Manila Standard - 2020 January 26 - Sunday

NCOV CHECK: VISA ON HOLD FOR WUHAN VISITORS TO PH

By Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

1,300 people.

At the same time, a Brazilian family of three had been placed at the isolation THE Bureau of Immigration suspended room of a hospital in Puerto Princesa the processing of Visa Upon Arrival to after showing flu-like symptoms Chinese nationals coming from Wuhan, following a recent trip to Wuhan.

The couple and their 10-year-old China to prevent the spread of the boy went for a checkup at the rural deadly coronavirus that originated from Wuhan, China which already health unit of tourist haven El Nido on Turn to A2 claimed 41 lives and infected nearly

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 346 • 4 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Hong Kong on Saturday declared the new coronavirus outbreak as an "emergency"—the city's highest warning tier—as authorities ramped up measures to reduce the risk of further infections. Of the five people who have tested positive for the virus in Hong Kong so far, four arrived via a newly built high-speed train terminal which connects with the mainland.

VIRUS QUARANTINE VAST AS TOLL RISES S

RESTRICTED ROADS. A nurse waits for transportation as she reenters the city to return to Wuhan Yaxin General Hospital on one of the roads blocked by the police to restrict people leaving Wuhan in China’s central Hubei province on Saturday—following a deadly virus outbreak which began in the city. The Chinese army deployed medical specialists on Saturday to the epicenter of a spiralling viral outbreak that has killed 41 people and spread around the world, as millions spent their normally festive Lunar New Year holiday under lockdown. AFP

OME 56 million people are now affected by transport bans around the epicenter of China’s virus outbreak as five more cities announced travel restrictions on Saturday to contain the disease, which has now killed 41 people.

At the same time, authorities said the number of infected cases had soared to nearly 1,300.

The restriction rules include closing public transport links and access to highways in the cities, local authorities said.

A total of 18 cities now have some sort of travel restrictions in central

Hubei province.

The 15 new deaths all took place in Wuhan, the city of 11 million where the deadly respiratory contagion first emerged, the Hubei Health Commission said.

At least 444 new cases of the virus have been found, raising the total number to 1,287, the National

Health Commission said in a separate statement.

The disease has spread to 30 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

Wuhan and 13 other cities in Hubei have been locked down in an unprecedented quarantine effort aimed at containing the deadly

respiratory contagion, which has spread to several other countries.

The Hubei Health Commission also reported 180 new cases overall in the province, 77 of them in Wuhan but the bulk of the rest spread out across the locked-down smaller cities.

There are now 729 cases in Hubei alone.

Several of those cities were reporting their first cases of the pathogen—2019 Novel

and Seismology said sulfur dioxide released by Taal Volcano increased to an average of 409 tons per day, TAAL Volcano in Batangas spewed which was higher than Friday’s 224 plumes of white smoke on Saturday tons a day.

The steam-laden emissions morning.

I n its 8 a.m. bulletin, the reached areas in the southwest Philippine Institute of Volcanology portion of the volcano.

The discharge was reported as the Philippine Coast Guard removed fishing boats from the San Nicolas port in Batangas to prevent residents from slipping through the security cordon imposed by the authorities.

Witnesses said some residents

were using the boats to get through unnoticed by guards at checkpoints around the lake.

As of Saturday, the eruption of Taal Volcano had affected nearly 349,000 individuals in Batangas, Quezon, Laguna and Cavite,

AFFECTED FAMILIES

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AFFECTED LEARNERS

PEOPLE

CALCULATING CALM. A view of mud-covered houses at the foot of Taal Volcano in Barangay Busobuso in Laurel, Batangas, shortly before ejecting plumes of thick white smoke a few days ago. Revoli Cortez twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

SCHOOLS ABANDONED

manilastandard.net

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20 DEAD IN QUAKE-HIT TURKEY A POWERFUL earthquake has killed at least 20 people and injured more than 1,000 in eastern Turkey, as rescue teams searched through the rubble of collapsed buildings for survivors on Saturday.

At least 30 people were missing following the magnitude 6.8 quake on Friday night, which had its epicenter in the small lakeside town of Sivrice in the eastern province of Elazig.

“It was very scary, furniture fell on top of us. We rushed outside,” 47-year-

STUDY TO END PH-US DEAL UP FOR DU30 OKAY NEWS A2

AFFECTED SCHOOL PERSONNEL

DAMAGE Source: NDRRMC, UN-OCHA

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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duter te on Saturday extended his warmest greetings to and best wishes for the Chinese people, as he expressed hope for a stronger bond between the Filipinos and the Chinese as the country joins in celebrating the Chinese New Year.

“The fact that we are celebrating this event and embracing it as one of our own reflects the strong and inseparable bond that has been forged through centuries of friendly and

Turn to A2

PEOPLE SERVED EVACUATION CENTERS

By Vito Barcelo

Turn to A2

TAAL SPEWS 409 MORE TONS OF SULFUR DIOXIDE

By Rio N. Araja and Maricel V. Cruz

DUTERTE: STRONGER BOND WITH THE CHINESE

BOC NABS SHIPMENT OF ASF-TAINTED MEAT NEWS A4

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

TAAL..

From A1

according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Of the number, 137,994 individuals are staying in 448 evacuation centers.

PHIVOLCS said based on Taal Volcano Network, 420 small volcanic ear thquakes, including 11 low frequency quakes, were recorded within the 24-hour monitoring period.

The volcano’s seismic activity continued, it stressed.

“Seismic activity likely signifies magmatic intrusion beneath the Taal edifice that may lead to eruptive activity,” PHIVOLCS said.

Activity in the main crater in the past 24 hours was characterized by weak to moderate emission of white steam-laden plumes 100 to 800 meters high from the main crater that drifted southwest.

Alert Level 4 remained in effect over Taal Volcano.

PHIVOLCS is not ruling out possible explosive eruption within hours to days. “(The) Department of Science and Technology-PHIVOLCS recommends total evacuation of Taal Volcano Island and high-risk areas as identified in the hazard maps within the 14-kilometer radius from Taal main crater and along the Pansipit River Valley where fissuring has been observed,” it said.

Meanwhile, a leader of the House of Representatives on Saturday backed President Rodrigo Duterte’s request for the appropriation of an additional P30 billion for communities affected by Taal’s eruption.

The P16-billion national disaster risk reduction and management fund, formerly calamity fund, in the national budget for this year “is hardly enough even for this one calamity that has visited our people in Cavite and Batangas,” 1-PACMAN Party-list Rep. Mikee Romero said.

Romero said of the P16 billion, P3.5 billion was reserved for the rehabilitation of Marawi City, while P5 billion was allocated for communities devastated by last year’s earthquakes in the Davao-Soccsksargen regions.

Thus, the President can only use P7.5 billion of this year’s calamity fund for disasters.

Aside from approving whatever amount the President requests for Cavite and Batangas, Congress has to augment the calamity fund, he said.

“We have to give the Chief Executive enough money to respond to calamities,” Romero said.

The House has expressed readiness to approve a P50-billion supplemental budget for areas affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.

House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez earlier said the chamber would give “highest priority” to the approval of the supplemental budget that was increased from the P30 billion requested by the administration to augment the government’s calamity fund for the eruption.

“If need be, the House leadership is even willing to increase the amount of the supplemental budget to as much as P50 billion,” he said.

STUDY TO END PH-US MILITARY DEAL UP FOR DUTERTE'S OKAY

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“I’m done with the study on the procedure for terminating the VFA but I have to submit first my [memorandum] to PRRD on Monday,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a message to reporters.

He added the scope of the study was only limited to the VFA. “We shall deal with the proce-

dure for termination only, not the wisdom of the executive action.

We shall answer such questions as: ‘Is the VFA a treaty or an executive agreement?’; ‘If it is a treaty, is Senate concurrence required for termination?’; ‘Who will give the notice of termination?’ (and), ‘Is it necessary to state any ground for

termination?’,” Guevarra said.

Guevarra made the clarification when asked whether the termination would extend to the 61-yearold Mutual Defense Treaty between Manila and Washington DC, which is the legal backbone for the presence of American troops in the country.

On Friday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said President Duterte ordered the DOJ to start the process of termination of the VFA following the cancellation of the US visa of retired top cop and now Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who used to be one of those who implemented the government’s anti-drug campaign.

Duterte earlier warned the US government he would scrap the

VIRUS..

From A1

The order applies across all provinces and regions.

All areas should formulate “emergency response plans” to the outbreak including training medical staff.

The announcement came as the death toll jumped to 41 and the number of cases reached almost 1,300.

In Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, the Chinese army deployed 450 medical specialists to overwhelmed hospitals.

Datelines on the SARS-like virus that has claimed 41 lives since emerging in Wuhan and spread round the world, with the places confirming cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus: China As of Saturday, almost 1,300 people have been infected across China, the bulk of them in and around Wuhan.

Nearly all of those who died were in the Wuhan region, but officials have confirmed two deaths elsewhere.

The city of Macau, a gambling hub hugely popular with mainland tourists, has confirmed two cases.

In Hong Kong, five people are known to have the disease. Three of those cases were confirmed in the 24 hours to Saturday morning.

France There are three known cases of the coronavirus in France, the first European country to be affected by the outbreak.

One person is sick in Bordeaux and another is ill in Paris. A third person, who is a close relative of one of the other two, has also been confirmed to have the virus.

All three had recently traveled to China and had now been placed in isolation.

Japan J a p a n’s h e a l t h a u t h o r i t i e s confirmed a second case on Friday.

Local media said the patient was a

man in his 40s who was originally from Wuhan and on a trip to Japan.

The country’s first case was reported by the health ministry last week: A man who had visited Wuhan and was hospitalized on Jan. 10, four days after his return to Japan.

Australia Australia on Saturday confirmed its first case of the virus, a man who arrived in Melbourne from China a week ago.

Authorities said they were contacting people who had traveled on the same plane from China and offering advice.

Malaysia Malaysia confirmed its first three cases on Saturday. All are Chinese nationals on holiday from Wuhan who arrived in the country from Singapore two days earlier.

A 66-year-old woman and two boys, aged two and 11, are in a stable condition and are being kept in an isolation ward at a public hospital, Malaysia’s health minister said.

Nepal Nepal said a 32-year-old man arriving from Wuhan had the deadly disease.

The patient, who was initially quarantined, recovered and was discharged. The government said that surveillance has been increased at the airport “and suspicious patients entering Nepal are being monitored.”

Singapore Singapore has announced at least three cases—a 66-year-old man and his 37-year-old son, who arrived in Singapore on Monday from Wuhan, and a 52-year-old Wuhan woman, who arrived in the city-state on Tuesday.

South Korea South Korea confirmed its second case of the virus on Friday.

The health ministry said a South Korean man in his 50s started

experiencing symptoms while working in Wuhan on Jan. 10. He was tested after his return earlier this week, and the virus was confirmed.

The country reported its first case on January 20—a 35-year-old woman who flew in from Wuhan.

Both remain in treatment and are in stable conditions.

Taiwan Taiwan has uncovered three cases so far. It has since advised against travel to Wuhan and Hubei province and on Friday said any arrivals from Wuhan would be rejected by immigration.

All arrivals from the rest of China —including Hong Kong and Macau —must fill out health declaration forms on arrival.

It has also banned the export of face masks for a month to ensure domestic supplies.

Thailand Thailand has detected five cases so far—four Chinese nationals from Wuhan and a 73-year-old Thai woman who came back from the Chinese city this month.

Two of the Chinese patients were treated, and have since recovered and traveled back to China, the Thai health ministry said this week.

United States On Tuesday, US health officials announced the country’s first case, a man in his 30s living near Seattle. On Friday a second case was announced —a woman in her 60s living in Chicago.

Both were treated and are recovering.

Vietnam Vietnam confirmed two cases of the virus on Thursday. An infected man from Wuhan traveled to Ho Chi Minh City earlier this month and passed the virus on to his son.

Both are being treated in hospital and are stable, Vietnam health officials said. AFP

25 Chinese nationals who came from Wuhan City, China and ordered to stop the processing of VUA applications from Chinese citizens who are residents or traveled to Wuhan.

The BI launched the VUA program in 2017 for Chinese nationals as part of the government’s bid to boost tourism and investment in the Philippines.

According to the Department of Tourism, arrivals from China increased by 40.4 percent to 492,974 in the first half of 2019 .

Chinese tourist arrivals accounted for some 13.6 percent of the total foreign tourist arrivals in the country.

According to reports, the Chinese government placed Wuhan under lockdown, and this was followed by the neighboring city of Huanggang who also announced a lockdown.

Reports also said that two other cities in Hubei province, Ezhou and Chibi, announced that they would also be locked down to stop the spread of the disease.

Severe control measures have

been enforced by the BI, Manila International Airport Authority, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Bureau of Quarantine and Bureau of Customs to stop virus outbreak.

Meanwhile, party-list lawmakers on Saturday called on the Duterte administration to implement an efficient health screening, surveillance and monitoring of individuals or groups coming from areas infected by the new coronavirus.

The new coronavirus strain originated in Wuhan in Hubei late last year, has spread to Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai, as well as the United States, Thailand, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

“What we need to ensure is for people not be paranoid or panicky due to this disease. We already dealt with this type of situation before when SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), killed nearly 800 people mostly from mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003 and this was so close to the Philippines but we were able to contain it,” House Deputy

Minority leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said.

Zarate said the government must be able to ensure adequate preparations—supplies, medicines, facilities, adequate personnel and budget like when we dealt with SARS so as to restrict its entry in the country and contain it, if it does.

“The frontline agencies, like the DOH, airport and seaport authorities, immigrarion, should be very proactive in instituting preventive measures now,” said Zarate.

Gaite, for his part, stressed the need for mechanisms that will enable the government to deal with the problem in case the 2019 Novel coronavirus hit the country.

“We need adequate preparations and effective response and we hope that they are now in place,” Gaite said.

On Friday, Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said there had been no confirmed case of the new coronavirus in the Philippines as patients who had presented symptoms were cleared of the disease.

HE Department of Justice on Saturday said it had completed the study on the procedure for the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement between the United States and the Philippines and would formally present it to President Rodrigo Duterte tomorrow.

Coronavirus (2019-nCoV )—the commission said.

Global concern The previously unknown virus has caused global concern because of its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which killed hundreds across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.

It also has struck at possibly the worst time for China, when hundreds of millions of people are traveling across the country or overseas to celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday, China’s most important festival.

Meanwhile, China has ordered nationwide measures to identify and immediately isolate suspected cases of a deadly virus on trains, airplanes and buses, as the death toll and number of patients has skyrocketed.

Inspection stations will be set up and passengers with suspected pneumonia must be “immediately transported” to a medical center, the National Health Commission said in a statement.

The isolation of suspected cases must be followed by disinfection of the train, plane or bus.

The statement said“all departments of transportation” must “strictly” introduce prevention and control measures including screening measures in airports, railway stations, bus stations and ports.

The measures apply across all transportation routes as well as at customs and border inspections.

Staff serving passengers must all wear masks, the NHC said.

The travel authority must also provide details about those in close contact with the suspected infection case, such as those sitting in the same carriage.

DUTERTE:..

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beneficial relations between the Philippines and China,” President Duterte said in his statement.

The Chinese New Year is a special non-working day in the Philippines. “ The fact that Filipinos have embraced the Chinese New Year celebration as their own demonstrates the two countries strong and inseparable bond of friendship and beneficial relations,” he said.

The Chief Executive also expressed hope that Filipinos and Chinese people will open a new page of “shared history,” and bonds of friendship will grow strong through cooperation, investments, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people ties.

He also hoped the Filipino-Chinese community would continue to “engage in charitable acts” that uplift other people’s lives, especially those of the poor and marginalized.

“Together, these small acts of kindness shall create a ripple effect that will benefit not only those belonging to your community but also countless others, creating a much bigger wave of compassion that will eventually redound to the greater good of our country,” he said.

Earlier, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said more Chinese investors and tourists were coming to the Philippines and more Philippine agricultural products were entering China because of the improved bilateral ties.

Th e re l a t i o n s h i p b e t we e n the Philippines and China were strained after the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III challenged the legality of China’s maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea before an international court.

NCOV..

From A1 Friday, said Dr. Audie Cipriano, medical professional staff chief at the Ospital ng Palawan.

Upon initial check, the child had a fever while the father had a sore throat.

They were immediately transported to the Ospital ng Palawan in Puerto Princesa at 1 a.m. Saturday and immediately placed at the isolation room for examination.

While the parents had no fever, their child had to be confined after showing respiratory symptoms including difficulty breathing and fever, according to hospital autborities.

The family had to be isolated given their history of travel in Wuhan, a Chinese transport hub of 11 million people now on lockdown to arrest the spread of the disease.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente has canceled the VUAs of

20 DEAD...

From A1 old Melahat Can, who lives in the provincial capital of Elazig, told AFP. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said all steps were being taken to aid people affected by the quake, which caused widespread fear.

“We stand by our people,” Erdogan said on Twitter.

The Turkish government’s disaster and emergency management agency (AFAD) said the quake hit Sivrice at around 8.55 p.m. (2.35 a.m. in Manila).

Turkey lies on major faultlines and is prone to frequent earthquakes.

Turkish television showed images of people rushing outside in panic, as well as a fire on the roof of a building.

Interior, environment and health ministers, who were in the quake zone, said the casualties were in Elazig province and in the neighboring province of Malatya,

which lies to the southwest.

At least 20 people died and 1,015 others were wounded, according to AFAD. “There is nobody trapped under the rubble in Malatya but in Elazig search and rescue efforts are currently under way to find 30 citizens,” Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Friday.

Rescue teams were searching for survivors trapped in a five-story collapsed building in a village some 30 kilometers from Elazig, according to AFP journalists at the scene. One person was pulled alive from the rubble.

Emergency staff and people waiting at the scene lit fires in the streets to stay warm in freezing temperatures.

Sports centers, schools and guest houses had been opened to accommodate quake victims in Malatya.

‘Everybody is in the street’ Sivrice—a town with a population of about 4,000 people—is situated south of Elazig city on the shores of Hazar lake—one of the most popular tourist spots in the region and the source of the Tigris river.

The lake is home to a“Sunken City”, with archaeological

agreement if the cancellation of Dela Rosa’s visa was not rectified within a month.

Signed by the Philippines and the US in 1998, the VFA is an executive agreement that stipulates how visiting American troops should be treated in the Philippines.

Aside from exempting US forces from passport and visa regulations, the agreement also states that their permits and licenses are also deemed valid in the Philippines.

The same policy also applies to Filipino troops in US military installations.

It also allows Washington to retain jurisdiction over US personnel accused of crimes committed in the Philippines. PNA

traces dating back 4,000 years in its waters.

The tremor was felt in several parts of eastern Turkey near the Iraqi and Syrian borders, the Turkish broadcaster NTV reported, adding that neighboring cities had mobilized rescue teams for the quake area.

“Everybody is in the street, it was very powerful, very scary,” said Zekeriya Gunes, 68, from Elazig city, after the quakes caused a building to collapse on her street.

“It lasted quite long, maybe 30 seconds,”added Ferda, 39.

“I panicked and was undecided whether to go out in this cold or remain inside.”

The US Geological Survey assessed the magnitude as 6.7, slightly lower than AFAD, adding that it struck near the East Anatolian Fault in an area that has suffered no documented large ruptures since an earthquake in 1875.

“My wholehearted sympathy to President @RTErdogan and the Turkish people following the devastating earthquake that has hit Turkey. Our search and rescue teams stand ready to assist,”Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis wrote on Twitter. AFP

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

2 CHINESE MEN MAUL GUARD IN LAS PIÑAS

BACOOR GOLD AWARD. Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado Revilla receives the Gold Award from the Department of the Interior and Local Government for the city’s

significant achievement in helping pursue to the hilt Manila Bay Cleanup Rehabilitation and Preservation program. Witnessing the Gold Award presentation are DILG Provincial Director Lionel Dalope, DILG cluster head Celia Martal, CLGOO Norma Corpuz, LGOO Brian Ballon, Manila Bay program officers Don Paolo Teodoro and Kristel Cale Francisco, DENR-PENRO Judaline Fabro and DENRO-PENRO Aileen Joy Eslamo.

23 SUSPECTS ROUNDED UP IN BULACAN CAMP GEN. ALEJO S. SANTOS, Malolos City—At least 23 suspects were arrested in different localities in Bulacan province during a raid conducted by policemen over the weekend.

Col. Emma M. Libunao, acting Bulacan provincial director, said antiillegal drug operations in Bustos, Obando, Bulakan, San Jose del Monte and Meycauayan Police Stations resulted in the arrests of 13 suspects, namely: Jomar P. Hilario alias Pute included in PNP/PDEA unified drug watchlist; Adrian Verdadero; Gerardo P. Tolentino; Adrian Abuel; Gilbert Sunga alias Ibet; Jonas Restua alias Baboy; Narciso Valencia Jr.; Benigno Mendoza; Joshue Danao; Darwin Ayso; Renato Torreon; Elizieldo Arrojado alias Thata; and Mark Anthony Dela Cruz. Some 34 plastic sachets of shabu, assorted shabu paraphernalia and buy-bust money were confiscated from the suspects.

A suspect identified as Rhohel Santiago was arrested during an ‘Oplan Sita’ (checkpoint) of the 1st Provincial Mobile Force at Sitio Looban, Barangay. Tabang, Plaridel.

Initially, Santiago, riding a black motorcycle was flagged down for not wearing a helmet. The suspect tried to escape but was caught by other operatives in the area. When Santos pulled out his driver’s license from his wallet, a transparent plastic sachet containing marijuana was seen by police officers prompting them to arrest him.

Meanwhile, police tracker teams of San Rafael, Balagtas, Hagonoy, Santa Maria, Malolos, San Jose del Monte City, Calumpit and Bocaue hunted down eight fugitives.

Arrested were: Philip Dela Cruz in Brgy. Capihan, San Rafael; Efren Cayanan in Brgy Panginay, Balagtas for concubinage; Marilou Crisostomo in Barangay Sto. Rosario, Hagonoy for violation of Bouncing Check Law; Alfeo Leynes, detained at BJMP Santa Maria town; a warrant was served on him for three counts of rape; Romeo Surio in Barangay Dakila, Malolos for reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property; Albert Bulawan for attempted murder; Alejandro Buensuceso for violation of Anti-Fencing Law; and Inocencio Licudan in Barangay Batia, Bocaue for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide.

An anti-illegal gambling raid was also conducted in Barangay Muzon, San Jose del Monte City resulting in the arrest of Arjay Tan y Salalima and Raffy Gutierrez y Baldemor, who were caught in the act of playing an illegal colors game. Seized from them were gambling paraphernalia and P820 bet money. Orlan Mauricio

‘ROAD REPAIRS RESUME, BRACE FOR TRAFFIC JAM’

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has resumed road reblocking and other repairs along major thoroughfares in the metropolis, a move that is feared to lead to snarled traffic.

This developed as the Department of Public Works and Highways resumed the road works Friday night (Jan. 24) following a three-month long moratorium imposed by the MMDA on diggings, reblocking and repairs during the Yuletide season.

An advisory released by the MMDA public information office said the DPWH will continue its improvement work on Metro Manila roads beginning 11 p.m. on Friday.

DPWH-National Capital Region (NCR) Director Ador Canlas, the first road rehabilitation this year covers a section of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, southbound direction of Bulacan Street to West Avenue, 1st

lane from sidewalk.

Other roads also undergoing repair include the southbound direction of A. Bonifacio Avenue near J. Manuel Street; the westbound direction of Quirino Highway from Nightingale to Zabarte Road, inner lane; the eastbound direction of Elliptical Road from corner Maharlika Street, 8th lane from outer sidewalk and General Luis Street from Rebisco Road to Samote Street; and the northbound direction of Katipunan Avenue/Circumferential Road 5 (C5) fronting UP Town Center, first lane from center island.

MMDA chief information officer Sharon Gentalian assured motorists

that all affected roads will be fully passable by 5 a.m. on Monday. She said motorists are advised to avoid the affected areas and use alternate routes instead.

The DPWH-NCR is conducting the road works and repair in the metropolis for maintenance purposes.

In November, the MMDA imposed a three-month moratorium on road diggings and excavations in Metro Manila in anticipation of the heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic during the holiday travel rush.

MMDA spokesperson Pircelyn Pialago said the temporary stoppage of road works was implemented from Nov. 11, 2019 to Jan. 10, 2020 to lessen the impact of ongoing infrastructure projects to heavy traffic situation until holidays are over.

There was exemption to the moratorium, however, including the flagship projects of the national government that do not obstruct or block vehicular traffic.

The MMDA has been imposing the Yule moratorium since 2008.

AIRPORT WORKER COMMENDED FOR HONESTY—CAAP

MUSEO PAMBATA TURNS 25. Children wearing colorful costumes made of recycled materials participate in the parade celebrating the 25t anniversary of Museo Pambata in Manila. Norman Cruz

BATTLE FOR MANILA BAY: DENR CHIEF CHALKS UP GAINS

By Rio Araja THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources has found a cause for celebration: The water quality of major outfalls directly draining into Manila Bay a year after the polluted water body started undergoing rehabilitation have shown significant improvements.

“There is reason to celebrate because a year after we launched the Battle for Manila Bay, we have recorded significant improvements in the water quality from major drainage outfalls,” Secretary Roy Cimatu said.

POLICE investigators are still looking into motives for the alleged mauling of a security guard by two Chinese nationals at a condominium late Friday night in Las Piñas City.

The foreigners—Li Feng Hau, 28, and Lem Liu, 32, both of Paseo Verde Condominium, Barangay Pulanglupa, Las Piñas City—were arrested following the complaint filed by Carlo Dalaguit, 24, security guard of the condominium.

The arresting officers led by P/ Maj. Salvador Garcia placed the two suspects under police custody after witnesses called up the Las Pinas City police community precinct (PCP-2) for assistance.

In an initial report release by the Southern Police District, the suspects were arrested by the Las Piñas City police after they mauled the victim at the 6th floor of the condominium.

Asked why the victim was mauled, SPD chief information officer and spokesperson P/Maj. Jaybee Bayani said “Lasing daw po yung mga Chinese (at) napagtripan lang po ang guard.” (The Chinese were allegedly drunk and poked fun at the guard.)

The case was not the first time Chinese nationals got involved in criminal offenses in southern Metro Manila.

In 2019, Chinese nationals, majority of them employees of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator companies, got arrested for their alleged role in kidnapping, drugs and human trafficking, and prostitution and illegal gambling den operations, among others, in the cities of Makati, Parañaque, Pasay and Las Piñas.

Just recently, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay declared an indefinite moratorium on the issuance of new business licenses and permits to service providers of POGO due to rising criminality and prostitution in the city.

Makati’s chief executive cited the “overheating” market for residential and commercial space and the rising criminality and prostitution as major reasons for her decision to stop more POGOs from operating in the country’s financial district.

The Immigration bureau stated that Chinese nationals topped the agency’s list of foreigners who have been arrested in 2018 for violating immigration laws.

Data provided by the bureau also showed that Chinese nationals topped the list of foreign nationals who were prevented from entering the country for displaying rudeness and disrespect towards immigration officers. Joel E. Zurbano

The DENR chief heads the Manila Bay Task Force.

Before the Jan. 26, 2019 rehabilitation, the DENR posted extremely high fecal levels from major Manila Bay outfalls.

According to Cimatu, the most recent data from the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau showed that the coliform levels “drastically decreased.”

Citing EMB data, he said the fecal coliform count at the Padre Faura outfall is now down to 920,000 most probable number per 100 milliliter (mpn/100ml) from its pre-rehab record of 7.21 mil-

lion mpn/100ml.

From 35 million mpn/100ml recorded before the rehabilitation began, he added, the coliform level at the Raja Soliman/Remedios drainage outfall across Aristocrat Restaurant went down to 11 million mpn/100ml, while the coliform level at the Manila Yacht Club outfall went down to 54 million mpn/100ml from a high of 110 million mpn/100ml.

Despite such improvements, Cimatu vowed to do more interventions, especially since the standard fecal coliform level in Manila Bay is 100 mpn/100ml based on its classification as “Class SB”

coastal and marine water.

In 2019, over 10,000 volunteers joined a massive cleanup activity along Roxas Boulevard in Manila and other areas in the bay region.

President Rodrigo Duterte allocated P42.95 billion for the implementation of the Manila Bay rehabilitation project within three years with 13 government agencies tasked to clean up the bay.

The government targets the source of water pollution in an effort to rehabilitate, restore and maintain the historic bay to a level fit for swimming as mandated in the mandamus issued by the Supreme Court in 2008.

AVIATION authority officials commended an employee of Legazpi Airport who returned a bag containing cash and other valuables worth P150,000 left by a passenger at the facility last Friday.

Airport worker Rommel Nanio, a facility cleaner at the airport, got a well-deserved commendation from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, said CAAP chief information officer and spokesperson Eric Apolonio.

Nanio was on duty at the airport’s pre-departure area last Friday when he noticed the bag, reportedly owned and left unattended by passenger Cesar Ballano who was going to Manila, Apolonio said.

“Shortly after Nanio reported finding the bag, it was examined by the CAAP Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) to verify its contents,” said Apolonio.

The bag and its contents—25 pieces of US$ in 100 denomination, P25,868.00, and other important documents—are now under the care of Philippine Airlines officials at the airport.

CAAP and Legazpi Airport officials praised Nanio, saying the man who was expecting nothing in return, showcased the agency’s core values of integrity and honesty in the course of his service to the public.

Late last year, CAAP commended two employees of Zamboanga International Airport who also returned the personal belongings and a bag with P200,000 cash, computer laptop, mobile phones, gadgets and other valuable items left unattended at the airport.

The two airport workers were Arron Paul Villanueva and Gracelyn Alihuddin. Joel E. Zurbano

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020

News

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PALACE PRAYS FOR JUSTICE FOR SAF 44

‘SADSAD’ DANCING. High school students from different barangays in Iloilo sway to the beat of the drums as they participate in the ‘Sadsad’ festival on Saturday. Formerly called Kasadyahan, Sadsad is the street dance competition prelude to the Dinagyang. Ilongos celebrate every January the abundance of their harvest, but the local government and the church have substituted Kasadyahan with Sadsad, which focuses on giving thanks to their patron saint Santo Niño.

HUNGER RATE DROPS TO 15-YR LOW

F

EWER Filipinos experienced involuntary hunger at the lowest rate in 15 years, a Social Weather Stations survey during the last quarter of 2019 revealed.

The hunger rate, or the percentage of Filipino families experiencing involuntary hunger or hunger because of the lack of food, dropped to 8.8 percent from October to December last year, the lowest mark since 2004, the SWS said in a statement.

The survey was conducted from Dec.13 to 16, and the December 2019 hunger rate is the lowest since

the 7.4 percent posted in March 2004, the firm said.

The drop was significant because “earlier in 2019, quarterly hunger was 9.5 percent in March and 10.0 percent in June,” the SWS said. The annual average hunger rate for 2019 is 9.3 percent.

A total of 1,200 adults, with 300 from Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, were interviewed for the fourth quarter 2019 SWS Survey.

“The 8.8 percent quarterly hunger rate in December 2019 is the sum of 7.3 percent who experienced moderate hunger and 1.5 percent who experienced severe hunger,” the survey firm said.

Moderate hunger describes the condition of those who experienced hunger “only once” or “a few times”

BOC NABS SHIPMENT OF ASF-TAINTED MEAT

By Joel E. Zurbano and Vito Barcelo

C U S TO M S Co m m i s s i o n e r R e y Leonardo Guerrero has ordered a 40-foot container van at the Manila International Container Port filled with imported meats condemned after the goods tested positive for African Swine Fever.

The container, consigned to Dynamic M International Trading Inc., arrived at the Manila North Harbor last Dec. 11 from China, and was put under an Alert Order for suspicion of containing misdeclared items. It contained various food items such as dumplings, pork-chicken balls, and roast chicken wings.

In a statement, the Bureau of Customs said it will destroy and bury the van. The Office of the Collector at MICP also issued an alert order for the other shipments consigned to Dynamic M, which has its warehouse in Kawit, Cavite.

Customs lawyers are also readying a criminal case against the company and will recommend its

brokers’ licenses revoked.

“Given the circumstances we have today, every entry point in the country must be on its toes to stop any viruses or bacteria from getting to our shores.

Our mandate is to protect our people and that’s what we intend to do,” Guerrero said, referring to the current spread of the Wuhan coronavirus.

“After 100 percent examination of its contents and undergoing laboratory test from the Veterinary Quarantine Services, the pork-celery dumplings indicated the presence of ASF virus,” MICP district collector Guillermo Pedro A. Francia IV said.

The BOC-MICP ordered an interagency team to immediately dispose the contents of the shipment following the VQS recommendation to prevent the spread of ASF, a highly contagious viral disease endemic in domestic and wild pigs.

The misdeclared items prompted BOC Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Raniel Ramiro to recommend its examination. The MICP Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service led the probe.

in the last three months. Severe hunger referred to those who experienced hunger “often” or “always” in the last three months.

The December 2019 quarterly hunger rates by area are 9.3 percent each for Metro Manila and Visayas, 6.3 percent for Balance Luzon, and 12.7 percent for Mindanao.

Hunger in Luzon fell, but rose in Metro Manila, Visayas and Mindanao.

Hunger also fell among self-rated poor families and food-poor families, which the SWS were families whose household head rated their family as poor. Selfrated food-poor families are families whose household head rated the food that their family ate as poor.

“We remain vigilant in ensuring the safety of the public from dangerous goods. Since the threat of the ASF was raised by the Department of Agriculture, Customs has always been proactive in preventing the entry of pork products in the country,” Francia said.

The seized items were not covered by any sanitary permit from the Bureau of Animal Industry, and the agricultural items, which may carry

plant diseases and pests that can affect local agriculture, also were not covered by permits.

The Customs bureau has closely monitored the arrival of containers of meat and seafood products entering the Manila ports. In December, some 134 cargoes containing a variety of frozen seafood products were seized after its consignees failed to secure the proper permits for their importation.

CHINATOWN MERRIMENT. Lion dance group perform at a store in Chinatown, Binondo, Manila on Saturday, as Filipino-Chinese communities across the country celebrate the Chinese Lunar Year of the Rat. Norman Cruz

SEARCH FOR KIN OF ‘LONESOME GEORGE’ ON A SCIENTIFIC expedition to the Galapagos Islands will spend 10 days searching for relatives of two tortoise species believed to be extinct, including those of the archipelago’s Lonesome George, park officials said Friday.

George, the last known member of the Pinta tortoise species, died in 2012 at over 100 years of age after refusing to mate in captivity with females from related subspecies.

Park rangers and scientists from the Galapagos National Parks and Galapagos

Conservancy will tour the Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island in hopes of “locating and removing a group of giant tortoises with partial lineage” to the extinct Pinta and Floreana species, the park said in a statement.

They chose the area because whalers and pirates who would eat the animals were thought to have dumped some of the tortoises there in the past to lighten their ships’ loads.

The Galapagos Islands, located 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, were made famous by Charles Dar-

win’s studies of their breathtaking biodiversity.

In 2008, a similar expedition took blood samples from 1,726 tortoises, 17 of which had a “significant percentage” of genes in common with the Pinta species while about 80 showed a “partial lineage” to the Floreana species, PNG said.

Studies have found“tortoises that have up to 90 percent of the extinct species’ genes, meaning that at least one of their parents is a purebred and possibly lives on Wolf Volcano,” said Jorge Carrion, the park’s director. AFP

MALACAÑANG on Saturday expressed hope that justice will prevail for the 44 Special Action Force troopers who were killed in a 2015 encounter with Moro combatants in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement on the anniversary of the incident.

“Today, January 25, is a Day of National Remembrance,” the Palace official said in a press statement.

“We continue to pray for the eternal repose of the souls of these valorous men in uniform who were recipients posthumously of the PNP Medal of Valor (Medalya ng Kagitingan) and hope that justice will finally come to give closure to these officers and their grieving families,” Panelo added.

On Feb. 21, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation 164, declaring Jan. 25 of every year as “A Day of National Remembrance for the Heroic Sacrifice of the Fourty-Four Uniformed Personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Special Action Force.”

SAF commandos on Jan. 25, 2015 carried out a law enforcement operation against two high-value targets, Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and terrorist Abdul Basit Usman. The botched operation, however, resulted in a firefight with Moro rebels.

The encounter claimed the lives of around 67 people, including 44 members of SAF and Marwan. Usman, on the other hand, was later killed in another operation.

Panelo said the current administration would ensure that there would be no repeat of such an incident.

“As we recall the tragedy that befell the PNP officers in Mamasapano, Maguindanao and pays homage to the bravery and heroism of the 44 members of the Special Action Force, collectively known as the Fallen SAF 44, let us learn and reflect from the mistakes of this botched police operation that it will never happen again,” he said.

Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of Senate justice committee, is eyeing an investigation into the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division’s move to dismiss the usurpation of authority and graft charges against former PNP chief Alan Purisima and former SAF head Getulio Napeñas. PNA

‘DAWLAH’ REBEL SLAIN IN LANAO SUR FIREFIGHT ZAMBOANGA CITY—An alleged member of the Dawlah Islamiya was killed in a clash with government troops in the hinterlands of Lanao del Sur, military officials said Saturday.

Lt. Col. Rafman Altre, the Army’s 82nd Infantry Battalion commander, identified the slain Dawlah Islamiya member as Jarir Usman, 28, a resident of Barangay Raya Saduc, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. Altre said the clash that lasted for about 15 minutes broke out at about 4:30 p.m. Friday when the troops spotted a group of Dawlah Islamiya members while patrolling along the borders of Balindong and Piagapo towns.

He said the remains of Usman were immediately turned over by the troops to the officials of Barangay Gacap, Piagapo for proper disposition.

Altre said recovered from the clash site were the identification card of Usman, one M-16 Armalite rifle, four improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 2 kg. of explosive components, a magazine of M-16 ammunition, a cellphone, a container of rice, personal belongings, and subversive documents with high intelligence value.

He said no one among the troops was either killed or injured and that some of the Dawlah Islamiya members, who fled, were wounded as traces of bloodstains were found in their withdrawal route.

Meanwhile, Col. Jose Maria Cuerpo II, the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade commander, called on the locals to report to proper authorities any presence of armed groups in their communities. PNA

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Opinion IN GREECE, CHILDREN OF THE HOLOCAUST SPEAK OUT AT LAST

EDITORIAL

FIVE YEARS ON

F

IVE years ago on Saturday, 44 members of the Special Action Force perished during an encounter with rebel forces as they pursued terrorists in the town of Mamasapano in Maguindanao.

The deaths of who later came to be known as the SAF 44 occasioned outrage among the people. The previous administration made many questionable decisions and actions that led us to believe that the deaths could have been prevented.

It did not help that after the bodies of the slain men were flown back to Manila, the then-president chose instead to attend an event of a car manufacturer instead of being present to receive them. When he spoke with the families a few days after, he attempted empathy by insisting he

knew exactly how they felt because his own father had died. He said this instead of simply acknowledging that his own administration may have led the men to their deaths.

Five years on, many things have changed.

It’s a different administration in power now. Many of the prominent personalities who made the life-and-death decisions on that fateful day are no longer visible to the public. And while a Senate committee, after a series of hearings that captivated the nation, issued

a report that identified the parties responsible for the deaths and the many factors that led to the loss of the men, the court cases that came afterward yielded unsatisfactory resolutions, if at all.

Meanwhile, the families of the 44 men have been five years orphaned, and have had to fend for themselves.

Some of them have grown tired of hoping that real justice for their loved one will ever be obtained.

The reputation of the police organization itself has suffered, marred by accusations of abuse of power and discretion as it implemented the new administration’s so-called war against drugs. At the time of Mamasapano, the police chief was on suspension following allegations of wrongdoing. Today, another police chief has resigned in disgrace, after alleged involvement

By Marina Rafenberg

in a scheme that allowed cops to profit from seized illegal drugs.

But aside from remembering that this event took place half a decade ago, have the rest of us been able to reflect on what happened and pondered the possibility of similar betrayals happening again?

The tragedy is that the SAF 44 were good, honest, valorous men who responded to the call of duty to protect the nation. Alas, it could have been that their own commanders put them in harm’s way, believing that some ends—the illusion or appearance of peace, for instance, in preserving ties with rebels who did not share their goodwill—are more important than the 44’s lives.

May we never be deceived into believing that anything else is more worth saving than human lives.

"I CELEBRATED my seventh birthday inside the camp of Bergen-Belsen with a piece of bread and sticks for candles," recalls 83-yearold Lola Angel, one of the few Greek Jews left to remember the horror of Nazi concentration camps.

"I was just three when I had to hide," says Nina Camhi, who is 80. "But I still remember the fear."

Approximately 83 percent of Greek Jews, nearly 59,000 people, were exterminated when the country was occupied by Nazi Germany in 1941-1944.

Most of them came from Thessaloniki, which until then had a prosperous Jewish community dating back to the 15th century, and was known as the Jerusalem of the Balkans.

Nina and Lola are among survivors who have not spoken until now. Because they were so young at the time, they felt it was not their place to speak. But 75 years after the end of World War II, they finally feel ready to pass on their stories to the next generation.

'I FORGOT NOTHING'

"I was but a child but I forgot nothing," Lola told AFP. "The memories still haunt me, and the intense smells of the camp are ever present."

Lola's family fled to Athens from Thessaloniki in January 1941, a few months before the capital fell.

In April 1944, the little girl and her family were put on a train to an unknown destination.

"We were packed atop each other and could hardly breathe. Many died en route," she said.

The intensification and coordination of the "Final Solution" was agreed at a landmark conference of government ministries and topranking Nazi and SS officials in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee on January 20, 1942.

The 15 participants at the Wannsee Conference agreed that 11 million Jews should be moved to death camps in an operation under the exclusive authority of the SS. Jews from all over Europe were systematically deported from mid-1942 to six death camps—Auschwitz-Birkenau, Belzec, Chelmno, Majdanek, Sobibor and Treblinka.

At Auschwitz—which became the symbol of the Holocaust—more than 1.1 million people were killed, primarily Jews, but also Roma, Soviet prisoners of war and Poles.

At Bergen-Belsen, however, the Nazis tried a different strategy, said Lola, speaking from her Athens apartment where the walls are covered with the pictures of survivors and the dead.

DEATH BY DISEASE

AGE-OLD MEASURES OF PROTECTION

By Olivier Thibault QUARANTINES and cordons sanitaires, such as those being imposed on Chinese cities to contain the new coronavirus, were developed to respond to major outbreaks of disease in the Middle Ages.

Here is a look back.

PRECEDENTS

Only in rare cases in history have restrictions on human movement been imposed to contain disease on such a scale as being seen China—where 13 cities are in lockdown, affecting 40 million people.

Both were in China and India, countries with large populations, French health history specialist Patrick Zylberman told AFP. The most recent was during the 2002-2003 outbreak of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which started in China and then spread across the world, claiming nearly 800 lives.

Such restrictions were also imposed during the late 19th century outbreak of bubonic plague in

Mumbai, which killed thousands, Zylberman said.

Similar measures were also imposed during the 2013-2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa when borders were closed and quarantine measures imposed, including on ships, animals, and people.

Six million people from Sierra Leone, one of the three hardest-hit countries, were forced to remain at home for three days in September 2014 and in March 2015 in a bid to halt the epidemic.

TWO METHODS

The terms quarantine and cordon sanitaire, which has a French origin but has become part of the English language, are sometimes used interchangeably but are different.

Quarantine is "a state, period or place of isolation, in which people or animals that have arrived from elsewhere or been exposed to infectious or contagious disease are placed," according to the Oxford dictionary.

The "cordon sanitaire" involves blocking and monitoring the entry

and exit points in an area affected meter (16-mile) brick "plague wall", by an epidemic, as is currently the with guard posts, was built in the situation in China's Hubei province. Vaucluse Mountains in 1721 to stop the spread of a plague that was 40-DAY QUARANTINE striking surrounding regions.

The word quarantine is drawn In England in 1665, the village of from Italian for 40 days and refers to Eyam voluntarily imposed a cordon a period of isolation that was used sanitaire on itself after an outbreak during the plagues of the 14th and of bubonic plague in order to pro15th centuries. tect the wider region, said Tom SolThe first documented cases in- omon, emerging diseases specialist volved ships coming from Du- at Britain's Liverpool University. brovnik in Croatia in 1377 and Venice in 1423 which were kept isolated RISK OF PANIC outside of the cities to see if sympSolomon said restrictions on toms of the disease developed be- movement can be "counterproducfore they were allowed entry. tive", leading people to panic and Mass quarantines were regularly flee at any cost. used in Europe including during a They can also unleash social uncholera pandemic in the 1830s. rest, as was the case during the Mumbai plague when people were CORDON SANITAIRE forcibly admitted to hospital irreThe term was first used in France spective of their caste or gender, in the 19th century when Paris sent Zylberman said.

30,000 soldiers to block the border More recently, the SARS epidemic with Spain to prevent the arrival of in China in 2003 led to violent riots yellow fever. and demonstrations in the eastern But the practice had been in use regions of Nankin and Shanghai in even before during big plagues. response to harsh quarantine conIn southeastern France, a 27-kilo- ditions, he said. AFP

"It was slow death by disease. After the Allies landed in Normandy, the Nazis began concentrating people there, hoping they would die of typhus."

Her father fell ill with the disease while Lola caught measles.

She said that childhood distractions kept her going.

"I kept my doll until I returned to Greece, and my mother would put a bow in my hair every morning," she said.

Nina said that in order to evade the first convoys from Thessaloniki to Auschwitz in March 1943, she and her parents and brother fled the city.

A business partner of her father managed to smuggle them by fishing boat to the island of Skopelos.

But her mother's family died at Auschwitz.

"My mother kept all their letters, up to the point they were deported. After the war, she shut herself up in painful silence," Nina said.

HISTORY LESSONS

The fate of Greek Jews is still not widely known in the country.

It was only in 2004 that teaching about the Shoah became compulsory in Greece and 10 years later a monument was erected at the site of the former Jewish cemetery which the Germans razed and where the city university now stands.

Just before Bergen-Belsen was liberated in April 1945, Lola was removed by train to north Germany, part of a last-ditch effort by the Nazis to exterminate camp survivors before the Allies arrived.

After days of traveling, the guards abandoned the train and fled. The exhausted and starving prisoners were found by American soldiers a few hours later.

Nina and her parents crossed most of Western Europe—the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Italy—before ending back in Greece in September 1945.

By that point, she had forgotten her Greek, and her family had lost everything.

"We had to start from scratch," she said.

And returning to Thessaloniki was no easier, with the ghosts of Jewish families staring back from every corner.

"Even today I have nightmares. And I rarely board trains," she said. AFP

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor / Jimbo Gulle, Issue Editor

US SPACE FORCE LOGO SIMILAR TO STAR TREK'S US PRESIDENT Donald Trump unveiled the logo of Space Force on Friday, attracting critics who said America's newest military branch had boldly gone where Star Trek went before.

With a central symbol resembling an arrowhead, ringed by an orbiting object and set to a starry backdrop, many users argued the design was pilfered from the famous science fiction franchise.

But a spokesman for the branch hit back, arguing the "Delta" emblem had been used by Air Force space organizations as early as 1961, before the first Star Trek show aired.

"After consultation with our Great Military Leaders, designers, and others, I am pleased to present the new logo for the United States Space Force, the Sixth Branch of our Magnificent Military!" wrote Trump of the branch that he championed and which came into being in December 2019.

It drew immediate mockery among social media users.

"Should've been consulting with Gene Roddenberry's lawyers," said the popular "Pourmecoffee" account, referring to the late screenwriter and producer of Star Trek's original series and its first spin-off, "The Next Generation."

The logo bears an uncanny resemblance to the insignia of Starfleet—the peacekeeping and exploration force of the United Federation of Planets alliance, which is headquartered on Earth whose adversaries include Klingons and Romulans.

It has appeared as a pin on the uniforms of iconic Star Trek characters such as Captain Kirk and Spock ever since the original series debuted in 1966, and continues to feature in the franchise's current shows and movies. AFP

ISABEL DOS SANTOS GRAFT SCANDAL UPS STAKES IN ANGOLA ISABEL dos Santos, the 46-year-old billionaire daughter of ex-president Jose Eduardo dos Santos, is being probed for allegedly siphoning off millions from state companies and stashing the funds overseas.

Analysts say the mounting scandal raises the stakes—not just for the dos Santos family and elites who prospered during the ex-president's 38-year rule, but also for Lourenco himself.

"A lot rests on this case," said Berlinbased Transparency International's southern Africa advisor, Mokgabo Kupe.

Dos Santos "is a symbol of the fight against corruption," said Oxford University fellow and Angolan law professor Rui Verde.

"If (she) is charged, of course, everyone could be charged."

Dos Santos was indicted this week for a host of top-level financial crimes, including money laundering, influence peddling, harmful management and forgery of documents.

On Friday, Angolan Chief Prosecutor Helder Pitta Gros said funds that she invested in Portugal, the former colonial power, were transferred "by illicit means."

Lourenco's adminstration is now looking into ways to bring her back home to face justice.

But how it intends to do that is unclear.

Dos Santos has been living in Europe since Lourenco fired her as head of the state oil company Sonangol in 2017, soon after he took over from her father. AFP

DEMS WRAP UP CASE VS. TRUMP; LAWYERS OF PRESIDENT NEXT

DEN OF DEATH. This file photo shows Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest of Nazi Germany’s death and concentration camps and the one where most people were killed. AFP

HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS TH MARK AUSCHWITZ 75

E

LDERLY Holocaust survivors will gather in Auschwitz on Monday, some for the last time, to mark 75 years since Soviet troops liberated the death camp where Nazi Germany killed more than 1.1 million people, most of them Jews.

Bitter political feuds loom over the memorial ceremony at the site of the former camp in Oswiecim, southern Poland, that will be attended by royals, presidents and prime ministers from nearly 60 countries, but no top world leaders.

Israel held a high-profile Holocaust forum marking the liberation anniversary in Jerusalem on Thursday, seen as rivalling the event in Poland.

While senior figures such as US Vice President Mike Pence, French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin were in Jerusalem, none will come to Auschwitz.

Last month, Putin sparked outrage in the West after making the false claim that Poland had colluded with Nazi German dictator Adolf Hitler and con-

tributed to the outbreak of World War II. In fact, the war erupted after Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union invaded and carved up Poland in September 1939 under a secret clause of their Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.

Auschwitz-Birkenau is the only camp to have been preserved as it was when it was abandoned by the Germans fleeing the advancing Red Army.

Poland's President Andrzej Duda, who has called out Putin for attempting to rewrite history, snubbed the forum in Jerusalem after he was denied the opportunity to speak there.

He will make an address on Monday in Auschwitz where survivors are to hold centre-stage at ceremonies honouring the six million European

Jews killed in the Holocaust.

For some, nightmarish memories of the camp are still vivid, more than seven decades on.

German soldiers "only had to point one finger at you to send you to the gas chambers", says Auschwitz survivor Bronislawa Horowitz-Karakulska, 88, a Polish-Jew who was imprisoned there as a 12-year-old with her mother.

"Whoever looked weak, skinny, bony, was selected for death," said Horowitz-Karakulska, who survived after her mother bribed guards with a diamond she had smuggled into the camp.

"It was full of German soldiers, barking dogs—German shepherds—commotion, fear, screams, Auschwitz was one big horror," she told Polish media.

While the world only learned the full extent of the horrors after the Soviet Red Army entered the camp on January 27, 1945, the Allies had detailed information about Nazi Germany's genocide against Jews much earlier. AFP

IRAQIS URGE US TROOP OUSTER AS RALLIES KILL 2 THOUSANDS of Iraqi men, women and children of all ages massed in Baghdad to demand US troops leave the country.

Two anti-government protesters were killed in clashes with security forces in the Iraqi capital on Friday, hours after thousands of supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr rallied separately to demand the ouster of US troops.

Four NGO workers, three of them French nationals, were also reported missing in Baghdad, rocked since October by a youth-dominated protest movement demanding a government overhaul, early elections and more accountability.

More than 470 people have died in protest-relat- ed violence since O c to b e r, most of them demonstrators, and

violence has spiked this week.

On Friday, one protester was struck in the neck by a live round while another died after being hit with a military-grade tear gas canister in clashes with security forces, medical and police sources told AFP. It marked a sudden and bloody turn as thousands of men, women and children had gathered in Baghdad earlier the same day without incident to demand US troops withdraw.

A vowed enemy of US troops, Sadr had called for "a million-strong" rally but did not attend himself.

"Get out, get out, occupier!" they chanted.

One protester carried a cardboard cut-out of Donald Trump on the gallows, another of the US president banging himself on the head with a shoe.

A statement read by his representative at the rally demanded all foreign forces leave Iraq, Iraqi-American security agreements be cancelled, Iraqi airspace be closed to US military aircraft and for Trump not to act "arrogant" when addressing Iraqi officials.

"If all this is implemented, we will deal with it as a non-occupying country—otherwise it will be considered a country hostile to Iraq," the statement read.

America's military presence has been a hot-button issue in Iraq since a US drone strike killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and a top Iraqi commander in Baghdad on January 3.

Outraged parliamentarians swiftly voted all foreign forces, including 5,200 US troops helping fight the Islamic State group, should leave. AFP

DEMOCRATIC prosecutors wrap up case against Trump Democratic prosecutors on Friday wrapped up three days of arguments for seeking Donald Trump's removal from office, as the US president's lawyers prepared to take their turn presenting his defense in the Senate's historic impeachment trial.

For a final eight-hour stretch, the 100 senators listened as Democrats argued that Trump abused the power of the presidency in pressuring Ukraine to launch investigations that would help him politically and then sought to block efforts by Congress to investigate.

Democrats said they had met the burden of proof as they warned Republicans that Trump would remain a grave danger to the nation if left in office.

"This is Trump first, not America first, not American ideals first," Democratic congressman Adam Schiff, the lead House impeachment manager, told the chamber.

"I ask you, I implore you," he added, addressing Republicans who hold the power to allow witnesses to testify next week, against Trump's wishes.

"Give America a fair trial," Schiff said. "She's worth it."

Trump's team of lawyers take the floor to offer his defense beginning at 10:00 am (1500 GMT) Saturday, a timeslot which Trump, a former reality TV star, referred to in a tweet as "Death Valley in T.V." AFP

WEINSTEIN DREW UP ‘RED FLAG LIST’ OF WOMEN, TRIAL TOLD HARVEY Weinstein told a private investigator to approach women he suspected were detailing sexual misconduct allegations against him to journalists, his rape trial was told Friday, as the court heard from Oscar-nominated actress Rosie Perez.

Two months before the #MeToo movement ignited in late 2017, the then Hollywood titan emailed a "red flag list" of people he wanted investigated, prosecutors and a witness said in the high-profile proceedings which began hearing testimony this week.

The list included dozens of names, some of which were highlighted in red to indicate individuals that the now-disgraced movie producer was most concerned about.

They included the actress Rose McGowan, who Weinstein claimed was trying to extort him, and "The Sopranos" actress Annabella Sciorra, who accused him of rape in graphic testimony on Thursday.

Weinstein, 67, faces life imprisonment if convicted of predatory sexual assault charges related to two women.

He is accused of raping actress Jessica Mann in 2013 and of forcibly performing oral sex on former production assistant Mimi Haleyi. AFP

GUNMAN, 26, KILLS PARENTS, 4 OTHERS IN GERMAN TOWN

GROUNDED. A Boeing 777X airplane taxis for the first flight, which had to be rescheduled due to weather, but the company will try again Saturday (Sunday in Manila). AFP

A 26-YEAR-OLD man is believed to have shot dead his mother and father and four other people in a town in southwest Germany on Friday, police said, leaving two others seriously wounded.

The suspect "called the police station in (nearby town) Aalen at 12:48 pm (1148 GMT) to inform them he had shot several people," police chief Reiner Moeller told reporters in a press conference hours after the killings in Rot am See, near Baden-Wuerttemberg state capital Stuttgart.

The young man stayed on the line, and when the first officers arrived minutes later at the hotel where the shooting took place, they immediately arrested him outside.

"They were then able to identify six dead people both inside and behind the building," Moeller said, including

three men aged 36, 65 and 69 and three women aged 36, 56 and 62.

Images from the scene showed large numbers of emergency vehicles and heavily armed officers sealing off the area with red and white police tape.

Meanwhile forensics teams dressed in white coveralls moved in to secure evidence.

Two survivors of the attack are receiving medical treatment, with one of them "in danger for his life," police chief Moeller said.

The shooter had also threatened two children aged 12 and 14, leaving them shaken but unharmed.

Investigators have so far been unable to discover anything about the motive of the suspect, saying he would be questioned only when his lawyer arrived at the police station. AFP

Images

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

FOR GOOD LUCK. Revelers perform a dragon dance to usher in the new lunar year along Jones Bridge in Binondo, Manila. Norman Cruz

MAD RUSH. This aerial photo on Jan. 24, 2020 shows excavators at the construction site of a new hospital being built to treat patients from a deadly virus outbreak in Wuhan in China’s central Hubei province. China is rushing to build a new hospital in a staggering 10 days to treat patients at the epicenter of the virus. AFP

WHAT WOULD MAO DO? A police officer wearing a protective mask walks past the portrait of late communist leader Mao Zedong at Tiananmen Gate in Beijing on Jan. 23, 2020. AFP

INCOMING. Big waves overpass a breakwater at the Port Olympic marina in Barcelona as storm Gloria batters Spanish eastern coast on Jan. 21, 2020. Freezing winds, heavy snow and rain lashed parts of Spain, killing three people, forcing the closure of schools that canceled classes for nearly 200,000 students and disrupting travel, officials said. AFP

COLORLESS LANDSCAPE. An aerial view of mud-covered slope with Taal Volcano’s crater (back) COLORFUL RIBBONS. Girls play a maypole game on Kim Il Sung Square as part of festivities on the first day of the Lunar New Year in Pyongyang. AFP

as seen from a Philippine air force helicopter during an aerial survey on Jan. 21, 2020. Philippine authorities ordered a crackdown on evacuees’ daily visits to homes in the danger zone around Taal Volcano, amid a warning it could be ‘recharging’ for a more powerful explosion. AFP

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020

Riera U. Mallari, Editor sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Sports

ANDRAY SHOWS VINTAGE FORM, POWERS MIGHTY 5

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NDRAY Blatche showed that there is still plenty of fuel left in the tank, powering Mighty Sports to its second straight win—a 77-72 decision over Syria’s Al Ittihad in the 2020 Dubai International Basketball Championship at the Shabab Al Ahli Club.

The 6’10” Blatche mocked all guards thrown at him, firing 28 points in an impressive 10-of17 shooting from the field, apart from posting 11 rebounds, two assists, and a block as Mighty Sports grabbed the early Group B lead in the 11-club tournament.

The former reinforcement of Gilas Pilipinas was at his best in the second quarter where he anchored Mighty’s decisive breakaway, outscoring their rivals, 23-9, for a 42-32 halftime advantage.

Though Mighty—backed by Creative Pacific of Bong Cuevas, Go for Gold, Oriental Group, Discovery Primea, and Gatorade—was in control of the game from there on, it needed a huge trey from Blatche to finally take the fight out of the Syrian club which threatened at 74-70.

Team owner Alex Wongchuking and coach Charles Tiu were quite relieved this time, claiming their wards played much better this time than their opening game where they had to grind it out against host United Arab Emirates before prevailing, 8882, on Thursday.

“Happy about the win. Much better performance for us,” said Tiu. “It’s like our second official game only, we have to take it a notch higher though.”

GOLF CHAMP. Reigning Philippine Open champion Clyde Mondilla (left) receives his trophy from Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club operations manager Joey Seran after pulling off a comefrom-behind victory in the ICTSI Pradera Verde Classic of Philippine Golf Tour Asia.

BILL SHAW STAKES CARS FOR ACES

Andray Blatche scores against three Al Ittihad defenders in a 77-72 Mighty Sports victory.

“Good thing, Dray made his shots this time. The last one was huge,” said Wongchuking. “I hope our local players, will again take the spotlight the next time.”

He was ably supported by Renaldo Balkman who also produced a doubledouble with 15 points and 10 boards.

Guard Mikey Williams, the hero

in Mighty’s opening game where he scored 15 points, was gun shy this time, missing his two attempts from the trifectaville. He managed only three assists in 25 minutes of action.

For a while, Mighty appeared headed for a breezy win when they took a 61-47 lead early in the payoff period but the Syrian club rallied be-

hind the guns of Aubrey Coleman.

Former La Salle player Jamie Malonzo, ex-Ateneo’s Isaac Go and comebacking Ateneo star Dave Ildefonso made good account of themselves by combining for 16 points.

Mighty Sports will have a twoday break before facing ES Rades on Monday at 11 p.m.

MVP STEADFAST IN HIS SUPPORT FOR BOXING ASSOCIATION of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan was disappointed that the Philippines won’t be the substitute host of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Boxing, but also expressed his support to new host Jordan.

“The news that came out early this morning that the Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Boxing that was pulled out of Wuhan, China has been awarded instead to Amman, Jordan is obviously, a disappointment,” said Pangilinan, who however expressed his appreciation to the International Olympic Committee Boxing Task Force for considering the ABAP offer.

“I thank the Boxing Task Force for their kind consideration of our offer. We wish Jordan well in their hosting,” he added.

Wuhan was originally scheduled to host the Asia/Oceania qualifier from Feb. 3 to 14.

But the event was cancelled due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, forcing the Boxing Task Force to look for an alternative venue and prompting the ABAP to send communications to the IOC that it is willing to host the event.

“We are keenly considering hosting the event should the requirements be feasible,” said ABAP president Ricky Vargas in his letter to the task force.

The qualifying events for boxing are now being managed by the IOC, which suspended the sport’s world governing body AIBA last June over a range of issues including governance, ethics, refereeing

ABAP Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan (right) with president Ricky Vargas (center) and Secretary General Ed Picson

and judging, as well as finance.

The BTF, however, informed the ABAP of its decision to award the hosting of the event, now slated from March 3 to 11, to Jordan “After careful consideration of all alternatives, the BTF decided to approve the proposal from the National Olympic Committee of Jordan and have officially released a statement announcing the decision,” said Morinari Watanabe Chair of IOC Boxing Task Force.

Pangilinan, however, expressed optimism that ABAP will get its chance in the future.

There will be other opportunities (for ABAP) and

we remain steadfast in our commitment to support our Boxing program with the same enthusiasm we have shown the past 10 years,” said Pangilinan. “As I committed to ABAP President Ricky Vargas and Secretary-General Ed Picson when we first decided to tender an offer to host the Asia-Oceania Qualifiers, we will continue to back our boxers’ drive for glory in the Olympics.”

The ABAP Chairman also thanked the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Philippine Sports Commission, IOC representative to the Philippines Mikee Jaworski and the boxing public for supporting its bid.

A GRAND list of cars and motorcycle will be up for grabs in the annual Bill Shaw Golf Classic, which gets under way Wednesday (Jan. 29) at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City.

A Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 and Jeep Renegade from CATS Motors, and Lexus UX 200 F-Sport from Lexus are but among those staked as hole-in-one prizes at all par-3 holes at Wack Wack’s East and West courses.

Also offered as prizes for aces in the four-day tournament are Mazda 3 from ANC Group, Mitsubishi Xpander from Union Motors, Toyota Vios XE from Toyota Otis, and Cherry Tiggo 2 from Foton-United Asia Automotive Group.

A total of 700 players featuring 350 two-man teams make up the grand 31st staging of Wack Wack’s centerpiece tournament co-presented by San Miguel Corp., Yakult and Pilipinas Shell.

The event actually kicks off tomorrow (Monday) with Wack Wack president Lawrence Tan leading the ceremonial drive with Asia Car Distributor Corp. president Spencer Yu, Yakult vice president Michael Ong, and Pilipinas Shell vice president for Wholesale Commercial Fuels Dennis Javier Tan, Yu, Ong and Javier, plus the other members of Wack Wack board of directors, are also expected to participate in the sponsors’ and media day side event of Bill Shaw, also backed by Chronos and D&L (Platinum) and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

(Diamond), and the opening night cocktails.

The Gold sponsors are Meralco, RGB, Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo, Stradcom, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, First Sunday Group, DDT Konstrakt, ICTSI-PGTI, Asia Traders Corp., Peerless Products, Resorts World Manila, EVA Air, Moven Pick, GG&A Clubshares, VMJ, Boysen and 3D Northern Islands.

ALSONS POWER TO CONTINUE HELPING ASPIRING ATHLETES THE Alsons Power Group, Mindanao’s first private sector power generator, is once again poised to continue its various corporate social responsibility projects for 2020.

Ruben G. Tungpalan, the Group’s vice president for corporate affairs and community relations stated: “The core focus for all of our CSR projects has always been to preserve the environment and advance the education of the young people in all of the communities where we operate. Thus, all our flagship community projects are centered on the twin pillars of advancing education and preserving the environment.”

Alsons Power’s ongoing signature CSR programs include the Alsons Power Hidilyn Diaz Scholarship Program in cooperation with Olympic Silver Medalist and Asian and SEA Games Gold Medalist Hidilyn Diaz.

Under the program, Alsons Power provides selected potential medal-winning athletes in the Philippine weightlifting team training pool with a regular stipend covering

A young ‘power scholars’ shows her form.

school supplies, uniforms, and daily school expenses to ensure that these “power scholars” get to continue their education while competing for the country.

Fifteen promising student-athletes have been included in the program since

its launch in 2017. All of these “power scholars” are from Zamboanga City where Hidilyn Diaz and the Philippine Weightlifting Association have established 3 training centers and where Alsons Power operates the 100 MW Western Mindanao Power Corporation diesel plant- the only major power facility within the City.

In addition to the Hidilyn Diaz scholarship program Alsons Power has granted scholarships to more than 4,000 individual elementary, high school, and college students from Zamboanga City, Iligan, General Santos City and Sarangani Province.

“As 2020 begins, we look forward to continuing to build and strengthen our partnerships with the all our stakeholders in the communities where we operate. As we began to expand our power business to other areas, we remain steadfast in our commitment to be good neighbors and to help improve the quality of life for the people living in our communities,” Tungpalan said.

FUTURE OLYMPIANS. Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz (center) is shown with the latest batch of 10 aspiring Zamboanga City weightlifters, who were awarded scholarships under the Alsons Power Hidilyn Diaz Scholarship Program.

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020

Business

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

TAAL’S UNREST PROMPTS REVIEW OF BUSINESS CONTRACTS

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Atty. Neil Noe Reyes (right) and Atty. Pauline Alcaraz of Aclan Reyes Alacaraz Consulting

HE Taal Volcano eruption prompts a review of existing business contracts to make sure they contain provisions on “fortuitous events” for their own protection, according to an Alabang-based consulting firm.

Atty. Neil Noe Reyes, the legal management director of Aclan Reyes Alcaraz Consulting, says a provision on fortuitous events (force majeure) in business contracts such as lease, insurance coverage, loan terms, financial agreements, procurement contracts, employment agreements, supply arrangements and business deals will help companies and property owners around Taal Volcano mitigate their exposure to financial risks.

“Based on contracts submitted to us by clients for review, probably 90 percent of the contracts had no provisions on fortuitous events. There should always be provisions on these events for their protection,” says Reyes, a 31-year-old resident of Silang, Cavite which was also affected by ash fall spewed by the volcano.

Atty. Pauline Alcaraz, also of ARA Consulting and a faculty at Philippine Women’s University, says while the Civil Code of the Philippines has general provisions covering natural disasters, “it is safer for businesses to have those stipulations in their contracts”.

FORTUITOUS EVENTS “It is better to list all events under the fortuitous event provision in contracts such as volcanic eruption, earthquakes, typhoons, declaration of war, riots, etc.,” Alcaraz says. “Fortuitous events are those which cannot be foreseen or those which can be foreseen but inevitable.

They are either acts of men or acts of God. Acts of men include war or riots while acts of God include disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes, volcano eruption.Thus, should a fortuitous event happen, it can exempt the parties from liabilities,” she says.

“From our point of view, what the small businesses lack is the provision in their contracts that would protect them against these fortuitous events,” says Alcaraz.

ARA Consulting, a part of the Aclan Group of Companies, is a full-suite

business consulting enterprise with solid legal expertise and comprehensive commercial services. The legal services ARA Consulting provides include contract drafting and reviews, assistance on immigration concerns, accounting and tax management.

“Right now, the target of the firm is to get local entrepreneurs, start-ups as clients. That’s one half of the clientele and the other half is foreign companies wanting to establish businesses here in the Philippines,” says Atty. Neil Reyes.

Reyes says several clients were in fact affected by the ash fall following the phreatic eruption of Taal Volcano on Jan. 12.

“Some establishments in Tagaytay are complaining that they have to pay rent when their restaurants are not operating. That basically is a problem for them. For businesses that haven’t engaged a lawyer to review a contract, they will be forced to pay rent even if their businesses haven’t been operating,” he says.

“For clients who have contracts prepared by lawyers, their businesses are somewhat protected because they are exempted from paying rent in events like volcanic eruption and other calamities,” he says.

IMPACT OF ERUPTION Taal Volcano’s unrest led to the relocation of more than 200,000 people from communities surrounding the volcano and forced the lockdown of several Batangas towns within the 14-kilometer radius which are considered high-risk. Residents and businesses within the 14-km danger zone as identified in the Taal Volcano Base Surge Hazard Map were told to evacuate.

In its initial estimate, the National Economic and Development says Taal’s unrest resulted in P4.3 billion in economic losses within the 14-km radius, representing 0.17 percent of the gross regional domestic product

of CALABARZON. Sixteen towns and cities are within the 14-km radius, including San Nicolas, Agoncillo, Talisay, Laurel, Tanauan City, Tagaytay City, Cuenca, Mataas na Kahoy, Balete, Lemery, Taal, Lipa City, Santa Teresita, Malvar, Alitagtag and San Jose.

Ten more towns would join the list if the danger zone would be expanded to a 17-km radius, including Alfonso, Calaca, Bauan, Lian, Nasugbu, San Luis, San Pascual, Sto. Tomas, Tuy and Balayan.

Many companies operating in Batangas and Cavite reported a temporary disruption of one to two days after Taal Volcano released thick ashes that posed threat to human health. It also forced the cancellation of flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for two days.

Alcaraz says it is important that employers discuss with their employees the provisions on fortuitous events in contracts or in their respective company policies. “Remember that you have to explain that provision to your employees. What usually happens is that the employees do not read the contract. It is better for the employers to make sure that they explain everything,” she says.

LEGAL REMEDIES Alcaraz says businesses and enterprises which had to close operations as a result of a natural disaster can also temporarily stop paying salaries to their employees.

“In the Philippines, we adopt the ‘no work, no pay’ principle. It is unfair for employers to continue to pay their employees once the company ceased operations, only that they have to follow the proper procedures.

There should be notices sent to DOLE [Department of Labor and Employment,” she says.

“So long as employees work, they should be paid. But if they decide not to go to work which is their right because it will be detrimental to their

health and safety, and there was a determination by DOLE than an imminent danger situation exists, then they should not be paid because they are not in the workplace, unless the company policy provides otherwise,” says Atty. Pauline Alcaraz. “ If determined by DOLE, employees can refuse to go to work, without fear of losing their jobs permanently. The employers cannot do that,” she says.

Reyes says establishments affected by the calamity can also ask for leeway from banks in terms of loan repayments. “Basically the contract with banks is a contract of adhesion. It is a ‘take it or leave it’ contract. Usually, even in the face of a fortuitous event, you still have to continue paying the loans or amortizations. One can ask banks or financial institutions to give leeway for the restructuring of the loans or you can ask for several months of non-payment because the nonoperation of the establishment means it has no income,” he says.

Reyes says the same is true with lease. “If it is not in the lease contract, the advice is that when the renewal of the contract comes, you should review the terms and insert provisions on fortuitous events,” he says.

He says that in terms of contributions to state-run agencies, businesses can also avail of condonation programs extended by the Social Security System, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG to victims of calamities. Individuals and companies in the affected areas must stay tune to updates from these firms. Some private insurance companies recently announced an extended payment period for insurance premiums.

INSURANCE COVERAGE Reyes says Taal’s unrest has also highlighted the importance of having a comprehensive insurance coverage. “If cars have comprehensive insurance, real estate properties should also have comprehensive insurance coverage,” he says.

Alcaraz agrees, saying that insurance is often overlooked in the Philippines.

“The usual insurance products are life insurance, fire insurance and car insurance. But coffee and pineapple farmers and fisher folks were also affected. There should also be crop insurance,”she says.

The two lawyers also point to the need for businesses and households to secure their documents. “If birth certificates or passports are destroyed or lost, it would be easy to get duplicate copies from the Philippine Statistics Authority and DFA. But in the case of original certificates of titles or transfer certificates of titles, it is not as easy to file an action for the reconstitution of title. It is still a hassle, so we have to focus on the importance of safekeeping the documents,” Reyes says.

Alcaraz advises property owners to avail of the Voluntary Title Standardization Program of the Land Registration Authority. The program provides title owners the Turn to C2

Manila International Container Terminal, ICTSI’s flagship operations

FILIPINO PORT OPERATOR WINS TOP ASEAN LOGISTICS PLUM I N T E R N AT I O N A L Co nt a i n e r Ter minal S er vices I nc. was recognized for its outstanding performance and promoting greater regional inclusivity in the ASEAN logistics sector for the second straight year.

The ASEAN Business Advisory Council, the lead private sector initiative towards economic inclusivity in the region, awarded I C T S I t h e c o ve t e d Pr i o r i t y Integration Sector Award for Logistics at the recent 2019 ASEAN Business Awards in Thailand. ICTSI was first recognized in 2018, when Singapore led the rotating chairmanship of the regional bloc.

I C T S I i s t h e P h i l i p p i n e s’ l e a d i n g te r m i n a l o p e rato r, having acquired, managed and enhanced the efficiencies of the country’s busiest ports.

Replicating its success at flagship Manila International Container Terminal, the Philippines’ first port privatization effort—ICTSI has been raising the flag for Philippine ingenuity overseas across its 32port, 18-country network.

In Southeast Asia, the company operates 12 marine and inland terminals—10 of which are in the Philippines and two in Indonesia.

ICTSI Global corporate head Christian Gonzalez welcomed the latest citation as an affirmation of the company’s efforts.

“Beyond profitability, ICTSI recognizes the complex role ports play in the region’s economic development and the prosperity of communities within which our ports operate. We are encouraged by this sophomore win to empower more sectors and communities with high-performing ports that are supportive of supply chain improvement, and economic growth,” Gonzales said.

In 2014, ICTSI led Philippine companies in the ABA as the country’s contender for Best in Corporate Excellence when the annual tilt was held in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.

The ASEAN Business Awards recognizes outstanding businesses in the region which have shown significant progress in establishing and reinforcing their positions in various sectors and have become par tners and contributors to regional prosperity.

PH FOOD EXPORTERS TO SHOWCASE PRODUCTS IN GERMANY THE Philippines will showcase the country’s provenance through its tropical selections made from coconut and banana under the theme “A Bounty of Flavors.”

Nine Philippine companies will showcase their organic food selections in the 31st edition of Biofach on Feb. 12 to 15, 2020 at Hall 3-A-511 of the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg, Germany.

Local producers and manufacturers that will represent the Philippines in Germany are AG Pacific Nutriceuticals Corp., Brandexports Philippines, Cardinal Agri Products, CJ Uniworld Corp., Filipinas Organic Coconut Product Corp., Lao Integrated Farms Inc., See’s International, Raw Brown Sugar Milling Co. Inc. and Tongsan Industrial Development Corp.

The FoodPhilippines pavilion will feature a wide range of coconut selection such as virgin coconut oil, medium-chain triglycerides oil, coconut water, coconut sap, vinegar and vinaigrette, coco syrup, sugar and flour, desiccated coconut, coconut cream and coco crisps. Also featured in the pavilion are banana chips, cacao chips and muscovado sugar.

The delegation will be led by the Department of Trade and Industry through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, in coordination with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Berlin.

“We are looking to showcase the wealth of food and ingredients from the agricultural provenance and

natural resources in the Philippines that enhances the flavor of our products as we promote healthy, organic and natural selections for the global palate,” said DTI Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman.

“For instance, our lakes and seas near Laguna and Quezon enhance the taste of our coconut water—making it

more refreshing—while the apt tropical conditions in Cebu, Bukidnon and Davao help in nurturing sweeter and more sumptuous varieties of mango, pineapple and banana. It’s these conditions and provenance that make the Philippines a cut above the rest,” he said.

Macatoman said the Philippine delegation is looking to meet the “regular buyers” and the “light buyers,” which are two consumer clusters of organic, healthy and natural products.

The regular buyers refer to a small and committed group that has been buying organic products for decades.

This group includes environmentalists, nature lovers and socially conscious people. Meanwhile, light buyers are those who belong in the category of

double-income-no-kids households, older consumers (aged 50 to 75) and new-trends seekers.

“Apart from our corporate buyers, we are also looking at these two clusters who buy organic products for various reasons, including healthy lifestyle, food safety concerns, animal welfare, sustainability, quality and perceived taste and innovative packaging,” said Macatoman.

The Philippine participation in Biofach is one of CITEM’s new initiatives in its renewed thrust to strengthen the country’s export promotion for food products in the organic, healthy and natural segment through the world’s leading platform for organic food and products.

Business

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 business@manilastandard.net

IN BRIEF

MANULIFE GIVES LEEWAY TO VOLCANO VICTIMS MANULIFE Philippines said is extending the payment period for policy holders who were affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.

The insurance company said this would apply to policy holders in Batangas province, Sta. Rosa City in Laguna province and Tagaytay City, Alfonso City and Cavite City in Cavite province.

It said customers from the affected areas would be given an extended payment grace period of 91 days for all life insurance policies issued and assumed by Manulife Philippines, Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Corp. and Manulife Financial Plans Inc. pension and education plans whose due dates fall between Dec. 12, 2019 and Feb. 12, 2020.

“We stand with all Filipino families impacted by this natural disaster. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and continue to look for ways to help make decisions easier and lives better for those affected,” said Manulife Philippines president and CEO Richard Bates.

ST. LUKE’S SENDS TEAM TO BATANGAS ST. LUKE’S Medical Center–Global City launched relief operations for the victims of Taal Volcano eruption on Jan. 18.

The relief efforts comprised of medical missions and relief operations.

SLMC-Global City teamed up with the Philippine Army and sent a team of 80 doctors and 3,500 packs of relief goods (food, water, hygiene kits, diapers and blankets). These were split between concurrent operations in several cities in Batangas and Laguna.

The doctors and nurses were able to care for more than 1,000 patients during the medical missions. The evacuees were checked for respiratory illnesses that may have developed from exposure to volcanic ash and given consult for acute and chronic diseases.

“Part of our medical mission is to treat those who are sick now so the diseases don’t spread to the rest of the evacuees. So, for medical assistance, we have here adult and pediatric doctors ready for consultation. We also brought medicine for common illnesses like cough, colds, and diarrhea,” said SLMC president and CEO Dr. Arturo De La Peña.

SLMC Nurse Unit manager Gillian Platino said the team saw a lot of patients with cough and colds.

“We’ve also seen one with possible chickenpox so, of course, that has a possibility of spreading. It’s good that a pediatrician was able to prescribe the child medication,” Platino said.

PILMICO PROVIDES CARE FOR ANIMALS THE Aboitiz Group subsidiary Pilmico Foods Corp. has come to the aid of 10,985 animals left in areas affected by the recent eruption of Taal Volcano. Pilmico assisted in retrieval efforts and donated animal feeds.

Pilmico together with the Batangas Provincial Veterinary Office, animal welfare and private organizations, local veterinarians and the media, rescued 1,817 hogs, 6,512 poultry animals (chickens, ducks, turkeys), 2,153 dogs and 503 cats from Barangays San Sebastian, Looc, Sampaloc and Poblacion in Balete, Batangas on Jan. 16.

These animals were left after the lockdown and evacuation of affected towns around the volcano made it difficult for animal owners to return to their livestock.

“I feel inspired knowing that we can use our expertise in the field to help others. It adds another layer to being a partner for growth—not just to our customers—but it also reflects how we take to heart the welfare of the animals affected by the eruption,” said Dr. George Miranda, animal health territory business manager of Pilmico.

GCASH ENABLES USERS TO DONATE BAYANIHAN became stronger and more visible with the outpouring of donations and volunteers from the different sectors of the society to help those in need.

Various groups and individuals launched their own donation drives to collect humanitarian aid and bring them to the people who are currently affected by the volcanic eruption in Batangas.

“The Filipino spirit of Bayanihan is best displayed during these times, and we at GCash inspired by the outflowing of donations and financial aid to those affected by this calamity. We have since added a new in-app feature to make it more convenient for our users to support relief efforts,” GCash president Anthony Thomas said.

GCash, the Philippines’ leading mobile wallet, teamed up with several non-government organizations and foundations to enable users to contribute any amount to their chosen groups or even individuals via the GCash app.

GCash users simply have to open their apps, click on the “Pay Bills” tile, select “Others,” click on “Tulong Taal,” and input the amount they would like to contribute.

“We at GCash are one with the Filipino people in helping those in need in this time of great need.

Through our platform, GCash users now have a more convenient means to aid those who are affected by the Taal Volcano eruption. We have long realized the power of our platform, and we will continue to transform it as a conduit of generosity for the greater good,” Thomas said.

TAAL’S...

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option to upgrade manually-issued titles to eTitles. “Once you have eTitles, they are already registered in the system of LRA. This is important so you would not worry about losing your paper titles anymore,” she says.

Data from LRA, however, show that more than 11 million titles or 71 percent of the total titles nationwide are still in paper title status.

Reyes says natural disasters such as the Taal Volcano eruption should change Filipinos’ view of contracts and insurance. “Usually, we wait for these calamities before we act. We overlook insurance and we overlook contract reviews. In case of leased properties, the lessee only looks at the amount and does not bother to review the other terms of the contract,” he says.

Alcaraz says people in areas vulnerable to fortuitous events can minimize their financial risks if they are protected by contracts and comprehensive insurance coverage.

“The phrase ‘prevention is better than cure’ also applies in the legal field. It is better that you are protected by wellprepared contracts or insured instead of having to negotiate with much effort later,” she says. Roderick T. dela Cruz

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ERMAN conglomerate Bayer put up a first-of-itskind organic urban farm in Taguig City as a showcase of a sustainable farm that has a captured market in Conrad Manila which is a part of the Hilton hotel chain.

The 200-square-meter urban garden called “Bayer Kubo” near C5 Road in Pamayanang Diego Silang, Barangay Ususan, Taguig aims to contribute to meeting “zero hunger” one of the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations.

Bayer Philippines Inc. managing director Vinit Jindal said the urban garden was the first of a planned urban agriculture program of Bayer that could be replicated in other urban areas.

“With the Philippines’ growing population, urban agriculture will be important in food security,” said Jindal.

Conrad Manila general manager Laurent Boisdron said the hotel traditionally sources its supply of vegetables and herbs from the local market.

“We will now buy our vegetables from this farm. Yes we know the produce will be of highquality with this partnership with Bayer and the community,” said Boisdron during the launch Thursday.

The project’s memorandum of agreement also includes Taguig local government unit and civic group Rise Against Hunger.

Rise Against Hunger executive director Jomar Flores said urban farms launched by other groups were later on abandoned. He said two major factors would contribute to the sustainability of Bayer Kubo.

He said the direct participation of the Pamayanang Diego Silang and the presence of a direct market in Conrad Manila are major factors to the sustainability of the project. The BCDA housing community in the area has 2,800 units with 62 buildings.

“We put up our first Food Bank [food storage centers for free distribution to urban poor] in Taguig City. Food banks will only succeed if it’s in an urban area, not rural. The food manufacturers are there [as food supply sponsors],” said Flores.

While it is difficult to organize scattered people in the boondocks, urban areas have the human density and urban poor consumers who need food and jobs.

Rise Against Hunger has 12 daycare centers in Taguig City where it regularly feeds children and has 500 member-families in its food bank.

Bayer is supplying all the needs of the urban farm―seeds, technical-agronomic assistance and training of people in financial-business operation.

Earwin Belen, a licensed agriculturist of Rise Against Hunger, said the Bayer Kubo program is using organic practices in the vegetable and herb farm.

“We’re using organic practices. We use vermicast as fertilizer from worm [waste]. We are training the resident-farmers on how to grow vegetables together with the DA [Department of Agriculture],” said Belen.

Bayer Kubo program will also train 30 registered volunteers from Pamayanang Diego Silang on preparing organic concoctions and fermented

BAYER PUTS UP ORGANIC URBAN FARM IN TAGUIG

Bayer Philippines managing director Vinit Jindal at the Bayer Kubo conference facility in Taguig City

fruit juice as plant growth enhancers.

The aquaponics system that Bayer Kubo program is using is also efficient in both fish and vegetable production. It uses a one cubic meter tank to grow lettuce that produces 75 heads per cycle (5 to 6) weeks.

The vegetables are supplied with nutrients by the waste of the fish from the same tank that can grow 30 kilos of tilapia at a time.

Vegetables and herbs planted in the Bayer Kubo facility include eggplant, tomato, pepper, medicinal plants roselle, taheebo, gotu kola, tarragon, gotu kola, serpentine, basil, lemongrass and Thai garden tea.

Registered farmer-volunteers in the urban farm include 30 Pamayanang Diego Silang residents in medium-rise building community in the BCDA Housing, mostly senior citizens or retirees.

A multi-sectoral partnership supports the success of the program even as Taguig City itself has long been known to sustain its large tracts of profitable farm land despite urbanization.

“We have large tracks of land—hundreds of hectares for farm that have long been farm areas.

We have a big production of melon in Taguig. We have kept our rice farms,” said Taguig environment officer Felix Catigay.

Taguig naturally has urban greenery program— containerized fruit-bearing trees and urban gardens—in idle areas identified by the city assessor’s office.

What makes the program more holistic is that Bayer is making Bayer Kubo, particularly referring to a sawali-bamboo structure conference center, an urban poor multi-program center.

The consumer health and pharmaceutical divisions of Bayer Philippines is also supplying free medicines, contraceptives and related products to the community that will support health and population control.

It will also provide training on family planning where Bayer has long been involved in successful community work even in other countries where it operates.

DTI LAUNCHES LIVELIHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR DISASTER VICTIMS THE Department of Trade and Industry launched its livelihood assistance program, Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa on Jan. 20 when President Rodrigo Duterte’s visited the evacuees in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

The program will aid the micro entrepreneurs affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.

The DTI will soon roll out the program as an assistance package for victims of fire, typhoons and other calamities nationwide.

Under the PBG program, DTI will provide financial assistance of P10,000 and educational materials after profiling and giving business training to existing micro entrepreneurs.

Trade Secretary Ramon

President Rodrigo Duterte (front row, second from right) and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (third from left) lead the launching of Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa.

Lopez awarded gift checks to the initial 20 entrepreneurs who are mostly street food vendors, market vendors and sarisari store owners who want to continue their businesses. Those interested in the PBG Program may go to the DTI Batangas Provincial Office in Lipa for

an initial assessment.

Among the recipients were aspiring entrepreneur Carito Ginil, a 45-yearold habal-habal driver and barangay kagawad, who wants to use his PBG funds to put up an eatery or a sari-sari store. Meanwhile, 35-year-old worker

Joel Cruz plans to use his to start a manicure/pedicure business for his wife.

“PBG is an initiative of the government and DTI to help the smallest of entrepreneurs who were affected by the Taal volcano eruption. The program gives a fast and easy source of initial capital to help microentrepreneurs regain normalcy in their livelihood after the incident,” said Lopez.

Lopez encouraged entrepreneurs to visit the DTI Negosyo Centers and provincial offices to help them restart or grow their businesses. He said that after this initial assistance, the awardees can get free training from DTI as well as lowinterest loans through the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) program.

MINDANAO STAR BUS, BACHELOR EXPRESS ELECT DIRECTORS, OFFICERS

Directors of Mindanao Star Bus Transport Inc. THE stockholders of Mindanao Star Bus Transport Inc., a sister company of Vallacar Transit Inc., the country’s largest bus transport group, held their annual stockholders’ meeting on Jan. 18, 2020 in Cagayan de Oro City and elected their board of directors who subsequently reappointed Leo Rey Yanson as the president of the company.

Under the company’s by-laws, the annual stockholders’ meeting of the company should be held every third Saturday of January at its principal office in Bulua, Cagayan de Oro. The stockholders elected Leo Rey Yanson, Ginnette Dumancas,

Charles Dumancas, Arvin John Villaruel and Rey Ardo as members of the board of directors.

The elected directors will serve for one year until January 2021, or until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified.

The meeting was presided over by current chairman and president Leo Rey Yanson, with Yanson matriarch Olivia Yanson as corporate secretary and treasurer.

Following the election of the directors, the board held an organizational meeting and re-appointed Leo Rey as the president and CEO of the company and Olivia Yanson

as treasurer and corporate secretary.

The stockholders also ratified the acts of the board of directors led by Leo Rey Yanson.

Meanwhile, Olivia Yanson, the matriarch of the Yanson Group, led the stockholders of Bachelor Express, another sister company of VTI in the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting on Jan. 19, 2020 (Sunday) where they elected their board of directors.

The board subsequently re-appointed Leo Rey Yanson as the president of the company.

Under the company’s by-laws, the annual stockholders’ meeting of Bachelor Express should be held every third Sunday of January at its principal office in Bulua, Cagayan de Oro. The stockholders of Bachelor Express re-elected Olivia Yanson, Leo Rey Yanson,

Ginnette Dumancas, Charles Dumancas, Arvin John Villaruel, Rey Ardo, Anita Chua, Daniel Nicolas Golez, Danny Lorenton, Hernan Omecillo and Alfredo Ligo Jr. as members of the board of directors. The elected directors will serve for one year until January 2021.

Following the election of the directors, the board also held an organizational meeting and re-appointed Leo Rey Yanson as the president and CEO of the company and Olivia Yanson as treasurer and corporate secretary.

Mindanao Star Bus and Bachelor Express are parts of the Yanson Group of Bus Companies which operate throughout the Philippines including in the cities of Bacolod, Iloilo, Dumaguete, Cebu, Cagayan De Oro, Butuan, Davao, Pagadian, Dipolog, Bohol and Batangas.

Directors of Bachelor Express

Tech & Gadgets

S

C3

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

TIKTOK INKS MUSIC DEAL

AN FRANCISCO—TikTok on Thursday licensed a catalog of independent music as it worked to build on the momentum of the social networking app specializing in video snippets.

The deal between TikTok and Merlin, a digital rights agency for independent music labels, is designed to help facilitate the use of the short-form video service for promotions.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Merlin chief executive Jeremy Sirota said: “Merlin members are increasingly using TikTok for their marketing campaigns, and today’s partnership ensures that they and their artists can also build new and incremental revenue streams.”

London-based Merlin said its roster of members spans more than 60 countries and includes tens of thousands of independent record labels, distributors and artist management companies.

The news came as TikTok opened an office in Los Angeles to advance its ambitions in the US. “Located between the innovative tech companies in Silicon Beach and the streaming content companies at Hayden tract (in Los Angeles), TikTok truly sits at the intersection of technology and entertainment, physically and figuratively,” TikTok US general manager Vanessa Pappas said.

“While we are a global company, having a permanent office in LA speaks to our commitment to the US market and deepens our bonds

TikTok, launched by Chinese company ByteDance in September 2017, has quickly become one of the most popular social networks in the world, with young people its main market. AFP

with the city, and the talent and companies, that call it home.”

TikTok, launched by Chinese company ByteDance in September 2017, has quickly become one of the most popular social networks in the world, with young people its main market.

In November, the app hit 1.5 billion downloads worldwide, outperforming Instagram.

Users typically post short clips of themselves performing skits, lip-syncing and dancing.

But TikTok has come under scrutiny recently over whether it censors content deemed sensitive by China’s authoritarian rulers.

TikTok said in a statement in October its operations were not influenced by the Chinese government.

HIGH-TECH SM THEATERS UNVEILED SM CINEMA Mall of Asia now houses 16 theaters all in all. The new entertainment complex includes 11 regular cinemas, one IMAX theater, three Director’s Club theaters, and one event cinema. With the unveiling of the upgraded and refreshed theaters on Jan 22, SM Cinema seeks to give moviegoers a superb viewing experience.

With the opening of the upgraded theatres, SM Cinema Mall of Asia is now the cinema exhibitor’s biggest cinema complex, offering families and friends more ways to enjoy the latest movies through state-of-theart technology complemented by modern architectural design.

SM Cinema’s redeveloped regular theaters boast of premium, upgraded features—from the most comfortable Opus Glide semi-recliner spectator seats and interior design, to Standard 7.1 Surround Sound setup and RGB Laser Projection System—giving viewers a much-elevated and immersive silver screen experience.

On the other hand, the 3 Director’s Club cinemas will each house Verona full-recliner leather seats, equipped with a large advanced laser projection system and con-

SM Cinema Mall of Asia introduces a new entertainment hub for people living in the South of Metro Manila. In the photo (L-R) SM Mall of Asia Mall Manager Amy Gonzales, Viva Artist Gab Lagman, 2019 Ms. Earth Janelle Tee, Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, SM Cinema Premier 3 VP Perkin So, SM Cinema VP for Marketing Ruby Ann Reyes Pasay City Councilor Mark Calixto, Viva Artist Julian Trono, and SM Cinema VP for Operations Edwin Nava.

temporary Dolby Atmos system. movie viewing experience.

Moviegoers also have the luxury As a pioneer in the local theater of an in-theater butler service, allowing industry, SM Cinema has revoluthem to have a focused and in-depth tionized movie watching by intro-

ducing movie theaters inside a shopping center, almost three decades ago. Since then, it has become a household name for being an inevitable go-to movie house.

“At SM, we always think of ways on how we can better serve our target market. With the introduction of the new and upgraded SM Cinema Mall of Asia, we further cement our unique position of being a household name by providing our customers with a premium movie experience they deserve,” shared Ruby Ann Reyes, SM Cinema Vice President for Marketing.

Ushering a whole new cinematic experience, SM Cinema Mall of Asia steps into a new decade, branding itself as an entertainment hub where people can enjoy seeing their favorite movies come to life through year-round installations and movie-centric experiential activities.

So, hurry, visit SM Cinema Mall of Asia starting January 22, and join the conversations using hashtag #PremierCinemaExperience.

For more updates, ‘like’ SM Cinema Mall of Asia’s official Facebook page, and follow @SM_ Cinema on Instagram.

BPO COMPANY TDCX: EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION STARTS AT TOP IN THE workplace, there’s no better feeling than breaking the glass ceiling and working with colleagues, subordinates and bosses who consider each other as worthy peers. After all, office work is teamwork, and there’s no better way to achieve that than by company leaders who practice what they preach.

Leaders who walk the talk are more likely to make sure that their employees are happy—and employee happiness is something BPO company TDCX has been consistently known for. A recipient of 200 regional and international industry awards in its 23 years of operations, TDCX particularly shines bright because of its accolades on Human Resources and employee retentions. And if award-giving bodies recognize the painstaking efforts they allot for employee happiness, then surely, their people feel it, too.

In the spotlight is the company’s Employee Engagement program, which is in effect not only in the Philippines, but in all TDCX locations such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, China and Spain. Guided by the campaign “Be Happier,” TDCX aims to brighten the notion of working at a BPO and make sure its employees stay satisfied and well taken care of.

Given this, TDCX leaders are given an avenue to reach out to its employees and join them as they immerse in the corporate culture. Wency Ann Guerrero, Learning and Engagement Director of TDCX Philippines makes sure that leaders within the organization become particularly attune to the happiness and satisfaction of their employees. From top to bottom, the culture

of accountability and positive reinforcement is palpable—leaders shower their people with the right values when they feel that someone manifests signs of difficulty.

Wency shares: “Using carrots rather than sticks works better in motivating people. We go out of our way to show how we live TDCX’s Core Values.

No surprise, it has worked so well. Influence is a great tool once you use it for good.”

So far, the results have proved that this culture works. All company employees, especially leaders of the organization are compelled to reach performance targets and adhere to TDCX Code of Conduct. As they serve as beacons in the organization, bosses are walking examples of what employees should aspire to be. This in itself steers people in the right direction— their satisfaction in seeing organization leaders abide by company rules results in a happier disposition and a tendency to gravitate towards championing corporate values.

Truly, leaders walking the talk is a great way to engage employees towards cultivating happiness in the workplace—and this creates an unstoppable ripple effect towards their performance and work outcomes. “[There has been a] continuous increase in our Employee Satisfaction score,” Wency shares. “For the past two years, the increase in employee satisfaction has been monumental. Our headcount has multiplied massively and our clients’ satisfaction with us as partners have never been better.”

The facts will tell you how employees truly feel: currently, TDCX’s Employee Satisfaction score has reached the highest it has ever been in

23 years at 95 percent. That tells you one thing: employee happiness does not depend on just one individual—it’s all the parts of the company—up, down, and sideways— working together and walking their talk.

More information on TDCX is available at https://www.facebook.com/tdcx.philippines/. To join TDCX or learn about career opportunities, contact tdcx.com/careers or (02) 8862-9500.

Guided by the campaign “Be Happier,” TDCX aims to brighten the notion of working at a BPO and make sure its employees stay satisfied and well taken care of.

RCBC’S DIGITAL AGENCY BANKING UP 5-FOLD

YUCHENGCO-LED Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation has registered over 500% year-on-year growth in transaction count and throughput in its ATM Go digital agency banking deployment.

The RCBC ATM Go transaction count grew by 564%, from 186,000 in 2018 to 1.2 million in 2019 while throughput increased 521%, from P542 million to P3.3 billion. Majority of the transactions came from household-beneficiaries getting their regular cash grants for the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

“This exponential growth indicates increasing consumer awareness and adoption of digital channels that provide convenience, security, and transparency,” said Lito Villanueva, RCBC executive vice president and chief innovation and inclusion officer.

RCBC ATM Go is the country’s first neighborhood ATM which enables any Bancnet ATM cardholder to withdraw cash through rural banks, sari-sari stores, drugstores, cooperatives, and microfinance institutions nationwide.

Customers can also deposit cash, do balance inquiry, pay bills, transfer funds, and purchase electronic load for smartphones.

Recently, RCBC rolled out its ATM Go service at the Rural Bank of Ilog in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental to enable the rural bank to offer convenient ATM services to its customers in far-flung communities, beyond its five branches in the province.

RCBC also partnered with other members of the Negros Occidental Federation of Rural Bankers to introduce the ATM service to their clients. These include First Community Bank, First State Rural Bank, Rural Bank of Bacolod City, Rural Bank of Cadiz, Rural Bank of Escalante, Rural Bank of Manapla, Marayo Bank, Rural Bank of Sagay, Rural Bank of Silay City, and Rural Bank of Talisay.

The RCBC ATM Go roll out is part of the bank’s commitment to promote Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) thrusts on National Retail Payments System and National Strategy for Financial Inclusion.

A study of the United Nationsbased Better Than Cash Alliance (BTCA) reports that the volume of e-payments usage in the Philippines grew from 1% in 2013 to 10% in 2018, while the value of e-payments rose from 8% to 20% during the same period.

“These efforts are aimed at bringing the country closer to our ultimate objective of having an inclusive payment system where no adult Filipino is left behind in terms of access to payment and other basic financial services,” said BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno.

The BSP actively promotes the use of e-payments. It launched the EGov Pay facility which enables online payment of taxes and government fees; and QR PH, which is the country’s QR Code standard that allows convenient person-to-person money transfers.

The BSP pursues these initiatives with the payments industry led by the Philippine Payments Management Inc.

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020

Desiree Carlos, Editor

Pets

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

THE REAL HEROES AFTER TAAL’S WRATH:

VOLUNTEERS WHO RESCUED AND FED ANIMALS PET TALES

BY DESIREE CARLOS

T

HEY saw dead dogs along the streets a day after Taal Volcano erupted.

They hurried to get dogs and cats trapped in houses and bring them to safety, while the ground shook and smoke filled the air.

They fed hungry and traumatized dogs and cats.

They whispered assuring words to fearful pets and stray animals.

They cried when they had to leave the animals behind to look for help.

They frantically messaged people to look for resources to rescue these dogs and cats.

They hurried back to rescue strays, specially the senior dogs, a mama dog, and the most helpless ones—the pups and kittens.

They coordinated with owners who were begging rescue groups to help their pets.

They transported pets from the ash-filled danger zones to safe places.

These are the volunteers.

They are the heart of the rescue-relief-searchretrieval operations of animal welfare groups.

When the task of saving animals in any way possible became so overwhelming, these volunteers from all walks of life stepped up and helped.

Animal welfare groups could not have rescued and fed dogs and cats—even goats, cows, pigs and doves—if not for the volunteers who risked their lives to go to danger zones in Batangas.

These volunteers helped retrieve dogs and cats of residents who were forced to flee without their pets when Taal volcano erupted.

Save ALL Inc.—Save Animals of Love and Light, an animal welfare group, is truly grateful to these compassionate, brave volunteers.

In all, volunteers of Save ALL, Pag-amuma and Whelps rescued or retrieved 66 dogs and cats in four days and fed a hundred or more dogs and cats since the volcano erupted.

Sylvia P. Ongsing of Save ALL, EO R. Cedeno of Pag-amuma and Chie Dayday of Whelps rescued 29 dogs and 9 cats—all owned— a few hours after the eruption and brought the animals to Valenzuela.

While the ground was still shaking with Taal

Chie Dayday (right) and Bern Caintic securing two rescued pups.

volcano’s tremors, the three went back and fed animals Wednesday up to Saturday, and rescued 21 more dogs and cats—both owned pets and stray dogs and cats, with other volunteers who joined them Saturday.

These volunteers risked their lives to save animals despite the ashes and the smell of sulfur in the air which could adversely affect their respiratory system.

The volcano could have erupted anytime but they continued to go back to danger zones to help as many as they can.

Sylvia and Chie slept in the van for three nights as they were feeding even at night. The travel going back to Metro Manila and back to Batangas the next day would have been hours wasted as these precious hours could be used to rescue and feed.

EO took care of the rescues in the temporary place while waiting for them to be transported to different clinics.

Young men and women joined Sylvia, EO and Chie on Saturday (Jan. 18) despite the government warning and news circulating

about the drying up of the lake, a sign of an impending eruption.

Volunteers of Save ALL helped rescue several dogs and cats and fed animals in Lemery, Batangas last Saturday.

Rescuers Maricel Mondejar, Loribert Sobrio Bersabe and Wenna David plodded on Sunday in a remote barangay in Batangas and fed cows, goats, doves and pigs, aside from the dogs and cats.

Last Wednesday (Jan. 22), a mama dog and five puppies were rescued by Sylvia and EO and brought to the clinic. Owners were also assisted in getting their pets.

Save ALL is also grateful to volunteers Angelica Karla de la Cruz, Briana del Mundo caretakers of Save ALL, and Cheryl Lagman, Dan, JM, Ate Annie, Aries of Country Fair food park at 23 Gold street in Filinvest 2 who packed food for dogs and cats from donations of Save ALL supporters/followers, and bought by Niko Gabriel Salgado, Tani Benedito and Chito ”Karlo” Sales.

Some also lent vehicles.

Indeed, in my book, they are heroes: Agatha Lopez, Marie Angeles, Lyn Fernando of Barkin’ Bakes Healthy Pet Treats, Dr. Pam Claveria, Angel Miranda, Nancy V. Avelino, Bern Caintic, JC Cruz, Angelica Karla dela Cruz, Bianca del Mundo, Mary Grace Cabato, Myles Delfin and BikeScout Team, Bing Concepcion who transported rescued dogs to the Marikina clinic, Mariel B. Cui, Christopher Gumatay Morales, Angelo Eugenio, Hermie Navarro, and Patrick Navarro, Joey Hisoler, Cheryl Lagman, Dan Saludez, Annie Raqueno, JM, Ian, Aries, Lolong, Makmak and Jet. We are immensely grateful to these men and women who risked their lives to be in ground zero to help animals.

We are also grateful to donors who sent funds to help send rescuers and the feeding crew to Batangas, and for the medical treatment of rescues.

We are thankful to men and women who brought donations of dog food, cat food and other items needed by animals to Save ALL’s packing station in Quezon City during this crisis.

The crisis is not over as of this writing but I am certain that with the strong spirit of volunteerism among Filipino animal lovers, more animals will be helped and even saved.

Bless these brave, compassionate, loving humans.

The world is a better, more positive place because of their kindness and love for animals.

Namaste! I salute the Divine in all of you.

Volunteers Nancy v. Avelino, Angel Miranda, Jun Concepcion and Pam Claveria after a day of feeding and rescuing.

Tired, hungry and sleepless but happy to have saved lives: Sylvia of Save ALL, EO of Pag-amuma and Chie Dayday of Whelps.

Save ALL rescuer Loribert Sobrio Bersabe, driver Jet, admin Maricel Mondejar, and Myles Delfin of BikeScout Team in Lemery, Batangas met to get donations before going to the next place to feed.

Volunteers JC Cruz (kneeling), Bern Caintic, Pam Claveria, Sylvia P. Ongsing, Chie Dayday of Whelps, seeing to rescued dogs.

Mary Grace Cabato holding a pup who survived the eruption and ashfall.

Volunteers Karla, Briana, Cheryl, Dan , Jm and Ian packing dog food and cat food in Quezon City.

Rescue-admin Maricel Mondejar of Save ALL feeding goats.

Sylvia P. Ongsing, lead of Save ALL rescue-retrieval-feeding team, distributing food packs for the animals in ground zero in Batangas.

Rescuer Loribert Sobrio Bersabe feeding doves.

EO R. Cedeno of Pag-amuma feeding a cat.

Rescuer Wenna David feeds dogs in a far-flung barangay in Lemery.

Destinations D1

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020

MERCURY RISING

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO

F

OR many years since Cebu Plaza opened in 1983, it has always been lording over the accommodations industry in the Queen City of the South.

Figuratively, because it was the only deluxe hotel in the city then, thus immediately becoming the favorite of domestic and foreign tourists. Literally, because its hilltop location gave it a magnificent view of the entire city below, including Mactan and Bohol on a clear day.

I remember, every time the international airline I was working for then would have a big event in Cebu City, we would always hold it at this hotel because it symbolized elegance and class, enhancing the image of the airline.

However, with the advent of newer deluxe hotels and resorts like the two Waterfront properties, the Plantation Bay Resort, and, eventually, the Marriott, Cebu Plaza suffered such competition and was forced to close for several years.

But just like the phoenix, it rose again from the ashes as the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, this time with newer and better facilities, exemplary service, and a complement of caring and ever-smiling staff, always ready to prove that Cebuano hospitality is beyond compare.

With its re-energized marketing efforts, backed up by the attractive, reliable, and strong recall of its international brand, the new Marco Polo Plaza Hotel immediately charmed domestic and foreign tourists, putting the hotel on top of the list again. This time, it shimmers like a jewel on the hill.

Chatting with the energetic and hard-working marketing duo—

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

FRONT DESK

THE JEWEL ON THE HILL

NEW WORLD MANILA BAY IS NEW COAST HOTEL NEW World Manila Bay welcomes the year with a fresh start as it opens its doors to provide a better level of experience under its new name New Coast Hotel Manila.

Independently managed by New Coast Hotel Inc., the 288-room New Coast Hotel Manila has future expansion projects in the pipeline, including renovation of rooms and reconceptualization of its restaurants within the next few months.

OVERLOOKING. Cebu's Marco Polo Plaza Hotel's hilltop location on Nivel Hills gives it a magnificent view of the entire city.

The five-star hotel's Presidential Suite

Aurelio Tablante, Jr., owner’s representative, said in a statement, “The rebrand is just the start of an exciting journey for New Coast Hotel Manila.

Our commitment to deliver a redefined experience is our utmost priority that goes beyond genuine hospitality, accessible journey, delighted senses, and reimagined events.”

Blu Bar and Grill at Sky Deck offers a sweeping view of Cebu City.

Lara Constantino Scarrow, director of sales and marketing, and Manna Alcaraz, communications manager—I learned that 70 percent of the hotel’s business is from domestic sources, bannering its lead in the local MICE industry.

As we all know, all hotels, always target this lucrative and high-yield

The energetic and go-getter marketing duo: communications manager Manna Alcaraz and director of sales and marketing Lara Constantino Scarrow.

The hotel’s beautiful lobby with an elegant staircase that seems to lead up to heaven.

business from MICE events be- fortably on the bar while she made cause they do wonders to the ho- a quick arrangement for an extra tel’s coffers. table to be set up for me. In a jiffy, Personally, I always enjoy my I got my table right on the edge of stays at Marco Polo Plaza. Its seam- the open-air Sky Deck, with an unless service and delectable cuisine, obstructed view of the city at night, enhanced by a breathtaking view of glimmering with a galaxy of bright, the city, make the property a winner. multi-colored lights, a view that Walking through its humongous can easily soothe any weary soul. lobby, acS m a l l cented by wonder a long, elwhy this YOUR WEEKEND egant stair329-room CHUCKLE case that d e l u x e People say 60 is the new 40. But for seems to property them, 9:00 p.m. is the new midnight! lead up to runs an heaven, is enviable always such 75 pera delightful experience. cent year-round occupancy. I’m But, what captivates the hearts sure that many other visitors are of guests is the willingness of the like me, choosing an accommodahotel staff to go the extra mile. This tion that we could retreat to, for attitude always puts the hotel up some peace and quiet, after going front, when guests choose their ac- through the hustle and bustle of commodations in the city. city life the whole day. This is why When I decided to try out the I always choose Marco Polo Plaza hotel’s Blu Bar and Grill, located at Hotel, Cebu’s “jewel on the hill.” its Sky Deck, I couldn’t find a table right away, but the service attenFor feedback, I’m at dant told me to just be seated combobzozobrado@gmail.com.

SUMMER ADVENTURE AMID NATURE FUN adventure awaits families at a resort in Nagcarlan, Laguna.

Located a mere two-hour drive from Manila, Green Nature Resort and Water Park is welcoming visitors in the summer with new amenities and activities suitable for the whole family.

Developed from the vision of its president, Liberato Robles in 2010, the resort continues to attract guests by introducing additional attractions amid lush greenery such as ATV rides, motorbikes, zipline, and rope course for the thrill-seekers.

Those who prefer to commune with nature may visit the green garden and bird cage. A basketball court is also open for

sports and team building events. While its VIP room, function rooms, and function hall are also available for rent.

Offering respite from the heat are the resort’s wave pool, kiddie pool, and lazy river. There’s also a giant slide for those who are feeling a little bit adventurous. Adults can try the fish spa while kids ride the train.

Green Nature Resort and Water Park is at Barangay Silangan Kabubuhayan, Nagcarlan, Laguna. Call (049) 573-0113 or email greennatureresort.ph@gmail.com. Roy Tumandao

Green Nature Resort and Water Park in Nagcarlan, Laguna introduces new attractions and activities such as rope course, fish spa, green garden, and more, right in time for the summer season. (Photos by Roy Tumandao)

The resort is popular for its wave pool, giant slide, and other facilities built in the surrounding lush greenery.

New Coast Hotel is strategically located in Manila, 30 minutes away from the international airport.

New Coast Hotel Manila officially renamed on Jan. 1. It boasts a full range of amenities on top of its deluxe guest rooms and suites.

In celebration of its rebranding, the hotels offers an overnight rate of P6,888 in a City Bay View Room, inclusive of buffet breakfast for two. Call (02) 8252-6888 or email contactus@newcoasthotels.com.

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020

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

Entertainment

JANINE TEÑOSO READY TO LOVE AGAIN Janine Teñoso positions herself as one of the rising stars on the local music scene.

By Nickie Wang

S

HE hasn’t gone through any heartbreak, thus, she had to get a different inspiration to write a song about falling in love again after a failed relationship. “ It’s strange that I have not experienced being heartbroken before, so I had to think about my own personal struggles, the rejections I have experience to complete the song. I wrote about my battles and how I turned things around,” Janine Teñoso told Manila Standard in an interview.

The idea behind her newest track came after her friend and co-writer, Pauline

Lauron, invited Janine to complete one of her unfinished songs.

“She already had the chorus. She let me listen to it, and I immediately fell in love with it. She then encouraged me to finish the song,” she said.

The course of the songwriting process was not an easy feat though. It took almost a year for the song to reach its completion.

Janine stayed in her room reading romantic novels while she finished writing the song for a month. And with the help of her producer and arranger, South Border’s Jay Durias, “Umibig Muli” finally came to life.

“Umibig Muli” is a mellow acoustic tune that that shows off Janine Teñoso’s sweetsounding voice. Despite the song’s somber theme, it still remains optimistic despite the pain caused by love as said in the lyrics. “At Kahit ngayon ang puso ko ay nasawi / Balang araw ako ay matututo ring / Umibig muli” Janine had her breakthrough moment

LIZQUEN IN METRO.STYLE SULTRY COVER FEATURE

POWER couple Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil, also known as leading loveteam LizQuen, is back on the cover of Metro.Style bearing a striking semblance to their characters in their comeback series to primetime, Make It With You. The ABS-CBN TV series, which was partially shot on Croatian soil, features Liza as Billie and Enrique as Gabo, two souls in search of something that’s been missing in their lives who cross paths, and perhaps, find what they are looking for in each other.

Make It With You marks a more mature and daring LizQuen, completely unlike their roles in previous Kapamilya series Forevermore and Dolce Amore.

However, it also brings them back to the genre that made TV viewers fall in love with them—romantic comedy.

This sense of maturity is shown in the latest Metro.Style cover executed in gorgeous earth and ruby tones. The two stars were last featured in a Metro.

Style cover February of last year, and on Metro Magazine’s June 2017 issue by way of a San Francisco photoshoot.

Now on its second week, Make It With You replaced Judy Ann Santos’s hit comeback teleserye Starla. It earned a 27.4 percent rating for its pilot episode and hit 28.9 percent the next day based on data from Kantar Media. It also received praises from both fans and critics for its story, script, cinematography and, of course, LizQuen’s acting skills.

Check out more features on LizQuen by visiting metro.style. Also check out Metro.Style’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, and YouTube channel for more details.

after she sang the movie theme song,“’Di Na Muli,” for the Anne Curtis and Dingdong Dantes starrer, Sid & Aya: Not A Love Story.

Since then, Janine has also served as the voice behind countless of movie soundtracks including “241,” for 100 Tula Para Kay Stella, “Ulan” for the Nadine Lustre starrer “Ulan,” and her latest song, “Tag-araw,” for the MMFF box-office hit, Miracle In Cell No. 7.

While she’s known for her song covers, Janine actually debuted with a self-penned composition entitled “Fall” released in 2017.

And after three years of waiting, Janine is now ready to share her original music once again in her latest single “Umibig Muli.”

Janine hold a single launch for “Umibig Muli” on Jan. 9 at Jess & Pat’s. She was joined by The Juans, John Roa, Raphiel Shannon, Sofia Romualdez, and Bea Lorenzo.

“Umibig Muli” became available on all digital streaming platforms on Jan. 10.

CHRIS TIU JOINED BY ‘CUTTING EDGE’ ARTIST ON ‘IBILIB’

Chris Tiu with iBilib gang in today’s episode of the informative show.

TODAY, in another fulfilled and educational episode of GMA’s informative show, discover how science can be everywhere and have fun as you watch iBilib featuring Street Genius.

Certified iBilibers Shaira Diaz and Dekdek return to help out Chris interview a cutting edge artist, barber Anthony Banzuela, whose canvas is a head full of hair.

Afterwards, they make ricotta cheese from milk and lemon juice, to usher in the Year of The Rat. For their experiment, aluminum foil and a flat iron are the stars in “Lifehacks” when Shaira demonstrates how to seal an ordinary plastic bag of half-consumed chips, and how to iron a handkerchief in half the time.

In “Street Genius,” marvel at the long range of a cannon which uses only ordinary air as its cannonball.

In addition, know how to make water in a glass and whisky in another glass change vessels without using any other container, with the help of the power of density.

All these on your favorite science show every Sunday morning on GMA, iBilib.

Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano otherwise known as LizQuen

Australia National Day

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020

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What Australia Day means to me

E

VERY country celebrates its national day in its own way. For Australia, at this time of year, it is summer and a time for holidays. So Australia Day celebrations tend to be relaxed and fun.

Australians enjoy celebrating all the things we love about the country—the unique land, the lifestyle, the freedom and the people.

Australia Day for us is about recognising the contribution that every person makes to our modern and dynamic country. From our Indigenous People—who represent the world’s oldest continuing culture— to all those who have come to make Australia their new home.

Filipinos are among the largest groups of new Australian citizens.

Readers probably have a family member or friend who calls Australia their second home. They will know modern Australia as a nation that isn’t defined by race, religion or a particular culture, but by shared values. It is a country that celebrates democracy and freedom, promotes mutual respect and equality between men and women, and has steadfast respect for the rule of law.

I’m proud to say that thanks to the efforts of generations past and of my fellow citizens, we have created a harmonious, peaceful and prosperous society. In a world that’s going through conflict and tension I know that many people still see Australia as a land of hope and opportunity; and a land of rare natural beauty.

This remains the case despite the devastating images you have seen of bushfires raging across several states in Australia. The scale of the fires is unprecedented and tragically, 28 people have lost their lives.

Several thousand homes have been destroyed and the loss of animal life is hard to comprehend.

But we are a resilient and practical people. So you will have seen communities rallying together, volunteer fire fighters risking all, and people from all across the country—and indeed, the world, coming to help.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Philippine government, the provinces and their cities, and the extraordinary number

of Filipino people who have offered their support, prayers and wellwishes. Considering the many natural emergencies this country faces, including most recently the Taal Volcano eruption, it shows again to me the seemingly bottomless well of empathy and goodwill that the Filipino people have for Australia.

Rebuilding will take time but the Australian Government’s response is comprehensive and it is undaunted by the task ahead. This has already included deploying thousands of Australian Defence Force personnel and reservists on the ground, releasing millions of dollars in emergency payments to families and communities, and millions in new funds to preserve wildlife habitat.

Many Filipinos have asked, what can they do directly to help. The answer is simply—please consider Australia as your next vacation destination: Come to Australia! We are open for business and there is a vast continent to explore, most of it unaffected by the recent bushfires.

Despite the bushfire-affected regions, many coastal towns, parks and beaches want more tourists. Indeed, one of the most powerful things that our overseas friends can do is to visit and support the recovery of beautiful towns.

There are also vast parts of Australia completely unaffected by fires which want to see visitors enjoying the best experiences that Australia can offer. And with more direct flights to Australia, it’s no wonder that of all tourists from Southeast Asia, the fastest growth was from Filipino visitors in 2018-19.

As we celebrate Australia Day and all the stories that have contributed to our nation, I inviteyou to see my country for yourself so that you can tell your own story of Australia. ***

CELEBRATING AUSTRALIA DAY. Ambassador Steven J. Robinson is joined onstage by DFA Secretary Teddyboy Locsin, Mrs. Rhonda Robinson, Mrs. Lourdes Locsin, and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray during the Australia Day reception last 23 January.

Steven J. Robinson AO is the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines. Follow him on Twitter @AusAmbPH.

Australian veterans of the Leyte Gulf Landings joined the 75th anniversary commemoration of the historic battle. They met Filipino veterans and armed forces personnel in the spirit of mateship and bayanihan. Australia and the Philippines cooperation in defence dates back to World War II. Today they work together to counter terrorism, strengthen maritime security and to build the capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Trade Ties THE trade and investment partnership between Australia and the Philippines is on the way up. With a 300,000 strong Filipino community in Australia and 34 direct flights per week, Australia is a prime destination for tourism, education and training. More Filipinos studying overseas

choose Australia as their study destination than any other country, with over 20,000 Filipinos currently studying at universities and technical colleges down under.

Philippine companies are also taking advantage of investment opportunities, with a number of major Phil-

ippine conglomerates investing in Australia to secure their supply chain and access advanced products and technology.

The ASEAN Australia NZ Free Trade Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) has opened the doors to exporters from both countries, with two-way trade in goods and services between Australia and the Philippines reaching A$4.8 billion—a 70% increase since 2010.

As a good friend and neighbour Australia has a proud history of supporting the Philippines and the Filipino people in times of disaster and emergencies.

The Australian Federal Police have a longstanding law enforcement partnership with the Philippine National Police since the 1980s. In 2019, Australia supported the establishment of the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center to strengthen the campaign against the online sexual exploitation of Filipino children.

Australia with a consortium of partners also launched in 2019 SaferKidsPH, a program to protect Filipino children from online exploitation, abuse, and violence. The Australian Government has committed AUD 8 million (PhP 298 million) to this program. Photo courtesy of International Justice Mission

The complementary nature of the Philippine and Australian economies and geographic proximity have supported the growth across priority such as food and beverage, infrastructure, and services.

Australia and the Philippines are collaborating to drive the Philippines’ digital transformation agenda and to boost the competitiveness of its private sector. This includes knowledge and technology transfer as well as

institutional partnerships in science and disruptive technologies.

There are more than 300 Australian companies in the Philippines significantly contributing to the country’s socio-economic growth. Together, they directly employ over 40,000 Filipinos, contribute to local taxes, purchase local materials, goods, and services. Embracing local talent, these companies are continuing to invest Turn to D4

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Australia National Day

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020

advertise@manilastandard.net

SOME OF THE WORLD’S VERY BEST IN DAIRY. COMING THROUGH ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST PORTS, DAILY. WORLD’S FIRST FULLY AUTOMATED CONTAINER TERMINAL

VICT has been recognized by the world’s oldest maritime publication, Lloyd’s List, for excellence in port management and infrastructure at the recently-concluded Asia Pacific Awards 2019. VICT was cited for investing in Australia’s first fully automated container terminal, which has a continuing drive towards safer, efficient and sustainable operations.

Australia’s state of Victoria is a major food production hub for Asia Pacific, and renowned for sustainably farmed premium dairy products. Its capital, Melbourne, proudly hosts Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT): the world’s first fully automated terminal. Capable of accommodating and serving next-generation vessels, VICT highlights and strongly supports Australia’s vital role AU ST R A L I A in the global dairy industry.

Melbourne

Headquartered in Manila, Philippines, International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) is in the business of port development, management, and operations.

Independent of shipping or consignee-related interests, ICTSI works transparently with all port community stakeholders. Operating in both developed and emerging market economies—in Asia Pacific, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa—ICTSI has received global acclaim for its port privatization partnerships with governments.

HEAD OFFICE ICTSI Administration Bldg., Manila International Container Terminal MICT South Access Road, Port of Manila 1012 Manila, Philippines +632 8 245 4101 info@ictsi.com www.ictsi.com

Victoria International Container Terminal Ltd. 78 Webb Dock Drive, Port Melbourne, VIC 3207, Australia +61 3 8547 9700 enquiries@vict.com.au www.vict.com.au

ARGENTINA • AUSTRALI A • BRAZIL • CHINA • COLOMBIA • CROATIA • D.R. CONGO • ECUADOR • GEORGIA • HONDURAS • INDONESIA • IRAQ • MADAGASCAR • MEXICO • PAKISTAN • PAPUA NEW GUINEA • PHILIPPINES • POLAND

Trade Ties From D3

in specialised training and to develop globally competitive technology and services solutions.

A number of these global Australian companies are showing their support for this year’s Australia Day celebration, and are helping to make the event a success. These include ANZ Bank, Austal, Crone, GHD, Greenstone, Leighton Asia, Macquarie, Oceanagold, Orica, Prime Metro BMD, Qantas, QBE, Site Skills, Telstra, TWPS, and Wine Brothers.

ANZ BANK ANZ Philippines is a world class international bank, helping institutional customers to find efficient and innovative solutions for managing and moving their goods and capital both within the Philippines and internationally.

AUSTAL Austal is a global shipbuilder, defence Prime contractor and maritime technology partner of choice; designing, constructing and supporting high-speed commercial and military vessels for the world’s leading operators.

CRONE Crone Architects is an international Design and Consulting Firm working in markets across Australia, Asia, India, and the Middle East. It established its presence in Manila in the late 90s, undertaking a number of major master planning projects. In the last 10 years, Crone has designed numerous Pre-

mier Grade high rise towers. Crone is committed to promoting Sustainable Development applying sustainability objectives to all design projects.

GHD GHD is one of the world’s leading professional services companies operating in the global markets of water, energy, and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. Committed to creating lasting community benefit, its connected global network of 10,000 diverse people delivers engineering, architecture, environmental, advisory, and digital and construction services to public and private sector clients across five continents.

GREENSTONE Greenstone Resources Corporation (GRC) is a registered Philippine company and an affiliate of Red 5 Limited, a Western Australia-based gold exploration company whose shares are traded in the Australian Stock Exchange. GRC has interest in the Siana Gold Project (MPSA No. 184-2002-XIII) and the Mapawa Gold Project (MPSA No. 280-2009XIII), both located in Surigao del Norte, Philippines.

LEIGHTON Established in 1975, Leighton Asia delivers a portfolio of high-profile infrastructure projects throughout Asia.

It is a proven industry leader in delivering complex tunnel, rail and road networks as well as turn-key renewable energy infrastructure including utility-scale wind, geothermal energy and waste-to-power installations. Its

building projects range from schools, embassies, luxury high- rise residential towers to large scale leisure complexes.

MACQUARIE Macquarie Group Limited (Macquarie) is a diversified financial group providing clients with asset management, finance, banking, advisory and risk, and capital solutions across debt, equity, and commodities. Macquarie Group established a presence in the Philippines in 2004.

OCEANAGOLD OceanaGold is a multinational, mid-tier gold mining company with significant global operating development and exploration experience for over 27 years. OceanaGold owns and operates the high-grade gold-copper Didipio Mine which is located approximately 270 kilometres north of Manila. OceanaGold acquired Didipio in 2006 and commenced commercial production as an open pit operation.

The Didipio Mine delivers significant socio-economic benefits to the Barangay of Didipio and neighbouring communities.

ORICA Orica is the world’s largest provider of commercial explosives and innovative blasting systems to the mining, quarrying, oil and gas and construction markets, a leading supplier of sodium cyanide for gold extraction, and a specialist provider of ground support services in mining and tunnelling.

PRIME METRO BMD PrimeBMD is a partnership between Prime Metroline Infrastructure

Study in Australia AUSTRALIA continues to be a preferred study destination for Philippine students and is the third most popular international student destination in the world. According to the Australian Department of Education and Training, nearly 750,000 international students are currently studying in Australia, 20,000 of which are from the Philippines. Australia is home to over 300,000 Filipinos, and trade and people to people links constitute a highly favourable platform to deepen our bilateral cooperation.

Australia is a global education powerhouse boasting top-notch facilities and educators and providing students with over 22,000 courses across 1,100 institutions. Australian education has a distinct focus on meeting global industry needs, providing quality training, connecting skills with job outcomes and teaching practical skills and theoretical knowledge to help students succeed in a fast-changing employment climate.

Australian universities have a proven track record globally, ranking consistently high for their quality of education, research and student experience satisfaction. Six Australian institutions are in the top 100 world rankings across a range of study fields, including Arts and Humanities; Clinical, Pre-clinical and Health; Engineering and Technology; Life Sciences; Physical Sciences and Social Sciences. (Times Higher Education 2019) In addition to strong academic credentials, Australia has seven of the best cities in the world based on student mix, affordability, quality of life, and employer activity.

Many of the international students who have studied in Australia have returned to their own countries, and elsewhere in the world, to become government ministers, business leaders, researchers, scientists, medical practitioners and community leaders. The Australian education system has produced scientists, designers, educators, entrepreneurs, artists and humanitarians who have changed the world and won awards from Nobel Prize to the Oscars.

As the Philippines continues to be one of the fastest growing economies, it is critical to equip the population with skills that befit contemporary times and support the nation through its digital transformation. Australia is seeking to expand on its present partnership with the Philippines and foster knowledge and technology transfer and support access to quality and industry-led training and education, including right here in the Philippines. There is no better way to explain the positive impact that studying with Australia can have on your life and career than through the wonderful stories Filipino alumni are sharing on @ Study in Australia and @Australia in the Philippines Facebook pages.

Holdings Corporation, a Philippine holding company, and BMD Group, Australia’s largest family-owned contractor.

PrimeBMD is a construction company that builds roads, bridges, ports, buildings, and other infrastructure.

QANTAS Founded in regional Queensland in 1920-as the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service- Qantas is one of Australia’s most iconic brands and has played a central role in the development of the Australian and International aviation industry. Today, the Qantas Group is a diverse global aviation business, comprising Qantas Domestic, Qantas International, the Jetstar low-cost carrier group and Qantas Loyalty.

QBE GROUP QBE Insurance Group is one of the world's top 20 general insurance and reinsurance companies, with operations in all the key insurance markets. QBE is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and is headquartered in Sydney. We employ more than 12,000 people in 31 countries.

SITE SKILLS Site Skills Training is part of Site Group International Limited, an ASXlisted company that delivers a range of Australian accredited and internationally recognised training programs tailored to the needs of the mining, oil and gas, engineering, and construction industries.

TWPS With current contracts at 34 sites with total more than 12,000 megawatts of generation, TWPS is a major

independent operations and asset services provider to the power generation market in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia. This operational depth gives TWPS the unique ability to leverage from multiple site and technology knowledge, to provide the latest innovations and best practices to the benefit of our clients.

TELSTRA Telstra is a leading telecommunications and information services company. We offer a full range of services and compete in all telecommunications markets in Australia, operating the largest mobile and Wi-Fi networks. Globally, we provide endto-end solutions including managed network services, global connectivity, cloud, voice, colocation, conferencing, and satellite solutions.

TWPS TWPS provides a full scope of O&M services to plants as diverse as one of Western Australia’s largest coal fired power stations, gas fired combined cycle power plants in Queensland and Western Australia, and a portfolio of wind farms across South Australia and Victoria.

WINE BROTHERS Wine Brothers Philippines Corporation (WBPC) is an importing and distributing company of quality wines, and is the exclusive distributor of Wine Brothers Australasia.

WBPC aims to be part of everyday celebrations by providing a range of excellent wines that fit every occasion. WBPC also aims to immerse Filipinos into the fun culture of wine drinking.