Manila Standard - 2019 August 25 - Sunday

WHY IS PART OF AMAZON BURNING? VOL. XXXIII • NO. 192 • 4 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

'NIGHTMARES' OVER SANCHEZ

THE thousands of fires burning in the Amazon don’t look like the major forest fires of Europe or North America—instead, they are fueled mainly by branches, vegetation and other byproducts of deforestation in cleared areas, experts say.

The dramatic scale of this year’s fires is the result of a significant acceleration of deforestation for the lumber industry, for agriculture or for other human activities.

“In the tropics, fire is used extensively in a land-use environment,”said Jeffrey Chambers, a scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and a specialist in rainforests.

“It’s how you get rid of your agricultural waste products... And part of the reason why that works is because those fires don’t generally move into the forest,” he explained.

“A tropical rainforest is generally not flammable” because it’s so humid.

California has the opposite problem: burning waste is prohibited because the forests are so dry, they could go up in flames at the smallest spark.

But in the Amazon, when an area of forest is cleared, the tree trunks are removed and the rest of the vegetation is burned on the spot during the dry season, which lasts from July to November.

For farmland, or for prairies, brush and weeds alike are heaped together, waiting for the dry season.

That’s what is burning right now.

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AMAZON’S FICKLE FIRE. This handout picture (inset) collected by a satellite of © 2019 Planet Labs, Inc on Aug. 20, 2019 shows smoke and fires in Brazil’s state Para. This week has seen an outpouring of social media posts decrying forest fires in the Amazon rainforest, many of them under the hashtag #PrayforAmazonas. At left is an aerial picture showing smoke from a two-kilometer-long stretch of fire billowing from the Amazon rainforest about 65 kilometers from Porto Velho, in the state of Rondonia, in northern Brazil, on Aug. 23, 2019.

By Jimbo Gulle

T

HE family of Eileen Sarmenta on Saturday said it would formally petition the courts to prevent the release of former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez, who was convicted of raping and killing the University of the Philippines at Los Baños student and her schoolmate Allan Gomez in 1993.

This developed as the Interior department also said Saturday it supported the Justice department’s decision to disqualify Sanchez—who is serving seven life sentences—from possibly leaving jail early as a benefit of a new law that provided increased Good Conduct Time Allowance credits to prisoners.

Saying Sanchez’s possible freedom caused nightmares for her family, Clara Sarmenta, Eileen’s mother, told ABS-CBN

News in a phone interview they wanted to formalize their position against the ex-mayor with a court filing.

“We want to write a petition, a request so he would not be released, but we have to consult our lawyer because we want to make it black and white that we filed a petition, not just saying this in interviews,” M r s .

Sarmenta told the

network.

“I wasn’t able to sleep for three days.

It’s just now I’ve been able to rest. Of all the 11,000 prisoners, why is it that Sanchez is the one being mentioned?

That’s what we’ve been wondering about,” she added.

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said his agency supports the Department of Justice’s revised stand on Sanchez, who was convicted and sentenced for the murders of Sarmenta and Gomez in 1995.

“The law is categorical in excluding recidivists, habitual delinquents, escapees, and persons charged with heinous crimes from the benefits of [the] coverage” of Republic Act 10592, which amends parts of the Revised Penal Code, Año said.

That condition alone, he added, means Sanchez “inarguably does not stand a chance of being released anytime soon.”

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BULACAN HOGS CULLED AMID SWINE FLU SIGNS

By Maricel V. Cruz SOME 81 hogs were killed in Guiguinto, Bulacan after these showed symptoms of hog cholera and African swine fever (ASF), municipal veterinarian Dr. Eduardo Jose was quoted as saying in a report on GMA News’ Balitanghali, beamed nationwide on Saturday.

Blood samples were taken from the hogs—each costing up to P10,000— to check what caused their illness but were already culled and buried even before the blood sample results were submitted.

The unidentified backyard farm

owner got payment for the hogs, with authorities continuing their inspection of backyard piggery farms.

Meanwhile, a first-term legislator has urged hog raisers, including those in his district, in areas where a still unidenfied strain of swine disease was monitored, to cooperate with agriculture authorities to contain the possible threats to their livestock.

Rep. Juan Fidel Nograles of Rizal particularly appealed to swine raisers in Montalban, Rizal, to cooperate with the Department of AgricultureBureau of Animal Industry, the local Turn to A2

TWO DEAD AS 'INENG' DUMPS RAIN ON ILOCOS

By Francisco Tuyay and Joel E. Zurbano

INSUFFERABLE'INENG.' Motorists defy the floodwaters Saturday in Manila's inundated Taft Avenue to be able to get home before nightfall—a grim scenario in the capital where, not far from flooded Taft, several flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were delayed while others were diverted to Clark International Airport because of the weekend bad weather. Norman Cruz twitter.com/ MlaStandard

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TYPHOON ''Ineng,'' the ninth to hit the country since january, dumped rains on Ilocos Norte and inundated low-lying areas, leaving two people dead and injuring two as well as heavy damage to agricultural products and livestock before it veered away to Taiwan.

A state of calamity has been raised in Ilocos Norte due to widespread floodings as the typhoon barreled through Northern Luzon early dawn Saturday and headed towards Batanes in the far norfth.

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019

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QC CRACKS DOWN ON ERRING POGO HUBS

THE HONG KONG WAY. Protesters form a human chain along Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong on Aug. 23, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Baltic Way demonstration in 1989 which saw about 2 million people form a human chain that spanned over 600 kilometers across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in protest against Soviet occupation. The Hong Kong protests, which have dragged on for nearly three months, started in opposition to a bill that would have allowed extradition to mainland China but soon bled into a wider pro-democracy movement. AFP

H

HK PROTESTS CONTINUE

ONG KONG—Tension flickered across Hong Kong Saturday as riot cops squared off with protesters near a police station in a working-class neighborhood, as an uneasy peace lasting several days threatened to give way.

Thousands of demonstrators, many wearing hard hats and gas masks, marched through the industrial Kwun Tong area, where they were blocked by dozens of riot police with shields and batons.

Protesters pulled together a barricade of traffic barriers and bamboo construction poles, while shouting at the rank of police.

Hong Kong’s police force have become the target of the protesters’ ire for their perceived heavyhanded response to the months of demonstrations.

Antipathy has soared toward the police, who have used baton charges, rubber bullets and tear gas against hardcore protesters, but are also accused of

beating peaceful demonstrators.

The city has for now pulled back from what appeared to be a nosedive into violence, with the last serious clashes taking place a week and a half ago.

But tension rippled across Saturday’s march, where a number of frontline radical demonstrators known as “braves” had gathered.

“I’ve never seen Hong Kong in such a situation,” 65-year-old Dee Cheung told AFP. “The youngsters who come out have put their future at stake... they are doing this for Hong Kong. There might be some things we don’t agree with, like the ‘braves’ who tend to charge. But let’s think about why they do that.”

Protests started against a pro-

posed law that would have allowed extradition to China, but have bled into wider calls for democracy and police accountability in the semi-autonomous city.

On Friday evening, thousands of people held hands across Hong Kong in a dazzling, neon-framed recreation of a pro-democracy “Baltic Way” protest against Soviet rule three decades ago.

The city’s skyscraper-studded harborfront as well as several busy shopping districts were lined with peaceful protesters, many wearing surgical masks to hide their identity and holding Hong Kong flags or mobile phones with lights shining.

The human chain is the latest creative demonstration in nearly three months of rolling protests which have tipped Hong Kong into an unprecedented political crisis.

“We have tried traditional marches, we have tried more militant acts—although I don’t agree with them—this time we are coming out together to

join hands and show that we are all still united,” Wing, who gave only her first name, told AFP. “By doing this, we are showing people around the world the high quality of Hong Kongers. What people did 30 years ago, we can also do,” said Cat Law, a logistic worker in her 60s.

The Baltic Way was one of the largest ever anti-Soviet demonstrations, when more than one million people linked hands to form a human chain spanning over 600 kilometers (370 miles) on Aug. 23, 1989.

Three decades on, the moving show of solidarity continues to inspire activists across the world.

The “Hong Kong Way” was called by the social media-driven protesters who have turned for the last several days to non-violent means of making their voice heard.

Protesters young and old chanted “Free Hong Kong” while hand sanitizer was passed along the chains in the famously fastidious city. AFP

DECRIMINALIZE LIBEL, BUT HIKE FINE—SOLON

By Maricel V. Cruz

NATURE’S WRATH. Typhoon ‘Ineng’ has caused landslides in Tuba, Benguet while the Tamagan Bridge in Vintar, Ilocos Norte became impassable due to the swollen Bislac River. Dave Leprozo

A LAWMAKER wants to decriminalize libel while seeking to impose a higher fine to prevent the commission of the crime.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez filed House Bill No. 1835 seeking to amend Articles 355, 357, and 360 of the Revised Penal Code.

He said that while the penalty of fine must be sustained, for no crime should go unpunished, imposing a penalty of imprisonment will work more to discourage members of the media from performing their duties with zeal and vigilance.

“Instead of looking deeply into issues that have a potential of affecting public interest and general welfare, the penalty of imprisonment has paved the way for members of media to approach their mandates with doubts and hesitation,” Rodriguez said.

“We cannot have that in a country where democracy is primarily infringed on the freedom of speech and expression, and where media is considered the Fourth Estate,” added Rodriguez, chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments.

Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code defines libel as “a public and malicious imputation of a crime, or of a vice or defect, real or imaginary, or any act, omission, condition, status, or circumstance tending to cause the dishonor, discredit or contempt of a natural or juridical person, or to blacken the memory of one who is already dead.”

Rodriguez said the present law provides the penalty of imprisonment ranging from arresto mayor or one month and one day to six months, and prision correctional or six months and one day to six years and fine ranging from P200 to P6,000.

MANILA MAYOR CREATES TASK FORCE VS. BOTCHA

By Vito Barcelo MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso has created a special task force to strictly monitor all private and public markets as part of the city government’s drive against “botcha” or hot meat.

The Manila chief executive directed the city’s Veterinary Inspection Board to conduct intensified routine and strike operations in Manila markets.

Domagoso’s move was prompted by reports of rising incidents of butchered backyard-raised

hogs after being allegedly affected by a still unknown virus that killed hundreds of pigs in the Central Luzon.

He also directed the VIB to check and verify establishments engaged in food trade to ensure that their products have undergone proper inspection and quality control procedures.

“You are further directed to effect the seizure, confiscation, examination, disposition and disposal of merchandise found to be illegal, and recommend the filing of appropriate cases for prosecution before the proper court in the City of

Manila,” Domagoso said.

Domagoso said the local government should be able to “sustain a continuing drive” against the illegal sale, manufacturing, processing and distribution of meat products in Manila.

He warned that buying double dead meat poses health hazards as these could cause serious ailments or even death in some cases.

Domagoso also raised the concern as the public, particularly the poor, are enticed to buy these meat products which are being sold at lower prices in the market.

QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte has issued notice of violations against several Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hubs based in Eastwood City in Libis following a surprise inspection Friday night.

Belmonte led the inspection which aimed to ensure that POGO centers operating in the city comply with local requirements and ancillary clearances for business.

Among the POGO hubs which received notice of violations were Omniworld Enterprise Inc., Singtech Enterprise Inc. and Great Empire Gaming and Amusement Corp. for failure to present necessary clearances required to conduct business in Quezon City.

These include locational clearance, sanitary permit, environmental clearance, and occupational permits of their employees, among others.

The four POGO hubs were given a 15-day grace period to comply with the business permit requirements of Quezon City.

“While we welcome the business locators in our city, we want to ensure that our rules and regulations are followed to the letter.

Otherwise, you will have to face the consequences of non-compliance,” Belmonte said.

While she aspires for Quezon City to become a preferred investment and business destination, Belmonte said rules, regulations processes must be complied with.

“You cannot disregard our requirements because we will catch you eventually,” Belmonte said.

The POGO establishments, for their part, welcomed the chance to get their businesses in order and promised to comply with the needed requirements.

P15M WORTH OF SMUGGLED PHONES SEIZED

By Joel E. Zurbano and Vito Barcelo GOVERNMENT agents assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport seized at least 825 used smartphones and accessories worth P15 million smuggled from South Korea.

Customs-NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan said her men intercepted the Samsung, LG and iPhone mobile devices and accessories without the required permits from the National Telecommunications Commission.

The contraband, contained in 19 boxes and declared as used cellphones in two separate shipments, arrived last month and was stored in TMW warehouse near NAIA Terminal 1 without proper documentation.

“Two separate shipments were found with same consignee and found to contain used smartphones, lithium batteries and phone accessories,” she said.

Some of the smartphones are as follows: Samsung S10 plus, Samsung S9 plus, Samsung S10, Samsung Note 9, Note 10, LG smartphone, Samsung A5, Samsung A7 and iPhone 8 plus.

“Used cellphones are not given permits except for those intended for personal use or as gifts for family members or relatives, but not in commercial quantity or use,” she added.

The NTC is also not giving permits for importation of used cellphones due to safety and security reasons.

Samsung Philippines Corp. public relations officer Marlene Cinco commended Customs-NAIA for its vigilance in seizing the used mobile devices.

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BULACAN...

From A1 government, and other authorities tasked to monitor and prevent the possible spread of the disease.

Nograles urged swine farm owners to comply with DA protocols in place in three barangays in Montalban— Macabud, San Isidro, and San Jose— that have been quarantined because of reports of increasing number of hog deaths in the three localities.

Affected backyard swine farmers said their pigs showed loss of appetite, recumbency, vomiting, skin hemorrhage, dark discoloration in the extremities, and sudden death.

The DA-BAI said several diseases, including ASF, could be associated with the clinical signs. Results of tests conducted on affected animals will be available by two weeks at the earliest.

“While the DA has yet to confirm the cause of these deaths, it is in the best interests of all hog farmers to strictly comply with DA-BAI directives regarding the matter,” said Nograles.

The Agriculture department implemented its “one-seven-ten” policy over the weekend as part of efforts to quarantine and depopulate the affected areas.

The “one-seven-ten” protocol requires all hogs within a one-kilometer radius be culled, while those in sevenand 10-kilometer radiuses will be strictly monitored.

The lawyer said “the priority now is to prevent the spread of whatever is causing these deaths to other parts of Montalban.”

“Among all regions in the country, Region 4A or Calabarzon (CaviteLaguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) is the second largest hog producer. If we allow this affliction to spread to other towns, other provinces in the region, a heavy blow to the swine industry will be experienced,” he added.

“Our neighbors are now depending on us in the district to do our best to limit the damage caused by this disease.”

In 2018, the total volume of hog production in the country was 2,319,764 metric tons, while the total volume of hog production in Calabarzon was 381,590 metric tons. The total volume of hog production in the province of Rizal, on the other hand, was 89,576 metric tons.

The livestock industry has recently experienced positive growth.

In 2018, the gross value of hog production at current prices was P268 billion, 10.8 percent higher than the gross value of hog production of P241.9 billion in 2017.

Earlier on Thursday, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the government should open up a new front in the contingency preparations for ASF to help the people in the P280billion-a-year industry if tests prove that the deadly disease is already here.

“I think that a study group should be convened to assess the financial fallout in the event of a worst-case scenario,” Recto said.

He added: “Next to rice, the hog industry is the biggest in agriculture in terms of value. It is also the eighth biggest in the world.

“While Department of Agriculture and Department of Health protocols to contain the diseases “are in place and have been rehearsed, how to mitigate the financial disaster is, I think, an unexplored area.

We must be ahead of the curve.”

Recto said preparing an assistance package for the hundreds of thousands of people dependent on the local hog industry “is beyond the mandate” of the Agriculture department.

“Of all the powers of the DA secretary, the power to appropriate or to release allotments is not one of them,” Recto said.

“It is something that is discussed in the highest levels of government, in the Cabinet, in both houses of Congress, more so if it requires a huge amount of money to bridge financing,” Recto said.

He said the hog industry was a pillar of the Philippine economy, with millions earning a living on the swine supply chain.

With annual production nearing 2.3 metric tons, he said, it is the eighth biggest in the world by volume.

Any production disruption would be felt on Filipino dining tables, Recto said.

“Remember, this is the land of lechon, the national fiesta food; adobo, the national comfort food; sisig is one of the pambasang pulutans; and longganisa and tocino are the breakfast of champions.”

Four years ago, Filipino families were already buying P101 billion worth of fresh pork alone.

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EX-MMDA CHIEF BLOCKS EDSA BAN ON BUS UNITS “We should not assume that buses congest the road,” said Fernando, adding that buses could “ferry more passengers than private vehicles and would only occupy road space equal to that of two cars.”

Fernando is proposing an alternative solution to the problem.

The former MMDA chief is pushing for the reimplementation of the Organized Bus Route System (OBR), a traffic scheme wherein city buses can use two lanes with designated loading and unloading areas where there are high passenger volume.

Fernando said the lanes were fenced off to force drivers to pick up passengers only on designated gates, while buses were given a limited few seconds to unload and load commuters.

The MMDA enforced the scheme during Fernando’s time in the agency

in 2006.

Under the OBR system, the agency designated two city bus lanes on EDSA marked A and B. Provincial buses leaving the metro were only allowed to use the third lane (marked P) and are supposed to be point-to-point service and not allowed to pick up passengers other than in their terminals.

Arriving provincial buses, on the other hand, were to unload incoming passengers in five stations under the flyovers where taxis and short haul jeeps can take provincial passengers to their final destinations.

“Though the system had downside, it is an effective strategy that will solve the traffic problem. I have not seen a better alternative to it,”said Fernando.

“The traffic problem in Metro Manila remains one of the tough problems that the government needs to resolve. After years of finding solution, administration after administration, we have yet to implement an effective strategy to this decade-long problem,” he said.

Enforcing the OBR system, according to Fernando, would benefit both the commuters, and bus operators and drivers.

He said the iincome of buses be-

fore the OBR from five trips in a day can be earned in four trips with the OBR policy.

He also said buses have higher load factors 60 to 100 percent full reducing the number of bus trips in a day and there will be more earnings for the operators and drivers.

“Discipline among passengers and drivers were at its best with the drivers increased income and spending less time on the road,” Fernando said.

Fernando admitted that OBR system broke down after three months of implementation then as erring drivers “learned to outwit the controls and bribery corrupted the system.”

The agency prompted the agency to use newer technologies by installing each bus with radio frequency identification (RFID) and closed circuit television cameras to monitor every bus on the road.

“The system worked,” said Fernando. But he claimed he “lost account of the system after my untimely departure from the agency in 2009.”

“That is why I am proposing for the re-implementation of the OBR system.” He added. “The MMDA has the technology and the experience to manage the system. Use them and acquire more.”

Batanes.

It was packing maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 125 kph.

Signal No. 2 was still hoisted over Batanes and the Babuyan Islands while Signal No. 1 remained in effect in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, northern Abra, and Ilocos Norte.

Weather specialist Loriedin dela Cruz said the southwest monsoon was also affecting most areas of Luzon and even the western portion of Visayas.

Disaster officials said one of the two fatalities was identified as a certain Ricky, 37, of Laoag City who was carried away by strong water current while trying to rescue a family trapped by flood waters in a low-lying village while the other victim was buried by earth debris in a village in Pasuquin north of Laoag.

Office of Civil Defense Director for Region-1 Melcito Castro said the worst hit by Ineng’s heavy downpour were the villages in the towns of Piddig (20); Sarrat (3); Pasuquin (6); Pagudpud (1); San Nicolas (4); Marcos (2); Burgos (1); Batac (3); and Dingras (1).

Despite Ineng’s onslaught, all major roads leading to the province

were passable to all types of vehicles, except for still flooded areas that were not yet passable, Castro added.

While Ineng headed for Taiwan, Castro said the entire province was experiencing light to moderate and strong rains.

In La Union, heavy downpour also inundated San Fernando City, the capital city of Region 1, and adjoining municipalities measured as high as three meters, but immediately receded after rains halted.

The MIAA explained that while airplanes had their own lightning protection, continued movement of ground personnel are discouraged because of the possibility of current to travel on the pavement before it finally discharges on the ground especially if the aircraft has not finally reached the radius of protection.

Personal protection equipment or gears worn by ramp workers may not be enough to protect them from at least 24 megavolts of current carried by a lightning.

Lightning happens during thunderstorms due to friction in air causing negatively charged particles in the atmosphere to be attracted by the positively or zero charged ground

or pavement.

Meanwhile, those diverted from Terminals 2, 3 and 4 to Clark Airport in Pampanga on Saturday were flights of Philippine Airlines (PR-383 Canton-Manila), Qatar Airways (Qr 934 Doha-Manila), Cebu Pacific Air (from Tagbilaran, Davao, Ozamiz and Legazpi) and its sister airline CebGo (DG 6113 Manila-Naga), and Air Asia (Z2 764 from Cebu).

NAIA Terminal 4 also got flooded because of the bad weather.

One of the affected passengers narrated that water already reached the first step of the aircraft stairway. She said her flight from El Nido, Palawan was already delayed for 30 minutes.

MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal, in a GMA news report, said a flash flood occurred at the terminal as it is the lowest point of the ramp from Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 and appeared to be like a catch basin.

Monreal said the pumping stations at the terminal were not able to manage the volume of water, resulting to an overflow. He also clarified that the diversion of flights to Clark had nothing to do with the lightning red alert, but with the zero visibility experienced at the airport.

By Joel E. Zurbano

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ORMER Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman and now Marikina City Rep. Bayani Fernando opposes the agency’s proposed scheme prohibiting provincial buses from entering Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.

The MMDA put on hold the implementation of the controversial policy after a Quezon City court judge issued a 25-page decision stating there was “just cause” to stop the implementation of the bus ban and the “matter on hand greatly impacts on the welfare of the public.”

Fernando said it was too early and still inappropriate for the government to enforce the policy wherein buses coming from South Luzon Expressway, especially those from Batangas and Laguna, were to pass through the terminal in Sta. Rosa City in Laguna, while those coming from the North Luzon Expressway were told to use the terminal in Valenzuela City, instead of entering EDSA. Under the policy, provincial bus commuters can transfer to city operating buses that will take them to their destination in Metro Manila.

TWO DEAD...

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Officials of the capital Laoag immediately put the riverside city under a state of calamity, with Mayor Michael Keon suspending work and classes in all levels “due to heavy rainfall and flood hazards.”

In a related development: • Several flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were delayed while others were diverted to Clark International Airport because of the weekend bad weather.

The weather bureau issued a lightning red alert in NAIA that resulted in the delay of arrival and departure of eight—four international and four domestic—flights in Terminals 1, 2 and 4 on Saturday morning.

“Due to the lightning red alert that prevailed over NAIA from 8:54 a.m. to 9:51 a.m. there were no ground movement as a safety measure,” the Manila International Airport Authority management said in a statement.

Lightning alerts are adopted in most airports worldwide as a safety measure to protect ramp workers from death or injury caused by a lightning strike.

As of 10 a.m., Ineng, moving west northwest at 30 kph, was spotted 140 kilometers north northwest of Basco,

'NIGHTMARES' ...

From A1 “Sanchez committed rape and double murder. He was responsible for the death of two bright university students. Allowing him to get out early is a mockery of the law and justice system,” the secretary said.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra previously said Sanchez might be released because of RA 10592, enacted in 2013, which increased the GCTA—a reward for good conduct—for convicts. Later, a Supreme Court decision applied the law retroactively.

But as news of Sanchez’s possible release provoked public outrage, Guevarra ordered a thorough review and recomputation of GCTAs of convicts, then said the former mayor was not qualified for the benefit as was convicted of heinous crimes.

Underscoring the stipulations of RA 10592, Año said Sanchez “must serve every minute of his entire sentence.” One “reclusion perpetua” conviction is equivalent to 40 years in prison under the law, so Sanchez should be serving a total of 280 years.

The secretary spoke in his capacity as head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, which supervises the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, which in turn oversees city, district, and municipal jails across the country.

Detainees in facilities run by the BJMP, including Sanchez, would benefit from the provisions of the GCTA law.

But if Sanchez is released ahead of

WHY...

From A1

serving his full sentence, “we would have punctured a hole in our own justice system,” Año said.

Clara Sarmenta noted the irony in the release of the former mayor, who also told ABS-CBN in another exclusive interview Friday he was innocent and that he deserved to be freed.

The former mayor said he was not involved in the deaths of Sarmenta and Gomez, whose bodies he said were merely dumped in his town. He insisted he was framed by his political enemies.

But Mrs. Sarmenta, countering another statement by the ex-mayor that he had already suffered enough, said: “Why is he saying until now he is not guilty, that he was well-behaved there [in prison]? Do the people believe that? Do we believe that?

Of course, we don’t!”

She appealed to the DOJ and the Bureau of Corrections to exercise due diligence and sincerity in performing their tasks, adding their officials should have studied the matter thoroughly first.

Mrs. Sarmenta was also grateful for President Rodrigo Duterte putting his foot down on Sanchez’s release, as the Palace said Friday he was “furious” and as “chief enforcer of the law, will have to follow” RA 10592.

“The pain and suffering for what we’ve been fighting for to achieve justice for my daughter was eased. Our beloved President Duterte, we are thankful,” she said.

Even when the fire manages to penetrate the dense forest—called “primary” when it is still untouched—it usually stays in the vegetation at ground level and generally does not reach the treetops, about 100 feet (30 meters) up.

The effect is just as devastating, though, because the tree trunks are damaged at ground level, but the overall image differs vastly from the massive fires that Europeans or Americans are used to seeing.

Human use of fire to manage land explains the astronomical number of fires—more than 75,000—recorded

by Brazilian authorities since January.

Trend reversal The fires have made the deforestation visible, according to Paulo Brando, an assistant professor at the University of California, Irvine and a scientist at the Woods Hole Research Center.

“You can see the fires as the final phase of deforestation,” he said.

Amazon deforestation began in earnest in the 1970s, reaching its peak rate at the end of the 1990s and the start of the 2000s.

In 2004, about 11,000 square miles (28,000 square kilometers) of forest had been cleared in Brazil alone (the Amazon spreads over nine countries, but 60 percent of the rainforest is in Brazil).

Deforestation then slowed down significantly. It picked up again in 2014,

but it never reached the same level as the previous decade.

Last year, about 2,900 square miles disappeared, according to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research.

But the trend reversal is worrisome.

In July alone, more than 870 square miles were cleared.

Additionally, the dry season isn’t over. Will the fires bite into intact forest?

“Right now, we are seeing mostly increases in deforestation-related fires, which may or may not escape into primary forests, depending on how dry it’s going to get in the next few months,” said Brando.

And how will that affect climate change?

Forests contain carbon, stored in the trees and vegetation—to the tune of 459 tons per hectare in the Amazon, said Diego Navarrete, a carbon specialist at the NGO The Nature Conservancy.

When a tree is cut, the carbon inside will reenter the atmosphere years later, at the end of its use cycle when it decomposes. When vegetation is burned, as is happening now, the carbon enters the atmosphere immediately.

In both cases, the carbon will be released. It just takes some simple math to realize that the total for the past few months has already reached hundreds of millions of tons of carbon. AFP

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MEASLY PAY HIKE FOR STATE WORKERS SCORED

HE Alliance of Concerned Teachers Philippines decried the Duterte administration’s proposed P31-billion budget for 1.2-million civilian government employees’ pay hike as it will not provide for a substantial salary increase.

The proposed amount will only grant a 10 percent increase in their compensation according to the estimates provided by the Budget department during the 2020 budget hearing in Congress.

“A meager 10 percent pay raise is not what President Duterte promised us. ‘A little bit bigger than before’ as the President put it in his last SONA

does not mean it’s better and sufficient. Such will neither give due recognition to the significant work teachers and other rank-and-file employees do nor will it ‘tide us over’ in this economy,” said ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio.

ACT said that the proposed increase will only give entry-level public school teachers a paltry P2,075 pay hike—an amount that is even less than the P2,592 raise granted by Ramos to teachers in 1997 which had an inflation rate of 5.1 percent. The group argued that the offered 2020 increase will not be enough to cover workers’ eroded salaries, which they have hardly recuperated from since inflation soared to 5.2 percent in 2018.

The teachers’ federation also warned that an across-the-board 10 percent increase still follows the ‘same gravely inequitable framework of the salary standardization law, which gave pitiful increases to lower salary grades while granting grossly large hikes to top officials.’

“A dramatic increase in the pay of civilian rankand-file employees would serve as a stop-gap measure in the ever widening gap between the salaries of ordinary employees—which make up the overwhelming majority of public sector workers— and that of top officials. Not to mention the unfair doubling of uniformed personnel’s pay which further distorted the government’s salary scheme,” added Basilio.

The Duterte administration was further criticized for allocating P64 billion for the doubling of military and police pay in 2018 while another P70 billion was provided for their 2nd tranche of pay hike.

Such amount, ACT said, is highly disproportionate when the population of uniformed personnel and of civilian employees is to be compared.

“It’s unfortunate that the Duterte government would rather fund its machinery for war and fascism than its machinery for the delivery of social services,” Basilio said.

PAGCOR LAUDED FOR GAINS, PROJECTS

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives” Committee on Appropriations has lauded the financial performance of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. as well as its planned projects for 2020.

At the budget deliberations for the 2020 national government budget, the committee, presided over by Rep. Manuel Dalipe of Zamboanga City, on Friday reviewed the proposed funding for the state gaming company next year as well as its performance so far this year and its projected revenues in 2020.

PAGCOR assistant vice president Sharon Quintanilla briefed the committee on the agency’s financial condition as well as disbursements.

Quintanilla said that of the P104.12-billion total generated income of PAGCOR last year, the gaming firm was able to allocate P58.95 billion for nation-building programs.

By the end of 2019, the agency has estimated a P73.88-billion total revenue, with P51.53-billion contribution to projects on nation-building, such as school building and health services.

She added that in 2020, PAGCOR aims to generate P75.17 billion and allot P49.78 billion of the revenue to such initiatives.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman during the hearing thanked PAGCOR for its efforts to support the local governments, especially during their rehabilitation after being hit by calamities.

“I just would like to express my gratitude for the assistance the leadership of PAGCOR and its staff to the various LGUs in my district, including those in the entire Albay province, particularly during calamities.

This assistance was the past, presently, and hopefully forthcoming,” Lagman said.

Deputy Majority Leader Juan Pablo Bondoc, who represents the Fourth District of Pampanga, also expressed his gratitude for the agency “for being a constant partner of Pampanga in rebuilding the province during calamities.”

STANDSTILL. A

stretch of Roxas Boulevard from Manila to Pasay City becomes a mega parking lot as vehicles of various sizes ranging from cargo trucks to SUVs get stalled amid heavy downpour and flashfloods spawned by Typhoon ‘Ineng’ on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019. Norman Cruz

FAMILY FEUD OVER BUS FIRM RAGES VALLACAR Transit Inc. president Leo Rey Yanson on Saturday clarified that her mother, Olivia V. Yanson, has not lost her right as the co-founder and owner of the country’s largest bus company despite her age.

Leo Rey issued the clarification after four of his siblings—Roy, Ricardo Jr., Emily and Celina—did not attend the special stockholders meeting on Aug. 19, 2019 and questioned the right of their mother as a stockholder of VTI. “To my siblings in the other camp, if you really love our mother, please be sincere in your actions. OVY eagerly awaits all of you. Do it now please, while she is still with us,” said Leo Rey. Established in 1968, the 52-yearold bus conglomerate founded by the late Ricardo B. Yanson Sr. and his wife Olivia, now has a total of 18,000 employees who provide transport services to 700,000 passengers daily.

The family feud started on July 7, 2019 when the four Yanson siblings in a purported special board meeting,

unceremoniously unseated Leo Rey Yanson as the president of VTI. Leo Rey was subsequently replaced by his eldest brother Roy Yanson but Leo Rey with the support of his mother, Olivia V. Yanson and sister Ginnette Y. Dumancas, refused to step down.

On Aug. 19, the stockholders of VTI, including the Yanson matriarch, elected a new set of board of directors who subsequently reelected Leo Rey Yanson as the president of the company.

The special stockholders meeting effectively reaffirmed Leo Rey Yanson as the rightful president of VTI, the largest subsidiary of the Yanson Group of Bus Companies and is the company behind Ceres Liner and Sugbo Transit.

The other four siblings, however, said the special stockholders meeting on Aug. 19 lacked the quorum because their mother is no longer an owner of VTI. To this, Leo Rey asked his siblings to respect the right of their mother and remember the words of their late father that he tried to instill as a core family

value. “Respect is earned, not given!” he said.

He said family relationships, business dealings and human relations thrive on respect as a solid, indispensable foundation. “Respect runs deep, and is the aortic component in every family, without which, everything crumbles in a whiff,” Leo Rey said.

Leo Rey said, “VTI was started and honed to what it is now by our parents as a conjugal venture.” He said that claiming that her mother Olivia no longer owns VTI is plainly wrong.

“Given this, it is but fitting and proper that OVY be accorded respect and control over what she built over the years. Only insatiable greed and plain opportunism could have impelled them to disrespect OVY and claim falsities against her, simply because OVY is advancing in age, and RBY [Ricardo B. Yanson Sr.] is no longer around,” he said.

Leo Rey said his parents built Ceres from scratch. “Allow her to enjoy the fruits of her hard-earned labor,” he said.

TAIWAN’S BEST ITEMS SHOWCASED IN PH EXPO

WAR ON DRUGS. Retired Colonel Rodrigo Bonifacio, founding chairman of the People’s Volunteer Against Illegal Drugs (right) receives a token of appreciation from the Philippine Insurers Club Inc., headed by its president Joel Reyes (left) during the presentation of the drug situation in the country and the score of the drug demand reduction approach in the fight against narcotics. The PICI, with 80 organizations and a workforce of hundreds of thousands nationwide, manifested unequivocal support to PVAID advocacy to help every Filipino family fight the menace.

TAIWAN is a dynamic economy that has been increasingly gaining interest from global businesses in recent time.

Emerging as one of the most promising innovation and startup hubs in Asia, Taiwan is home to some of the most groundbreaking and innovative brands in the region.

To further strengthen their position as the newest innovation center in Asia, Taiwan has been proactively introducing their groundbreaking brands globally.

Just recently, an exhibit showcasing the best of Taiwanese product innovation was held at the City Garden Grand Hotel in Makati City.

Dubbed “Wow! Taiwan,” the exhibit was brought to the Philippines by Taiwan’s Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs (BOFTMOEA) and Commerce Development Research Institute in partnership with CRIF Asia, with the objective of bridging Taiwan’s leading enterprises to Philippine companies and consumers.

The partnership also aims to open up new markets and channels for Taiwan’s breadwinning products through new distributors, agents, and retailers. The “Wow! Taiwan” exhibit showcased various kiosks that displayed the best

of Taiwanese food, cosmetics, fashion, technology, and modern household products.

Chang Wen Chong, director of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines explained that the entrepreneurs of the exhibited products want to be exposed to the local market in the hope of widening their market and finding prospective partnerships and opportunities to set up shop in the Philippines.

According to Chong, the Taiwanese entrepreneurs are targeting the “middle to higher-end market” in the country, due to the increasing purchasing power of Filipinos as well as their affinity with the Taiwanese.

“The Philippines has a very young and dynamic population that’s open to innovative products,” stressed Chong.

“They are also interested in Taiwanese culture, as seen in the huge numbers of Filipino visitors flocking to Taiwan.

In fact, the Philippines has the most number of arrivals from Southeast Asia in Taiwan last year. Currently, the potential is high in the Filipino market because the younger generation has more disposable income and are open to new and unique products.”

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

TAGUIG TAX INSPECTOR ARRESTED

By Joel E. Zurbano POLICE have entrapped a Taguig City assessors office inspector who is accused of graft and corrupt practices.

The suspect, 32-year-old John Paul Mabilin, was arrested inside a fastfood chain along the service road of Circumferential Road-5 in Barangay Ususan at 4:50 p.m.

Police said Mabilin’s modus consisted in bloating the tax amount to be paid by his client, after which he would offer to “help reduce” the amount.

The authorities came up with an entrapment following a complaint lodged by one Jonathan Ablang against the suspect whom he accused of asking him P100,000 in exchange for tax reduction.

Taguig City Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano commended the police operatives for conducting the entrapment operation that resulted in the arrest of Mabilin, who he described as “corrupt inspector of the City Assessor’s Office.”

“We are happy we conducted the operation. It’s a way of removing the few rotten eggs,” he said.

Cayetano reiterated that corruption has no place in Taguig noting that one of the major priorities of his administration’s 10-point agenda is good governance. He said those who may be engaged in corrupt activities will surely face the full force of the law.

During his first day in office, Cayetano issued a memorandum to all officials and employees of the city reminding them of the prohibition against graft and corrupt practices as stated in Republic Act No. 3019 or the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.” The city chief executive directed all personnel to inform the Office of the City Mayor or the Human Resource Management Office of any personnel conducting these kinds of illegal activities.

Cayetano also urged residents to report to the city government anyone they believe to be engaged in corruption.

Mabilin is now detained at the Taguig City police station.

STI POSTS 41% HIKE IN NEW STUDENTS ONE of the largest networks of private schools in the Philippines, STI Holdings chalked up a 41 percent increase in new students in college for school year 2019- 2020.

As a result, the number of students in college at 45,902 rose by 6 percent increase in total college population. This, despite the fact that there are only two-year levels in college as a consequence of the full implementation of the K to 12 program.

In its quarterly report submitted to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the group said that STl also moved its school opening from June to July 15, hence the revenues to be generated will be recognized in July after the close of the quarter subject of the report.

SHS classes of STI ESG and STI WNU as well as STI WNU’s classes for its School of Basic Education still started in June. The academic year for iACADEMY started in July for the tertiary level and August for the SHS and ends in June and May, respectively.

The increase in college enrollment comes as the group goes full throttle with its campus expansion program in and around Metro Manila.

Three new campuses with stateof-the-art facilities, namely STI Sta. Mesa in Manila, STI Pasay-EDSA, and STI San Jose del Monte in Bulacan, were completed under the wing of STI Holdings subsidiary STI Education Services Group (STI ESG) last March. This follows the completion of the eight-story STI Lipa building which began operations on its first 4 floors in August 2018. The building was likewise completed in March.

The opening of the new campuses further supports the requirements of the company’s total enrollment of 83,967, composed mostly of college and senior high school students including those from other subsidiaries STI WNU and iACADEMY for the current school year.

It also contributed to the increase in the group’s total assets to P15.2 billion as of June 30, 2019 or P439.4 million higher than the P14.8 billion it had as of March 31, 2019.

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019

News

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

QC CRACKS DOWN ON ERRING POGO HUBS

THE HONG KONG WAY. Protesters form a human chain along Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong on Aug. 23, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Baltic Way demonstration in 1989 which saw about 2 million people form a human chain that spanned over 600 kilometers across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in protest against Soviet occupation. The Hong Kong protests, which have dragged on for nearly three months, started in opposition to a bill that would have allowed extradition to mainland China but soon bled into a wider pro-democracy movement. AFP

H

HK PROTESTS CONTINUE

ONG KONG—Tension flickered across Hong Kong Saturday as riot cops squared off with protesters near a police station in a working-class neighborhood, as an uneasy peace lasting several days threatened to give way.

Thousands of demonstrators, many wearing hard hats and gas masks, marched through the industrial Kwun Tong area, where they were blocked by dozens of riot police with shields and batons.

Protesters pulled together a barricade of traffic barriers and bamboo construction poles, while shouting at the rank of police.

Hong Kong’s police force have become the target of the protesters’ ire for their perceived heavyhanded response to the months of demonstrations.

Antipathy has soared toward the police, who have used baton charges, rubber bullets and tear gas against hardcore protesters, but are also accused of

beating peaceful demonstrators.

The city has for now pulled back from what appeared to be a nosedive into violence, with the last serious clashes taking place a week and a half ago.

But tension rippled across Saturday’s march, where a number of frontline radical demonstrators known as “braves” had gathered.

“I’ve never seen Hong Kong in such a situation,” 65-year-old Dee Cheung told AFP. “The youngsters who come out have put their future at stake... they are doing this for Hong Kong. There might be some things we don’t agree with, like the ‘braves’ who tend to charge. But let’s think about why they do that.”

Protests started against a pro-

posed law that would have allowed extradition to China, but have bled into wider calls for democracy and police accountability in the semi-autonomous city.

On Friday evening, thousands of people held hands across Hong Kong in a dazzling, neon-framed recreation of a pro-democracy “Baltic Way” protest against Soviet rule three decades ago.

The city’s skyscraper-studded harborfront as well as several busy shopping districts were lined with peaceful protesters, many wearing surgical masks to hide their identity and holding Hong Kong flags or mobile phones with lights shining.

The human chain is the latest creative demonstration in nearly three months of rolling protests which have tipped Hong Kong into an unprecedented political crisis.

“We have tried traditional marches, we have tried more militant acts—although I don’t agree with them—this time we are coming out together to

join hands and show that we are all still united,” Wing, who gave only her first name, told AFP. “By doing this, we are showing people around the world the high quality of Hong Kongers. What people did 30 years ago, we can also do,” said Cat Law, a logistic worker in her 60s.

The Baltic Way was one of the largest ever anti-Soviet demonstrations, when more than one million people linked hands to form a human chain spanning over 600 kilometers (370 miles) on Aug. 23, 1989.

Three decades on, the moving show of solidarity continues to inspire activists across the world.

The “Hong Kong Way” was called by the social media-driven protesters who have turned for the last several days to non-violent means of making their voice heard.

Protesters young and old chanted “Free Hong Kong” while hand sanitizer was passed along the chains in the famously fastidious city. AFP

DECRIMINALIZE LIBEL, BUT HIKE FINE—SOLON

By Maricel V. Cruz

NATURE’S WRATH. Typhoon ‘Ineng’ has caused landslides in

Tuba, Benguet while the Tamagan Bridge in Vintar, Ilocos Norte became impassable due to the swollen Bislac River. Dave Leprozo

A LAWMAKER wants to decriminalize libel while seeking to impose a higher fine to prevent the commission of the crime.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez filed House Bill No. 1835 seeking to amend Articles 355, 357, and 360 of the Revised Penal Code.

He said that while the penalty of fine must be sustained, for no crime should go unpunished, imposing a penalty of imprisonment will work more to discourage members of the media from performing their duties with zeal and vigilance.

“Instead of looking deeply into issues that have a potential of affecting public interest and general welfare, the penalty of imprisonment has paved the way for members of media to approach their mandates with doubts and hesitation,” Rodriguez said.

“We cannot have that in a country where democracy is primarily infringed on the freedom of speech and expression, and where media is considered the Fourth Estate,” added Rodriguez, chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments.

Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code defines libel as “a public and malicious imputation of a crime, or of a vice or defect, real or imaginary, or any act, omission, condition, status, or circumstance tending to cause the dishonor, discredit or contempt of a natural or juridical person, or to blacken the memory of one who is already dead.”

Rodriguez said the present law provides the penalty of imprisonment ranging from arresto mayor or one month and one day to six months, and prision correctional or six months and one day to six years and fine ranging from P200 to P6,000.

MANILA MAYOR CREATES TASK FORCE VS. BOTCHA

By Vito Barcelo MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso has created a special task force to strictly monitor all private and public markets as part of the city government’s drive against “botcha” or hot meat.

The Manila chief executive directed the city’s Veterinary Inspection Board to conduct intensified routine and strike operations in Manila markets.

Domagoso’s move was prompted by reports of rising incidents of butchered backyard-raised

hogs after being allegedly affected by a still unknown virus that killed hundreds of pigs in the Central Luzon.

He also directed the VIB to check and verify establishments engaged in food trade to ensure that their products have undergone proper inspection and quality control procedures.

“You are further directed to effect the seizure, confiscation, examination, disposition and disposal of merchandise found to be illegal, and recommend the filing of appropriate cases for prosecution before the proper court in the City of

Manila,” Domagoso said.

Domagoso said the local government should be able to “sustain a continuing drive” against the illegal sale, manufacturing, processing and distribution of meat products in Manila.

He warned that buying double dead meat poses health hazards as these could cause serious ailments or even death in some cases.

Domagoso also raised the concern as the public, particularly the poor, are enticed to buy these meat products which are being sold at lower prices in the market.

QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte has issued notice of violations against several Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hubs based in Eastwood City in Libis following a surprise inspection Friday night.

Belmonte led the inspection which aimed to ensure that POGO centers operating in the city comply with local requirements and ancillary clearances for business.

Among the POGO hubs which received notice of violations were Omniworld Enterprise Inc., Singtech Enterprise Inc. and Great Empire Gaming and Amusement Corp. for failure to present necessary clearances required to conduct business in Quezon City.

These include locational clearance, sanitary permit, environmental clearance, and occupational permits of their employees, among others.

The four POGO hubs were given a 15-day grace period to comply with the business permit requirements of Quezon City.

“While we welcome the business locators in our city, we want to ensure that our rules and regulations are followed to the letter.

Otherwise, you will have to face the consequences of non-compliance,” Belmonte said.

While she aspires for Quezon City to become a preferred investment and business destination, Belmonte said rules, regulations processes must be complied with.

“You cannot disregard our requirements because we will catch you eventually,” Belmonte said.

The POGO establishments, for their part, welcomed the chance to get their businesses in order and promised to comply with the needed requirements.

P15M WORTH OF SMUGGLED PHONES SEIZED

By Joel E. Zurbano and Vito Barcelo GOVERNMENT agents assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport seized at least 825 used smartphones and accessories worth P15 million smuggled from South Korea.

Customs-NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan said her men intercepted the Samsung, LG and iPhone mobile devices and accessories without the required permits from the National Telecommunications Commission.

The contraband, contained in 19 boxes and declared as used cellphones in two separate shipments, arrived last month and was stored in TMW warehouse near NAIA Terminal 1 without proper documentation.

“Two separate shipments were found with same consignee and found to contain used smartphones, lithium batteries and phone accessories,” she said.

Some of the smartphones are as follows: Samsung S10 plus, Samsung S9 plus, Samsung S10, Samsung Note 9, Note 10, LG smartphone, Samsung A5, Samsung A7 and iPhone 8 plus.

“Used cellphones are not given permits except for those intended for personal use or as gifts for family members or relatives, but not in commercial quantity or use,” she added.

The NTC is also not giving permits for importation of used cellphones due to safety and security reasons.

Samsung Philippines Corp. public relations officer Marlene Cinco commended Customs-NAIA for its vigilance in seizing the used mobile devices.

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019

Opinion

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

REMIXING ANCIENT SCENTS BY THE DEAD SEA

EDITORIAL

ENVIRONMENTAL CANCER

T

HE frame of raging fires in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest is a stirring scene. This has prompted scientists to warn that the fires could thrust a death-dealing blast to the worldwide fight against climate change.

Brazil’s space research center, the National Institute for Space Research, known by the wordplay INPE, has recorded more than 74,000 fires so far this year, more than half in the Amazon region —an 84 percent increase in the comparative period in 2018, the highest number since records began in 2013.

The Amazon, often referred to as the planet’s lungs for producing

20 percent of the oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere, is considered important in the fight against global warming due to its ability to absorb carbon from the air.

Brazil, the largest country in both South America and Latin America with 8.5 million square kilometers and over 208 million people, is the world’s fifth largest country by area and the fifth most populous.

It has the biggest share of the

670 million hectares of forest—60 percent—and is home to more species than anywhere in the world.

Images and videos on social media, seen here in the Philippines, have shown monstrous pinions of smoke darting out from the greenery and winds-whipped lines of fire leaving blackened waste below.

The smoke has gone as far as Sao Paulo, 2,736 kilometers away. Images from the city, which honors the Apostle, Saint Paul of Tarsus, showing the skyline in pitch darkness in mid afternoon, the sun eclipsed by smoke and ash.

Whether the fires seen worldwide are wildfires or those directly related to deforestation, we stand behind environmentalists who are

in full throttle in their campaign to save the Amazon.

The Amsterdam-headquartered Greenpeace, which is operational in 55 countries, has warned the Brazil government against slithering to what it called a “threat to the climate equilibrium.” The Gland, Switzerland-based World Wildlife Fund itself has also warned that if the Amazon burns to that legend of no return, the rainforest could become a dry grassland, no longer livable by majority of its wildlife.

“If this happens, instead of being a source of oxygen, it could start emitting carbon—the major driver of climate change,” according to WWF. This would raise the probability of what might well be an environmental lung cancer.

NO TO MAYOR SANCHEZ’S RELEASE A MONSTER is defined as a frightening, cruel creature, in human terms someone who is evil, who wreaks havoc for amusement, who hurts and kills for his pleasure or profit.

When news broke in 1993 of thenCalauan, Laguna mayor Antonio Sanchez’s involvement in the rape-slay of University of the Philippines-Los Baños student Eileen Sarmenta and the torture-murder of her friend and fellow student Allan Gomez, the public reviled Sanchez as a monster.

The power of the law subdued the monster and threw him in jail to languish under a sentence of seven terms of life imprisonment.

People were shocked and horrified when they learned that there is a possibility of Sanchez’s early release for good conduct under a law that reduces prison sentences for good behavior.

A petition at change.org entitled “Stop the Release of Mayor Antonio Sanchez; Let Him Serve His Seven Life Sentences” has collected 120,582 signatures as of this writing and more are being added.

In part it reads, “We petition the Department of Justice to stop Sanchez’s release and affirm his seven life sentences.

He used his power and position to kidnap, rape, and murder. His actions terrorized a university and an entire town. For full justice to be served, he must remain incarcerated for the duration of his

lifetime.”

Incredibly, Sanchez has his apologists.

When the story first broke, Senator Bato dela Rosa commented, “(If ) it is determined by the Board of Pardons and Parole that Sanchez deserved that commutation, then why not? He deserves a second chance in life.”

This inappropriately indulgent remark promptly reaped a harvest of brickbats, probably leading to Dela Rosa’s next-day pivot: “Ang sa akin nga, ganun ka-heinous ang krimen na ginawa niya, dapat binitay siya noon… bakit kailangan ko pa mag-sympathize? Galit na galit ako sa kaso na iyan.”

He explained that he was only pointing to the law, that if the law allows Sanchez’s release at this time, then it should be considered.

But given the facts of Sanchez’s stay in Bilibid so far, it should be impossible to release him at all. While in prison, he was charged for having forbidden amenities—a flatscreen television and airconditioning unit—in his kubol (hut cell), and possession of a million pesos’ worth of drugs hidden in a religious statue. How is this by any stretch of the imagination ‘good conduct’?

Sanchez was also convicted in 1996 for another murder case, the killing of father and son Nelson and Rickson Peñalosa.

This man is a monster. One murder is bad enough. But four? And for such

a worthless reasons as sexual pleasure and power play? One wonders now if he committed or ordered other murders that were not brought to light.

The finding of the drugs in his cell during his two-decade stay so far also could perhaps point to possible drug use that might have been among the stimuli for his reprehensible actions.

We must be reminded of just how evil a person he is, and why he must not be released, ever. Journalist Desiree Carlos recently wrote a public post on Facebook that gives harrowing details about the Sarmenta-Gomez case.

Carlos was a deskman at Malaya at the time and recalls putting together or editing for a front-page story “1520 stories coming from the field from reporters who covered the investigation on the Sarmenta-Gomez rape-slay.”

The stories coming from the field so disturbed her that she suffered her first panic attack. She has been experiencing them since then and a few years ago was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. This is one of the reasons why a journalist’s job, even working from an office, is not easy.

Carlos lists facts about the case that emerged from testimonies and National Bureau of Investigation and medical reports after the bodies of Sarmenta and Gomez were discovered (caps hers):

By Michael Blum AT HIS farm near the Dead Sea in occupied Palestinian territory, Israeli Guy Erlich remixes blends of perfume and incense that he believes were used by royalty in the biblical era.

He claims to have re-created a scent that Cleopatra may have dabbed on her skin and oils that anointed ancient Jewish kings.

With a passion for ancient plants, Erlich set out in 2008 to try to grow them himself to turn into fragrances and other products, on a small hill in the West Bank, near the Israeli settlement of Almog.

He now cultivates around 60 biblical plants, from which he creates creams, perfumes, soap and honey, and attracts tourists who come to learn about the rare plants and take in their scents.

Erlich, 48, dreams of bringing back into widespread circulation the balm of Gilead, used medicinally during the ancient Roman era and referenced in the Bible.

He’s even named his farm after it.

The balm is thought to have been used by the ancient Greek physician, Galen, to heal infections and wounds, he says.

He mentions Jewish teachings from the Talmud and Christian sources that name it.

A farmer before making a job out of his fascination for biblical agriculture—some of which has long disappeared—Erlich says he has read everything he can find on the subject.

Elaine Solowey, a desert agriculture specialist at Israel’s Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, helped him to identify some of his plants.

Speaking to AFP, she said that she could not say for sure if Erlich’s plants were those found in biblical times since more research was necessary.

“The species produced by Mr Erlich are probably those cultivated in the region during antiquity, but we can’t be certain,” Solowey said.

“Many plant species mentioned in the Bible have disappeared and it is vital that we figure out how to study the subject,” she said, adding that more funding was needed.

Farming frankincense Erlich makes honey with the flowers of Boswellia trees that yield frankincense— one of the offerings to the baby Jesus in the Bible’s New Testament.

The trees grow in places like Somalia, Yemen, Ethiopia and Oman but Erlich has planted them at his Balm of Gilead Farm.

For now, the small leafed species takes up only a limited part of his farm, but the honey he produces sells at a premium price: $1,000 (900 euros) per kilogram.

The farm is currently quite spartan and he hopes in time to be able to develop his tourist center, a simple, wooden structure that shields visitors from the sun next to his fields.

Wearing boots and a large hat, he explains to visitors the story behind each plant and its name.

Boycott deters investors Erlich is seeking to attract investors but says it is difficult since his farm is in occupied territory.

For Palestinians, his work has more than a whiff of controversy, given the location of the farm.

Abdallah Abu Rahma, a Palestinian Authority official who monitors Israeli settlements, was unequivocal when asked about the project.

“Everything produced in the settlements is illegal,” he said. “That’s why we call for a boycott of such products.”

Settlement expansion has accelerated under Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a policy that detractors say reduces the chances of a two-state solution to the Jewish nation’s conflict with the Palestinians.

But Erlich is undeterred.

Noting the ancient Egyptians’ use of fragrances and the possibility that several of the plants he grows were used at that time, he advertises his perfume as a type used by Cleopatra.

“Offer your wife Cleopatra’s perfume, the fragrances of antiquity, the scents of Rome,” he tells visitors.

Biblical-era temples Erlich also claims to have recreated fragrances used at the time of the two biblical-era Jewish temples, the first destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BC and the second by the Romans in 70 AD. “On your right hand, you have the scent of the first temple, on the left hand the second temple, and if you rub them against each other, you will smell the incense that will be burned in the third temple,” Erlich said.

According to Jewish tradition, the third temple will be built when the Messiah comes.

Erlich sells his products from his farm.

He has so far sold four kilos (8.8 pounds) of his frankincense honey in 30-gram (one-ounce) bottles and hopes to increase production.

Visitors can also buy a five-milliliter (0.2 ounce) bottle of fragrance for 100 shekels ($29, 26 euros).

“These products have a history, a specificity,” he said. “They are unique.” AFP

POP GOES THE WORLD JENNY ORTUOSTE “ 1. Sarmenta interviewed Sanchez for a school paper. Sanchez showed interest in Sarmenta.

2. Sarmenta was abducted after the interview while with her boyfriend Gomez.

3. They were brought to Sanchez’ place.

4. Sarmenta was RAPED BY SANCHEZ, then…

5. Sanchez GAVE SARMENTA to his bodyguards.

6. SARMENTA HAD ONLY A T-SHIRT ON when Sanchez GIFTED her to his men. SHE HAD NO UNDERWEAR AT ALL. 7. The bodyguards put her inside the back of the van.

8. THEY TOOK TURNS RAPING HER. 9. The bodies of Sarmenta and Gomez were found days after.”

But the one particular detail that devastated Carlos and triggered her anxiety attack back then was this: “THE MEDICO -LEGAL REPORT SHOWED THAT THE SEMEN FOUND INSIDE EILEEN SARMENTA FILLED A CAN OF SARDINES” (caps hers).

Now imagine that happening to your sister, wife, daughter, other female family member or relative. Do you still want Sanchez to ever be released?

FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

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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TODAY SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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PROTESTS TO GREET G7 LEADERS

IARRITZ, France—The leaders of the G7 club of rich countries meet in southern France on Saturday, with the burning Amazon, diving stock markets and their own stark divisions giving little grounds for optimism.

Republic of the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources NATIONAL WATER RESOURCES BOARD PROPERTY COMPANY OF FRIENDS, INC., Applicant. x-------------------------------------------------------x

Case No. 19-2804

NOTICE OF HEARING This is an application for Certificate of Public Convenience to operate and maintain a waterworks system within Montefaro Village, Barangay Carsadang Bago, Imus, Cavite, with the following proposed rates: PROPOSED RATES Residential/Institutional /Public Taps Consumption cu, m.

Peso / cU.m.

0 - 10 (min.)

P202.00 (min.)

11 - 20 21 - 30 31 - 40 41 - 50

21.20 24.20 28.20 32.40

Over 50

36.80

Commercial/ Industrial Consumption cu. m.

Peso / cu.m.

0-25 (min.)

P 1,007.50 (min.)

26-1000

48.30

Over 1000

64.80

Notice is hereby given that this application will be initially heard by the Board on September 9, 2019, hearing will start at 9:00 0’ clock in the morning at the NWRB-WUD Conference Room, 8th Floor, NlA Building, EDSA, Quezon City at which time applicant shall present its evidence.

At least fifteen (15) days prior to the scheduled hearing, applicant shall publish this notice once in a daily newspaper of general circulation in the province of Cavite and send by personal delivery or registered mail a copy of (i) the application and its attachments, and (ii) this notice, to all affected parties appearing on page 2 hereof.

Parties opposed to the granting of the application must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above scheduled date of hearing, furnishing a copy or the same to the applicant.

Failure on the part of any affected party to file its opposition on time and to appear at the hearing will be construed as a waiver of its right to be heard and the Board will proceed to hear and decide the application based on the evidence submitted.

Likewise, failure by the applicant to appear at the hearing shall amount to lack of interest on its part and the instant application shall be dismissed accordingly.

2019.

Witness the Honorable Executive Director of the National Water Resources Board this 26th day of July

By Authority of the Board: (SGD) Dr. SEVILLO D. DAVID, Jr. CESO III Executive Director

Affected Parties: The Secretary Sangguniang Sayan Imus, Cavite The Barangay Chairman Barangay Carsadang Bago lmus, Cavite The Homeowners Assn. President Montefaro Village Barangay Carsadang Bago lmus, Cavite The Administrator Metropolitan Waterworks & Sewerage System MWSS Compound, Katipunan Road Balara, Quezon City 1105 MS-AUG. 25, 2019)

Invitation to Apply for Eligibility and to Bid Supply, Delivery, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of PENELCO’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System for Twenty Seven (27) Substations, Sub-transmission, and Distribution Lines Invitation to Bid no. 31 (IFB 31) The Peninsula Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PENELCO), through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for Goods and Services, invites suppliers/ manufacturers/contractors to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder project: Name of Project : Supply, Delivery, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of PENELCO’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System for Twenty Seven (27) Substations, Sub-transmission, and Distribution Lines.

Project : Integration and automation of different protection Description equipment and Intelligent Electronic Devices (IED’s) installed on PENELCO’s twenty-seven (27) substations, sub-transmission and distribution lines which provide control, data acquisition, and monitoring capability from the main station thru fiber optic and wireless communication. The new system will provide upgrades and compatible with the existing SCADA system. This will also include additional devices, upgrading, and replacement of protection and meteringe quipment.

Location : Peninsula Electric Cooperative Inc., City of Balanga, Bataan Approved Budget : Php 120,000,000.00 (VAT Inclusive) for the Contract (ABC) Source of Fund : PENELCO General Fund Project Duration : Thirty-three (33) months and must be completed and fully operational on or before 3rd Quarter of 2022 SCADA Project Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5 Phase 6

Project Duration Six (6) months Three (3) months Six (6) months Six (6) months Six (6) months Six (6) months

Prospective bidders should have an experience of having completed at least three (3) SCADA contract project within the last five (5) years, at least two (2) on-going SCADA projects, and have at least fifteen (15) years of experience in substation projects.

The schedule of activities is listed as follows: Activities 1. Advertisement Period

2. Issuance of Bid Document

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor / Jimbo Gulle, Issue Editor

Date/Time August 21, 2019, and/to August 25, 2019

Venue Newspaper of national circulation NEA Website (www.nea.gov.ph) PENELCO website (www.penelco.com) and at Bulletin Board of every Municipality in Bataan September 2, 2019 PENELCO Main Office, Roman Superhighway, – October 2, 2019 Brgy. Tuyo, City of Balanga, Bataan

3. Inspection of September 11, PENELCO 2019 (Wednesday), Distribution System 9:00 AM and SCADA 4. Prebid Conference September 18, 2019 (Wednesday), 2:00 PM (PST) 5. Deadline of October 2, 2019 Submission and (Wednesday), Opening of Bids 2:00 PM (PST)

PENELCO Main Office, Roman Superhighway, Brgy. Tuyo, City of Balanga, Bataan PENELCO Main Office, Roman Superhighway, Brgy. Tuyo, City of Balanga, Bataan PENELCO Main Office, Roman Superhighway, Brgy. Tuyo, City of Balanga, Bataan

Bid Documents will be available to prospective bidders only upon payment of a non-refundable fee of Fifty Thousand Pesos Only (P 50,000.00).

All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security of not less than five percent (5%) of the total bid price or an equivalent amount in a freely convertible currency. Bid Security must be in form of Cashier’s Check or Manager’s Check only.

PENELCO assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid. Moreover, PENELCO reserves the right to reject any or all bid proposal at any time prior to contract award,declare the bidding a failure, or award the contract to the bidder whose offer is the most responsive,lowest calculated bid, and most advantageous to the coop.

For further information, please refer to: Peninsula Electric Cooperative, Inc. – BAC Secretariat Roman Superhighway Tuyo, Balanga City 2100 Bataan, Philippines Tel. No. +63 472373512 to 13 Fax No. +63 477915103 E-mail Address: main@penelco.com; penelco_pbac@yahoo.com Website: www.penelco.com Certified by:

ENGR. ANTONIO D. PAGUIO PBAC Chairman (MS-AUG. 21 & 25, 2019)

US President Donald Trump and fellow Western leaders will also face protests as they arrive in the famed surfing town of Biarritz—though a heavy police presence will keep them far from view.

Thousands are set to march around 30 kilometers (20 miles) down the coast from Biarritz to denounce leaders over poverty and environmental damage.

The summit was already shaping up to be a difficult encounter with Western relations badly strained by Trump, but images of billowing smoke above the Amazon rainforest have lent it a new, even darker mood.

“The Amazon is burning and it’s something that concerns everyone,” Macron said on Friday in an interview with the Konbini website.

He has led international pressure on Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro over the fires, telling him Paris would block efforts to

seal a major trade deal between Latin America and the EU. He has called for emergency talks at the G7, which lasts from Saturday to Monday, aiming for “concrete measures” to tackle the crisis.

“We are going to try and mobilise everyone to raise funding for reforestation as quickly as possible,” Macron added on Friday.

Bolsonaro responded in televised remarks, saying “there are forest fires all over the world, and this cannot be used as a pretext for possible international sanctions,” adding that “some countries” will defend Brazil at the G7 meet.

Talks in the beach resort, known for its fierce rainstorms that blow in from the Atlantic, will also be dominated by the darkening clouds over the world economy.

Wall Street stocks tanked on Friday after Trump escalated his trade war with China that is

seen as responsible for a global slowdown.

“We don’t need China and, frankly, would be far... better off without them,” Trump tweeted on Friday, adding that US companies were “hereby ordered to immediately start looking for an alternative to China.”

His outburst on Twitter came after China imposed tariffs on US imports worth $75 billion in response to an earlier round of American measures.

But Trump hit back immediately, raising tariffs still further.

“We see trade tensions as the single most important threat to global growth,” a top EU official told reporters ahead of the G7 summit on condition of anonymity.

Trump continues to threaten European companies with trade tariffs, including Germany’s car industry and France’s wine sector.

Last month, he promised “substantial reciprocal action”

after French MPs backed a new law imposing a sales taxes on US digital giants such as Google and Facebook.

“The president will raise the highly discriminatory digital services tax that France has decided upon,” a US official said ahead of the summit that will see Trump and Macron hold talks.

Though the Amazon fires and trade are set to dominate the agenda, the G7 meeting will also be the full international debut of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

He will meet Trump for the first time as leader and is expected to discuss the UK’s impending exit from the European Union, which the US president has enthusiastically backed.

“My message to G7 leaders this week is this: the Britain I lead will be an international, outward-looking, self-confident nation,” he said on the eve of the summit. AFP

UK STAFFER BACK FROM DETENTION IN CHINA HONG KONG—A British consulate employee detained in China has returned to Hong Kong, his family said Saturday.

Simon Cheng disappeared after visiting the neighboring city of Shenzhen on August 8 and was placed in administrative detention by police.

“Simon has returned to Hong Kong,” his family said in a Facebook post, adding he would take “some time to rest and recover”.

Cheng was returning to Hong Kong via high-speed train on August 8 and sent messages to his girlfriend as he was about to go through customs.

But he vanished without contact for several days before Beijing confirmed he had been taken into custody by police in Shenzhen for breaking a public security law.

In a statement posted on the Twitter-like Weibo, Shenzhen police said he was “punished with administrative detention for 15 days... for violating the law of the People’s Republic of China on public safety management.”

Cheng was released Saturday as the term had expired, the police said, adding he had “confessed to the facts of his illegal activity”, but without saying what he was accused of.

The incident came as relations between Britain and China have become strained over what Beijing calls London’s “interference” in prodemocracy protests that have wracked Hong Kong for three months.

While in detention Chinesestate media published lurid allegations about Cheng and the possible reason for his detention.

The Global Times, a tabloid state-run newspaper, said he had been detained for “soliciting prostitutes”, citing police in Shenzhen.

In an editorial on Friday, the tabloid said it was at Cheng’s request that police did not contact his family and that “thanks to the British foreign ministry and media, which have been hyping it, the case is now fully exposed.” AFP

Case No. 18-2606

SIGN SAYS IT ALL. An activist holds up a sign as he protests the government of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro for the fires in the Amazon rainforest in front of the Environment Ministry in Brasilia, Brazil on Friday.

Bolsonaro authorized the deployment of Brazil’s armed forces to help combat fires raging in the Amazon rainforest, as a growing global outcry over the blazes sparks protests and threatens a huge trade deal. AFP

SEOUL: NOKOR FIRES 2 MISSILES INTO SEA

SEOUL—North Korea Saturday fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea after vowing to remain the biggest “threat” to the United States and branding Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as “toxin.”

It was the latest in a series of short-range missile tests the nuclear-armed nation has carried out in recent weeks to protest US-South Korean military exercises, which it sees as a rehearsal for invasion. The latest joint drill wrapped up on Tuesday.

“The military detected two unidentified projectiles pre-

sumed to be short-range ballistic missiles,” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff in a statement Saturday after the latest launch.

The missiles flew about 380 kilometers (240 miles) and reached an altitude of 97 kilometers at a top speed of Mach 6.5 before landing in the East Sea, also known as Sea of Japan, it said.

“Our military is tracking the movement in the North in case of additional launches, with firm readiness,” it added.

South Korea’s presidential Blue House convened a National Security Council meeting and

expressed “grave concerns” in a statement, pointing out Pyongyang had carried out the launch after the joint US-South Korea military drills had ended.

“NSC members agreed to continue diplomatic efforts with the international community to bring the North back to negotiation table with the US to achieve the goal of complete denuclearization in the Korean peninsula.”

Tokyo also believed North Korea had fired “ballistic missiles” in violation of UN resolutions, Japanese Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya told reporters. AFP

GERMAN ARMY SEEKS OUT GAMERS AT CONVENTION

COLOGNE, Germany—Among countless stands of car manufacturers, software developers and engineering universities at Cologne’s video games convention, the sight of fatigue-clad soldiers manning the German military’s brightly lit stall draws in the curious.

With a stand boasting a helicopter simulator and ultra-fast games, the Bundeswehr, Germany’s army, has turned to the Gamescom fair in its bid to recruit computer-savvy potential soldiers.

The call to arms is clear under a “Centre of Cyber Operations” sign with a keyboard-inspired logo in the colors of the German flag—“the Cyber-force of the Bundeswehr.”

“We are looking for people who specialize in information technology—those with a taste for computers are knocking at the right door,” Nils Feldhoff, an army communications officer, told AFP. Dozens of young gamers, visiting the stand at the Gamescom convention, flocked to try their

hand at the army’s flight simu- in weapons, that’s not a good lator or test their reactions on a argument,” he added. two-player game.

Drawn by the unusual stand, However, the military person- 19-year-old computer enthunel were careful to spell out the siast Lucas Heilmann said he difference between the reality “answered a few questions of life in the ranks and violent about different programming military-based video games. languages, networks and data“We have a clear educational bases.” mission: we strictly try to sepaThe army’s broad campaign rate virtual games from reality to enlist computer-savvy by explaining to any interested youngsters includes a series young people that this is not a of computer-themed posters, video game,” Feldhoff said. one featuring a blond female If a gamer “wants to become a recruit in fatigues working on soldier because he is interested a robot. AFP CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Images

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

FOR ALL GENDERS. General services staff of Quezon City Hall place ‘All Gender’ signs in restrooms of the city hall compound on Saturday. The Quezon City government has allocated gender-neutral restrooms within the City Hall compound in compliance with City Ordinance 2357-2014, also known as the Quezon City Gender-Fair Ordinance. Quezon City PAISD

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

VISUAL PROTEST. A protester wears an eye patch as he attends a rally at Chater Garden in Hong Kong on Friday. The patch honors a woman who suffered an eye injury, which demonstrators blamed on a bean-bag round fired by police, as the financial hub has been rocked by three months of unrest. AFP

ONE-LEGGED WONDER. Palestinian amputee Mohammed Eliwa, 17, who lost his leg during clashes on the border with Israel, plays football on the beach in Gaza City on Tuesday. AFP

HAPPIER TIMES. Former Environment Secretary Gina Lopez (center) shares a laugh with a Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission worker and PRRC Executive Director Jose Antonio E. Goitia (right) in one of their cleanup activities this year. Lopez, a former director of the PRRC, passed away Monday after fighting brain cancer at age 65, and Goitia and the commission paid tribute to her at their offices. PRRC PIO

DOHA EXHIBITOR. Filipino artist Frederick Epistola sits with some of his artwork at home on Wednesday. Epistola will be showcasing the Philippines’ rich and exuberant culture and living traditions through an art exhibition of 15 paintings and 15 sculptures entitled ‘Hugis and Kulay’ at the Katara Art Center—where he will be the first Filipino artist to do so—in Doha, Qatar. Jun David

CYCLES. A man takes a photo of an art installation entitled ‘Forever Cycles’ by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Monday. The installation is comprised of over 1,000 stainless steel bicycles and is part of Ai Weiwei’s exhibition, which opened in Rio on Wednesday. AFP

REJOICING. Salvadorian rape victim Evelyn Hernandez (center) celebrates with her lawyers— after being cleared of murder after giving birth to a stillborn baby at home in 2016—at Ciudad Delgado’s court in San Salvador on Monday. El Salvador has an extremely strict abortion ban. AFP

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019

Riera U. Mallari, Editor sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Sports

JR NBA STANDOUT MARKED CAGER IN BATANG PINOY

By Peter Atencio

A

BIG kid with a big heart is keen on making waves in the Batang Pinoy.

The Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts and their 6’5” big man Heinz Gabriel “Kobe” Demisana will gear up and try to make an impact in the basketball action of the Batang Pinoy National Finals 2019 set from until Sept. 1 in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

The 14-year-old Demisana is expected to lead his squad after getting valuable experience from his recent stint in the Jr. NBA Global Championship in Orlando, Florida.

Last June, Demisana was among those chosen as one of the best campers in the Jr. NBA Asia-Pacific Selection Camp that was held in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Demisana has gone a long way to help his team when he joined the NBA’s grassroots program in Bacolod. He was selected to be part of the National Training Camp as one of the Visayas region’s best.

Demisana joined the Jr. NBA camps on the encouragement of his coaches in Tay Tung.

“My coach told me to believe in myself. Because we will fight for the title (in the Batang Pinoy),” said Demisana to the Manila Standard following the inspiring words from Tay Tung coach Roger Montalvo before he left for Manila for the Jr. NBA camps.

To be mentored by Dexter Dy in the Batang Pinoy, Demisana will be joined by Nathan Jan Jundana, Rafael Albert Ledesma, Mike Lebron Estelloso, Christian James Juguan, and Thomas Pillado.

The Thunderbolts, with Demisana protecting the boards, won the championship in the boys’ basketball event of the Batang Pinoy 2019 Visayas Qualifier leg with a 73-70 win over Cebu province last March in Iloilo City.

Luzon qualifying winner Dasmarinas City, which claimed a 101-97 triumph over Mariveles, is expected to be among the Thunderbolts’ top challengers for the cage crown.

Around 10,000 athletes, coaches, technical and delegation officials from all over the country are expected to take part in a total of 31 sporting activities in the weeklong meet.

Among the sports that will be played are archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, dancesport, futsal, karatedo, lawn tennis, pencak silat, sepak takraw and softball.

Events in swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, indoor and beach volleyball, are also included in the calendar.

Heinz Gabriel “Kobe” Demisana against a rival from Latin America

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan—Senator Bong Go and Department of Education Secretary Leonor Briones will be guests of honor when the Batang Pinoy National Finals unfurls today in this beautiful coastal city located in the Western part of the Philippines.

Go and Briones will represent no less than President Duterte in the opening rights that will be graced by about 10,000 athletes, mostly qualifiers from the three regional legs done in Ilagan, Isabela, Iloilo City and Tagum, Davao del Norte, coaches and officials.

Organizing Philippine Sports Commission chair William “Butch” Ramirez along and commissioners Charles Maxey and Arnold Agustin will also be there along with host Mayor Lucilo Bayron and Governor Jose Alvarez and Games and Amusement Board chair Abraham Mitra.

“It’s all systems go for the National Finals of the Batang Pinoy and we’re ready for the growing number of delegates that will take part in the games,” said PSC deputy executive and Batang Pinoy project director director Atty. Guillermo Iroy, Jr. Baguio will be out to defend its overall title after winning last year’s edition in Baguio although Laguna, which topped the Luzon edition in Ilagan City, Isabela early in the year, and some big city teams mostly from traditional powerhouse National Capital Region are expected to give a serious challenge.

BARON SHOOTS HIS WAY TO STARDOM YOUNG cage shooting sensation Baron Coyiuto is making waves in the kids’ basketball scene, simply because of his shooting touch at the perimeter and beyond the arc, aside from dominating the paint area.

A Grade 5 student of Xavier School in San Juan City, the young Coyiuto became a varsity player as his natural skill and talent got fine-tuned and honed by his mentors at the school gym and in actual competitions.

Baron is a tall player at his age of 10, as he is playing alternate center in their age category for Xavier. But it is his shooting dominance that stands out as he contributed a lot for his alma mater’s winning tradition in the 10-under division.

“My father convinced me to play basketball and I began to love this exciting game, especially everytime I convert shots from the outside. It became a natural feeling for me whether I’m free to shoot or with intimidation in front of me, “, said Baron. “I practice shooting and other plays thrice a week in school, then focus on my studies.”

Baron also practices in their family-owned basket-

ball gym every weekend along with his father Benedict Coyiuto, a former commercial and alumni basketball player before becoming a young executive and top honcho of PGA Cars.

Baron also trains under his shooting coach Ray Alao, current deputy team manager of the Davao Cocolife Tigers in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

“Starting him young, Baron is a potential basketball shooting star in the making. I’m optimistic, he will make it in the big league in the future. With coach Ray (Alao) around, he is in good hands, “ said his proud father ‘Bene, ‘ who holds the distinction of scoring a record 87 points in an official commercial game, mostly made from the distance.

In the Philippines, legend Allan Caidic is still local basketball’s best pure shooter, whose skills are still unmatched.

It may be too early to crown Baron as basketball’s next big thing, but he vows to just keep on hooping until the day he realizes his dream to play in the pros, and hopefully, with Gilas Pilipinas.

Baron Coyiuto

NO TRANSFER OF PLAYERS TO PBA WHILE MPBL IS ONGOING FORMER pros and rookie aspirants playing in the MPBL will have to wait until the end of the season before they get the opportunity of moving up to the PBA. A directive signed by MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes and approved by league founder and chief executive officer Manny Pacquiao had been released to all 31 teams competing in the fastest growing regional amateur basketball league.

With one third of the elimination round already played, MPBL teams are now gearing up for the coming trading and releasing of players within the league to bolster their respective line ups ahead of the playoffs.

The trading, releasing and acquisition of MPBL free agents is expected to happen midway the elimination round.

“We’re doing this to make sure it will not hamper the preparation of teams as they build up for the playoffs,” Commissioner Duremdes said.

“Unfair rin naman sa mga teams na nagpalakas and nag-improve ng line up nila, then all of a sudden irirelease lang agad. The best way is to finish the season before these players will be released to the PBA.” “We’re not stopping our players’ dream of playing or getting back to the PBA, but we also have to protect our teams in the MPBL.”

FLYING TITANS RIP RED SPIKERS STUNG by Chef’s Classic’s breakthrough set win in the second, Choco Mucho imposed its will in the next two frames and came away with a 25-21, 22-25, 25-14, 25-18 victory to move to solo fourth in the Premier Volleyball League Season 3 Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan last night.

Kat Tolentino and Maddie Madayag dominated the net while Grace Masangkay provided the spark with her brilliant playmaking skills, producing 37 excellent sets, the bulk of which she delivered in the last two sets that kept the Red Spikers’ defense guessing and grasping.

Tolentino topscored with 18 hits, including 15 attack points and two kill blocks, while Arianne Angustia added 14 markers and Madayag and Bang Pineda came through with 12 and 10 points, respectively, to underscore the team’s solid offense.

Chef’s Classic drew a combined 27-point output from Nieza Viray and Justine Tiu while Trisha Paras and Bien Juanillo added seven and six points, respectively.

The Flying Titans, coming off a sorry five-set setback to the PacificTown-Army Lady Troopers in record fashion last Wednesday, shrugged off an erratic start (13-18) with a strong finish (12-3) in the opening set but wavered in the face of the Red Spikers’ charge late in the second.

ENJOY BASKETBALL WORLD CUP WITH 70”LG UHD TV

LA Tenorio

IT’S BASKETBALL World Cup season once again which means that it’s time for the Philippine National team to suit up and represent.

The Philippines is pitted against stiff competition so they’ll need the country to be behind them every step of the way. To get you in the proper basketball mood, LG, together with their partner dealer Abenson, will be hosting a meet & greet with the 2012 Jones Cup MVP, Barangay Ginebra’s floor general, and LG Brand Ambassador LA Tenorio. Up your selfie game with Tinyente and get ready to be a cheering mood on Aug. 25, 4 p.m. at Abenson’s Shangri-La Plaza branch.

One of the best ways to watch the games live is to organize a viewing party with your friends at the comfort of one’s home with a large TV set where you can see the action unfold in high definition. This also holds true for other sports like football, volleyball, and tennis, and live events like concerts and stand-up comedy sketches.

The 70” LG UHD TV model in particular is perfect for home entertainment. LG is the only brand to offer that specific size, which is large enough to command a presence, but fits perfectly in almost any home. During the run of the LG UHD

TV promo from August 23 to September 15, you can get LG’s enormous UHD TVs at a very special price. The 70”, 75”, and 86” LG UHD TVs all enjoy an attractive discount so you can enjoy it just in time for the Basketball World Cup. The 70” normally pegged at P109,990, is priced P79,990 for the duration of the promo period. This also goes for the 75” model (from P169,990 to P124,990) and the 86” model (from P349,990 to 314,991).

You can buy these UHD TVs in all of Abenson’s 126 nationwide as well as other LG dealers. Also, if you get any of the promotional items, you’ll also be eligible to join a raffle draw where you can win an LG soundbar, a 43” UHD TV, and even a 55” NanoCell TV. All three UHD TV models are equipped with LG’s AI ThinQ technology, which allows your TV to understand how to optimize and enhance the picture and sound best for any content, giving you the most optimal viewing experience possible. A quad-core processor works behind the scenes to deliver 4K resolution with fine detail, imperceptible noise, and dynamic color.

With DTS Virtual X, you will enjoy rich, flawless, multi-dimensional audio as the built-in speakers on your TV deliver sound from all angles.

GOLF WINNER. Rookie pro Korean Hwang Min-Jeong (second from left) holds her trophy after edging Chihiro Ikeda by one to claim The Women’s Championship at Summit Point crown last Friday. With her are (from left) organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. executive director Narlene Soriano, Summit Point Golf and Country Club president Robbie Leviste and SPGCC general manager Vic de Guzman.

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019

Business

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

ZOHO OFFERS TO REINVENT PH ELECTRONIC COMMERCE G

LOBAL software company Zoho Corp. is introducing its electronic commerce platform in the Philippines to enable companies, including small and medium enterprises, to have their own online stores supported by inventory, payments, logistics and last-mile delivery solutions.

“ We have reduced the technology barrier for companies to go online,” Zoho vice president and general manager for Asia Pacific Gibu Mathew says in a news briefing in Manila.

Zoho, which has headquarters in California and Chennai, India provides a s i n g l e o n l i n e p l at fo r m capable of running an entire business. I t offers apps in nearly every major business category, including sales, marketing, customer suppor t, accounting and back office operations and an array of productivity and collaboration tools.

Mathew, who has been working with Zoho for more than 18 years, says the software company is introducing Commerce Plus—a fully integrated, end-to-end platform for the commerce vertical that will help companies sell products and services in their own online stores.

“A b o u t 9 5 p e r c e n t o f purchases by 2040 will be online. Over the next 20 years, you are going to see the industry being transformed from heavily retail-oriented to being more online-driven,” says Mathew, who leads product management and marketing efforts for the company ’s technical cloud and on-premise solutions.

“If you look at the Philippines specifically, the demographics is supporting mobile phone u s e. As t h e p u rc h a s i n g power of the next generation increases over the next 10 to 20 years, they are going to order online,” he says.

He says the Philippines and other Southeast Asian markets are following the lead of the US where e-commerce has been seeing dramatic growth.

“In the US, from 2014 to

Zoho vice president and general manager for Asia Pacific Gibu Mathew

2021, the e-commerce industry has gone from $1.3 trillion to $4.5 trillion, or more than 3.5 times in seven years. That is quite a massive growth rate. That is something that can be expected.

Looking at the demographics of the Philippines and other markets in Southeast Asia, that is the biggest opportunity that all governments are looking at,” he says.

“It is not only about selling in your own country but about going regional or global. That is a big opportunity for the nation,” says Mathew. “The Philippine e co n o my i s s w i tc h i n g f ro m agriculture to heavily serviceoriented. People are now always connected. There is a lot of things happening with consumers and consumers are now forcing e-commerce spending.”

Mathew says Zoho now has more than a thousand customers in the Philippines, a figure that is growing at three digits annually.

“We hope to sustain that growth for quite some time,” he says.

He says the Philippines is ripe for e-commerce growth as there are 76 million active social media users in the country. Digital market spending in the Philippines is anticipated to reach $9.7 billion by 2025, he says.

Mathew says the next stage of e-commerce is the rise of individual online stores where businesses have control over advertising spend to drive traffic to their own stores. At present, many companies congregate in

large online marketplaces such as Lazada, Shopee or Zalora where they do not have control of their own traffic. “ Yo u r b r a n d i s g e t t i n g diluted there [online shopping marketplace]. Marketplace is actually fine to get started in, but if you are successful, you will go towards a branded store.

And if you start more and more successful, you start spending more money on advertising to drive traffic to your store. You have to manage those advertising spend on social media,” he says.

H e s a y s Zo h o o f fe r s f u l l e-commerce solutions including payments, logistics, last-mile delivery, printing and shipping labels.

“As a matter of fact, packaging is another important aspect of it. Our artificial intelligence Zia can tell you the best package size for a particular product.

That is something that comes as a part of the whole platform. We have tailored it for commerce,” he says.

Commerce Plus leverages Zoho’s customer experience, finance, analytics, and intelligence software to provide businesses an interconnected, first-of-its-kind commerce experience platform.

“With Commerce Plus, we offer one platform to run an entire commerce business, allowing businesses to focus on what is important for success. Built on Zoho One, Commerce Plus is the operating system for commerce,” says Mathew.

By offering built-in templates, the platform allows users to quickly digitize their commerce business with minimal effort, he says. It also allows users to sell across channels.

Businesses can sell online through their own e-commerce store, third-party marketplaces, brick-and-mor tar storefronts o r o t h e r c h a n n e l s. I t h e l p s businesses maintain a single inventory of items sold across multiple channels.

The Commerce Plus platform is integrated with Zoho’s Customer Experience platform, enabling businesses to offer a personalized experience to every visitor by combining information across c u s t o m e r t o u c h p o i n t s . Fo r example, it can tailor the commerce experience based on whether a visitor is new, returning or highvalued.

Commerce Plus is integrated with more than 40 global shipping providers, enabling businesses to create shipping labels directly from the software. Items can be shipped from either a single location or multiple warehouses, making the process seamless, according to Mathew.

All sales orders, purchases, expenses, and other transactions, including deposits to business bank accounts, are integrated with Zoho’s accounting system. “ This is a first- of-its-k ind, c o m p re h e n s i ve i n t e g r a t i o n between an accounting system and a commerce system,” the software company says.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

Davao Light President Rodger Velasco (right) speaks to the young participants of Kabataan Inyovator

ABOITIZ GROUP BACKS YOUNG ROBOTICS ENTHUSIASTS DAVAO City—The Aboitiz Group reinforced its long-standing support for science, technology, engineering and mathematics or STEM education in the country as it launched the ‘Kabataan Inyovator: An Aboitiz Robotics Competition’ as an initiative to support the country’s young scientists, starting with the Davao leg.

Kabataan Inyovator (a play on the words ‘inyo’ which means ‘yours’ and ‘innovator’) aims to introduce innovation in solving community problems through robotics.

Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and Davao Light and Power Company led the competition launch on Aug. 12 in Davao City, capping a two-day training session (Aug. 8 to 9 for elementary students, Aug. 10 to 11 for high school students).

It was developed by robotics group Pinoy Robot Games covering robot programming, robot games and dynamic response and project ideation and evaluation for 20 Davao City public elementary and high school teams.

The competing teams, endorsed by the Department of Education-Region 11, will receive further online training and mentoring from September to November and compete at the Mindanaowide Kabataan Inyovator competition in December (under the robot “sumo wrestling,”“line tracing,” and innovation fair categories).

“Education has long been a priority advocacy of the Aboitiz Group. We fully support our young scientists in their exciting pursuit of new innovations that will eventually help build the nation and in turn support our thrust of co-creating communities that are safe, empowered, and sustainable,” said Maribeth Marasigan, Aboitiz Foundation first vice president and chief operating officer.

In line with the 1987 Constitution’s recognition of science and technology as “essential for nationalism, development, invention, innovation and their utilization,” Kabataan Inyovator represents the Aboitiz Group’s next level of support following its earlier SSES initiatives Kabataan Inyovator traces its roots back to AboitizPower geothermal unit AP Renewables Inc.’s Youth Leaders Summit themed “Powering Kabataan Inyovators” in 2018.

AboitizPower introduced this brand name which aims to encourage innovation and gives ownership to the summit participants, a.k.a. “Inyovators”, who will develop innovative solutions and process improvements.

Aside from promoting the Aboitiz core values of innovation and teamwork, Kabataan Inyovator aims to provide supplemental support to the beneficiaries of the Special Science Elementary Schools through practical applications in the robotics competition and increase STEM brand and corporate social responsibility awareness by allowing youth to apply learnings through invention.

The Kabataan Inyovator champion team will receive an upgraded robotics kit, witness its winning prototype deployed in its host community and closely monitored to assess its efficiency and impact, and represent the Philippines in the World Robot Olympiad in Quebec, Canada.

HYBRID SEEDS KEY TO ACHIEVING RICE SELF-SUFFICIENCY

DESPITE the World Bank’s estimate that the Philippines has 18.2-percent arable land, well above the global average of 10.6 percent and more than adequate annual rainfall, the country remains dependent on rice imports.

Like most Asian countries, 90 percent of domestic rice comes from smallholder farmers. The good news is that through the efforts of the government, in partnership with companies such as Bayer Philippines, Filipino farmers are gradually shifting to hybrid seeds and adopting the modern methods needed to maximize their potential.

One success story is that of Myrna Perez-Villa. Using hybrid seeds and techniques she learned by attending various training courses on updated farming methods, Perez-Villa, a rice farmer from Bago City, Negros Occidental, has consistently been able to get yields of 180 eighty cavans of rice per hectare.

In 2004, using Bayer’s hybrid variety Arize Bigante Plus, Perez-Villa instructed her farmers to ground this seed on one hectare of land through broadcast or direct

seeding. She also received technical support from field technicians.

“People in our community laughed at me. They said this method would never work because of the huge planting distance; they were skeptical that this would produce a good plant,” recalled Perez-Villa.

Going against the status quo, Perez-Villa pressed on with crop protection products and nutrients. Come harvest time, her one-hectare hybrid rice farm produced 180 cavans, far more than the typical 80 cavans that inbred seeds and traditional methods yield on the average: “People were suddenly taking pictures in my rice farm. They could not believe it. I couldn’t too, but I am happy with the results,” expressed Perez-Villa.

Following her success, in March 2009, Perez-Villa founded the Newton-Camingawan-Para Farmers’ Association. NECAPA gave farmers the platform to reach out to the government by seeking support on seeds, farm inputs and most importantly, mechanization.

Turn to C2

Myrna Perez-Villa beams with pride at her Arize Bigante Plus and mechanized farm in Barangay Taloc, Bago City, Negros Occidental

Business

C2

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019 business@manilastandard.net

ROMERO FILES HOUSE BILL TO PROTECT TELECOM SUBSCRIBERS

1PACMAN Party-list Rep. Mikee Romero has filed a bill to protect telecom subscribers and penalize violators.

House Bill No. 988 aims to “promote the rights and interest of the consumer/subscriber, to foster the general welfare and to establish the correction standards for all business and industry�. “It would cover all electronic communications and transactions,� says Romero.

Romero says it is the policy of the state to promote the interests of the consumers/ subscribers; foster the general welfare and create acceptable standards or protocol for all business and industries; defend against all forms of deception, unfair and unethical practices and schemes; facilitate the proper implementation of the rights of the consumer/subscriber; and hasten the imposition of all existing policies and guidelines of the Consumer Protection Act. It mandates all telcos to provide subscribers a copy of the sanctions made to their agents/ personnel who were involved in acts of tampering, sabotage and other fraudulent schemes.

The probation will apply to all postpaid subscriptions under a service contract, regardless of the duration of the contract.

For violation, the telecom company will be fined not less than P200,000 for the first offense and not less than P500,000 for the second offense. In case of a subsequent offense, the penalty will include a fine of not less than P1 million and revocation of the franchise to operate.

BAYAN ACADEMY, JPMORGAN, TESDA JOIN FORCES TO BOOST TECHNICAL EDUCATION

IN VIEW of the immense importance of workforce competitiveness and readiness in meeting both emerging and evolving labor market needs in this innovation-driven global economy, social development organization Bayan Academy, in partnership with J.P. Morgan and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, takes the lead in efforts to strengthen tech-voc courses via the National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan (2018-2022 NTESDP).

The main objective of the plan is the development and implementation of the action and investment programs relative to NTESDP which involves eight priority industries: tourism, IT-BPM, real estate and construction, agriculture, manufacturing, electronics and electrical equipment, transportation, storage and communication, and health and wellness.

According to the 2018-2022 NTESDP, tourism (+1.5 million), construction (+1.3 million) and IT-BPM (+0.8 million) industries are projected to grow “very rapidly� in terms of the number of workers from 2017-2022.

Unmet labor demands caused by a lack of skills or skills mismatch will entail huge economic losses and social impacts for the country.

Part of the action programming process is to consult the various stakeholders consisting of industry experts and leaders in reformulating TESDA’s current curricula into an ICT-anchored and enterprise-based curricula in order for it to become enterprise-led or demand-based.

While the enhancement of tech-voc skills education in the country primarily aims to augment industry-driven labor demands in the near future, another critical objective of the NTESDP is to facilitate the creation of expanded employment viabilities and opportunities especially for the country’s most vulnerable communities.

Aside from embedding the Filipino workforce with globally-competitive marketable skills through industry-suited tech-voc training programs, Dr. Eduardo Morato Jr., chairman and president of Bayan Academy, emphasized public/ private-led partnerships as one of the core components in the achievement of economic prosperity, social equity, and expanded opportunities for all.

As one of Bayan Academy’s long-term partners in social enterprise and development in the Philippines, J.P. Morgan underscored the importance of coordinated efforts between stakeholders. “The tech-driven 4th Industrial Revolution clearly presents vast socio-economic growth opportunities for many Filipinos. And while the question of whether we are ready for the future of work continues to be asked of the academe, public and private institutions, we believe that truly effective interventions to address the skills gap can begin today through ongoing dialogue across industries and sectors.

J.P. Morgan remains committed to helping bridge nationwide efforts to prepare the local workforce to compete at the global level,� said Carlos Ma. Mendoza, the senior country officer of J.P. Morgan Philippines.

HYBRID...

From C1

Starting with only 30 members, she said: “It was very difficult to convince farmers initially, I had to really take time to talk to them and give motivation. I told them they need to unite to have a solid voice to speak as one to the government�.

Membership grew and to date, they have 145 active member-farmers.

Through NECAPA, Barangay Taloc was selected as the pilot beneficiary of the Department of Agriculture’s Farm Mechanization Program that aims to increase farmer’s productivity and efficiency through machines.

The program is a step towards attaining rice self-sufficiency within the province. On the 200 hectares of rice model farms, 80 percent grounded Arize Bigante-Plus hybrid seeds. Combined with the use of a mechanical transplanter and combine harvester, each hectare produced a consistent average yield of more than 180 cavans.

In the coming season, NECAPA will not only be a recipient of seeds, inputs and mechanization support but will also expand to become a service provider to nearby farm communities with their experience from the previous season.

GRABFOOD RIDERS EARN UP TO P20,000

By Angeline Mancuyas and Meliza Yanto

O

NLINE food delivery services have changed the way consumers order their meals. Food delivery is now as easy as a swipe on a smartphone application.

Among the popular apps today is GrabFood—a subsidiary of transport network vehicle service Grab. It quickly took off in the Philippines which has one of the largest population of social media users.

This is because the introduction of GrabFood has made it more convenient for Filipinos to order meals from restaurants or partner establishments.

GrabFood was borne out of an idea to connect local food businesses with customers through a network of riders and partners. Within a year since it was launched, the app has become one of the most popular online services in town.

For a fee of P49 per order, Filipino riders saw this as an opportunity to earn an extra income. For others, GrabFood became their primary livelihood.

Jerico, a GrabFood rider, says he is earning between P15,000 and P20,000 a month from an average of 12 to 15 deliveries a day. “I work more than five days a week but I only render about five hours a day compared to an eight-hour office job,� he says.

Gerald, a father of two, says his earnings from GrabFood is sufficient to provide for his family’s needs.

From the customers’ perspective, GrabFood saves them valuable time while providing flexibility and convenience in ordering food from virtually anywhere.

A survey conducted by four students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in July and August 2019 among 100 GrabFood app-users in Metro Manila discovers that most users of the GrabFood app are female, millennials and college graduates. “About 79 percent are female who are the dominant users of the app, compared to 21 percent male. It also indicates that the majority of the users are millennials or Generation Y. Furthermore, 21 percent of users belong to the 18-23 age group while 48 percent to the 24-30

and 20 percent to 31-36. The remaining 11 percent of users are members of the Generation X,� the survey says.

The survey also reveals that 73 percent of users are college graduates; 24 percent are either working on or have completed their graduate studies; and the remaining 3 percent are college undergraduates. “With an average order of 1 to 5 times a month, users are clearly utilizing this new technology.

All they need is a mobile device with an internet connection to start ordering food. Based on our survey, about 12 percent of users place breakfast orders and various coffee beverages in the morning,� the study says. “By noontime, around 25 percent of users order lunch from fast-food chains and other restaurants; 39 percent take their afternoon breaks ordering pizzas and milk teas; while 24 percent order dinner because they say they’re either too tired or have no time to cook,� it says.

GrabFood had 7,000 food partners as of this writing. The app also functions as an extra marketing tool for partner establishments without hiring additional staff.

Being a mobile-app driven business, however, has its own drawbacks. Cases of no-shows to order cancellations by customers are increasing to the disadvantage of drivers/riders who initially shell out the cost of the orders on behalf of the users.

GrabFood has responded to this problem by disabling the cancel order as soon as the riders completed the transaction from the food establishment and are already on their way to deliver the order.

The survey says that 44 percent of app-users remain satisfied with the app despite the removal of the order cancellation. “Based on my experience, GrabFood delivers faster than fast-food chains’ delivery,� says Katrine Joice, an app-user.

Carlo, another app-user, says GrabFood should expand the service beyond the cities in Metro Manila. “I hope that GrabFood will widen its reach because as of now, the app only covers the greater Metro Manila area,� he says.

Mobile app-driven businesses like GrabFood offer job opportunities for Filipino riders, provide convenience to consumers and serve as effective marketing tools for local food partners. With Aldrich Oliver P. Sytingco and Cristina Viernes

‘KANTOPRENEURS’ ADVANCE AS ALL-IN-ONE DIGITAL TRANSACTION HUBS IN THE age of digitalization of financial transactions, sari-sari stores are challenged in keeping up with this trend. Leading communitybased digital transaction provider Posible is committed to making digital financial services available to micro, small and medium enterprises.

With the Posible business device, more kantopreneurs (kantoentrepreneurs) are evolving into all-in-one digital hubs in their communities.

Around the busy streets of Manila, a family’s sari-sari store of 12 years made its name considering its competition against bigger establishments in its neighborhood.

Located behind a mall in Malate, RJames Store started out like any typical sari-sari store. Vicky manages her family business by selling snacks, canned goods and other basic necessities. She recalled its humble beginnings. “Back then, only one man could fit in the space. We expanded the store thrice,� she said.

RJames store also offers e-loading and e-money padala. Vicky noticed that the demand for e-money padala remarkably grew through the years. “E-money padala is our top transaction. For example, it is really a hit during payday. Our transactions reach P100,000 within a week,�she said.

In 2016, Vicky saw the need to upscale her business from being a regular sari-sari store and her family

Posible retailer Vicky

decided to offer more services in their community. With a P45,000 investment, through Posible she expanded their business to include bills payment, select government fees payment, banking and financing services, bus ticketing, e-money padala, insurance, mobile loading and online gaming credits, among others.

For its wider array of services, fast transactions and convenient location, RJames Store has gained more popularity in the neighborhood.

Amid the competition from bigger stores and malls, RJames Store recorded a 65-percent increase in sales.

Vicky considers being a Posible

retailer as a huge factor to this success. “For instance, while you pay your bills, you would also buy some snacks,� she said.

Sari-sari stores have always been a staple among Filipino communities.

Ac c o r d i n g t o t h e P h i l i p p i n e Association of Stores and Carinderia Owners, there are 1.3 million sarisari stores nationwide. Despite the increasing number of malls and convenience stores, they are still the most frequented retail place by 94 percent of Filipinos, based on a Nielsen study in 2015.

From being a traditional sari-sari store, RJames Store has become the neighborhood’s one-stop shop for

their digital financial transactions.

There are other options available, but convenience has always been the challenge. “Why would I want to go to the mall to pay my bills? The queue there is quite long. I thought of trying Posible because it’s really an all-inone choice for payment transactions,� said Vicky.

With its 24/7 operations and convenient location, the sari-sari store can compete against bigger convenience stores and even a mall. “Even the mall is not yet open, they can finally pay their water bill to avoid disconnection,� she said.

The 2018 Nielsen Quest for Convenience stated convenience is the top priority of Filipino consumers.

Through fintech, Posible continues to make more products/services available in the community by empowering MSMEs. “We are pleased to see that our kantopreneurs are being enabled to offer services more than the traditional products in the community. With our innovations, we are seeing MSMEs upscale their businesses and make financial transactions even more convenient for Filipinos,� said Posible CEO JG Puzon.

Posible now has more than 5,000 empowered retailers nationwide, making digital financial services accessible to over 500,000 unique customers.

7-ELEVEN FRANCHISEE SHARES WINNING TIPS AS any successful entrepreneur would attest, achieving financial success doesn’t happen overnight as it takes a lot of patience, hard work and sacrifices to build and grow a business.

While there is no fine blueprint or shortcut towards guaranteed success, Odilio Alcaria, an award-wining franchisee of 7-Eleven, shares his personal stories and valuable advice that can positively inspire others in their entrepreneurial journey.

For Alcaria, success is dependent on how well one works on the business. “This includes the time you need to invest make sure you understand what’s involved,� he said.

Alcaria identified a must-have skill set for aspiring entrepreneurs: absolute clarity of purpose; belief in themselves; ability to

focus on the most important things first; an open mind; resilience; and a“millionaire mindset.�

Another winning tip is to build a c o n n e c t i o n a n d t o l e a r n f ro m shortcomings. “What does it take in running a successful franchise? Make sure that you speak to other franchisees, not necessarily just the most successful ones.

It’s great to learn from your mistakes. It’s even better if you can learn from those of others so that you don’t repeat them and to make better, informed choices,�he said.

While he maintains that there is no perfect business, Alcaria finds comfort in the fact that while they encounter problems in their stores on a daily basis, “the 7-Eleven people are always there to support us.�

7-Eleven franchisee Odilio Alcaria with his wife and staff

Alcaria also counted teamwork and trust between owner and staff as pivotal factors to the success of the business. “Connecting with your own people, not just customers is highly important. It’s not

only how you execute your work; it’s how you work harmoniously with your people.

And by managing our own 7-Eleven, we got the opportunity to help people to get jobs,� he said.

Tech & Gadgets

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

YOUNG CELEBS TO REWARD IG FANS WITH VIVO S1 F

ANS of Darren Espanto, Vern Enciso, Verniece Enciso, Chie Filomeno, and Julie Anne San Jose are in for a treat!

The young showbiz personalities are so excited with the upcoming launch of the stylish Vivo S1 smartphone that they are giving their Instagram followers a chance to get their hands on the first-ever handset in Vivo’s latest S series.

From August 26 to September 8, interested participants should post their own OOTD (outfit of the day) that mirrors the Skyline Blue or Diamond Black color schemes of the new S1 phone. To qualify, they must tag their favorite celebrities and Vivo in their OOTD posts.

The celebrities will then choose from the creative IG posts to determine which of their fans will receive the new S1 smartphone.

The Vivo S1 has a 6.38” Full HD SuperAMOLED screen that houses an in-display fingerprint sensor. It packs a 6GB RAM and 128GB ROM which are powered by a fastcharging 4500mAh battery.

The mid-tier smartphone has a 32MP AI selfie camera and an AI triple lens set—16MP main, 8MP secondary, and 2MP wide-angle camera—for amazing photos and videos.

But the feature that will definitely catch everyone’s attention is the S1’s sleek back cover design which showcases a gradient glossy finish on the Skyline Blue variant and a diamond cut design on the Diamond Black variant.

With its cutting-edge features and superb finish, the Vivo S1 is clearly not just a smartphone, it’s a fashion statement!

So, what are you waiting for? Put on your best OOTD that reflects the Vivo S1’s Skyline Blue or Diamond Black theme and get ready to impress your celebrity idol!

STYLISH NOTEBOOK FOR MILLENNIALS

By Angelica Villanueva STYLISH, ultra-slim, modern style, unlock like a phone. These are just some features of the newest member of the Lenovo family, the ThinkBook that fits today’s modern workforce.

Created and designed to match the busy lifestyle of the Gen Z and millennials, the new series of ThinkBook can surely meet the needs of a workforce that requires faster and long-lasting devices which can handle and endure day-to-day operations.

“Through the high performance and elegance of the ThinkBook, businesses will have an edge in attracting tech-savvy millennials and Gen Z workers who grew up working, creating, and communicating online with stylish and premium devices,” said Lenovo Philippines Country Manager Michael Ngan.

Be unafraid of water spills, extreme temperature and vibrations as the ThinkBook is specially designed with zinc-alloy hinge that can last 25,000 openand-close cycles.

With Lenovo’s ultimate goal to provide innovative consumer, commercial, and enterprise technology, the company continues to believe

Lenovo Philippines Country Manager Michael Ngan and Lenovo Product Manager Francis Judan

in the principle of providing a series of modern laptops that can contribute in empowering a workplace that matches their skills and demands.

“Lenovo helps companies create a more productive workplace as the young employees, who are already competent in leveraging technology, can now work to their fullest know-

ing that their demands of flexibility, power, and aesthetics are fulfilled,” added Ngan.

The newest ThinkBook 13s is designed with 13.3” FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS antiglare display with less than 5.55mm thin bezels that lets its user experience a bigger screen to work on. It also has Dolby Vision™ high

dynamic range technology that allows the user to adjust the brightness and colors of the picture on the screen.

Aside from this, the modern PC is also equipped with ThinkShield security suite that contains features such as the Smart Power On fingerprint recognition for device access, FIDO (Fast Identity Online) security for safer online authentication, and discrete Trusted Platform Module (dTPM 2.0) encryption capabilities that encrypt and store device user credentials on a separate chip for added security. For physical security, the ThinkBook 13S has a ThinkShutter webcam cover.

Prices vary depending on the specs of the notebook. ThinkBook 13s with AMD RADEON 540X graphics with Windows 10 Home OS and 2-Year Carry-in Warranty is P54,990. Meanwhile, the other ThinkBook 13s powered by Integrated Intel® UHD 620 on Unified Memory Architecture (UMA) graphics with Windows 10 Pro OS, and 1-Year Carry-in Warranty is worth P58,990.

The ThinkBook 13s is now available at SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, and Thinking Tools in SM City Cebu.

PLDT...

From C4

The convention is PLDT-Smart’s way of giving back to load retailers or Ka-Partners, whose sales account for a significant share of the company’s revenues.

The gathering featured topnotch entertainment from today’s hottest stars, and raffle draws where as much as P1 million was given away. The venues also hosted a trade fair, where KaPartners availed of products, services, and various opportunities to help them grow their business further.

Load retailers also received assistance in using the Ka-Partner app, which could help them keep track of their sales with its digital sales ledger and inventory management features.

The winner from Leyte (fourth from right) receives the grand prize during the Amazing Ka-Partner convention at Leyte Academic Center in Palo.

XIAOMI..

From C4

Mi A3’s front display and curved back is covered in Corning®Gorilla®Glass 5, offering a durable yet comfortable experience. Importantly, the device’s compact form factor doesn’t sacrifice on audio—Mi A3 sports a cutting-edge front audio system and a 3.5mm jack.

Mi A3 is available in three attractive color choices to suit all different styles: Kind of Grey, Not just Blue and More than White. A nano-level holographic pattern enhances the blue and white color options to create a dynamic design effect that will appeal to style-conscious consumers.

PEAK PERFORMANCE TO KEEP UP WITH YOUR LIFESTYLE Mi A3 packs a punch with its massive 4030mAh battery—the Mi A series’ largest power capacity to-date. By pairing extended battery life with the efficiencies of Android One, Mi A3 enables a more reliable and extended experience for users on the go. And when it’s time to recharge, the device offers up to 18W fast charging via USB Type-C. As one of the very first devices powered by Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM 665 Mobile Platform, Mi A3 also boasts smoother performance, faster speed, and improved AI capabilities for those taking advantage of features like AI Beautify and Google Lens.

ANDROID ONE WITH THE GOOGLE ASSISTANT Mi A3 is powered by Android One and runs on the latest Android 9 Pie operating system out of the box. Users can enjoy the latest Google innovation and stay productive with the Google Assistant, Digital Wellbeing Dashboard and Wind Down. With Google Assistant on Mi A3 you can get things done and stay on top of your plans while on-the-go, in the car or at home—using just your voice. You can ask questions, pull up your schedule, navigate places, set reminders, call, text and control connected smart home devices, hands free.

The Mi A3 4GB+128GB variant will be available at P11,990. It will come in three colors- Kind of Grey, Not just Blue, and More than White. Sales start via Lazada and Shopee, and will soon roll out at Mi Authorized Stores.

NEWEST SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 10, 10+ NOW IN STORES MANY Filipinos today are no longer confined to the traditional approach of working. This growing “new work tribe” needs a multi-device that can fuel their tech-empowered way of living and Samsung has the answer—the Galaxy Note10 and Note10+, which are now available in stores.

The Galaxy Note10 and Note10+ are with a suggested retail price of P53,990 and P60,990, respectively.

The Galaxy Note10 will come in Aura Glow and Aura Black, while the Galaxy Note10+ will be available in Aura Glow, Aura White, and Aura Black.

Customers who purchase a Galaxy Note10 and Note10+ on its opening weekend from Aug. 23 to 25, 2019 can enjoy a 30% discount on a Samsung wearable, including the Galaxy Watch Active and the Galaxy Buds. The discount is valid at any Samsung authorized dealers and online stores such as Argomall, Lazada, MemoXpress, Abenson, and Shopee.

For the first time, the tech giant is offering fans the opportunity to choose between two sizes. The Galaxy Note10 comes in a 6.3-inch screen, while the Galaxy Note10+ features a 6.8-inch body.

A MULTI-DEVICE FOR THE NEW WORK TRIBE Loyalists of the Galaxy Note who are looking for next-level power in productivity will be pleased with the S Pen, which now lets users lead their Galaxy Note10 with simple gestures using Air Actions. Handwritten notes are instantly converted to digital text and exported to different formats like Microsoft Word.

The multi-device has the Note’s largest battery yet, with 3,500mAh for the Galaxy Note10 and 4,300mAh for the Galaxy Note10+. Its storage is equally as impressive, with up to 512GB internal storage and expandable by up to another 1TB with a microSD card.

Both are wrapped in an edge-to-

edge and near bezel-less Infinity-O Display for an uninterrupted viewing experience. The Dynamic AMOLED Display turns the multi-device into a window to a cinematic world with vivid and brilliant colors.

TAKING PHOTOS AND VIDEOS WITH GALAXY NOTE10 | 10+ MADE EASY WITH ITS PRO-GRADE FEATURES The Galaxy Note 10’s new camera system is furnished with pro-grade movie technology and a full editing studio for topnotch photos and videos.

Its suite of three lenses guarantees content ready for posting on social media.

To further enhance productivity, the Galaxy Note 10 allows the new work tribe to drag and drop files from the device to other gadgets through Samsung DeX. This lets users run their mobile apps on a desktop computer’s screen for a more hands-on experience.

Know more about the Samsung Galaxy Note10 and Note10+, visit samsung.com/ph.

The Aura Glow Galaxy Note10+

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TECH & Gadgets SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

HUAWEI ENABLES PH LEAP INTO 5G ERA

UBBED as the next generation of wireless broadband technology, fifth-generation or 5G promises ultra-fast speeds and excellent reliability set to deliver enhanced home Internet experience to more Filipinos.

Huawei’s 5G Technology gives the Philippines a head start in the global race .

Huawei ensures that the Philippines will be ahead of other countries in terms of 5G development with a geared-up and ready to deploy spectrum. This will lead to increase in home wireless broadband Internet penetration, and faster and more efficient data capacity for Filipino families.

Enabler of Intelligent Digitalization True to its commitment of introducing more breakthrough innovations, Huawei began its development research efforts for 5G as early as 2009, when 4G was just starting to see an opportunity for commercial deployment. Knowing that innovation is not only about technology, Huawei recognized early on that the success of 5G relies on its userfriendliness, ease of deployment and affordability.

As a result of this ten years of grand vision and dedication, Huawei has signed over fifty (50) commercial contracts with network operators across the globe. Empowering partners, the shipment of Huawei 5G base has reached more than a hundred and fifty thousand (150,000+). Today, the tech company continues to accelerate industry digitalization to connect and empower manufacturing, energy, media, transportation, public services, healthcare, education.

Collaboration with Globe gives birth to a regional milestone Earlier this June, Globe, in partnership with Huawei launched Globe At Home Air Fiber 5G - making the Philippines as the first country in Southeast Asia and second in Asia (after South Korea) to offer fixed wireless 5G services for home Internet. To showcase the power of this new technology, customers are invited to drop by the Globe Lifespeed Home booth at Bonifacio High Street until September 6. This allows users to experience up to 100Mbps of Internet speed for more HD content

5G for business

5G for gaming

streaming, low-lag gaming, and using intelligent security home devices.

Globe At Home Air Fiber 5G plans are being offered at P1,899 per month for up to 20Mbps, P2,499 for up to 50Mbps, and P2,899 for up to 100Mbps, all with data allocation of up to 2-terabytes (TB). By September, Globe At Home Air Fiber

5G will be commercially available in Greenpark in Cainta, Rizal; Woodland Hills in Carmona, Cavite; and Carissa Homes 2A and 2B, Palmera Homes in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

Eligible customers may avail Globe At Home Air Fiber 5G plans through authorized Globe Sales Representatives in their areas. Visit https:// bb.globe.com.ph/5g/ or call Globe customer care at (02) 730-1000 to learn more.

Huawei’s products and services are available in more than 170 countries, and are used by a third of the world’s population. Fourteen R&D centers have been set up in the United States, Germany, Sweden, Russia, India and China. Huawei Consumer BG is one of Huawei’s three business units and covers smartphones, PC and tablets, wearables and cloud services, etc. Huawei’s global network is built on almost 30 years of expertise in the telecom industry and is dedicated to delivering the latest technological advances to consumers around the world.

For more information, visit . Follow @enjoyglobe on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

XIAOMI INTRODUCES MI A3, EXPANDS LINEUP

GLOBAL technology leader Xiaomi recently announced Mi A3 as an extension to its best-in-class Android One lineup.

Priced at P11, 990, Mi A3 boasts a 48MP triple camera, in-screen fingerprint sensor, updated design and massive battery, making it an ideal daily driver for recent grads to tech enthusiasts, or anyone who appreciates exceptional features at an accessible price.

“We look forward to expanding our Android One series in the Philippines with the introduction of the Mi A3,” said Steven Shi, Head of Southeast Asia, Xiaomi. “It enables Filipinos to enjoy an amazing Android experience on a sleek Xiaomi smartphone.”

“We are thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Xiaomi to add another great device to the Android One portfolio this year,” said Jon Gold, Director of Partner Programs, Google. “The all-new Mi A3 will deliver a software experience that is up-to-date and easy to use, with built-in malware protection and regular security updates that keep users safe.”

Flagship-Level Camera Mi A3 sports a triple camera setup on the back with 48MP main lens and a large 1/2” sensor for ultra-high-resolution day photos. Its 8MP ultrawide angle lens intelligently detects when users are shooting large images and recommends when to switch to ultra-wide angle mode for a more optimal shot. And to top it off, built-in AI scenes detection

automatically applies photo tuning to capture the perfect image, every time.

On the front, Mi A3 uses a 32MP AI-equipped sensor for its selfie camera which merges four pixels to form large 1.6μm pixels and allows it to capture more detail in low-light conditions. Its unique panorama selfie feature lets users capture stunning group images without having to switch to the rear camera, use a selfie stick or cut people out. And its palm shutter feature eliminates the possibility of camera shake from pressing the shutter button by adding a simple gesture to start a countdown towards the perfect selfie.

Stunning AMOLED display with Improved In-Screen Fingerprint Sensor Featuring a large 6.088” AMOLED Dot Drop display, Mi A3 offers more vivid colors and deeper blacks with a blazing fast response speed and en-

help users

hanced power efficiency.

For a more secure user experience, Mi A3 features an improved in-screen fingerprint sensor with a 15% increased fingerprint detection area. Compared to its predecessor, the sensor pixels and size has been doubled, allowing for an increased reliability and a 30% increased unlock success rate in extreme conditions—from dry fingers to strong light and ultra-low temperatures.

All-New Dynamic Design Without Compromising Specs Tech enthusiasts will be pleased to find impressive new design upgrades in Mi A3 that enhance the overall look and user experience. With a weight and Xiaomi’s latest mid-range smartphone features a 48MP thickness of 173.8g and 8.475mm ultra-wide triple camera setup respectively, the device’s compact size gives it a leg up for multiwith the most advanced inscreen fingerprint sensor on taskers seeking single-hand the market. operation.

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PLDT, SMART RETAILERS WIN BIG AT KA-PARTNER REWARDS '19 FIVE brand-new millionaires, and more than 100 winners of motorcycles, mobile gadgets, load wallets, grocery items, and other premium items—these are the exciting highlights of this year’s Ka-Partner Rewards program of PLDT and wireless unit Smart Communications.

The program’s latest winners of P1 million in cash and livelihood packages are two housewives and sari-sari store owners from Leyte and Davao. The two winners join three other new Ka-Partner millionaires, bringing the total number of this year’s retailer-millionaires to five. The Ka-Partner program, which started in 2015, now has a total of 19 retailer-millionaires.

The winner from Leyte has a son who just graduated from college, and a husband who works as a taxi driver in Manila. “I sell load to add to my husband’s income and help pay for my son’s schooling,” she said. The couple hope that their son will soon find a decent job and get married.

The retailer from Davao, meanwhile, highlighted the importance of having mobile load at all times. “I think load has become one of life’s necessities, like rice, sugar, cooking oil. It’s important because it allows us to communicate with others, especially during emergencies,” she said.

They encouraged fellow load retailers to sell more to improve their chances of winning the grand prize at next year’s KaPartner assembly. Load sales are automatically converted as entries to the raffle during the succeeding retailers convention.

PLDT-Smart Ka-Partner retailers are usually found at our neighborhood sari-sari or grocery stores.

They can also be a friend or a relative from whom we can buy airtime credits or load, wherever they may be.

Close to 20,000 load retailers from all over the Philippines gathered for a day of entertainment, fun games, and exciting prizes at the PLDT-Smart Amazing Ka-Partner convention, which was held between May and August in 20 various locations nationwide.

The activity is part of PLDTSmart’s Ka-Partner Rewards program, which gives incentives to the companies’ more than 1 million load retailers to help them grow their businesses and enhance their livelihood, while enabling communities to stay connected.

This year’s convention theme is #PLDTSmartAmazingSaBenta as load retailers are assured of bigger income and better business opportunities given the improved mobile and internet experience of PLDT and Smart customers. The improved connectivity can be attributed to PLDT-Smart’s network upgrades, with the expansion of fiber network and accelerated deployment of Long-Term Evolution (LTE) service nationwide.

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CAROUSELL CELEBRATES 7TH YEAR WITH NEW VISUAL IDENTITY, MILESTONES CAROUSELL, one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing classifieds, celebrated its seventh anniversary with the launch of a new visual identity, together with milestones including reaching its 250th million listing and fourfold revenue growth in 2018.

This visual identity refresh signifies the brand’s progression and growth, while putting a spotlight on its core purpose of enabling shared possibilities amongst users of the online marketplace. Throughout the years, Carousell has been harnessing mutually beneficial opportunities to empower users, and celebrated numerous success stories of users who turned their passions into livelihoods.

Co-founder and CEO, Quek Siu Rui epitomised Carousell’s win-win opportunities when he sold his MacBook on Carousell to a father with a young daughter. The father wanted his daughter to learn about the internet

but could not afford a brand new computer. He turned to Carousell, and this made Siu Rui realise that Carousell is a platform that would enable possibilities for users with each transaction.

“Our mission has not changed since day one. We want to inspire every person in the world to start selling. Seven years ago, we saw that there was no easy way to sell stuff online and existing platforms were tedious and uninspiring to use. Hence, we launched a mobile app that made selling as easy as taking a photo, buying as simple as chatting, and we made it social. It really set the standard for what mobile clas-

sifieds should be. Now, we’ve grown our presence to six markets, expanded from general classifieds to properties and automobiles and recorded over 250 million listings,” shared Quek Siu Rui, Co-founder and CEO of Carousell.

“This proves that Carousell is serving a real need, and is more relevant than ever in today’s marketplace, where consumption has grown rapidly and sustainability has become a huge focus. In Southeast Asia, there’s a population of over 640 million people, where two-thirds are still just coming online and experiencing the magic of the Internet. The refreshed visual iden-

tity showcases Carousell’s uniqueness where transactions go way beyond dollars and cents; where friendships are forged, stories are shared and interests get discovered,” Quek added.

Carousell also announced a fourfold revenue growth in 2018. This strong growth trajectory is a testament to Carousell’s business strategy, and an affirmation that the brand is progressing in the right direction. Prior to implementing monetisation streams in mid-2017, Carousell has been laser-focused on building a great platform, enhancing product features, improving the user experience as well as scaling across the region.

Carousell’s seventh anniversary celebration culminated at Carouselland, an annual flagship event that celebrates its community. It spanned across two halls at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, and was filled with Carousellers selling items, running workshops and organising com-

munity activities like retrogaming and board gaming. In line with bringing its refreshed brand to life, Carouselland upped the ante with a myriad of sensory and participatory activities that highlighted the shared connections and possibilities that this platform brings to all users and the public, beyond mere transactions.

With more than 300 vendors classified under seven thematic clusters that covered everything from Style to Property and even Alternate Reality, visitors got to choose from a wide range of shopping and activity choices according to their personal interests.

These included handicraft workshops, community activities and even tips on how to groom cars, helmed by Carousellers from all walks of life who discovered and turned their dreams to reality on the platform. Plenty of Instagrammable spots awaited visitors as they explored the event ground.

Destinations D1

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

FALLING IN LOVE WITH FIRENZE

The panoramic view of Florence, as seen from the city’s oldest and biggest hilltop restaurant, La Loggia.

MERCURY RISING

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO

O

NE of the items on my bucket list is to spend my birthday in Italy’s Tuscany region, so a visit to what tour brochures describe as “romantic and irresistible Firenze” (Florence, as we know it) was a most anticipated part of our Italian holiday.

Michaelangelo’s iconic sculpture of the Biblical hero David.

Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region and was where the Italian Renaissance began, the reason why it is home to the period’s masterpieces in architecture and in the arts. Our visit to the city was certainly a visual feast, as we immersed ourselves in the enchanting beauty of its iconic artistic masterpieces.

The Basilica di Santa Croce, with its ‘glowing’ façade, holds the tombs of Michaelangelo, Galileo, Rossini, and Machiavelli.

The beautiful and imposing façade of the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore.

First stop was the Galleria from one single slab of marble. This Just like the hero that it represents, dell’Accademia where Michaelan- statue of the Biblical hero is 17 feet the statue became the embodiment of gelo’s famous sculpture, “David,” tall and was originally placed in the the civil liberties of Florence, an indeis displayed. Founded by pendent city-state then, which the Grand Duke of Tuscany was threatened by its neighin 1784, the Galleria was a boring rival and more powerful YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE teaching facility for students states. In fact, if you take a close of the Academy of Fine Arts look at the statue’s eyes, you A FORLORN HUSBAND: My wife and I were located nearby. It now houswill notice an evident warning happy for twenty years…then we met! es many works of art—drawglare fixated towards a certain ings, paintings, sculptures, direction which, our tour guide etc.—by many important and explained, was towards Rome. celebrated artists of that era.

Piazza della Signoria, exposed to the There are other important master“David” is the best example of elements. It was moved to the Galle- pieces displayed in the Galleria. BottiRenaissance sculpture, which took ria almost 370 years later, while a rep- celli’s “Madonna and Child,” along with Michaelangelo three years to make lica replaced it in its original location.

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By Rhea Vitto Tabora FROM ancient monuments and beautiful landscapes, to appetizing cuisine and rich traditional and contemporary arts, Turkey is packed to the brim with attractions for different kinds of travelers.

No wonder Turkey ranked sixth most visited destination by international visitor arrivals in 2018, with 46 million global tourist arrivals, according to World Tourism rankings compiled by the United Nations World Tourism Organization—an evidence that its tourism is bouncing back from the rubbles of political turmoil in 2014.

“This year, Turkey is expecting around 50 million international travelers. Arrival has increased a lot from previous years,” shares Alper Ugur Peker, business development manager of Deluks Turizm, a travel agency specializing in personalized programs for a more unique experience for travelers.

TURKEY DELIGHTS Aya Sofya Museum (also called Hagia Sophia)

Cappadocia is known as one of the best places in the world to fly on hot air balloons.

Where to go

Top destinations in Turkey, according to Peker, include Ephesus (Roman Empire ruins with colossal monuments), Basilica Cistern (the largest and most celebrated among many underground cisterns in Istanbul, known locally as Yerebatan Sarayi or Sunken Palace and Yerebatan Sarnici or Sunken Cistern), House of Virgin Mary, and Aya Sofya Museum (also called Hagia Sophia, a famed monument in Istanbul).

Other popular attractions are Pamukkale, which is also known as Cotton Castle travertine terraces, one of Turkey’s

The ruins of Ephesus, a must-see for culture, history, and archeology enthusiasts

The country’s rich and colorful tradimost famous natural wonders; Cappadocia, one of the world’s popular desti- tional arts are a worthy addition to the nations for unique hot air balloon ride; itinerary.

Deluks Turizm organizes workshops and Antalya’s picturesque beaches and for their guests to enjoy learning Turkastonishing museum.

ish arts such as producing tiles, glassware, mosaic, and lace. Tourists can also learn the art of miniature drawings, wood painting, wood carving, Turn to D2

Pamukkale, also known as Cotton Castle travertine terraces, is one of Turkey's most famous natural wonders.

Destinations

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

FUTURISTIC. Dormitos, the first Japanese-style capsule hotel in Metro Manila, features private pods that come with basic amenities such as bed, mini vault, and charging station, among others.

C

CAPSULE HOTEL IN CUBAO

APSULE hotel, an accommodation type popular in Japan that features bed-sized rooms stacked sideby-side and usually two units high, is now present in Metro Manila.

Dormitos, said to be the first Japanese-style capsule hotel/dormitory (or dormitel) in the Philippines, brings this concept to Cubao, Quezon City. Dormitos reportedly opened in January 2019.

While capsule or pod hotels are popular with backpackers and solo travelers who prefer convenience and affordability over spacious rooms and fancy amenities, Dormitos’ location in Quezon City allows it tap into the “employee” market, as in BPO agents and others who work in the area.

It also provides a viable “halfway home” for those who live far from work or can’t go home because it’s late, among other reasons.

Dormitos’ pods feature futuristic design. Each unit is secured with a sliding door that can be accessed using a key card. Inside the private pod is a bed with cotton sheets, mood lights (that can be adjusted), reading light, a mini vault (for small valuables like cellular phones or wallets), a charging station, and a smoke detector. Password to complimentary Wi-Fi is given to guests upon check-in.

Guests can adjust the air fan in the pod using a knob. A mini folding table is also available.

Dormitos has a total of 100 8ft x 4ft pods, separated in two areas: 40 pods for male and 60 for female.

Each guest will be given a key to a locker that can fit a small luggage. Towel and toiletries are also included, which they can use at the common shower area and comfort room.

Shoe racks are also provided as footwear worn outside are not allowed inside the pods. Excessive noise and eating are also strictly prohibited, but guests can dine at the pantry located on the third floor or at the convenience store on the first floor.

A DIY laundry is also available on the second floor; also soon to open are a coffee shop, spa, and salon.

Each guest is given a key to their own locker where they can store their bags and other belongings.

Introductory rate for daily stay is P800, while monthly rate for long-term guests is P8,000. Dormitos is located at 115 Harvard St., Cubao, Quezon City.

Photos from Dormitos/Facebook

Common area where guests can relax or mingle with other guests.

FALLING...

TURKEY...

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“Our Lady of the Sea.” What I found interesting at the Galleria’s Department of Musical Instruments was the world’s oldest surviving upright piano, of course, made by the Italian maker, Bartolomeo Cristofori, who invented the piano.

A few steps away from the Galleria is the Museo Pinocchio which displays everything about the most popular marionette, including the book written by Carlo Lorenzini, better known by his pen name Carlo Collodi.

Collodi had very humble beginnings. He was the son of a cook and a housemaid, but was educated in a seminary. However, he later abandoned his dream of becoming a priest and eventually led a bohemian life, and gambled whenever he could. In fact, it was his losses in his games that prompted him to accept an offer by two friends to write a story for their children’s book.

What is interesting to know is that The Adventures of Pinocchio evolved in consonance with Collodi’s luck in gambling. When he was on a losing streak, he would write several chapters of the Pinocchio’s adventures, to earn some money. But when he was winning, he would become lazy, making his young readers impatient, so they would write to him to ask for more stories.

Collodi, who was a native of Florence, never expected The Adventures of Pinocchio to become a worldwide hit.

In fact, it has been translated to 240 languages and continues to enchant children from all over the world.

I couldn’t help buying for my grandsons the cute replicas of the marionette sold all over the city. By the way, a marionette is a kind of puppet with upward or downward strings used to make its limbs move.

Several blocks from the Museo is the Florence Cathedral or the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, a Gothic Renaissance masterpiece which has three imposing structures—the cathedral itself, the baptistry, and the campanile, or the bell tower.

Taking 140 years to build, the very attractive cathedral has an exterior made of polychrome marble panels in different shades of pink and green, bordered by white. Its most impressive feature is its dome which can be seen from all over the city, and is made of terracotta tiles. Of course, tourists like us couldn’t get enough of the baptistry door which has solid gold plaques with carvings of the different stories in the Old Testament.

After feasting our eyes on these historical and worldclass art masterpieces, it was time to feast on gourmet Tuscan cuisine. For that, we chose to drive all the way high above the city, to Florence’s oldest and biggest hilltop restaurant, La Loggia, which offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. Even at the height of sum-

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traditional Ottoman painting made with gold, wood printing, and paper cutting. Artworks made can be taken home.

“At Deluks Turizm, we design flexible programs to meet individual travel interests over a broad range of cultural, environmental, and social areas,” says Peker.

When to go

The door to Florence Cathedral’s baptistry has golden plaques with carvings depicting the stories in the Old Testament.

mer, the place had cool breeze blowing nonstop from all directions, making our midday degustation a most pleasurable experience.

After our sumptuous meal, we decided to see more of the city but were too tired to walk around so we chose to go on the Hop-On-Hop-Off tour buses and stayed at the upper deck for a better view of the scenic spots we passed by.

Before heading back to our hotel, we made one more stop…at the magnificent Basilica di Santa Croce, with its beautiful façade practically glowing in the afternoon sun. This is where Michaelangelo, Galileo, Rossini, and Machiavelli are buried. It is a very beautiful church and, if I’m not mistaken, was a setting for one of the sequels to the Da Vinci Code movie.

We definitely fell in love with Florence and, being in the city that sparked the Renaissance, I also experienced my own “rebirth,” as this visit reawakened my love for the arts and for the subtle elegance that goes with it. The city has everything I want in a destination—meaningful history, impressive masterpieces, and gourmet cuisine.

And as the Italians are wont to say, “Questa e l’essenza della vita!” (Such is the essence of life!)

A 9-foot replica of the world’s most famous For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com.

marionette guards the entrance to the Museo Pinocchio.

Turkey enjoys four seasons. “Sometimes,” Peker says, “you can experience four seasons in one day.”

“Around March or April, there are some places where it is raining and snowing, too. For example, around April in Antalya, it is raining and snowy on top of the mountain with -3 degrees Celsius.

But on the same day, you can go for a swim down the mountain because the weather is good at 27 degrees.”

The best time to visit Turkey, according to Peker, depends on the traveler’s personal preference. “If you love snow, the best time to visit is during the months of November, January, and February. If you prefer nice weather, the best months are March, April, May, September, October, and November when it’s not so hot. July and August are very hot months.”

Partnership with NITAS

Deluks Turizm is collaborating with Network of Independent Travel Agencies to promote Turkey as a destination for Filipinos.

“We have a representative office here and we are so happy to be in the Philippines. Filipino people are very warm and friendly. The food, weather, and the islands are very nice,” enthuses Peker.

Meanwhile for NITAS’ part, its president, Angel Ramos Bognot says, “Partnering with Deluks Turizm is a win-win situation. While Filipinos go to Turkey, I also encourage Deluks Turizm to also promote the Philippines to Turkish nationals.”

Entertainment

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019

D3

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

INTRODUCING

MELIZZA JIMENEZ

‘HELLO, LOVE, GOODBYE’

MARKS BOX-OFFICE RECORD IN THE MIDDLE EAST

‘Hello, Love, Goodbye’ is well on its way to becoming the highest-grossing local film with its gross revenue close to P1 Billion.

By Nickie Wang

I

F YOU don’t recognize her name, Melizza Jimenez, 18, has had TV and movie appearances before. She’s a multihyphenate artist who already exhibits so much potential at this early stage of her career.

Melizza’s biggest breaks to date are her stints in the blockbuster film Barcelona: A Love Untold, which starred Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, and in the long-running primetime series, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.

“In Barcelona, I played Kathryn’s younger sister. And in Ang Probinsyano, I also had the same character. I portrayed Sam Pinto’s younger sister, too,” she said during a chat with Manila Standard.

Melizza is now part of The Killer Bride.

“Having a break in showbiz is not that easy. You would encounter a lot of rejections. I have entered show business before, but it’s only now that I am really spending time to focus on my career. I’m currently in my gap year so I decided that it’s a good chance to showcase my talent,” the senior high graduate shared.

Melizza was discovered as a 12-year-old “timid girl.” She went to a public workshop and also auditioned for Pinoy Big Brother.

“PBB housemates are my inspiration. They brought happiness to me. I told myself that one day I could also bring happiness to people who would be watching me,” she said.

Though her PBB dream did not materialize, Melizza is now a proud member of the elite crop of young talents being honed by ABS-CBN—the Star Magic Circle 2019.

Melizza seen onstage with December Avenue, is also a singer and a songwriter

Star Circle Batch 2019 talent Melizza Jimenez, or Meliza Juane Tanpoco in real life, wants to be known as a performer and a serious actress.

While having several skills and talents is no longer unusual in showbiz, Melizza may still be considered a cut above the rest. Not only she’s into music, but she also writes her own songs (two of which will soon be dominating the airwaves and digital platforms). She doesn’t just act and dance, she’s a budding painter, too.

“But right now, I’d like people to know me as someone who can sing and act,” the statuesque young actress, who’s also a beauty queen material, said.

During our interview with Melizza, she made an impressive presentation of her skills and achievements—her being multitalented and an A1 student. But what got the attention of the select members of the press who chatted with her was her voice and the messages her songs try to convey.

She sang two songs (a cappella) and shared with us the story behind the lyrics. She had to pause at one point because she was getting emotional.

“I always cry whenever I sing this song,” she said referring to the song entitled “Kung Maibabalik,” which she wrote inspired by a friend whom she lost not so long ago.

Melizza has a soothing voice that reminds listeners of Nora Jones, or of Dolores O’Riordan of the Irish band Cranberries,, according to one senior columnist present during the intimate meeting.

“But I love listening to Moira and Billie English,” she ended.

WILL YOU DANCE FOR FERN.?

COMING from his electrifying dance track “Sober Up,” singer-songwriter-producer Fern. slows slows it down in his latest release, “Dance For Me!.”

The track sets the mood for melancholy, as Fern. encapsulates feelings of loneliness and wanting in the midst of his own personal struggles. While it has a stark difference from his previous release - the mellow track builds upon the more mature theme that Fern. is trying to establish as he prepares for the release of his upcoming second EP, Loveless.

“Dance For Me!” proves to be yet another exciting addition to the growing catalogue from this rising musician - watch out for the official music video and exciting new music coming soon.

The single is now available for streaming and download on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Music under Universal Records.

Fernando Tan a.k.a. Fern. is a 19-year-old OPM singer and songwriter whose self-discovery of his musical talent began at a very young age.

BLOCKBUSTER romantic movie movie Hello, Love, Goodbye set records in the Middle East on its first week of screening in the region.

The film, which stars Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards, is now considered the highest-grossing Filipino film in the Middle East with a total gross of more than one million dollars as of Aug. 18. While as of Aug. 16 it has reached more than P600 million gross in the Philippines and more than $2 million worldwide.

Adding to that, Hello, Love, Goodbye is the first Filipino-produced film that screens in Jeddah and Dammam in Saudi Arabia. The excitement for the film was undeniable, that the region has recorded six sold-out special premiere screenings, which happened on Aug. 9 and 10 at the Reel Cinemas in The Dubai Mall and Al Ghurair Mall, in Dubai; and Oscar Cinemas in Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi.

It is also the first Filipino film that will be screened in the prestigious Dubai Opera, which can accommodate 2,000 people. The screening is today.

Hello, Love, Goodbye , which has extended screenings in the Middle East, tells the story of Joy (Kathryn Bernardo) and Ethan (Alden Richards), two young overseas Filipinos in Hong Kong whose meeting will impact each other’s view and plans in life.

D4

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019

Desiree Carlos, Editor

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

Pets

THE DOG WITH NO NAME

By Regie Manio

I

Jose, the former stray dog, had three years of a wonderful life with rescuer Regie Manio.

catheter. And since he could not stand, he needed help to poop and get cleaned after. I helped him get up, slowly, everyday, using a towel harness.

One day, he was able to stand on his three legs. Days passed and then he was able to use all four of his legs.

I was in tears. Our efforts to help him did not go to waste as he was recuperating so well. He was thankful, he regained his strength, and he started to trust us.

I made sure that this second shot at life was meaningful for him. He lived for another three years.

But no living thing lives forever.

This is the way life is.

He got ill. His kidney issues progressed, his bones got weak, he was going deaf.

His frail body was unable to fight all the illnesses.

Eventually, he succumbed to organ failure.

The house suddenly felt so empty.

There was no more barking from him. His bark was the loudest.

There was no more a shadow, or a dog following me everywhere with innocent eyes and who would greet me with a wagging tail.

There were no more combing sessions which he loved so much.

Yes, he had no name before he chose me to be his human, when our paths crossed in 2016.

But for three years, he was JOSE. I named him Jose to return the love he gave me.

I will surely miss you everyday, Jose.

You are dearly loved and cared for.

You will always have me until the end of time. You are now renewed with our Creator. Leave all the pain behind, even mine, for you are free from yours.

There are others like Jose. Dogs without names, dogs without breed, no homes or shelter, no food, no love and care, dogs who have no humans. There are so many dogs with nothing at all.

Jose was a gift. May other humans have overflowing love in their hearts to help another dog with no name, and give one a home and a family so that they too can enjoy the special love that comes from a dog.

May Jose’s story help humans open their eyes and their hearts for homeless and voiceless animals.

Remembering Jose 2006 - August 12, 2019.

Credits to all the people who supported, cheered and sent well wishes for this beautiful furbaby.

a month. Thankfully, the bone was brought back to its right place.

However, the nerves were damaged already. The vet told me that he may be able to stand or walk but not as normal as how other dogs stand.

It was a slow process of treatment for the dog as he was already 10 years old, a senior dog.

About the Author: Regie Manio is the founder of Reach Out for Animal Rights – ROAR Inc., an animal welfare group registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission that rescues animals in need and provides free spaying and neutering for pets to help control animal population and lessen incidents of abandonment and cruelty against animals.

T WAS raining all over Metro Manila that night.

A concerned citizen saw a dog in a filthy canal, unable to move. Not knowing how to help a dog in this kind of a situation, the concerned citizen took a photo of the dog, posted it in Facebook with the location of the dog, and asked that the dog be rescued.

I came across the post the following morning. I noticed the location was near me. When I read the post, I said to myself, “I can't rescue anymore. I have other dogs in my care already.”

But I could not stop thinking about the dog after reading the post. The image of the dog lying helpless out there haunted me so I thought of checking on him in case I find myself in the location posted by the concerned citizen.

I thought maybe the dog would not be there anymore as it had been more than 12 hours since the report on the dog was posted.

I passed by the dog's location while in a bus. Looking out the window, I saw the dog. He was still there.

I decided to rescue him right there and then as I could not bear to let him stay there any longer.

I walked towards the dog and squat in front of him. The dog looked at me, straight to my eyes, and then howled.

I knew then that the dog knew that he was being rescued.

Tears fell from my eyes. I thought, “This dog is asking for help. If only this dog could speak.”

He could not stand. Maybe he got hit by a vehicle and was then left for dead under the heavy rains overnight before rescue came his way.

I brought the dog with no name to the vet right away.

Every test, including an x-ray, was done to assess his physical condition.

The dog is a mongrel or an asong Pinoy (aspin) though he had features of a Chow Chow and a Golden Retriever.

His temperature was low. He was shaking inside the clinic. He was given a hot compress so his temperature would go back to normal.

He had a laceration or wound from his anus up to his tail. It had to be sutured.

His x-ray showed that he had a dislocated bone. This was the reason he could not get up and stand.

He had issues with his kidneys too.

The vet said he needs a catheter to help him urinate. He was put on a special diet to help his kidneys.

His dislocated bone in the hip joint was addressed through a close reduction procedure. He had a cast for

By Pet Food Institute PET lovers live by the philosophy, “the more, the merrier” but is this always true?

With Philippines being one of the dog capital countries of the world, owning more than five (5) dogs is not unusual.

But with the number of pets in line to be fed and nurtured, this level of fun and excitement starts to take a toll on the owner. More often than not, pets have a hard time getting along, especially when a new one comes into the picture. If not addressed properly, it may cause several problems such as brawls which may then lead to serious injuries.

The Pet Food Institute (PFI), dedicated to its commitment to educate the Filipino pet community on responsible pet ownership, shares three tips to help pets get along.

Tip 1: Introductions are a must!

Introducing pets to each other can be physically and emotionally draining to

Author Regie Manio rescues Jose, a dog hit by a vehicle.

However, slowly but surely, we knew then he would be able to get back on his paws and live a comfortable life again.

I took him home with me.

He needed to continue his medication and therapy. I was more than willing to serve and do this for him.

He needed to be drained through

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

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

MALLONE, a one-month-old mixed breed baby, is one playful pup, says his parent Este Briones.

“He loves following me around the house and bites my slipper to get my attention which would mean, ‘carry me!’,” says Este.

“Mallone loves hotdogs and pandesal. He loves morning walks and chillin’ in the park,” adds Este.`

THE MORE, THE MERRIER? the pets and the owner. Naturally, pets feel threatened when an unknown animal enters their territory.

This is where introductions come in.

Much like humans, pets need to be introduced to one another to get them accustomed to each other’s presence.

Experts remind owners that there are two key components to a proper introduction, first it must be done at a neutral zone and second, owners must never rush this process.

Pets, by nature, are territorial hence they immediately assume that newbies are intruders. Therefore, introductions must be done in a neutral area, such as the park, where neither pet feel the need to protect their area. If these places are inaccessible, owners must ensure that they have control over their pets to avoid brawls.

It is also important to separate pets during the first few days or weeks of cohabitation to make the newcomer feel safe in their new environment.

Mommy Summer and daughters Shakti (middle) and Louise (right) play together. But they are supervised during play time as Louise and Shakti tend to be envious of each other when playing time with their mom.

Pacing is an important aspect of introductions as well. Owners must never rush this process and should be patient as their furry pals slowly get accustomed to their new environment and companions.

To make this process easier on both pets, veterinarians suggest several methods like scent-swapping or introducing scents to each pet to familiarize themselves with their new playmate.

suits each of their pets. For example, an active pet would love working out and exploring the great outdoors with its owner.

Meanwhile, owners may opt to engage in simple play with their laid-back pet.

However, if an owner’s schedule does not permit this level of play, simple pats and handing pets their favorite treats are simple ways they can show their furry companions their affection.

Tip 2: Equality for all!

Tip 3: Personal space please!

Having multiple pets under one roof can be a fun and entertaining experience.

However, it requires a lot from the owner to ensure they spend time with each of their pets. Quality time is necessary to build a strong bond between owner and pet. Working out together, exploring the great outdoors, playing together, and talking to one’s pets are perfect opportunities to spend quality time and form a bond with their furry pals.

Owners may choose which activity best

Batchi and Shakti (smiling) always want cuddle time with their human, Tani Benedito.

Most pet owners admit that having multiple pets in one household can be overwhelming and feels somewhat crowded, so it is advisable for owners to provide each pet their own space.

For owners who wish to have both a cat and a dog inside their house, they must ensure that the feline has a private area to run to when it feels threatened.

Most issues among pets arise due the animal’s natural tendency to guard its food.

Owners are encouraged to separate their pets’ food bowls to avoid conflicts between their pets.

About Pet Food Institute: PFI is committed to informing pet owners about pet nutrition and proper pet care to keep pets healthy and happy. Through its local initiative, Well-Fed, Well-Nurtured campaign in partnership with the Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines (VPAP), PFI seeks to advocate responsible pet ownership to the ever-growing Filipino pet community.

Since 1958, the PFI has been the voice of the U.S. pet food industry. PFI is the industry's representative before Congress and state legislatures, as well as state and federal agencies; public education and media relations resource; organizer of seminars and educational programs; and liaison with other organizations.

CHUBI, now one year old, was rescued while walking around the subdivision. He was only a puppy then, says rescuer and adopter Sydney Telan.

“I found him looking so lost. He was walking around the subdivision. He was so dirty and his right eye was half closed. I assumed it was hurt. I went around carrying him hoping his owner was just within the vicinity. Unfortunately, no one came for him. I decided to give him a home, “ Sydney recalls.

“I gave him dog food, then I bathe him. He felt comfortable afterwards and slept on a pillow for the longest time, “ says Sydney.

“I guess he was out the whole day looking for his owner. I told the barangay if someone will come looking for a puppy, just send them straight to my house. Up to this day, no one came to claim Chubi, “ Sydney says.

“Somehow, I felt happy because I can continue taking care of him and loving him forever. I love him like crazy,” says Sydney.

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