The bill mandates that through an administrative order, the DOH shall determine the bed capacities of government hospitals, subject to specific guidelines that

shall be issued and promulgated within three months after the Act’s enactment.

The bill tasks the DOH to provide Congress, through the House Committee on Health and the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, an annual report of hospitals with approved bed capacity, along with the necessary funding requirements.

Likewise, the secretary of Health shall include in the DOH’s program the funding requirements for the increase in bed capacity of each of the hospitals in accordance with the Philippine Hospital Development Plan and the Modernization/Development Plan of each hospital.

Maricel V. Cruz

FRESH START. A boy gets a fresh haircut at a barber shop on Tayuman Street in Manila ahead of the opening of public school classes on Monday, June 3, 2019 throughout the country. Norman Cruz

REGULATORS and transport networks like Grab will do well to enforce the mandatory 20 percent discount for students, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens, according to Rep. Frederick Siao of Iligan City.

Violators must be penalized, the lawmaker said in a press statement.

Grab units and other transport network companies should give the fare discounts because they are public utility vehicles by virtue of the certificates of public convenience and provisional authority to operate that are issued to them, according to Siao, author of a proposed law known as Student Fare Discount Act. LTFRB must also fairly apply the laws and regulations on fare discounts to all public transport utilities, Siao said.

“No special treatment, sacred cows, or exceptions on this issue.

Taxis, and PUVs grant fare discounts.

Why should Grab and the like be exempted,” Siao said. Grab just has to include the fare discount feature in their booking menu of options and features, he said.

Since the TNCs have been violating the fare discount requirement, it is but proper that LTFRB imposes a reasonable fine against them, Siao said.

In the 18th Congress, I will propose in a bill that the proceeds from fines be deposited in a Commuters’ Welfare Fund, so that aside from the comprehensive third party liability insurance, this Fund can be for the commuter-victims of road mishaps, he said.

Siao said the financing for the hospitalization, post-incident recovery, burial, and financial assistance to victims’ dependents can be sourced from this Commuters’ Welfare Fund.

ROTC REVIVAL HAS LEGAL BASIS—DND THE proposed reinstatement of the mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps for Grades 11 and 12 students does not violate any international law, the Department of National Defense said.

“It is the DND’s position that those opposed to the proposed bill are using a myopic interpretation of the law, which misleads the public into forming false perceptions and ill-informed opinions. The proposed bill was vetted by the departments of justice, national defense, education, and foreign affairs to ensure that it does not contravene the Philippine Constitution and international conventions,” Arsenio Andolong told the Philippine News Agency.

He was reacting to claims made by some sectors that making ROTC mandatory for senior high students violates international law.

An accompanying measure, House of Representatives Bill 8961 seeks to amend Republic Act 7077 or the Citizen Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act. The bill was approved by the House on third and final reading, with a vote of 167-4-0.

Andolong said that under the “Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict”, to which the Philippines is a signatory, the minimum age for voluntary recruitment into the Armed Forces of the Philippines is 18 years old.

ROTC cadets are not conscripted into the military and expected to fight wars during their two-year training.

“While some cadets may opt to join the regular force after they finish their voluntary advanced ROTC in college, mandatory ROTC will not automatically make our Grades 11 and 12 students part of the AFP. Furthermore, critics of the bill also forget that [the] mobilization of reservists in times of war will require an Act of Congress,” Andolong explained.

He added that reinstating mandatory ROTC among Grades 11 and 12 students is logical as only a small percentage of high school students are able to attend college.

This will automatically exclude them from the program should mandatory ROTC be reinstated for college students only.

“As to the question of age, we must point out that mandatory ROTC in the past was part of the curriculum of first and second year college students, most of whom were 16 to 18 years old. Reinstating mandatory ROTC in Grades 11 and 12 would not be any different in terms of age because these students fall within the same age bracket of the first and second year college students of the old curriculum. This seems to be a fact that proponents of college-level ROTC conveniently forget when they cite age as a problem in the current proposal,” Andolong said. PNA

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News

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

US SEEKS ANTI-TRUST PROBE VS. GOOGLE

SOLEMN PRAYER. Muslim men of all ages pray at the Manila Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Manila as the end of Ramadan draws near on June 5.

LOCAL MEAT PRODUCTS REMAIN ASF-FREE THE country’s largest group of meat processors assured consumers that locally-processed meat products such as canned meat and hotdogs do not contain meat materials from countries infected by the African Swine Fever.

The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. issued the statement on the heels of a nationwide campaign of the Food and Drug Administration to recall processed meat products purportedly imported from ASF-infected countries.

The Bureau of Customs, for its part, said it is closely monitoring the country’s borders to prevent the entry of banned meat products.

Only importers with proper clearances and permits from the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Industry, and FDA, among others, will be allowed to bring in meat products into the county, the BOC said.

ASF is a fatal animal disease affecting pigs and wild boars with up to 100-percent mortality, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Countries affected by disease include China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia and North Korea.

PAMPI president Felix Tiukinhoy said most of the ASF-infected countries do not export meat products to the Philippines.

Tiukinhoy urged the FDA to be cautious and specific in its pronouncements as vague statements could lead to confusion and uncertainty among consumers.

Recall orders, he said, should be product specific as he asked the FDA to identify the brands and countries of origin instead of issuing general statements that are prejudicial to local manufacturers.

STIFFER ANTI-DRUG PENALTIES SOUGHT

By Joel E. Zurbano

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MEASURE aimed at penalizing owners and operators of warehouses used as laboratories and storage houses of illegal drugs is now being pushed at the Senate.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian filed Senate Bill No. 1225 seeking to amend Section 8 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Gatchalian came up with the proposed measure following the recent discovery of P1 billion worth of shabu at a warehouse in Malabon City.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency officials said the seizure of illegal drugs in Malabon is connected to the agency’s operation in Dasmariñas, Cavite on Feb. 13 where 36 kilos of shabu worth P244 million wereseizedandanotheroperationinTanza, Cavite on Feb. 3 where 274 kilos of shabu worth P1.9 billion were confiscated.

In May 2017, government agents also raided two warehouses in Valenzuela City where they seized more than 600 kilos of shabu worth P3 billion.

Under Gatchalian’s proposal, owners or lessors of houses, buildings, warehouses, or any edifice utilized as storage facilities or laboratories for the manufacture of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors, or essential chemicals face the penalty of imprisonment ranging from 12 years and one day to 20 years, and a fine from P100,000 to P500,000.

“This bill is another weapon in the government’s arsenal in the anti-drug campaign,” Gatchalian said.

“It seeks to place the onus on the property owner or lessor to ensure that his property and premises are not utilized as a clandestine laboratory for the manufacturing or storage of dangerous drugs or chemicals used as raw materials for these banned substances,” he added.

The lawmaker said under the bill,

the maximum penalty shall be imposed upon the owner, lessor, or person having the authority to lease the property, if such person had prior knowledge that the property and its premises will be utilized to manufacture or store dangerous drugs.

If the property subject of the lease is government-owned, government officials or employees who fail to observe the requirement of diligent inspection mandated under the bill shall be subjected to absolute perpetual disqualification from public office in addition to the maximum penalty that can be imposed.

If the property subject of lease is owned by a partnership, corporation, association or any juridical entity, the person liable under the law shall be the partner, president, director, manager, trustee, estate executor or administrator, or their duly authorized representative.

“With the passage of this bill, it is expected that owners will be more circumspect in leasing their properties because of the liability they will face under the law. Drug manufacturing activities should be abated under this initiative,” Gatchalian said.

GROUPS LAUD RETURN OF CANADA TRASH VARIOUS environmentalist groups described the reimportation of the controversial shipment of garbage to Canada as a victory for the Filipino people.

After six years, the 69 shipping containers of illegally dumped Canadian trash finally left the port of Subic midnight last Friday on its way back to the North American country to comply with the Basel Convention.

The Basel Convention prohibits the transportation of hazardous waste from country to country within the Pacific. “[This is] a victory for the rule of law, morality and the environment,” said Ecowaste Coalition, RightOnCanada, and IPEN in a joint statement.

“We feel jubilant that 69 containers of Canadian rubbish are now homeward bound after being stranded here for so long. The Philippines is not the world’s dumpsite. Never again shall we allow other countries to trash our dignity, our

people’s health and the environment,” said Aileen Lucero, Ecowaste national coordinator.

“This is a victory for the environment and a victory for the rule of law. The Canadian government is now finally going to comply with the Basel Convention and take responsibility for its own wastes. This is what environmental responsibility means,” added Kathleen Ruff of RightOnCanada.

From 2013 to 2014, more than 100 containers containing 2,400 tons of trash from Canada arrived in the Philippines, declared as scrap plastics for recycling but eventually found to contain unsorted plastics, household garbage, used adult diapers and electronic waste.

At least 48 container vans consigned to Live Green Enterprise arrived with no prior importation clearance from the Environmental Management Bureau in four batches between December 2013 to January 2014. Joel E. Zurbano

SAN FRANCISCO—The US Department of Justice is preparing an anti-trust investigation of Internet titan Google, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

The Journal cited unnamed sources close to the matter as saying the department would look into Google practices related to web search and other businesses.

Justice department officials share anti-trust oversight with the Federal Trade Commission, which conducted a wide-ranging investigation of its own into Alphabetowned Google that ended in 2013 with no action taken.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A new investigation would come as backlash grows against major tech companies that dominate key segments of the online economy.

Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has argued that big firms such as Facebook, Google and Apple should be broken up through antitrust enforcement.

Alphabet’s profit in the first three months of this year sagged under the weight of a hefty antitrust fine in the European Union.

Alphabet said profit in the firstquarter fell 29 percent to $6.7 billion on revenue that climbed 17 percent to $36.3 billion.

The earnings took a hit from a European Commission fine that amounted to $1.7 billion at the end of March, according to the quarterly update.

Google’s lucrative advertising platform remained the largest revenue driver for Alphabet, delivering more than $30 billion in revenue, but costs rose sharply as well.

But Google continues to face pressure around the world from regulators, notably in Europe amid multiple investigations over alleged abuse of its dominance in Internet search, advertising and its mobile system.

The latest fine imposed by Brussels cited Google’s AdSense advertising service, saying it illegally restricted client websites from displaying messages from ad service rivals.

Google is separately working to satisfy EU regulators investigating its hugely popular Android devices following a $5-billion fine last year.

Google earlier this year said it would offer smartphone users five browsers and search engines as part of the company’s effort to meet EU competition concerns.

Brussels accused Google of using the Android system’s dominance of smartphones and tablets to promote the use of its own Google search engine and Chrome browser and shut out rivals.

In the United States, Google has been a target of President Donald Trump and his allies who have accused the search giant of “bias” and silencing conservative voices, claims denied by the Silicon Valley firm. AFP

PH MUST INCREASE OIL, GAS RESERVES THE Philippines may experience regular power outages unless the country beefs up its oil and gas reserves and push for energy independence in the next few years, several expert studies showed.

“The growing population is driving electricity consumption in the Philippines. As a result, new investment in capacity addition is urgently needed,” said GlobalData power industry analyst Harshavardhan Reddy Nagatham.

Studies have shown that the country’s oil and gas reserves are steadily declining, driving greater reliance on imports.

The problems in the country’s oil and gas exploration initiatives only make the situation worse

as investors have been taking a wait-and-see stance due to currently unresolved issues that pit the government auditors against the Department of Energy.

According to a report done by First Solutions Macro Research, a unit of the Fitch Group, the energy department has placed the country’s oil dependency at a hefty 48 percent.

The report likewise noted that the dependency is expected to increase in the coming years.

“The Philippines remains in dire need of more oil and gas exploration as existing reserves decline and as its sole producing Malampaya gas-to-power project approaches the end of its production life.”

The Malampaya project accounts for 98 percent of domestic oil and gas production.

However, the Malampaya field is expected to start producing less gas in five years’ time, although the consortium behind the project is confident of extending the life of the gas field—underscoring the need to extend the Malampaya license beyond 2024 to help beef up the country’s energy reserves.

International arbiters have recently ruled in favor of the DOEMalampaya consortium in its legal battle with the Commission on Audit, a development that bodes well for the influx of more foreign investment on oil and gas explorations into the country.

WHO’S A GOOD BOY? A retired

member of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Narcotic Detection Dogs is held by her new owner during the turnover of adopted K9 dogs at the PDEA K9 Unit Facility in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan on May 31.

Manny Palmero

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Opinion

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

YOU CAN HAVE YOUR PLATE AND EAT IT, TOO, SAYS POLISH INVENTOR

EDITORIAL

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VIGILANCE PAYS OFF

S 69 CONTAINERS of trash from Canada dumped in the Philippines six years ago are finally being shipped out back to Vancouver after a smoldering diplomatic row between Manila and Ottawa, we acknowledge the unabated efforts of environmental groups on the issue.

Beyond doubt, the resolute muscle displayed

by Greenpeace, EcoWaste Coalition, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, BAN Toxics and the global Break Free from Plastic Movement has paid off.

The sail back to Canada from Subic Bay, the

former drydock facility of the US Seventh Fleet, on board the MV Bavaria will doubtless be lengthy, but at least the trash, superciliously labeled as recyclables and sent to the Philippines from 2013 to 2014, are now being returned to sender, addressee well known.

We take the word of Canada’s Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, who welcomed the news of the trash being returned, “We committed with the Philippines and we’re working closely with them.”

Large quantities of waste plastic and other garbage heaps have been redirected to Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines after China, which had received the bulk of scrap plastic from round the world, slammed shut its doors to foreign refuse in 2018 in efforts to clean up its environment.

Von Hernandez, global coordinator from Break

Free From Plastic advocacy group, has aptly said, “We’ve seen pristine communities... transformed into dump sites because of a tsunami of waste shipments from the US, UK and Australia as a result of the China ban.”

As the EcoWaste Coalition has said, the Philippines is not the world’s dump site.

And as the hired container ship Bavaria, which sails under the flag of Liberia which now flutters in the sun and rain across the vast Pacific, with tons of garbage on deck, diplomatic observers are seeing a possible reconciliation between Canada and the Philippines.

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has advised recalled home diplomats to get ready for their flights back to the land of the maple leaf.

That environmentalists have been relentlessly on the qui vive has done the Philippines a good prop.

Well done.

By Damien Simonart POLISH inventor and entrepreneur Jerzy Wysocki catches a brown plate —still warm—as it drops out of a machine and he begins to eat the crunchy, fibrous tableware.

“A pork chop will always be more delicious on this wheat bran plate than on plastic,” says Wysocki with a big grin at the Biotrem factory in Zambrow in northeast Poland.

Taking a bite, the plate does not have much of a flavor. It calls to mind dry cereal flakes or maybe what you would imagine cardboard to taste like.

But Wysocki says what matters is the tableware is biodegradable.

The sexagenarian invented the plate some 15 years ago, and today Biotrem makes around 15 million of them a year.

That figure could soon skyrocket thanks to a decision by the European Union to ban plastic plates and cutlery starting in 2021.

A son and grandson of millers, Wysocki got the idea for the tableware when he was looking to use up the leftovers of flour production, which take up a lot of space.

But he says he is also driven by the desire to help a good cause, “because the amount of rubbish that pollutes oceans is huge and frightening.”

“To make the plates, we only use wheat bran, which we compress at a precise pressure point and temperature, using a machine made specifically for that purpose,” he explains.

Eco-conscious clients Biotrem CEO Malgorzata Then acknowledges, of course, that at 15 euro cents (17 US cents) a pop or 20 percent more for exports, wheat bran plates are more expensive than their plastic counterparts.

But “the current price of plastic doesn’t factor in the environmental cost, that of recycling and marine pollution,” she adds.

At first, the company targeted clients who were environmentally inclined as well as restaurants and hotels that wanted to offer something original.

“Now, with the measures taken by the EU, even clients who are uninformed about the environment are forced to take an interest in biodegradable products,” Then said.

Biotrem distributes the plates in Europe, Asia, North America and Australia.

The client Down Under had asked that they check whether earthworms would like the taste—they do.

“These aren’t huge amounts, but they’re enough for us to be optimistic about the future,” Wysocki says.

The rosy outlook is backed by the prospect of greater output leading to a drop in the price. Also, it should be possible to harness the same technology to make plates out of corn, barley, oats, cassava and even algae.

“With cassava, the first tests turned out really well and we already have a small group of interested clients,” Wysocki adds.

Biotrem is hoping to expand its offer to edible boxes for takeaway meals and catering. The research is already at a fairly advanced stage: the only thing left to do is to make the boxes more resistant to liquid and heat.

Biodegradable cutlery You do not have to eat the plate or its packaging to be a friend of the environment. In favorable weather conditions, with a little humidity, wheat bran products decompose after a month, or even after two weeks if there is rain.

The Biotrem crew are not the only ones in Poland stepping up to the front line of the war on plastic.

Researchers in the chemistry department of the Gdansk University of Technology have developed a way to make biodegradable cutlery out of potato starch.

The forks, spoons and knives are even safe for sea creatures to eat.

“We are the only ones so far to have tested the biodegradability of our products on living aquatic organisms and it looks like this cutlery is safe for the environment,” professor Helena Janik told AFP. According to Robert Bajko, who sells the university’s innovations to entrepreneurs, the cutlery does not require any complex technology or a huge investment.

Anyone in the plastic industry can get started “overnight,” he enthuses.

AFP

THE SCIENTIFIC CASE FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS ON MAY 24, 2019, students and young people from 1,600 cities around the world led a second wave of protests and classroom strikes to call for action on the climate crisis. Here in the Philippines, hundreds of young people from at least 15 cities across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao joined the global movement. Among their demands are the phaseout of coal in the country and a just transition to 100 percent renewables by 2050.

Greta Thunberg, one of the leading voices in the movement, invited adults to participate in a global general strike on Sept. 27. Like the student-led rallies and strikes, the general strike will call on world leaders to take urgent action on the climate crisis.

Are strikes and protests like these an effective means to help solve the climate crisis? Let’s look at the science.

The climate crisis is a planet-wide disruption in the climate system that will, if not averted, result in the death and suffering of millions, if not billions of people all over the world.

Its effects include the increasing frequency of super-storms, floods, and droughts and increase in the occurrence of diseases such as dengue and malaria. These will lead to secondary effects such as conflict and public health crises.

The disruption is caused by the rapid increase in the amount of heat-

trapping gases in the atmosphere.

These heat-trapping gases include carbon dioxide and methane. Because of their increasing amount in the atmosphere, the whole world becomes warmer on average, leading to a disruption in the climate.

Preventing the worst of the climate crisis therefore requires reduction in the amount of heat-trapping gases released into the atmosphere. According to the latest scientific data, the required reduction has to be both substantial and rapid. In other words, the required changes have to be dramatic. Incremental changes, though welcome, are no longer enough.

This is especially the case since the leading activities that release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere are no less than the pillars of our modern civilization: generation of energy, modern agriculture, long distance transportation, cooling and refrigeration, and manufacturing.

It is therefore not surprising that, when the scientific evidence is examined, the most effective solutions to the climate crisis require system change and not mere isolated behavior change.

Project Drawdown, a climate change mitigation project initiated by Paul Hawken and Amanda Joy Ravenhill, lists some of the most effective solutions to the climate crisis. According to analysis of the experts involved in the project, the top 10 solutions are: the

management of refrigerants, replacement of fossil fuel-based energy with wind turbines and solar farms, reduced food waste, reduced meat consumption through the widespread adoption of a plant-based diet, preservation and recovery of forests, improved education for girls, widespread access to family planning, use of silvopasture in raising livestock, and widespread use of rooftop solar.

What is immediately visible in the list above, and is further reinforced if one examines the expanded list, is that such solutions require both changes in the way most people do things (behavior change) but also changes in the way institutions function (system change).

After all, only a few of us can afford to have a rooftop solar system installed at our homes, and fewer still have a direct hand in crafting the country’s energy roadmap.

When we turn on the aircon at home, we have little control over what kind of coolant it uses, and even less control on how the energy that powers the aircon was generated. We can bike all we want, but if the water we will drink once we get home is cooled using energy from burning coal, our carbon footprint would have not been reduced by much.

While all of us can and should reduce our food waste, data from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organi-

SOUNDS OF SCIENCE PECIER DECIERDO zation shows that most food waste occurs even before food reaches the shelves of the supermarket.

While plant-based diet is something we should all embrace, its widespread adoption is hampered by an economic system that promotes the production and consumption of meat.

We can also practice family planning in our personal lives and try to promote the education of girls, but if our government does not provide widespread access to such services, the impact of our individual actions will be insignificant.

I can go on and on with examples supporting the same point: individual action and behavior change are only effective if they lead to collective action and systemic change.

Given this fact, the answer to the question at the beginning is yes, protest rallies and strikes can be an effective means to force the necessary system change to take place. Given the magnitude and urgency of the crisis, I invite everyone to seriously consider this option. Join the general strike for climate on Sept. 27.

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.thestandard. com.ph; e-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

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TALIBAN LEADER: NO CEASEFIRE ANYTIME SOON KABUL, Afghanistan—The Taliban are unlikely to call a ceasefire any time soon, the group’s leader indicated Saturday, though he said the “doors of dialogue” with the US remain open.

The rare message from Haibatullah Akhundzada comes after a sixth round of USled talks ended last month in Qatar with little sign of progress and amid continued bloodshed across Afghanistan.

“The doors of dialogue and negotiations have been kept open and at this very moment, the (Taliban) negotiation team... is engaged in negotiations with the American side,” Akhundzada said in a message ahead of the upcoming festival of Eid, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had proposed a nationwide ceasefire at the start of Ramadan early last month, but the Taliban rejected the offer.

Last year, the Taliban observed a three-day ceasefire over Eid and many Afghans -- exhausted by decades of war and violence -- had pinned their hopes on another truce this year.

But Akhundzada said: “No one should expect us to pour cold water on the heated battlefronts of jihad or forget our 40-year sacrifices before reaching our objectives.”

In a sign of Afghans’ frustration with their country’s seemingly unending conflict, a group of protestors have restarted a peace march that last year saw them walking across Afghanistan and into the capital Kabul.

Bismillah Watandost, a spokesman for the People’s Peace Movement, told AFP on Saturday that about 30 people had started the walk late Thursday, heading from Lashkar Gah to Musa Qala in Helmand province, a Taliban stronghold. AFP

GUAIDO RENEWS CALL FOR MADURO TO STEP DOWN SABANETA, Venezuela—Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido renewed calls for President Nicolas Maduro to resign on Friday while campaigning in the birthplace of former leader Hugo Chavez, following inconclusive talks in Norway to end the country’s crisis.

Guaido -- who is backed by the United States and is recognized as interim president by more than 50 countries -has been leading a push to oust leftist firebrand Maduro, who has presided over a crumbling economy after succeeding Chavez in 2013.

During a brief speech before a handful of followers in the small town of Sabaneta, Guaido called for a “large mobilization” of protesters to rally against the government over shortages of gasoline and prolonged blackouts in the country.

“The real solution is, without a doubt, to leave once and for all and let us live in peace,” he said of Maduro.

Sabaneta has been turned into a shrine for the hugely popular Chavez, who mixed a larger-than-life personality with a man-of-the-people style and generously-funded social programs through oil revenues.

Dozens of walls in the town are adorned with murals of the leftist leader, who died of cancer in 2013, and a bronze and granite statue of the former president, donated by the Rosneft oil company on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin, stands six blocks away from where Guaido spoke on Friday.

But Maduro struggled to fill his mentor’s shoes and he quickly lost favor after a fall in oil prices in 2014 precipitated a massive economic crisis. AFP

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor / Jimbo Gulle, Issue Editor

TRUMP: BORIS WOULD MAKE ‘EXCELLENT’ PM

DEATH WALK. Anti-government

activists join members of the “Mothers of April” association during a mass in honor of their children killed in protests against the government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega on a Mother’s Day celebration in Managua on Friday. AFP

12 DEAD IN VIRGINIA MASS SHOOTING

W

ASHINGTON—A municipal employee sprayed gunfire “indiscriminately” in a government building complex on Friday in the US state of Virginia, police said, killing 12 people and wounding four in the latest mass shooting to rock the country.

The shooter was also killed after an extended gun battle with responding officers, in a scene that “best could be described as a war zone,” Virginia Beach police chief James Cervera told a news conference.

The shooting happened just after 4:00 pm (2000 GMT), when the gunman entered one of the buildings at the Virginia Beach municipal complex and “immediately began to indiscriminately fire on all of the victims,” Cervera said.

One victim was killed outside in his vehicle, while the others were found on all three floors of the building. Police upgraded the casualty toll to 12 dead and at least

four wounded Friday night, after earlier reporting 11 dead and six wounded.

The shooter was armed with a .45-caliber handgun fitted with a sound suppressor, and he reloaded multiple times with extended magazines, Cervera said.

The four responding police officers “stopped this individual from committing more carnage in that building,” he added.

Police unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate the suspect after he was shot, Cervera said.

Authorities did not release the shooter’s name or speculate on his motives, aside from saying that he was a longtime employee of the public utilities department.

The wounded included a police officer, who was saved by his bulletproof vest. All were undergoing surgery Friday night.

The building where the shooting took place in Virginia Beach—a city of 450,000 people about 200 miles (320 kilometers) southeast of Washington —housed the city’s public works and utilities offices and can have 400 people inside at any time.

“This is the most devastating day in the history of Virginia Beach,” Mayor Bobby Dyer told reporters.

“The people involved are our friends, co-workers, neighbors and colleagues.”

Megan Banton, a public utilities employee, told local television station WVEC that during the chaos she and about 20 coworkers hid in an office, where they used a desk to wedge the door shut.

“We just wanted to try to keep everybody safe as much as we could and just trying to stay on the phone with 911, just because we wanted to make sure (police) were coming. They couldn’t come fast enough,” she said, adding that it felt like “hours.” AFP

SUMMIT BACKS PALESTINIANS, SAUDIS IN IRAN STANDOFF MECCA, Saudi Arabia—A Saudi-hosted Islamic summit on Saturday threw its support behind Palestinians ahead of a US-led peace plan suspected to be skewed in favour of Israel, as Muslim states rallied around Saudi Arabia over tensions with Iran.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting, the third and final Iran-focused summit in the holy city of Mecca this week, denounced controversial US moves to transfer its embassy to Jerusalem and recognise Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

The summit of the 57-member bloc, marked by the notable absence of Iranian and Turkish leaders, called for a “boycott” of countries that have opened diplomatic missions in the city.

Trump broke with decades of bipartisan policy to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December 2017.

The OIC’s statement comes as Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner prepares to roll out economic aspects of his long-awaited Middle East peace plan at a conference in Bahrain later this month.

The plan, which has been heavily talked up by Trump and dubbed his “deal of the century”, has already been rejected by the Palestinians, who say the president’s

policies have shown him to be overwhelmingly biased in favour of Israel.

The Palestinians see the eastern part of the disputed city as the capital of their future state.

Kushner, who was in Jerusalem on Friday on the latest leg of a regional tour to sell the plan, had looked to an alliance with Saudi Arabia against Iran as a way to gain Arab support.

But Saudi King Salman told leaders of the OIC countries gathered at the summit: “The Palestinian cause is the cornerstone of the works of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and is the focus of our attention until the brotherly Palestinian people get all their legitimate rights.

“We reaffirm our unequivocal rejection of any measures that would prejudice the historical and legal status of Quds (Jerusalem).”

The OIC also backed Saudi Arabia in escalating tensions with Iran, as King Salman warned that “terrorist” attacks in the Gulf region could imperil global energy supplies.

The remark came after sabotage attacks damaged four vessels, two of them Saudi oil tankers, off the UAE and twin Yemeni rebel drone attacks shut down a key Saudi oil pipeline. AFP

LONDON—US President Donald Trump has said British former foreign minister Boris Johnson would make an “excellent” prime minister to replace Theresa May. Trump was speaking ahead of the start of a state visit to Britain on Monday, during which he will meet May. She is set to resign on June 7 over her failure to deliver a deal to bring Britain out of the European Union.

Asked by the British tabloid newspaper The Sun for his opinion on the 12 candidates to replace her, Trump said, “I think Boris would do a very good job.

I think he would be excellent.

“I have always liked him. I don’t know that he is going to be chosen, but I think he is a very good guy, a very talented person.”

He added that several candidates in the Conservative leadership race had asked for his support, without revealing who.

A key Leave campaigner in the Brexit referendum, Johnson has said he is prepared to take Britain out of the European Union, “deal or no deal”.

In the interview, Trump also repeated his criticism of how May has handled Brexit negotiations, saying Britain had allowed the EU to “have all the cards”.

“It is very hard to play well when one side has all the advantage,” he said. “I had mentioned to Theresa that you have got to build up your ammunition.”

May concluded a divorce agreement with the EU in November but her deal was rejected three times by the British parliament, forcing her to seek a delay in leaving the bloc, now scheduled for October 31.

Commenting on Britain’s domestic politics and opining on ruling-party leadership choices at a sensitive time would normally be an unusual move for a US president—but not for Trump, a former reality-TV star who often speaks his mind.

It could however add to tensions during Trump’s three-day visit to Britain.

Trump is to be received in Buckingham Palace on Monday

by Queen Elizabeth II. He will then have a discussion with Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne who is known for speaking out against global warming—an issue Trump is dismissive of. The president has decided to pull the US out of the Paris climate change agreement that seeks to curb carbon emissions.

A meeting with Meghan, the former US actress who married Charles’s second son Prince Harry, is not on the agenda for Trump, whom she criticised during his 2016 campaign to be America’s leader.

“What can I say? I didn’t know that she was nasty,” Trump said of Meghan, though he also said he was “sure she will do excellently” as a princess.

As for protests that are expected to dog Trump’s state visit, the president insisted “I think I am really—I hope—I am really loved in the UK”. AFP

US CUTS OFF INDIA PREFERENTIAL TRADE ACCESS WASHINGTON—The United States will end preferential trade treatment for India from Wednesday, US President Donald Trump has announced, in a fresh economic headwind for New Delhi alongside slowing growth and record unemployment.

India has been the single biggest beneficiary of the decades-old US Generalized System of Preferences programme, allowing the country to export $5.7 billion worth of dutyfree goods in 2017, according to figures from US Congress.

Trump said in a statement issued late Friday that he wanted greater access for US goods to the giant South Asian nation.

“I have determined that India has not assured the United States that India will provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets,” Trump said.

“Accordingly, it is appropriate to terminate India’s designation as a beneficiary developing country.”

Trump announced in March that he would be ending the preferential trade accord with

India, but did not give a date.

Washington has sought to make India a closer diplomatic ally, but has long complained about limited access to the huge market of 1.3 billion people.

The US had a $26.7 billion trade deficit with India in 2017-2018.

The announcement is the latest headwind to threaten the Hindu nationalist government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was re-elected to his second term in a landslide just weeks ago after campaigning partly on his record as an economic reformer.

Official figures released Friday showed that India’s growth slowed for the third straight quarter to 5.8% in January-March, while unemployment hit a 45-year high in 2018.

The Indian government made no immediate comment on Washington’s move, but media reports said New Delhi was considering higher import duties on more than 20 US goods including agricultural produce and chemicals. AFP

PHOTO OP. A plume of ash is released as Mount Agung volcano erupts, seen from the Kubu subdistrict in Karangasem Regency on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on Friday. AFP

Images

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SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

May 25. AFP ez, Chihuahua State, Mexico, on Fields in the municipality of Juar e Dun uca alay Sam the in ity oga System commun ng a meeting organized by the YSY HOT YOGA. People attend a yoga class duri

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

FAREWELL, AT LAST. People swim at a beach as container ship MV Bavaria, a vessel hired by Canada to ship tons of trash back to Canada, arrives at Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. on Subic Port, north of Manila on May 30. AFP

ROAD CLOSURE. Government agencies in the Cordillera Administrative Region have advised the commuting public of Kennon Road’s temporary closure to motorists due to rock fall and landslides induced by intermittent rains.

FATALITY. Soldiers look at the coffin carrying the dead body of Dutch birdwatcher

ROCK ‘N ROLL. Pope Francis (3rd left) stands with members of a Christian motorcycle group next to a Harley Davidson motorcycle during his weekly general audience on May 29 at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. AFP

Ewold Horn in a C-130 military aircraft at Jolo airport in Patikul of the province of Sulu on May 31. Horn was killed during a firefight between his kidnappers and soldiers in the southern Philippines. AFP

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SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2019

Riera U. Mallari, Editor sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Sports Rey Pagunsan

PAGUNSAN AIMS HIGH AT PGT CEBU GOLF Last year’s Bangkarera was held in Iloilo City.

BANGKARERA: MORE THAN JUST A BOATING SPECTACLE

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O THE cheers of thousands of Cebuanos, the Pioneer Epoxy National Bangkarera Year 4 kicked off its two-day run on Saturday at the St. Francis, Ocean Park and Baywalk in Naga City, Cebu.

The biggest boat-racing event in the country, held in cooperation with Angat sa Dagat Organization, aims to promote camaraderie among the fisherfolk, boatracing aficionados and the community.

With over P1 million in cash and product prizes, boatmen from around the Philippines are giddy in anticipation of the year’s biggest boating spectacle.

Pioneer Epoxy began the bangkarera four years ago in Puerto Princesa, with over a hundred participants from 27 teams and 60 boats. The following year in 2017 in Dumaguete City, the roster of participants grew to 40 teams and 96 boats.

Last year’s PENB in Iloilo City recorded the largest number of participants with 58 teams and 155 boats.

This season, 150 boats and 36 teams joined—still a high number—which is a proof of its staying power and necessity in the boating community.

John Spakowski II, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer Adhesives Inc., was on hand at the Racers’ Night Fellowship event on Friday evening to extoll the fisherfolks taking part in the event.

This year’s participants bring their boats to the St. Francis Ocean Park and Boardwalk in Naga, Cebu.

He was joined by Alben B. Manuel, Assistant Vice President, Marketing Head for Philippines and International Market Group of Pioneer Adhesives, Inc., and Martina Spakowski, Pioneer Adhesives Foundation, Inc. Executive Director, who talked about saving the country’s reefs and the growing harmful effects of global warming on our environment.

“By staging this annual national event, we’re giving our local fishermen and boat makers a platform where they can showcase their skills. It’s also our way of giving back to all the members of their community, who have been using our products for the past 60 years,” said Manuel. “This tournament was designed to strengthen the camaraderie among boat racers nationwide, all of whom make a living as fishermen and boat makers.”

The event will stage four different categories participants can join in:

7-7.5HP Open Category (Gasoline Engine Single Piston), 16-18HP Open Category (Gasoline Engine Single Piston), 13HP-16HP Angat sa Dagat Special Category (Stock Engine Gasoline), and Paddle Boat Open Category (Mixed Doubles).

Last year’s overall champion Chersan James Amantiad from Team Cebu will

be shooting for a straight Bangkarera title, but he said his chances this time around have diminished due to the rise in competition and his boat’s standards.

“Mahirap this year, kasi medyo mahina ang sasakyan ko. Hindi gaano nakapag-upgrade,” said Amantiad, who picked his former team (Pirata) and Leyte as the teams to beat.

“Pero kung papalarin, tatlo na,” added the Grade 12 student from Iligan, recruited by the Cebuanos to spearhead its team here.

While the races are competitive and action-packed, the bangkarera is more than just a boating spectacle for the fastest riders as it is also an advocacy of caring for the environment with its related activities such as ocean trash cleanups, awareness talks, coral reef restoration and mangrove and tree planting.

Pioneer Adhesives’ creation of the Angat Sa Dagat Organization recognizes boating and fishing as jobs to be proud of, thereby widening the reach and extent of support given to people whose lives depend on the sea.

John Spakowski II, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer Adhesives Inc., rubs elbows with the boat participants during the Racer’s Night.

WORLD SLASHER CUP II CHAMP KNOWN TODAY

AN interesting mix of cockfight celebrities, first time participants and foreign cockers will shoot for the championship of the 2019 World Slasher Cup 2 Invitational 9 -Cock Derby today, Sunday at the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Aficionados eagerly await the return to the rueda of seven-time WSC champion Patrick Antonio, and three -time WSC king Frank Berin, both of whom figured in a classic draw against each other last Tuesday with the biggest center bet ever recorded. It was a rare match-up that thrilled the thousands of witnesses at the Big Dome.

Antonio and son Tony Antonio have three entries in today’s 4 -cock finals (Sagupaan Winning Line with 4.5 points and two others with 4 points).

Team Excellence is also in the thick of fight, headed

by 2019 Pitmasters 220 K Big Event champion Rey Canedo of Davao (RC Warrior JD, 5 points) and partners Doc Ayong Lorenzo and Pitgames Media Inc. CEO Manny Berbano with four points (EDL Agiar Excellence).

First timers Henry Tubban of Ilocos (Tabuk Legal Eagles Anonas ) and Reynaldo Villanuva of Laguna (RNK) reached the finals unscathed so far with five wins each while Dr. Bel Almojera of Florida, USA and Soan Sogianto/HJ Sabri of Indonesia with suppport of Marikina’s Aurelio Yee tallied four points each.

Other grand finalists, with 4 points: Caloy Datu/Lawrence Villanueva, Nerio Frani, Ricky Magtuto/JMW group, Antonio Aleria/Boy de Roca, Nene Araneta, Felix and RC Gatchalian, Jervy Maglunob, Mauro Prieto/Rey Briones, Emil Tiu, Anthony Lim, Frank Berin, Louie Tulang, Randy

Rabadon, Eslabon and Escolin Brothers and Honey Yu. Major sponsors are Thunderbird and Emperador with media partners PitGames Media Inc., TV5’s “All New Tukaan”, ABS-CBN Action + Sports, “Sagupaan,” “Sabong Nation”, “Sabong Pilipinas”, “Bakbakan Na TV”, The Sabong Chronicles, Journal Group, Pilipino Mirror, Saksi Ngayon and Diaryo Bomba.

The champions of this six -day cockfight spectacle being hosted by the Pintakasi of Champions will receive a finely crafted silver cup from the WSC Derby Office heads and the reigning Binibining Pilipinas titlists in an exclusive awarding ceremony at the Novotel Manila Araneta Center.

Paying patrons can get their tickets at the TicketNet outlet (Yellow Gate of the Smart Araneta Coliseum).

BORJA CONCLUDES IRONKIDS’ STINT WITH A WIN

By Reuel Vidal ZEDRICK James Borja ended his participation in IRONKIDS in grand fashion by ruling the 13-to-14-years-old boys’ category in the Alaska Fortified IRONKIDS Philippines Swim-Run (Aquathlon) at the WOW Reaction and Activity Center in Subic Bay Freeport Zone Saturday.

Other winners were: Lady Samantha Jhunace Corpuz in the 13 to 14 girls category; Aubrey Tom, girls 11 to 12; Alyssa Khim Cabatian, girls 9 to 10; Mikayla Miracle Salada, girls 6 to 8; Michael Gabriel Lozada, boys 11 to 12; Darell Johnson Braim Bada, boys 9 to 10; and Arthur Emyel Zuelueta, boys 6 to 8; Corpuz won her third consecutive IRONKIDS in as many races she joined.

Borja, on the other hand, said he was overjoyed to win his final IRONKIDS race.

“Ang sarap sa pakiramdam dahil

since 9 years old po nag-a-IRONKIDS na ako. Dati finisher lang po ako. Then, dahil nakakasali palagi nag-level up naman po ‘yung performance ko. This is my last race with the IRONKIDS. A big farewell na rin po ito para sa akin.

Nanalo po ako sa age category ko,” said Borja.

Lahainah Digermo and Princess Julianne Patilan placed second and third in the 13 to 14 girls, respectively. Kira Ellis and Gerice Oyaman placed second and third in the girls 11 to 12, respectively; while Kyla Louise Bulaga and Jhanelle Cathlene Yumang placed second and third in the 6 to 8 girls, respectively.

Jose Maria Tayag and Juan Miguel Tayag placed second and third in the 13 to 14 boys. Satriani Lorenzio Alcantara and Isaiah Aalee Jain placed second and third, respectively, in the 6 to

8 boys. Sean Matthew Dela Cruz and Kaden Gabriel Sy placed second and third in the 9 to 10 boys, respectively.

Alaska Fortified IRONKIDS is part of Alaska Sports along with the Basketball and Football Power Camps.

More than just competition the programs teach children the value of exercise and proper nutrition according to Alaska Milk Corporation Associate Brand Manager Diane Guerta.

“Its main goal is to really encourage young children to have an active lifestyle. Alaska is already there for nutrition but IRONKIDS and the Power Camps are there to teach kids that being active is important. These programs do not just teach the kids fundamental skills of the sport but it teaches good values as well. Alaska Sports aim to have a holistic approach in kids’ development,” said Guerta.

Zedrick James Borja raises his hands in triumph as he crosses the finish line to rule the 13-to-14years-old boys’ category in the Alaska Fortified IRONKIDS Philippines Swim-Run (Aquathlon) at the WOW Reaction and Activity Center in Subic Bay Freeport Zone Saturday.

REY Pagunsan hopes to draw some spark from his recent triumph in the National pro-am as he slugs it out with the leading players on the Philippine Golf Tour and a slew of foreign invitees in the ICTSI Club Filipino de Cebu Invitational unfolding Wednesday at Club Filipino de Cebu golf course in Danao City.

The veteran Pagunsan ended a long title spell, but in team play, when he partnered up with top amateur Aidric Chan to rule the Delimondo National pro-am at Taal Splendido last month with the former national team standout expecting a tougher challenge in individual play in the upcoming 72-hole championship kicking off the four-leg Visayan swing of the milestone 10th season of the country’s premier circuit put up by ICTSI. “It’s a tough task given the depth of the field. But my ball striking has been pretty good and I gained a lot of confidence from my recent win. I just hope to get off to a strong start and let’s see what happens,” said Pagunsan.

Jhonnel Ababa, who emerged on top in last year’s rain-shortened CFdC inaugurals, headlines the crack roster that includes Dutch Guido Van der Valk, Jerson Balasabas, Michael Bibat, James Ryan Lam, Justin Quiban, Joenard Rates, Elmer Salvador, Ferdie Aunzo, Rufino Bayron, Marvin Dumandan and Albin Engino.

Jay Bayron, who tied for 27th in the recent Taiwan Open, the first PGT Asia event abroad, is also in the fold along with multi-titled Tony Lascuña, who is seeking to snap out of a long slump due to poor form and hand injury.

Five invitees are also expected to make an impact in the event, including former PGT Asia leg winner David Gleeson of Australia, Mateo Gomez and Sebastian Lopez of Colombia, Englishman George Twyman and Jack Sullivan, another talented shotmaker from Down Under.

FIERCE DUEL UP AS IRONMAN 70.3 FIRES OFF SUBIC—Twelve pros of varying styles and strengths set out for the same mission—emerge on top of the pack in the Century Tuna IRONMAN 70.3 Subic Bay presented by Big Boss Cement, which unfolds today (Sunday, June 2) here.

Despite crowning himself as the toughest following his impressive victory in the country’s first full IRONMAN (3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42k run) also here last year, Nick Baldwin of Seychelles finds the 1.9km swim90km bike-21km run race a different kind of challenge requiring a different kind of approach and game plan against perhaps some of the best bets in the sport.

“Competing against some of the race favorites like Tim Reed and Tim Van Berkel will be a great test and I’m sure it will be a great race for the spectators,” said Baldwin on the eve of the event organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. which drew close to thousand entries from 41 countries vying in various divisions.

The compact field in both the men’s and women’s pro divisions also brace for a battle of staying power on a practically new course with temperature tipped to hit 35-degree high during the closing run stage.

“An undulating course combined with the heat makes it a true test. I just hope I can put all my knowledge into helping me have a great race,” said Reed, a former three-time world champion who has reigned here in Subic in other endurance races.

Boosting the men’s cast are Sam Betten and Conor McKay, also from Australia and Colombia’s Rodrigo Acevedo and Oli Stenning of Great Britain.

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SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2019

Business

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

COMPANY PROMOTES CULTURE OF HAPPINESS

2019 Happiest Pinoy winner Zaldy Bueno (From Happiest Pinoy website)

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ICROFINANCIAL services company Cebuana Lhuillier is promoting the culture of happiness by acknowledging Filipinos who make a positive impact on the community and the people around them.

Lhuillier has grown to 2,500 outlets nationwide,” he says, adding that the company’s goal is financial inclusion for every Filipino.

“The search for the happiest Pinoy is our way of recognizing Filipinos with that ‘can do’ attitude, those who are able to rise above life’s challenges and impact the lives of those around them. Through this search, Cebuana Lhuillier hopes to hone the culture of happiness and positive mindset,” says Lhuillier.

He says this year’s search was the most inclusive in the last 10 years, as it received more than 800,000 applications nationwide. The search also introduced 10 categories this year, with the winner in each category receiving P50,000 in cash prize. The grand winner, selected from the 10 finalists, received P1 million.

Zaldy Bueno, a 37-year-old teacher from Gumaca, Quezon who represents the professionals emerged as the grand winner. He joined past winners Winston Maxino (2009), Rommel Arellano (2012) and Richardson Navor (2015).

The nine other finalists in 2019 were Khaye Celine Maggay (youth), Francisca Tumampil (senior citizens), Fortunato Januto (overseas Filipino workers), Rodrigo Roble Jr. (lingkod bayan), Hercules Soringa (manggagawang Pinoy), Mark David Cerezo (entrepreneurs), Alfred Santos (employees), Jayson Dela Fuente (persons with disabilities) and Leovy John Terrado (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community).

Each finalist went through a panel interview led by Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya; Rock Education Project Inc. founder Gang Badoy Capati; Enterph co-founder and motivational speaker RJ Ledesma; TV host, journalist and online influencer James Deakin; TV host Love Anover-Lianko; The Apprentice Asia winner and JY Consultancy and Ventures founder and managing director Jonathan Yabut; and Search for the Happiest Pinoy previous grand winners Winston Maxino, Rommel Arellano and Richardson Navor.

“I am happy to share that we have received north of 800,000 applicants from all over the Philippines,” says Lhuillier.

Bueno, this year’s grand winner, recalls his tough life as a child who had to quit schooling in Quezon province because of financial difficulty. He remembers seeking refuge at the barangay health center after typhoon Rosing destroyed their house in 1995.

He chose to work as a school’s waiter to support his studies. As a working student, he served as his mother’s teacher in DepEd’s Alternative Learning System Class.

With his relentless dream to provide a better life for his family, Bueno became a teacher and the head of the English Department of Gumaca National High School. He also established Padyak (Pidal Apakan Dunong Yayaman, Asenso’y Kakamtan), an advocacy campaign that provides bicycles to less fortunate students who struggle to stay in school.

Lhuillier says Bueno is a worthy winner whose story will inspire countless people to push on despite life’s difficulties, “Zaldy exemplifies the commendable Filipino spirit of rising up from your current predicament and using that as fuel to make a difference in the lives of others,” he says.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

“We as a nation are known most for two things: our Filipino hospitality and our inherent ability to be happy and positive,” says Cebuana Lhuillier president and chief executive Jean Henri Lhuillier during the awarding ceremony for the 2019 Search for the Happiest Pinoy held at New World Makati Hotel.

“Whether we are experiencing typhoons and other natural disasters or simply surviving the unbearable tropical heat and daily traffic, we as Filipinos always find a way to smile,” he says.

Gallup International, in its 41st Annual Global End of Year Survey, ranked the Philippines the third happiest country in the world in 2018, just behind Fiji and Colombia.

In a separate study, the United Nations’ annual World Happiness Report 2019 ranked the Philippines the 69th happiest country in the world.

Lhuillier says their company started the search for the happiest Pinoy in 2009 to acknowledge Filipinos who bring happiness to others. He says the bi-annual search is an advocacy program of Cebuana Lhuillier to celebrate the Filipino values of resilience, hope and tenacity.

“Cebuana Lhuillier’s search for the happiest Bueno (center) receives a plaque as the winner of the 2019 Search for the Happiest Pinoy from Cebuana Pinoy has endured the past 10 years. From a Lhuillier president and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier (seventh from left), senior executive vice president Philippe Andre Lhuillier (sixth from right) and other executives. (From Facebook Page of Happiest Pinoy) small pawnshop company in the 1970s, Cebuana

Epson country manager Ando Munenori

EPSON NAMES NEW COUNTRY HEAD FOR PH EPSON, a global technology company, announced the appointment of Ando Munenori as the new managing director of Epson Singapore overseeing Southeast Asian region and concurrently country manager for Epson Thailand and Epson Philippines.

He is also concurrently holding the role of the executive officer at Seiko Epson Corp., Epson’s global headquarters in Japan.

He is taking over from Tanaka Toshimitsu who will be returning to a senior role in sales planning and marketing communications department in SEC. Ando was head of SEC’s sales and marketing division where he was responsible for developing the sales infrastructure and strategy for all of Epson’s products globally.

He has held multiple leadership positions in Asia and internationally and brings a depth of understanding of the region and decades of management experience to his role.

He took on the leadership role as president of Epson China from 2014 to 2017 where he led with its “technology plus localization” strategy, growing the business and increasing the company’s share in key markets including printers, projectors and robotics.

From 2003 to 2008, Ando was assigned to the Southeast Asia regional headquarters in Singapore, where he was in charge of market development for Epson’s printers and other information-related products.

Ando has also led the POS printer business in Europe from 1994 to 1998, where during which he successfully grew the POS pr inter business through the introduction of new technologies to bring the company to the No. 1 position.

ICTSI FOUNDATION BRINGS LIGHT TO AETA COMMUNITY IN TARLAC MORE than 140 families belonging to the Aeta indigenous peoples in Capas, Tarlac now have access to electricity after the ICTSI Foundation, the social responsibility arm of International Container Terminal Services Inc. installed solar photovoltaic systems.

In partnership with non-profit organization Project Liwanag PH, two communal micro-grid structures were installed at Sitio Malalabatay and Sitio AlunanPurok 3 in Barangay Sta. Juliana, a remote community in the mountains of Tarlac province, some 109 kilometers north of Manila.

Early this year, the Foundation and Project Liwanag signed a memorandum of agreement to fund the installation of the solar electrification systems.

“Access to power still remains a challenge to many Filipinos living in mountainous regions and far-flung areas, among them our Aeta brothers and sisters.

With these solar PV systems, it is our hope that we can improve their lives and make it more convenient,” ICTSI Global corporate head and ICTSI Foundation president Christian R. Gonzalez said.

The Aeta tribe, believed to be the earliest inhabitants of the Philippines, had their ancestral domain displaced with the devastating Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991. Modernized Aetas have moved to villages and areas of cleared mountains in central Luzon, many of which have no access to water, sanitation facilities, electricity, roads, and bridges.

Under the supervision of Project Liwanag contractors, all able-bodied community members helped in the setting-up of the communal microgrid panels. The residents also personally installed the electrical wires from the panels to their homes.

Community leaders were taught the upkeep of the solar PV systems.

Judy Balintay, among the beneficiaries of the project, could not believe that she and her children would ever see the day when electricity would reach her tiny village. Living in the mountains, she and her neighbors reside in small, bamboo-thatched houses where the only light source at night were moonlight, firewood and kerosene lamps.

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Residents of Sitio Malalabatay and Sitio Alunan-Purok 3 in Barangay Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac rejoice after the successful switch-on of communal solar PV systems installed by ICTSI Foundation and Project Liwanag. Attending the event are (from left) Project Liwanag executive director Marlon Pia, Sitio Alunan 1st kagawad Arnel Ramos, Sitio Malalabatay chieftain Vic Oreman, Pagmimiha Aeta Federation chairman Joven Ocampo, ICTSI Foundation program operations manager Joy Lapuz, NCIP-Tarlac representative Gilbert Cuero and Sitio Malalabatay resident Judy Balintay.

Business

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SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2019 business@manilastandard.net

By Darwin G. Amojelar

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ALAMOVE Philippines tapped GCash to secure payments for their partner drivers.

Odilio Alcaria (fourth from left) receives the most outstanding 7-Eleven franchisee in Luzon. With him during the awarding ceremony are (from left) 7-Eleven South Luzon business unit zone manager Emma Nucum, vice president for supply Chai Richard Lee, PSC

7-ELEVEN HONORS TOP FRANCHISEES PHILIPPINE Seven Corp., the local exclusive licensor of 7-Eleven convenience store chain brand, honored its top per forming franchisees at the recent Franchise Appreciation Day. The annual recognition puts prime importance in partners’ invaluable support to 7-Eleven’s undisputed edge over competition in the C-store category.

Named most outstanding franchisees were Odilio Alcaria of Calamba, Laguna for Luzon; Dr. Virgilia Redulla of Bohol for the Visayas; and Lou Penaflor of Matina, Davao for Mindanao. PSC hailed these outstanding 7-Eleven franchisees for their leadership and exceptional contribution to overall company progress.

7-Eleven offers suitable partners two ways to benefit from a proven system: regular new store franchise (open a new 7-Eleven store) and property conversion (convert an established business or properties into a 7-Eleven franchise).

PSC plans to add 350 stores this year to bring the total to 2,900 outlets. It also aims to refurbish 100 existing stores aged six to seven years. The group has 12 distribution centers capable of serving 3,100 stores.

ICTSI... FromC1 “I cried with joy when light came to our community. I ran back and forth to our house because we could see in the dark, finally,” she said in Filipino.

“We could not believe that this day would come when electricity would reach us since we’re living in the mountains. This will definitely help us, most especially our children who are studying.”

The ICTSI Foundation has also implemented programs and projects to improve the lives of the Aetas, who live in the hinterlands of Subic Bay International Terminal, an ICTSI subsidiary.

“Lalamove is the pioneer in on-demand logistics services in the Philippines and have been leading the industry since 2016. We’re very happy to have partnered with GCash as they were able to make our partner driver disbursements more efficient,” said Lalamove managing director Dannah Marajocon.

“We’re definitely looking forward to exploring more opportunities with them,” she said.

Lalamove is looking forward to expanding its partnership with GCash by adopting more services such as offering GCash QR acceptance for delivery payments.

Mynt president and chief executive Anthony Thomas said GCash’s payroll solution was designed for quick and easy disbursements for small and medium enterprises and even big corporations. Mynt or Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. is the operator of mobile money service GCash.

“This service features a GCash MasterCard, which doubles as an ATM card and a debit card all in one, available for use in over 5,000 POS terminals and over 12,000 ATMs nationwide,” he said.

The GCash App empowers users to be able to use money in the app real-time: customers can purchase discounted prepaid load, send money to other GCash users for free, pay utility bills without actually setting foot in payment centers or pay using GCash QR in over 60,000 GCash partner merchants nationwide, including restaurants, apparel and other product and service brands.

The GCash Mastercard is a card directly linked to a customer’s GCash App, and can be used for swipe, ATM and online transactions.

LOGISTICS PROVIDER TAPS

GCASH FOR DRIVER PAYMENTS Lalamove managing director Dannah Marajocon

Thomas said GCash and Lalamove share the same startup mindset.

“We’re very happy to continue working with them on working towards a more convenient and financially-inclusive employee payroll ecosystem,” he said.

GCash has more than 16,000 partner outlets nationwide such as 7-Eleven, SM Business Centers, Robinsons Business Centers, Puregold branches and Villarica Pawnshop branches.

Originally known as EasyVan, Lalamove was launched to satisfy a specific logistical need— van hiring. Started in Hong Kong in December 2013, Lalamove now operates in more than 100 cities across China and Southeast Asia.

Today, the company matches 15,000,000 registered customers with a pool of 2,000,000 drivers of vans, trucks and motorcycles. Lalamove is also the leading app-based logistics provider in the Philippines.

FINTECH TO CREATE ‘MULTIPLIER EFFECT’ IN PH—MYNT I N C R E A S I N G investments and government support to further develop the financial technology space in the Philippines will create a multiplier effect that could spur economic growth and result in greater financial inclusion.

During a panel inter view at Bloomberg Breakfast Briefings hosted

by Globe Telecom Inc., Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt) president Anthony Thomas said promoting fintech through innovations and sound regulatory policies will help greatly benefit the broader Philippine economy.

These benefits, then, will be passed on to the common folk.

Today, the fintech environment is going through a tremendous pace of growth, thanks to new investors in the sector, heightened competition, and new innovations that players continuously introduce.

“Enablement now has multiplied capability. A lot of the normal pain points that we see are now being solved — that should apply a multiplier effect to the Philippine economy,” Thomas said.

GCash, operated by Mynt, has

enabled over 20 million users with the ability to use their mobile phones for physical and digital transactions.

GCash allows users to create a savings account through GSave, earn a credit score and subsequently have access to a credit line through GCredit, pay bills, send money and pay for physical transactions through its innovative QR payments technology, among others.

With access to GCash now made easier through its implementation of a telco-agnostic strategy, and add money touch points growing exponentially, more aFilipinos are adopting the cash-lite lifestyle.

“If you look at the Philippines, adoption happens because others around you are doing the same thing — they are transacting through mobile wallets, using their phones to pay bills, send money and even open a savings account. Vitality happens when the service is remarkable,” Thomas said.

Ad o p t i o n h a s l e d t o m o re businesses and government agencies to jumpstart their digital transformation initiatives and more enterprises to sprout in many parts of the Philippines.

“The moment you make it easy

for budding entrepreneurs and freelancers to easily make payments both offline and online — printing their own QR codes, setting up widgets for online acceptance, transferring money through Instapay, and giving other users access to credit and savings — the multiplier effect comes in,” Thomas said.

He added: “Businesses will start to grow at unprecedented rates, people will have greater financial capabilities and consumption will rise as a direct result. These will help spur economic growth for the local economy.”

This paints a rosy picture for the Philippine digital economy which reached $5 billion in 2018, the smallest among six Southeast Asian nations according to a study conducted

by Google. This figure is seen to balloon to $21 billion by 2025, but will still remain as the smallest digital economy equal to Malaysia and next to Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia.

Fintech could help accelerate this growth by bridging the gap between the banked and unbanked. Through sound government policies and innovations, the fintech sector could

help more Filipinos participate in the digital financial space.

“O u r p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h A n t Financial has immensely helped us in on-boarding a huge number of Filipinos into the GCash platform.

Through its cutting-edge facial recognition technology, our KYC (know-your-customer) process is now more seamless, helping previouslyunbanked people have access to formal financial tools and services,” Thomas said.

Financial inclusion has always been one of the key missions of GCash since it was incorporated years ago. It has consistently been a strong government partner towards achieving their shared goal of bringing finance for all.

“The whole purpose of why we built GCash in the Philippines is the fact that we saw a huge problem to be solved. We saw that there was a need for financial inclusion and financial access in the Philippines, and what we are doing in GCash is we give people a whole new set of assets that they can capitalize on. GCash is an enabler for small people in the Philippines,” Mynt vice chairman Ernest Cu said.

ABOITIZ-BACKED BEACHSIDE BAKERY EMPOWERS INJURED MARINES Project Liwanag receives a check donation from the ICTSI Foundation to fund the installation and construction of solar PV systems in Capas, Tarlac. From left: Project Liwanag executive director Marlon Pia, Sitio Alunan chieftain Rodolfo Manalo, Sitio Malalabatay chieftain Vic Oreman, PAGMIMIHA Aeta Federation chairman Joven Ocampo, NCIP-Tarlac representative Gilbert Cuero and ICTSI Foundation deputy executive director Filipina Laurena.

Under its Water Systems for Aeta Communities Project, the foundation laid out and constructed water-related infrastructure at Sitio San Martin in Bamban, eliminating the need for residents to walk an hour to the nearest river to fetch water every day.

In Sta. Juliana in Capas, water filtration systems were given to some 800 families to instantly convert rainwater, water from rivers and even water mixed with soil into clean and potable water. The project in Bamban was recognized in 2018 as a Highly-Commended Initiative in Social Responsibility by the Hong Kong-based The Asset.

Through Project Liwanag, the Foundation supported the first-time trip of more than 40 junior and senior high school Aeta students to Manila to deepen their knowledge on Philippine history and to encourage them to continue studying.

ICTSI employee-volunteers also took part in planting 13,000 fruitbearing seedlings in the ancestral domain lands of Aeta Abellen and Aeta Hungey tribes in Capas.

The Aboitiz Group, through food business unit Pilmico and the Aboitiz Foundation, extends livelihood assistance to the Philippine Marine Corps through ‘Panaderong Marino’, a bakery located in Marine Base Gregorio, Ternate, Cavite. Attending the turnover are Marine Commandant Major General Alvin Parreño, Marine Colonel Jonathan Gabor, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. chief corporate external affairs officer DJ Sta. Ana and Aboitiz Foundation chief operating officer Maribeth Marasigan.

HEROIC members of the elite Philippine Marine Corps will be exploring new ways to earn for themselves and their families while simultaneously supporting their wounded brethren through the newly-opened “Panaderong Marino.”

This is a new livelihood opportunity provided by the Aboitiz Group through its corporate social responsibility arm Aboitiz Foundation and food business unit Pilmico.

One of the beneficiaries is 42-year old Marine Technical Sergeant Jeser de la Cruz, a Bulacan native

and a veteran of many battles. He was surprised to discover that baking was a different kind of “battle” in itself.

“There are also challenges in baking. We didn’t expect that it also involves mathematics and computation just like in battle,” de la Cruz said in jest.

Located in Katungkulan Beach, Marine Base Gregorio Lim in Ternate, Cavite, Panaderong Marino was inaugurated on May 22, 2019 by Marine Commandant Major General Alvin Parreño, PMC Colonel Jonathan Gabor, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc.

chief corporate external affairs officer DJ Sta. Ana and Aboitiz Foundation chief operating officer Maribeth Marasigan.

“As we open the Panaderong Marino bakery, we express our gratitude for your sacrifices and dedication.

We in the Aboitiz Foundation, with our partners in Pilmico and the Aboitiz Equity Ventures, have been working hard to continuously make this a project that will help make our partner-soldiers productive despite their injuries. May more opportunities for growth and collaboration come out of this bakery,” Marasigan said.

Panaderong Marino received modern baking equipment and financial assistance for the construction of a complete on-site bakery from the Aboitiz Group.

Seventeen Philippine Marines, some of them previously injured, also received comprehensive baking training from Pilmico and additional training through the University of the Philippines Institute of Small Scale Industries’ Start Your Own Business course.

“During our trainings, we look for water first, and then food,” said Colonel Gabor, describing Panaderong Marino’s significance and viability. “It’s very rare to find a friend who can provide you with livelihood for life, and not just feed you for a day,” Gabor added, referring to the Aboitiz Group.

This is not the first time the Aboitiz Group has extended baking livelihood programs to the country’s soldiers.

Recently, the Aboitiz Group inaugurated the “Panthers Bakery” and “The Bread Camp Bakery” which are manned by the Philippine Army Special Operations Command’s First Scout Ranger Regiment and Presidential Security Group Enlisted Personnel Ladies Club, respectively.

Early last year, the Noble Bakers Bakery in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija became operational and is now manned by the Philippine Army Special Operations Command soldiers who were injured in battle. Aboitiz has also extended bakery livelihood programs to residents displaced during the Marawi City siege.

Tech & Gadgets

HOW TO BE SCANDAL-PROOF IN AGE OF DATA BREACHES

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ATA breaches are on the rise. Since January 2017, there have been reports of security breaches using stolen information to access accounts.

In the Philippines, there are 119 million mobile subscribers to which 47% of users are either browsing Facebook or chatting using their downloaded free messaging app.

Last year, the National Privacy Commission requested the social media giant Facebook to submit a Data Breach Notification Report to identify the 755,973 affected Philippine-based users in compliance with NPC Circular No. 16-03.

The social media company revealed a vulnerability attributed to an exploit of Facebook’s “View As” feature, through which hackers managed to generate access tokens which allowed intruders to log on to affected FB profiles using a “key” to one’s accounts without having to type in a password.

This incident generated instant reactions from its users that started numerous conversations about data privacy.

In Republic Act 10173, people whose personal information is collected, stored, and processed are called data subjects.

Organizations who deal with your personal details, whereabouts, and preferences are duty-bound to observe and respect data subjects’data privacy rights.

However, we must remember that scandals—sexual, political, or simply personal—arise because sensitive information falls into the wrong hands.

So how do you safeguard yourself from possible breaches and avoid being the next data breach victim? Here are what you need to keep in mind: 1. Think twice before backing up your messages. There are many benefits of encrypted messaging. One of it is that communications are coded in order to make information unavailable to third parties. When two or more devices communicate via an app, the information will be transmitted using a secret code rather than a plain text. But here’s

Viber, for one, offers a Delete Message option that will allow you to delete any message from both the sender and recipient’s device. It will totally remove the message even if it has already been seen. Once deleted, the content can never be viewed again.

one good point to remember, often, your scrambled messages are unscrambled when they are backed up to the cloud. Which means, government can demand your cloud provider—Apple or Google—to retrieve and turn over your messages from its servers.

2. Make sure your app uses encrypted messaging. When you say end-to-end encrypted messaging, it means all messages that are sent from your device to the person you’re communicating with are in the form of a code that only the recipient’s device can translate to plain text. Which makes it impossible for anyone—even the app maker—to see what’s being said.

3. Consider deleting messages you never meant to send. Viber, for one, offers a Delete Message option that will allow you to delete any mes-

sage from both the sender and recipient’s device. It will totally remove the message even if it has already been seen. Once deleted, the content can never be viewed again.

4. Use secret or hidden chats, when possible. If you want extra privacy when you send messages, use your chat app's secret chat, if it's available.

Viber has a Secret Chats option that allows you to set a self-destruct time for every message you send in the chat. If you’re an Android user, the recipient can’t take a screenshot of the chat while for iPhone user, the recipient will receive a notification that a screenshot has been taken. But if you want a conversation to not appear in the chat list, then use Viber's Hidden Chats function. These are normal chats, but they are kept in a secret section of the app that only the

sender can access with a PIN. 5. Keep your apps updated. Lastly, one of the best ways to make sure that you stay secure is to keep your mobile and desktop software up-to-date. Oftentimes software updates are done when app-makers find a security bug or when enterprising hackers have become familiar with the code and have already created hacks to break them.

So, update your chat apps when a new version becomes available.

With all the prying eyes everywhere on the Internet, it boils down to the need to be vigilant when it’s our privacy and security that’s on the line. Keep in mind to be careful in choosing the app that you use in all aspects of your lives. There’s only one who can protect you from all these internet mishaps… yourself.

TRAVELOKA PH HONORS 6 METRO MANILA HOTELS TRAVELOKA Philippines recently gave out the very first Traveloka Philippines Hotel Awards 2019 to recognize the efforts of its hotel partners in helping the online platform’s continuous success in the country.

At the recent gathering at the Diamond Hotel, Traveloka handed out four awards that acknowledged six Metro Manila hotels for their contributions to the company’s growth in the Philippines the previous year. The awards and their respective winners are: Most Engaged: Go Hotels Ermita; Best Content: Discovery Suites Manila Philippines; Best Reviews: Lub d Philippines Makati (Hostels and Backpacker Accommodations), Casa Bacobo Hotel (Hotels and Serviced Apartments), and I’M Hotel (Luxury Hotel); and Best Rookie: Skyloft Hotel.

Visit traveloka.com for more details.

PLDT GLOBAL APP NAMED ASIA’S MOST INNOVATIVE VOICE SOLUTION PLDT Global Corporation, the international arm of leading digital services provider PLDT, received a nod from Telecom Asia Awards for its Free Bee mobile application.

A VoIP solution available in over 180 countries, Free Bee bested entries from Philippines’ Globe Telecom, South Korea’s SK Telecom, and Indonesia’s Telin Telekom under Telecom Asia Awards’ Most Innovative Voice Solution category. The innovation targets the estimated two million Filipinos who leave the country every year to augment their family’s financial standing and are in need of communication services to help them stay connected with their loved ones back home.

Now on its 22nd year, the Telecom Asia Awards is the region’s longest-running industry awards program which seeks to recognize the continent’s premier telecommunications service providers and executives. It is organized annually by Telecom Asia, the largest telecom publishing group in the region.

PGC’s advertising-based voice service delivers high-quality IDD calls to the Philippines for free. For longer calls and an ad-free experience, users have the option to buy Premium Free Bee Voice buckets at affordable rates—as low as 1 US cent per minute—from global retailers or via in-app and online purchases.

A wholly-owned subsidiary of PLDT, PGC has footprint in several countries across different regions worldwide. It provides international telecommunications services including wholesale and enterprise, voice, SMS and data, as well as a range of digital products and platfroms designed to serve the 10.2M Filipinos working and living abroad.

Aside from Free Bee, Telecom Asia also recognized innovations of Smart, PLDT’s wireless services subsidiary. The mobile provider received nominations for its education program School-in-a-Bag (Most Innovative Community Telecom Project category), Smart’s Credit Score Service (Most Innovative Approach to Analytics category), and Smart Free YouTube Everyday (Most Innovative Over-The-Top/ OTT Video Service category).

This year’s Telecom Asia Awards consist of 28 categories that are divided into three distinct groups: Innovation, Service Providers, and Leadership. The categories represent current and emerging trends in the communications sector.

Shortlisted organizations represent innovators from their respective industries who have displayed excellence in the delivery of innovative services.

For more information on Free Bee and other PLDT Global innovations, visit www. freebeecalls.com and www.pldtglobal.com.

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(From Left to Right) Miguel Capistrano III, Country Market Manager of Traveloka Philippines; Issa Delos Ama, Director of Revenue Management and Marketing of Go Hotels Ermita, Janice Tiambeng, Director of Sales and Marketing of Discovery Suites Manila Philippines, Julie Ann De Vera, Sales Manager of Lub D Philippines Makati; Joy De Castro, Hotel Manager of Casa Bocobo Hotel; RT Paler, Reservations Officer of I’M Hotel Makati; and Jojo Naag - Property Manager of Skyloft Hotel

PROMATE ENTERS PACT WITH VISMIN DISTRIBUTION GIANT CEBU—Thinking Tools Inc. has been in the business of providing people with quality IT products at very reasonable prices for more than 30 years.

“We are very excited to have Thinking Tools Inc. as our official sub-distribution partner in Visayas and Mindanao. Partnering with a very strong company to distribute our products will not only strengthen our Channel Network but it will help us cater to all the cities, towns and municipalities in the VisMin area,” said Dimple Condes, Promate Philippines Country Manager.

“We have always been keen in partnering with Promate. This is the best time for us to carry Promate as we have both agreed on a long term sub-distribution partnership. Promate being here in our VisMin Kick-Off shows our full support and commitment for each other. Our store branches and channel network are excited to carry Promate and offer the Best Value Brand in its Class. This partnership will widen and strengthen our range of brands and merchandise. Thinking Tools Inc. will be carrying Promate’s full range of products such as mobile accessories, IT peripherals, photography enhancements, digital gadgets and consumer electronics,” said Virgin Tan, TTI Managing Partner and COO. Thinking Tools, Inc. has expanded its sub-distribution operations and has grown to be one of the most trusted names in the Philippine industry with 15 branches in Cebu City, Carcar City, Tagbilaran City, Davao City, Tagum City, Digos City, General Santos City and Tacloban City.

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SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2019 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

Shown here are (from left) Thinking Tools Inc. Founder Wilson Tan, Thinking Tools Managing Director Virgie Tan, OrmocNet Owner Jennifer Lardazabal, Promate Retail Sales Manager Genny Zulueta, Thinking Tools Product Manager Lynette Telebangco, and Promate Country Manager Dimple Condes.

Promate Technologies, the global leader brand in digital lifestyle consumer electronics, was awarded during the Southeast Asia Gates Retail Summit in Bangkok with four awards for: Most Innovative Brand, Best MultiCategory Brand, Accessories and Peripherals Brand of the Year and a 4th award for its newly released All

in one USB-C Hub “CenterHub” as Most Innovative Product. Promate has over 1,000 Made for Retail products in its portfolio covering 17 major products categories such as portable power banks, data and power cables, Bluetooth audio solutions like speakers and headsets, photography enhancements, hi tech car gadgets and much more, offering two years global warranty on the entire product range. The brand is present in over 150 countries all over the world.

Promate Technologies is the worldwide leader in electronic and computing DMS (Design and Manufacturing Service) with extensive experience in product development and vertically integrated capabilities. Promate boasts a diversified product line, including mobility accessories, IT peripherals, photography enhancements, digital gadgets and consumer electronics and more. Promate takes pride in their well-diversified product portfolio, unique designs, flexible manufacturing capabilities and reliable after-sale services. Please visit https://philippines.promate.net for more information.

Thinking Tools, Inc. opened its first retail outlet in June 1987 and expanded its operations opening PC QuickBuys Computer Sales & Services with branches in Cebu City and Consolacion, Cebu, and subsequently opened SDNI-Mabolo, to handle the wholesale and distribution and sub-distribution businesses.

Thinking Tools Inc. is a charter member of the Association of Computer Resellers in Cebu. Please visit www.tti.com.ph for more information.

and deep bass from dual woofers. Even with its size, this speaker easily adapts to its environment. It can be used vertically or horizontally, and you can change its lighting to fit the mood.

One of the biggest problems with Bluetooth speakers is that only one device can be connected. Whatever they choose to play, you’re stuck with it. With the RK7 (and the RL4), two devices can be connected simultaneously. Like the PK5, the RK7 also has APT-X™ HD builtin, giving you crisp high-fidelity sound even when you’re streaming through Bluetooth.

With the RK7, you can make your DJ dreams a reality. Through the DJ App (available on Android devices), you can scratch, loop, and add all the effects you want through your fingertips. If you’re more of a singer than a DJ, you can use the Karaoke Star feature instead. With a push of a button, you can cancel out the vocals in a song, automatically giving you a karaoke track where you can sing to your heart’s content. The song still a bit too high for you? There’s a Key Changer button as well.

For something still powerful but a lot more compact, the LG XBOOM RL4 is the answer. With 5 inch dual woofers and 150 watts output, the RL4 gives a powerful commanding presence without taking too much space. Moreover, you can use it vertically or horizontally.

It’ll still give you flawless sound no matter the orientation.

You can set the mood and create the right atmosphere for the party by changing the color lighting, while you can create your own Karaoke tracks by using the built-in voice canceller and key changer. Feeling adventurous? Experiment and sing with another voice!

The RL4 has up to 18 voice effects, from Bass, Soprano, to even Duets. You can also try your luck becoming a DJ for the night with the easy-to-use DJ App (available on Android devices).

LG’s new XBOOM line also comes with very reasonable and attractive prices, with the PK5 priced at P 7,490, the RL4 at P 11,990, and the RK7 at P 17,990. They are available at leading appliance stores nationwide.

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TECH & Gadgets SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2019 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

BE LIFE OF PARTY WITH LG’S NEW XBOOM LINE

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ROM dancing the night away at a party, chilling in a pool with your friends, or simply listening to your favorite tunes while doing chores at home, sound brings enjoyment from all walks of life. LG, through its new XBOOM line of speakers, has tried to capture the essence of the love for music by engineering the sound for your passion. Music plays an important role in our life so whatever your lifestyle is, whether you’re always onthe-go, a homebody, or a party animal, LG promises to deliver superior sound, unique features, and exceptional convenience.

To bring their XBOOM speakers to the next level, LG has collaborated with Meridian, the British pioneers and one of the pillars of High-Resolution audio. They are trailblazers in digital audio and their technology is actually used in premium British car brands such as McLaren, Jaguar, and Land Rover. With Meridian’s unrivalled sound quality and pioneering approach to audio, and LG’s reputation for producing award-winning, innovative consumer electronics, this partnership promises to deliver premium products with quality sound for everyone.

One of its newest products that comes with Meridian technology is the LG XBOOM Go PK5. The PK5 is a portable Bluetooth speaker with no compromises. It boasts of Dual Passive Radiators that act like mini bass drivers. This, coupled with its Enhanced Bass technology, ensure a larger and much more substantial sound. LG XBOOM Go PK5 also comes equipped with APTX ™ HD built-in, allowing you to stream 24-bit high fidelity audio without compromising sound quality. Bluetooth normally compresses large lossless files, but with the PK5, you experience all the nuances each song has to offer.

The LG XBOOM Go PK5 has a robust 18-hour battery life, an X-Grip handle for portability and structural protection, and is also IPX5 Water Resistant.

If you need to bring something big and bold to the party, the LG XBOOM RK7 has to be in the conversation.

The RK7 has a whopping 550 watts of power, providing clear vocals coming from dual tweeters Turn to C3

LIMITED EDITION VIVO V15 BLOSSOM PINK COMES WITH BENEFIT PREMIUM MAKE-UP GLOBAL smartphone manufacturer, Vivo, together with its premium cosmetics brand partner, Benefit, continue to spread beautiful summer vibes as they offer a special make-up kit together with the limited-edition Vivo V15 Blossom Pink at selected online and retail stores.

The Vivo x Benefit kit, which comes in a pretty pink box that includes the Vivo V15 in Blossom Pink, bundled with 2 Benefit Box O’ powders in Dandelion Twinkle Blush and Gold Rush Blush, is available online at Shopee and at selected dealers and Vivo stores nationwide. The limited-edition Vivo V15 Blossom Pink can also be purchased online at Lazada and Akulaku.

Much like how a smartphone with a 32-megapixel elevating selfie camera captures beauty made possible with premium power blush set, the partnership between Vivo and Benefit is perfect as the leading global technology company has been collaborating with other global brands who share their same value and ideals.

Let the Vivo x Benefit kit provide you that fresh new look for more levelled-up selfies. Visit the Vivo Philippines Facebook and Instagram pages to find out more about ongoing promos. For more information on the limited edition Vivo V15 Blossom Pink, visit www.vivo.com/ph.

Vivo is a leading global technology company committed to creating trendsetting smart mobile innovations and services. Vivo is devoted to forming a vibrant mobile internet ecosystem, and currently owns and operates an extensive network of research operations, with R&D centers focusing on the development of cutting-edge consumer technologies including 5G, AI, mobile photography and next-generation smartphone design.

In recent years, Vivo has taken frequent efforts in the sports field and is committed to promoting the mutual penetration of the brand’s diverse fields and diversifying its brand image. Vivo Philippines announced its partnership with the NBA by the end of 2018.

Currently, Vivo has over two hundred million users enjoying its mobile products and services around the world. Vivo is present in 18 markets globally and features offline retail stores in over 1,000 cities worldwide. In the Philippines, Vivo is the top3 smartphone brand in terms of market share with 1.5 million users nationwide.

ACER KICKS OFF BACK-TO-SCHOOL PROMO WHETHER it is technology or fashion, millennials are always at the center of things. They know what’s hot and what’s not.

Thanks to technology, the youth is always updated on style, trends, current events and anything viral.

Technology is like a revolving door in that it changes so quickly that it’s difficult to keep up. But millennials are cool with that. They look at technology the way they look at trends and style. They enjoy it and understand its ever-changing nature. Young people use technology as part of their daily life.

With the aid of powerful devices, connecting with family members, checking out trends, getting creative inspiration, streaming tutorials, doing school work, and even shopping online is now within an arm’s reach.

To keep up with the generation’s desire to be trendy, technology firm, Acer Philippines welcomes the new school year with an irresistible back-to-school promo wherein students get complimentary Adidas vouchers for every purchase of any selected Acer products.

With any Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 powered Aspire Laptops and Desktops comes a P3,000 worth of complimentary Adidas vouchers.

Meanwhile, buyers of Acer’s everyday productivity lines with huge boost in performance, Intel Core i5 and i7 or AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 powered Aspire Laptops and Desktops; and Aspire AIO, Nitro Laptops, will get P5,000 worth of Adidas vouchers.

Finally, Aspire desktops, the effective multitaskers that

Promo is from June 1 to July 15, 2019, but redemption of is within 60 days after the start of the issuance date.

Bring your style back to school with Acer and Adidas!

For more information on the Promo, visit the Acer Philippines Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/AcerPH or see flyers for details.

Acer Philippines offers an irresistible back to school promotion with a complimentary Adidas voucher for every purchase of any eligible and registered laptops and desktops.

let you free your creativity with the demanding school tasks like video and photo editing comes with a P7,000 worth of Adidas vouchers.

“Acer is happy to offer the best of its products, including the Aspire and Nitro laptops, for this promotion. These top-ofthe-line gadgets are every student’s perfect companions for the coming school year’s study sessions,” said Sue Ong-Lim, Acer Philippines’ Sales and Marketing Director.

Vouchers can only be used on Adidas bags and/or shoes.

Shown here are (from left) Devices Sales of MultiNational Account for Consumer & Devices of Microsoft SEA Verlyn Perez, AVP Ops of Sports Central Jan Bangayan, Asst. Mall Manager of SM Mega Bunny Javier, Managing Director of Acer PH Manuel Wong, ACER PH Marketing Director Sue Ong-Lim.

EXCLUSIVE BACK-TO-SCHOOL PROMO FROM LOGITECH THIS school year, Logitech enthusiasts can now enjoy high-tech products and give back to their school of choice with exclusive computer accessories package worth close to P200,000.00 with Logitech’s Back To School Promo.

Second Runner-up winner gets 30 units of Logitech H111 Stereo Headset while the First Runnerup winner gets 30 units of Logitech C270 HD Webcam. And the Grand Prize winner gets 30 units of Logitech MK200 Keyboard and Mouse Combo, 30 units of Logitech C310 HD Webcam, and 30 units of Logitech H111 Stereo Headset.

Logitech, a leading Swiss personal computer and mobile accessories brand, has launched a special Back-to-School Promo which aims to reward schools with the latest and exciting computer peripherals. In the said promo, lucky schools will be voted by Logitech customers and those with the highest number of picks will get to upgrade their computer and media laboratories with Logitech accessories.

All a customer has to do is purchase any of the following participating Logitech products: Wireless/Wired Mouse, Multi-device Keyboard or Combo at these partner stores: Octagon, Silicon Valley, PC Express, Complink, PC Worx, Electroworld, Villman, Itech, Thinking Tools, Techwarez, Think PC, Lazada, Data Blitz, Gaisano Interpace, and Dynaquest outlets nationwide. Upon purchase, customers will get a unique promo code which they may use to register online via http://logitechpromo.com.ph. and vote for their school of choice. The customer’s proof of purchase must also be uploaded upon registration to be considered a valid promo entry.

Deadline of submission of votes is on June 25, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. Promo runs from May 17 until June 25, 2019 and is open to all schools in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao.

Through this effort, Logitech is in full support to each school’s goal in providing quality facilities and in turn, allow better educational experience for their students. You can also help make this happen by visiting the nearest participating partner and grab those Logitech accessories now.

To know more specifics about the Logitech Back-to-School Promo, please visit http://logitechpromo.com.ph or connect with us on https://www.facebook.com/ LogitechPhilippines/.

Logitech G, a brand of Logitech International, is the global leader in PC and console gaming gear. Logitech G provides gamers of all levels with industry-leading keyboards, mice, headsets, mousepads and simulation products such as wheels and flight sticks - made possible through innovative design, advanced technologies and a deep passion for gaming.

Founded in 1981, and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI). Find Logitech G at logitechG.com, the company blog or @LogitechG.

Destinations D1

SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2019

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

FAMILY HOLIDAY IN NZ N

EW Zealand is a great destination for family-friendly holidays, what with its wide selection of activities for all ages that range from animal and wildlife experiences to nature-based activities and thrill-seeking adventures.

Planning an NZ holiday anytime soon? Here's a list of best family-friendly places in the home of Kiwis.

Hamilton-Waikato

A must-visit in NZ, Hobbiton treats The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies fans to an awe-inspiring experience. As you walk through the heart of the Shire, you’ll hear the fascinating commentary about how it all came to life. Take a guided tour into the heart of the Waitomo Caves and be amazed by the limestone formations and huge cavern before exiting via boat ride under thousands of twinkling glowworms.

Rotorua

After a trip to the Middle-earth, make your way down to Rotorua where you will be introduced to Maori culture at Te Puia and can watch the Pohutu Geyser which erupts up to 20 times a day to heights of 30 meters. Further along the lakeside you’ll find Hell’s Gate, with the largest hot waterfall and only geothermal mud baths in New Zealand. For a change of pace, head to the Agrodome to rub noses with some cuddly farm creatures and experience a lively round of Zorbing (rolling down a hill in a giant transparent ball).

MERCURY RISING

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO

BEST OF THE BEST IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY THE Virtus Awards, now in its fifth year, is the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association’s (HSMA) yearly recognition of the country’s outstanding workers in the hotel industry.

Hinged on its goal of “Excellence and Nothing Else,” it has become the premier event for the country’s industry professionals.

Launched at the Diamond Hotel Manila the other day, the well attended event officially announced the Awards’ four categories—Outstanding Sales and Marketing Associate, Outstanding Sales and Marketing Manager, Outstanding Sales and Marketing Leader, and Outstanding Marketing Campaign of the Year.

Wellington

Interested in wildlife?

You can’t go past Zealandia, which houses some of New Zealand’s rarest wildlife including kiwi and tuatara. There’s also Wellington Zoo, New Zealand’s oldest zoological park; and Kapiti Island Nature Reserve on an island off the coast. Be sure to squeeze in a trip up the historic cable car from downtown to the Botanic Garden, too—the views at the top are magnificent, but the ride is half the fun.

Marlborough

Become an outdoor explorer and get to know local wildlife when you board a scenic cruise in the Marlborough Sounds. Spot dolphins and seals from the boat or step ashore to search for endangered birds, lizards, and insects. For something a little different, don’t miss the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre for a showcase of rare WWI and WWII aircraft and memorabilia.

Kaikoura

Whale watching is the name of the game all year round in this town.

Kaikoura is a base for wildlife experiences of all kinds—that includes fur seals, dolphins, and a variety of seabirds. Tours leave multiple times a day and there are lots of cafés, restaurants, and shops to explore. If you have time, the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway is a three-hour return hike that visits a seal colony, limestone formations, and a seabird colony.

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FRONT DESK

Lima Park Hotel receives its fifth Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor.

The Garden is a lush landscape that can accommodate events with up to 1,300 guests.

Okada Manila opens The Garden Integrated resort Okada Manila unveils a lush open space that offers breathtaking views of the Manila Bay sunset.

Like a slice of paradise nestled within the steel and concrete arms of the Parañaque resort, The Garden blooms in the shadow of the massive Cove Manila dome. The 30,000-square meter greenery, designed around five reflective pools, can accommodate up to 1,300 guests in a cocktail setting or 600 persons in round table setup.

Lima Park Hotel joins TripAdvisor Hall of Fame After receiving its Certificate of Excellence for the fifth straight year, Lima Park Hotel in Lipa, Batangas is now one of the properties in TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame.

Certificate of Excellence recipients include restaurants, accommodations, and attractions located all over the world that have continually delivered a quality customer experience.

“This recognition inspires all of us to do even better. Now more than ever, we are committing ourselves to exceed our previous best,” enthused Lima Park Hotel resident manager Edilberto P. Evangelista.

Senator Joel Villanueva delivers his keynote speech.

The event, which had Senator Joel Villanueva delivering the keynote speech, also marked the induction of the new set of HSMA officers by Tourism Secretary Berna RomuloPuyat, as well as the association’s 40th anniversary. The association was formally organized in 1979, after a series of informal get-togethers of the directors of sales of Metro Manila’s top hotels. Currently, it has approximately 120 hotels and resorts as members.

Rose Libongco, Virtus Awards chairperson and the longest serving HSMA president, rightfully declared in her speech that when the hotel industry’s top professionals are pitted against each other for a reputable award, their skills are honed. It prepares them for the bigger challenges posed by the country’s fast-growing accommodations industry.

YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE DIVORCE COURT JUDGE: Mr. Clark, I have reviewed your case carefully and I’ve decided to give your wife $775 a week.

HUSBAND: That’s very fair, Your Honor. Every now and then, I’ll also try to send her a few bucks myself.

It is the hope of HSMA that, through these awards, more of the hotel industry’s professionals will be inspired to do their part in promoting Philippine tourism which, they believe, is strengthened by these hotel sales officers.

According to HSMA director Carmela Bocanegra, the Virtus Awards is their best motivational tool for these professionals who always employ many strategies in selling their respective hotels. They attend many trade fairs abroad and conduct attractive road shows in Turn to D2

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SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

DIVING IS MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES DIVING WITH BUTANDING. The Philippines is cementing its reputation as one the world's best destinations for recreational and professional diving.

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O HELP further cement the country’s reputation as one of the world’s best destinations for recreational and professional diving, the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines exhausts aggressive efforts in promoting it as a diving destination.

Coral reef diving

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targeted tourist-rich areas and, although their goal is to promote their respective properties, they first have to sell the country.

Whose great idea is the Virtus Awards? Current HSMA president Christine Ann Ibarreta heard of the swards given out by their US counterpart, HSMA International. She originally wanted to have 10 categories for the awards but, for starters, they settled for the present four and plan to eventually increase it through the years.

So how does one apply for this prestigious recognition?

Nominees must be regular employees who have served in an HSMA member-property for at least one year, with no past or pending administrative or criminal case.

Nominators must also come from an HSMA memberproperty to ensure familiarity of the nominee’s performance. Entries may be submitted online through www. hsma.online/virtus-awards or www.hsmaphilippines.com.

Deadline for submission is on July 31 and the winners will be announced on Oct. 14 at the 2019 Virtus Awards Night at the Conrad Manila.

It is indeed laudable for this segment of our booming tourism industry to motivate their players to shoot for excellence at all times, while providing them with the necessary tools, insights, and expertise. Certainly, they will always be on top of this highly competitive and complex game we have come to know and love as the tourism industry. So, to HSMA Philippines, go for gold!

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com.

The TPB has successfully made its presence felt in numerous international dive-related events such as the Marine Diving Fair (MDF), the largest dive resort and consumer fair focused on scuba diving and travel overseas; Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) 2019, the longest running and largest dive expo in Asia; and Diving, Resort and Travel (DRT) Expo Shanghai.

Held in Japan, the MDF had over 200 exhibiting companies from 50 countries and regions all over the world, including the Philippines which had one of the largest booths. Some 50,000 visitors, mostly diving enthusiasts, attended the fair.

At ADEX, the Philippine representatives promoted the new and existing diving destinations in the country and also learned

more about water sports in general from distinguished scientists, equipment manufacturers, marine conservationists, and underwater photographers and videographers.

The DRT in Shanghai had over 200 exhibitors and more than 40,000 participants. The Philippine participants showcased local diving products and conducted product presentations which included business-tobusiness networking among Chinese dive counterparts.

The next few months will see TPB participate in more dive events such as the Malaysia International Dive Expo and the Diving and Resort Travel, which will be held in different locations including Hong Kong, Taipei, and the Philippines.

FAMILY...

From D1

Queenstown

Christchurch

The best way to explore the genteel Christchurch is at your own pace. Take a relaxing boat journey down the Avon River in a punt or stroll through the perfectly manicured Botanic Gardens. At the International Antarctic Centre you can experience polar life for yourself; find out what it’s like to be in the midst of an Antarctic storm.

Lake Tekapo

Be dazzled by the night skies in the Dark Sky Reserve, which covers most of the Aoraki/Mount Cook Mackenzie region. During the day, Lake Tekapo is a photographer’s dream, with clear turquoise waters and lupins that bloom in a rich display of color every November or December.

For epic views across Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu, climb aboard the Skyline Gondola. On the lake, take a cruise on the classic steamship TSS Earnslaw. The cruise can be combined with farm tours, horse treks, or simply a tasty lunch or dinner option.

From Queenstown you can take a day trip to Milford Sound by road or air, or explore The Lord of the Rings filming locations via 4WD or on horseback.

Wanaka

Escape the bustling Queenstown and get away to Wanaka, another lakefront destination with a laid-back vibe. Relax in the cafés and restaurants by the waterside, before you jaunt over to Puzzling World—a truly unique place with the world’s first 3D Great Maze, illusion rooms, and other eccentric activities and architecture.

Dunedin and Southland

West Coast

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat inducts this term's set of officers led by Christine Ann Ibarreta.

The country offers rich biodiversity for deep diving.

Fox Glacier and Franz Josef are the most easily accessible to visitors in this glacier country. Heli-hiking is a great way to get up onto the glaciers so you’ll have plenty of energy to spare for walking across the ice.

Southland’s rugged terrain is home to penguins, seals, albatross, and many other species, which makes it a great place for a wildlife tour. At the tip of the Otago Peninsula in Dunedin is the Royal Albatross Centre, the only mainland in the world with a breeding colony of northern royal albatross.

Colonies of little blue penguins—the smallest specie of penguin—are also found in this region.

Entertainment

SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2019

D3

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

NEW LOVE TEAM HEADLINES ROMANTIC DIGITAL SHORT

video hit one million views four days after it was uploaded on GMA Network’s Facebook account last March 25; with the full version similarly getting 1 million views four days after it went live online last March 29.

This time around, One Hugot Away brings to the spotlight the team up of young stars Angel and Kelvin. One of the newest addition to the roster of artists under GMA Music, Angel has been part of the primetime drama series Sahaya, playing the role of the young Irene (Ana Roces), and Onanay as Chelsea. She has also appeared in various TV commercials.

Kelvin, on the other hand, has been part of various TV series such as Contessa, Ang Forever Ko’y Ikaw, Kambal, Karibal, and Magpakailanman, and movies like Walwal, Haunted Forest, and Jose Bartolome: Guro. He is part of Mikhail Red’s upcoming youth-thriller-crime film, Dead Kids.

Written by James Harvey Estrada, Beauty and the Hypebeast is directed by Zig Dulay with Carlo Balaquiot as Executive Producer. It will air on TV during the commercial gaps ofKapuso Movie Festival, Kara Mia, and the latest K-drama Are You Human? from Monday to Thursday with the finale airing on June 6 during the commercial gap of Are You Human?.

Mika dela Cruz sang the theme song entitled “Pag-Ibig Lang Yan” courtesy of GMA Playlist. It was composed by Ann Margaret Figueroa and mixed

by Andrea Culla, and produced by GMA Post Music Production.

‘Beauty and the Hypebeast’ follows the story of an unlikely pair of teen students who belong from totally different cliques.

By Nickie Wang

Y

OUNG stars Angel Guardian and Kelvin Miranda look so pleasant together. The two are pairing for the first time in a love story made for digital format, Beauty and the Hypebeast, which starts airing tomorrow on GMA 7 and on the network’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

In an intimate pocket press conference for the show, Angel and Kelvin shared their experience filming the digital short film. They said they were able to complete the shoot in just one day.

“It was tedious but fun. The short film only runs for a few minutes but the shots are intricate so we had to give our best,” Angel beamed.

“It’s fun working with Angel. We were guided by a brilliant director and hardworking crew. So, even if it’s tiring we all had a great time while on the set,” Kelvin added.

Beauty and the Hypebeast tells the story of senior high students Cat (Angel) and Joe (Kevin) who, while belonging to two different cliques, find themselves drawn to each other.

Feeling superior because of their social status and appearance, Cat’s friends and classmates look down on groups such as those that Joe belongs to. They do not want to be associated with people they call ‘jologs’ and ‘hypebeast’—two words that they used to describe Joe and his group the first time they saw them grooving to the fast beat dance “Budots”. Cat’s friends even took a video of Joe and his group and uploaded it online to feed the bashers.

Her friends are not aware of it, but Joe and Cat are actually close. In an unexpected turn of events, Cat’s and Joe’s friends find themselves in one place. How will Cat react when Joe approaches her and drops the bomb among their friends—that they actually plan on having a date?

Beauty and the Hypebeast is GMA Public Affairs’ second digital short film for One Hugot Away. Its first offering, Walang Label, was well-received on-air and online, reaching the million mark in terms of views just a few days after it was uploaded online.

Viewers and netizens also lauded the acting skills and natural chemistry of Shaira Diaz and David Licauco. The first part of the

GELVIN. Angel Guardian and Kelvin Miranda team up for the first time via GMA’s digital short film, ‘Beauty and the Hypebeast,’ which airs during commercial gaps starting tomorrow.

DANIEL AND JAMES JOIN FORCES

Kapamilya actors Daniel Padilla and James Reid are undeniably two of today’s most prominent young stars. They have both successfully conquered the entertainment industry since starting in 2010, from top-rated television dramas, box office-smashing films, and jam packed concerts.

While the two have always worked on separate projects, they are finally launching their first ever collaboration, combining their star powers and strong fanbases in one momentous and exciting project made possible only by Pepsi and Mountain Dew. The two actors recently shot their latest commercial for Pepsi and Mountain Dew to announce their latest project, ”Doble Hataw.”

The commercial, which is now airing, shows an action-packed setting with Daniel in a sports car racing with James driving a pick-up truck.

With Pepsi and Mountain Dew’s Doble Hataw promo, you get a chance to win a brand new car weekly.: three sports car and three pick-up trucks to be given away, plus millions worth of prizes including smartphones, free mobile data from all networks and drink vouchers.

Doble Hataw is a nationwide promo from May 24 to July 24. Check out Pepsi and Mountain Dew’s Facebook page at https://www. facebook.com/PepsiPhilippines/ and https:// www.facebook.com/mountaindewPH/ for the complete rundown of promo mechanics.

DOUBLE TREAT. Hottest Kapamilya stars Daniel Padilla and James Reid collaborate for a new TVC.

DANGEROUS STUNT. Action drama

queen Angel Locsin in a scene from ‘The General’s Daughter’ where she climbs up a building without a stunt double.

ACTION DRAMA QUEEN’S TELESERYE REMAINS UNBEATABLE ABS-CBN’s primetime series The General’s Daughter remains unbeatable in its timeslot as Angel Locsin’s depiction of a highly trained spy disguising as a military nurse continues to keep viewers glued and earn positive feedback from netizens.

Following the revelation of her true identity, Rhian (Angel) began to hunt down her adoptive father Tiago (Tirso Cruz III) in an episode last Tuesday that recorded a national TV rating of 32.4 percent versus its rival program Sahaya, which only got 20.6 percent.

Monday’s episode, which featured Angel climbing up a building without a stunt double, also scored 31.4 percent, a double digit-lead against Sahaya, which registered 19.3 percent.

Netizens also heaped praises on the episodes—packed with spectacular stunts from Angel—that showed Rhian’s resolve to take revenge against Tiago, after finding out that she is Arabella, the long-lost daughter of Marcial (Albert Martinez) and Corazon (Eula Valdez).

While Rhian is still at large, Marcial is detained by the military for supposedly conniving with his daughter and preventing the authorities from arresting her.

How will Rhian evade capture, knowing her family’s safety and reputation are on the line?

The General’s Daughter airs weeknights on ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).

D4

SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2019

Desiree Carlos, Editor

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

Pets

COMMON CAT DISEASES PET TALES

BY DESIREE CARLOS

C

Common feline illnesses

1. Upper respiratory infections (URIs).

URIs are very similar to the common cold in humans.

The symptoms are almost the same: sneezing, runny nose and eyes, reddened eyes, fever, and decreased appetite.

“But URIs can be much more serious than common colds—they can be fatal if left untreated. These airborne viruses are highly contagious; they can be transmitted to cats through human handling and through contact with other cats and with inanimate objects such as litter boxes, food bowls, and grooming tools, “ THSUS said.

It is also important to separate a new cat from your other cats for at least three weeks until you are certain the new cat has no URI symptoms.

“Prevention is the best approach to URIs—have your cat vaccinated. But if your cat does come down with cold-like symptoms, contact your veterinarian right away. The veterinarian will probably prescribe antibiotics to prevent secondary infections and give you precise care instructions.

Follow them carefully and make sure your cat eats and drinks sufficiently, “ THSUS said.

2. Rabies.

All cats, including indoor cats, should be vaccinated against rabies. This is given yearly.

This dog was found by Lailani Gacos in Airmens Village. Please send her a message in Facebook.

THSUS said rabies “is now seen more commonly in cats than in any other domestic animal. Rabies is a viral illness that is transmitted through bite wounds from infected animals and attacks the nervous system. If your cat bites anyone, you may need to show proof of rabies vaccination.”

“Rabies is a fatal illness. Prevent rabies through vaccination and by keeping your cat inside, “ THSUS added.

3. Feline panleukopenia.

This is also known as feline distemper. It is a highly contagious viral disease that can be transmitted by humans to cats through the clothes, hair and hands, by cats to cats through paws, food bowls, and even cat carriers.

Symptoms are vomiting, loss of appetite, and diarrhea.

Have your cat vaccinated against this virus.

4. Feline leukemia virus (FeLV).

FeLV is also a fatal infectious virus.

It attacks the immune system and can cause several forms of cancer and other associated diseases.

Transmission is through saliva, urine, and feces of infected cats.

“There is no link between feline leukemia and human forms of leukemia,” THSUS stressed.

“There are blood tests to determine if your cat may be carrying the virus. Your cat should be tested before being vacci-

nated. Since there is no cure, it is important to keep your cat indoors (and away from contact with stray cats) and vaccinated,” THSUS said.

5. Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).

FIV is the equiv-

alent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

MORE dogs were reported missing in the past week.

Here are some tips to keep your dog safe: 1. Accompany your dog when going out of the house. Put a collar or harness and keep him or her on a leash. Do not allow the dog to get out on his or her own.

2. Keep the gate closed. Please remind all members of the household or family to close the gate or

“But it is not the same virus and cannot be passed to humans, THSUS stressed.

It added: “This fatal virus attacks the immune system, causing a variety of symptoms. General signs can include chronic, nonresponding infections; respiratory problems; appetite loss; persistent diarrhea; and severe oral infections.

FIV is passed from cat to cat primarily through bites.

There is currently no vaccination or cure for FIV.” To keep your cat safe from FIV, keep your cat inside the house.

6. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).

FIP is also a fatal viral infection.

“This virus can take two forms, commonly referred to as wet (which involves fluid in the abdomen) and dry (which does not).

Both forms of FIP may cause fever, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite, “ THSUS said.

A blood test is done to find out if your cat has been exposed to this family of viruses, but THSUS said this is an antibody test which does not provide a definitive diagnosis.

“There is no effective treatment for FIP, but there is hope for prevention in the form of recently developed vaccines. The best prevention is to keep your cat indoors, up-todate on vaccines, and away from strange animals, “ THUS said.

MISSING PETS

door when entering or leaving the house.

3. Put a screen door on all doors, or a dog gate (similar to a baby gate) at the main door and/or the gate to secure your dog.

4. Keep your dog indoor or put in a collapsible cage or carrier when you open the gate to bring your car out. Ask someone inside to immediately close the gate before letting the dog out of the cage

This dog was reported missing last week. The owner’s home is located in New Lower Bicutan, Taguig City.

Please contact the owner at cell no. 09153337709 This dog has been missing since May 23 from the owner’s home in Sta Lucia, pasig City.

Please contact owner Venus Balderama at cell no.09983377800. She is willing to give a P3,000.00 reward.

RESCUERS LOOKING FOR OWNERS ONE of these dogs may be your pet.

Here are some dogs who are now being fostered by animal lovers who either saw them on the streets, or are taking care of them as requested by rescuers.

Please contact the rescuer/foster if one of them is your dog as soon as you can.

AT illnesses are not easy to treat as I have discovered in the past six years rescuing newborn kittens and very sick cats on the streets.

There are new developments in the field of research to provide proper care and to even cure fatal illnesses in dogs, but it seems that this is not so for cats.

Recently, for example, it was reported that an ongoing research in another country may have come up with information on how to prevent cancer in dogs. But there was no mention about cats.

To prevent illnesses among cats, there are two important but SIMPLE ways according to The Humane Society of the United States (THSUS) in “Preventing Common Cat Diseases” posted in the RFDTV website: 1. Keep your cat indoors.

2. Have your cat vaccinated based on your veterinarian's advice.

FOUND DOGS

Jermaine Louis Cauan Zilabbo reported this dog last May 23 in Facebook. The dog is in Maxville 11. Please contact Jermaine in FB.

MaeMay S. Pagante reported in Facebook: “This poor thing kept on following me around. Lost, stinky and thirsty, I took him/her home for safety, gave her food and water. If you are the rightful owner, please contact me. Let's send this baby home.”

or carrier.

5. Make sure the garage door is closed when allowing the dog to roam in the garden or to poop or eliminate liquid. (specially for big dogs) 6. Please keep a litter box inside the house for a dog to urinate and poop in. (for smaller dogs) If you have seen any of the dogs in the photos, please contact the owner immediately. DC