Manila Standard - 2020 March 1 - Sunday

ADORABLE HOME APP CAPTURES PINOYS' HEARTS

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 20 • 4 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

TECH AND GADGETS C3

REP. YEDDA ROMUALDEZ

'GLOBAL OUTBREAK TO CUT 7K PH JOBS'

By Vito Barcelo and Joel Zurbano

A

T LEAST 7,000 workers in airlines, cruise ships, travel agencies and hotel and restaurants were about to be laid off within the next six months as more enterprises are forced to implement retrenchment programs to cope with the business losses caused by the growing 2019 coronavirus disease outbreak crisis worldwide, according to a big labor group.

The Trade Union Congress of the cancellations and travel ban on its Philippines made the prediction key market. after the Philippine Airlines was “The PAL retrenchment program forced to retrench 300 due to flight and the travel bans will trigger more

layoffs in several of its supply chains that includes hotels, restaurants, land transport service, logistics, catering and other suppliers of the airlines. It is now inevitable that other airlines, to cope with the crisis, will also make similar retrenchments of non-essential jobs which will also affect workers down their supply chains,” TUCP president and TUCP Party-list Rep. Raymond Mendoza said.

Major local airlines have started cutting back and canceling flights in Manila and Cebu to and from South Korea beginning today (March 1) following the travel ban imposed by the Philippine government to the said country where more than

2,000 people got infected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019.

South Korea confirmed 594 more cases of the COVID-19, raising the total number of infections to 2,931 as of Saturday.

The management of Philippine Airlines said it was compelled to cut back on the number of its flights to and from South Korea this month due to the latest travel restrictions.

The daily PAL flights PR 468 and PR 469 to and from Seoul were canceled from March 1 to 31 while the three-times a week flights of PR 418 and PR 419 to and from Busan were also suspended until March 30.

Turn to A2

REP. ROSE MARIE ARENAS

WOMEN TAKE OVER HOUSE FOR A DAY FEMALE lawmakers are expected to temporarily take full control of the plenary session tomorrow in observance of the National Women’s Month.

An All-Women Session at the Plenary will be led by Pangasinan 3rd District Representative Deputy Speaker Rose Marie “Baby” Arenas acting as the Speaker.

She is the president of the 86-strong Association of Women Legislators Foundation, Inc. (AWLFI) of the 18th Congress, a non-profit, Turn to A2

VIRUS PROMPTS WHO TO RAISE RISK LEVEL THE World Health Organization has raised its global risk assessment of the new coronavirus to its highest level after the epidemic spread to sub-Saharan Africa and financial markets slumped.

The virus has proliferated around the globe over the past week, emerging on every continent except Antarctica, prompting many governments and businesses to try to stop people from traveling or gathering in crowded places.

It has killed more than 2,900 people and infected over 85,000 worldwide—the vast majority in China— since it emerged apparently from Turn to A2

MONTH-LONG MALL SALE POSTPONED

UNSPARING WATCH. Immigration officials at the NAIA terminals (topmost) are requiring all incoming South Korean passengers to present valid identification cards. Below (topmost left) is the photo taken on Friday, showing workers sewing at a factory making hazardous material suits to be used in the COVID-19 at the Zhejiang Ugly Duck Industry garment factory in Wenzhou, China while military vehicles (below topmost right) spray disinfectant as part of preventive measures against the spread of the coronavirus on a road near Dongdaegu railway station in Daegu, South Korea on Saturday. Che Santos, AFP

THE Philippines’ month-long nationwide mall sale, aimed at mitigating the economic impact of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, will not push through as planned this month, the Department of Tourism announced Saturday.

The event, billed as the Philippines’ version of Singapore’s Great Sale and Hong Kong’s Summer Sale, was supposed to take place in the entire month of March as part of the 2020 Philippine Shopping Festival. No alternative dates have been disclosed.

Turn to A2

CORONA THE BEER, NOT THE VIRUS

TAYLOR SWIFT TRANSFORMATION

CONFUSION between coronavirus and Corona beer has been a punchline of questionable taste during the outbreak, but for the brand, the matter may be no joke.

Next page

TAYLOR Swift dropped her directorial debut Thursday, releasing the music video for her song “The Man” in which she stars as, quite literally, the man.

Next page

DOWNY#NEVER FADES AWARDEES. Downy, the global leader in fabric softener, is one with the celebration of the National Women’s Month, led by the Philippine Commission on Women, by recognizing and honoring seven purposeful women who have been a force of positive change in the society—Lawyer Kristine Yuzon-Chavez, Kara David, Bianca Gonzales-Intal, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Iza Calzado-Wintle, Joy Wong, and Pia Wurtzbach. The awardees are joined by Downy Philippines Assistant Brand Manager Zedrick Laqui. The event brings to life the launch of the Downy #NeverFade Awardees, a thoughtfully selected tribe of women who are not afraid to sweat it out in the pursuit of the advocacies they believe in. Their stories of passion paved way for women to have a voice that creates positive change— they inspire, they empower, and they never fade. twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

manilastandard.net

Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net

News

A2

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

WOMEN...

From A1

non-partisan organization composed of all lady solons at the House of Representatives.

Arenas is sharing the speakership position with Deputy Speakers Evelina Escudero and Vilma Santos-Recto.

An official statement said the other presiding officers in the All-Women Session are Reps. Marlyn Alonte, Cheryl Deloso-Montalla, Ann Hofer, Lucille Nava, Josephine Ramirez-Sato, Kristine Singson-Meehan, Estrellita Suansing, Lorna Silverio, Yedda Marie Romualdez, Lorna Bautista-Bandigan and Mercedes Cagas.

Rep. Rosanna Vergara will be the Majority Floor Leader with Reps. Sandra Eriguel, Elisa Kho and Ma. Theresa Collantes acting as Deputy Majority Floor Leaders.

Reps. Janette Garin and Stella Luz Quimbo will serve as Minority Leader and Deputy Minority Leader, respectively.

Rep. Cristal Bagatsing will lead the opening prayer. Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong will be the Over-All Facilitator for the day with Reps. Ma. Angelica Amante-Matba and Camille Villar as Assistant Floor Facilitators.

One of the measures to be discussed on the floor is the establishment of resource development and crisis assistance centers for women and children throughout the country to uplift their condition, particularly those who are victims of abuse.

Reps. Ma. Lourdes Acosta-Alba, Geraldine Roman, Sol Aragones, France Castro, Arlene Brosas, Sarah Jane Elago, Irene Gay Saulog and Ruth Mariano-Hernandez are also scheduled to deliver privilege speeches on various issues and concerns relating to women.

“Anchored on this year’s theme ‘We Make Change Work for Women’, the celebration of Women’s Month highlights the empowerment of women from various generations and sectors as active contributors to our country’s development”, Deputy Speaker Arenas says.

She adds that the celebration “reminds us all to support and join the call to advance the rights of women and gender equality and end all forms of discrimination against women.”

The annual All-Women Session is jointly organized by the AWLFI and the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality chaired by Rep. Acosta-Alba.

MONTH-LONG..

From A1

“As much as we want to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), the safety of our citizens remains our priority. We advise the general public to maintain proper hygiene and follow the guidelines set by the Department of Health to contain the spread of the virus,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette RomuloPuyat said in a statement.

She said the department also followed the move made by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Health in pushing for the cancellation of the travel trade show ITB Berlin.

Puyat thanked participating establishments for supporting the decision.

She reminded malls to follow the precautionary measures set by the Department of Health to prevent the spread of any virus, including checking the temperatures of mall-goers.

ASEAN summit sked At the same time, the United States has delayed a regional ASEAN summit scheduled to take place in Las Vegas in March due to fears of the coronavirus, a senior administration official said.

“As the international community works together to defeat the novel coronavirus, the United States, in consultation with ASEAN partners, has made the difficult decision to postpone the ASEAN leaders meeting,” said the official on condition of not being named.

Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations had been due to be hosted by President Donald Trump on March 14.

The official said the United States “values our relationships with the nations of this critical region, and looks forward to future meetings.”

The announcement came as health officials in California confirmed the United States’ second case believed to have been transmitted to a person who did not travel overseas or come in contact with anyone known to be ill.

The DOT agency has coordinated with the mall establishments and cited their support for the decision to postpone the nationwide sale for the safety of customers.

“The malls are still free to continue (their) day-to-day operations.”

S

SENATE MULLS OVER TAX REFORM DELAY

ENATE President Vicente Sotto III has said the Senate may put aside the remaining packages of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) should the economic woes arising from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak worsen.

Sotto was speaking in Saturday’s weekly In Focus news forum in Quezon City.

The CITIRA or the Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Rationalization Act, the second package of the Duterte administration’s CTRP, would gradually lower the

Suspended flights PAL also suspended the ManilaBusan-Manila flights scheduled on Wednesdays and Sundays from March 8 to 29, and the five-times a week flights Manila-Seoul-Manila from March 12 to 31.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals are asking every incoming South Korean passengers to present identification card such as South Korean national ID, family register or even driver’s license that they are not from North Gyeongsang province, Daegu and Cheongdo or even visited the places before they allowed entry.

Immigration supervisor at NAIA Terminal 2 said that they are asking incoming South Korean passengers to present any valid identification as proof they are not from the said provinces to protect our country from spreading that virus.

Dr. Noe Revilla, animal quarantine officer-in-charge at the NAIA

VIRUS...

From A1 an animal market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late December.

R a p i d s p r e a d But it is its rapid spread to new zones that has authorities concerned--in the past 24 hours, it has affected nine new countries, from Azerbaijan to Mexico to New Zealand.

“We have now increased our assessment of the risk of spread and the risk of impact of COVID-19 to very high at global level,”WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters.

“We do not see evidence as yet that the virus is spreading freely in communities. As long as that’s the case, we still have a chance of containing this virus.”

In the Korean peninsula, South Korea reported on Saturday its biggest surge in new coronavirus cases and concerns grew of a possible epidemic in the United States.

The virus has rapidly spread across the world over the past week, causing stock markets to sink to their lowest levels since the 2008 global financial crisis over fears that the disease could wreak havoc on the world economy.

The vast majority of infections have been in China but more daily cases are now logged outside the coun-

The phrase “38% of Americans” was trending Friday on Twitter following a survey showing that proportion of beer drinkers “would not buy Corona under any circumstances now,” according to public relations firm 5W. But Constellation Brands, which owns the Mexican-heritage beer label, disagreed, releasing a statement Friday saying that sales have stayed strong in the US even as the virus has spread internationally, and dismissing the question as a non-issue.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by this terrible virus and we hope efforts to more fully contain it gain traction soon,” said Bill Newlands,

risk due to the COVID-19, Sotto told the forum the pending bills would not be addressed at the moment as legislators could instead help in crafting measures to alleviate the impact of COVID-19.

Economists warned that the outbreak was putting the global economy at its greatest risk of recession since the 2008 financial crisis.

But the country’s chief economist, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia had earlier brushed off the potential threat of the novel coronavirus to the Philippine economy given the efforts being undertaken to contain its spread.

Terminal 1 said that they are strictly monitoring the arrival of pets mostly dogs from different parts of the world especially in the COVID-19 affected countries.

Revilla said his office required the pet owners a veterinary health certificate, import permit and documents that the pets are vaccinated against rabies upon arrival at the airport.

He also said a South Korean passenger brought with him two dogs, a Chihuahua and a Bichon Friese on flight from Incheon South Korea on board Korean Air. The dog underwent a thorough inspection despite owner presented veterinary health certificate and import permit as the dogs are in healthy situation and allowed entry.

Revilla also said that pets would be returned to the port of origin or refused entry if the pet owner could not present the complete documents.

4 countries included Meanwhile, airport sources said Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and even Singapore might be included in the travel ban in the future as Inter-Agency Task Force was closely monitoring the effects of the COVID-19 in those

countries.

PAL said flights to and from South Korea started operating under new travel guidelines to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.

All travelers, regardless of nationality, who have been to North Gyeongsang in Daegu are banned from entering the country from Korea, the flag carrier said.

Filipinos traveling to Korea for tourism are covered by the travel ban while those studying, employed or are permanent residents are exempted provided that they show proof of identification, the airline said.

“Travel ban applies to all passengers who have been to North Gyeongsang province including Daegu City,” PAL said.

PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said that airline representatives in Incheon and Busan airports are distributing to their passenger an information slip to be filled up before they are entertained.

In that slip, the passenger must indicate their permanent address in Korea and if they visited the three provinces in Korea and submit it to the airline representative at the counter before they will be entertained, Villaluna said

Tested negative An official of the Department of Health on Saturday said four out of seven symptomatic repatriates from cruise ship Diamond Princess docked in Japan who are now in quarantine at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac province have tested negative for the COVID-19.

“Four of them were negative for the virus,” said DOH Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in an interview over radio dzMM, beamed nationwide.

She added that the four repatriates who tested negative for COVID-19 are still admitted at referral hospitals.

“Their condition ks still being managed. But once thrre are no more symptoms. they will be brought back to their rooms in New Clark City,” Vergeire said, adding that repatriates have to finish their 14-day quarantine period which started last week.

She said the DOH was still waiting for the results of tests done on samples taken from the remaining three Filipino repatriates who are also experiencing respiratory symptoms.

Their specimens are being tested by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

try, with South Korea, Italy and Iran emerging as major focal points.

South Korea has the most cases outside China, with nearly 3,000 infections as 594 more patients were reported on Saturday the country’s biggest increase to date.

B o r d e r s c l o s e d In neighboring Nor th Korea, leader Kim Jong Un warned top party officials of the “serious consequences” of failing to prevent an outbreak of the new coronavirus on their side of the border.

The impoverished nation, with a weak and ill-equipped health care system, has closed its borders to prevent the spread of the disease into its territory.

In Washington, US health officials reported a third case of the new coronavirus transmitted to a person who did not travel overseas or come in contact with anyone known to be ill, indicating the disease was spreading in the country.

Authorities said the new case concerned a person living in the western state of Oregon.

The adult patient, who has been hospitalized, was known to have had contact with people at an elementary school.

Oregon Health Authority director Patrick Allen told reporters that the case is considered “presumptive” pending confirmation of the

test results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We’ve been expecting this and we’re prepared for it,” he said.

Officials said the elementar y school will be shut down until March 4 as it undergoes a deep clean and as health officials talk to employees and parents.

Two other “community spread” cases have been repor ted in neighboring California this week.

Both cases involve older people in the northern part of the state who mysteriously contracted the virus.

Fears heightened The increasing number of people stricken with the illness in the United States is sure to heighten fears of an outbreak across the country.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, as of Thursday there were more than 60 people infected with the disease in the United States.

California’s Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday said 33 people there had tested positive for the virus, and five of them had left the state.

Global investors never the less ran scared, with world markets suffering their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis.

The chair of the US Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, said the central bank stood at the ready to intervene if needed, given the “evolving” risks to the world’s largest economy

posed by the deadly outbreak.

New drastic measures were put in place: Switzerland canceled all gatherings of more than 1,000 people, and Saudi Arabia banned Gulf citizens from its holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

“This is not a time for panic.

It is time to be prepared fully prepared,” UN Secretary-Gene r a l A n t o n i o G u t e r re s s a i d.

‘Struggling with containment’ Those efforts come as the number of deaths and new infections has been tapering off in China, following unprecedented quarantine efforts locking down tens of millions of people in the worst-hit cities.

“We see a number of countries struggling with containment,” said Michael Ryan, head of the WHO’s health emergencies program.

The WHO has voiced particular concern about Africa’s preparedness, warning that the continent’s health care systems were ill-equipped to respond to a COVID-19 epidemic.

Cases had previously been reported in Egypt and Algeria, but not in the sub-Saharan region until Friday when Nigeria reported its first case: an Italian man in densely populated Lagos.

In Iran, unnamed health system sources told the BBC that at least 210 people had died of the coronavirus far beyond the official death toll of 34, but a health ministry spokes-

corporate income tax by one percent every year, bringing it down from 30 percent to 20 percent by 2030.

Ways and Means Committee Chairperson Senator Pia Cayetano sponsored the bill.

Meanwhile, the Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxa-

GLOBAL...

From A1

CORONA..

From A1

tion Act would cut the tax rates on interest income from regular savings and short-term deposits from the current 20 percent to 15 percent.

It would also decrease the tax rates on interest income from foreign currency deposits and long-term deposits to 15 percent.

Other pending packages of the CTRP, included: proposal to increase the excise tax on tobacco and alcohol products and increase the government’s share from mining; proposal to reform property taxation to make the valuation system “more equitable, efficient, and transparent.”

If the economy is put at greater

chief executive of Constellation.

“We’ve seen no impact to our people, facilities or operations and our business continues to perform very well.”

But the brand also got an earful on social media over an awkwardlyphrased advertising campaign to plug new hard seltzer offerings in the United States.

The beverages, available in four “delicious” flavors, will be “coming ashore soon,” according to the spot posted to Twitter that had received 7.3 million views by Friday on the Corona USA page.

“Given what’s hitting the news right now, this seems in remarkably poor taste,” one critic posted.

“Pretty sure Corona has always had remarkably poor taste,” another replied. AFP

TAYLOR..

From A1 In heavy prosthetic and convincing drag, the 30-year-old popjuggernaut parades through the video as an obnoxious man who skates through life to success thanks to the privilege of his gender.

In one notable scene Swift’s male character spreads his legs wide on the subway, unnecessarily crowding the women next to him, and ashes a cigar in the purse of his neighbor.

“I’m so sick of running as fast as I can / Wondering if I’d get there quicker if I was a man / And I’m so sick of them coming at me again / ‘Cause if I was a man, then I’d be the man,” she sings in the chorus.

At the video’s end, director Swift asks her male character if he could try another take, but make it “sexier” and

more “likable.”

Swift used the video for the song off her seventh album “Lover” to highlight that she wrote, directed, and owns it– while taking a swipe at the executives she’s been publicly feuding with since June 2019 over ownership of her early catalogue.

At one point her character relieves himself on a wall bearing graffiti spelling out the titles of her first six albums, next to a sign that say “Missing. If found return to Taylor Swift” and another barring use of scooters.

It’s an obvious jab at music industry mogul Scooter Braun, who has a majority stake in the master recordings of Swift’s first six albums.

Swift owns “Lover,” and has vowed to re-record her earlier albums to create copies she owns herself starting in November 2020, the earliest she says her contract allows it. AFP

News

MALAYSIAN TURMOIL ENDS; KING NAMES NEW PREMIER 6-MONTH TRAFFIC JAM ON ROXAS FEARED

By Vito Barcelo EXPECT a six-month–long traffic congestion along Roxas Boulevard as repair and reblocking works have started on the northbound four-lane boulevard from EDSA in Pasay City to P. Ocampo street in Manila, the Department of Public Works and Highways said yesterday.

DPWH South Manila District Engineer Mikunud Macud said that clearance for the 180-calendar days road reblocking and repair works schedule was secured from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to be conducted along a kilometer-long intermittent portion of the four northbound lanes of Roxas Boulevard.

“Roxas Boulevard is a 5.45-kilometer national road that serves as a major route of heavy vehicles daily particularly trucks going in and out of Manila Ports. That’s why its foundation deteriorates faster than regular roads, hence the need for rehabilitation,” Macud said.

The boulevard, which runs along the shores of Manila Bay, is well known for its sunsets and stretch of coconut trees.

The divided roadway has become a trademark of Philippine tourism, famed for its yacht club, hotels, restaurants, commercial buildings and parks.

The rehabilitation initially received an allocation of P20 million to cover the 530-meter portion from EDSA to before Libertad and another P40 million for the 500-meter section from Ocampo Street to before Quirino Avenue. The repairs cover excavation of old road, road concreting, with drainage improvement and traffic management component.

M

ALAYSIA’S Mahathir Mohamad lost a power struggle Saturday with a little-known exinterior minister to be the country’s new prime minister in a shock twist that will return a scandalplagued party to power.

Muhyiddin Yassin will be sworn in on Sunday, royal officials said, after a week of turmoil that followed the collapse of a reformist government and Mahathir’s resignation as premier.

“The process to appoint the prime minister cannot be delayed because the country needs a government for the well-being of the people and the nation,” a palace statement said.

The king appoints the premier, and rival candidates had this week been seeking to show they commanded majority support from MPs. As well as ending the premiership of Mahathir, at 94 the world’s oldest leader, it means there will be little hope of his designated successor Anwar Ibrahim becoming prime minister.

Muhyiddin’s coalition is dominated by the multi-ethnic country’s Muslim majority, and includes the United Malays National Organization, the scandal-plagued party of disgraced ex-leader Najib Razak.

UMNO was the lynchpin of a longruling coalition toppled from power at historic elections in 2018 amid allegations Najib and his cronies looted state fund 1MDB. Muhyiddin, a former Mahathir ally, had joined forces with UMNO in a bid to win power. His coalition also includes a hardline Muslim party that is pushing for Islamic laws.

MALAYSIA IN TURMOIL The current crisis began when Mahathir and Anwar’s ruling “Pact of Hope” alliance, which stormed to a historic victory two years ago against Najib’s government, collapsed a week ago.

A group of ruling coalition lawmakers had joined forces with opposition parties in a bid to form a new government without Anwar and stop him becoming premier.

his office has been receiving about harassments and similar schemes that financing and lending companies and their third-party service providers employ just so they can press borrowers to pay their debts.

In some cases, the senator pointed out that a collection agent would threaten to disclose the borrower’s indebtedness on social media or make it appear that a formal complaint has been filed against the borrower.

“This measure aims to eliminate, if not minimize, unfair and abusive debt collection practices conducted by debt collectors against consumer-bor-

RIZAL SOLON PRESSES FOR LAWYERS’ TAX BREAKS

By Maricel V. Cruz A NEOPHYTE congressman on Saturday lamented that the lack of implementing rules has prevented the implementation of the law that grants lawyers tax deductions for providing free legal aid to indigents.

Rep. Fidel Nograles of Rizal noted that the continued absence of the implementing rules for Republic Act 9999 or the Free Legal Assistance Act of 2010 since its passage meant the law had not been maximized.

“The implemeting rules are necessary to operationalize Section 5 of the law in particular, which is the provision granting tax incentives to lawyers for going beyond the mandatory service required of them,” Nograles, a lawyer, said.

Section 5 of the law provides that “… a lawyer or professional partnership rendering actual free legal services, as defined by the Supreme Court, shall be entitled to an allowable deduction from the gross income, the amount that could have been collected for the actual free legal services rendered or up to ten percent (10%) of the gross income derived from the actual performance of the legal profession, whichever is lower.”

NEW REIGN. Malaysia’s former interior minister Muhyiddin Yassin waves next to his wife Noraini Abdul Rahman (left) and children before talking to the press outside their home in Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 29, 2020.

Muhyiddin was named as Malaysia’s new prime minister, royal officials said, signaling the end of Mahathir Mohamad’s rule and return to power of a scandal-plagued party. AFP After that effort failed, Mahathir and Anwar launched rival bids to win power, reviving a rivalry that has shaped politics for more than two decades in the Southeast Asian nation.

But as Muhyiddin’s bid quickly gained support and it became clear that he could get into power with UMNO, Mahathir and Anwar did a volte-face and joined forces again on Saturday.

The remaining parties from the “Pact of Hope” alliance threw their support behind Mahathir to become premier, and there had been hopes he could stop Muhyiddin.

The “Pact of Hope,” a ragtag band of opposition groups that

included a party dominated by the country’s ethnic Chinese minority, Anwar’s People’s Justice Party and Mahathir’s Malay-dominated outfit, was uneasy from the start.

Mahathir had pledged to eventually hand the premiership to Anwar, but many were skeptical he wanted to give power to his old rival, and rival factions were seeking to push Anwar out.

Muhyiddin, 72, was a member of UMNO for many decades and held a string of senior posts. He was deputy prime minister in Najib’s government, but Najib sacked him after he voiced criticism of the 1MDB scandal. AFP

SENATE BILL CURBS ABUSES IN DEBT/LOAN COLLECTION TO PROTECT ordinary Filipino borrowers from harassment and unethical practices perpetuated by predatory lenders, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has moved to regulate the debt collecting practices of financing and lending companies.

The vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, Gatchalian has filed Senate Bill No. 1366 (SBN 1366) or “The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act,” which will prohibit and eliminate the use of abusive, deceptive and unfair debt collection practices by debt collectors.

In filing Senate Bill No. 1366, Gatchalian cited numerous complaints that

A3

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

rowers by providing allowable means to acquire location information of the borrower and enumerating prohibited acts,” Gatchalian said.

“It likewise places the debt collector and the consumer-borrower in the same level playing field as the measure provides adequate legal remedies to borrowers who are victims of these wayward practices,” he added.

The bill prohibits debt collectors from harassing, oppressing, or abusing any debtor, as well as use any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt.

Creditors are mandated to keep confidential all borrowers’ data except when there’s written consent of the borrower.

Under the proposed measure, a debt collector must provide the debtor on request a complete accounting of all the details of the debt and, if such an accounting is not in the possession of the debt collector, the agency must request that the creditor should provide it.

The Gatchalian bill also aims to protect those debt collectors who refrain from using abusive debt collection practices and make sure they are not competitively disadvantaged.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Rep. Fidel Nograles

Nograles urged the Supreme Court and Bureau of Internal Revenue to prioritize formulation of the rules.

He said that the SC was tasked with the legal requirements, while the BIR was supposed to come up with the revenue regulations for the implementation of the law’s tax component.

“Nananawagan ako sa SC at BIR, sana sa lalong madaling panahon ay magtulungan tayo sa paglikha ng rules ng batas na ito (I am calling on the SC and the BIR to help in the drafting of the rules of this law). It’s a bit late, but it’s better than never,” he said.

Nograles also has two pending bills mean to ensure that marginalized sectors have greater access to justice in the country.

House Bill 4281 or the Public Attorney’s Office Modernization Act of 2019, would broaden the PAO’s mandate to include free legal assistance to complainants or petitioners, while House Bill 2993 or the Legal Aid Program Act of 2019 establishes legal aid programs in both private and public law schools to augment the services rendered by the PAO and other government offices that offer free legal assistance.

DENR, CEZA TEAM UP TO PROTECT CAGAYAN’S TOURIST SPOT

OOPS, WRONG LINE. One of the DPWH workers repairs the leak in the water pipeline on Don Alejandro Roces Avenue, Quezon City on Friday (Feb. 28, 2020). The DPWH has a road rehabilitation work in the area.

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority have pledged to protect Nangaramoan Beach which is famous for its white sand.

The two agencies signed a memorandum of agreement as a first step to the crafting of a protection plan for beach.

DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu and CEZA Administrator and Chief Executive Officer Raul Lambino signed the MOA last Feb. 18 at the DENR Central Office in Quezon City.

Nangaramoan Beach is famous for its pristine waters and white powdery sand comparable to the world-renowned Boracay Island. It is located in the town of Santa Ana, which is within the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport that is managed and supervised by CEZA. In October 2017, CEZA—in coordination with the DENR and the local government of Santa Ana—shut down

the 500-meter-long white sand beach for failure of operators to comply with environmental regulations and sanitation standards.

Under the MOA, the DENR will help CEZA in crafting the Nangaramoan Comprehensive Area Development and Management Plan.

“This will ensure the protection of the environment in the area and the sustainable development of Nangaramoan Beach. This is the biggest substance of this MOA,” Cimatu said.

Lambino, for his part, said that CEZA will rely on the technical inputs of the DENR in the development of the plan which, according to him, would serve as “the blueprint to ensure the preservation of the natural resources, biodiversity and cultural heritage of Nangaramoan Beach.”

He also said that the DENR-CEZA partnership would benefit “not just the tourists, but more importantly the stakeholders.”

“CEZA recognizes that this MOA will

be the instrument to develop the area with the permission of the DENR, and we are thankful for their support,” Lambino added.

Meanwhile, Cimatu advised the CEZA to require resort operators to build their own sewage treatment plants and to strictly implement the 20-meter shoreline easement rule.

Cimatu said that it must be clear to the operators that structures encroaching into the easement are considered illegal and must be demolished.

The DENR chief also warned against cutting down trees found within forestlands as these are protected by the country’s forestry law.

In 2013, CNN Travel named the beaches of Santa Ana and in nearby Palaui Island as among the best in the world. These beaches became the shooting locations of two seasons of the US reality TV series “Survivor” in 2014. Maricel V. Cruz

A4

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2020

News

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PHOENIX LEADS BIG-TIME OIL PRICE ROLLBACK

By Alena Mae S. Flores

AFTER AND BEFORE A FIRE. A man tries to douse the embers of a fire that recently claimed his shanty area in Parañaque City, even as firefighters and volunteers kick off Fire Prevention Month with a motorcade around Manila area (inset) to remind residents to take the needed precautions against fires on Saturday.

The motorcade is an annual event of the BFP and Fire volunteers that serves as one of their public awareness activities for Fire Prevention Month.

Related story below fold. Norman Cruz

NEW ANTI-TERROR MEASURE NEEDED, BUT LEFT SLAMS IT

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Willie Casas SENATE President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Panfilo Lacson on Saturday underscored the need for Congress to come up with a new anti-terror law to deal with external and internal terrorism threats amid the government’s selfreliance thrust.

Sotto, the principal author of the proposed Anti-Terror Act of 2020, and Lacson, chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense who sponsored the measure, said lawmakers urgently need to update the existing Anti-Terror Law. He said this will give the military and defense agencies more teeth in addressing the growing threat of terrorism to the country, especially in Mindanao.

The House of Representatives, Sotto said, can come up with their own version of the measure or adopt the version that was approved by the Senate on third reading last Feb. 26.

“I believe our colleagues from the House understand the urgency of this bill to be enacted into law. I hope that they come up with their own version the soonest possible so we can reduce the risks to the lives of our people,” Sotto said.

Lacson said it is high time the Philippines became proactive in fighting the threat of terrorism, and the bill approved by the Senate by a 19-2 vote last Wednesday would be a great help toward this end.

He added the Senate version of the bill, which under his sponsorship underwent rigorous interpellation from his colleagues, contains safeguards against possible abuse.

MOST SENATORS NIX VFA TERMINATION

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

M

OST senators are opposing President Rodrigo Duterte's termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States, even as Senate President Vicente Sotto III is optimistic the Supreme Court will rule to allow the lawmakers to concur on the treaty's abrogation.

“I’m not sure of the number, but I can say majority of the members of the Senate are not in favor of the abrogation. That is my sense,” Sotto said Saturday during the weekly In Focus news forum in Quezon City.

“We’re optimistic that the Supreme Court will agree with the Senate that we must be asked to concur in case of abrogation also,” he added.

Sotto said he is optimistic because the senators’ petition “involves less controversy.”

“We are not naming the ICC (International Criminal Court), we are not naming the VFA,” said Sotto.

“We are merely saying the Senate must concur also in any abrogation because we were asked to ratify... The power to ratify was with the Senate,” the Senate President added.

As for the number of senators against terminating the VFA, Sotto said: “Majority, I believe, I’m not sure of the number... perhaps, 12 or more are not in favor of abrogation. That is my opinion."

Because of this, he said it would be much better if there is a stand that the Senate needs to concur with “because we can review it.”

If the SC rules in favor of the Senate, Sotto said it doesn’t necessarily mean they will automatically agree, deny or not concur with the President.

“But what we can do is call for a review of the VFA and at the same time open the possibility of asking of the review of the MDT (Mutual Defense Treaty),” said the Senate leader.

Other issues, such as a retaliatory clause, will be addressed by a Senate probe, Sotto said.

On Thursday, Senator Panfilo Lacson announced that senators are planning to appear before the Supreme Court and file their petition in the coming week.

BI DENIES ENTRY TO 202 FOREIGNERS

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration has excluded 202 foreigners, mostly Chinese, who attempted to enter the country to work in online casinos, while some are suspected to be sex workers, from Feb. 24 to Feb. 28.

This was after Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente suspended all NAIA terminal heads and supervisors due to the alleged “pastillas” scheme.

BI-Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said that 87 foreigners were excluded at the NAIA terminal 1; 22 foreigners at the NAIA Terminal 2 and 93 foreigners at the NAIA terminal 3.

Apart from Chinese, Cambodians, Vietnamese, Indonesians, Myanmar and Malaysians were also denied entry.

The wave of online casino workers trying to enter the Philippines was due to the threat of the Chinese Ministry of Public Safety to

cancel the passports of thousands of Chinese nationals working in online gaming dens in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia.

Thousands of Chinese nationals working in POGOs or Philippine offshore gaming operators were at risk of having their passports canceled over their suspected involvement in illegal activities.

Last year, Cambodia banned online gambling, prompting hundreds of Chinese to come to the Philippines.

PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines led the latest big-time oil price rollback of as much as P1.60 per liter early Saturday to reflect the movement of prices in the world market.

“Phoenix Petroleum Philippines will decrease the prices of diesel by P1.60 per liter and gasoline by P1.40 per liter effective 6 a.m. of 29 February 2020,” the company said in its advisory.

Unioil Philippines forecasts the fuel prices will go down next week

by P1.60 to P1.70 per liter for diesel and P1.30 to P1.40 per liter for gasoline.

Other oil companies are expected to follow suit, but have yet to make their respective announcements as of press time.

World oil prices slumped last week amid concerns that the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will affect the global economy. The outbreak has already affected air travel, shipping and other businesses worldwide.

On Feb. 25, most oil companies hiked petroleum products as world oil prices slightly recovered due to optimism the virus in China is being contained.

Oil firms raised the price of gasoline by P0.30 per liter, diesel

by P0.20 per liter and kerosene by P0.35 per liter.

Year-to-date adjustments stand at a net decrease of P2.50 per liter for gasoline, P4.40 per liter for diesel and P5.59 per liter for kerosene, according to latest data from the Energy department.

9 CAMSUR TOWNS UNDER ASF WATCH LEGAZPI CITY—To stop the spread of African swine fever in Camarines Sur, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has placed villages in nine towns, including Naga City, under tight surveillance.

In an interview on Saturday, Emily Bordado, Department of Agriculture regional spokesperson, said those on the ASF watchlist, which includes over 50 villages in the towns of Calabanga, Magarao, Canaman, Libmanan, and Naga City, are under the 7-kilometer surveillance zones.

Surveillance zones, she said, are areas where live pigs would undergo laboratory tests and, once tested positive for ASF, would be culled.

With 48 villages covering the towns of Camaligan, Gainza, Pili, and Minalabac included in the 10-kilometer Control Zone, live pigs in these areas could be sold and transported, provided these animals have the required health and shipment permits issued by an authorized veterinary officer.

Bordado said various checkpoints in Camarines Sur as of Friday have confiscated 16.9 metric tons of meat and meat products from ASF-hit areas.

So far, 1,362 pigs in six barangays of Bombon (four) and Calabanga (two) were culled as of Friday.

PARAÑAQUE FIRE LEAVES 200 FAMILIES HOMELESS

By Joel E. Zurbano

STREET WARES. Buyers of second hand spare parts and accessories of bikes and motorcycles examine the wares laid out on the sidewalk along C5 Extension in Las Piñas on Saturday. Boy Josue

MORE than 200 families were rendered homeless after a fire of still unknown origin razed a densely populated area Friday afternoon in Barangay San Antonio, Parañaque City.

Seven persons were reported hurt in the blaze, which started on the ground floor of a two-story residential building owned by one “June” along Masthead Street, Area 1 in Fourth Estate of the said barangay around 5:30 p.m.

Reports from the Bureau of Fire Protection-National Capital Region showed that most of the victims suffered difficulty in breathing and minor injuries such as lacerations and abrasions.

The fire, which reached the 5th alarm status, quickly spread, affecting more than 75 houses and destroying at least P800,000 worth of property.

More than 20 government fire trucks and 31 from private fire volunteers responded and put out the blaze after three hours.

Arson investigators have not yet determined the cause of the blaze.

Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez and Rep. Eric Olivarez immediately visited the area Friday night to ensure affected residents are well taken care of.

The city’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management office also coordinated with community officials and social welfare department in providing immediate assistance and establishing an evacuation camp in Barangay San Antonio, where relief goods, mats and blankets were distributed to around 70 affected families.

The government urged the community and business establishments in Metro Manila to practice fire safety precautions to avoid the detrimental effects of fire accidents.

It also asked local government officials to make fire safety awareness a year-round concern to ensure that communities and households are safe and not only during the month of March, which was declared as the Fire Prevention Month.

Records showed that most of the fires happened due to faulty electrical lines, unattended gas lamps and cooking stoves and overheating appliances.

B1

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2020

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Opinion CARNIVALS, CARS, CONCERTS: SWISS CRACK DOWN ON VIRUS

EDITORIAL

WHAT WORKERS WANT

F

ILIPINOS hang on to their jobs if it gives them career growth and work-life balance on top of a competitive salary, according to an employment company which gathered data from 18,000 Filipino candidates from 25 industries.

JobStreet says that workers’ attitudes toward work is not necessarily defined by the generation they belong to. Instead, the main defining factor is personality—how

open people are to training and to learning new things.

In this era of the so-called gig economy, many Filipinos still prefer jobs with security of tenure, alongside flexibility and social involvement.

Likewise, they look for employers that are socially responsible and an organization with a lean bureaucracy. They appreciate co-workers who are professional, respectful and collaborative.

JobStreet likened job hunting to dating, where a matching of personalities and cultures take place. The better the match, the longer people stay.

In a society where jobs remain scarce and millions scrounge for a living instead of building fulfilling professional lives, it is important for employers to know the conditions that workers want but may not necessarily feel empowered to bargain for.

Human capital is the primary capital.

Technology, infrastructure and all other input will be for naught without people.

Conscientious, socially responsible business owners will voluntarily ensure these circumstances are met even as they struggle to make profits or break even.

By Dario Thuburn SWITZERLAND on Friday canceled football matches, carnival celebrations, concerts and the Geneva International Motor Show in a drastic bid to stem the country’s new coronavirus outbreak in its early stages.

The government announced it was suspending all public and private events with more than 1,000 participants until at least March 15, invoking emergency powers to do so.

The ban will even include a Catholic Mass due to be held for the first time in 500 years on Saturday at the Geneva cathedral—a bastion of the Protestant Reformation.

In Zurich, concerts by US shock rock pioneer Alice Cooper and guitarist Carlos Santana also had to be canceled.

And the World Anti-Doping Agency cancelled its annual symposium and related athlete session scheduled for March 17-19 in Lausanne.

Google confirmed that an employee in Zurich has been diagnosed with novel coronavirus but its office there remains open.

“They were in the Zurich office for a limited time, before they had any symptoms,” a Google spokesperson said.

“We have taken, and will continue to take, all necessary precautionary measures, following the advice of public health officials, as we prioritize everyone’s health and safety.”

Meanwhile, popular carnival feasts in Basel and the town of Payerne in western Switzerland will not go ahead.

“Large-scale events involving more than 1,000 people are to be banned. The ban comes into immediate effect and will apply at least until 15 March,” the government said in a statement, after the country registered 15 cases.

The government said that even for gatherings of fewer than 1,000 people “event organizers must carry out a risk assessment in conjunction with the competent cantonal authorities to decide whether or not the event can be held.”

‘TREMENDOUS LOSS’ The annual Geneva motor show, a major item on the global auto industry calendar, had been due to start on March 5 and organizers said that stands were nearly completed.

The show is usually attended by hundreds of thousands of people and planned to have some 160 exhibitors this year.

“We regret this situation, but the health of all participants is our and our exhibitors’ top priority,” said Maurice Turrettini, chairman of the Foundation Board.

“This is a case of force majeure and a tremendous loss for the manufacturers who have invested massively in their presence in Geneva. However, we are convinced that they will understand this decision,” he said.

Olivier Rihs, director of the auto show, said losses for organizers and exhibitors would be “in the millions.”

While visitors would get tickets reimbursed, he said exhibitors would not be refunded because the cancellation was an exceptional event caused by the government’s decision.

Switzerland’s famous watchmaking industry, which looks in particular to Asian buyers, also took a hit.

Baselworld, one of the world’s biggest watch fairs, on Friday announced it was delaying until next year the planned show which was due to start on April 30.

‘EXPECT AN INCREASE’ The government conceded in its statement that the ban would “have a significant impact on public life in Switzerland”, but added that “it should prevent or delay the spread of the disease, thus reducing its momentum.”

The federal government said the scale of the outbreak allowed it to invoke special powers to order measures that are normally the responsibility of Switzerland’s cantons.

Health Minister Alain Berset told reporters that similar measures had proved “effective” in other countries.

At a press conference, he said the number of cases in Switzerland was “not a surprise for us.”

“We have to expect an increase in cases in the next few days,” said Berset.

Switzerland’s parliament also announced containment measures on Friday, cancelling public tours and banning MPs from receiving visitors until further notice.

FOOTBALL POSTPONED The ban will also affect the Swiss sporting world.

The Swiss Football League said it was postponing all football matches over the weekend and warned some would have to be held in empty stadiums at a later date.

Switzerland’s ice hockey league said games planned in the coming days would be held without the public and security guards would be posted outside stadiums to enforce the ban.

The United Nations, which has its second biggest office after New York in Geneva was also “assessing the situation” and “will follow the host-country position,” according to spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci. AFP

JAILED KURDISH LEADER BECOMES LITERARY STAR BEHIND BARS

By Fulya Ozerkan

coup in July 2016, which Erdogan’s critics say was used as a pretext to remove opponents and civil HE MAY be languishing in jail but with his books society activists. flying off the shelves, Kurdish politician Selahattin “Today politics is nothing more than a collective Demirtas has joined an illustrious line of Turkish swindle. We are jailed because my friends and I are prison writers. not involved in this fraud ring,” Demirtas said.

A former presidential candidate and persistent “Literature is, however, a more naive, cleaner dothorn in the side of Turkey’s current leader, Recep main,” he said, where “every reader is at least free to Tayyip Erdogan, Demirtas has spent more than make his own decisions”. three years in jail and faces up to 142 years more Writing is also a form of “resistance” to the moif convicted of ties to Kurdish militants, which he notony of prison life, he added. denies.

“There is nothing here but four walls and a “I am engaged in a major battle of wills because door. We spend almost all our time in a small I am a political prisoner and this is motivating me cell... everything is directed towards weakento expose my creativity,” Demirtas said in written ing the human will and wrecking one’s personresponses sent to AFP through his lawyers from his ality.” cell in western Edirne city.

Despite his widespread popularity, Demirtas has Despite the possible sentence hanging over many detractors in Turkey’s bitterly divided politihim he has found some consolation in his ever- cal scene. growing number of readers as sales of his books, Many Erdogan supporters and nationalists say written in Turkish, reach into the hundreds of he has failed to sufficiently distance himself from thousands. the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), an armed group His first book, Seher (Dawn), was published in which has waged a decades-long insurgency 2017—a collection of short stories that contain against the state. glimpses into daily lives of ordinary people There was controversy in January over the stagincluding women characters whose voices often ing of Demirtas’s second book “Devran”, with Ingo unheard. terior Minister Suleyman Soylu saying: “They canIt has turned into a runaway success, translated not clean the blood from their hands with theatre into 16 languages with 240,000 copies printed. plays.”

Demirtas has followed up with another short stoDemirtas told AFP he could not take Soylu seriry collection “Devran”, and now a full novel, “Leylan.” ously as “a minister in one of the most cruel and “I would without hesitation choose literature” unlawful governments in Turkey’s political history.” over politics, Demirtas told AFP. Nonetheless, it was not easy for the play’s direc‘NAIVE’ tor Julide Kural, who struggled to find performers The charismatic politician, who founded and willing to join the production. led the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), was once Instead of four actors as planned, she ended up nicknamed the “Kurdish Obama” by some admirers with just one and was forced to read some of the for his rhetorical skills. male parts herself.

But the 46-year-old former lawyer was detained “I thought I could easily find the four actors in the sweeping crackdown that followed a failed because the book is legal, and sold everywhere,”

she told AFP.

PRISON WRITERS Demirtas’s publisher, Emir Ali Turkmen, head of Dipnot publishing house, said the politician had joined a long line of famed writers working in Turkish cells.

“Unfortunately Turkey’s prisons have produced many writers throughout history. Nazim Hikmet who is famed today as one of the world’s greatest poets, did some of his best work in prison,” he said.

He reeled off other high-profile names, such as Orhan Kemal, Aziz Nesin and Sabahattin Ali—the latter known for his bestseller Madonna in a Fur Coat. Jailed twice in 1933 and in 1941, Ali was killed while attempting to flee the country.

“Unfortunately, that’s Turkey’s fate,” said Turkmen.

Dipnot has received threats from nationalists for publishing Demirtas, but Turkmen says the pressure was not comparable to the days when books written in prison were banned by the authorities.

The controversy has certainly not been bad for sales. In a recent visit to a book shop in an upmarket neighbourhood of Istanbul, Demirtas’s newest book was completely sold out.

“There is a sympathy for Demirtas and the books have offered a glimpse of hope for many segments in society. Even the hesitant now tend to buy and read them,” said bookseller Burcu Yazlar.

A book reader in Ankara, Cahit Segmen, said: “I bought one of his books both to know him closer and also to see his literary side. I also find him politically close to my beliefs and so I want to support him.”

Demirtas says books, dreams and news from outside keep him inspired.

He remains fiercely defiant against those who have locked him up: “No matter what black propaganda and slander they hide behind, our resistance will be overpowering.” AFP

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

can be accessed at: thestandard.com.ph

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

ONLINE MEMBER

PPI

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager Head-Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Jimbo Gulle City Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

B2

World

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Manila

Standard

TODAY Republic

of the Philippines GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM GSIS Building, Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City 1308

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor / Jimbo Gulle, Issue Editor

U.S. INKS PULLOUT DEAL WITH TALIBAN

D

OHA, Qatar—Washington and the Taliban are set to sign a long-sought deal in Doha on Saturday that would see the two foes agree to the withdrawal of thousands of US troops from Afghanistan in return for insurgent guarantees.

President Donald Trump urged the Afghan people to embrace the chance for a new future, saying the deal held out the possibility of ending the 18year conflict.

“If the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan live up to these commitments, we will have a powerful path forward to end the war in Afghanistan and bring our troops home,” he said on the eve of the event.

Trump said he was sending Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to witness the signing of the treaty, and that Defense Secretary Mark Esper would separately issue a joint declaration with the Kabul government.

The agreement is expected to lead to a dialogue between the Kabul government and the Taliban that, if successful, could ultimately see the Afghan war wind down.

But the position of the Afghan government, which has

highest bidder, he/she shall adjust his/her initial deposit based on the bid amount of the declared highest bidder. He/she must also pay the adjusted deposit on the day of bidding.

GENERAL GUIDELINES: 1.

Disposal of GSIS Investment Properties – Retail Units (IP-RUs) is through a competitive public bidding process. Acceptance of Purchase Offers shall start on the scheduled bidding date and time.

2.

Dropping of sealed bid envelopes will be on the date of bidding from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM only.

Opening of Bids will immediately follow. Late bid envelopes will not be accepted.

3.

Disposal of GSIS IP-RUs is on an “As-Is, Where-is” basis. Interested bidders are enjoined to personally inspect the GSIS IP-RUs for sale. “As-Is, Where-Is” is defined as the present physical condition of the retail unit that GSIS is selling and the buyer is buying, “with all attendant faults, if any,” whether or not immediately apparent and without any express or implied warranty. The buyer takes this condition at his or her own risk, without recourse against the GSIS as to their condition. This includes knowledge by the buyer of the presence of occupants in the retail-unit being purchased.

4.

Strictly, “One bidder, One specific property” only, which means that a bidder cannot submit two (2) or more bids for one property. A bidder may submit one bid each to as many properties as he/she wants to buy, as long as, he/she posts the required 10% bid deposit of the total bid price for each property. The bidder must present valid government IDs upon registration on the date of public bidding.

5.

Pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 10963 or the Tax Reform Act for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act, the selling price of GSIS properties above PhP2.5 million shall be subject to twelve percent (12%) Value-Added Tax (VAT).

6.

Purchase offers are only accepted through CASH basis payable within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of the Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS), without privilege of extension.

7.

A downloadable bid form shall be properly accomplished with the following data: A. B. C. D. E. F. G.

8.

Date of Bidding Name of the bidder Exact address of property you are interested to bid Transfer Certificate of Title No. Mode of Payment Amount of bid (in numbers and in words) Signature of the bidder/representative

14.

The declared highest/winning bidder shall submit within fourteen (14) calendar days of the actual bidding, the following documents: A. If the winning bidder is an individual, a. duly accomplished Personal Profile (with attached recent two (2) pieces of 2x2 ID pictures of the winning bidder) b. photocopies of two (2) valid IDs (at least one should be a governmentissued ID) B. If the winning bidder is a corporate entity or partnership, a. duly accomplished Company/Corporate Profile b. Registration Certificate from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) c. Articles of Incorporation (if corporation), Articles of Partnership (if partnership), General Information Sheet, and By-Laws duly certified by the SEC d. Current Mayor’s Permit issued by the city or municipality where the principal place of business of the winning bidder is located C. If the winning bidder is a cooperative, a. duly accomplished Company/Corporate Profile b. Cooperative Development Authority Registration or any proof of such registration c. Current Mayor’s Permit issued by the city or municipality where the principal place of business of the winning bidder is located

15.

A Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS) shall be issued to the highest/winning bidder on the day of bidding. The Bidder’s deposit of the other non-winning bidder/s shall be returned immediately.

16.

The deposit equivalent to at least ten percent (10%) of the Bid Offer plus 12% VAT. The 90% balance of the bid amount plus 12% VAT shall be paid either in cash or in manager’s check within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of NOAS, without privilege of extension.

Sample Computation: Bid Amount is PhP2,610,000.00 Deposit - (10% of PhP2,610,000.00) + 12% = Balance - (90% of PhP2,610,000.00) + 12% =

PhP 261,000.00 + 31,320.00 = PhP292,320.00 PhP2,349,000.00 + 281,880.00 = PhP2,630,880.00

Bid proposal shall be written in words and in figures and must not be lower than the Minimum Acceptable Offer of the property. Should there be a difference in the amount in words and in figures, the amount in words shall prevail.

17.

Non-compliance with the terms and conditions stated in the NOAS will result in the forfeiture of the bidder’s total deposit.

9.

Bidders’ deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer plus the 12% VAT, if applicable, shall be in the form of a MANAGER’S CHECK payable to the Government Service Insurance System.

18.

10.

The following shall be inserted in a bid envelope: ALL participating bidders must insert: a. properly accomplished BID FORM b.

MANAGER’S CHECK payable to Government Service Insurance System representing deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer plus 12% VAT, if applicable.

In case the highest/winning bidder fails to comply with the requirements within the specified time, the said NOAS shall be deemed automatically revoked and the highest/winning bidder shall be informed in writing. The second highest bidder, if any, shall be informed in writing if he/she is still interested to acquire the property. If still interested, he/she must remit the required non-refundable 10% deposit within three (3) working days after receipt of notice from GSIS.

19.

GSIS reserves the right to waive any formality or to reject any or all bids received. The list of properties available for sale may be updated without prior notice.

B.

If the bidder is being represented by an authorized representative, a corresponding Special Power of Attorney (SPA) must also be included

20.

C.

If the bidder is the occupant of the subject property, two (2) proofs of occupancy must also be inserted. These are: a.

Barangay certificate that the bidder is occupying or residing in the subject property; and b.

Valid Government Issued ID with an address showing that the bidder is currently residing in the subject property, or the Latest Billing Statement under the Bidder’s Name that shows he/she is currently residing in the subject property.

For bidding inquiries, you may call the Real Property Accounts Management Department (RPAMD) at trunk line numbers (02) 8479-3600, and (02) 79764900 local numbers 3228, 3374, and 3396.

A.

The following information shall be clearly written outside the sealed bid envelope (mailing envelope).

Revised dated January 31, 2020

Revised dated January 31, 2020

CERTIFICATION I/We certify that the information given and any or all statements made herein are true, correct, complete and updated to the best of my/our knowledge and belief. I hereby certify under pain of perjury that my/our signature/s appearing herein is genuine and authentic. I/We agree that any material misrepresentation or falsity can be used by Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to pursue civil and/or criminal liabilities against me/us.

BID FORM FOR CASH BASIS

I/We hereby certify that I/we have exercised due diligence by verifying all documents pertaining to the above mentioned property with other government agencies (i.e. Registry of Deeds, Assessor's Office, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, etc.) before tendering this bid offer.

Date of Bidding: Name of Bidder:

11.

Are you the present occupant of the property?

1) to purchase the property an "As-is, Where-is" basis which I/We have inspected the property including whether it is unoccupied or occupied, and as a consequence, I/We will take full responsibility in taking legal measures to eject the illegal occupant/s of the property.

PARTICULARS OF THE PROPERTY Lot No.:

Phase/Area:

Name of Subdivision: City/Municipality:

Once declared as the winning bidder, I/We will accept the physical and legal condition of the property without seeking assistance from GSIS and waive my/our right to rescind/cancel the sale and ask for refund of payments made to GSIS by reason or any defect therein.

Province:

TCT/CCT No.:

2) to hold GSIS free and harmless from liabilities of whatever kind and nature arising out of any legal claims which may be filed by third persons involving the property.

Property Classification:

BID PROPOSAL

Date of Bidding: ___________________________________ Name of Bidder/Company/Organization: ____________________________________________________________________________________________

MATCHED BID AMOUNT

(amount in figures)

(amount in words)

PhP

10% of Bid Offer:

PhP

12% VAT:

PhP

(amount in words)

Date:

______________________________________________________________________________________ (PhP______________ ) (amount in figures)

(amount in words)

THIS PORTION IS FOR GSIS USE ONLY

PhP

BIDDER INFORMATION (Please write in BLOCK LETTERS

Remarks:

NOAS No.

At least 10% of the declared highest Bid Amount less: Submitted 10% deposit in Manager's Check

(PhP __ (PhP __

) )

Required Additional deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Amount (Cash or in Manager's Check): (PhP

)

I/We the occupant exercises the Right to Match the offer of the declared highest bidder. Further, I/We hereby agree to pay the required deposit based on the bid amount of the declared highest bidder on the day of bidding.

13.

My/Our failure to settle the said deposit within the day of the bidding shall automatically cancel and revoke my/our declaration as winning bidder. I/We understand that the first declared highest bidder shall be the new winning bidder.

The existing tenant or occupant or his duly authorized representative through a valid Special Power of Attorney (SPA) has the right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, provided: He/she participated in actual bidding and Inserted the two (2) proofs of occupancy inside his/her bid envelope as indicated in Number 9 of these guidelines

If the occupant will exercise his/her Right to Match the offer of the declared

(Signature over Printed Name of the Bidder/Authorized Representative)

Remarks

*** THIS PORTION IS FOR GSIS USE ONLY *** NOAS No.

2nd Highest Bidder: Page 1 of 2

UNITED NATIONS—Moscow is “ready to de-escalate with anyone” in the battleground Idlib region of northwestern Syria, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia told the Security Council on Friday.

His comments came as the Council held emergency talks on the escalation of fighting in the country, after 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in a Syrian air raid.

Nebenzia’s remarks marked a change of course from Thursday, when Russia maintained that the Security Council was holding too many meetings on the Syria issue.

The emergency talks were requested by the United States, Germany, Britain, France, Belgium, Estonia, and the Dominican Republic—some of which have stated publicly that they

support Turkey.

“A Russian delegation is currently in Ankara to stabilize the situation,” Nebenzia said, adding that his country was “ready to de-escalate with anyone who wants to” in Idlib.

The ambassador reiterated that Moscow “had not participated in the attacks.”

The meeting was the Security Council’s sixth on Syria since the beginning of February.

After the late Thursday attack in Idlib, Turkish reprisals killed 20 Syrian soldiers there and in neighboring Aleppo, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The vast majority of Security Council members from across the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe have called for an urgent cease-fire. AFP

BIDEN COUNTING ON SOUTH CAROLINA COLUMBIA—Joe Biden scrambled to salvage his flagging presidential hopes Friday on the eve of South Carolina’s Democratic primary, where nothing less than a decisive victory can help him rebound and challenge frontrunner Bernie Sanders.

The former vice president is the firm favorite in the first state in the race with a substantial African-American Democratic electorate—but trails far behind the surging leftist in nationwide polls.

Both candidates will have a better picture of their prospects just days after South Carolina, with 14 states voting on “Super Tuesday” and a third of the delegates who formally choose the Democrat to face President Donald Trump in November up for grabs.

Biden, the former frontrunner who failed to notch a win in the first three states, said he hopes South Carolina will propel him into national contention.

“I’ve worked hard to earn these votes, and I think I’ll do well,” the 77-year-old told CNN early Friday, before heading to a trio of 11thhour events. AFP

At least 10% of the declared highest Bid Amount: ____________________________________________________________ Signature:

BID DEPOSIT

A. B.

RUSSIA VOWS TO DE-ESCALATE FIGHTS IN SYRIA’S IDLIB

Bid Offer of the declared highest Bid Amount: _____________________________________________________ Further, I/we authorize and give consent to collect, store, transmit, use, distribute, disclose, share, retain, (amount in figures) dispose, destroy, and process my/our personal information contained in my/our record or any other form or document that I/we have or will submit to GSIS for the purpose of acquiring a GSIS acquired asset/s as prescribed by the ______________________________________________________________________________________ (PhP______________ ) Republic Act No. 10173 also known as the "Data Privacy Act of 2012" and its implementing rules and regulations.

Bid Offer:

Deposit (Managers Check):

FACE MASKED. Volunteers wearing protective facemasks, amid fears of the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, gather to disinfect a pedestrian bridge in Bangkok on February 24. The deadly coronavirus epidemic spread further outside China as a surge of infections in South Korea made it the biggest hotspot abroad, while authorities in Europe and the Middle East battled to curb outbreaks. AFP

"FOR OCCUPANTS ONLY"

I/We hereby agree to the following:

NO

YES

Block/Unit No.:

12.

been excluded from direct USTaliban talks, remains unclear and the country is gripped by a fresh political crisis amid contested election results.

The deal, drafted over a tempestuous year of dialogue marked by the abrupt cancellation of the effort by Trump in September, is expected to lay out a timetable for a US force withdrawal.

“There’s been so much speculation about the contents of the deal... we know the broad outlines but it’s not even clear whether the full terms of the deal will be made public,” said Andrew Watkins, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group consultancy.

While Kabul will not be represented at the Doha signing, set for around 1245 GMT, it will send a six-person taskforce to the Qatari capital to make initial contact with the Taliban political office, established in 2013. AFP

Page 2 of 2

3rd Highest Bidder:

(MS-FEB 29, 2020)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

B3

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2020 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

CANLUBANG CROWNED PAL TH SR GOLF CHAMP FOR 11 TIME B

ACOLOD CITY—Canlubang edged Luisita by four shots to win the 34th Philippine Airlines Senior Interclub golf team championship Saturday at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club.

Abe Rosal led Canlubang’s balanced scoring with 47 points as Luisita buckled under pressure.

Zaldy Villa added 46 while the 45 of either Damasus Wong or Rolly Viray counted for Canlunbang which finished with 564 points for its 11th crown.

“This victory is for our boss, Luigi (Yulo),” said Canlubang captain Tony Olives, referring to the team’s owner who is still recovering from illness.

“We held together as a team and our scores would show.”

In contrast, Luisita only had two players to break 40—Eddie Bagtas and Demetrio Saclot who fired 48 and 47, respectively.

Jingy Tuason counted with 39 points while Chino Raymundo did not with 37.

“The team tried its best but our players just fell short,” said Luisita skipper Jeric Hechanova.

“Canlubang handled the pressure better in the last few holes and deserved to win.”

NOGCC and Cebu Country Club (CCC) shared third place with 537 apiece.

NOGCC collected 137 points from Edwin Ordonez (49), Antonio de Leon (45) and Chito Garcia (43) to catch up with CCC. CCC leaned on Carl Almario (48), Jufil Sato (42) and Eric Deen (41) for 131 points.

In the Founders division, Del Monte posted a runaway 24-point win over Eagle Ridge following a closing 137 at NOGCC. Raul Minoza shot a tournament-best 54 points to lead Del Monte while Florencio Badelic and Erning Apas added 42 and 41, respectively as Del Monte amassed 548 points.

Eagle Ridge drew 51 from Danilo Cruz, 44 from Dong Hee Kim and 41 from Tony Mendoza to finish with 136 and 524 total.

Canlubang won its 11th championship crown at the 34th Philippine Airlines Senior Interclub golf team championships Saturday in Bacolod City. Shown in photo (standing from left) are Zaldy Villa, Jun Bernis, Damasus Wong, Rene Unson, Abe Rosal, Rolly Viray, Tony Olives, Tommy Manotoc and Boyet Zaragosa. Seated are Yvette de Leon-Manotoc and Jose Mari Hechanova.

The Orchard settled for third place with 519.

Scoring for the team were Jock Stacey 47, Louie Garcia 41 and Luis Sajorda 38.

Hosted by the Philippine Airlines, the international event was backed by platinum sponsors Asian Air Safari, Vanguard Radio Network, Fox Networks Group, Radio Mindanao Network, Inc., Asian Journal Publications Philippines, Inc., Auto Nation Group, Inc. (Mercedes Benz), and SMDC. Major sponsors include The Boeing Company, University of Mindanao Broadcasting Network, Avolon Aerospace Singapore Pte Ltd, Manila Broadcasting Company, Primax Broadcasting, Rolls-

Royce Singapore Pte Ltd, CIGNAL TV Inc., Travellers International Hotel Group Inc. (Resorts World), and Airbus.

Other supporters are Uniglobe Travelware Co., Inc. (The Travel Club), Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. (Manila Standard), Officine Corporation, GE Aviation, SEDA Hotels, BDO Unibank, Smart Communications, Inc., People Asia Magazine, A+E Networks Asia (History), Allianz PNB Life, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Tanduay Brands, Rockwell Land Corporation, Petron Corporation, Splash Corporation, AB Heineken Philippines Inc., and Asia Brewery Inc. —Summit.

KDA AT ALI MALL: KARATE GYM FOR FUTURE CHAMPS

By Arman Armero TUCKED between rows of antique and curio shops at the upper ground floor of Ali Mall in Cubao is a karate gym, which, because of its location (and perhaps because of the activity inside) has become a magnet for passers-by, a minispectacle of aspiring fighters striving to master the intricacies of the Japanese martial art.

Karate icon David Lay teaches the martial art’s fundamentals.

The gym is owned and operated by the Karate Development Arts and Sports, simply known as KDA, and its Chairman and Chief Instructor is no less than David Lay. A many-time member of the national team dur-

ing the late 80s and early 90s, David Lay is best remembered for giving the country countless honors in the international stage, including winning a gold medal in the 1989 Southeast Asian Games; a silver in the 1991 SEAG and a bronze in the 1993 SEAG. The following year, David represented the country in the Hiroshima Asian Games.

But perhaps his biggest achievement was when he pocketed the gold medal in the men’s kumite of the Asian Karatedo Federation championship held in Manila in 1995, a feat which remains unmatched to this day.

In 2000, David, with the help of friends and the unequivocal support from wife Maricar, established the KDA, which had its first headquarters right inside Unilever at United Nations Ave. in Manila.

Over the last 20 years, KDA has grown tremendously, and has produced more than 70 blackbelters. It also has 11 local branches and international headquarters in the United Kingdom and New Zealand as it celebrates its 20th year of existence.

JKS Affiliate But what David considers as a ‘game-changer’ for KDA is its affiliation with JKS, or the Japan Karate Shotokan Fedartion, headed by the famed karate guru and 9th dan Masao Kagawa.

Aside from being the chief instructor of JKS, the 65-year-old Kagawa is considered as a karate icon in Japan and his association has produced world champions in the sport.

“It is really an honor to be affiliated with JKS, since this group is known and respected worldwide and Masao Kagawa is a master of the highest order,” said David, whose KDA was certified as

a JKS affiliate in December 2018.

Aside from the KDA, JKS, through David’s efforts, also certified three other karate clubs in Maharlika Karatedo Kai Philippines Inc., headed

by Gregorio Lacorte; the Philippine Karate Tradition and Sports, led by Raymond Lee Reyes and the Association of Shotokan Karate of Ramon Franco.

Kagawa is scheduled to visit the country in March for a series of seminars and lectures in Lipa City in Batangas, even as David and friends also plan to attend a similar, also by Kagawa, in Japan as part of KDA’s activities.

Bully victim David, who at 60 years old remains physically fit and active as an instructor, admitted that he was a late bloomer in the sport and took up the martial art when he was already 16.

But he has a distinct reason for taking up the sport.

“I was a victim of bullying. I was bullied when I was in elementary and in high school. But when I started studying karate, the bullying stopped,” he said.

As a believer in self-defense, David said men – and girls too, should take up karate or other martial arts.

“Karate gives you confidence kasi alam mo that you can defend yourself anytime, na at least may advantage ka pag nagkagipitan,” he said.

“And yes, it can help you stay fit and strong,” he added.

(KDA (Ali Mall gym) is open from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

For inquiries, call Melissa or Bell at 0289618381)

MINESKI GLOBAL, CHAMPS’ LEAGUE GIVE ESPORTS A BOOST

By Charles Dantes AFTER a solid performance of the Philippine Esports team in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, which netted the country with five medals, the gaming industry is ready to take the next step for the growth of esports in the country.

Mineski Global has agreed to join forces with Philippine Collegiate Champions League to transform esports into a worldclass, big-league competitive sports event nationwide called National Interschool Cyber League, which will be expecting 1,000 participating teams from 200 different schools in the country.

PCCL will offer member schools a chance to participate in the new league and develop their own comprehensive esports programs in collaboration with Mineski.

PCCL has been known for its national collegiate basketball championships, bringing together big collegiate leagues such as the University Athletic Asso-

ciation of the Philippines, the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. to name a few.

“This is the future of sports and competition. Esports is more inclusive than other sports and will help lead even more of our new generation to play competitively and responsibly in tournaments and engage in activities at par with the rest of the world,” said Rey Gamboa, PCCL Chairman.

Adding to the esports tourney, the partnership between the top esports organizations will build the foundation for grassroots talents the opportunity to train, compete, win scholarships and eventually be part of the national team.

“The continued growth and development of esports in the country presents us with another avenue for excellence, sportsmanship, and inclusion. Esports advances not just skills but also values of hard work and determination among all players,” explained Mineski Global CEO and founder Ronald Robins.

Shown here are (from left) PCCL Chairman Rey Gamboa, PCCL Esports President Chot Reyes and Mineski Global CEO and Founder Ronald Robins.

Charles Dantes

Former national basketball team tactician Chot Reyes, who will also serve as the PCCL Esports President, shared that his support of the industry started in 2015, when he headed a TV network that showed the first Dota 2 tournament on free TV. “We’ll be exploring ways of training and motivating athletes for careers in esports. This program will also promote esports as a legitimate part of the school

curriculum and reveal the positives it can bring to the table,” said the five-time PBA Coach of the Year.

With Reyes at the helm, esports is expected to mirror the growth of the national basketball program and reach new heights for the industry.

PCCL-member schools and esports teams looking to participate in this year’s program can visit the Mineski Events Team-MET Events Facebook page.

NAVY RIDERS REMAIN IN COMMAND

By Peter Atencio TARLAC City—Riders from Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance refused to leave any of their teammates behind and team skipper Jan Paul Morales’ sacrifice paid off as he took the Stage 6 honors of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 10th anniversary race.

The Navymen stayed behind and let three riders, Ronnel Hualda of Go For Gold, Army-Bicycology’s Marvin Tapic and Bike Extreme’s Warren Bordeos take charge in the last 25 kms of the chase into the Tarlac Recreational Park finish line.

After making sure that red jersey leader George Oconer is in good hands, Morales and his teammates moved in and took control of the last 500 meters, where the latter surged past Armyman Dominic Perez as they crossed the finish.

The 34-year-old Morales submitted a time of two hours, 34 minutes and 58 seconds when it was over, along with Perez, whom he overtook at the right side in the last 10 meters.

More than 20 riders had the same time as Morales, a bronze medallist in the 30th Southeast Asian Games team time trials.

“Nu’ng unang 50-kms, naiwan si George, kami ni (Junrey) Navarra sa first group. Hindi kami pumapalit sa first group. Pagdating ni George, dinala na namin. Bumagal sa first group na nabuo Moncada. Banatan, siguro nalaspag din,” said Morales.

Hualda, who lead a three-man breakaway until the 80-km mark in Mayantoc, finished in sixth spot as he managed to take the sprint honors in Moncada, with Tapic settling for second place.

The Navymen’s efforts to dominate stage came at the 98.5-km mark when they reached the top of the 189-meter high trail in San Jose.

That’s when Navymen El Joshua Carino, Navarra and Ronald Lomotos came up with a 1-2-3 finish, leaving a 16-man pack behind in the downhill run towards Tarlac City.

The Navymen then logged 10 hours, 19 minutes and 52 seconds in the taking the Stage 6 gold, with team 7-Eleven/Cliqq/Air and Team Go For Gold in second and third, respectively.

Oconer kept the red jersey for the second straight day, boasting of a 75-second edge over teammate Ronald Oranza.

In all, six Navymen are ahead in the general individual classification standings, with Lomotos, John Mark Camingao, Navarra and Carino from third to sixth places.

Bordeos is in seventh, followed by 7-Eleven’s Rustom Lim in eighth.

MERCEDES TROPHY GOLF SET MARCH 16 A MERRY mix of cast, featuring Mercedes-Benz owners and clients, sponsors and guests, gear up for another friendly but competitive duel in what promises to be the biggest MercedesTrophy Golf Invitational on March 16 at the posh Sta. Elena Golf Club.

Organizers of the annual 18-hole tournament are guaranteeing an explosive edition, this being the championship’s 15th year with the event expected to draw more than 200 bidders for the Asian and World Finals berths in Australia and Germany, respectively.

Kicking off the celebration is the traditional MercedesTrophy Sponsors and Champions Night at Makati Shangri-La on Monday (March 2) featuring last year’s winners, sponsors’ representatives and VIPs, along with the confirmed players for the upcoming event.

A putting challenge will spice up the bash set to start at 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, the 27-hole Sta. Elena layout, kept in championship form all year-long, is expected to provide a true test of golf for the participants in the event backed by Platinum sponsors Makati Shangri-La, Philippine Airlines, PLDT Alpha, Paramount General Insurance, Shell and TW Steel. The winners in men’s division, along with the ladies champion, will represent the Philippines in the MercedesTrophy Asian Finals set in Brisbane in August.

The best Filipino placer in the regional finals, supported by Gold sponsors Boysen, Boss, Business Mirror, Cole Hann, Primal Enterprises Corp., Remy Martin and Security Bank, will then head to the World Finals set in October.

While gaining the chance to slug it out with other regional winners, participants in the Asian Finals will also be treated to an experiential drive showcasing the world-class performance and dynamic handling of MBenz vehicles.

B4

Publisher Rolando Estabillo thanks all the unsung heroes of Manila Standard—the men and women who ensure the newspaper is put to bed every day.

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2020

Images

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The 2020 loyalty awardees strike a pose with Estabillo and Manila Standard officer-in-charge for operations Anita Grefal (second from left).

MANILA STANDARD @33

LOYALTY AWARDEES

F

IFTEEN employees were accorded loyalty awards for having served Manila Standard for at least a decade as the newspaper marked its 33rd anniversary last month.

“You are the foundation of this media outfit. Without you, without all these years in service, we would not be here,” Manila Standard President and Publisher Rollie Estabillo said during an intimate luncheon Thursday held at the El Calle Food Hall in Resorts World Manila.

“There are challenges we’ve gone through and are going through, but there are still things to look forward to.

Estabillo with the 2019 awardees: Grefal (30 years); Buscas on behalf of webmaster Sonny Alanguilan (25 years); Managing Editor Ramonchito Tomeldan (30 years), layout artist Vickie Ayeng (20 years); advertising staff Edelyn Elamparo (20 years); circulation supervisor Edwin Clarete (20 years); assistant business editor Roderick Dela Cruz on behalf of business reporters Alena Flores (20 years), Julito Rada (15 years), and Othel Campos (20 years).

The editorial team of Manila Standard.

The gentlemen from the circulation department.

I congratulate all awardees and I hope you stay with us and I look forward to working with you in the years to come,” he added.

The awardees were led by Manila Standard chief accountant Mario Policarpio Jr., who celebrated his 30th year with the paper.

Other awardees include Edgar Valmorida, circulation manager (25 years); Heracleo Dazo, printing press staff (25

years); Feliciano Buscas Jr., officer-incharge for digital (25 years); Carlito Villaver, circulation staff (25 years); Priscilla Cadungog, printing press staff (25 years); Roberto Ele, printing press staff (25 years); Randy Lumacang, printing press superintendent (20 years); Riera Mallari, Sports and Tech Editor (20 years); Ferdinand Cubinar, sales coordinator (15 years); Sheila Marie Suarez, advertising deskwoman (15 years); Roderick dela Cruz, Assistant Business Editor (15 years); Chin Wah Wong, Associate Editor (15 years); Alfie Payumo, assistant cashier (10 years) and Regis Desales II, circulation staff (10 years). Text: Peter Paul Duran; Photos: Boy Josue

2019 awardees—Grefal and Tomeldan, receive their plaque and token of appreciation from Estabillo.

Kagitingan printing press general manager Alfonso Constantino with Precy Cadungog and receptionist Belle Montemor.

The advertising with former Manila Standard employees Luz Lamig (third from left) and Diana KeyserPunzalan (second from right)

C1

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2020

Business

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

VAPERS REBUFF ‘SMOKERS’ TAG

“W

E ARE not smokers.”

Vapers and tobacco harm reduction advocates delivered this message in a gathering in Makati City on Feb. 28 to launch the Asia-wide education and information campaign #SmokeFree4Life that urges the World Health Organization and the Department of Health to respect the rights of consumers of smoke-free alternatives to combustible cigarettes.

The regional movement, spearheaded by the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates, was launched in the Philippines on the same day the government announced President Rodrigo Duterte’s issuance of Executive No. 106 that regulates vaping in the same category as smoking.

“As consumers, we hate the idea that smoking is categorized along with vaping because there is a huge difference between the two. Filipinos have to understand that vaping is so much different from smoking combustible cigarettes,” says Clarisse Virgino, the Philippine representative to CAPHRA. EO 106 formally grouped electronic nicotine/ non-nicotine delivery systems and heated tobacco products together with cigarettes. This means that they will be held to similar standards. The EO regulates the use, manufacture, distribution, marketing and sale of ENDS/ENNDS, HTPs and other novel tobacco products and requires the registration of such products and its components with the Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA says e-cigarette manufacturers and vendors need to be enrolled in a “notification scheme” for traceability.

Under the EO, the minimum age to access both tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes was raised to 21 from 18. It prohibits cigarette smoking and vaping in public and enclosed areas such as schools, lifts and stairwells, fire hazard locations and medical facilities.

Designated smoking areas were expanded to allow vaping as well, making them designated smoking/vaping areas. “No Smoking” signages now include vaping.

Vaping may be allowed in a building or conveyance, which may either be an open space or separate area with proper ventilation but minors are prohibited from entering the designated vaping area.

It also imposes a general ban on advertising and promotion of ENDS/ENNDS and HTPs. The EO prohibits those younger than 21 from using, lighting up, selling, distributing, promoting or delivering e-cigarettes.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque describes the signing of the EO as a “solid step forward to compel the industry to comply with our regulations, which are specifically aimed at protecting children from nicotine addiction.”

Virgino, a law student, says she welcomes the regulation of smoke-free alternatives such as electronic cigarettes, heat-not-burn tobacco and snus as long as it is fair. “We also respect that some people are not vaping, so we are okay with designating vaping areas. But based on my friends’ concerns, some areas for smoking appear like a pig pen that is degrading not only as a vaper, but also as a person,” she says.

“We’d like to enlighten the people about the benefits of e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn tobacco or snus as safer alternatives to cigarette smoking,” says Virgino. “We are okay with regulation as long as it is fair. Consumer rights are also human rights.”

Vapers PH, a nationwide consumer advocacy group, with the support of Vaper Ako and CAPHRA, organized an event called “AscENDS: Standing Up for Our Rights to Choose Electronic Nicotine Delivery System or ENDS” on the same day.

The event was held to drum up support for smoke-free alternatives ahead of the 9th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which will be held in the Netherlands in November 2020.

“We, vapers and former smokers, and advocates of tobacco harm reduction, have an opportunity to add to the global discussions on ENDS, heatnot-burn tobacco products and snus as much safer alternatives to combustible cigarettes. We stand up for our freedom of choice. We stand up for our rights as consumers,” says Virgino.

Royal Institute of British Architects fellow member Anna Lira Luis

PRESTIGIOUS UK BODY RECOGNIZES FILIPINO ARCHITECT

Tobacco harm reduction advocates (from left) Peter Paul Dator, president of Vapers PH; Clarisse Virgino, the Philippine representative to the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates; Nancy Loucas, executive director of CAPHRA; and Heneage Mitchell, founder of independent consumer advocacy group FactAsia lead the launching of the Asia-wide education and information campaign #SmokeFree4Life in Poblacion, Makati City.

“We stand up for the well-being of more than a billion cigarette smokers globally who are now presented with better and innovative nicotine products. We are here united and collectively call on WHO and other health authorities to start caring for them by allowing them access to safer alternatives that they want and deserve,” Virgino says in her speech during the launch of #SmokeFree4Life in Poblacion, Makati.

Virgino also addressed the questions on the safety of vaping or the use of e-cigarettes, because of the e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury cases in the US. She says EVALI cases were eventually linked to the use of vitamin E acetate and tetrahydrocannabinol or THC oil—the same substance in marijuana. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as earlier reported by the US FDA, concluded that vitamin E acetate, used as a thickening agent for THC—the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis, was “a very strong culprit of concern” in EVALI cases.

“Those substances were not supposed to be there in the first place. This is why we need regulation to prevent people from taking these substances,” says Virgino.

She says Public Health England’s annual reviews of all available evidence have consistently concluded that e-cigarettes are around 95-percent less harmful than smoking.

Virgino expresses hope that the education and information campaign about the benefits of ENDS or electronic cigarettes, heat-not-burn tobacco products, snus and other smoke-free nicotine products will gather the needed support ahead of the 9th COP to the WHO FCTC. The regular sessions of the Conference of the Parties are held every two years. The WHO has asked every signatory country to the treaty to submit a summary of its position on ENDS preparatory to FCTC CoP9. The Philippines is among the 181 signatories to the WHO FCTC. Peter Paul Dator, president of Vapers PH, says WHO continues to insist on the quit-or-die approach “which we all know is ineffective against smoking as WHO’s own data show that there are still 1.1 billion smokers globally, resulting in 8-million deaths due to smoking-related illnesses annually”.

About 80 percent of the 1.1 billion smokers in the world live in low- and middle-income countries like the Philippines. In the Asia-Pacific region, smoking causes a million deaths a year, says Dator. “Because of WHO’s unsympathetic position, smokers in many countries are highly vulnerable to stick with smoking until they die. In the Philippines, more than 100,000

Filipinos reportedly die each year from smokingrelated diseases, such as lung cancer and heart failure, according to WHO,” he says.

“Data from the Department of Health and the Philippines Statistics Authority show that there are 15.9 million smokers in the Philippines, representing 14.7 percent of the population. Nearly 12 million or 76 percent of these smokers are interested or plan to quit smoking tobacco. Yet, WHO deprives them of the most effective option to make the switch,” he says.

“We believe that e-cigarettes and other smoke-free alternatives such as snus and heat-not-burn tobacco products which offer the same pleasure as cigarettes can help smokers quit smoking,” says Dator.

President Duterte earlier signed Republic Act No. 11467 to amend the Sin Tax Law and further increase the excise taxes on alcohol, heated tobacco, and vapor products. Dator says this legitimizes smokefree alternatives as commodities in the Philippines.

CAPHRA executive director Nancy Loucas, however, says it is important to separate vaping from smoking, as cigarette smoking causes a million deaths per year in the Asia Pacific region, with smoke from combustion as the main culprit.

“We all know, from years of messaging and public service announcements, as well as from personal experience, that the use of combustible tobacco has killed millions and millions of people over the last 50 years. We also know, from science, that it is the smoke that kills the users of combustible tobacco, not the nicotine. We know that nicotine is no more harmful to adult humans than caffeine, and science has recently shown that nicotine can actually benefit adults with cognitive disabilities,” Loucas says.

“However, in spite of the science around nicotine and the various alternate consumption methods therein, there are those in positions of influence who would have the world believe that the use of alternative forms of nicotine is just as deadly and harmful as lighting up a cigarette,” she says, referring to global bodies such as WHO. Loucas criticizes WHO FCTC’s lack of engagement with the major stakeholders, the public, as they are mandated to do. She says WHO also ignored a letter sent to them in October 2018 by 72 tobacco harm scientific experts who stated that, “it is time for tobacco control to embrace tobacco harm reduction”.

She says that as the FCTC has a mandate to pursue “harm reduction” as a core tobacco control policy, it has failed to acknowledge or implement this policy over the last 18 years. It has effectively deprived smokers of an effective way out of smoking, she says.

Turn to C2

ABS-CBN’S CLOSURE SEEN TO AFFECT $3-B ADVERTISING INDUSTRY A VE TER A N adver tising executive warned that the non-renewal of ABSCBN Corp.’s franchise can affect the country’s $3-billion advertising industry and disrupt the marketing strategies of many companies that depend on television for their advertising exposure.

Dan Villa, chairman of advertising agency CreatiVilla, said that aside from the livelihood of ABS-CBN’s 11,000 workers, the closure of the network would have implications on the general economy, particularly on the advertising and marketing industry. He said ABS-CBN, being the largest broadcast network, also has the greatest marketing reach in the country.

“The king of TV—ABS CBN—goes to the grave with the most reach. A key factor for a media buy to be most cost-effective now goes down to the grave with its departure. This means too that the selection of an array of proven efficacy and reach becomes too narrow and ineffective,” said Villa, a former chairman of the Advertising Board of the Philippines and

the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies-Philippines.

“Advertising is a major player of the marketing mix…and TV still dominates the media sphere. The absence of one dominant TV network tilts the balance,” he said.

Villa said competition in the media is a major component for a media buyer’s choice with more options to choose from. “Now, it [ABS-CBN’s absence] would inadvertently eliminate both. We have a problem with that,” he said.

He said this would create a gap in media buying. “We have to be more creative in media buying with this kind of scenario.

While digital media is fast occupying the media landscape, it doesn’t fulfill a good media mix. TV still dominates,” said Villa.

Net income reports submitted to the Philippine Stock Exchange showed that ABS-CBN, which employs more than 11,000 individuals, declared P1.9-billion net income out of P40.1 billion revenues in 2018, with P20.4 billion of that coming from advertising.

The next biggest player, GMA Network, earned P2.3 billion out of P15.2-billion revenues during the same year, with P13.9 billion representing airtime revenues. A 30-second TV commercial on the two networks costs anywhere from P500,000 to P800,000.

ABS-CBN reported improved earnings in 2019, which was an election year, although the full-year figures are not yet available. In the first three quarters of 2019, ABS-CBN earned P2.36 billion out of P32-billion revenues, of which P17 billion represented advertising revenues.

“Imagine losing the leading TV network off the air. Gone. Gone too is the media platform with the greatest reach in the country. And what do you mean by this?

The selection of programs that are proven with certainty to achieve reach, with its demise, shall be co-terminus with this single stroke of fate,” said Villa.

ABS-CBN, whose 25-year franchise from will expire on May 4, has yet to renew its franchise from the House of Representatives.

Turn to C2

Advertising Board of the Philippines former chairman Dan Villa

ANNA Lira Luis, a Filipino-American architect who moved to the US after graduating from the University of Sto. Tomas, was honored as a fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in recognition of her significant contribution to architecture and the built environment.

She became an RIBA fellow member in a special ceremony held at Florence Hall in London on Feb. 26. A pioneering global professional membership body founded in 1834, RIBA is a driver of excellence in architecture, making Lira Luis’elevation as a RIBA Fellow especially notable.

The fellowship panel recommended Lira to RIBA Council, who through its appointed committee, has elected her as a fellow of the body.

“The panel was impressed by the range of [her] activities aimed at helping others, in particular, the work that [she] did in educating disaster survivors, and [her] creation of new technologies to assist people. The panel commended [her] proactive and exciting work, and praised [her] sustained and energetic contribution, which is affecting real change,” said Neil Smith, RIBA director of membership. The community of RIBA fellows highlights the incredible diversity of individuals and their contributions to architecture — a testament of what can be achieved with hard work, commitment and vision.

Fellows of the RIBA have demonstrated and continue to demonstrate the great importance of affecting and influencing change in the profession that inspires new strides in architecture.”

“RIBA is a recognized voice of our profession worldwide. Becoming a RIBA fellow is an honor for me that empowers and enables equity through participation in its platform that advocates and celebrates many architectural voices in one profession. Also, RIBA is a large professional organization that has the nimbleness of the small grassroots… an old institute founded in 1834 that is nimble to new ideas and voices that reflect our changing world,”said Lira Luis.

The RIBA fellowship, in conjunction with a recent recognition of Lira as 2019 Most Innovative Businesswomen in Diverse Architecture by the UK’s Voice of Modern Business A.I., is a testament to her proactive and exciting work.

Lira, who also received the 2010 AIA Athena Young Professional Leadership Award for“contributing time and energy to improving her community’s quality of life” and “actively assisting others, particularly women, in realizing their full leadership potential” continues with these advocacies long after receiving the recognition, through collaborations with UN Women USA and other NGOs. She formed an architecture career for the benefit of others through research and innovation. As Taliesin fellow for Taliesin Architects Ltd., she revived the underutilized System-Built Homes — Frank Lloyd Wright’s foundational project that birthed his“Usonian”Jacobs House (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) — resulting in reduction of blight in a disadvantaged city block of New Jersey.

Her research and development of Leapfrog Project’s “Living Ball” enabled self-sufficient empowerment of extreme weather survivors through geodesic constructions.

I n h e r M a gn e t i c Le v i t a t i o n Experiment, she developed new architectural solutions to help island nations overcome rapidly rising sea levels. These architectural solutions to their rapidly changing environments intersect Science and Technology.

She mentored young women and minorities about 3D printing, architecture technology and licensure at Northwestern University, University of Chicago, Westwood College and Scottsdale Community College, including UN 2030 Youthforce.

With her elevation as a fellow of RIBA, Lira Luis earned her status as a worthy ambassador of the architecture profession.

Business

C2

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2020 business@manilastandard.net

IN BRIEF

PDA HONORS 10 BOARD TOPNOTCHERS

THE Philippine Dental Association, the country’s oldest and biggest dental organization, honored the 10 topnotchers in the December 2019 dental board examinations with a testimonial luncheon at the PDA’s St. Apolonia Hall in Makati City on Jan. 29.

Top PDA officials led by Dr. Stephen Almonte, president of PRC’s board of dentistry, commissioners Dr. Maria Jona Develos Godoy and Dr. Robert Tajonera and Dr. Rhodora Luciano, dean of the University of the East’s College of Dentistry, took turns in extolling the exemplary performance of the 10 dental board topnotchers.

The board topnotchers are Elyssa Jane Fernandez (1st), UE Manila; John Michael Briones Panganiban (2nd), UE Manila; Maxine Anne Alejandrino Remulla (3rd), UP Manila; Lady Jessamine Mamacotao Diamel (4th), UE Manila; Jayson Jhon Signo Palma (5th), Lyceum Northwestern University; Aika Gail Jimenez Vera Cruz (6th), UP Manila; Ansley Bernardo Yee (7th), UP Manila; Nadine Angela Paola Macasaet (8th), Davao Medical School Foundation; Anna Lorraine Hitosis Tonel (9th), UP Manila; and Marjorie Mariane Orlanda (10th), CEU Makati.

Dr. Almonte advised the new dentists to dedicate their success to a higher purpose— serving the country and their countrymen o matter how many fellowships they have obtained and endorsements from celebrities. He also encouraged them to participate in dental missions which are conducted especially in health centers.

Dr. Godoy, a member of the Professional Regulations Commission’s board of dentistry, exhorted the new dentists to keep honing their skills by pursuing their master’s or doctorate degrees so their academic track can be upgraded and eventually become fellows of their specialized organizations.

ADB OPENS OFFICE IN CLARK

THE Asian Development Bank opened on Friday a satellite office in Clark, about 100 kilometers north of Manila. The office will serve as a hub in the central Luzon region for ADB-financed infrastructure projects under the government’s “Build, Build, Build” development program.

“ADB’s new office reinforces the growing importance of Clark as a hub for industry and business,” said ADB vice-president Ahmed M. Saeed. “We have a large and growing portfolio of projects to strengthen road, rail, and other transport links in central Luzon. This new office will further improve our coordination with government agencies, especially the Department of Transportation, and support effective implementation of these important projects.”

The ADB Philippines Clark Office will help advance the $2.75 billion Malolos–Clark Railway Project, one of the government’s priority infrastructure projects and ADB’s largest project financing in the Asia and Pacific region to date.

Project construction is planned to begin by the middle of this year.

The office will serve as a support and coordination hub for the South Commuter Railway Project, which ADB is preparing for financing this year. Both the Malolos-Clark and South Commuter projects are part of the North–South Commuter Railway, a 163-kilometer suburban railway network aimed to connect New Clark City in Tarlac province in the north to Calamba in Laguna province in the south of Manila.

VAPERS...

From C1

Lo u c a s s a y s t h i s s h o u l d n o t be the case as WHO FCTC is a nongovernmental organization that is not eligible for public funding directly from any sovereign nation and therefore relies on private donations from anti-vaping groups such as the foundations/private trusts of Michael Bloomberg and Bill and Melissa Gates.

“We want you to understand that the WHO cannot compel or force a signatory to comply with their advice or guidelines, as they have no authority over sovereign nations’ legal systems,” she says.

Loucas asks local health authorities such as the DOH to bring up to FCTC-CoP9 discussion the consumers’rights to choose less harmful products as a way to protect themselves from cigarette smoke.

Virgino says it is the reason they are launching the information campaign.

“We are standing for our rights to be heard and included in the WHO discussion. We also want WHO to look at the science again and not ignore them, instead of resorting to moralistic approach, regarding ENDS and other alternative nicotine products which we consider to be the most revolutionary products in harm reduction. If we allow digital technologies to disrupt industries, why cannot we allow electronic innovation to improve public health?” she says.

“We want to inform the public as well as our government officials, including the DOH Secretary that we want to be heard. We say ‘No’ to smoking. We say ‘No’ to ban on vaping. We say ‘Yes’ to public health. We say ‘Yes’ to safer smoke-free nicotine products. We also say ‘Yes’ to regulation with representation,” Virgino says. Roderick T. dela Cruz

K

KICKSTART TO DEPLOY P10B IN SEARCH OF PH ‘UNICORNS’

ICKSTART Ventures Inc., the country’s most active venture capital firm based in Makati City, is tapping into its $200-million (P10billion) fund to nurture promising technology “unicorns” and help innovative companies grow into regional players across Southeast Asia.

“There is a 650-million person opportunity out there [Southeast Asia]. We would like to see more Philippine companies thinking about the unmet needs across Southeast Asia, rather than just the Philippines. We would love to see more ambition from them,” Joan Yao, vice president for investments of Kickstart Ventures, says in an interview at the company’s headquarters along Paseo de Roxas in Makati City.

Kickstart, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom and backed by SingTel and Ayala Corp., invests in early- to early-growth stage tech startups globally. It puts in capital, market access and expertise in exchange of equity in start-ups anywhere in the world.

Since it was established with a $2.4-million seed fund in 2012, Kickstart has helped 42 companies around the world, including 30 in the Philippines.

It exited mobile wallet platform Coins.ph when the latter was acquired by Indonesian company Go-Jek in January 2019.

“We have been around since 2012, investing into early-stage companies here in the Philippines, in particular with start-ups dealing with tech and digital, bringing things from offline to online, taking advantage of the movement of things to the Internet, to mobile and those kinds of trends,” says Yao, who previously worked as an investment manager for Southeast Asia at a European global impact investing firm and as a consultant of the Department of Trade and Industry where she advised on policies and programs related to MSME development, tech startups, inclusive business and social enterprise.

In 2015, Globe infused another $50 million into Kickstart. “We used that to invest $1 million to $5 million per companies anywhere around the world. We started investing in the US, Canada, Israel and also regionally— in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia,” says Yao. Aside from Coins.ph, Kickstart’s investment portfolio includes the likes of Toronto-based startup Wattpad, Indonesia’s C88, Singapore’s iVideoSmart, Asian online fashion store Zalora and the Philippines’ InnoVantage Inc. (Aiah), Zap, Sprout, Kalibrr and ZipMatch.

In 2019, Ayala Corp., one of the major shareholders of Globe, announced that it would allocate $150 million in venture capital initiatives that would be managed by Kickstart. “Kickstart was designated as the fund manager of that. Since that time, we have been in the process of getting ready and setting up the fund,” says Yao. As the sole manager of the Ayala Corp. Technology Innovation Venture or ACTIVE Fund, Kickstart is seeking companies that offer innovative, scalable and sustainable solutions. It is interested in areas such as enterprise solutions, data and analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, internet of things, cloud computing, financial technology, electronic commerce, payments, logistics, customer service, automation, transport, energy solutions and water and waste management.

Yao says ACTIVE Fund is looking at supporting companies in their Series A, Series B and Series C funding rounds in their quest to become regional or global players.

“The focus of the fund is global. We would look at Series A to C companies. We would write checks of $2 million to $10 million. We hope to make our first investment in the second quarter of 2020,” says Yao, referring to the ACTIVE Fund which will soon be deployed.

She says ACTIVE Fund has four key investment themes including “frictionless future”, “automation to augmentation”, “smart living” and “world of plenty”.

“It is about the four futures that our country and the world are moving towards,” says Yao. “We look at how solutions would make enterprises or companies run better with less paperwork or more

ABS-CBN’S...

From C1

The chamber has not yet started hearings on a dozen bills seeking a new legislative franchise for the network.

Solicitor General Jose Calida asked the Supreme Court to revoke ABSCBN’s franchise for the latter’s alleged “highly abusive practices.” President Rodrigo Duterte, however, said that he had accepted an apology from ABSCBN president Carlo Katigbak.

Business groups said the closure of ABS-CBN would hurt freedom of expression in the country and displace thousands of workers who depend on the network for their livelihood.

Kickstart Ventures Inc. vice president for investments Joan Yao (left) and portfolio operations director Bit Santos.

things available quickly,” she says.

“It is also about things that will improve our experience as residents or citizens,” she says.

Bit Santos, portfolio operations director of Kickstart, says it is also about “how can we improve our quality of life in the spaces that we live in.”

“These can be technologies that help us navigate and interact with the environment. It can also be new ways of constructing the infrastructure that we interact with, that we engage with on a daily basis,” says Santos who used to be the chief technology officer of online classified platform OLX Philippines.

Yao says ACTIVE Fund is also considering investments in solutions on how to create a more sustainable world. “We address themes around energy management, whether it is energy efficiency, energy storage solutions or waste and water management. We also started to look at interesting technologies like water purification,” she says.

Santos says these solutions may also be about addressing basic needs such as education. “There are many situations where the resource we are considering is not necessarily scarce, but not well distributed like water. In many ways, it is taking what is scarce to some and making sure it is plentiful to all,” he says.

“It builds off what we have been doing for the past seven years. Where our speciality has been is really in investing in early-stage companies, trying to use technology to improve how things are done.

Historically, a lot of it has been in the digital space.

What is new is we are now looking at broader applications of technology. We are looking at even some hardware, not just software type of solutions or solutions that bridge online and offline,” says Yao. Yao says of the group’s current investment portfolio, two companies have the chance to exit in the next year or two. “With these companies, it really depends if they still want to keep growing,” she says.

On whether there are local companies that have the potential to become “unicorns” or technology companies with at least $1-billion valuation, Yao says this would depend on how fast the Philippine society will fully embrace digital technologies.

If Grab had stayed in Malaysia alone, maybe it would not have become like the unicorn it is today,” says Yao. “We still need to see more Filipinos come online

Results of the national TV ratings survey conducted by Kantar Media on Feb. 17 to 20 showed that three of the most watched TV programs in the country—FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, TV Patrol and Make It With You—were aired over ABS-CBN Channel 2.

Philippine Competition Commissioner Johannes Benjamin said the closure of ABS-CBN might also be a concern in the media industry, as ABSCBN has a market share of 31 percent to 44 percent. Bernabe said GMA Network could eventually take ABS-CBN’s market share.

Villa said while this may be true, this would mean less options for the advertising needs of various companies.

“There shall be a shift of media buys

and really become comfortable in transacting online and build this digital economy. I’d like to see more Filipino consumers come online and transact digitally. Another thing is that these companies need to expand outside the Philippines. Many of Southeast Asia’s unicorns have come from Indonesia and Singapore, and Malaysia has Grab.

If Grab had stayed in Malaysia alone, maybe it would not have become like the unicorn it is today,” says Yao. “Entrepreneurs who have unicorn aspirations need to look at Southeast Asia as a whole market, because that is 650 to 700 million people, rather than 100 million or so in the Philippines,” she says.

Yao says hundreds of companies approached Kickstart in 2019, representing an 85-percent increase in proposals compared to 2018. Many of these proposals are about financial technology, she says.

“We continue to be interested in enterprise solutions that help businesses do whatever they do better. We also look at many different solutions in the enterprise space.

Media, content and advertising are super interesting.

Healthcare continues to be an area of interest, given the new thrust of the ACTIVE Fund. Solutions in energy, water and waste management are also quite interesting. These are new areas for us. And smart living, we would love to see more in those spaces,” she says.

Yao says Kickstart prefers to take a minority stake in these companies. “For us, it is not about control.

We invest in companies because we believe in the management team and what they want to do.

Of course, we want to have a voice in the board, whether in the board seat or as observer. We want to be a part of the discussion, but for us, it is like we invest because we believe in the team. For us, it is empowering the team and opening opportunities for them through the introduction to Ayala Group of Companies. We’d like to see ourselves as a good platform or partner for business,” says Yao. Santos says it is also important that the founders of the company have integrity and honesty. “At the end of the day, we really invest in the founders. Over the years, in the course of doing business, the business may change, the market may change, but the people will always be there. We need to work with these people,” says Santos. Roderick T. dela Cruz

to GMA, 15 percent of which shall be coming from ABS-CBN viewers. Digital media shall have a major additional slice of it too as the shift to digital is imminent,” he said.

Villa, however, said this would drastically change the industry. “When the king dies, another king emerges, but that kingdom dramatically changes the TV landscape. ABS-CBN controls up to 44 percent of viewership vis-àvis GMA’s 34 percent to 46 percent, depending on the source of the research survey,” he said.

ABS-CBN uses Kantar Media and while GMA taps AGB Nielsen.

“Inclinations indicate that the demise of ABS-CBN would shake the ground and swells in a ‘shifteroo’, with the ABS-

CBN viewers shifting with tectonic dimensions towards GMA,” Villa said.

He said such shift would not be healthy to the market. “Now, that is not funny to media buyers, where options are real concerns. Choices in a very competitive world dictate serious battles and fierce wars to occupy the viewers’ space and gain from the luxurious business,” he said.

“We are talking of a market worth at least $3 billion. But the numbers should simply get the highest share and bite for the biggest chunk of the viewers, then translate that further into leadership positioning. It is still a numbers game in the critical eyes of the buyers, with a viewer’s profiling to rationalize a buy,” he said.

ABOITIZ CHAMPIONS SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD FOR POVERTY REDUCTION

Representatives from Aboitiz Foundation, Pilmico and Jardine Distribution join the farmers of the Hindang Banana Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative based in Iligan City in harvesting the latter’s yellow corn products during the Harvest Festival last year.

THE Aboitiz Group, through corporate social responsibility arm Aboitiz Foundation, continues to assist small and medium enterprises and “micropreneurs” with sustainable livelihood initiatives that aim to help alleviate poverty in the country.

In 2019, the Aboitiz Foundation disbursed over P200 million in microfinance loans through the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development Inc.’s Adopt-A-Branch (P154 million) and Wholesale Fund (P52.8 million) programs.

CARD is a microfinance non-government organization. About 6,434 customers and 27 partner cooperatives and associations benefitted from both programs.

“Our enterprise development program creates sustainable livelihood and enterprises that generate jobs and create entrepreneurs,” said

Aboitiz Foundation president and COO Maribeth Marasigan.

“In 2019, we scaled up our efforts by providing business incubation suppor t to selected cooperatives nationwide. This support covers a wider range of assistance from organizational strengthening to business operations efficiency and marketing to increase their level of productivity and further generate employment. We look forward to an even more productive year in 2020,” Marasigan said.

The Adopt-A-Branch program, is being implemented in Benguet, Davao, Albay and Tarlac. It provides easy, affordable access, and a friendly experience to microfinance clients who mostly come from rural and unbanked areas. The Wholesale Fund program meantime, provides financing support to partner cooperatives in their

business operations, alongside several capability building and livelihood skills training sessions.

Aside from the Adopt-A-Branch and Wholesale Fund programs, over 30 organizations were also provided with starter business kits and for farmers, post-harvest facilities.

“We are thankful to the Aboitiz Foundation and Pilmico for the opportunity to become Pilmico yellow corn suppliers,” said Larry Coracol, chairperson of Iligan City-based Hindang Banana Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative. Pilmico is the food subsidiary of the Aboitiz Group.

Coracol is extremely grateful for the huge opportunity given to their cooperative.

“This is important to us farmers because this project gives us hope here in Hindang. Rest assured we will strive to build on our cooperative and help other farmers,” Coracol said.

Tech & Gadgets

EPSON LAUNCHES DYE-SUBLIMATION PRINTER WITH ENHANCED USABILITY E

PSON has announced the launch of its new 64-inch, dye-sublimation printers, the SureColor SC-F9430 and SC-F9430H digital textile printers.

The printers have been developed to deliver outstanding quality and high-volume printing, for sports apparels, fashion apparel, home decorations, outdoor signage as well as other printed merchandise.

A first for Epson, the SC-F9430H printer offers businesses the additional feature of printing fluorescent colours using the new Epson genuine fluorescent yellow and fluorescent pink inks. The new Epson Fluorescent Color Collection library in Edge Print software enables colour processing for fluorescent inks, bringing customers more colour variation during processing.

“The introduction of Epson’s genuine fluorescent solution provides new value to our customers. Customers can now get a wider application of sports apparel, fashion wear, home decorations and even soft signage with our fluorescent inks, opening the doors to greater creativity and expression in design,” said Eduardo Bonoan, Epson Philippines’ General Manager for Marketing.

“We’ve also introduced a wider choice of EMX files, an instructional/maintenance video that can be launched from a QR code, and a host of other features that make set-up, usage and maintenance simple and easy. We’re sure that the SC-F9430 series will have a positive effect on the bottom line of many businesses,” Bonoan added.

Powered by Epson’s PrecisionCore Thin Film

Epson’s SC-F9430H digital textile printer Piezo printhead technology, the SC-F9430 series come with a total solution including its Epson engineered Ultrachrome DS and Ultrachrome DS6 inks as well as its Edge Print software for enhanced control of print output and LFP Accounting Software for tracking of print jobs.

In addition to the enhanced usability of this

F-Series range, Epson has retained many of the key functions from previous models that enable Epson to drive innovation in the industry and increase opportunities for businesses.

The SC-F9430 series is an evolution of trusted Epson print technology and provides enhanced quality and usability for improved productivity.

DR. RILLO: ASEAN DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION NEEDS MARKET PLAYERS LIKE HUAWEI SHENZHEN—The success of ASEAN’s digital transformation need the support of the private sector and market players like Huawei in building an innovation ecosystem and addressing issues related to big idea and data privacy, said Dr. Aladdin D. Rillo, Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Economic Community, at an online Industrial Digital Transformation Conference on Monday.

“ASEAN’s digital economy soared to USD 100 billion for first time in 2019, and is expected to grow to over USD 300 billion by 2025. For governments, business and society, digital transformation is no longer an option but an imperative path to empower the economy and businesses,” Dr. Rillo said.

“To further promote digital transformation in ASEAN, new initiatives are currently being pursued such as the development of 5G ecosystem, framework on international mobile roaming, smart manufacturing, and an ASEAN innovation network. But to be successful, we also need the support of the private sector and market players like Huawei particularly in building an innovation friendly ecosystem and addressing issues related to big idea and data privacy,” said the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN Economic Community.

The ASEAN digital transformation is characterized by a well-developed and innovation-driven ICT infrastructure. The expanding middle class, fast-growing internet economy, energized startup sector and huge young population make Southeast Asia a promising region to leapfrog in the digital wave.

With the theme “Hi, Intelligent World,” the global Industrial Digital Transformation Conference, held via live streaming, connected industrial leaders and experts from across the world including UK, Switzerland, USA, Germany, Italy and

ASEAN to share their insights and experiences in digital transformation.

The conference previewed five trends of an intelligent world 10 years’ from now and proposed a foundation built on new types of connectivity, computing, platform, and ecosystem.

Industrial experts agreed that information flows with new ICT, such as 5G, AI, and IoT, will help to build the foundation from which everything originates, which will enable the intelligent development of a wide variety of industries, including urban development, manufacturing, energy, finance, transportation, and so on.

“The next decade will witness rapid development of new ICT. Huawei believes new types of connectivity, computing, platform, and ecosystem will build a solid foundation for the intelligent world of 2030. Ultra-broadband and high-speed networking built using 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and quantum communications will bridge the physical and digital worlds, laying a foundation for the intelligent world,” said Ma Yue, Vice President of Huawei Enterprise Business Group.

“New computing will offer a full-stack, all-scenario solution that covers bottom-layer chips, all the way to upper-layer algorithms, spanning consumers to business and which constitutes the core of intelligent transformation. The converged, shared, and digital platform features high efficiency and openness, enabling customers to focus on their own unique advantages and service innovation, therefore playing a key role in enabling the digital transformation of industries.

Based on enterprise business Strategy, Architecture, Policy, and Operations (SAPO), the new ecosystem that provides a single field of expertise allied to multiple skills and is deeply integrated, can offer a more comprehensive customer-oriented business solutions,” Ma said.

C3

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2020 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

SAY HELLO TO 'SAM' AT SM AURA PREMIER YOUR friendly interactive mall attendant is coming to SM Aura Premier!

Ready to give delightful malling experiences to shoppers, SM Supermalls’ ‘SAM the robot’, the country’s first-ever smart mall attendant, officially invades SM Aura Premier starting Feb. 7.

“SM has always been a home of fun and awesome experiences for shoppers and families alike. As we introduce SAM at SM Aura Premier and soon in other SM malls nationwide, we will continue to give our shoppers more extraordinary reasons to bond and spend time with loved ones in our malls,” said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan. ‘SAM the robot’ is designed to help with directions and provide mall information about the latest deals, promos, and events in a fun way.

Equipped with an advanced face recognition technology, it can also give personalized greetings to customers once they enter the mall. Customers can also chat with SAM through the SM Supermalls Facebook page where it serves as a 24/7 online concierge that can provide information like branch locations, mall schedules, and promos, to name a few.

With its pilot run at SM Megamall in 2019 and now at SM Aura Premier, ‘SAM the robot’ is set to roll out to other SM malls across the country this year including SM City North EDSA, SM Lanang Premier, SM City Clark, and SM Seaside City Cebu.

SAM was created in partnership with the Cal-Comp Technology (Philippines), which is a leading provider of electronic and original design manufacturing services.

For more information, visit www. smsupermalls.com or its Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages: @ smsupermalls.

realme...

From C4

Dr. Aladdin D. Rillo, Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Economic Community

Marketing Austine Huang. realme fans in the Philippines are invited to join the realme C3 launch through Facebook and YouTube livestreams. realme Philippines will also be giving a sneak peek of its brand-new headquarters in the country. For the latest updates, follow realme Philippines on its official Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts.

NICP: CREATING CONNECTIONS, OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THERE'S NONE

(DICT Sec. Gringo Honasan and NICP Pres.

Michael Tiu Lim)

IN today’s global economy, the best way to move forward is to go digital.

Digital classrooms, digital processes, digital-ready governments, digital everything. Our neighboring countries are gearing up towards this (some are even fille equipped), so why should we be late to the party? The need for a unified National Information and Communication Technology Confederation can not be understated enough.

The Economic boom of the ICT industry is evident in Metro Manila. “But what about the others outside of Metro Manila?” asks NICP 2020 President Michael Tiu Lim. One of their flagship projects include identifying cities that are ICT-ready and equipping those cities for the change.

From connecting the businesses with the LGUs to talent development, NICP aids in all of these.

“We can only get better if we do it together,” said Tiu Lim. With 80 councils and counting, the NICP is on the lookout for more members and councils to champion their

cause of pushing the Philippines into the inevitable digital future. The goal is to get 120 more councils and members to join and effectively solidify their national presence. Currently in their all-star team are some government officials from Aklan, Butuan, and many other developing cities outside of Metro Manila. All of which are in pursuit to making their localities better with the collaboration and energy NICP brings to the table.

“Instead of having good talent stay and help their own cities grow, they flee to another one because there are no opportunities in the city for these specialists,” said Tiu Lim. This “brain drain” cycle renders the city in limbo and the main metro hubs racing away while some cities are left to bite the dust. NICP hopes to change this by making towns ready for these big changes.

While the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines is usually labelled as a group that champions BPOs and tech hubs, the real heart of the

NICP is creating opportunities where there is none. And that doesn’t necessarily mean creating more tech-hubs and BPOs. When asked what projects they have successfully accomplished since establishment in 2008, the answers are an unusual mix of job generation to infrastructure (creating bridges and roads for accessibility) to healthcare (providing accessible radiographs in select barangays). Yes, ICT is more than just call centers.

One can easily dismiss that the NICP might be confused on what they want to do as a Confederation but Tiu Lim clarifies that with the many problems in the country, IT can be the solution to these many problems. The team believes that the extremely flexible field of IT can help everyone.

“Every city is different. Every city has different problems and different needs,” said Tiu Lim. The goal is to use ICT to its full advantage so everyone in the rural and developing cities bloom into a Mega City. Through NICP, busi-

nesses, cities, and people can push the Philippines forward—and in the right direction.

“IT is everywhere. All industries can benefit from IT. Be it planning your crops, working at a call center, improving healthcare facilities, everyone gains from IT,” adds Tiu Lim. A lot of people might think that creating these business hubs will negatively affect the environment, but another important focus of NICP is sustainability. In rural areas such as those outside of Metro Luzon, it is so important to preserve, protect, and harmoniously work around making sustainable cities before they are even up and running. Sustainable urban planning and engagement of the local industry is key for NICP. With its growing network, NICP is all about creating connections to different industries. This buzzling confederation wants to inspire and promote collaboration of the ICT sector to the infinite industries it can help revolutionize.

C4

TECH & Gadgets SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2020 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

ADORABLE HOME GAME APP CAPTURES PINOYS' HEARTS

By MJ Blancaflor

I

realme PH TO DEBUT MONSTER C3 PHONE

F you are looking for love, Adorable Home is the place to go.

We’ll make it clear, though. Adorable Home is a simulation game app, where users can establish a home life with their partner. Gamers customize their house, purchase food and furniture, take care of cats, and earn love or hearts.

For its simple interface and relaxing vibe, Adorable Home has captured the hearts of many Filipinos. In fact, there is a Facebook group dedicated to the game’s players called Adorable Home Philippines.

Love, or hearts, is the currency of the game.

Just like in real life, love is earned when the player takes good care of his partner and pets.

Love is also used in the game to buy food, house decorations, and additional pets.

Game developer HyperBeard said the game is made for “a passive and relaxing experience.”

Here are some tips for starters to make life more comfortable in Adorable Home: The best way to get more hearts is to have more cats. Initially, you will have one cat named Snow and it is up to you to purchase 12 others.

You can bathe them, pet them, and cut their nails. For every task completed, they will give you hearts, and you can save more by tapping the yellow button. It won’t be easy to accomplish each task, but you’ll eventually learn where you should stroke the cat, as well as how to cut their nails.

It is tempting for beginners to use hearts to purchase appliances, furniture and house decorations, but you should first save up 3,000 hearts to unlock the garden area. This area attracts more visitors, which in turn, give more hearts or loves. If visitors show up, tap their heads, and interact with them. Once you have a garden which gives plenty of hearts, you can now shop for the things you want to customize your house.

Another way to earn more hearts is to “read the news” or watch more ads. There are 10 ads per day that you can watch and it gives 50 hearts each. Just make sure that your device is connected to the internet.

In addition, Adorable Home shows the weather forecast in the next five days and you will be able to gain more hearts by simply tapping the weather report. Sunny days bring more hearts than rainy days.

The game also allows you to prepare food for your partner. Be sure to make a bento box for

Adorable Home is a simulation game app, where users can establish a home life with their partner. Gamers customize their house, purchase food and furniture, take care of cats, and earn love or hearts.

your loved one before they go to work. You will your significant other will love you more. be asked to prepare a main course, a side dish, It might just be a game, but Adorable Home and dessert. Your partner will give you more teaches us that we gain love by giving love. hearts if you made the right food combinaHave you downloaded the app? Share with tions. The pricier the food, it is also likely that us your experiences!

HOME CREDIT WELCOMES BACK PRESIDENT/CEO MINOL

David Minol

DAVID Minol has returned as President and Chief Executive Officer of Home Credit Philippines.

Fresh from his stint as the Regional Executive Director of Home Credit International and with a 16-year track experience working across numerous Home Credit operations under his belt, David is excited to take over the reins of HCPH once again.

He served as HCPH’s first-ever President and CEO from 2013 to 2016, in which he played a key role in making the business the fast-growing brand it is today.

Former President and CEO Annica Witschard has now

moved on to head Home Credit Vietnam.

HCPH is a consumer finance business which now has over six million customers.

The company launched in 2013 as the pioneering provider of in-store loans for gadgets and other goods, and has since diversified its products to include digital platforms.

HCPH launched its MyHomeCredit app in 2017 on the Google Play Store, and now has 2.7 million registered users, in line with the company’s goal to reach its customers wherever they are, whenever they want.

realme Philippines will unveil on March 5 the latest addition to its true value C-series, the realme C3. Tagged as the triple-camera gaming monster, the realme C3 brings midrange camera and processor performance to the entry-level segment.

Staying true to the real smartphone value promise of highertier features at lower price, the realme C3 is the first smartphone powered by the latest chipset from MediaTek, the Helio G70 processor, making it one of the fastest-performing smartphones in the market today and likely to be the most powerful entry-level smartphone. Its processor allows the phone to mitigate network latency, optimizing connection for streamers, gamers and regular online surfers.

The realme C3 features an AI triple-camera setup with a 12MP main camera. The setup supports professional-level bokeh, portrait mode and panoselfie.

The newest entry-level realme smartphone also boasts a 6.5inch mini-drop full screen, which allows for a high screen-to-body ratio of 89.8 percent for an even more immersive experience be it when reading, watching movies or playing video games.

The realme C3’s camera, display and overall performance are complemented by a large-capacity 5,000mAh battery and reverse charging feature.

“After being hailed as the top 4 smartphone brand in the Philippines and earning the title “fastest growing smartphone brand of 2019”, we at realme Philippines are even more committed to bring only the best to our consumers. We are excited to bring to the Filipinos the most powerful smartphone in the entry-level. We are confident that the realme C3 will be a perfect fit for every young Filipino eager to start working on their passion, be it photography, content creation or gaming,” shares realme Philippines Vice President for Turn to C3

LEGAL SERVICES MADE EASY FOR FILIPINOS VIA LEXMEET MOBILE APP LEGAL problems that are not readily resolved usually end up being bigger problems. But many Filipinos who need legal help often feel helpless as getting a trustworthy lawyer is a luxury they cannot afford. Not to mention the proliferation of fake attorneys in social media that victimizes clients in dire need of legal service.

At present, approximately 80% of legal problems in the Philippines do not receive legal assistance based on the World Justice Project Report. Filipinos, specially OFWs and PWDs, find it extremely troublesome to deal with legal issues in the Philippines because they think it’s inconvenient, expensive, and intimidating to deal with legal issues at a lawyer’s office.

Small and medium enterprises that are also in need of legal assistance also lack access to affordable legal help.

This dilemma can now be solved in just a click with LexMeet- the first legal solutions mobile app in the Philippines that aims to bridge the gap between clients and lawyers. With just a click of the LexMeet APP on a smartphone or a computer, LexMeet can give you quick access to legal services that are both competent and affordable.

LexMeet gives Filipinos online legal service accessibility anytime, anywhere

so clients can receive legal advice, legal documents and legal remedies online, at their own convenience. LexMeet creates legal tech products that allow clients and lawyers the ability to complete an entire legal case, from assessment to execution of judgment.

LEXMEET’S NEW PRODUCTS LexMeet’s three new products are grouped into Assist, Consult, and Everyday Law. ASSIST—a FREE legal crowdsourcing platform for initial assessment of a client’s legal problem. This is where a client could determine if he/she really needs a lawyer or if he/she really has a case to file in court or not.

CONSULT—a PREPAID online legal consultation platform using video conference with lawyer-client matching algorithm. Clients can comfortably request the date and time of the online legal consultation with the lawyer. They meet the selected lawyer face-to-face in LexMeet’s own video chat consultation platform where they could directly ask questions and make clarifications as well as upload additional documents for review. The lawyer chosen is informed in advance of the client’s legal problem with the attached documents. Follow-up legal

consultation can be conveniently made by the client and/or they can easily arrange for another lawyer’s second opinion or advice.

EVERYDAY LAW—FREE legal information and knowledge through blogs/ vlogs.

Lawyers also benefit from LexMeet because it gives them a chance to reach a larger market and improve their individual standing.

LexMeet’s latest data as of February 13, 2020 shows a total number of 29,784 clients served by a pool of 452 lawyers solving a total number of 26,525 legal problems.

THE BEGINNINGS OF LEXMEET LexMeet Inc. was one of the big winners during the fourth season of “The Final Pitch” a business reality show. Atty.

Marlon Valderama, founder and President of LexMeet Inc. “pitched” his idea for a mobile legal app called LexMeet to an esteemed panel of investors who were hoping to own a piece of “the next big idea”. Mega Global Corp’s CEO, Mr. William Tiu Lim who was a judge/investor for the show saw the potential of LexMeet and offered to invest in LexMeet Inc. He said: “Lexmeet’s goal to help Filipinos who do not have legal access ap-

Shown here are (from left) Michael Tiu Lim, Vice President for Operations, Mega Global Corporation; Michelle Tiu Lim Chan, Vice President for Finance, Mega Global Corporation; Monica Hipolito-Aguilar, Co-Executive Producer, The Final Pitch; John Aguilar, Executive Producer and Host, The Final Pitch; William Tiu Lim, President & CEO, Mega Global Corporation; Atty. Marlon Valderama, Founder and President, LexMeet, Inc.; Rigie Fernandez, Vice President for Marketing and Design, LexMeet, Inc.; and Gino Carlo Cortez, Vice President for Technology, LexMeet, Inc.

pealed to us. Mega Global Corporation has always been about nation building and enriching the lives of every Filipino.”

With Mega Global Corp’s investment, Atty. Valderama says: “We will be able to make LexMeet known to more people.

We will also add more features to our existing products based on the feedback and learnings from our users. Using the fund, we will also start to develop two of our other products, (Lex)Docs, a chatbot legal document assembly and (Lex)Notary, a prototype electronic notarial system with blockchain component. We’ve also

decided to put up a Singaporean holdings company called Lex Prime Holdings Pte. Ltd. in preparation for our possible expansion in Southeast Asia in the near future”.

LexMeet is the technological realization of a lawyer’s dream to provide Filipinos all over the globe with an affordable, convenient and simple solution to their legal problems. With LexMeet, legal help is now just a click away. For more information, please visit www.lexmeet.com and/or download the app on AppStore or Google Play Store.

Destinations D1

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2020

Bernadette Lunas, Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

LOVE POURS IN BATANGAS

@MStandardLIFE

WHERE TO

NZ WITH THE FAMILY ASIDE from its rich biodiversity and stunning scenery that extends as far as the eyes can see, New Zealand boasts a variety of family-friendly adventures that make for an unforgettable holiday. We list down a few that you can do in the Middle-earth with the fam.

GIVE BACK. Canyon Hotels and Resort is giving back to its Batangas brothers and sisters affected by the recent Taal Volcano eruption as its way of thanksgiving after its Tagaytay property Canyon Woods (in photo) was fortunately spared from damage.

Revel in glowworm-illuminated underwater caves while aboard a boat.

By Peter Paul Duran

L

OVE for Batangas overflows, giving hope to those who had a tough start to the year.

On Jan. 12, 2020, Taal Volcano, the natural dame of the southernTagalog province, woke up from a 50-year slumber. In less than a week, the aftermath was visible, especially in municipalities just within reach of the volcano.

What was an icon of awe, became the bane of more than 300,000 people.

Fortunately, a few was spared, and within this minority, sprouted an idea to help the scores who weren’t as fortunate.

Canyon Hotels and Resorts launched the Share Hope Task Force: Alagang Lawa, a Canyon Care project co-sponsored by the local government of Laurel led by Mayor Joan Amo. The two entities are working together in a housing project for the now homeless of Laurel.

Explore the glowworm- and troll-filled caves of Waitomo

Traveling by boat into spectacular underwater caves illuminated by glowworms is an experience unique to New Zealand.

For youngsters seeking thrills, Waitomo also offers the Troll Cave experience, an interactive cave tour encouraging kids to search for something big, ugly, and mean—Tom the troll. While the quest can be a bit scary initially, with flooding rooms and collapsing walls, those who dare to try something new will find themselves braver than before after accomplishing their task. www.waitomo.co.n

Batangas rises again with the help of supporters and its hardworking citizens.

The project is a thanksgiving sustain any damage from the onof sorts as Canyon Woods Resort slaught of Taal despite being situClub in metro Tagaytay did not ated just outside the 14-kilometer danger zone.

This prompted the company, which also manages Canyon Cove Hotel and Spa in Batangas and Canyon de Boracay, to give back to those who need it most.

“Batangas is our home, we want to help the locals to move forward, especially in these times,” said Canyon Woods chairman George Go on Feb. 15, a day after Valentine’s Day and a day after Phivolcs downgraded Taal’s status to alert level 2.

The amiable executive also emphasized that not all businesses in Batangas were affected and that it’s essential to continue the support to our Batangueño brothers and sisters, not only through relief efforts but by supporting the local tourism in the province.

“Not the whole area of BatanCanyon Hotels and Resort has pledged 10 houses for the fisher-folk most affected gas is suffering. I encourage more by the disaster.

people to experience Batangas, especially the metro Tagaytay area,” he said during a press conference just before the thanksgiving dinner party held later in the evening.

During the event, Go pledged 10 shelters for the benefit of the fisherfolk most-affected by the disaster.

Mayor Amo, on the other hand, expressed gratitude for the love that the homeowners, resort club members, and corporate partners have shown her constituents in badly-hit areas such as Barangay Buso-Buso and Barangay Gulod.

“Binaba man sa alert level 2 ang Taal, pero nararamdaman ko ngayong gabi ang init ng pagbigay niyo ng tulong sa aming mga kapatid ay alert level 5. Katuwang ko po kayo lahat sa pagbangon ng bayan ng Laurel (Taal’s status may have been lowered to alert level 2, but I feel the love you’re showing us tonight is on alert level Turn to D2

Puzzling World boasts countless holograms, puzzles, and illusions.

Take on the challenges at Wanaka Puzzling World

The Puzzling World in Wanaka has been challenging people’s wits since 1973. Children love to get lost in the great maze, solve problems in the puzzle center, and enjoy optical illusions which appear to defy gravity, physics and common sense.

The smallest members of the family can see how they would look like “taller” when they go into a room which uses a technique featured in The Lord of The Rings in creating the illusion of tall and tiny people. Meanwhile, in the Illusion Roman Toilets, visitors are told “Don’t be shy, take a seat alongside our Romans and snap yourself within the scene— pants on please!” www.puzzlingworld.co.nz

Turn to D2

PATA PHILIPPINES, IN REVIEW

The PATA Board of Trustees during their courtesy call on newly installed Tourism Promotions Board chief operating officer Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones (seated, center) from left: Tourism Undersecretary Bong Bengzon, Isabel Garcia-Lee, Apolonio Anota Jr., the columnist, Marlene Insigne, Teody Espallardo, Pat Alberto, and Simon Ang. Not in photo are Daks Gonzales and Agnes Macapia.

standards of services offered by our AT OUR recent business assembly, country’s tourism establishments. the first for the year, the Pacific Asia It also vital for the association Travel Association (PATA) Philipto give back to the community we pines Chapter’s Board of Trustees serve through our various corporate bannered our landmark events dursocial responsibilities. Through the ing our previous two-year term.

Sining at Kultura Foundation, PATA Our association prides itself on spends for the yearly college tubeing the only tourism organization MERCURY RISING ition of three tourism students. Bein the country which harnesses the

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO ing affiliated with World Vision, we strength of the younger generation give monthly school allowance to through the PATA Student Chapters one child. Last year, we sponsored established in various tourism edua “Bingo Break” to raise funds and donate to the Miscation institutions in the country.

These active student groups are now present in the sionaries for the Poor.

In line with our advocacy of continuously upLyceum of the Philippines University (Manila campus), Far Eastern University, Enderun Colleges, PATTS Col- dating the skills and knowledge of tourism induslege of Aeronautics, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, try practitioners, PATA hosted the learning series, Treston International, De La Salle – College of St. Be- “AI+EQ=SUCCESS Blazing Into Our Future,” which featured three illustrious speakers. nilde, and the University of Baguio.

Eduardo Mapa discussed the importance of Digital Our association has also required all members to be accredited by the Department of Tourism, in keep- Transformation in Business. Doctor Kom Campiranon Turn to D2 ing with the DoT’s mandate of ensuring world-class

Destinations

D2

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2020 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

NZ...

From D1

Learn about Māori culture

The unique combination of geothermal wonders, Māori art and culture makes Te Puia a special place to visit.

A stroll around Rotorua’s Te Whakarewarewa Valley in Te Puia is a fascinating experience.

Children can visit the bubbling mud pools or watch the world-famous Pōhutu Geyser catapult water 30 meters into the air.

Te Puia is also the home to the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, where children, or tamariki in Māori, can watch master carvers and weavers at work, and hear the guides share stories passed down from their ancestors. In the evening, visitors are invited to a feast, which begins with a traditional welcoming ceremony by fierce warriors called pōwhiri. This is followed by a rousing concert, where kids can join the performers on stage to learn the haka Māori dance or poi performance, where a ball of flax is swung rhythmically on a string. tepuia.com Children can meet New Zealand's native Māori in Te Puia.

Winter wonderland in Queenstown and Wanaka

Queenstown and Wanaka offer the perfect base for families looking to make longlasting memories while also enjoying winter wonderland scenery and New Zealand’s famous Kiwi hospitality.

Queenstown and Wanaka share four major ski fields—all with naturally formed, diverse terrain to choose from. Closest to downtown Queenstown is Coronet Peak, which offers visitors a unique night skiing experience called Park after Dark. A 45-minute drive from Queenstown brings visitors to the Remarkables mountain range. The alpine terrain, north-facing slopes, dedicated learning area, lessons, kids club, and free day lift passes for under 10s make this ski-field a great place for families and novices to get their first taste of a fun-packed snow adventure.

For those who are not up for some heartracing skiing, Queenstown has an array of beautiful scenic walks, local wineries, fine dining establishments, and historical attractions including the 103-year-old steamship, the TSS Earnslaw, which takes visitors on regular scenic tours of Lake Wakatipu.

Weta Workshop houses a number of props used in popular movies shot in NZ.

Go behind-the-scenes in Wellywood’s Weta Workshop

Wellington’s Weta Workshop is New Zealand’s renowned special effects and props company. Cinephiles can go on a journey from Middle-earth to Thunderbird’s Tracy Island and beyond. Snap a photo with life-sized statues and find souvenirs to take home.

The Weta Workshop studio tour reveals secrets behind the making of much-loved films, such as The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Chronicles of Narnia. The tour allows visitors to get up close and personal to the artistry behind 20 years of Weta creativity, while learning about the processes that turn imaginary worlds into reality. www.wetaworkshop.com

LOVE...

From D1 5. With your help, Laurel will rise again),” she enthused.

The mayor also bared that they have put up a task force to ensure that this project pushes through without a hitch and as soon as possible. The temporary shelter worth P50,000 is intended to ease the situation of at least 164 households whose homes were totally damaged after the eruption “Blessed kami dahil sa mga stakeholders na nag-pledge ng houses para sa aming kababayan (We are truly blessed because of the stakeholders who pledged houses for our townmates),” Amo said, citing a total of 1,400 damaged houses reported in her municipality alone, and 3,000 partially damaged.

Thrill-seekers can explore the snow-covered hills in Queenstown and Wanaka.

www.queenstown.com

“Natulog ang turismo noong pumutok ang bulkan, ngayon kailangan namin gisingin para malaman ng tao na safe nang balikan ang bayan ng Laurel, at ang Batangas (Our tourism took a hit when the volcano erupted, so we need to revive it to let people know that it is now safe in Laurel, as well as Batangas),” she added.

Go seconded the mayor’s remarks, saying it is better to explore our country, specifically Batangas, amid international travel bans due to COVID-19.

“Why go to Hong Kong or other places, when you can come here to Canyon Woods? It’s safe here. No more threat from the volcano, and no threats from viruses,” the chairman urged.

Additional photos from canyon.ph

The featured speakers of Pinoy Chikka, the biggest tourism forum in the country: Peggy Angeles, Mayor Richard Gomez, and Jimmy Licauco.

PATA...

From D1

A view of Taal Volcano a month after its January eruption.

Canyon Woods chairman George Go encourages Filipinos to spend their weekend break in Batangas.

one glued to their seats all throughout the five-hour session.

Peggy Angeles, senior vice president of SM Hotels and Convention Centers, shared with the millennials in the crowd how she built a lucrative career in the hotel industry.

Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez, one of the young breed of leaders in the country today, discussed how he transformed a sleepy town into a viable tourism destination.

Columnist, author, and president

talked about the role of Artificial Intelligence in the Tourism Industry, while Doctor Leslie Choudhury enlightened everyone with the Power of Human Touch.

A feather in the cap for PATA was its hosting of an international annual summit in Cebu City which attracted more than 500 tourism professionals from all over the world. It was indeed a showcase of how fun things can be in our country, especially with the well known YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE Cebuano hospitality making its mark on the foreign guests.

Parallel lines have so much in common.

The event’s keynote speaker It’s a shame they’ll never meet. was Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

However, PATA Philippines Chapter’s claim-to-fame is our host- of Inner Mind Development Institute ing of the annual Pinoy Chikka, a Ted Jaime Licauco gave a spine-tingling Talk-type of forum where experts narration on Mystical Tourism, citing share their views in front of an audi- popular destinations in the country ence of 2,500-plus tourism profes- that offer tourists a glimpse of exciting sionals, government officers, tourism paranormal activities.

With these achievements during students and their professors. This forum is currently the biggest orga- our past term, small wonder the same nized by any tourism association in Board of Trustees won re-election for another two-year term. Aside from the country.

The featured speakers discussed myself as chairman, Tourism Undervery interesting topics that kept every- secretary Benito Bengson, Jr. is the vice

chairman; tourism director Daquila Gonzales is the secretary-general; Marlene Insigne of Southeast Travel Corp. is the treasurer; Apolonio Anota, Jr. of Sining at Kultura Foundation is the legal counsel.

Onelle Pacheco-Versoza of Hotel Celeste/Boracay Tropics is Trustee for Membership; Teodoro Espallardo of Altabriza Resort Boracay is Trustee for Programs; Maria Paz Alberto of Ark Travel Express is Trustee for Education; Agnes Macapia of The Le Soleil Group is Trustee for Industry Liaison; Simon Ang of Celebrate Life Travel and Leisure is Trustee for Government Liaison; and Isabel Garcia-Lee of Henann Hotels and Resorts is Trustee for Ways and Means.

PATA’s Secretariat is manned

by Mikhaela Dela Paz. Information on membership requirements are available at 0926-417-0917.

With the trust and confidence bestowed upon us to serve another term, we are all fired up even more to make great things happen for our tourism industry and make our country’s foreign visitors appreciate why “It’s More Fun In The Philippines.”

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

Entertainment

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2020

D3

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

4 REASONS

WHY YOU SHOULD

HOW RISING RAP GROUP SOULSTICE CAME UP WITH VIRAL SONG ‘IVANA’

BE ON TIKTOK ARE you on TikTok? If not, you’re missing a whole lot.

Trending and viral videos you’re seeing on the internet are all coming from this popular new app—and what’s even better is you can join the fun by watching or sharing your own videos on the platform.

Here are five reasons to download TikTok: 1. You can share your talents with the rest of the world You can make videos of anything on TikTok—as in anything! Singing, lipsyncing, dancing, acting, DIY, comedy, or just being cool, you can do anything on-cam and upload it all on TikTok. The more you upload, the more people will watch your vids.

2. You might go viral Who knows, you might be the next viral star to come out of the Philippines. Imagine—you go viral, and you might even be the next showbiz star.

By Nickie Wang

N

EEDLESS to say, going viral is an artist’s dream.

But the reality is, it’s hard to make things go viral, no matter how hard you try.

There’s a thread online that teaches denizens on how to make viral songs and how to prevent your campaign end up in the social media graveyard.

It’s a thread long but the gist of the conversation was just for your content to be unique, creative and engaging.

Soulstice members may not have read the thread, but with the song “Ivana,” they were able to cover all those points. They have created a content that caught fire in an instant.

They hit the bullseye with “Ivana,” the lyrical rap number dedicated to and inspired by fellow social media celeb Ivana Alawi.

PANTASYA NG BAYAN. Ivana Alawi is an actress and a social media personality.

Soulstice, the flash rap trio that’s taking social media a-couple-ofthousand-views-and-likes-per-day for their breakout debut single, is composed of Mscript (Rome Lagarde), Rowmee G (Jerome De Leon), and Seth (Ronald Abasta).

“We were thinking of a first track to release as a group, we were

Soulstice members meet their idol for the first time.

brainstorming in front of a PC, when we refreshed Facebook, Ivana Alawi’s face was there. And randomly, if you go online, she’s always there. Not that we are big fans of her YouTube channel, but she’s really popular and you can see her everywhere,” members of the two-month-old group Soul-

Soulstice is a two-month-old rap trio composed of Mscript , Rowmee G, and Seth

stice told Manila Standard in an interview at the Viva headquarters in Ortigas, Pasig City.

“We wanted to say a lot of things to her as her fans. Ivana helps other girls boost their confidence. As for the song, apart from her being the inspiration, it’s actually a song for the women in our lives. When you hear it, parang mahihiwagaan ka kay Ivana, at the same time, you can sing the song to any girl,” they added.

The crafty play on words manages to insert an otherwise western name of Ivana, into a series of couplets of pure adoration, hence “Ivana, nararamdaman ko / you’re the best girl I’ve ever seen / kapansinpansin ang ‘iyong tingin.”

The result is this infectious rap song that local social media can’t seem to shake. “Ivana” topped Spotify’s Viral 50 Charts for a few weeks after its release as well as topping the Global Viral 50 Charts of Spotfiy.

Soultice is under Paolo Mercado’s Peso ProductionsP, a go-getting, hiphop, rap and urban music label, responsible for one of the most memorable rap acts in the land today including Allmo$t and rap unit the L.A. Goons.

3. Bye-bye, FOMO! Did you know that your friends and family are already on TikTok? You might be the last one left behind. You don’t want to have FOMO, right? You can bond with them by either watching or making your own silly and funny videos.

4. Because it’s just fun Whether you’re watching or making your own videos on TikTok, one thing’s for sure: it’s just plain fun! That’s why a lot of people are on Tiktok—because it’s super entertaining.

Watch and upload your own fun videos on TikTok nonstop with TNT GIGA STORIES 50 on TNT’s high-speed mobile network powered by Smart LTE. Get 1 GB of FB, IG, and TikTok every day for three days plus 1 GB of open-access data. Just dial *123# on your phone and choose GIGA STORIES 50 to subscribe. For more details on TNT’s Giga promos, visit http://store. tntph.com/addons, like TNTph on Facebook, and follow @tntph on Instagram and Twitter.

‘IBILIB’ OPENS MARCH WITH FUN SHOWCASE INFORMATIVE show iBilib opens the month featuring educational content that can enrich your knowledge while giving the audience some dose of entertainment as well.

Join award-winning host Chris Tiu and iBilib gang members James Macasero, Lexi Gonzales, Roadfill Macasero, and Arra San Agustin as they discover how science can be everywhere.

Learn how some people can twist their bodies better than the rest of us with the awe-inspiring and heart-stopping contortionist acts of teenager Dharica Ceniza. From backhanding to foot archery and dropping ladders, Dharica’s performance doesn’t just want to leave the audience in awe but it aims to educate people as well.

How can you multiply a strip of LED lights without buying, borrowing or begging for a new set? Find out in the “Infinity Light Cube Experiment.”

In “Street Genius” experiment, discover what booming sound they will produce if you fill four individual balloons each with cream, cornstarch, hair spray, and natural gas.

Also, find out how many rubbers bands it will take to break a watermelon.

In another experiment, watch how you can use two chairs to make two people balance like a tree.

And for her “Huling Hirit,” Arra shows us how to turn leftover food into a sharable snack with the ”Molo Wrapper Nacho” kitchen hack.

All these on the show that makes your Sunday mornings more fun and educational. iBilib airs on GMA.

Multi-awarded host (leftmost) Chris Tiu with the gang of 'iBilib'

D4

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2020

Desiree Carlos, Editor

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

Pets

VITAMINS FOR

SENIOR DOGS PET TALES

Senior rescued dog Diamond of Save ALL is now 14 years old but she is still active and looks young. She eats dry dog food for senior dogs with a little water to make the kibble soft in the morning, a mixture of dry senior dog food and boiled vegetables and a little meat at lunch time, and vegetables with a little meat in the evening. We do not give rice to senior dogs. The amount of food is not too much to make sure her stomach will not be overworked. To ensure she gets all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients she needs, she is given 5 ml of a multivitamin that was recommended by the vet. She is also given COQ-10 30 mg for the heart.

BY DESIREE CARLOS

S

ENIOR dogs have different nutritional requirements due to the changes in their metabolism and energy levels.

In 8 Best Senior Dog Vitamins and Supplements (2020), Kayla of Canine Weekly said that it is important to switch to high quality senior dog food to ensure the diet meets the needs of your senior dog.

Consult your vet before giving supplements or switching to a new diet.

If you feed your dog natural or home made dog food, your dog may need supplements to make sure the dog is getting all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients that he/she needs to stay healthy and happy.

Supplements are also important for dogs who are picky and do not eat enough.

“Supplements are not a foolproof escape from a poor diet, however, and you should consult a vet if your dog is unable, or refuses, to eat a healthy diet,” Kayla said.

Supplements are also recommended when your dog has been diagnosed with a vitamin or mineral deficiency, or a medical condition that responds well to supplements.

“Although most healthy dogs do not need supplements, the extra vitamins and nutrients they supply can help ease the symptoms of a variety of conditions in older dogs,” Kayla said.

Kayla said there are supplements recommended by a vet for some cases. These are: 1. Supplements to ease hip and joint pain and stiffness.

“When searching for a hip and joint supplement, look for one that contains glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, as well as essential fatty acids. These nutrients work together to reduce inflammation and improve joint mobility.” Kayla said.

2. Essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6, help improve a dog’s skin and coat, and help brain function, which can slow down as a dog gets older.

3. Probiotics to help digestion, especially if the good bacteria in your elderly dog’s stomach has been killed off by illness or medication.

Be sure to ask your vet if any of these supplements are needed.

“Always remember that supplements for older dogs can alleviate some symptoms of illness and aging, but they are not a prevention or a cure,” Kayla stressed.

Kayla cited as example a dog with arthritis who will need medication “backed by a full clinical trial, rather than just hip and joint supplements.”

CLEAN EARS MAKE CATS

HAPPY AND WELL DIRTY ears can lead to an infection. An infection, in turn, will bring discomfort to your cat. Worse, it can lead to hearing loss.

Many cats are good at cleaning themselves and rarely needs ear cleaning. But they still need ear cleaning every now and then.

Cats who are not diligent with their grooming though needs all the help to maintain clean ears.

Routine ear cleaning is necessary to ward off infection.

“Depending on your cat’s grooming habits and environment, the need for ear cleaning may vary,” says Banfield Pet Hospital in “Do I need to Clean My Cat’s Ears?”

If you see wax, dirt, or other debris, then it is probably time for a cleaning.

“Periodic cleanings and regular at-home examinations will allow you to detect ear issues early, allowing for timelier treatment options. If you suspect your cat may have an ear problem, request an appointment with your local veterinarian immediately,” Banfield says.

“Prompt treatment often offers a better prognosis, can reduce the potential for chronic disease and hearing loss, and may also provide earlier relief for any discomfort your cat may be experiencing,” Banfield adds.

Symptoms of an ear infection

You are your cat’s first line of defense in detecting anything abnormal about your cat’s behavior or physical health.

Here are the signs of infection: • Ear discharge • Odor around the ear • Excess scratching, pawing or rubbing at the ears • Redness in the ear canal • Sensitivity or pain around the ears • Ear swelling • Masses around the ear area

Prevention

Risks of giving supplements

Do watch out for potential risks because “supplements have not gone through rigorous clinical testing are unregulated,” said Kayla.

“This lack of regulation can result in supplements with ingredients that are not proven to be effective, or even safe, as well as discrepancies between labels and actual ingredients,” Kayla added.

“Although an excess of some vitamins, such as water-soluble vitamin C, is harmless (your dog will

just pee out the excess), other vitamins, such as fatsoluble vitamins A and D, can build up in your pet’s body, potentially to harmful levels,” Kayla stressed.

“Even organic or all-natural supplements have potential risks attached. Certain supplements can interact with medications, which could leave your dog with harmful consequences that are difficult to understand, and tricky to trace,” Kayla said.

Your vet will know when to give supplements and what vitamins to give, she said.

Periodic cleaning when you notice excess buildup in your cat’s ears is the best way to avoid a painful infection or disease.

For normal or healthy ears, choose a mild ear cleaner designed for use on pets, Banfield says.

Please avoid vinegar, alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide as these can irritate the skin of some cats and cab be painful to an inflamed ear canal.

Ask your vet for the best option as there are ear cleaners that break up wax while others are supposed to dry the ear canal.

You may get a product designed to do a bit of both..

TURMERIC: THE HEALING SPICE FOR DOGS (Last part) 3. Turmeric helps relieve pain due to arthritis Arthritis is due inflammation and turmeric can decrease inflammation in the body, Scott said.

“Turmeric can also relieve the pain and stiffness in arthritis … better than conventional pain medications,” Scott added.

In 2014, a group of researchers in Thailand released results of a study which compared the effects of curcumin versus ibuprofen treatment in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

They found out that: 1. Curcumin also works as well as ibuprofen to reduce pain.

2. But curcumin does not have the gastrointestinal side effects experienced by patients who used ibuprofen.

4.Turmeric Can Treat Gastrointestinal Disorders The anti-inflammatory effect of turmeric can help treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD and other gastrointestinal disorders.

“It’s been shown in several preclinical studies and uncontrolled clinical trials as having positive effects on gut inflammation and gut permeability,” Scott said.

“Researchers at Hamamatsu South Hospital in Japan commented that curcumin’s ‘inhibitory effects on major inflammatory mechanisms […] and its unrivaled safety profile suggest it has bright prospects in the treatment of IBD,’” said Scott.

5. Turmeric Can Replace Steroids While many dogs are put on steroids for allergies and joint pains, there are studies which showed that curcumin is as effective as steroids, Scott said.

The greatest advantage of curcumin is its lack of side effects, Scott stressed.

“Another study published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology shows that combining curcumin with a steroid reduced the side effects of this dangerous medication,” Scott added.

This is thus the main benefit of turmeric: it works as well as medicine but it has no nasty side effect

How to give turmeric to dogs

Scott stressed that curcumin in turmeric is hard for your dog to absorb if it

Seb, a rescued cat, loves to sleep on the roof.

His ears are cleaned because there are a lot of dirt in the garden that can get inside his ears and around the ears.

How to clean the ears

Yssa, rescued dog of Save ALL, is prone to colds and cough.

She is given turmeric at dinner time during the cool months to warm her body. is given as is.

It is important to combine turmeric with healthy oils like coconut oil.

This is what Scott called the turmeric paste: a mixture of turmeric and coco nut oil or any healthy oil.

“This can increase the absorption significantly,” Scott said.

Dr. Michael Greger learned that a phytochemical in black pepper called peperine that can increase the absorption of curcumin by up to 2,000 per cent, Scoot said.

Do not expect good results if you give turmeric alone, Scott said.

Amount of turmeric to give to dogs

The “golden paste” can be added to the dog’s meal by mixing some water or kefir.

“Most dogs don’t mind the taste at all!”

Scott said.

The recommended amount for dogs: • Small dogs should start with about 1/4 teaspoon per day • Medium dogs can start with 1/2 teaspoon per day • Large dogs can start with 3/4 tea-

Shakti is prone to hot spots. She is not give her turmeric so as not to add heat to her already warm body. Not all dogs can be given turmeric. Please read the article for more details.

spoon per day • Giant dogs can start with 1 teaspoon per day You can increase the amount up to about one tablespoon for larger dogs, Scott said.

Some more reminders from Scott: 1. Give turmeric in small amounts a few times a day because curcumin leaves the body quickly.

2. The bright yellow color of turmeric can stain everything, including your dog who might ene dup sporting a yellow “beard.”

3. Turmeric is binding and can thus cause constipation. Make sure to add some water or kefir to your dog’s meals when you add turmeric.

Possible side effects

Not all dogs should be given turmeric.

1. Turmeric warms the body. If a dog’s body is always hot and your dog always seeks cold floors to lie on, then do not give turmeric to your dog as it might cause a hot flash or hot spots.

2. Turmeric “can interact with some medications, including anti-inflamma-

tory and diabetes drugs. And it may interfere with some chemotherapy treatments,” Scotte said.

3. If your dog is taking some medicine, please ask your holistic vet first before adding turmeric to the diet.

4. Turmeric is NOT given to patients with bile tract obstruction or gallstones.

Turmeric Is A Powerful Antioxidant

The best reason to give turmeric though is because it is a powerful antioxidant.

Antioxidants can slow down aging, degeneration and even increase lifespan, Scott said.

“Oxidative stress builds up in your dog over time, just like rust. It causes damage to the cells, proteins and DNA in your dog’s body,” Scott said.

“A 2015 study discussed how oxidative stress activates inflammatory pathways and leads to chronic diseases, including cancer. The research suggests that ‘curcumin can play a key role in the prevention and treatment of chronic inflammation diseases,’” Scott added.

1. Do start with a good general grooming.

2. Remove excess, dirty, or matted hair from around the ear canal and the ear flap.

“Heavy, matted, moist ear flaps, surrounding hair, and excessively hairy ear canals will decrease air flow to the ear canal, making it possible for wax and other debris to build up, potentially leading to infection,” Banfield says.

3. Be gentle when removing excess hair to avoid damaging the ear canal and minimize discomfort to your cat.

“Consider having a professional groomer or medical professional remove the hair if needed,” Banfield says.

4. After this, prepare your cat for the cleaning.

“Remember, above all else, be gentle!

The ear canals and flaps are sensitive, and overly aggressive cleanings may cause serious damage to the delicate structures of your cat’s inner-ear,” Banfield says.

5. Put a small amount (enough to fill the canal but not overflow) of the ear cleaning solution into the ear. Massage gently for five to ten seconds at the ear base as the solution drips deep into the ear canal.

“You will probably hear the solution squish around as you massage, which is normal. This step should not be painful for your cat. If it is, have your cat examined immediately by your local veterinarian. Repeat the process with your cat’s other ear,” Banfield says.

6. After this, allow your cat to shake his or her head to bring the softened wax up out of the ear canals.

7. Gently wipe out and up the canal, removing any wax or cleaning solution using a cotton ball.

8. Please avoid using cotton swab as this can damage the ear canal when your cat moves.

“A cotton swab placed too deeply or forcefully into the ear can cause ear drum damage, pain, and even complete hearing loss. The ears are particularly sensitive areas, so always use caution when cleaning them,”Banfield says.