Manila Standard - 2020 January 19 - Sunday

TAAL WATCH

ALERT LEVEL 4 STAYS AMID ERUPTION FEARS

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 339 • 4 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

By Rio N. Araja and Macon R. Araneta THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Saturday said the threat of a catastrophic eruption of Taal Volcano in Batangas remained high.

Amid weak emissions and fewer volcanic earthquakes, the volcano is still under Alert Level 4, which means a“hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours to days,” director Renato Solidum said.

In the past 24 hours, the volcano’s main crater steadily emitted steam and had infrequent weak explosions.

Solidum’s statements were made Turn to A2

CONFUSING CALM. An aerial view of Taal Volcano on Saturday, six days after its unforeseen phreatic eruption on Jan. 12. AFP

BAYANIHAN LIVES ON AMID DISASTER

By Joel E. Zurbano

B

AYANIHAN and volunteerism, both forming the core essence of the culture of this Southeast Asian archipelago of 106 million people, have shown yet again the capacity of the Filipino to help his neighbor in times of disaster—as in the latest eruption of Taal Volcano in Batangas.

COMMUNITY COOPERATION. The Filipino core value of bayanihan is reflected in people (topmost photos) shifting to high gear humanitarian efforts for Taal Volcano eruption victims in the communities surrounding the volcano, the only one of its kind in the world within a lake; while tons of highland vegetables (above), used clothings, beddings and more donations are pouring in from Tinoc in Ifugao, after a receiving/collection center was set up in La Trinidad, Benguet. INC PIO, Dave Leprozo

Local government officials in the National Capital Region keep sending assistance to communities affected by the eruption as the number of evacuees continues to escalate.

--On Saturday, the Makati City government started deploying disaster response vehicles and equipment to Bauan, Batangas to assist thousands of residents in the evacuation center.

--Mayor Abigail Binay said the city was sending a supertanker, a chemical fire truck, two penetrator fire trucks, a mobile clinic, two advanced cardiac life support vehicles, a mobile shower with portalet and a vacuum tanker, two Turn to A2

BIG BUSINESS TO THE RESCUE: BPI, SM POUR IN AID THE country’s top companies, led by the country’s first bank and the largest shopping mall operator, continued Saturday to pour in aid and services for the victims of Taal Volcano’s recent eruption.

Meanwhile, South Korea on Friday donated US$200,000 (about P10.18 million) to the Philippines for the 45,000 evacuees displaced by the volcano’s eruption last Sunday.

Korean Ambassador Han Dong-man handed the check to Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine Red Cross, at the PRC Tower in Mandaluyong City.

Bank of the Philippine

Islands is helping lighten the financial burdens of those severely impacted by the Taal eruption, the company said in a statement.

As part of its disaster response efforts, the BPI group

of companies—BPI, BPI Family Savings Bank and BPI Direct BanKo – will provide deferred payment programs for its credit card, personal loan, housing loan, auto loan, Turn to A2

INVENTIVE BENT RISES FROM TAAL'S ASHES DECIMATED fish.

Scarred coffee plants.

Vanished tourists.

These have been all victims of the latest Taal Volcano eruption, among 53 active volcanoes in the archipelago, which has inflicted significant damage on the livelihoods of tens of thousands and is expected to cause more.

At the same time, ash spewed

by Taal is being mixed with plastic waste to make bricks in an inventive response to the country’s persistent problems of pollution and frequent natural disasters.

The Taal Volcano burst into life exactly a week ago today, sending towering dust columns into the sky and leaving nearby Biñan City coated in fine grey powder.

Environment officials did not just clean up the mess but decided to Turn to A2

SOLONS, TUCP: HOUSES, JOBS FOR VICTIMS

By Vito Barcelo, Willie Casas, Maricel V. Cruz, Macon Ramos-Araneta THE workers group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Saturday called on the government to give a minimum of 25 percent hazard pay to journalists composed of reporters, cameramen, assistant cameramen, photographers, researchers and drivers covering the Taal eruption and to workers in hotels and restaurants in Tagaytay City.

In a statement, TUCP President Raymond Mendoza said “hazard is a

Turn to A2

VOLUNTEERS FOR VICTIMS. Volunteerism, yet another essence of Filipino culture to help fellow community members in need of assistance, is demonstrated (from left) once more by medical outreach volunteers, with people queuing up to receive private aid donated for villages affected by the Taal Volcano eruption. AFP twitter.com/ MlaStandard

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SOLONS...

RODY OKAYS TOTAL BAN ON KUWAIT DEPLOYMENT

From A1

dangerous phenomenon, substance, or human activity or condition that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of sources of livelihood and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental damage.”

In the House, Deputy Speaker Michael Romero of 1-Pacman party list urged the administration to start drafting the plans for the recovery of the people and areas affected by the Taal eruption.

The eruption has rendered some areas no longer economically viable for cultivation and fishing at least in the meantime, Thus the government, particularly the Department of Agriculture, should determine the livelihood that may be provided to the affected farmers and fishermen, he said.

“I suggest to the advisers of President Duterte the crafting of an Inter-Agency Taal Rehabilitation, Recovery and Livelihood Program and the matching accountable task force to run it,” Romero said.

Romero added: “While we do not have yet a Department of Disaster Resilience, this will do for now. Housing, jobs, and livelihood should be the key result areas of the program and its implementing task group.”

At the same time, he pushed for the appointment of Human Settlements Secretary Eduardo del Rosario as the chairman of the task group that would oversee the Taal rehabilitation efforts.

He added the future Department of Disaster Resilience Secretary can serve as the co-chairman.

The vice chairmanship post should be with the Department of Finance or Department of Budget and Management to make sure the task group is adequately funded, Romero said.

“We should not let this Taal Volcano eruption be the current equivalent of the disastrous and scandalous Yolanda relief, rehab, and recovery,” Romero added.

In the Senate, Sen. Sonny Angara called on the Department of Labor and Employment to utilize the P120 million under its budget for the assistance to workers displaced by the Taal Volcano eruption..

As chairman of the Committee on Finance that went over the 2020 General Appropriations Act, Angara pointed out DOLE has funds it can tap to provide assistance to the displaced workers, particularly those who reside in the areas within the vicinity of Taal in Cavite and Batangas.

There are now over 40,000 evacuees from Cavite and Batangas who were forced to flee their homes because of the eruption.

Apart from the lack of food, clothing and shelter, many of the evacuees also have to cope with their loss of employment because of the disaster.

“The impact of the eruption of Taal Volcano is wide-ranging. Most of the affected families have lost everything, including their livelihood and it is the obligation of the government to provide them with support during times like these,” Angara said.

“We must do everything to get these communities back on their feet again at the soonest possible time. The entire nation must be behind all those affected by the eruption,” Angara added.

Under the 2020 General Appropriations Act, the DOLE has P112.62 million for its Adjustment Measures Program and P6.8 million for its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers or TUPAD. TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum period of 10 days, but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed.

Under TUPAD, beneficiaries will be provided with basic orientation on safety and health, personal protective equipment, and enrolment in group micro-insurance.

Once the emergency employment program is completed, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or its accredited training institutions will be tapped to conduct the skills training for the TUPAD beneficiaries under its Training for Work Scholarship Program.

As for the DOLE’s Adjustment Measures Program, a comprehensive package of assistance will be provided to the workers affected by the eruption.

BIG...

From A1 business loan and micro business loan clients in the severely affected areas.

This will allow BPI clients to pay their amount due 30 days from the current due date without penalties, the bank added.

These offers will be made available to clients in good standing from directly impacted areas, and are subject to bank approval.

BPI president and CEO Cezar P. Consing said the bank is committed to help fellow Filipinos affected by this natural calamity.

“We’ll do what we can to help our clients and communities that are most

By Vito Barcelo

Kuwait, which covered only newly hired household service workers.

The Philippine government last imposed a total deployment ban to the Gulf state in 2018 after Filipino migrant worker Joanna Demafelis was killed and discovered inside a freezer at an abandoned apartment.

There are at least 262,000 Filipino workers in Kuwait, 60 percent of them domestic workers, according to DOLE. The Palace maintained the ban would remain until the memorandum of agreement between the two countries signed in 2018 was “fully implemented and the terms

contained therein are incorporated in every labor contract” of overseas Filipino workers.

Panelo was referring to a 2018 agreement between the Philippines and Kuwait, which seeks to protect OFWs there from abuses at the hands of their employers.

He claimed the Kuwait government “was attempting to hide” the real circumstances behind the death of Villavende, who died last December.

An autopsy by the National Bureau of Investigation showed that Villavende suffered sexual abuse and sodomy before she died of alleged torture at the hands of her employers.

The ban, however, does not include skilled workers and professionals who have unexpired contracts and are set to return to Kuwait.

“Those who will come home for a vacation and has (sic) an existing contract are still allowed to travel to Kuwait, however, workers with new contracts will be covered by the ban.

This move is nothing less than for the protection of our workers,” Bello said.

Meanwhile, the DOLE’s Overseas

Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is set to provide repatriated and qualified overseas Filipino workers from the Middle East with livelihood and cash assistance.

On January15, 2020, 13 OFWs were repatriated by the Philippine government and welcomed by OWWA OIC Administrator Josefino Torres and Deputy Administrator Mocha Uson at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 from Iraq via Doha, Qatar, it said in a statement.

The returning OFWs were accompanied by Qatar Labor Attaché David Des Dicang and welcomed by Labor Undersecretary Claro Arellano.

A total 1,640 OFWs, documented and undocumented, are currently in Iraq. From these figures, 847 are in Baghdad, 655 in Erbil, and 148 in Sulaymaniyah, according to Dicang.

Bello said that aside from livelihood assistance, the repatriated OFWs were expected to receive a cash assistance of P20,000 for active OWWA members, and P10,000 for non-active members.

tion Management Office officials is also coordinating with Batangas authorities for their assistance to those affected while the city government of Caloocan extended assistance by providing family disaster kits, food packs, among others to evacuees.

--For Melvin Crisostomo, dean of the Student Affairs Office at the City University of Pasay, the surge of donations for the evacuees in Batangas corresponds to the number of Filipinos who value their kababayan in time of disasters.

“Our university would like to promote ‘pakikipagkapwa-tao’ [human relations] among our students.

Letting them feel to empathize with others, in helpfulness and generosity in times of need and that when disasters occur, students could be able to extend assistance a helping hand,”Crisostomo said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency on Friday.

He said he was grateful to those who donated and never had second thoughts in helping a fellowman.

When Taal Volcano erupted on Jan. 13, Crisostomo said they had 50 students who have been affected by the heavy ashfall.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman and concurrent NCR Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council head Chairman Danilo Lim commended the response efforts of local government units from Metro Manila in helping the localities in Batangas province.

At the same time, disaster observ-

ers noted the rise of volunteers to help extend a helping hand to the victims, not only volunteers from the metropolis but also from the nearby provinces.

“Donations are pouring in for localities in Batangas. It feels good that Metro Manila LGUs are extending kindness and generosity to other localities in need during these difficult times,” said Lim. Serving as focal person for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, MMDA chief of staff Michael Salalima said his office was continuously coordinating with the Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office on the needed augmentation of relief efforts.

“More assistance is on the way. We are gathering more donations for the thousands of evacuees,”said Salalima.

MMDA earlier sent rescue team and emergency assets to Batangas province to assist residents.

The agency also delivered face masks, medicines, bottled water and other necessities turned over to the agency by private companies and foundations.

MMDA’s K9 Unit members and volunteers rescued animals left behind by owners.

Meanwhile, the team of former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also started its relief operations for the evacuees in the town of Tuy in Batangas.

Marcos, along with supporters from Tulong Taal and Tuy LGU officials, distributed relief packs to more than 1,500 evacuees located in seven

barangays of the town.

He visited Barangays Luntal, Lumbangan, Talon, Palincaro, Malibu, Dao, and Guinhawa with Mayor Armando Afable and Vice Mayor Jose Jecerell Cerrado.

The packs contained an N95 face mask, instant noodles, bottled water, blanket, and personal hygiene kits.

Marcos also donated excess clothing articles to each barangay.

“The government’s response to the crisis has been very good. However, we wanted to focus on those who voluntarily left and are staying in evacuation sites that have received insufficient assistance,” Marcos said.

Tuy officials also said that the evacuees in their sites were from the towns of Lemery, Agoncillo and Taal who were forced to vacate their homes.

“Please use the N95 masks, especially on your children because the air quality in the surrounding areas of Taal has not fully returned to normal.

We may not see it, but fine particles may still be present and trigger their asthma,” Marcos added.

The government still maintains alert level 4 for Taal Volcano, saying that hazardous explosive eruption is still possible within hours to days.

Batangas was also declared under state of calamity on a day after the Taal Volcano started spewing ash.

Dr. Ma. Katherina Mangahas, Makati VSD chief, said the impounding vehicle had eight cages that can accommodate up to 24 mediumsized dogs. With PNA

tense” activity underneath as magma continued to move beneath.

“We see different things above ground from what is happening underground,” he added.

He reminded residents within the 14-kilometer radius of the volcano to move out since the area was susceptible to base surges once a strong eruption occurs.

The Taal Volcano Network recorded 876 volcanic earthquakes, including six tremors and 20 low-frequency earthquakes.

“Such intense seismic activity likely signifies continuous magmatic intrusion beneath the Taal edifice, which may lead to further eruptive activity,” it said.

In a related development, some residents of Tanauan City have been

permitted temporarily to enter the 14-kilometer permanent danger zone after they appealed to local authorities that they needed to get their belongings and feed their livestock.

Authorities allotted one hour to some residents to enter the zone at past 6 a.m., according to a Balitanghali Weekend report heard nationwide.

This, after residents kept arriving at checkpoints from dawn until sunrise, requesting that they be allowed to return to their homes.

Some even went emotional, with one angry resident saying that while they might not have died due to the explosion of Taal Volcano, they were slowly dying because of the situation.

Residents, allowed by authorities against the order of Tanauan Mayor Sweet Halili, were required to present

their IDs at checkpoints, and were fetched by barangay officials in the event they overstayed.

An emergency meeting will be held by the local government unit of Tanauan to discuss their next action plan, as the permission to residents by authorities was not ordered by Halili.

Meanwhile, Senator Win Gatchalian underscored the need for a SIM card registration law to run after perpetrators of hoax messages on mobile phones in relation to the Taal disaster.

Gatchalian pointed out how the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology repeatedly flagged the spread of false and unverified information, which caused public panic and confusion.

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has approved a Department of Labor and Employment resolution imposing a total deployment ban to Kuwait due to the sexual abuse and brutal killing of Filipino household worker Jeanelyn Villavende.

In a statement Saturday, Palace Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said “President Duterte has approved the recommendation of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III on the total deployment ban of Filipino workers in Kuwait.”

The ban was recommended by Bello, who also heads the POEA governing board, after the National Bureau of Investigation autopsy report showed that Villavende was not just tortured but also sexually abused by her employer before she was killed in the Gulf state last month.

The POEA earlier this month imposed a partial deployment ban to

BAYANIHAN...

From A1 mobile kitchens, water filtration, jerry cans, and an impounding vehicle that would be used to rescue stray animals.

--The city government of Taguig, on the other hand, is currently conducting a medical mission and relief operations in Laurel, Batangas and delivered food packs, face masks, hygiene kits to families affected.

--In San Juan, the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council approved the transfer of P2 million to Batangas Provincial Risk Reduction Management Fund.

--The Parañaque City government also donated sacks of rice and other necessities to affected communities while local government units of Malabon and Marikina provided relief goods to families and individuals in evacuation centers.

--Manila City Mayor Francisco "Isko" Domagoso ordered the deployment of a response team as well as emergency vehicles to help out residents in Batangas while the Muntinlupa City government made a donation of P3 million to most-affected localities and delivered thousands of relief packs to evacuation centers.

--Local officials in Quezon City went to Tanauan, Batangas to provide blankets, sleeping mats, mobile showers, among others for the evacuees.

--Mandaluyong City Risk Reduc-

ALERT...

From A1

as an evacuee from the Taal eruption was reported to have sudden cardiac death while at an evacuation center in Batangas.

The victim, identified on Super Radyo dzBB, beamed nationwide, as 57-year-old Felina de Roxas of San Nicolas, Batangas, was reportedly doing laundry at the San Antonio Elementary School evacuation center when she experienced difficulty in breathing.

The victim apparently had been suffering from hypertension and asthma conditions.

Solidum said there was still “in-

adversely affected by the Taal eruption,” said Consing.

An employee-led donation drive is also being organized, where the funds to be raised will be matched by BPI Foundation.

Likewise, BPI employee volunteers have also committed to repack and distribute relief goods consisting of basic survival necessities—masks, blankets, sleeping mats, slippers, non-perishable food, clothes, water, medicines and hygienic items, as the crisis stretches into another week.

In Lipa, Batangas, as part of the SM Group’s continued effort to bring aid to the victims of the Taal Volcano’s unrest, SM Foundation, SM Retail, and Watsons partnered to launch a series of medical missions in the town.

The mission started at Lipa’s Canossa Academy last Friday, Jan. 17, where affected families were able to avail of free medical check-ups. The mobile clinic also offered free X-ray and electrocardiogram exams, as patients also received free medicine.

The SM group also held a medical mission at the Inosluban-Maraoay National High School on the same day.

The following day, the medical mission was brought to the Batangas Provincial Sports Complex, and on Jan. 19, a medical mission is scheduled at the Bauan Technical High School.

SM Retail and Watsons’ employees volunteered to distribute bottled water, masks, relief goods, and hygiene kits, including shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, alcohol and sanitary pads.

INVENTIVE...

From A1 combine the ash with sand, cement and discarded plastic to form about 5,000 bricks per day for local building projects.

“Instead of just piling up the ashfall somewhere, we are able to turn it into something useful. And it includes plastics, too,” said city environmental officer Rodelio Lee. When Taal exploded to life Sunday it spewed towering columns of fine grey ash, which officials said destroyed crops and killed off potentially tonnes of fish raised in the lake that rings the volcano.

“We lost a lot of money because all our fish are gone,” said Cesario Rodriguez, 34, a fish farmer.

“We just need to find a way to survive.”

It didn’t help either when government health officials warned people not to eat the fish as it could have been contaminated with volcanic sulphur, though the nation’s health agency told AFP no formal ban is in place.

The warning of a further, potentially catastrophic eruption, also led authorities to urge the thriving tourism industry near the volcano—a popular attraction—to suspend activity as a precaution.

The nation’s seismological agency has issued its second-highest alert, saying Taal could unleash an“explosive eruption” at any time. AFP

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TONDO FEAST ABOUNDS WITH PLASTIC SCRAPS —WATCHDOG

LAWMAKERS TAKE UP THE CUDGELS FOR MOTORBIKE TAXIS

By Maricel V. Cruz LEGISLATORS

on Saturday appealed to the Technical Working Group of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board not to muddle the issue on the motorcycle taxi pilot and confuse the public into thinking that the 20-day temporary restraining order on the riders’ cap was not granted.

The TWG earlier disclosed that Angkas’ petition for a TRO on the riders cap was denied by the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court.

As far as some congressmen are concerned, this news item effectively confuses the public because the same Mandaluyong RTC previously granted a 72hour TRO against the riders’ cap which has recently lapsed.

Moreover, a QC Regional Trial Court recently granted a 20-day TRO that lifted the cap on the total number of operating Angkas motorcycle taxis, allowing the full fleet of 27,000 to operate for 20 days.

Rep. Cristal Bagatsing of Manila expressed her support for the TRO, saying, “There is an existing 20-day TRO granted last Jan. 10, allowing 27,000 Angkas bikers to operate and still serve commuters.

Bagatsing said the TWG should not mislead the public into thinking the TRO was not granted. “It was, and we need to respect this existing TRO which is still in effect.” she said.

Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera of Quezon City said the 20-day TRO should be respected.

“The QC TRO gives the 17,000 bikers of Angkas 20 more days to operate and retain their livelihoods,” she said.

Herrera said “the court granted this in good faith so that the commuting public can have a greater number of experienced bikers that will serve them during this period.”

VIVA SANTO NIÑO. Devotees hold aloft images of Santo Niño during a parade celebrating their patron saint in Tondo, Manila on Saturday, Jan. 18. Norman Cruz

P1-B FAKE CIGARETS SEIZED IN ECIJA RAID

T

HE Bureau of Customs Saturday raided a warehouse in Nueva Ecija that manufactured counterfeit cigarettes and seized fake cigarettes valued at P1 billion.

At least 20 Chinese nationals and 100 Filipino workers were arrested during the raid who were suspected to be engaged in manufacturing counterfeit cigarettes, according to Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero.

Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero

He said the Chinese nationals were believed to be behind the illegal operations and hired locals to work in the warehouse in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija.

Seized were three boxes of fake BIR stamps, 5 lines of cigarette

making machine with 3 machines per line, 6 lines of packing machines, 1 filter making machines, 1 mixer, 1 dryer and raw materials believed to be used in making counterfeit cigarettes.

“Also seized were undetermined quantity of counterfeit cigarettes of various brands with estimated value of P1 billion,” he said.

BOC-ESS is currently conducting an inventory of the seized products and will investigate further to determine the appropriate cases to be filed in relation to the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. The Bureau of Customs is committed to prevent the entry of illegal and prohibited goods, Guerrero said. Vito Barcelo

ICC RULING CAN APPLY TO DUTERTE—CARPIO RETIRED Justice Antonio Carpio has weighed in on the alleged crimes against humanity filed against President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court.

Carpio said that the ICC can serve and apply its verdict against Duterte whether he is still the Philippine state leader or has already returned to being Citizen Digong.

“Many heads of state, they were already out of office… it doesn’t matter whether you still hold office or not,” Carpio said.

“Some cases even run for years before finally reaching a verdict,” he said.

Lawyer Jude Sabio filed in April 2017 a communication with the ICC, alleging that Duterte and other Philippine government officials committed crimes against humanity in instituting extrajudicial killings first in Davao City through the Davao Death Squad, which they allegedly contin-

ued on a national scale through the war on drugs.

On Tuesday, however, Sabio withdrew the communication, saying he didn’t want to be used as political tool by the opposition.

Sabio’s move prompted a Duterte basher, detained Senator Leila de Lima to take a swipe at the lawyer and the president both at the same time.

De Lima, in jail on drug charges, “whatever the reason for such an awful move, Sabio has become vulnerable to the machinations from the dark forces.”

The senator added that Sabio’s withdrawal of his 77-page communication to the ICC comes rather too late a move and would hardly have a dent on the progress of the ICC intervention on the human rights abuses in the country.

But Carpio belittled the effect of Sabio’s “withdrawal” from the case.

“When you file a communication, that is not really a complaint. That is just a submission of evidence. And it’s up for the prosecutor to use that or not. And if you withdraw that, it doesn’t matter to them,” the retired justice said.

Sabio’s succeeding pronouncements also have no effect on the ICC case because there are others who have also submitted a communication to the ICC, he added.

“The office of the prosecutor has the discretion on whether or not to use it…because it’s just an evidence being submitted and you cannot prevent the ICC from using evidence that is out there,” Carpio pointed out.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said it is high time that the ICC wakes up from its supposed ignorance, claiming Sabio’s case against the President was only part of a “vilification campaign.”

TAIWAN DONATES $100,000 TO ‘TISOY’ VICTIMS IN SORSOGON

FLASHMOB FOR TAAL. Fans of singer Sarah Geronimo gather at the Quirino Grandstand to perform a flashmob during their event titled ‘Tala para sa Taal.’

Norman Cruz

ON BEHALF of the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Representative Peiyung Hsu of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines donated US$100,000 to the Philippines as humanitarian assistance for the victims of Typhoon “Tisoy” which struck Sorsogon. The check hand-over ceremony was held in the conference room of TECO office at 10 a.m, on Jan. 17, 2020. The donation was accepted

by Vice Chairman Gilberto F. Lauengco of Manila Economic and Cultural Office.

Gov. Francis “Chiz” Escudero of Sorsogon also attended the ceremony.

During the ceremony, Hsu said that as close neighbors, Taiwan always stands together with friends in the Philippines whenever there is a need.

Escudero is an old friend of Taiwan. He has been a staunch supporterof Taiwan’s endeavors since he was the Senator of the Philippines. “We are very glad that Taiwan can offer our help in retur,” he said.

In addition, Buddhist Tzu-Chi

Foundation, Philippines also distributed cash, rice and blankets from Taiwan to the victims in Bulan and Matnog of Sorsogon, hoping that people can recover from the disaster and rebuild their homeland soon.

Looking ahead, Taiwan will continue working with the Philippines to enhance the welfare of our peoples. We hope friends in the Philippines will render their continued support for Taiwan.

Lauengco and Escudero expressed their appreciation for the generosity shown by the government of Taiwan.

The donation from Taiwan demonstrates strong friendship between Taiwan and the Philippines.

Escudero pledged to make the best use of the donation for the rehabilitation work in his province and said he hoped to work with Taiwan in the area of agriculture, higher education and technology to advance the development of the province. He also took the opportunity to congratulate President Tsai Ing-wen on her reelection.

ENVIRONMENT watchdog EcoWaste Coalition on Saturday said it was an “overkill” to use single-use plastic banderitas to adorn streets of Manila for this year’s Santo Niño de Tondo Feast.

“We are deeply saddened by the lavish use of plastic banderitas in connection with the feast of Santo Niño as if there was no tomorrow.

It’s an overkill of wasteful [single-use plastics],” EcoWaste Coalition zerowaste campaigner Jove Benosa said in a statement.

“Rarely reused or recycled, these banderitas consisting of semitransparent plastic bags, plastic strips or plastic packaging scraps add to the residual plastic garbage that ends up in dumps or on the streets and waterways,” Benosa said.

According to Benosa, the banderitas can be found in the Manila districts of Tondo and Pandacan, which celebrate every third Sunday of January the popular feast of Santo Niño.

This year’s feast of the Santo Niño de Tondo will run from Jan. 18 to 19.

Benosa said that the single-use banderitas pose a threat to the environment.

The use of such decors, the group added, was “not in tune” with Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Donagoso’s initiative of ridding trash in the city.

“As plastic banderitas, which are made from chemicals obtained from fossil fuels, serve no functional purpose and are not really essential for the good conduct of any festivity, we appeal to all barangay and parish officials to stop this classic example of preventable wastefulness,” EcoWaste Coalition said. Willie Casas

HIGH COURT RESOLVES VASECTOMY CASE THE Supreme Court has finally put to rest a unique case involving a mentally-challenged man, whose legal guardian made him undergo a bilateral vasectomy at age 24, even though he allegedly had the intelligence of an eight-year-old child at the time of the procedure.

The man—who, for confidentiality reasons was simply referred to as “LA”—was taken in as a ward in 1980 when he was two years and nine months old. This was made official six years later, when the spouses who assumed guardianship of LA received a legal appointment from a Regional Trial Court in Balanga, Bataan.

Even at his chronological age of 24, LA was established as being unable to take a bath without assistance, could not prepare his own meals, and was never allowed to go out and run errands alone. He also had no friends and only interacted with his adoptive family.

His vasectomy took place on Jan. 31, 2002 at the insistence of his foster father. The procedure was performed by a qualified doctor, but only after a thorough psychiatric evaluation by a licensed medical professional.

This prompted one of the nuns from a child-caring agency licensed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development to file a formal case on behalf of the adopted individual. The complaint involved the falsification of documents and mutilation under the Revised Penal Code and/or child abuse under Rep. Act 7610 or the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.” Apart from members of his foster family, the doctor who evaluated him was likewise named as a respondent.

In a per curiam decision (where the court decides as a single body, without identifying any particular judge as the author), the Supreme Court en banc unanimously denied the complainant’s petition on two grounds: first, there was a lack of party resulting from the complainant’s demise on Sept. 9, 2012 due to heart attack. Second, there was lack of an appeal from the Office of the Solicitor General. The decision proved to be yet another win for the accused and their counsel Jose A. Bernas, who was able to dismiss the criminal complaints against them.

Due to the novelty of the issues regarding vasectomy and cognitive disability, the court and a number of individual justices expressed separate opinions on the case, specifically on whether or not a bilateral vasectomy constitutes child abuse or a form of cruelty, and if LA qualifies as a child under the law. Ultimately, however, the individual justices used the “best interests of the child” test, and found no evidence that the vasectomy was not in the best interest of LA.

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2020

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NAPOLCOM: GOV’T DOES NOT CONDONE COP ERRORS

FLOWERS APLENTY. Floats festooned with flowers and plants and the models that enhance their beauty parade across Guiguinto in Bulacan for the Halamanan Festival, which the town has staged since 1999. The winning barangay can take home the top prize of P200,000. Orlan Mauricio

‘HALAMANAN’ FEST IN GUIGUINTO STARTS

By Orlan L. Mauricio MALOLOS CITY—Foreign and local tourists are now waiting for the biggest and most colorful parade of garden flowers aboard uniquely-designed floats in the town of Guiguinto, known as the “garden and landscaping capital” of the country.

Based on the turnout of participating entrees for this year’s float competition, Guiguinto Mayor Ambrosio ‘Boy’ Cruz said: “The contest will again be very close and much harder to judge.

We do not want any taint of favoritism or petty politics to smear our No. 1 tourism attraction. All we want is to bring out the best craftsmanship and creativity from our villagers.”

Rene Villanueva, the first-ever winner of Gawad Singkaban as Outstanding Tourism Officer of Bulacan, said they have invited reputable names in various discipline involved in designs, flower industry and architecture to ensure the success of this year’s “Halamanan Festival” scheduled to open on Monday, Jan. 20, with a live TV coverage of the morning show “Umagang Kay Ganda.”

A bonsai exhibit and competition will also be held on the opening day on Monday at the Garden City Park in Tabang, Guiguinto, supervised by noted landscape-designers and bonsai experts that include Renee “Tac” Robles and Pia and Art Javier.

A trade fair of house ornamentation, vegetables and decors and a big “Bagsak Presyo” (price drop) sale of garden plants is also patronized by bargain hunters, mostly interior designers from all over Metro Manila.

The annual fiesta of Guiguinteños will start with a fire-brand street dancing by students from all schools and youths from the 14 barangays of the town, highlighted by colorful costumes, motifs and garments made from ornamental plants that are uniquely the pride and homegrown livelihood of Guiguinto landscapers and garden-plant producers.

The centerpiece of the four-day fiesta celebration is the much-awaited “Parada ng Karosa” starting at the Agatha Hotel compound in Barangay Sta. Rita.

This parade of indigenous floats, started by Mayor Ambrosio ‘Boy’ Cruz, Jr. in 1999, is now the No. 1 tourist-destination outside of the famed “Panagbenga” of Baguio City with prizes of P200,000, P100,000 and P75,000 for the top three winners.

‘GAMBOA MUST CLEANSE PNP’ N

OW that Police Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa is the full-fledged chief of the Philippine National Police, eradicating the “culture of wrongdoing” in the force should be his top priority, the vice chairman of the National Police Commission said Saturday.

“If people are corrupt-free, then all the other programs in law enforcement will follow suit. For instance, the drug problem will succeed because corruption is no longer part of it,” vice chairman Rogelio Casurao of Napolcom, which exercises administrative powers over the PNP, told ANC’s “Dateline.”

“To me, this I think is the point being driven out by President [Rodrigo Duterte], try to reform your ways in the PNP. Try to eradicate the culture of corruption,” Casurao said, referring to the President’s re p e ate d a d m o n i t i o n s to t h e fo rce regarding corruption.

“Try to eradicate the culture of wrongdoing because all other programs will have to succeed because people who are in the organization are free of any ill-intent in the government,” he added.

President Duterte on Friday night said he would appoint Gamboa, currently officer-incharge of the 190,000-strong police force, as the next PNP chief.

He replaced Oscar Albayalde, who relinquished his post on Oct. 14 amid allegations

he protected some police officers accused of selling seized narcotics in 2013, when he was Pampanga police chief.

A a member of the Philippine Military Academy’s Sinagtala Class of 1986, Gamboa was a classmate of former PNP chiefs Albayalde and now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

Casurao said he believed the PNP could transform its ways under Gamboa’s leadership, despite only having nine months to lead the police force before he retires in September.

“I still have that strong belief with the leadership of PNP under Lt. Gen. Gamboa and of course [Interior] Secretary [Eduardo] Año. A lot can be expected to see a fully improved, fully reliable police departmentthat would really be something to be proud of,” he said.

Police officers have been repeatedly tagged in corrupt practices, including extortion and other police abuses.

Earlier this week, the Justice department indicted Albayalde and 12 police officers for alleged graft over a 2013 drug raid where the officers allegedly sold seized narcotics.

GORDON: GRAVER CHARGES SHOULD BE FILED VS. ALBAYALDE

By Macon Ramos-Araneta GRAVER charges should be filed against former Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde, aside from violations of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Senator Richard Gordon said Saturday.

Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee and the Senate committeee on justice and human rights, which investigated Albayalde’s case, warned that if this will not be done, the public would view it as “molly-coddling” the former PNP chief, who was tagged in the “ninja cops” case involving illegal drugs.

The Department of Justice has filed charges against Albayalde for violating RA 3019, which is punishable by imprisonment of 1 to 10 years, perpetual disqualification from public office, confiscation or forfeiture of any prohibited interest and unexplained wealth out of proportion to his salary and other lawful income.

“It is a veritably a positive development that the DOJ recognized that Albayalde has done something wrong and wants to prosecute him,” said Gordon.

He related that Albayalde is the first PNP official who has been charged and found guilty by the Senate Blue Ribbon

and now by the DOJ. “Nevertheless, we feel that the charge is incommensurate with all the offenses he has done. If charges are made to stand as they are now, and none more serious is added, the DOJ will be seen as mollycoddling Albayalde,” said Gordon.

The report submitted after the joint hearing conducted by Gordon’s committees, which the DOJ relied on in reversing the original decision, recommended the following charges: • Conspiracy to commit Section 27 of R.A. No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Misappropriation, Misapplication or Failure to

Account Seized Drugs), which is punishable by life imprisonment to death; fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million; absolute perpetual disqualification from any public office; • Violation of Article 208 of the Revised Penal Code. Punishable by prision correccional in its minimum period or six months and one day to two years and four months; and • Violation of RA 3019 Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, sections 3(a) and (e).

“We established during the hearing Albayalde’s acts of omission and commission which made him liable for the recommended charges,” he said.

THE filing of criminal cases against former Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde shows that the government does not condone wrongdoings committed by members of the police force.

“It’s a good thing. That’s a good development. To me, this will promote a nd t hi s w i l l s p e l l t he difference between justice and no justice at all,” National Police Commission vice chairman Rogelio Casurao said on ANC’s Dateline on Saturday.

Albayalde, who resigned in October amid allegations he protected his men accused of reselling confiscated drugs in a Pampanga raid in 2013, has been given a chance to state his case, Casurao said.

“On the part of Gen. Albayalde, it’s his chance to prove his innocence if ever he’s innocent of these charges,” he said. “On the other hand, the prosecution arm of government is doing its part by not condoning what happened during the November 2013 incident in Pampanga.”

Albayalde was chief of Pampanga police when a team of officers allegedly made off with some 160 kilograms of shabu worth around P648 million, following an anti-drug operation against an alleged Chinese drug lord in November 2013.

The Department of Justice launched an investigation surrounding the case after former PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Benjamin Magalong and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Aaron Aquino accused Albayalde of intervening in the case during a Senate inquiry.

On Thursday, the DOJ said it found probable cause to charge Albayalde with “violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for persuading, inducing or influencing another public officer to perform an act constituting a violation of rules and regulations in connection with the official duties of the latter, and for causing any undue injury to any party, including the government.”

The department, meanwhile, cleared Albayalde of charges of misappropriating confiscated drugs, falsifying public documents and failure to prosecute police officers.

The panel also found probable cause to indict 12 other police officers for several violations, including qualified bribery, planting of evidence and delay and bungling in the prosecution of drug cases, among others.

QC TO EXTEND TAX DEADLINE, JOY B. VOWS

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte has promised to extend the deadline for tax payments in the city from Jan. 20 to Feb. 2.

“Our business community has requested for additional period of time to allow them to fully comply with the requirements and obligations to the city,” she said.

“In Quezon City, we are open to suggestions and appeal. If they are reasonable, then we would accede to these requests,” Belmonte added.

The mayor said she would ask the 37-member city council to grant the appeal for an extension, saying such a move would require its approval.

As of Jan. 15, the city government reported that income from business permits and real property tax rose 16 and 29 percent, respectively, over the same period last year.

“The percentage would have been higher if there had been work on Jan. 13,” when work was suspended following the eruption of Taal Volcano, Belmonte said.

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2020

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Opinion ART BLOOMS IN GRITTY DAKAR NEIGHBORHOOD

EDITORIAL

REALLY, NOW?

A

MEMBER of the House of Representatives has filed a resolution seeking to investigate whether the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology did its job in the days leading to the eruption of Taal Volcano.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga said Filipinos were “taken by surprise” at the Taal activity and that there was a need for “a proactive and not a defensive response from PHILVOLCS [sic].”

The lawmaker said that the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) has the “duty to assess and timely communicate [sic] information about volcanic hazards and make real time warnings of

volcanic activity in order to prevent losses of life and property.”

There was a clear lack of dissemination of information on hazards, Barzaga said, and Congress must investigate whether the agency conducted comprehensive monitoring.

Meanwhile, Special Envoy of Public Diplomacy to China Ramon Tulfo would like to take matters into his own hands.

In a tweet, he said: “Goddamn Phivocvoc!

There was no warning about the eruption of Taal Volcano! If I were to have my way, I would have all the Phivocs people executed! [sic]” These impassioned yet uninformed and uncalled-for comments about how scientists at the Phivolcs are doing their jobs do absolutely nothing to quiet the chaos unleashed by the picturesque but deadly volcano in Batangas. The agency has been monitoring the volcanic activity and has been issuing alerts, but what to do with

By Laurent Lozano

this information is ultimately at the hands of local executives and disaster risk reduction and management officials.

Government scientists are a great source of comfort these volatile times, because their fact-based pronouncements will do so much good that the bile spewing out of the mouths of individuals who would say anything and blame anyone instead of doing their part to help contain the damage.

At Alert Level 4, an explosive eruption of Taal is imminent, and this is what everybody should be preoccupied with. Such an event will alter the lives and routines of millions of Filipinos, even those living outside the danger zone.

Any other self-righteous pronouncements have no place in a situation like this. Let’s pay attention to information that matters and ignore the noise that does not add any value to our pursuit.

MAMADOU Boye Diallo, an art curator with a penchant for heart-shaped glasses, calls Dakar’s working-class Medina neighborhood an open-air museum.

Flitting on rollerblades between colorful murals in this part of the West African metropolis, Diallo, who is also a guide to the area, points to works by artists from all over the world.

He heads an association which aims to use murals to save fading colonial-era buildings from destruction and to make art accessible to all—not just “guys in suits and ties.”

The result is beautiful, if jarring.

Swirling tableaux of geometrical or animal motifs enliven the walls in the otherwise nondescript cityscape.

One mural features a fist raised against a hypnotic-blue background, for example. Underneath it, carpenters work steadily at wood pallets.

Another mural has two mysterious women set against brilliant indigos and azures staring into the distance.

A real-life cow rummages on the ground at their feet.

Diallo and some associates started the association Yataal Art—which means “expand art” in the Wolof language—in 2010.

They were initially asking artists to decorate walls.

But now artists are coming to them, says Melodie Petit, the associations’ vice president.

She adds that artists approach families and ask permission before painting, often offering them dinner in return.

“It’s not a contract with a motorway company or a commercial sign. It’s really a human contact,” Petit said.

‘STARTED LITTLE BY LITTLE’ The group is also seeking to protect Medina’s old colonial-era buildings from a construction boom that is transforming the face of Dakar.

The neighborhood has its roots in Senegal’s colonial past, when in 1914 French authorities moved black people from central Dakar’s Plateau neighborhood, according to historian Ibrahima Thioub.

Since then, the tight-knit community has nurtured artists across generations and has retained its identity even as new migrants moved in from the countryside.

“While the Plateau was sleeping at night, Medina was waking up,” Thioub said.

World-renowned Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour is from Medina, for example, and painter Kre M’Baye kept his studio there.

But change is coming to Medina, as rents skyrocket and large retailers set up shop.

Sociologist Djiby Diakhate says residents at one time all knew one another and shared strong values.

“Nostalgic people can’t find their way around now,” he said.

Guide Diallo wants to save the soul of the neighborhood from “certain groups of elitists” who come as developers.

Painting the walls of old colonial buildings is meant to save them. “We started little by little, now there are nearly 90 murals,” Diallo says.

In many settings, murals are likely to cause hostility as well as popularity, but in this case, the majority of local people interviewed by AFP said they liked the art.

Abdoulaye Bop, 34, a postman whose uncle owns an eatery in the neighborhood, said that “everyone here likes the art, even if not everyone understands it.”

Nidiawar Kan, 47, a carpenter who himself lives in an old Medina house, agreed.

“It’s very pretty,” he said. “It’s better than dirty walls. And it brings changes to the neighborhood. We see foreigners taking photos,” he added, speaking in a mixture of French and Wolof.

More and more tourists are visiting now, he says, but their presence is not entirely trusted either.

“We want to keep our originality,” Diallo adds. “We are not on TripAdvisor.” AFP

LIFE IN THE RING OF FIRE LIVING in the Philippines is living dangerously.

For one, the Philippines is smack dab in the middle of one of the world’s typhoon superhighways. An average of six to nine typhoons make landfall in the Philippines every year.

As the globe gets warmer, more of these storms will get stronger than ever before.

As if this is not hazardous enough, the Philippines also sits right along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where most of the world’s earthquakes happen and where most volcanoes can be found.

Last week, the steam-blast eruption of Taal Volcano violently reminded us of this fact. This makes it a good time to review the hazards of living in the Ring of Fire.

Before we dive into science, it helps to review the language.

In the field of disaster risk reduction and management, the following words are very important: disaster, disaster risk, hazard, exposure, and vulnerability.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council defines a disaster as a “serious disruption in the function of a community or a society involving widespread human, material,

economic or environmental losses and impact.”

Furthermore, a disaster must “exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.”

In other words, a disaster is an event in which the functioning of a community is thrown into disarray, and the only way to get things going again is through outside help.

Disaster risk, meanwhile, is related to the likelihood that a disaster will happen.

As its name suggests, the goal of DRRM is to reduce and manage the risk of disaster.

Disaster risk is a result of at least three factors: hazard, exposure, and vulnerability.

A hazard is an event that is potentially harmful to people, animals, and property. Meanwhile, exposure is related to how a hazard can affect people. Finally, vulnerability relates to pre-existing conditions that can affect someone’s ability to take action when a hazard occurs.

Let us apply these terms to volcanoes.

A volcanic eruption, even a powerful one, does not necessarily lead to a disaster. In fact, the goal of DRRM is to prevent disasters from happening even after a powerful eruption or a strong earthquake.

Fortunately, despite the declaration

of a State of Calamity in Batangas in the wake of Taal’s steam-driven eruption, one can argue that a disaster was averted. While the daily life of people in the surrounding towns and cities was disrupted, local government units were able to respond to it.

That said, a volcanic eruption still poses all sorts of hazards that we should be aware of. In the case of Taal’s Phreatic or steam-driven eruption last week, the hazards include the inhaling of volcanic ash and the risk of accidents due to ashfall.

A more powerful eruption brings more hazards. For example, officials from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology warned that a bigger eruption can come with a volcanic earthquake, tsunami, and pyroclastic flows (a strong current of volcanic material).

The impact of the hazards presented by each volcano is unique. It can also depend on the circumstance. For example, Taal’s eruption can potentially create a volcanic tsunami because it is right in the middle of a lake. Meanwhile, Mt. Pinatubo’s 1991 eruption resulted in a major lahar hazard because of heavy rains that followed the eruption.

The Philippines is home to more than 20 active volcanoes. The two most active are Mt. Mayon and Taal Volcano, both of which are near areas where

millions of people live. It is therefore of the utmost importance that we as a society invest in Phivolcs, NDRRMC, and other institutions that can help us respond to hazards.

As with health, it is also true with disasters that prevention is better than cure. As mentioned, one way a disaster can be averted in the event of a volcanic eruption is to minimize people’s exposure. One way this can be done is by evacuating them on time.

Another way is by looking at the vulnerability of different groups. For example, low-income communities might have greater hesitation at evacuating even when given the orders. This can be because they have fewer means of evacuating. This is also because they probably have less capability to recover from setbacks.

That is not to mention earthquakes, the other half of the dangers presented by living in the Ring of Fire.

What I hope to show here is that minimizing the risk of a disaster is not the responsibility of individual people.

Instead, it is the task of our entire society to learn about the potential hazards of living in our part of the world.

Furthermore, we should look at how we can protect especially vulnerable members of our society.

Life in the Ring of Fire requires us to help each other.

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;

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KEN STARR, CELEB LAWYER JOIN TRUMP DEFENSE TEAM

WASHINGTON—Ken Starr, who was at the center of Bill Clinton’s impeachment in the 1990s, and America’s biggest celebrity lawyer Alan Dershowitz were announced Friday to be joining President Donald Trump’s Senate impeachment defense.

The administration has yet to unveil the full team but confirmed that White House counsel Pat Cipollone will be lead lawyer, backed by Trump’s personal attorney Jay Sekulow.

“President Trump has done nothing wrong and is confident that this team will defend him, the voters, and our democracy from this baseless, illegitimate impeachment,” the White House said in a statement Friday evening.

But where Cipollone is ultra-discreet, and rarely speaks on the record, Dershowitz and Starr will bring the legal world’s equivalent of rock stardom when the trial begins on Tuesday.

US media reports said Starr, the special prosecutor in the 1998 Clinton impeachment saga, was joining the Trump legal team. He is a hero to many on the right, even if Clinton ultimately was acquitted in the Senate.

Among the first to react -- with expletive-laden astonishment -- was Monica Lewinsky, whose affair with Clinton was the subject of Starr’s investigation. AFP

CYCLONE TINO BATTERS FIJI; 2 MISSING, 3K IN SHELTERS SUVA, Fiji—Tropical Cyclone Tino strengthened to a Category Three storm Saturday as it closed in on Tonga after battering Fiji where two people were missing and more than 3,000 fled to emergency shelters.

The Fiji Meteorological Service said the wind gusts from Tino had increased to 180 kilometres per hour (110 mph) and would likely have its biggest impact in the northern areas of Tonga when it hits overnight.

The Pacific kingdom is still recovering from the devastation of Cyclone Gina two years ago which caused widespread devastation, destroying houses and crops.

“The sea is very high and I’m sure beaches are being washed away in the more exposed places and the outer islands,” Tupoutu’a Tonutonu told AFP from northern Vava’u.

“It’s been bucketing down for about three days, the soil is waterlogged and I’m hearing trees are down in the village.”

In Fiji, the National Disaster Management Office said 3,115 sought emergency shelter at the height of the storm, but most had since returned home with damage not as severe as first feared.

“We know for sure most of them went to the ECs (evacuation centres) to take shelter because of the big rains we were receiving and also because of the warnings,” Uraia Rainima, a senior government official in the northern region, said.

“We have received information that most of them are moving back to their houses.”

The island of Taveuni, with a population of around 19,000 people, was without power, Rainima said. AFP

SOKORS AMONG 7 MISSING IN HIMALAYAN AVALANCHE KATHMANDU, Nepal—An avalanche in Nepal’s Annapurna region has left at least seven people missing, including four South Koreans and three Nepalis, officials said Saturday.

The incident occurred at an altitude of around 3,230 meters (10,597 feet) close to the base camp for Annapurna, one of the highest peaks in the Himalayas, following heavy snowfall on Friday.

“We are getting reports that four South Koreans and three Nepalis are out of contact after the incident. A rescue team was dispatched last night,” Mira Dhakal of Nepal’s tourism department told AFP. Local police chief Dan Bahadur Karki said poor weather was hampering rescue efforts.

“The team is on its way. We also have a helicopter on standby to take off if the weather improves,” Karki said.

Annapurna is an avalanche-prone and technically difficult mountain and has a higher death rate than Everest, the world’s highest peak.

Education officials in South Korea said the four were part of a team of volunteer teachers working with children in Nepal. AFP

KHAMENEI: IRAN’S FOES EXPLOITING PLANE TRAGEDY

FAST FRIENDS. Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi shake hands before a bilateral meeting at the Presidential Palace in Naypyidaw on January 18. AFP

DESPITE ROHINGYA RAPS, CHINA, MYANMAR DEFIANT

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AYPYIDAW, Myanmar—China and Myanmar inked dozens of mammoth infrastructure and trade deals after a meeting Saturday between President Xi Jinping and fallen rights icon Aung San Suu Kyi, as Beijing doubles down on its support for a government under fire for its treatment of Rohingya Muslims.

The Chinese leader’s two-day state visit to Myanmar’s purpose-built capital comes as Western investors cast a wide berth around the country due to the Rohingya crisis.

A 2017 military crackdown on the Muslim minority, which UN investigators have called genocide, forced some 740,000 people over the border into Bangladesh.

Beijing has stood strongly beside Myanmar and the Asian giant is now the country’s largest investor even as distrust of its ambitions lingers among the public.

More than 30 agreements were signed Saturday on Xi’s final day of his visit—with Suu Kyi and Xi seated across from each other on long tables alongside related ministers.

Details on the amount of the package were scant but among the 33 deals was a concession and shareholders

agreement on the $1.3 billion-dollar Kyaukhphyu deepsea port and economic zone.

There was also a letter of intent for “new urban development” in Myanmar’s biggest city Yangon and feasibility studies for rail links.

The aim is to carve out a so-called “China-Myanmar Economic Corridor” -- a path of infrastructure from China’s landlocked south to Myanmar’s western Rakhine state which would serve as Beijing’s long-awaited gateway to the Indian Ocean.

The elaborate signing ceremony came between sitdown meetings with Suu Kyi and powerful army chief Min Aung Hlaing, who stands accused of masterminding the Rohingya crackdown.

After arriving Friday Xi called the visit a “historical moment” for relations between the two neighbours, according to state-run newspaper the Global New Light of Myanmar.

He also touched on the “unfairness and inequality in international relations” in what could be seen as a slight against the United States, which has sanctioned the army chief.

Myanmar leader Suu Kyi—whose reputation lays in tatters in the West’s eyes due to her defence of the army over the Rohingya crisis—said the country will always be at China’s side.

“It goes without saying that a neighbouring country has no other choice, but to stand together till the end of the world,” she said during a celebration late Friday. AFP

TEHRAN—Iran’s supreme leader said Friday that demonstrations at home over the accidental downing of a Ukrainian airliner were unrepresentative of the Iranian people and accused the country’s enemies of exploiting the disaster for propaganda purposes.

Leading the main weekly Muslim prayers in Tehran for the first time since 2012, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the January 8 incident was a “bitter” tragedy but should not be allowed to overshadow the “sacrifice” of one of Iran’s most storied commanders, assassinated in a US drone strike.

His sermon came after a traumatic month for Iran in which it approached the brink of war with the United States and mistakenly shot down the Ukrainian jet, killing all 176 people on board.

“The plane crash was a bitter accident, it burned through our heart,” Khamenei said in an address punctuated by cries of “Death to America” from the congregation.

“But some tried to... portray it in a way to forget the great martyrdom and sacrifice” of Major General Qasem Soleimani, the head of the foreign operations arm of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards who was assassinated in Baghdad on January 3.

Khamenei said Iran’s enemies had tried to use the plane tragedy to undermine the Islamic republic.

“Our enemies were as happy about the plane crash as we were sad,” he said.

“The spokesmen of the vicious American government keep repeating that we stand with the people of Iran. You’re lying,” Khamenei said.

He also slammed Britain, France and Germany, which on Tuesday decided to trigger a dispute mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, following US threats to impose tariffs on European cars.

“It has been proven now, after about a year, that they are, in the true sense of the word, America’s lackeys,” he said. AFP

AUSSIE FARMERS COUNT COST AS BUSHFIRES KILL 100K LIVESTOCK KANGAROO ISLAND, Australia— In the wake of ferocious bushfires that tore through Kangaroo Island, local farmer Rick Morris has endured the gruelling task of burying 400 sheep killed when most of his sprawling property went up in flames.

“It puts it in perspective to say that we’re one of the lucky ones,” he said.

Australia is reeling from bushfires that since September have claimed 28 lives, including two on Kangaroo Island, and razed 10 million hectares (25 million acres) of land -- an area larger than South Korea or Portugal.

Vast swathes of the burned

land were used for grazing cattle and sheep, and officials believe the livestock toll exceeds 100,000 across Australia -- including at least 43,000 on Kangaroo Island alone, where farmers like Morris endured three blazes in just 10 days.

“We faced the full wrath of Mother Nature,” he told AFP at his 930-hectare (2,300-acre) farm.

“The fire (swept) from the south side to the north side of the island and took no prisoners between...

I’m amazed there were not more people killed.”

Faced with the scale of the disaster, Australia’s army has deployed 3,000 soldiers to assist in bushfireaffected areas.

Here, the defence force flew in firefighters from the mainland and dropped bales of hay from helicopters to farmers isolated by fires in the island’s western reaches.

Brigadier Damian Cantwell, the joint bushfire task force commander for South Australia state, said he foresaw a “long road ahead” for Kangaroo Island.

“I’ve seen a level of destruction which is still surprising me now,” he told AFP. “There’s a lot of farmers that are in distress, a lot of community members are struggling, some families have lost everything, and they’re struggling to find out

where they can move forward from here,” he said.

“There’s no end date assigned to this mission, and it’s very important that there’s no sense of anyone... thinking about when this is going to end.”

Kangaroo Island’s agriculture industry is worth Aus$150 million (US$100 million), and farming is the island’s biggest employer.

Local agronomist Daniel Pledge said farmers would need to buy extra feed for their livestock, pasture seed to restore burned paddocks and animals would be likely to conceive at lower rates due to stress—causing lasting impacts from the fires. AFP

AMAZONIAN LEADERS ACCUSE BRAZIL OF ‘GENOCIDE’ TACK PIARACU, Brazil—Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s pledge to open up the Amazon to mining companies was tantamount to “genocide”, indigenous leaders said Friday at a meeting to oppose the government’s environmental policies.

Hundreds of elders gathered this week at Pairacu, deep in the rainforest, to form a united front against Bolsonaro’s environmental policies, which have seen deforestation in the jungle nearly double since the Brazilian leader came to power a year ago.

“Our aim was to join forces and denounce the fact that the Brazilian government’s political policy of genocide, ethnocide and ecocide is under way,” the group said in a draft manifesto drawn up at the end of the summit.

“We do not accept mining on our lands, loggers, illegal fishermen or hydroelectricity. We are opposed to any-

thing that destroys the forest,” the text said.

They also said that “government threats and hate speech” had encouraged violence against Amazon communities and demanded punishment for the murder of indigenous leaders.

At least eight indigenous leaders were killed last year.

Brazil’s leading indigenous chief, Raoni Metuktire, said Thursday he would personally travel to the capital Brasilia to present the meeting’s demands to Congress.

“Over there, I’m going to ask Bolsonaro why he speaks so badly about the indigenous peoples,” said the 89-yearold leader of the Kayapo tribe.

Preliminary data collected by the National Institute for Space Research showed an 85 percent increase in Amazon deforestation last year when compared to 2018. AFP

WASTE FASHION. Designer Becca Donohue shows off her gown made of old newspaper microcell film at the Rubbish to Runway fashion show at the Galleries at Lynn Arts in Lynn, Massachusets, on January 17. Designs are made from re-purposed materials donated and collected by local designers and turned into dresses, gowns and jackets.

Proceeds raised from the event go to support the art at Galleries at Lynn Arts and the Long Way Home Foundation which helps build sustainable housing in Guatemala. AFP

Images

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

LIFE GOES ON. A fisherman paddles his makeshift boat made from bamboo at the foot of a mountain (top) covered in mud and ash due to the eruption of the Taal Volcano in Laurel, Batangas on Jan. 16. AFP

EVACUATION CENTER. A general view shows the Dona Tiburcia Carpio Malvar Elementary School used

GREY AS ASH. A general view shows a house covered with ash from the Taal Volcano eruption, near

TENT CITY. Residents affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano gather at an evacuation centre in

PACKING AID. Volunteers and staff of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Pasay City help arrange relief goods to be sent to evacuation centers in Batangas following the Taal eruption. Norman Cruz

as an evacuation center for families displaced by the eruption of the Taal volcano in Tanauan on Jan. 16. AFP

Tagaytay City, Cavite on Jan. 17. AFP

Laurel on Jan. 18. AFP

STILL SMILING.

A volunteer worker for the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Pasay City received a box of bottled water to be sent to evacuation centers in Batangas following the Taal eruption on Sunday.

Norman Cruz

INC IN ACTION. Humanitarian effort shifts to high gear for calamity victims: Taal evacuees receive aid anew. INC Public Information Office

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Riera U. Mallari, Editor sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Sports

GIN KINGS’ NEXT GOAL: PHILIPPINE CUP CROWN

By Arman Carandang

B

ARANGAY Ginebra coach Tim Cone has already been talking about the PBA Philippine Cup as their next target, barely less than 48 hours after the Gin Kings’ triumph in the Governors’ Cup. And the Gin Kings seemed more determined more than ever this time, considering the prestigious AllFilipino conference is still a good two months away.

“We are certainly going to go for it,” said Cone following the Gin Kings’ titleclinching 105-93 win Friday before a capacity crowd at the Mall Asia Arena.

The Philippine Cup—the crown jewel in every PBA season—is presumably the toughest to win among the three crowns as the two other conferences— Commissioner’s Cup and Governors’ Cup—are both import-laced.

However, the Gin Kings have handsome chances of winning the next Philippine Cup since their lineup has become more formidable following the acquisition of Stanley Pringle.

Add to that the fact that the Gin Kings’ earlier acquisitions have been doing pretty fine and contributed to the team’s cause in the just-concluded series.

“We feel like we have the tools,” said Cone, his voice interrupted several times by the wild celebration that followed Ginebra’s win.

And Cone was quick to make mention of Pringle, as well as Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter, and even Scottie Thompson, who, the league’s most accomplished bench tactician believed was worthy of being named co-finals’ most valuable player.

For Cone, the sweet-shooting Pringle, whom Ginebra acquired from NorthPort in a previous trade, would be the team’s ‘anchor’ while both Aguilar and Slaughter will have to make their presence felt in the absence of imports.

“Stanley’s there as an anchor for the team. Japeth [Aguilar] and Greg

Members of the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings celebrate their Governors’ Cup title conquest.

[Slaughter], they kind of take a step back usually when the imports come but it’s their time to step forward,” stressed Cone.

“I think we will have exciting rookies that are coming to the team and I think we will be a more complete allFilipino team,” added Cone.

What makes Cone all the more optimistic about the All-Filipino diadem is they have more time to prepare and do experiments during the break in anticipation of the great challenges his Gin Kings stand to get in the kickoff conference.

The Philippine Cup, for one, is an opportune time for the rest of the teams to launch revenge and make up for lost opportunities in the season that has just passed.

“We are going to have a substantial break so we will be able to recharge our batteries and get keyed up for the all-Filipino,” said Cone.

The Gin Kings had won the Phil-

ippine Cup three times already, but they have never won again since a team handled by Jong Uichico defeated San Miguel Beer in six games during the 20016-2007 season.

Cone, however, maintained that winning the Philippine Cup won’t be an easy task, more so since other teams, including San Miguel, Alaska, Talk ‘N Text and Rain or Shine, are armed with great motivations in the All-Filipino, which will start on March 1.

First of all, the Beermen are eyeing a sixth straight conference title, and Cone is well convinced other teams have also improved to become tough contenders.

“There is still June Mar [Fajardo] and San Miguel, Talk ‘N Text and their ability to beat you up and down the court from the perimeter, NLEX is coming in,” said Cone.

“So many teams getting better.

NorthPort with Standhardinger and Anthony over there. I’m not sure

when Bolick is going to come back but he will make an impact in that team. CJ Perez is around the league, rookies coming in, everybody is going to be better,” said Cone.

“We know it’s going to be tough.

There’s going to be a lot of other teams that have something to say about it but we are going for it,” said Cone.

Cone is hoping the recent conquest of the Governors’ Cup will boost the team come the Philippine Cup. “We hope that we can use this conference to gain momentum into the all-Filipino,” said Cone, who added another gem in his collection with his victory in the Governors’ Cup. He now has 22 championships, although he did it in three teams. It’s interesting to note however that of the 22, he had only four All Filipino crowns to speak of—three with the Alaska Aces he first handled in his storied career, and one with the SanMig Coffee during the team’s Grand Slam year in 2014.

EXPERIENCE ALL-ORIGINAL FILIPINO OCR SERIES INSPIRED by the gallantry of the ancient Filipino warrior, Maharlika is the country’s first and all original Filipino OCR series. With courses derived from local epikos and folklore, the homegrown brand aims to elevate the OCR experience through a narrative that is relatable most especially to Filipinos.

COURSE ONE: BAKUNAWA Set against the historic backdrop of Intramuros, Maharlika’s first ever course is inspired by the moon-eating beast, Bakunawa. With 6 kilometers and over 20 obstacles—spanning from Fort Santiago to Baluarte de San Gabriel—the twists and turns of the race is designed to mimic the body of the dragon-serpent and its legendary story.

“We are an all original Filipino-inspired OCR series so there was no other choice but Intramuros. It’s a cultural

cradle with so much historical weight and part of this new armada of stories is Maharlika,” says Stephen Ku, CEO of WorldWide Womb Asia.

According to Philippine mythology, Bakunawa is believed to be the cause of eclipses, earthquakes, rains, and wind; and served as a geomantic calendar system for ancient Filipinos. “We wanted to create a parallel story between this creature and the obstacles.

Something that will resonate not just to those looking for a new obstacle course race but also to those who want to relive these folklores from our past. Longtime OCR fans will also enjoy the challenge as our 6km course is designed by our race director, certified strength and conditioning coach and endurance athlete Gabb Rosario,” adds Stephen.

Aside from celebrating our roots and the unique Filipino spirit, part of Maha-

rlika’s objective is to open up obstacle course race to a wider audience with different fitness levels. This year, the all-new OCR series calls for Mandirigma (Beginner) or those new to obstacle course race, Sultan (Age-Gender) or those who are ready to compete with their own tribe in

the same age-group, and Alamat (Elite) or those legendary racers who can easily conquer the course against other experienced racers.

The Mandirigma category places all beginner racers together in one cluster, regardless of age and gender, all working together to conquer the course. The Sultan category divides racers by age groups as they compete to finish fast and strong.

Racers who will join the Alamat category will be separated by gender, as they compete to be recognized as the ultimate legendary Maharlika of their kind.

Early bird tickets start at 1800. Regular tickets at 2150 for Mandirigma (Beginner), 2650 for Sultan (Age-Group), and 2750 for Alamat (Elite).

For more details, visit www.maharlikawarrior.com and follow Maharlika Warrior on Facebook and @themaharlikawarrior on Instagram.

GLOBE AMBASSADOR EALA BARGES INTO WORLD’S TOP 10

Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO with tennis sensation Alex Eala

TENNIS prodigy and Globe Ambassador Alex Eala got a tremendous boost several days before the start of the first Grand Slam tournament of the year after being ranked 9th in the latest ITF World Juniors Ranking, the highest Southeast Asian tennis player in the Top 10.

Eala has earned 1,452.50 points in the updatedITF World Junior rankings to join the top 10 best tennis players in the world.

In doing so, Eala secured a spot in the main draw of the 2020 Australian Open, the first of four Grand Slam events she is set to compete in this year.

“I couldn’t have made it without you. Thank you Rafa Nadal Academy, Globe Telecom and Babolat,” Eala posted on her Facebook account.

A Globe Ambassador for the last four years, the company has been sponsoring the tennis sensation since she was eight years old.

Eala is also a scholar at the prestigious tennis academy in Spain owned by the world’s number one player Rafael Nadal.

“We are so proud of what Alex has achieved so far. Like what I have said so many times before, Alex can accomplish whatever she wants as long as she continues to work hard, persevere and focus on her goals. We wish her well on the upcoming Australian Open and we call all our “kababayans” to rally once more behind Alex as she competes against the world’s best,” said Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO.

After finishing the 2018 season ranked 248th in the world, the 14-year-old Eala had a breakthrough run last year to jump to a then career best 13th last October. She improved two notches higher after winning the title in the Orange Bowl doubles tournament in Florida last December to come within a spot in breaking the elite Top 10 best players of the world.

Eala will start her 2020 season by competing in the Traralgon junior international event on January 17.

This will serve as her warm-up tournament before opening her Australian Open bid.

The 2020 Australian Open Juniors Tournament unfolds in Melbourne on January 25 until February 1.

PGT ASIA TO RESUME AT PRADERA VERDE HELD back by Taal Volcano’s eruption last week, the Philippine Golf Tour Asia brings the circuit to Central Luzon beginning Tuesday (Jan. 21) with a stellar international field ready and raring to slug it out for top honors in the ICTSI Pradera Verde Classic in Lubao, Pampanga.

A power duel looms among the tour’s big hitters given the width and length of the Pradera layout spruced up to championship form in time for the event serving as one of the last two legs of the milestone third season of the region’s emerging circuit that spilled over to 2020.

The PGTA was actually set to hold the last two tournaments at Eagle Ridge in Gen. Trias, Cavite but the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. called it off last week to ensure the safety and health of the participants, caddies and other personnel due to volcanic ash.

But the delay and the transfer of the event to another venue only make the field eager to mix it up, guaranteeing a slam-bang start to the $100,000 championship put up by ICTSI and backed by PLDT Enterprise, Meralco, BDO and PGT Asia official apparel Pin High.

Frontrunner Tony Lascuña, for one, goes all out for a victory as he zeroes in on his first PGTA Order of Merit title with second-running Aussie Tim Stewart, who ruled the CAT Open leg at Luisita last Oct., opting to skip the event.

But defending OOM champion and third-running Clyde Mondilla is in the fold, along with the other local aces, including last year’s Pradera champion Jhonnel Ababa and other leg winners Jobim Carlos, Jay Bayron, James Ryan Lam and Aussie Damien Jordan.

Former amateur hotshot Lloyd Go is also in the list as one of the invitees who include Japanese Toru Nakajima and Yuta Sudo, Aussie Joe Knox, Finland’s Sean Avellan, Korean Lee Sangun, and Americans Sydney Chung and Jeremy Wendelken.

Other foreign tipped to contend for the top $17,500 purse are Peter Stojanovski of Macedonia, Josh Salah, George Twyman, Charles Lee and Lexus Keoninh of the US, Aussies Jack Lane-Weston and Fidel Concepcion, Spain’s Marcos Pastor and Salvador Paya Vila, Japanese Keita Sudo, Koreans Seok Jun Min and Shin Seung Woo, Thai Pachara Sakulyong, Venezuelan Rafael Parra and Scotland’s Julian Hood and Ryan Hood.

Boosting the local challenge are Michael Bibat, Jerson Balasabas, Elmer Salvador, Reymon Jaraula, Ira Alido, Justin Quiban, Rufino Bayron, Mars Pucay, Nilo Salahog, Gerald Rosales, Mhark Fernando, Anthony Fernando and Arnold Villacencio.

ADAMSON NAILS 2ND WIN ADAMSON University turned up the shooting and fended off University of Santo Tomas, 81-70, to take their second consecutive win in as many games in UAAP Season 82 High School Girls’ Basketball Tournament, Saturday at Paco Arena.

Team captain Crisnalyn Padilla was instrumental in the victory for the Lady Baby Falcons after finishing with 20 points on 7-of11 shooting to go along with nine assists, four steals, and two rebounds.

“Good job sa mga players kasi lahat ng tinuro namin especially yung play kasi nae-execute nila yung play. Nae-execute nila yung good defense,” said Adamson head coach Ewon Arayi as her team came off a 121-44 win over Ateneo on opening day.

In the following game, De La Salle-Zobel entered the win column after dominating Ateneo High Shcool, 105-36.

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Business

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

AUSTRALIAN LAUNCHES MORTGAGE BROKERAGE IN PH A

N AUSTRALIAN national, who has been living in the Philippines for nearly a decade, launched the first mortgage brokerage in the country that is expected to bring the real estate sector to the next level.

“We are the first [online mortgage broker platform] here. We help you compare banks, side by side. We help you secure the best bank for you and your circumstance,” says Chris Elder, the founder and CEO of Nook Asia Pacific Limited, a company based in Eastwood, Quezon City.

Nook is a property financial technology company that helps Filipinos find, compare loan products and experience a seamless loan application process online. It serves as an intermediary between mortgage loan applicants and banks. Mortgage refers to a loan secured by an individual from a bank to purchase a house, land or condominium unit.

“Our model is based on mortgage brokering which globally is a multi-billion-dollar industry.

What we are simply doing is bringing an already existing successful model to the Philippines. This is not new. We are not inventing anything new.

We just bring it to the Philippines, and we are adding technology to make it much quicker and easier,” he says.

He says Filipinos are still intimidated to start their home loan search because of various reasons, including not knowing whether they are qualified to borrow from any of the local banks for a housing loan. Nook, therefore, was designed to make applying for a home loan simpler and easier through its website, which allows users to evaluate the most optimal loan option for their target properties.

“Applying for a home loan here in the Philippines can be a tedious and intimidating process. Before prospective clients even begin, they are already overwhelmed with the long list of requirements or the time they need to set aside to accomplish all the application steps. We aim to address this with Nook. We offer users an end-to-end platform, from property search to bank approvals, empowering more Filipinos to gain seamless access to financial options available to them,” he says.

Elder, who is married to a Filipina, has been living in Eastwood for the past 10 years. He became an official Philippine resident five years ago and saw the rapid expansion of the residential real estate sector.

On why he chose to launch Nook in the country, he says: “This is a big untapped market, and we are the first here which presents a great opportunity.”

“We partner with banks. Right now, if you want to get a loan, it requires you to travel from bank to bank to collect all the requirements and stuff like that. For us, you just get online and you fill up just a few questions and then you can compare all the banks side by side, rather than trying to manually do it yourself,” says Elder, who is a member of the Entrepreneurs Organization.

He was an accountant and IT consultant in Australia before managing a services firm that was sold to a private equity-backed European company. He then spent the next two years as a management consultant to fast-growth companies in the Asia Pacific region, including Hong Kong, the Philippines and Australia. He established Nook in 2018.

Nook currently employs 19 individuals in Eastwood, but Elder says the plan is to hire dozens of property consultants to support the growth of Nook nationwide. Its business model is based on commission from every successful transaction with banks.

He says Nook is beneficial for both borrowers and banks. “There is no loan application fee. If you go directly to the bank, you pay for loan application. Manually comparing banks is very difficult because you don’t know how much the

Nook CEO Chris Elder

monthly repayments will be and you also don’t know which banks you are truly qualified for. You don’t know until you submit all the applications to the bank and wait for them to come back,” he says.

Elder says Nook provides free comparison of the loan products. “After that, you just simply select which bank that you want to apply for, and we guide you through the whole process. We do that for free. It is free because banks pay us for commission,” he says.

Nook allows borrowers to get a preview of the amount of monthly repayments they have to make, fees and other requirements from each bank and get pre-qualified in just a few minutes. Elder says Nook will help clients in every step of their housing loan process, together with Nook home loan consultants, free of charge.

Elder says Nook is a completely free platform.

Among its bank partners are AUB, BDO, BPI Family Savings Bank, Bank of Commerce, CTBC, Chinabank, RCBC and Security Bank. “We look to bring five more banks to the platform,” he says.

He says banks, in partnership with Nook can reduce resources and time in qualifying a home loan borrower. “We are delivering pre-qualified, ready-to-go home loan borrowers. Banks waste a lot of time assessing loan applications from people who are not qualified. They also waste a lot of time assessing applications from people who are just shopping around and who end up going for another bank in the end. For us, we are giving them ready to go customers that do not waste their time,” says Elder.

Nook uses a three-step process to help

customers. “We use algorithm to work out whether you are qualified and which bank you are qualified for. What we do is we qualify the borrowers and the bank verifies them. We qualify to make sure they are able to lend, and then the bank verifies to make sure they are credit-worthy,” says Elder.

He is confident about the company ’s performance in the coming years. “The Philippines is an emerging economy. The real estate loans here are growing at 10.6 percent. We have a lot to thank for Lazada and Shopee for showing that if you provide a good online experience, people will use it. Now is the time for Nook to launch in the Philippines,” he says.

“Because it is already based on a successful model, we are forecasting rapid growth, but not straightaway, because people want to understand what mortgage brokering is. But over the coming years, slowly and surely people will understand it more. Globally, it is massive,” says Elder, referring to the mortgage brokering business.

He says in countries such as Australia and the United States, more than 60 percent and 68 percent of borrowers respectively go through mortgage brokers instead of direct-bank applications to secure a housing loan.

Elder says as a property portal, Nook is free to use for all brokers, agents and property owners.

“What Nook offers is direct access to bank partners for your home loans with the easiest application process you can get. It is time that the Philippines recognize how technology can transform the home loan process from application to closing,” he says. Roderick T. dela Cruz

ADB president Masatsugu Asakawa

ASAKAWA ASSUMES OFFICE AS 10TH ADB PRESIDENT MASATSUGU Asakawa assumed office as the 10th president of the Asian Development Bank on Jan. 17, 2020.

“I am honored to assume the role of ADB president and to begin working in close cooperation with our 68 members. ADB has been a trusted partner of the region for more than half a century, supporting strong growth that has improved the lives of people across Asia and the Pacific. I will strive to ensure ADB remains the preferred choice of its clients and partners,” Asakawa said.

Asakawa succeeded Takehiko Nakao, who stepped down on Jan. 16, 2020.

In a career spanning close to four decades, Asakawa has held a range of senior positions at the Ministry of Finance of Japan, including vice minister of finance for international affairs and gained diverse professional experience in development policy, foreign exchange markets and international tax policy.

He served as finance deputy for the 2019 G20 Osaka Summit and the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Fukuoka, Japan. Furthermore, in the immediate aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis, he took part in the first G20 Leaders’ Summit Meeting in his capacity as executive assistant to then Prime Minister Taro Aso. Asakawa has had frequent engagement with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, including as chair of the committee on fiscal affairs from 2011 to 2016.

Asakawa’s extensive international experience includes service as chief advisor to ADB president Kimimasa Tarumizu between 1989 and 1992, during which period he spearheaded the creation of a new office in ADB focused on strategic planning.

“I am thrilled to be in Manila, where I will dedicate myself to ADB members in the region and beyond, while listening carefully to their voices. With the expertise of ADB staff, and by further enhancing its effectiveness and efficiency, I am confident that ADB can stand up to the challenges that the region faces.

I pledge to do my best to achieve a more prosperous, inclusive, resilient and sustainable Asia and the Pacific,” Asakawa said.

Asakawa served as a visiting professor at the University of Tokyo from 2012 to 2015 and at Saitama University from 2006 to 2009.

He obtained his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tokyo in 1981 and MPA from Princeton University in 1985.

ADB, established in 1966, is owned by 68 members, including 49 from the region.

HUNDREDS OF FARMERS BENEFIT FROM YAMANG BUKID SCHOLARSHIP YAMANG Bukid Farm, Palawan’s top farm tourism destination, has helped hundreds of scholars realize their dream of completing agriculturerelated short courses in December 2019.

In partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the farm tourism destination in Puerto Princesa City’s Barangay Bacungan was the venue of over a month of instructions on various agriculture-related short courses.

The national certificate level II (NC-II) accredited programs included courses on organic fertilizer making (three batches), hog raising (two batches), field budding and grafting (one batch), propagation activities leading to horticulture (one batch) and animal production for poultry-chicken (two batches).

Bro. George Maria, Yamang Bukid Farm Palawan vice president for community relations, said the

scholarships were handed to beneficiaries under the auspices of the office of Palawan 3rd District Rep. Gil Acosta Jr. Scholar-graduates were also awarded TESDA certification on production of various concoctions leading to agriculture crops production (one batch), plants crops leading to agricultural crops production (one batch) and land preparation for agricultural crops production with three batches.

TESDA has been pushing for farming education particularly in rural communities in a bid to revitalize the stagnating agricultural sector.

The more than 20-hectare farm destination, which has been popular for well-manicured sunflower gardens, became the latest addition of learning sites for sustainable and organic way of farming after it was accredited as such by the Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Training Institute as well as a farm school by TESDA.

Business

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IN BRIEF Q2 TO HOLD 5TH HR CONFAB IN MARCH

Q2 HR Solutions is inviting human resource leaders and decision makers, senior leaders of growing organizations and entrepreneurs to attend the 5TH HR Innovation Conference on March 19, 2020 at Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City.

Acknowledged as the country’s leading full-service HR company, Q2 HR Solutions’ wide range of services includes sourcing and recruitment, HR outsourcing, managed services, background investigation, organizational consultation and development, assessments and other bespoke HR solutions. It currently has more than 4,000 deployed employees, and to date has served over 1,000 clients.

With the theme Accelerate: Advancing Organizational Growth in Disruptive Times, the conference will feature renowned HR experts across Southeast Asia as well as industry thought leaders who will share HR best practices, and key insights from their respective fields of expertise. The event will bring to the table useful tools to anticipate and manage organizational change, a highly relevant discussion in the HR industry today.

It will offer participants global best practices and tactics on change management from industry thought leaders through immersive workshops. “We will share practical tools in diagnosing and building their own organization’s change roadmaps,” said Sarah McLeod, managing director of Q2 HR Solutions.

CITICORE JOINS RELIEF ASSISTANCE

CITICORE, a renewable energy company, has joined other private companies in providing relief assistance in Batangas province.

Citicore, in cooperation with the firm’s Citicore Foundation, has mobilized employees on Jan. 16 to volunteer in the distribution of Malasakit packs composed of 5,000 bottles of drinking water, 500 cup noodles, 1,000 assorted clothes and undergarments, 100 mats and 150 blankets for the victims of Taal Volcano’s eruption.

Citicore Foundation visited evacuation centers in the towns of Alitagtag, Balayan and Tuy in Batangas province.

Citicore president Oliver Tan said the company and its foundation are continuously coordinating with other concerned local government units in order to extend more relief assistance to other affected areas.

“Our teams are also helping in assessing immediate needs of the affected residents,” Tan said.

“Citicore would like to extend whatever help we can to the affected residents especially to senior citizens as they are the ones most vulnerable to respiratory diseases brought about by the ash fall,” he said.

COCA-COLA DONATES 40,000 LITERS OF WATER

AFTER the recent significant volcanic activity in Taal Volcano, with affected communities relocated to outside possible danger zones, Coca-Cola immediately mobilized volunteers for relief operations and served as among first responders.

Working together with local government units and non-government organizations, the Coca-Cola System distributed over 40,000 liters of Wilkins water to thousands of families in evacuation centers—among them, the Batangas Provincial Sports Complex, the Provincial Capitol of Cavite and in Barangay Kanluran in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. More will be distributed to affected areas in the coming days.

Coca-Cola’s facilities in South Luzon—such as Sta. Rosa, Canlubang, and Silangan in Laguna—were also affected by Taal’s unrest, and CCBPIprioritized the safety and welfare of its personnel.

“We here at Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. offer our deepest sympathies to the families and communities surrounding Taal as they weather this calamity,” said Gareth McGeown, CEO of CCBPI. “As we join relevant authorities in monitoring the situation and fervently hope that no further devastation will occur, we are prepared to further provide assistance to all communities in need. We will continue to embody and champion the culture of malasakit,” he said.

NESTLÉ LEADS SHIFT TO FOOD-GRADE PLASTICS

NESTLÉ said it is investing up to CHF 2 billion (Swiss franc) to lead the shift from virgin plastics to food-grade recycled plastics and accelerate the development of innovative sustainable packaging solutions.

Building on its 2018 commitment to make 100 percent of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025, Nestlé will reduce its use of virgin plastics by a third in the same period while working with others to advance the circular economy and endeavor to clean up plastic waste from oceans, lakes and rivers.

Food quality and safety are paramount, and packaging plays a major role in assuring this. Most plastics are difficult to recycle for food packaging, leading to a limited supply of food-grade recycled plastics. To create a market, Nestlé says it is committed to sourcing up to 2 million metric tons of food-grade recycled plastics and allocating more than CHF1.5 billion to pay a premium for these materials between now and 2025.

“No plastic should end up in landfill or as litter,” said Mark Schneider, CEO of Nestlé.

“Making recycled plastics safe for food is an enormous challenge for our industry. That is why in addition to minimizing plastics use and collecting waste, we want to close the loop and make more plastics infinitely recyclable.

We are taking bold steps to create a wider market for food-grade recycled plastics and boost innovation in the packaging industry.

We welcome others to join us on this journey.”

STADA NAMES FILIPINA GENERAL MANAGER

By Jobe R. Garcia

S

TADA, a German pharmaceutical company that provides affordable generic and over-the-counter medicines, named Sharmaine Abarientos as the first general manager of its Philippine unit.

The Philippine unit began as Croma Medic Inc. in 1986 as an ophthalmic distributor and later on ventured into consumer healthcare. In 2008, Stada Arzneimittel AG acquired 100 percent of the company. It adopted the Stada branding in 2018 and by the end of 2019, Stada acquired the skin care brand of GlaxoSmithKline’s Oilatum.

Oilatum is one of the well-known and trusted skin-care brands in the Philippines which is designed to provide daily treatment regimen to reduce the occurrence of dry skin and eczema.

Under her leadership, Abarientos aims to expand the current line-up by launching consumer brands in the Philippines such as the full-range of Oilatum products and Zerochol, a plant-based cholesterol-lowering product. Stada also looks at acquisition of local companies in the country.

“It’s because of market dynamics. Stada also wants to be holistic in terms of its offering to the customers and it so happened that the recent acquisitions of Stada globally are in the consumer line, so last year, Stada in Germany acquired Thornton and Ross, which is known for the consumer brands and under that was Natures Aid. By mid of last year, Stada acquired consumer brands of GlaxoSmithKline, so I guess that started the advent of acquisition of the consumer line. I think that paved the way for the shift in direction into not just being a generic company but also venturing into the consumer business,” Abarientos says.

On her vision for the company, Abarientos says it is “very ambitious”.

“I always tell this during our meetings that I do believe in the law of attraction. In everything that I do, I always put a picture in what I want.

I really want to take Stada Philippines to greater heights. I want Stada Philippines to be a major player not just in prescription or the pharmaceutical market but also in the consumer segment. I want it to be recognized as a trusted company not just by our external customers but also of our own team, of our employees. That is really how I see Stada Philippines in the near future,” she says.

“Personally, if you really believe in something that would easily influence your team, very critical is that you are supported by your leadership team in putting that vision into a reality, so I handpick the leadership team. Most of them are people that I have worked with before that I know how committed they are, and this leadership team should share the same passion and dedication as well in attaining the vision for the company and I always believe in open communication,” she says.

“My major focus is the people, and they are my inspiration and my motivation. I share this vision to everyone, to each of the employees of Stada Philippines and as much as I can. I also take initiative to share this vision even to the outsiders of the company so that they would know that there is Stada who can, whose vision is really to provide quality, affordable healthcare solutions

Stada Philippines general manager Sharmaine Abarientos

to our country,” says Abarientos.

When asked about her view on women taking on the job in the healthcare industry, Abarientos says women nowadays are willing to step up and are more assertive of how they feel. She says there are more opportunities in the corporate sector for women leaders, and the industry is already recognizing it.

Abarientos says her core foundation on improving Stada’s team boils down to prioritizing everything.

“I really have to handpick people who have the expertise in the specific departments that will help me. Not only that, I wanted also someone that would fit in the culture that we would like to build that sometimes no matter how competent that person is, if he does not fit into the culture, he cannot maximize his strength. You have to be comfortable in the environment that they are living in, so that you can really draw the potential of the person. So when I usually do interviews, more than the skills which you can really look at the CV [curriculum vitae], I really look into how well he/she will blend with other people in the company, how well he/she would fit in the culture

ZEN ROOMS MOVES HEADQUARTERS TO PH ZEN Rooms, the leading budget and mid-range hotel franchise in the region, is moving its headquarters to the Philippines.

“We are placing the heart of our company in one of the most hospitable nations in the world. By having our headquarters in the Philippines, we believe we can build the strongest hospitality team in the region,” said ZEN co-founder Nathan Boublil.

ZEN recognizes the countr y ’s growing economy and potential for innovation. Even in a time of global uncertainties, the Philippine economy remains bullish with GDP growth of 6.2 percent in the third quarter of 2019. An Oxford Economics study shows that the Philippines will be the top driver, after India, of global economic growth over the next decade, beating China.

At the same time, the country’s accommodation market is still plagued with inefficiencies, such as high prices, low safety and poor maintenance.

Deeper presence of ZEN is a promise to further disrupt the market and solve the issues bit by bit. “ We wa nt to t ra n s fo r m t h e Philippines accommodation market with our technological and operational solutions to improve its safety and value-for-money. By using this market as a base to trial market-leading technologies, we can successfully scale them across the region,” said Nathan.

ZEN’s shift to the Philippines will offer a boost to the local economy and its people. With a median age of 23, the country has a large and growing young population with high literacy levels, making it one of Asia’s premier Labor markets. ZEN has already created 400 jobs and is creating more each month.

Initiatives launched by ZEN, such as its Internal Hospitality School, provide new career opportunities to its participants and graduates.

“There are many who started with us as junior housekeepers and today they

STARTING SUCCESSFULLY: WHAT START-UPS SHOULD KNOW THE Philippines is a budding ground for startups. According to Startup Genome’s Global Startup Ecosystem Report, Manila is among the top five capitals in the world for startup activations.

The Manila startup scene’s appeal to entrepreneurs stems from the country’s competitive English-speaking labor pool and supportive government policies that give tax breaks and ease startup registration.

Having begun as a start-up over 25 years ago, Globis University, Japan’s No. 1 MBA school, shares insights on how to increase one’s chances of startup success: GET INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE Having a community of valuable and resourceful people is important in broadening one’s perspective, honing

that we would like to build,” she says.

As first general manager of Stada Philippines, Abarientos wants to build a culture of openness and transparency in the company. Within a few years with Stada, Abarientos was able to create an immediate and significant impact, most especially on the growth of the Philippine unit, both within the organization and external relations.

Prior to joining STADA, Abarientos was a senior product manager of Abbott from 2007 to 2010; market development manager of Baxter International Inc. from 2010 to 2011; business unit manager of Cambert Pilipinas, a distributor of oral care products like Sansfluo and Xywhite and Lauat Hair Care, from 2011 to 2014; and senior product manager of Servier, a French pharmaceutical company from 2014 to 2018. Abarientos joined Stada in September 2018 as the commercial director.

Abarientos studied at Angeles University Foundation where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy. She took up her Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Management at the University of the Philippines.

critical thinking skills and understanding the business landscape. One way to achieve this is to immerse oneself in an international setting, and for those who want to venture into startups, Japan is one of the top choices.

Emerging at the top of the 2019 Best Countries for Entrepreneurship, Japan’s well-developed infrastructure, innovative environment, and technological expertise make the country a good place to train oneself in the art of business.

Located at the hear t of Tokyo, Globis University immerses aspiring entrepreneurs from different parts of the world in an environment where they can learn best practices and innovative solutions that they can integrate in their own ventures.

STRIVE FOR DIVERSITY Mckinsey’s Delivering Through Diversity 2017 report showed that companies that are gender diverse are likely to profit 21 percent more than those that are not, while companies that are culturally and ethnically diverse were 33 percent more likely to provide better business results than those that are homogenous.

Additionally, a more culturally diverse workplace tends to retain and attract top talent as inclusivity empowers professionals and encourages honing of skills and expertise.

manage full properties,” Boublil says. “We are grateful to see how talents thrive when given an opportunity and support.

We reward people for taking ownership and nurture their entrepreneurial spirit.”

“We see so much potential in the country’s young generation as their creativity and optimism is what makes them stand out and it is absolutely admirable. For that reason we launched Founders Philippines in September last year, to provide a platform for like-minded people to meet, learn how to build their

own business and find solutions to the problems they face on that journey,” he says.

For a lot of people, ZEN is the starting point in their careers, with some eventually venturing out to open their own businesses, applying what they have learned from the company. “We are proud to see their success and keep supporting them along the way,” Boublil says.

ZEN knows all the hard work that goes into building and operating a hotel from the ground up. It is very handson in operating over 300 ZEN properties in 30 cities around the Philippines and 1,000 hotels across the region.

Boublil says with ZEN’s headquarters now in the Philippines, the company expects more growth towards its goal of regional expansion, providing more opportunities for local talents and entrepreneurs along with safer and more affordable travel options for everyone.

Globis University cites diversity as one of its important features that helped its graduates become successful.

With its wide and diverse network of professionals from over 50 countries, the student body has an almost equal ratio of men and women, creating a supportive and empowering environment that encourages critical think ing and creativity—important factors that drive business productivity.

EXPAND YOUR NETWORK Especially for startups that need mentorship and guidance, a good solid network is a goldmine of insights and resources as well as investors, customers and supporters. To cultivate these relationships, it is important to maximize networking opportunities like startup mixers and industry-related conferences and seminars.

Apart from the school’s established Online MBA that connects industry experts in the Globis faculty and students from all over the world, Globis University

also organizes the Globis Venture Challenge and the G-Startup initiatives which not only help students jumpstart their business but also allow them to meet and work with globally-minded individuals that could help them in their careers.

While the Philippines is in a good position to build a strong ecosystem where startups could thrive, aspiring entrepreneurs can maximize the landscape by developing a mindset that can help them think globally, creatively and meaningfully.

“With today’s fast-changing and competitive environment, starting a business is a challenging endeavour,” Globis president and founder Yoshito Hori said. “Entrepreneurs now must have the capacity to cultivate knowledge and expertise, establish a wide and comprehensive network of professionals, as well as put their passion and mission at the core of their venture to become successful.”

Tech & Gadgets

WORLD MARKETING SUMMIT TO TACKLE DIGITAL ECONOMY

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HE World Marketing Summit 2020 will be held for the first time in the Philippines at Solaire Resort and Casino on Feb. 22, with the theme “Building Digital Economy through Marketing.”

To be led by Cherry B. Motil, World Marketing Chief Marketing Officer and President of International Modern Marketing and Association, the summit will feature global and local speakers in the field of marketing, artificial intelligence, big data analysis and harnessing global appetite for mobile and e-commerce. There will also be an interactive discussion on the business challenges and opportunities in the 21st century.

The summit has been held in the previous years in more than twenty countries including Japan, Canada, USA, India, United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey, Thailand, Myanmar and Pakistan, targeting to reach 30 countries by the end of the year.

WMS promises a better world that encompasses respect and passion to global citizens, the Mother Earth and mostly to the Great Creator.

A thousand participants from businesses, corporate world, academe, technical and technology agencies from agencies and private sectors are expected to draw ideas and information that will impact the next generations.

The World Marketing Summit was founded by the Father of Modern Marketing, Professor Philip Kotler in 2010 in Abu Dhabi together with Sheikh Mubarak Al Nahyan. WMS’s headquarter is in To-

Proponents of the World Marketing Summit are shown during the press conference announcing its staging.

ronto, Canada and has country representatives all over the globe. It strives to be neutral and unbiased and is not tied to any political, partisan or national interests.

The first WMS was held Dhaka, Bangladesh with 60 speakers and 4,000 attendees. The second WMS was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2013. From 2014 to 2016 it was held in Japan. In 2017, WMS was held in four different countries including Canada, Bahrain, Korea and Japan and

in 2018, WMS was held in 8 different countries including Chile, Bolivia, Italy, Turkey, India, Singapore, Korea and Japan.

With the prime objective to create a better world through marketing, knowledge and creativity, WMS hopes to influence mindsets, support feasible actions for change and craft operating models to improve economic wealth, environmental wellness and human well-being.

SAMSUNG GALAXY FOLD IS HERE AFTER the success of the Galaxy Fold’s last year, SAMSUNG is now offering pre-order launch in the Philippines this newest category-defining smart-

phone in select stores.

“We are grateful for the overwhelming support we received from our customers when we first offered the Galaxy Fold. Now, we would like to give others a chance to have an experience like no other as they get their hands on this innovative device,” said Jerry Mañus, Business Unit Head of IT and Mobile, Samsung Philippines.

Customers are up for various discount options when they purchase the Galaxy Fold. Those who will purchase using their Banco de Oro, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Philippine National Bank, Security Bank, Metrobank, or Citibank credit cards until June 30, 2020 will receive 0% interest for up to 24 months.

Moreover, those who will pay in full amount using their credit cards

will receive P4,000 worth of cashback until March 31, 2020.

This breakthrough device will also be available via Samsung’s ‘Trade In Trade Up’ promo until June 30, 2020 wherein consumers can swap their old premium phones for a Galaxy Fold at any accredited store.

Priced at P109,990, the Galaxy Fold’s unique design and foldable form factor provide a brand-new user experience. It has a versatile pro-level hexa-lens camera system that takes photo and video recording experience to a whole new level; App Continuity capability which lets users switch from using an app on the cover display to the main display seamlessly; and a multiactive window that allows them to open multiple apps simultaneously for next-level multitasking.

SYKES CAPS OFF ’19 AS BPO TOP EMPLOYER IN PH MULTINATIONAL business process outsourcer and industry pioneer SYKES cemented its position as the best BPO and contact center employer in the Philippines by ending 2019 with a total of nine awards from both local and international award-giving bodies.

SYKES’ most recent accolade was being named the BPO Company of the Year by the 2019 Asia Leaders Awards for the second year in a row. The award recognizes and promotes companies committed to driving and improving the business process outsourcing industry in the country. It is dedicated to recognizing world-class skills, thinking, innovation, creativity, and execution across the full spectrum of BPO functions.

One of the awards’ main criteria for judging is the presence of a high-performance work culture and environment that fosters employee engagement and continuous improvement, an aspect which SYKES exemplifies.

“In SYKES, we recognize our employees as our greatest assets, and through our various engagement projects, we ensure that they work, learn, and grow not only as employees but as responsible citizens. We are proud to have been able to provide viable alternative employment opportunities to Filipinos and hope to continue making a difference in society,” said John Sneed, SYKES Senior Vice President and General Manager.

Being a multinational contact center company with over 22 years of experience in the local BPO industry, SYKES is the trusted partner of some of the world’s biggest brands and industry leaders. This allows SYKES to provide employment opportunities to people

SYKES Team at the 2019 Asia Leaders Awards receives the BPO Company of the Year for the 2nd consecutive year.

from various disciplines and career backgrounds. With the company’s emphasis on digital transformation, SYKES has diversified its employment opportunities to include careers inartificial intelligence, data analytics, digital marketing, social media and information technology. Moreover, SYKES implements a comprehensive talent retention strategy that promotes work-life balance, supports personal and professional growth and encourages employees to get involved in enriching communities. This holistic approach to talent retention impressed the awards committee composed of business executives, foreign diplomats, and local government officials.

SYKES has also been recognized in other notable local and international industry awards and has been named

as Top Employer of the Year by the 10thAsiaCEO Awards, one of the Top Workplaces in Asia by the 2019 Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability Awards, which also awarded John Sneed, Senior Vice President of Area Operations and Shared Services as one of the Outstanding Leaders in Asia, BPO Company of the Year by the 2019 South East Asia Business Awards (SEABA), and one of the Top 10 IT/BPM Companies in Cebu by the Cebu IT/ BPM Organization (CIB.O).

The 2019 Asia Pacific Stevie Awards,which recognizes innovation in the workplace, also commended SYKES with the Silver Winner Award for Innovation in Internal (Corporate) Events for its 20th Year Celebration and the Bronze Winner Award for Excellence in Innovation in Business

Product & Service Industries. SYKES received the Merit Award for Internal Communication from the 17th Philippine Quill Awards, which recognized the company’s efforts to build brand affinity with their employees through the #SYKESer multi-channel brand campaign.

Starting its operations here in 1997, SYKES is the first multinational contact center to operate in the country.

It is also the first BPO company in the Philippines to expand operations outside Metro Manila, opening the first contact center in Cebu in 2003. SYKES is a recognized industry leader in exceptional customer care and support.

It is a leading provider of multichannel demand generation and customer engagement services for Global 2000 companies and widely considered to be the top BPO in the Philippines due to its diverse offerings and supportive work environment. Through its recent acquisitions of companies focusing on innovative business services, SYKES expanded its offerings to provide end-to-end business solutions to its clients—from demand generation to self-service support, artificial intelligence and robotic process automation. This move not only puts SYKES at the forefront of digital transformation but it also allows the company to future-proof its enterprise while bolstering the country’s case as the world’s premiere outsourcing destination.

For more information about employee life at SYKES, visit the website https://www.sykes.com/philippines/ and official Facebook page at https://www. facebook.com/SYKESPHofficial/.

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2020 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

SHOPEE...

From C4

Shopee recorded millions of online views for its commercial with Sarah Geronimo for Shopee 6.6-7.7 Lowest Price sale.

Deepen user engagement with Shopee Live: Rolled out in-app livestreaming feature in April to provide shoppers an innovative and social shopping experience. Consumers can watch Shopee Live to score exclusive deals, connect with their favorite celebrities, and get Shopee vouchers.

THE FUTURE OF ONLINE SHOPPING: PERSONALIZED, ENGAGING, SOCIAL Shopee foresees online shopping to be even more personalized, engaging, and social in 2020. In line with this vision, Shopee will introduce new platform innovations to bring users a fun and personalized shopping experience in the new year: Personalized shopping with data and artificial intelligence (AI): Shopee will deepen its use of AI and big data to curate a more personalized shopping journey for users. For example in 2019, Shopee leveraged deep learning for its recommendation engine to bring users customized shopping suggestions based on purchase and browsing data.

Leveling up user-engagement with new in-app games: Shopee will also innovate its collection of in-app games to bring users more fun and entertainment.

In the Philippines, Shopee rolled out its latest horoscope game, the 2020 Fortune Forecast, to mark the beginning of the new year and to allow Filipinos to read their fortune for the year ahead.

Deeper social interaction on Shopee Feed: Finally, users in all markets can expect an upgraded social experience through Shopee Feed by the first quarter of 2020. Shopee Feed offers various social functions for users to create content and interact with friends, fellow buyers, and sellers on Shopee.

Yu closed: “I believe that online shopping should bring fun and joy to people. Everyone at Shopee is working hard to make shopping engaging, social, and personalized as ecommerce continues to evolve in our region. We are thrilled at what is to come in 2020 and we look forward to another fruitful year.”

JAPAN...

From C4

In 2017, CEZA launched its “Crypt Valley of Asia” initiative, which aims to provide a stable and safe region for blockchain developers and cryptocurrency exchange operators to domicile their back office support infrastructure.

It currently has 25 licensee companies from all over Europe and Asia, including Japanese developer ALLEX, a security token issuer that provides solutions on exchanges including management, settlement, and related operations. Its security token ST20 or the ALLEX token complies with the JP standards of KYC/AML (know your customer/anti-money laundering) that protects the users, investors, and the issuer company from scams and fraud.

Despite being developed in the country, Filipinos cannot enjoy using ALLEX or any other security token because of the absence of laws that would allow it.

“Congress needs to enact laws surrounding STOs and virtual currencies, and appoint a particular government agency to have jurisdiction to supervise the implementation of this. If not, we, particularly the CEZA, will end up being a mere host for back offices or business processing office (BPO) for foreign fintech companies while all the buying, trading, and offering payments will be done offshore,” Secretary Lambino emphasized.

In the meantime, ALLEX still will play an influential role in helping train Philippine blockchain developers how to create security tokens.

This Japan-Philippine technology and knowledge transfer is one of the economic benefits of having a foreign back office support within CEZA. Both Lambino and Takemoto are hopeful that the Philippines will follow suit and catch up with other neighboring countries such as South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan, which are now actively setting up their rules and regulations for virtual currency exchanges.

“This matter is unstoppable. It’s now being practiced and accepted by many jurisdictions, including the US, and this new idea of putting up security tokens, which are asset-backed and completely different from the initial utility tokens, will be, I think, the answer to the problems of scams or fraudulent activities regarding this new dimension of business,” Secretary Lambino added.

Aside from modernizing the country’s financial landscape, establishing clear-cut rules and regulations on security tokens and cryptocurrencies in the Philippines will also help grow the economy by attracting more investors and providing more jobs for Filipinos.

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TECH & Gadgets SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2020 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

MORE NOKIA PHONES NOW ON ANDROID 10

MD Global, the home of Nokia phones, on Saturday announces the Nokia 6.1 Plus, Nokia 7 Plus and Nokia 6.1 as the latest smartphones to join Nokia 8.1 with the Android 10 roll out.

This now means that four Nokia smartphones in Philippines have received the latest Android OS since its official launch.Nokia smartphones maintain their position as leaders in fast OS updates and are once again at the forefront of the latest Android 10 deployment.

The Nokia 6.1 Plus, Nokia 7 Plus and Nokia 6.1 are all part of the Android One programme, launching with a promise of three years’ worth of guaranteed monthly security updates and two years of OS upgrades.

With Android 10 being these devices’ second OS update, HMD Global consolidates its commitment to Nokia phones getting better over time with consistent software upgrades.

As of today, Nokia 6.1 Plus, Nokia 7 Plus, Nokia 6.1 and Nokia 8.1 are all

GP-VPT2BT with Alpha 6600 and SELP1650

SONY INTRODUCES NEW WIRELESS SHOOTING GRIP

Nokia 6.1 Plus, Nokia 7 Plus and Nokia 6.1 roll out the latest Android OS this January

upgraded to Android 10.

Fans will get to experience a whole host of new features with Android 10, including: • Gesture Navigation: control of your Nokia smartphone just got slicker, with faster and more intuitive controls at the tip of your fingers

• Smart Reply: receive even smarter responses in messages, not just wording but actions you can take • Privacy Controls: have even more control of your personal data all in one place, and control when your location is shared with your apps – be that always, just while in

use, or never • Focus mode: block out distracting apps when you need to concentrate on what’s important (try it now in Beta) • Family Link: now part of the Digital Wellbeing settings, helping parents set digital ground rules for the whole family

JAPAN, PH JOIN FORCES TO MAKE ASIA TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED

Japanese Minister Naokazu Takemoto (right) and Secretary Raul Lambino of CEZA urge Philippine Congress to write laws on security tokens, cryptocurrencies, and other financial technologies.

NAOKAZU Takemoto, Japanese Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy, visited Manila on Jan. 4 to meet with Cabinet Secretary Raul Lambino, present administrator and CEO of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA).

Meeting in anticipation of the looming revision of the Payment Services Act and the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan in April 2020, the two officials discussed the future of financial technology businesses in the country and the Asian region, especially those related to cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and a new asset class called “security tokens.”

Security token offerings or STOs are digitalized securities such as stocks, bonds, and equity interests in funds that use blockchain technology as its main platform. “[The word] ‘security’ in STO is not the same as cybersecurity and computer securities. It means ‘securities’ in terms of assets or a way to issue digital securities and raise funds through the blockchain. This digitalization is expected to enable people who could not participate in the investment process to make small-scale investments,” Takemoto explained.

Over the three years, companies in Europe and

the United States have emerged with various businesses providing STO financing and associated blockchain technologies and platforms. Along with this is the creation and implementation of rules and regulations, even laws within their jurisdictions, surrounding the development, use, and exchange of these virtual currencies. Last year, STOs also attracted a lot of attention in Japan, which led five major securities companies including SBI, one of the largest FinTech companies in the country, to establish the Japan STO Association in October 2019.

“STO is now becoming a worldwide funding method of financing, but the STO market in Asia, including Japan, has just begun to develop. To achieve the philosophy of ‘enhancing financial markets and enriching the economy by using technologies to benefit the entire population,’ cooperation between financial systems and technologies among Asia countries is essential and must be considered,” said Minister Takemoto.

Secretary Lambino echoed this urgent need for a set of rules and regulations or even a law that would help the Philippines become more competitive in this field.

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BUILDING on the growing lineup of cameras and accessories developed for modern creators, Sony today has announced the new GP-VPT2BT wireless shooting grip. Ideal for many different types of content creation ranging from vlogs to travel photography / videography to simple everyday use, the new grip offers optimum stability and comfort combined with cable-free connectivity and a reliable dust and moisture resistant designi.

Compatible with a variety of Sony’s latest digital camerasii, the GP-VPT2BT connects easily via Bluetooth, allowing creators to simply aim and shoot without interfering cables or exposed inputs. The new grip includes a useful tilt feature that allows for flexible vertical angle adjustment as well as the ability to switch from normal to self-shooting mode with ease. Additionally, it has an adjustment wheel can be loosened or tightened to allow for seamless operation with cameras of different sizes and weights.

The grip also includes a flip button, indicator light and lock switch, and can be quickly changed into a tripod by simply expanding the bottom portion, enabling easy stable, hands-free shooting.

The GP-VPT2BT Wireless Shooting Grip will be available in the Philippines soon.

For full product details of the GP-VPT2BT, please visit: https:// w w w. s o n y. com.ph/ electronics/ interchangeable-lens-cameras-tripodsremotes/ gp-vpt2bt

GP-VPT2BT with Alpha 7III and SEL35F18F

SHOPEE ENVISIONS ONLINE SHOPPING TO BE MORE PERSONALIZED, ENGAGING IN 2020 SHOPEE, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, sums up an exceptional 2019 and outlines three defining characteristics for online shopping in 2020: Personalized, Engaging, Social.

Shopee enjoyed a landmark 2019 as it pioneered industry-leading initiatives that transformed online shopping in the region.

In 2020, Shopee will take its efforts to the next level by making online shopping more fun, customized, and interactive.

“Shopee had an incredible 2019. We achieved new milestones by staying true to our vision of making online shopping engaging and social. This is proven by our successful in-app games and features which continue to delight millions of users daily,” said Martin Yu, Associate Director at Shopee Philippines. “As e-commerce becomes the norm in the coming years, the next challenge is to make shopping online more personal and customized for each user. Shopee believes this to be the future of online shopping and we are committed to making it a reality.”

SHOPEE LED THE WAY FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA’S E-COMMERCE MARKET IN 2019 Shopee extended its market leadership in 2019, driven by its successful strategy to forge a social and engaging shopping experience. Fun is at the heart of the Shopee experience as its popular in-app games and features entertained shoppers across the region: • Over 1 billion plays recorded on Shopee’s wide range of in-app games in 2019 • 10,000 hours of content streamed on Shopee Live a day on average Sellers and brand partners also saw tremendous growth on Shopee in 2019. Sellers across the region experienced a steady increase in orders throughout the year, especially during the busy year-end shopping period. In addition, more brands and retailers joined Shopee to reach more customers, as the product assortment on Shopee Mall doubled in 2019.

Powered by its successful strategy, Shopee was crowned the number one shopping app in Southeast Asia and Taiwan by Month-

ly Active Users (MAU) in the second and third quarter of 2019. In addition, Shopee set new records during the year-end shopping season, highlighted by 80 million items sold in just 24 hours at its annual finale, Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale.

2019 HIGHLIGHTS AT SHOPEE PHILIPPINES The year 2019 was a fruitful and fulfilling year for Shopee Philippines, as it achieved several major milestones for users. Key highlights include: Provide non-stop entertainment for Filipinos: Celebrated the beginning of the Christmas season with its first-ever TV show, Shopee 11.11 Big Christmas TV Special. Millions of Filipinos joined in the fun to catch their favourite celebrities, including Alden Richards, Maine Mendoza, and Heart Evangelista.

Announce Filipino Popstar Royalty as new brand ambassador: Sarah Geronimo joined in the fun to celebrate Shopee 6.6-7.7 Lowest Price Sale as Shopee brand ambassador.

Turn to C3

Shopee’s in-app games were played over 1 billion times in total in 2019 even as 10,000 hours of content streamed on Shopee Live a day on average.

Destinations D1

SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2020

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

FARM TOURISM AND MAHOGANY MERCURY RISING

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO

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HANKS to the untiring efforts of three leading personalities in the country, “farm tourism” has become a buzzword in our local travel industry.

FARM PROBLEMS. The furniture maker-favorite mahogany tree has been found to possess characteristics that make it a nuisance plant, posing harm to other plants and disrupting the ecosystem. (Photo from Wikimedia Commons)

More than a decade ago, former Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor educated us on the benefits of farm tourism through specialized courses she offered in her International School of Sustainable Tourism.

Almost at the same time, the hardworking Senator Cynthia Villar taught small-time farmers all over the country that there is money in farm tourism, if done in the right manner. Her Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016 showed farmers that their properties could have an alternative source of income aside from crop production.

Of course, with the designation of Berna Romulo-Puyat as our current Tourism secretary, her expertise and

According to the director of Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau, mahogany plantations are adversely affecting the farm tourism in the country.

(Photo from treeworldwholesale.com)

experience as a former undersecretary in the Department of Agriculture made our government’s involvement with farm tourism even stronger.

Everything has been going well for this sector of our tourism industry, with more of our countrymen now convinced of its financial benefits. However, a recent discovery has put forward a warning to those belonging to this sector.

The mahogany tree is popular in the country because it is the prime source of durable, elegant, and welldesigned furniture. But the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), the research arm of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, has announced that the mahogany tree has characteristics that make it a nuisance plant.

The director of ERDB confirms that mahogany plantations are adversely af-

fecting the farm tourism in the country.

It has been observed, for some time now, that the areas surrounding mahogany trees show dehydrated fruits falling off even before they become ripe. It turns out, mahogany trees suck whatever available nearby water there is.

No vegetables or other smaller plants grow underneath a mahogany tree because its leaves cause these other plants to die, and the tree’s leaves take a long time to rot. Worse, the ecosystem is definitely disrupted because it is observed that birds avoid contact with the tree.

Taking these findings into consideration, it is sad to note that these mahogany trees, which are favorites of furniture makers, can destroy our farms and forests which are our major sources of food and livelihood.

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Destinations

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2020 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

FLY TO FORTUNE

Lucky destinations and other travel predictions for the Year of the Rat

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LMOST anyone can fly anywhere, but to make it more interesting, fly somewhere that would bring luck. Emirates teamed up with Way Fengshui Group, Singapore’s first private limited feng shui firm to curate these fun travel predictions based on the 12 Chinese zodiacs for the Year of the Rat. Rat (1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020)

Tiger (1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010)

Rabbit (1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011)

When traveling, don’t forget to take extra precaution to ensure a risk-free and smooth journey. It is also recommended to make good use of your free time to improve yourself—for instance, you can consider reading a book about finance and wealth management to increase your knowledge in this area. When overseas, don’t forget to keep a lookout for a Japan great business opportunity as well.

While 2020 may look like a tough year for those born in the year of the Tiger, the lucky stars may present opportuTaiwan nities to head overseas for further studies or career development. When going on your next adventure, take a nap during your flight as you’ll need all the energy you can muster to truly enjoy the trip.

Those born in the year of the Rabbit can expect more romance and benefactors in their life.

When traveling, make sure to update your social media and take as many photos as possible to improve your travel luck. Be friendly and open to making friends as your potential life partner might even be waiting for Spain you on foreign soils.

Lucky destinations: Japan, Korea, New York, Ukraine Lucky travel partner: Ox Lucky colors: gray, brown

Dragon (1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012)

Lucky destinations: China, Indonesia, France, Peru Lucky travel partner: Rooster Lucky colors: white, gold

Don’t give up hope in the face of difficulties as you might make great strides in your career and wealth in the long term. When France you travel, read up on your holiday destination to make every day count. Keep your loved ones updated on your location and status every now and then, so they aren’t unnecessarily worried about your whereabouts.

Monkey (1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016)

Lucky destinations: Indonesia, China, Japan, Russia Lucky travel partner: Snake Lucky colors: red, orange

Bring along a fiction novel and immerse yourself in a world of your own creation during your travels. As a stranger in a new country, it is also important to remain alert and Indonesia aware so you aren’t duped by any overseas sellers. It would be good to understand the general price of items beforehand to help you identify and avoid being overcharged.

FARM...

From D1

In some areas in the country, other indigenous trees show that their growth has been affected by nearby mahogany trees. This has pushed the DENR to encourage our countrymen to continue planting indigenous trees and keep biodiversity in check.

YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE REMINDER: You can never be completely useless. You can always serve as a Bad Example!

Now that farm tourism has grown popular all over the country, we certainly cannot allow something like this to slow down its growth. For those of you who have mahogany trees in or near your farms, you may want to contact DENR for advice.

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

Lucky destinations: Taiwan, Philippines, Brunei, Canada Lucky travel partners: Ox and Rabbit Lucky colors: gray, brown, green

Australia

Ox (1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009) Lucky destinations: Australia, Hong Kong, Turkey, USA, India Lucky travel partners: Snake and Rooster Lucky colors: red, orange, white, gold

This is a year of opportunity for those born in the Ox year. When traveling, make sure to interact with people around you if they are interested in a conversation as you might benefit from these interactions. Ensure that your travel itinerary isn’t jam-packed so you have some breathing room, otherwise you might tire yourself out during your trip.

Russia

Goat (1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015)

Greece

Lucky destinations: Brunei, China, Italy, Malaysia Lucky travel partners: Rabbit and Goat Lucky colors: green, gray, brown

Snake (1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013)

Horse (1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014)

For those born in the year of the Snake, 2020 is a year of smooth tidings in all aspects of life. When you travel, make sure you kick back and relax so you can give your mind some time to rest and enjoy the ambience. When wandering around new cities, go easy on the food and drinks.

When enroute to destination, spend time watching movies—something light-hearted and comedic to help improve your mood. When overseas, it would also be prudent to pay extra attention to your valuables, as losing your wallet/purse could be extremely troublesome.

Lucky destinations: USA, China, Russia, Australia Lucky travel partners: Ox and Rooster Lucky colors: gray, brown, white, gold

Lucky destinations: China, Greece, Portugal, USA Lucky travel partners: Snake and Goat Lucky colors: red, orange, gray, brown

Lucky destinations: Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Switzerland Lucky travel partners: Rabbit and Goat Lucky colors: green, gray, brown

Rooster (1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017)

Dog (1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018)

2020 will be an outstanding and worry-free year for you! When traveling via air, make use of the inflight entertainment system and play some video games to keep yourself in a jovial mood. If you’re buying souvenirs from your travels, do your best to account for all the benefactors in your life, they will be delighted to receive a gift from you.

2020 is a fruitful year for those born in the year of the Dog. When traveling, watch some movies or TV shows to keep your mind off things. Stop worrying too much about the things that are yet to come. When exploring a city, always remember traffic rules and pay special attention to oncoming traffic when crossing the road.

Lucky destinations: Poland, China, USA, Australia, Philippines Lucky travel partners: Ox and Snake Lucky colors: gray, brown, red, orange

Lucky stars gather and shine bright for you this year, taking your career, wealth, and relationships to unsurpassed heights.

Italy When traveling, make use of the in-flight facilities and order a refreshing drink or listen to some music to calm your overworked mind.

When overseas, be kind as your friendly demeanor will help attract benefactors.

Italy

Pig (1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019)

India

USA

Lucky destinations: Indonesia, Spain, Chile, USA Lucky travel partner: Goat Lucky colors: gray, brown

Lucky destinations: Indonesia, India, Hungary, Brazil Lucky travel partner: Rabbit Lucky color: green

This year presents both challenges and opportunities for those born in the year of the Pig. During travel, make sure you keep yourself warm and take a nap during your flight. Keep yourself hydrated and come prepared with some general medicines and vitamins to keep up good health and immunity during your vacation.

Switzerland

HKTB STAGES CHINESE NEW YEAR CARNIVAL AS THE Year of the Rat kicks off a new 12-year cycle, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) celebrates Chinese New Year with a four-day carnival.

Staged in partnership with Cathay Pacific, the Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Carnival is happening on Jan. 25-28 at the Art Park of the West Kowloon Cultural District.

In addition to the signature parade, the event will feature a variety of family-friendly activities and attractions.

“This year being the Year of the Rat, the leader of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, it is not only the beginning of a new cycle, but also marks the staging of the 25th edition of this signature event in Chinese New Year,” said HKTB chairman Dr YK Pang.

Pang continued, “This provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate the much-loved festival in a new way.”

The four-day International Chinese New Year Carnival is free to all. Both international and local performing groups will join the daily parades along the West Kowloon Waterfront

Promenade, in addition to their stage performances.

Visitors and locals can take plenty of photos against various backdrops incorporating Hong Kong’s skyline.

Meanwhile, the first Chinese New Year market will feature 15 booths serving food items such as Hong Kong, American, Taiwanese, and Korean snacks—including Korean fishcake skewers in soup by Kelly’s Cape Bop, a street food joint recommended by Michelin Guide Hong Kong.

The four-day Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Carnival offers family-friendly attractions and activities.

HKTB chairman Dr YK Pang (officiating guest on the right) and Cathay Pacific chief customer and commercial officer Ronald Lam 26 international and 22 local performing troupes will parade along (officiating guest on the left) launch the Chinese New Year Carnival. the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade.

Entertainment

SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2020

D3

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

FOUR FRESH SONGS TO LISTEN TO THIS 2020

From left: Johnny Manahan, Min Bernardo, Cory Vidanes, Carlo Katigbak, Daniel Padilla, Kathryn Bernardo, Mark Lopez, Rick Tan, and Laurenti Dyogi

THE year 2020 just started which means despite differences on resolutions and goals, everyone is focused on achieving a common objective: start anew. And what better way to do this than by discovering new music that will accompany listeners to a journey of reflection, healing, and new beginnings.

Here are some of the freshest tunes to blast in welcoming the new year: 1. Zion PH x KZ Tandingan – “Bagong Yugto” The new year often connotes a new chapter, a fresh start, and shying away from the pain of the past year by moving forward with life. But moving on from the hurt is not easy, and uncertainties abound especially with opening oneself to another person again. This is explored in KZ Tandingan and Zion’s collaboration “Bagong Yugto,” which despite voicing doubts on entering a new relationship, also hints that it may, indeed, work out just fine. ht t p s : / / w w w. yo u t u b e. co m / watch?v=klEaBhNBHUM

O

NSCREEN love team and real-life sweethearts Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla renewed their ties with ABS-CBN by signing a three-year contract with the network on Jan. 15.

2. Leila Alcasid – “Better Weather” Leila Alcasid’s chill new record is basically a love letter about meeting someone new who has made a positive impact in your life. Perfect for someone who needs to have faith again in the beauty of love, it expresses the fresh yet intense emotions of wanting to cherish a relationship that has just begun, but could also possibly last a lifetime. ht t p s : / / w w w. yo u t u b e. co m / watch?v=JcHluOnzzuc

After working on projects separately for more than a year, the phenomenal box office couple shared their sentiments on what people should expect, now that the sought after KathNiel tandem will be back on TV this year with an upcoming teleserye, Tanging Mahal.

“It’s going to be something fresh, especially that we have waited for this to happen again. I think that the fans are really excited to see us work together again, and personally, we are excited for this, too,” Daniel shared.

Aside from his project with Kathryn, Daniel also mentioned his excitement about his movie titled “Whether the Weather is Fine” with ABS-CBN executive and veteran actress pCharo SantosConcio.

“I’m hoping that people would watch out for this film because this is really different, this is something new. The attack is different, the feel of the movie is different, that’s why it’s exciting.” Daniel mused.

Kathryn, on the other hand, shared her happiness about the support she’s gaining from her YouTube channel, “Everyday Kath,” which garnered almost a million subscribers in just two weeks after its first vlog release.

“I’m happy. More than the subscribers, I’m more delighted towards the comments that we receive because we do not know that a simple glimpse into our personal lives would have a positive effect on them,” Kathryn shared.

KathNiel fans should also watch out for a comeback movie that the love team will be cooking for this year.

When asked about how they feel towards staying a Kapamilya, Daniel answered “Very happy and very thankful that ABS-CBN still trusts us the same way we trust it. We’re very happy, blessed, and excited for the things in store for us.”

Present in the signing were ABS-CBN chairman Mark Lopez, ABS-CBN president and chief executive officer Carlo Katigbak, chief operating officer of broadcast Cory Vidanes, TV production head Laurenti Dyogi, Star Magic head Johnny Manahan, and head of treasury Rick Tan.

3. JMKO – “Aahon” This emotional ballad by emerging singer-songwriter JMKO will surely resonate with couples who have been separated by fate, since it talks about a person’s unrelenting desire to rise up and weather any challenge just to be reunited with a special someone.

“Aahon” will also be used as the theme song of the Chinese drama Story of Yanxi Palace, which will soon be airing on ABS-CBN. h t t p s : / / w w w. yo u t u b e. co m / watch?v=Z3l6X8QzOQQ

STURDY LOVE TEAM. Billed as the brightest screen stars of their generation, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, otherwise known as KathNiel, have renewed their ties with their mother studio, ABS-CBN.

ASIA’S BIGGEST DOG SHOW COMES TO ARANETA CITY

Whiskey, one of the Bull Terrier winners of the Dog Show last year.

THE biggest dog show in Asia comes to Araneta City with the staging of the Philippine Circuit at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Boasting a roster of both local and international entries, the Philippine Circuit, hosted by the Philippine Canine Club Inc., will be bringing no less than the crème of the crop of dog breeds. Dog lovers can look forward to seeing ever-popular Yorkshire Terriers, Great Danes, Pomeranians, and rare breeds the world over best it out in a series of adorable challenges. The Grand Circuit has even been known to showcase the Bichon Frise, the Affenpinscher, Caucasian shepherds, and a Pharaoh hound.

The exhibitors will compete in 12 different shows where they will be judged according

to their performance based on the standard of their breed by jurors from Asia, Europe, and the Americas. This prestigious event is guaranteed to only bring the best to casual dog owners and aficionados alike.

The Philippine Circuit is happening at the Big Dome in Araneta City for the fifth straight year this 2020. A well-suited venue as Araneta City is now a pet-friendly area where registered animal companions can freely roam through the Pet Pals initiative. Pet owners simply need to avail of the free Pet Pal I.D at mall concierges to enjoy this privilege.

The Philippine Circus runs until at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Buy your tickets at www. ticketnet.com.ph or thru the Araneta City Mobile app. Interested buyers may also call 89115555 for inquiries.

4. Agsunta - “Hayskul Hits” Even though it’s inevitable to enter the new year with the urgency to forge ahead and leave terrible memories behind, it’s also important to preserve all the wonderful moments of life that are worth reminiscing. Agsunta’s nostalgiafilled track “Hayskul Hits” takes listeners back to their high school days, and talks about relatable topics such as forgotten friendships, classroom bullies, kikay classmates, and of course, undying first loves. h t t p s : / / w w w. yo u t u b e. co m / watch?v=IJadPcuO63s Listen to these new tracks on ABSCBN Music and Tarsier Records’ YouTube channel, and on all digital streaming platforms worldwide.

D4

SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2020

Desiree Carlos, Editor

Pets

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

A RACE AGAINST TIME: ANIMAL WELFARE GROUPS UNITE TO SAVE ANIMALS FROM TAAL’S WRATH PET TALES

BY DESIREE CARLOS

W

HAT began as individual efforts to rescue the displaced animals have now become a concerted effort following a meeting between representatives of the animal welfare groups and local government officials Wednesday.

Animal welfare groups have bonded together to rescue all animals from towns in Batangas identified by the government as danger zones.

But the rescue groups are racing against time.

We have been given 72 hours starting Thursday to rescue all the trapped animals. The deadline ends today, Sunday.

We do hope this deadline can be extended and we have been praying Taal volcano will go back to sleep for a very loooong time.

Aside from horses, cows and other livestock, some 30,000 dogs and 9,000 cats in these towns have been affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano last week.

Save All administration and coordinator Sylvia P. Ongsing, who attended the meeting, reported that local officials gave animal welfare groups 72 hours from Thursday to pull out and rescue all dogs, cats, livestock and other animals from the danger zones areas.

Animal rescuers will be escorted by the police in their rescue operations. These areas will be closed off after 72 hours.

As of this writing, among the animal welfare groups authorized to conduct rescue work are Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF), CARA, Pag-Amuma, Philippine Animal Welfare Society

Map showing barangays and towns around Taal Volcano. The ones with a black mark are the danger zones.

thoroughly for animals in in need of rescue.

All rescued animals will be transported to shelters designated by the local governments. These shelters are located outside the danger zones.

Rescued dogs and cats in particular will be housed, fed, and given medical help. Efforts will be exerted to reunite them with their owners.

On Thursday, Save ALL dispatched 300 packs of dog food and 300 packs of cat food, two sacks of dog food, and water to Batangas. Save ALL’s feeding will continue daily until Sunday, as dogs and cats in other areas outside the danger zones but affected by the eruption still need food and water.

(PAWS), Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL) and Whelps. Only groups accredited by the local governments have been allowed to enter the danger zones.

Among the towns where animal rescuers are conducting rescues are Agoncillo, Alitagtag, Balete, Cuenca, Laurel, Lemery, Malvar, Mataas na Kahoy, San Nicolas, Sta. Teresita, Taal and Talisay.

Representatives from the animal welfare groups have met to organize their rescue operations, grouping themselves into clusters with designated areas. This is to ensure a more organized operation and that the areas are searched

Dogs left behind in a town in Batangas. Rescuers hope to get them out still.

An AKF rescuer feeds a cow in Batangas.

Feeding dogs and cats day in, day out. Rescuers hope to get them out despite the limitations and the strict rules in entering danger zones. Authorities are controlling entry to danger zones as there have been reports of looting. They also want to keep humans safe as the Taal lake is drying up which is a sign of a possible eruption.

Only the dogs and cats are left in danger zones in Batangas, in barangays near Taal Volcano. Rescuers from animal welfare groups are trying to get them all out.

DOG WALK FOR A CAUSE

TODAY, dog lovers in Baguio City will walk for humans and animals affected by the Taal volcano eruption.

Dubbed "Dog Walk for A Cause," the event is organized by the Pines City Dog Lovers to raise funds for the needs of

humans and animals from and in the seven danger zones of Batangas. These include Talisay, Lemery, Balete, Laurel and Agoncillo, among others.

The event will start at 7 a.m. at the Melvin Jones Grand Stand. The group will start

The combined Save ALL-Whelps-Pag-amuma rescue and feeding team were also able to rescue 29 dogs and 9 cats as of this writing.

Animal welfare groups have been overwhelmed by the massive outpouring of support for their call for assistance and donations. Aside from dog and cat food, animal lovers have sent bottled water, animal leashes, medicine, lent their vehicles and cash donations for gasoline, toll fees, and other expenses.

We thank you for your support, and request your fervent prayers for human and animals in dire need, and for the safety of our animal rescue teams.

walking at 7:30 a.m.

The route: from Melvin Jones, Malcom Square,Sesion Road,SM, Burnham Park Registration fee is P100 pesos only.

"Bring poop bags, tissue wipes and water for your dogs.

Reminder: do no bring dogs in heat and please keep your dogs on a leash," Siber Ridge posted in Facebook.

"Let’s do our part even in a simple way. Tara na po! Let's walk for unity," Siber Ridge added.

An AKF volunteer brings a dog to safety.