Manila Standard - 2020 June 19 - Friday

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Manila court workers told: Isolate selves

By Rey Requejo, Willie Casas, Vito Barcelo, Othel Campos and Joel Zurbano ALL regional trial court (RTC) judges and personnel stationed in courts at the Manila City Hall building were ordered to go on self-quarantine after two court employees were found to have been in contact with close relatives positive for COVID-19.

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COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM JUNE 18)

27,799 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

1,116

562 NEW

481 FRESH

9

DEATHS

NEW

7,090

270

RECOVERIES

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 115 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

REMEMBERING RIZAL. A worker cleans a framed painting of the national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal on the eve of his 159th birthday inside the Knights of Rizal national headquarters in Port

NEW

‘Leachon tag team victim’ Area, Manila on June 18, 2020. A youth art competition inspired by Rizal was launched with a symbolic torch lighting Thursday in his hometown of Calamba, Laguna. Norman Cruz

Task force adviser blames Duque, Roque for ouster; pair denies role

By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta

P

UBLIC health expert Dr. Tony Leachon on Thursday tagged presidential spokesman Harry Roque and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III as the persons behind his removal as adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19.

Duque

Leachon

Roque

Pinoys say quality of life worsens—SWS survey

By Vito Barcelo

“worst trend in survey history,” according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) AT LEAST 83 percent of Filipinos are e-poll released Thursday.

The survey was conducted from May experiencing their quality of life has worsened in the last 12 months—the 4 to 10, the height of pandemic, where

PUJs’ return likely next week – Palace

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• Catastrophy in South Asia • US death toll drops below 1K

JEEPNEYS, dubbed the Philippines “king of the road,” may soon be allowed to hit the road after being banned for more than three months due to the COVID 19, but subject to health standards,Malacanang said Thursday.

Palace spokesperson Harry Roque told a news briefing the government was now working on the possibility

EARLY optimism that South Asia might have dodged the worst ravages of the coronavirus pandemic has disappeared as soaring infection rates turn the densely populated region into a global hot spot.

After several months trailing the US and western Europe, cases of COVID-19 are surging across South Asia – home to almost a quarter of the world’s population – where the virus is wreaking havoc on fragile medical systems and underfunded health agencies are pushed to breaking point.

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VIRUS VICTIMS, TOO. Locally stranded individuals bound for the Bicol Region form a queue near the Baclaran Church in Parañaque City on Thursday as they wait for a bus to take them home amid the lack of public transportation due to restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19. Norman Cruz

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Rody to join Asean virtual meet Harry Roque said in a virtual news conference aired on state-run PTV-4.

ASEAN leaders were supposed to hold their 36th annual summit in April this year but the meeting was postponed due to the global threat posed by the coronavirus disease Next page

Plan to defer UHC illegal—Palace MALACAÑANG said Thursday the proposal to delay the implementation of the Universal Health Care or UHC Law is “illegal,” adding it has been certified urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque says if the officials of Philippine Health In-

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that he and Duque had a hand in Leachon’s removal for his statements critical of the government’s response to COVID-19.

“He (Leachon) is giving me too much credit,” Roque said, adding in Filipino: “I’m just a spokesman. I have no power to compel him to resign.”

Roque said no less that President Rodrigo Duterte had noticed Leachon’s criticism of the government actions on the pandemic.

“It wasn’t me. It wasn’t Secretary Duque. It was the President who noted that you shouldn’t be doing what you’re doing,” Roque said, addressing Leachon in a mix of Filipino and English.

WORLD ROUNDUP

By Vito Barcelo and Rio N. Araja

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will join his fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) leaders in a virtual conference hosted by Vietnam on June 26, Malacañang confirmed on Thursday.

“I am confirming that President Duterte will be joining the online ASEAN meeting,” Presidential Spokesperson

4,010 respondents said 83 percent of their quality of life got worse (termed

by SWS as losers), while 10 percent said it was the same (unchanged), and only

“Secretary Roque and Secretary Duque had me removed,” Leachon said in Filipino in an interview with Dobol B sa News TV. “What was my sin? Telling the truth?

It’s supposed to be transparent.”

Leachon has cited the importance of accurate “real-time and granular data” in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

“That’s so important. How many lives were lost? How many people lost their jobs and became poor?” he said, adding that the Department of Health (DOH) could be liable for late reporting.

“Why did they issue an apology on Monday for their errors in data reporting then remove me on Tuesday?”

At a televised briefing, Roque denied

surance Corp. cannot implement the UHC Law, then somebody must do it.

PhilHealth President and CEO Ricardo Morales had recommended a delay in the implementation of the UHC Law after saying the state health insurer could run a Next page

DISNEYLAND OFFICIALLY REOPENS.

Stephanie Young (center), managing director, official reopens Hong Kong’s Disneyland with cast members dressed as cartoon characters Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse on June 18, 2020 following nearly five months of closure in a fresh boost for a city that has largely managed to defeat the coronavirus disease. AFP

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News

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SC voids taxes on condo tenants

By Rey E. Requejo

minium owners and are the incidental consequence of a condominium corporation’s responsibility to effectively oversee, maintain or even improve the common areas of the condominium as well as its governance.”

In ruling against the BIR, the high court considered that the validity of the BIR circular, which had been pending for six years, “is imbued with public interest.”

According to the tribunal, RMC No. 65-2012 has far-reaching consequences among condominium corporations that have proliferated throughout the country.

“For numerous Filipino families, professionals and students have, for quite some time now, opted for condominium living as their new way of life. The matter of whether indeed the contributions of unit owners solely in-

tended for maintenance and upkeep of the common areas of the condominium building are taxable is imbued with public interest,” the high court said.

“Suffice it to state that taxes, being the lifeblood of the government, occupy a high place in the hierarchy of State priorities, hence, all questions pertaining to their validity must be promptly addressed with the least procedural obstruction.’

In nullifying RMC No. 65-2012, the high court emphasized that a condominium corporation is not designed to engage in activities to generate income or profit that would warrant the imposition of VAT and income tax.

In fact, the high court said, condominium corporations are sanctioned

by Republic Act 4726 or the Condominium Act.

personal interests during a crisis for the sake of the country.

On Wednesday, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Leachon was let go over his “preemptive” release of some information and for being “deaf to collegial advice.”

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, on the other hand, said he regrets the departure of Leachon from the NTF. Leachon said the government has to have granular data that is reflective of what is happening on the ground and that backlogs should have been addressed a long time ago.

“In our internal meetings, with due respect to Secretary Galvez, for three months I’ve been seething about realtime and granular data, which is important because the decision of the InterAgency Task Force is anchored on that data,” Leachon said.

Leachon cited as n example the situation when he previously visited Cebu and found that the DOH Region VII reports on critical care utilization rate did not match the actual situation.

“All the hospitals were telling us they were full up. That’s what I don’t understand. Why would the DOH regional director there submit a report that was so far from the data that the private hospitals were presenting in Cebu?”

Leachon said he could not turn a blind eye to the COVID-19 data, and that’s why he took to social media to raise awareness among the public.

He said his fault was far less serious than the one Duque is being investigated for by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Amid the controversy, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the department has always been transparent about COVID-19 data.

“If there are problems an bottlenecks in disseminating information, we tell the public so there is no misinformation. There is no 100 percent real-time data anywhere,” Vergeire said in Filipino on Dobol B sa News TV. “We have nothing to gain if we fool the people,” she added. “We have been transparent, as I said, we want people to be guided by accurate information.”

She said differences in the way the DOH and other sources reported COVID-19 information could be expected.

“Some institutions get their data directly from local governments. Others will present their estimates,” she said in Filipino.

She added that differences between national government and local government figures were the result of the need to validate the information.

Leachon said, however, that the DOH may be held accountable for the deaths of some patients because of its late reporting and slow action.

“The Department of Health moved slowly in this time of crisis. Their data management was poor. The execution of their plans was poor,” Leachon said.

Leachon said the DOH’s daily release of “fresh” and “late” COVID-19 test results is “non-existent” in other countries.

Leachon called on the DOH to report COVID-19 data transparently and in a straightforward manner.

The Philippines on Thursday logged 562 more COVID-19 cases—481 “fresh” or newly validated and 81 reported late— bringing the total to 27,799.

Among the fresh cases, 120 were from Metro Manila, 273 were from Region VII, while the remaining 88 were spread out across the country.

pandemic might be hired as contact tracers to boost the country’s testing efforts.

The government has prohibited the use of jeepneys for public transport due to difficulties in observing minimum health standards such as physical distancing.

The current general community quarantine and modified GCQ allow limited train, bus, taxi, and ride-share services.

“Jeepneys will be allowed but we are still fixing it. For example, we’re still identifying the routes as well as the number of jeepneys that will be allowed there,” Alberto Suansing, DOTR road sector consultant said.

Malacañang said the Department of Health was studying whether a “special suit” proposed by a ride-hailing firm would ensure physical distancing in motorcycle taxi services.

At present, back-riding on motorcycles is prohibited to mitigate risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Last month, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. asked the government to allow motorcycle riders to have one back-riding passenger in areas under general community quarantine.

Garbin suggested the motorcycle driver and the passenger be strictly required to wear helmets and face shields as well as face masks.

Passengers should also be required to wear jackets and pants as minimum protective clothing, he added.

At the same time, Suansing said “several “challenges” must be resolved first before provincial buses would be allowed to resume operations, adding there was still a need to coordinate with the local government units (LGUs) and secure their approval for provincial buses to pass through their respective areas. “...That has to be coordinated with the Inter-Agency Task Force because challenges remain there,” he said during the Laging Handa virtual briefing. With Che Santos

down for a minimum of two months.

All of us are having a hard time and the President recognizes that,” he said.

According to the SWS, the 83 percent proportion of losers in May 2020 was a “new peak” in the 37-year series of 135 SWS surveys, breaking the previous record 62 percent losers in June 2008. The six percent proportion of gainers is a new “all-time low,” breaking the previous record of nine percent gainers in July 1985.

The SWS added the net gainers score (percentage of gainers minus percentage of losers) of -78 was the “worst in survey history,” breaking the previous record low –50 in June 2008. It plummeted from a very high +18 in December 2019.

The low score of -78 of nationwide net gainers score was attributed by SWS to the very low (–30 and below) scores in all areas. The score is lowest in the Visayas at –82, followed by Mindanao at –80, Metro Manila at –77, and Balance Luzon at –75.

Scores in all areas dropped to all-time low figures when compared to previous SWS surveys of adults.

SWS said the net gainers score was “equally bad” in Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and General Community Quarantine (GCQ) areas at –77 and –78, respectively On the other hand, the survey found the net gainers score among workingage Filipinos was extremely low (–40

and below) both among families that experienced moderate hunger at –89 and among families that experienced severe hunger at –84.

The survey also found that net gainers score among families experienced involuntary hunger is –88, lower than the –75 among those whose families did not experience involuntary hunger.

Meanwhile, the net gainers score among those who have a job but are not receiving pay is at –81. This is followed by those who never had a job at –80, those who do not have a job at present but used to have one are at –78, and those who have a job and are receiving full pay at –73.

threat in the region.

Roque said he was not privy to the issues Duterte would raise during his virtual meeting with his fellow ASEAN leaders.

“It will be held next week so, perhaps, the agenda will be made public before the virtual conference,” he said.

ASEAN leaders have held several virtual meetings with their dialogue partners to plot a strategy to overcome the COVID-19 crisis that has gripped the region.

In April, Duterte said ASEAN members must work together to counter the adverse social and economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the regional bloc.

Containing the spread of the novel coronavirus is the current priority of the 10 ASEAN member-states.

Apart from the Philippines and Vietnam, other ASEAN members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand.

T

HE Supreme Court has sustained a lower court ruling rejecting a circular by the Bureau of Internal Revenue imposing a 12-percent value-added tax and 32-percent income tax on association dues, membership fees and other charges collected by condominium operators from its members and tenants.

In a decision released Wednesday, the high court’s First Division upheld the resolution issued by the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 14, and its order dated Dec. 18, 2013, that granted the plea of First E-Bank Tower Condominium Corp. to void BIR Revenue Memorandum Circular 65-2012 issued on Oct. 31, 2012.

“Clearly, RMC No. 65-2012 expanded, if not altered, the list of taxable

items in the law. RMC No. 65-2012, therefore, is void. Besides, where the basic law and a rule or regulation are in conflict, the basic law prevails,” the high court ruled.

“Similarly, therefore, association dues, membership fees and other assessments/charges are not subject to income tax because they do not constitute profit or gain. To repeat, they are collected purely for the benefit of the condo-

Manila...

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‘Leachon...

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Manila Executive Judge Virgilio Macaraig ordered the concerned judges and court staff to undergo selfquarantine from Thursday, June 18, to June 30.

He also directed for the staff to conduct tracing of all persons they may have been in contact with at the court premises for the last two weeks.

Judges may decide whether or not to proceed with in-court hearings scheduled for Thursday, Macaraig said in a memo that was confirmed by Supreme Court spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka.

– Willie Casas, Rey E. Requejo

Roque said even members of the task force wondered why they were being attacked by Leachon, who was supposed to be on the same team.

Roque said Leachon’s remarks made it appear that the DOH was hiding the real COVID-19 situation in the country.

“That’s why we were angry because he made it appear that everyone, except him, was lying,” he said. “We are perfecting the recording of cases. We have not perfected it yet but we are striving to improve and we will always give the truth and the true numbers as far as we know, to the people.”

Roque challenged Leachon to prove that the DOH was manipulating COVID-19 data.

“You do not have the monopoly of the truth and we have never lied. When did we lie? He should put it on pape),” he said.

Roque also defended the DOH’s supposed late reporting of COVID-19 data, saying data from local government units, regional offices, and labs also came in late. He said, however, that the DOH was taking steps to solve the delays in reporting.

Leachon said he had already had a run-in with Roque and Duque over the Dengvaxia vaccine controversy that began in 2017.

“Every time I do something, they pick on me. We have a history because during the Dengvaxia controversy, Secretary Roque gagged me at a hearing—and the Health secretary was involved at the time too,” Leachon said in Filipino.

He said officials should rise above

80,000 contact tracers needed More than 80,000 contact tracers are needed as part of the government’s efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19, according to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday.

“Given that there is still no vaccine or cure to COVID-19, the government needs to train and hire contact tracers who will break the chains of transmission of COVID-19 by identifying those who may have been exposed to the virus and monitoring them daily for 14 days,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said.

Año said he has submitted a proposal to the Inter-agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-MEID) for the hiring and training of contact tracers.

“We are waiting for the approval of the IATF-MEID so that our LGUs can start hiring and training contact tracers in their localities. We need to be one step ahead and ready with the required number of contact tracers rather than be caught off guard when the need for contact tracers arises in case of a second wave,” he said.

BI employees tested At least 1,100 Immigration employees have undergone rapid antibody testing since last week when the agency ordered the mandatory testing of all its personnel for COVID-19.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said only about a third of the bureau’s more than 3,000 employees have yet to undergo the tests for the coronavirus as some 1,000 employees had voluntarily submitted themselves in previous tests conducted by the bureau’s medical section.

“We will continue to conduct these tests for our employees until all of them are tested. We have to make sure that our front liners are not infected with this virus,” Morente said.

Pinoys...

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In Malacañang, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the Palace was not surprised by the results.

“It should be 100 percent because there is COVID and the economy is closed. That doesn’t surprise us,” he said in a virtual news conference.

Roque said the nationwide community quarantines affected the quality of life of everyone.

“We have been under a complete lock-

Rody...

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There was also a proposal from Vietnam, this year’s chair of the 10-man regional bloc, to hold the 36th summit in Hanoi on June 27 and 28.

However, the final decision was to resort to a virtual summit on June 26 as the COVID-19 pandemic remains a

PUJs’...

From A1 to gradually relax transportation restrictions to allow jeepneys and other public transportation to ply their regular routes to solve public transportation shortage amid COVID 19 pandemic.

Under the Department of Transportation’s guidelines on the reopening of public transportation, modern jeepneys would only be allowed to resume operations starting June 22.

“Jeepneys that were deemed roadworthy may soon be allowed to ply roads subject to health standards,” Roque said.

Jeepneys and UV Express vehicles remain prohibited to ply their routes even as more businesses were allowed to resume partial operations under a general community quarantine (GCQ).

The government even proposed that jeepney drivers who were displaced by the

‘Special suit’

Plan...

From A1 budget deficit until 2024 since its collections had significantly dropped this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday joined her colleagues in rejecting PhilHealth’s proposal to defer the UHC law.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the implementation of the

Charter allows franchise grant to same entity, ABS-CBN says

By Darwin Amojelar and Maricel Cruz ABS-CBN Corp. on Thursday insisted that the 50-year cap imposed by the Constitution on franchises refers to the maximum period granted per franchise, and not the number of years a company is allowed to operate.

“The 50-year limit applies to each franchise, certificate of authorization, and does not prohibit the grant of a new franchise to the same entity,” ABS-CBN general counsel Mario Bautista said at the House panel hearing on the network’s franchise renewal on Wednesday.

“Hence, Congress may grant several franchises to the same public utility. Wala pong pagbabawal dito. ‘Yun po ang fair reading of the provision as it is written.”

Bautista made his statement even as a party-list lawmaker took the cudgels for ABS-CBN against what he described as the bullying of the congressmen opposing the renewal of the network’s franchise.

Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza defended ABS-CBN, accusing some of his fellow legislators of monopolizing the proceedings.

Atienza particularly accused Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta of repeatedly raising his accusations against the network even after the authorities from the Department of Justice, Bureau of Immigration and Securities and Exchange Commission had answered them.

Atienza used the word “browbeating” to describe the manner by which Marcoleta raised an issue without allowing ABS-CBN officials to answer his allegations.

World...

From A1 Overflowing hospitals from Kabul to Dhaka are turning away suspected virus patients, mortuaries are being overwhelmed as cemeteries and crematoria struggle to cope, and desperate families are searching for help for critically ill loved ones.

“The situation is catastrophic,” Abdur Rob, a senior doctor at Bangladesh’s Chittagong General Hospital, told AFP. “Patients are dying in the ambulances on the roads as they shunt between hospitals looking for (intensive care) beds or hospital admission.”

Chinese county restricts travel Travel restrictions were placed on nearly half a million people near Beijing on Thursday as authorities rush to contain a fresh outbreak of the coronavirus with a mass test-and-trace effort and lockdowns in parts of the Chinese capital.

Another 21 cases of the virus were reported in the past 24 hours in Beijing, the National Health Commission said, taking the total number to 158 since a fresh cluster was detected last week after months of no confirmed local transmissions.

One case was also recorded in the neighbouring city of Tianjin and two more in Hebei province, which surrounds Beijing—prompting travel restrictions to be placed on Anxin county, home to around 460,000 people, banning most traffic going in and out of the area.

US death toll drops below 1,000 for seven days now The United States recorded 840 deaths from the new coronavirus in the past 24 hours, according to data from Johns Hopkins University Wednesday, the seventh day in a row the toll has dropped below 1,000.

The country remains the most affected in the world by the pandemic in absolute terms, with more than 117,000 deaths overall and more than 2.1 million cases diagnosed.

Despite the encouraging drop in deaths, the number of new infections has plateaued around 20,000 a day, as infection rates wax and wane around the country. AFP

UHC Law must proceed as a result of the health crisis.

Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, head of the Senate committee on health and demography, vowed to fight for additional funding for PhilHealth.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon warned against postponing the implementation of the law that would promote access to affordable care, strengthen primary health care and make the Filipino people healthy to fight COVID-19.

News IN BRIEF P1.3m shabu seized in Taguig THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has seized P1.36 million worth of suspected shabu in a buy bust operation in Taguig City.

Director general Wilkins Villanueva identified the suspects as Allan Manuel Mendoza, 33, and Vyron Sebastian Flores, 37, both Grab drivers, along with Edwin Cruz Pascual, 37, a sales marketing agent.

The suspects were all residents of Nueva Ecija.

The PDEA-Special Enforcement Service arrested the suspects in an entrapment operation in a parking lot of a popular fast-food chain along C5 Road in front of Centennial Village, Taguig City on June 17.

The suspects yielded three plastic sachets of shabu, weighing more or less 200 grams and assorted drug paraphernalia. Rio N. Araja

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Probe sought on warrantless arrest L

By Maricel V. Cruz, Alena Mae Flores and Willie Casas

AWMAKERS from Mindanao on Thursday sought a congressional inquiry into the alleged unreasonable search and seizure and the subsequent warrantless arrest of two Muslim traders in San Andres, Manila last June 12.

Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman led the filing of House Resolution No. 981 denouncing the warrantless arrest of two Moro traders, Saadudin Alawiya and Abdullah Maute.

The Manila policemen who arrested the two also reportedly searched their houses.

“The primary objective of this probe is to get to the bottom of what happened in the afternoon of June 12 in the residence of the two Muslim traders, get the side of the police, find out if there was really abuse of

authority, and study if there is a need for legislation to address an injustice,” Hataman, former governor of the now-defunct ARMM, said.

Hataman, one of the lawmakers who voted against the Anti-Terrorism Bill, said that giving power to law enforcers to search and arrest without a warrant will only result in the abuse and misuse of the authority given to them under the measure.

Meanwhile, a multi-sectoral group said Thursday enacting the proposed anti-terror-

ism bill into law will help liberate the people from the threats of violent extremism and radicalism.

“As we commemorated last June 12 the anniversary of our freedom, the anti-terrorism bill should also be passed,” Jose Antonio “Ka Pep” Goitia, Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI) secretary-general, said in a statement.

Goitia said the Filipino people deserve freedom against the tyranny, oppression, violence, killings of innocents, and the longstanding armed insurgency brought by communist groups, Islamic extremists, and other rebel organizations in the country.

The legislation of the proposed anti-terrorism bill, he said, is key to end all forms of terrorism.

“This is a legislative measure that would free people from claws of global terrorism,” Goitia said.

Release P1,000 pension increase A LAWMAKER on Thursday renewed his appeal to President Duterte to order the immediate release of the muchdelayed P1,000 increase in the monthly pension of retired members of the Social Security System.

“Until the present, the second tranche has yet to be approved and released. The additional P1,000 will be a big help to our pensioners, especially during this Covid-19 pandemic. Pensioners are appealing for its release, saying they would use it to buy medicines,” Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez earlier filed Resolution No. 957 where he noted that the 17th Congress had approved a P2,000 adjustment in SSS pension.

He said Congress had mandated that the first tranche of P1,000 was to be paid “starting January 2017,” with the second half to be given “in January 2019.”

Rodriguez lamented that many senior citizens did not receive financial aid under the government’s P200-billion social amelioration program, which explicitly excluded retirees of both the SSS and the Government Service Insurance System who are receiving pension.

“They have to be helped, especially SSS pensioners, many of whom get less than P5,000 a month. They need the P1,000 increase,” he said. Maricel Cruz

He said acts of terrorism must be stopped to allow people to live peacefully, adding that the proposed bill does not discount inviolable rights.

The proposed bill is not a step toward martial law, he said, but a solution to the long-running insurgency, among other issues, in the country.

Goitia said the public should not cast doubt on the contents of the bill because safeguard measures against human rights violations are in place.

“It is clearly stated in the 1987 Constitution under Bill of Rights that the Anti-Terrorism Council has mechanisms in place for potential human rights violations,” he said.

He said the rule of law will reign supreme in the end.

“Civilians will still rule, law will still prevail, human rights will dominate,” he said.

Solon seeks 1-yr proscription for cyber libel cases

SC okays graft trial over parking building THE Supreme Court has paved the way for the Sandiganbayan to proceed with the trial for graft of a construction firm executive who has been accused of involvement in the overpriced contract of the Makati City parking building amounting to more than P800 million.

In a nine-page decision penned by Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul Inting, the SC’s Second Division dismissed the petition filed by Hilmarc’s Construction board chairman Efren Canlas seeking to overturn the resolutions issued by the Sandiganbayan dated September 25, 2017 and November 30, 2017 denying his motions to quash the two graft cases filed against him in connection with the anomalous construction of Phase IV and V of the parking building.

The high court rejected the arguments of Canlas that as private individual, he cannot be charged for violation of Section 3 (e) Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act which declares as unlawful the giving of any “unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference” to a private party by any public officer.

In ruling against Canlas, the SC affirmed that the Sandiganbayan did not commit grave abuse of discretion in denying Canlas’ bid to dismiss the cases against him.

“The well-settled rule is that private persons, when acting in conspiracy with public officers, may be indicted and, if found guilty held liable for the pertinent offenses under Section 3, of R.A. 3019, in consonance with the avowed policy of the anti-graft law to repress certain acts of public officers and private persons alike constituting graft or corrupt practice act or which may lead thereto,” the SC resolution stated. Rey E. Requejo

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By Maricel V. Cruz

VIOLATIONS. A pedicab driver was apprehended by operatives of Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau for loading seven passengers at a time which clearly violated health protocols for tri-wheel vehicles, while 37 other tricycle and pedicab drivers were apprehended due to passengers complaints of overcharging and driving without license violations. Manila PIO

‘Cheaper pneumonia vaccine may cost PH more’ A LEADING health expert in South America has warned the government against downgrading its pneumococcal vaccine from PCV 13 to PCV 10, and disputed a World Health Organization report saying there is little difference between the two vaccines.

“According to the WHO, both vaccines are similar. This is where we don’t agree,” Luis Villatoro, president of the Pediatric Association of El Salvador told reporters in Manila during a teleconference the other day.

He said while both pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) 13 and 10 are “very good and capable to deal with diseases, each has its own capacity to deal with certain diseases since pneumococcus is not just one bacteria. It’s a family of bacteria”.

PCV 13 has proven to be superior to

PCV 10 because it protects against three more pneumococcus strains, including serotype 19a, which is one of the most invasive and virulent.

Serotype 19a can spread easily from children to adults, and has shown to be resistant to antibiotics.

Villatoro said El Salvador’s own experience with using both vaccines simultaneously proved to be a costly mistake.

El Salvador was already using PCV 13 when the WHO came out with a position paper that said nations could opt for either PCV 13 or 10 and purportedly get the same protection at a lower cost.

“Authorities thought it was a good idea to switch from PCV 13 to 10 to save money,” he said. “But in the long run, it became more expensive and more troublesome for

health personnel.”

He said there was, for instance, a problem with stockpile, as one type of vaccine would run out.

“We ran out of one or the other vaccine.

So, they had a lot of problems in the year and a half they were introducing one vaccine, and they had the other running,” he said.

He said El Salvador eventually decided last year to switch back to PCV 13. “We thought it was better for our population” and El Salvador’s experience should prove instructive for the Philippines.

“Our lessons learned in this process is that if you’re doing okay, if you already have the budget and doing okay with the vaccine you’re working now, it’s better to continue working with that. To change may lead to a bigger price,” he said.

A LEGISLATOR has proposed a oneyear prescription period for the crime of cyberlibel.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez filed House Bill 7010 after a Manila regional trial court convicted journalist Maria Ressa and former writer-researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. of cyber libel. A businessman filed the complaint against Ressa and Santos.

In his bill, Rodriguez noted that the two media practitioners were found guilty of violating Section 4(c)(4) of Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

He said the law penalizes “acts of libel as defined in Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, committed through a computer system or any other similar means which may be devised in the future.”

He said after the conviction of Ressa and Santos, retired Supreme Court associate Justice Antonio Carpio commented that the 12-year prescription period of cyber libel cited by the judge was the “overriding issue” in the case.

“RA No. 10175 did not provide for any prescription for punishable acts in said law.

The Department of Justice used in court RA No. 3326, which provides that for any other offenses punishable by imprisonment for six years or more, the prescription period is 12 years,” Rodriguez added.

The former law dean noted that there have been differing opinions on when the crime of cyber libel prescribes.

“Some legal experts argue that since the article involved in the Ressa-Santos case was published in May 2012, then the alleged crime had prescribed in May 2013. If it was republished in February 2014, then the complainant had only until February 2015 to file a complaint. The case was filed in court on Feb. 5, 2019,” he said.

He said Far Eastern University law dean Mel Sta. Maria cited the ruling of the Supreme Court in upholding the constitutionality of the Anti-Cyber Crime Law, that cyber libel “is not a new crime,” since the Revised Penal Code already punishes libel, whose prescription period is only one year.

Villar pushes for organic product certification for small farmers

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SAYING more Filipinos should have access to healthy and safe farm products, Senator Cynthia Villar is pushing for a system of organic products certification which small farmers can also afford.

In defending the Committee Report amending Republic Act 10068 or the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, the Committee on Agriculture and Food said that “farmers find the cost of third party certification with the tag price ranging from

42,000 to 150,000 per crop, valid for only one year to be exorbitant.”

“This amount is way beyond the purse of small farmers who have the perennial problem to access even a small capital for production. Only rich farmers or corporations can afford third party certification.

The provision has become a deterrent and a disincentive for small farmers comprising a large percentage of the farming population,” Villar said.

Villar authored Senate Bill 1911 which proposes the establishment of the Participa-

tory Guarantee System (PGS) as an alternative to third-party certification.

PGS, which will only cost farmers P600 to P2000, is built on trust and integrity of farmers and consumers who conduct the certification process themselves through adherence to certification standards, guidelines, regulation and processes, similarly observed by third party certification.

Villar also noted that PGS is now widely adhered to and accepted by international organic movements, such as the

International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement. It is also recognized by the Food and Agricultural Organization as a pro-small farmer alternative to third party certification.

“Aside from environmental protection, increased farmer profitability is also a great motivation to promote and develop the organic industry. It promotes the use of natural and farm-based resources and inputs like organic fertilizer, which would yield to less input cost on the part of the farmers,” Villar said.

PH jockey coffee table book bags Gold Quill MEDIA Wise Communications/ Muse Books clinched yet another Gold Quill Award from the San Francisco, USAbased International Association of Business Communicators, this time for the coffee table book The Front Runner: 150 years of the Manila Jockey Club, during virtual awarding ceremonies held June 17 (Manila time) streamed over YouTube.

“These are extraordinary times and we wish we could have received the award in the usual manner, in the company of numerous brilliant communications practitioners all over the world,” said Ramoncito Ocampo Cruz, Media Wise CEO. The 2020 Excellence Gala, celebrating the highest achievements in communication, was supposed to be held in Chicago but was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Still, the change in mode does not take away from our pride in clinching

this recognition for communication achievement,” Cruz said.

The 300-page The Front Runner documents the journey of the Manila Jockey Club (MJC) from 1867, when it was informally established as an exclusive horseracing club of Manila’s elite, to today, more than 150 years later, as the premier venue for the country’s most popular racing sport and as one of the oldest horse-racing clubs in the Asia-Pacific region.

Nine chapters of text and photos tell the story of the evolution of horse racing in the Philippines. The Front Runner—a musthave for any racing aficionado—blends history, sport, business, and culture through powerful photos and compelling narratives.

The publishing team was led by Atty.

Alfonso Reyno III, President of the Manila Jockey Club Inc. as publisher, with Achilles B. Mina as editor.

Earlier this year, the book won the

PRSP Anvil Gold and Platinum Awards from the Public Relations Society of the Philippines. This was MediaWise’s second consecutive Gold and Platinum win, the previous year being for On the March: The Jesuits in the Philippines Since the Restoration, which chronicled the mission of the Jesuits in the Philippines.

IABC’s Gold Quill is the only awards program that honors the dedication, innovation and passion of communicators on a global scale. Since 2008, more than 4,451 projects have been entered in the Gold Quill Awards.

All IABC Gold Quill Award entries are evaluated by international professional communicators with more than 10 years of experience. The majority of evaluators have earned Gold Quill Awards and many are either IABC accredited or certified by the Global Communication Certification Council.

LOCKDOWN. Barangay 163 Zone 14 chairwoman Lourdes Gutierrez carries a baton stick while reminding her constituents to strictly follow the 48-hour lockdown of their village in Tondo, Manila. The village will be put under an enhanced community quarantine lockdown starting June 19 until midnight of June 20 to allow Manila City government health workers to conduct rapid testing in the area. Norman Cruz

Taguig orders strict lockdown of 2 villages

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

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FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020

3-month cash grants to SPED Navotas pupils

By Jun David THE City Government of Navotas has started the distribution of cash grants to special education (SPED) students.

Some 314 beneficiaries of the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Students Educational Assistance/ Scholarship received their January to March cash allowance worth P1,500.

Under the scholarship agreement, Navotas provides PWD students with P500 monthly educational assistance or P5,000 per academic year.

The scholars, on the other hand, are expected to attend at least 90% of the allotted school days per school year and actively participate in their respective classes.

“The distribution of cash allowance is scheduled for three days in six key locations to accommodate all beneficiaries and their representatives, and to maintain social distancing,” Mayor Toby Tiangco said.

“We hope the release of their educational assistance will help them and their families as they prepare for the coming school year,” he added.

Aside from the educational assistance, beneficiaries also received a face mask from Congressman John Rey Tiangco and relief pack from the Coca-Cola Foundation.

Applicants to the program need to be Navoteños or at least one of their parents/guardians are bonafide residents and registered voters in Navotas. They should be enrolled in a public school or public SPED school within the city.

They must also have a PWD identification card issued or validated by the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) and their family should not be a beneficiary of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

CLEAN CITY HALL. Workers wearing protective equipment disinfect an office as a preventative measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus at the city hall in Manila on Tuesday. AFP

P3,000 anniversary bonus for Makati city workers

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Makati City government is set to give around 7,310 city hall employees P3,000 each as anniversary bonus in line with the 350th Araw ng Makati foundation day celebration on Monday.

Mayor Abigail Binay said all regular, casual and contractual employees of city hall are entitled to the anniversary bonus. The recipients consist of 3,425 regular employees, 3,876 casual, and nine contractual.

“This is our simple way of giving back to our valued employees who have been our reliable partners in delivering services to our constituents for the past years. We appreciate how readily they have responded to the call of duty during this pandemic, putting public welfare before their own,” she said.

Binay also noted that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all activities scheduled

for this year’s anniversary celebration have been cancelled due to the crisis.

“At this time of uncertainty, we give priority to initiatives aimed to help Makatizens, including our city employees, cope well with the challenges brought on by the ongoing crisis,” the city chief executive said.

Last April, the city government granted hazard pay and special risk allowance to all qualified city hall frontliners who have reported for duty during the Enhanced Community Quarantine period.

Through City Ordinance No. 2020092, the city has been authorized to

allocate P124,453,000 to fund the said compensation. Previously, City Ordinance No. 2018-013 has granted duty risk pay for eligible city government personnel rendering hazardous or perilous work relating to disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM).

The benefit was extended to regular, casual, and contractual personnel of the city government who were exposed to great danger. Occupational risk, perils of life and physical hardship were also considered in granting occupational duty risk pay.

In lieu of the traditional festivities marking Araw ng Makati on June 1, the city has presented Mga Kwentong Pamana (Stories of Heritage) series on its social media platforms. The historic accounts posted with a collection of centuries-old photos highlight the city’s rich cultural heritage and remarkable achievements for the past three and a half centuries.

CONDOLENCES

Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. 1937-2020

TAGUIG City Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano has ordered city police commander Celso Rodriguez to strictly enforce the 15-day lockdown imposed in two areas of the village following the surge of COVID-19 cases.

Cayetano also gave directives to Barangay captain Roel Pacayra and his councilors, and Dr. Glenda Latorre from the barangay health center for the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Puroks 5 and 6 from June 17 to July 1.

The city government decided to put the two areas under ECQ to help curb the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safety of residents. The decision was also based on the recommendation of City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CEDSU).

The following guidelines will be implemented under this localized lockdown: • Movement of all residents shall be restricted only to purchase of essential goods; residents must have their Taguig Unified Quarantine Pass when going out to buy essentials.

• In accordance with the rules on ECQ, employees of establishments providing essential goods and services who reside in Puroks 5 and 6 shall be allowed to report to work.

• All residents of Purok 5 & 6 are advised to use the next 24 hours to inform their employers and other family members of the localized quarantine.

Meanwhile, the city government launched a new COVID-19 response team dubbed as Emergency Response for Notifiable Infections and Emerging Diseases (ERNIE).

The team was created to strengthen the campaign to contain COVID-19 and is dedicated for all COVID-19 related concerns per barangay.

The team's functions focus on contact tracing, monitoring of COVID-19 patients and close contacts, determining appropriate quarantine for patients, managing the needed resources, submitting data to CEDSU for contact tracing.

The Taguig City government placed two areas in Lower Bicutan under the enhanced community quarantine for 15 days.

The local government decided to place these areas under ECQ from beginning Wednesday night of June 17 until July 1 upon the recommendation of the CEDSU due to the clustering of COVID-19 cases. Joel Zurbano

INVENTOR.

Jun de Jesus (inset) stands next to his invention, the Vicure Machine, which he claims combines new technology and old but proven traditional medicine to kill airborne viruses and those stuck on surfaces to prevent them from spreading.

Ben Cal

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Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of the late San Miguel Corporation chairman and former Ambassador Eduardo ‘Danding’ Cojuangco Jr. We will miss the presence of a truly kindhearted business and political leader.

With deepest sympathies, Congressman Martin G. Romualdez Majority Floor Leader Congresswoman Yedda K. Romualdez Tingog party-list

Inventor makes anti-COVID machine

By Ben Cal AS THE world is in panic finding a vaccine for the deadly Coronavirus-19 Disease (COVID19), a Filipino inventor, combining new technology and old but proven traditional medicine, has developed a machine that kills airborne virus and those stuck on surfaces to prevent the bacteria from spreading.

Jun de Jesus, the enterprising Filipino inventor, calls his invention Vicure Machine.

“I started developing the machine in February this year after the outbreak of the pandemic disease in our country as my humble contribution to fight the virus,” de Jesus said in an exclusive interview with this writer.

“It is designed to fight airborne virus and other bacteria, particularly Covid-19,” he stressed.

“The Vicure invention it is a combination of new technology and old traditional Filipino medicine using soluble steam which has

been proven to be effective as a way to prevent the virus from entering our respiratory system,” he said.

“The local and traditional way of ridding the body of virus is called ‘Suob’ (covering the whole body, including the head with a blanket), get a pail of hot water mixed with one kilo of salt as this will increase our immune system. Through this process the virus and other bacteria are neutralized,’ de Jesus said.

The device can be used to disinfect hospitals, offices, homes, restaurants, and other areas he said.

De Jesus stressed that “during the disinfection, these areas must be cleared of people and wait for one hour before they occupy again.”

He also said that “those who undergo disinfectant procedure must wear clothes or masks and set the machine on automatic switch and presto, the virus is neutralized within a few minutes.”

Opinion Let’s see if ‘law is law’ holds POINT OF IMPACT

ERWIN TULFO THE breach of quarantine rules by a group of Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel on Boracay island showcases yet again the culture of impunity among those in the position of authority and how they abuse their power right before our eyes.

While most of us have painstakingly adhered to the strict rules of community quarantine, these hooligans chose to pull off their version of “mananita” last weekend, June 12-14, in Boracay.

Unfortunately for them, one female member of at least 25 members of the BFP group from Iloilo City turned out to be COVID-19 positive, according to results of tests taken in Iloilo before the trip.

Ironically, these firefighters said they came to join the entourage of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) that held a meeting there June 11-12 during which top officials announced the island’s reopening to tourism.

The BIATF disowned the BFP group, stating that the meeting had concluded and most participants, including the invited media, were already leaving Friday afternoon, June 12.

Considering that BFP is under the DILG, this deliberate violation of the quarantine rule on social gathering and physical distancing certainly does not show their high regard for DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, who co-chairs the BIATF, along with DENR Sec. Roy Cimatu, chairman and DOT Sec. Berna Puyat.

Año has ordered the relief from duties and placed under quarantine all members of the BFP involved, as well as the workers of the unnamed hotel where the group stayed for three days for “despedida party.”

The Department of Tourism (DOT) yesterday announced it has revoked the accreditation of the said hotel.

Good thing Ano has also ordered an investigation before somebody runs to Manong Digong and cries on his shoulder over this shenanigan.

We will see if this time the dictum “Law is law” will be upheld.

It’s a shame that the BFP spoiled the anticipated opening of Boracay which was being trumpeted as the model of the country’s tourism under the New Normal.

BIATF has been looking forward to allowing direct flights from abroad to Boracay island to bring back the green bucks while the rest of the country continues to grapple with continued pandemic threat and poverty.

Despite the extreme difficulties caused by the restriction on mass transportation that tend to punish rather than protect from illness, the ever-resilient Juan dela Cruz managed to go to work and shell out a few pesos for subsistence.

These bureau employees had their own version of mañanita in Boracay.

Now, we are faced with the challenge of proving wrong the projection of the University of the Philippines Institute of Mathematics that the COVID-19 cases in the country would reach 40,000 by June 30.

The UP Institute’s research team has advised against easing the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila and Cebu City due to constant increases in confirmed coronavirus infections.

For all we know, those 40,000 COVID-19 cases may be existing already but they have not been confirmed and reported due to lack of mass testing.

As I’ve said earlier, things may get even worse before they get any better.

Let us keep our fingers crossed, as we expect the influx of tens of thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers. We should welcome them with open arms like the true heroes that they are who helped keep the country's economy afloat all these years.

An expert from the DOH, Dr. Rontgene Solante, said we may have to learn how to live with COVID-19 until such time that a vaccine for it is discovered.

That simply means we have no choice but to adapt to the so-called New Normal where we give importance to personal preventive measures against contracting the virus.

We should not act like the hooligans but rather continue to cooperate and make this whole thing work for our own good, especially for the benefit of our children.

And more important than rebuking UP's 40,000 COVID-19 case prediction is to ensure the future of our children who must learn how to cope with life's challenges like this as they grow.

Everyman

We should not aim to return to normal

By Armida Alisjahbana and Inger Andersen THE world before COVID-19 looks very attractive right now. In light of the disease, mass unemployment and social distancing, a return to pre-pandemic normality seems appealing. Yet we should remember what normal was.

Normal isn’t working. We need to build back better.

Normal was obtaining 85 per cent of our energy from fossil fuels and losing 7 million people a year to air pollution.

Normal was careening toward a global temperature rise of over 3.5 C by the end of the century, with island nations facing obliteration.

Normal was one in eight species threatened with extinction, continued squeezing of wild spaces into smaller and smaller corners, and the rampant illegal trade in wildlife.

Normal contributed to causing this pandemic.

We should also remember that COVID19’s effects on health, jobs and economies are simply an acute version of what climate change is predicted to bring—and in places already has. Unless we aspire to a better normal with recovery, we are treating the symptom, not the disease. We must build back better than before.

Many governments are preparing stimulus and relief packages to support COVID-19 recovery. Trillions of dollars will be ushered into the economy across Asia and the Pacific. These stimulus measures should help us achieve a better normal—a greener, more equitable normal.

How? A recent survey of 230 economists in 53 countries suggests that green, climate-friendly stimulus measures are the best options for an economic rebound, offering the highest economic multipliers in the short- and long-terms.

Even before the pandemic, the UN determined that climate action could trigger $26 trillion in economic benefits by 2030, create more than 65 million new jobs and avoid 700,000 premature deaths from air pollution.

Governments have no shortage of options when it comes to directing a green, equitable stimulus package. They can offer support to the construction industry to develop energy efficient and zero-energy buildings. This is a high employment sector, and investments can be quickly implemented.

It may be tempting to scale up funds for infrastructure like roads, but that funding can go to improved and greener public transport systems to service more people.

More public transit capacity will reduce the load on roads and reduce air pollution and emissions. The lockdown has shown it’s possible to lean more heavily on IT to decentralize business operations, reducing time lost and carbon produced in commutes and travel. Governments should now consider incentives to companies that invest in IT solutions for their operations.

Many industries will be looking for bailouts to bounce back. There is no time like the present for governments to include terms that will require companies to work toward climate neutrality. Airlines supported by governments should be asked to make stronger commitments and take bolder action to reduce emissions, which will be needed anyway for the industry to guarantee long-term sustainability and employment for the millions who rely on it. The example is being set by those governments who have made their support dependent on energy efficiency targets and shifting short haul flights to rail.

Bailouts to the auto industry can be directed to investments in e-vehicle and battery production, and efficiency technology.

Where bailouts should not happen is in the fossil fuel sector. Developing Asian countries account for nearly one-third of global fossil fuel subsidies. The COVID-19 recovery period is the right time to end these subsidies, and ensure there are no new investments in coal. The savings to governments can support investments in areas like

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020

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Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Massive layoffs T

HE COVID-19 pandemic continues to rear its ugly head on the economic

employees after halting its operations. The airline employs a workforce of around 100,000, many of them Filipinos, with a fleet of 270 front. wide-bodied aircraft.

Several companies worldwide in Lufthansa of Germany, meanrecent days have announced plans while, announced plans to reduce to lay off thousands of workers as their response to the global ecoRising nomic slump. It is the reality of the situation. More people will lose unemployment their jobs as the pandemic wears on worsens the poverty and as the global economy contracts problem and will on reduced demand.

The travel industry is among the eventually stir unrest early casualties of the virus out- in the population. break. Lockdowns in many countries restricted travel, with airline companies, hotels and other tourism estab- 22,000 full-time jobs on expectalishments partially or completely tions that recovery in demand for travel would be muted amid the shutting down their operations.

Emirates, one of the world's big- coronavirus pandemic. gest carriers, is cutting jobs with- Here in the Philippines, 1Aviout specifying the number, after the ation Groundhandling Services coronavirus forced the Dubai-based Corp., the service provider of Cebu airline to ground its fleet. It an- Pacific and Cebgo, is terminating nounced early in March temporary over 1,000 employees as the aviacuts of between 25 percent and 50 tion industry continues to reel from percent in basic salaries for most the COVID-19 pandemic.

The global automotive industry is not spared from the telling effects of the virus outbreak. Renault is cutting 15,000 jobs worldwide, including 4,600 in France. Swedish truck maker Volvo, one of the world's largest, is slashing 4,100 white-collar jobs.

The US, the world's biggest economy, has its own bad unemployment numbers. Layoffs caused by the coronavirus pandemic have reached 44.2 million in the American nation as it grapples with the surging virus outbreak.

The Philippines is experiencing the same unemployment shock, especially in the services sector where hundreds of thousands of restaurant crew, mall sales people, hotel personnel and business process outsourcing agents are working.

Reopening the economy quickly is the best solution to stave off massive layoffs. The Philippines cannot afford an increasing number of jobless people. Rising unemployment worsens the poverty problem and will eventually stir unrest in the population.

Trying to grasp the anti-terror bill ing Council (AMLC), either upon its own initiative or at the request of the ATC, is authorized to investigate: (a) any property or funds that are in any way related to the financing of terrorism; or (b) property or funds of any person or persons in relation to the respondent/s with whom there is probable cause to believe that these person/s are committing, attempting, conspiring to commit, participating in or facilitating the financing of terrorism (Section 35, Anti-Terrorism Council).

The AMLC is authorized without a court order to inquire into or examine deposits and

FOOTNOTES

TRANQUIL G.S SALVADOR III (Part 2) PROSCRIPTION is the process by which the court declares an organization, association, or group of persons as committing, threatening to commit, conspiring to commit, proposing to commit or inciting to commit terrorism, and recruiting terrorists or providing material support to terrorists (Sections 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11and12, Anti-Terrorism Bill); or those organized for purposes of engaging in terrorism. Under the provision, the Department of Justice, upon the authority of the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), may apply with the Court of Appeals to declare certain groups of persons, organizations or associations as terrorists (Sec. 26, Anti-Terrorism Bill). The application shall be filed with notice to the persons concerned and they will be given the opportunity to be heard. This is unlike the designation of terrorist individuals, groups or associations by the ATC which requires no court action or declaration (Section 25, Anti-Terrorism Bill).

The Court of Appeals may issue a preliminary order of proscription within seventy-two (72) hours from the filing of the application, after a determination of probable cause that the respondent is a terrorist or an outlawed organization. This preliminary order may be made permanent or may be lifted after continuous hearings within six (6) months from the time of the application.

Upon the issuance of the preliminary order of proscription or in case of a designation under Section 25, the Anti-Money Launder-

public health and renewable energy. This is one answer to the question of where stimulus money will come from.

Across Asia and the Pacific, governments have scarce financial resources to apply toward recovery measures at the scale needed.

This underlines that existing resources must be deployed to policies with the highest economic multipliers. It also implies that finding additional revenue will be a priority.

Putting a price on carbon emissions and reforming subsidies for agriculture and fos-

Detention without judicial warrant is a controversial provision. investments with any banking institution or non-bank financial institution. This is notwithstanding the provisions of Republic Act No. 1405, otherwise known as the “Law on Secrecy of Bank Deposits”, as amended, Republic Act No. 6426, otherwise known as the "Foreign Currency Deposit Act of the Philippines”, as amended, and Republic Act No. 8791, otherwise known as “The General Banking Law of 2000.”

A very controversial provision is “Detention without Judicial Warrant,” which allows law enforcement and military personnel who have been duly authorized in writing by the ATC to take custody of persons suspected of committing any of the acts defined and penalized under Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the Anti-Terrorism Bill. The suspect may be detained for a period of fourteen (14) calendar days subject to further extension of ten (10) days if

sil fuels can be especially effective with oil prices at record lows, when the social impact of removing subsidies will be lessened.

Measures like feebates—which impose a fee on high-carbon vehicles and give a rebate to low-carbon cars—to incentivize greener transport and energy efficiency improvements provide more options for increasing revenue.

Green bonds can also finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Outside China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, green bonds are scarce in the region. Now

it is established that the further detention of the suspect is: (a) necessary to preserve the evidence, or to complete the investigation, (b) necessary to prevent the commission of another terrorism; and if (c) the investigation is being conducted properly and without delay (Section 29, Anti-Terrorism Bill).

Under Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code, the maximum detention before delivery of the suspect to the judicial authorities is only thirty-six (36) hours or one and a half days for crimes punishable by afflictive or capital penalties. While under the Constitution, if the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is suspended by the President the detained suspect will have to be judicially charged within three (3) days from apprehension, otherwise he shall be released (Section 18, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution). Consistent with the constitutional mandate, the Human Security Law of 2007 requires delivery of the detained suspect to the judicial authorities within three (3) days from arrest. It therefore appears that the period of detention under the Anti-Terrorism Bill is inconsistent with the Constitution and the existing penal laws.

It is the duty of the arresting officer to notify, in writing, the judge of the court nearest to the place of apprehension or arrest showing the following facts: (a) the time, date, and manner of arrest; (b) the location of the detained suspects; and (c) the physical and mental condition of the detained suspects.

The law enforcement agent or military personnel shall likewise furnish the ATC and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) of the written notice given to the judge. The head of the detaining facility shall ensure that the detained suspect is informed of his rights as a detainee and shall ensure access of the detainee to his counsel.

Full version at www.manilastandard.net

is the time to capitalize on a proven idea to support a sustainable and resilient recovery from COVID-19.

COVID-19 is a message from nature. So is the ongoing climate crisis. Normal isn’t working. We need to build back better.

Armida Alisjahbana is the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Inger Andersen is the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme.

MORE OPINION ONLINE (www.manilastandard.net)

CROSSROADS

TO THE POINT

J.A. DELA CRUZ

EMIL JURADO

TONY LOPEZ

‘A Thousand Cuts’: A review

Ressa is no press freedom martyr

Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., 85

VIRTUAL REALITY

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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‘Trump asked Xi for poll help’ ONALD Trump pleaded with China’s leader Xi Jinping for help to win re-election in 2020, the US president’s former national security advisor John Bolton writes in an explosive new behind-the-scenes book, according to excerpts published Wednesday.

D

Bolton alleges in a blistering critique that Trump’s focus on winning a second term was the driving principle of his foreign policy, and that top aides routinely disparaged the Republican leader for his ignorance of basic geopolitical facts.

In excerpts published by The Washington Post, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, Bolton also

claims Trump repeatedly showed a readiness to overlook Chinese human rights abuses – most strikingly telling Xi the mass internment of Uighur Muslims was “exactly the right thing to do.”

“I am hard-pressed to identify any significant Trump decision during my White House tenure that wasn’t driven by reelection calculations,” Bolton writes of the real estate magnate-

turned-president, who was impeached in December for seeking dirt from Ukraine on his 2020 Democratic election rival Joe Biden.

In a key meeting with Xi last June, Trump “stunningly turned the conversation to the US presidential election, alluding to China’s economic capability to affect the ongoing campaigns, pleading with Xi to ensure he’d win,” Bolton claims in his upcoming tell-all.

Bolton writes that Trump stressed the importance of US farmers and how “increased Chinese purchases of soybeans and wheat” could impact the US electoral outcome.

In a sign of Trump’s anger over the memoir, the Justice Department filed an

emergency order late Wednesday seeking a halt to publication, the second time in as many days it has tried to block the book.

Arguing that Bolton failed to allow completion of vetting of the book as required, the department urged the court to take action to “prevent the harm to national security that will result if his manuscript is published to the world.”

Bolton “broke the law” by divulging “highly classified information,” Trump said in a late Wednesday interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity.

He also derided his former advisor, a veteran Washington insider, as “washed up,” and mocked Bolton’s past support for the US war in Iraq. AFP

US, China clash anew amid talks on tensions THE United States pressed China over its treatment of Uighur Muslims and Hong Kong as the two powers stood firm in high-level talks in Hawaii on soaring tensions.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with senior Chinese official Yang Jiechi at a Honolulu military base Wednesday, in the two countries’ highest-level meeting since the coronavirus pandemic sent tensions skyrocketing, a State Department official said.

They met away from media as excerpts came out from an explosive memoir by former US national security advisor John Bolton, who said President Donald Trump asked President Xi Jinping for assistance in his re-election.

Just as Pompeo met Yang, Trump signed into law an act that authorizes sanctions for Chinese officials involved in the detention of some one million Uighur Muslims and other Turkic Muslims.

Beijing quickly responded that the law “maliciously attacks” China and threatened consequences.

China will “resolutely hit back and the US will bear the burden of all subsequent consequences,” the Chinese foreign ministry said.

And Pompeo and his counterparts from the other Group of Seven major industrial democracies put out a joint statement voicing “grave concerns” about a draft security law in Hong Kong.

“We strongly urge the Government of China to reconsider this decision,” said the joint statement by Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.

China is moving ahead with a law that would prohibit subversion and other perceived offenses in the financial hub, to which Beijing promised autonomy before taking back the British colony in 1997.

In response, Yang said at the meeting with Pompeo that Beijing’s “determination” to introduce the law was “unwavering,” according to a statement on the foreign ministry website.

Yang said China “resolutely opposes the statement made by the G7 foreign ministers on Hong Kong-related issues,” according to the statement.

With Trump under fire at home over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, his Republican Party has increasingly cast China as the villain ahead of November elections.

But Bolton’s book – which the administration is trying to block – tells another story, saying Trump asked China to boost his election prospects by requesting that it buy more farm produce.

Bolton, according to an excerpt published by The Washington Post, also said that Xi explained the Uighur camps to Trump, who replied that they were “exactly the right thing to do.”

Activists say China is forcibly homogenizing minorities in a brainwashing campaign with few modern precedents. Beijing counters that it is running vocational educational centers that offer an alternative to Islamic extremism.

Yang reportedly sought the meeting with Pompeo, following a similar quiet encounter with him in New York in August to address tensions. AFP

IN BRIEF

4 new members elected to UNSC

THE UN General Assembly elected four new members of the Security Council for 2021 and 2022, with Canada losing out again and the battle for the African seat going to a second round.

India, Mexico, Norway and Ireland were chosen as non-permanent members, while Djibouti and Kenya – both of which failed to receive the two-thirds vote majority required to win – will go to a second round of voting on Thursday.

Canada was beaten once again for one of the Western seats, by Ireland and Norway, despite a long and star-studded campaign, a result likely to be a blow to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

In the Asia-Pacific region, India – which has been trying unsuccessfully to win a permanent seat in an expanded Security Council­—ran unopposed to win 184 votes out of the 192 countries that participated in the election.

The result means that India will now have a seat at the same table as China, just days after the two nations disputed their Himalayan border, trading blame for a brawl that left at least 20 Indian soldiers dead.

Mexico, which also ran unopposed, earned 187 votes.

African nations have in the past picked their own candidate but were unable to put forward a single country this time.

Kenya received 113 votes against Djibouti, which got 78. AFP

$120M scholarship for black students

In this file photo National Security Adviser John Bolton stands alongside US President Donald Trump as he speaks during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on May 17, 2018. The US Justice Department filed an emergency order Wednesday seeking to halt release of Bolton’s book, the second time in two days that President Trump tried to block the tell-all memoir. AFP

Over 1% of humanity displaced­—UN NEARLY 80 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to violence and persecution, marking a near-doubling of global displacement in a decade, the UN said Thursday.

By the end of 2019, one out of every 97 people in the world was living uprooted and displaced, according to a fresh report by the United Nations refugee agency, highlighting swelling displacement from conflicts in places like Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“One percent of the world population cannot go back to their homes because there are wars, persecution, human rights violations, and other forms of violence,” UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi told AFP in an interview.

The UNHCR agency found that by the end of last year, a record 79.5 million people were living either as refugees, asylum seekers or in so-called internal displacement within their own countries, marking a dramatic increase of nearly nine million from a year earlier.

“This is a trend that has been going on since 2012: the figures are higher than the year before,” Grandi said, pointing out that this meant “there has been more conflict, there has been more violence that has pushed people away from their homes.”

It also means, he said, “that there have been insufficient political solutions” to the conflicts and crises that would allow people to return home.

Grandi pointed out that 10 years ago, the number of people living in displacement around the global stood at around 40 million.

“So it has basically doubled. And we don’t see this trend diminishing,” he said.

“With the international community so divided, so unable, so incapable of making peace, unfortunately the situation won’t stop growing, and I am very worried that next year it will be even worse than this year.”

Thursday’s report showed that at the end of 2019, nearly 46 million of those displaced remained inside their own

country, while 26 million had fled across borders as refugees.

Another 4.2 million people were asylum seekers, while 3.6 million Venezuelans displaced abroad were tallied separately.

Last year, some 11 million people were newly displaced, many in a handful of conflict-wracked countries and regions, the report showed.

They include Syria, which after more than nine years of civil war counts 13.2 million people displaced either inside or outside the country – a full sixth of the global total.

In fact, Grandi pointed out, a full 68 percent of the world’s refugees come from just five countries: Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Myanmar.

This, he stressed, “means that if the international community found the unity, the political will and the resources to help these countries get out of crisis and rebuild, most likely we would have solved well over half of the world (refugee) problem.” AFP

NETFLIX chief Reed Hastings and his philanthropist wife on Wednesday gave $120 million to historically black US colleges to fund full-ride scholarships for students.

The gift by the Netflix co-founder and his wife, Patty Quillin, to Spelman College and Morehouse College – two Atlanta universities – and the United Negro College Fund was touted as the largestever contribution by an individual in support of such scholarships.

“Both of us had the privilege of a great education and we want to help more students – in particular students of color – get the same start in life,” Quillin and Hastings said in a statement.

“Historically black colleges and universities have a tremendous record, yet are disadvantaged when it comes to giving.”

The money is to be spent during the coming decade to pay for 200 students to attend full 4-year college programs.

Quillin and Hastings said they hoped the scholarships help “reverse generations of inequity in our country.”

Hastings, who as a younger man spent time in the Peace Corps and teaching high school-level math in Swaziland, and his wife have a history of philanthropy aimed at education. AFP

Mysterious ‘UFO’ goes viral in Japan

IT’S hardly the stuff of little green men, but a mysterious balloon-like object seen floating across the skies of northern Japan has captured national attention, even prompting questions to the government.

The unidentified flying object was first spotted on Wednesday morning when residents in northern Sendai city took to social media to post pictures and debate what they were seeing.

“This white thing isn’t moving at all. What is it? Can anyone tell me?” wrote one user, with others chiming in using the hashtag “unidentified flying object” in Japanese.

Authorities said they were baffled by the object, which close-up images taken by local residents and media suggest is composed of a balloon-like object attached to crossed sticks with propellers.

“The object looks like a balloon for monitoring weather, but it’s not ours,” an official at the Sendai bureau of the Japan Meteorological Agency told AFP on Thursday.

Local police reportedly flew a helicopter to confirm the presence of the object, but also drew a blank on its identity – even after consulting other authorities and organizations. AFP

Police ‘not treated fairly’ after race shooting DONALD Trump said that US police have “not been treated fairly” and appeared to defend a white officer charged with the murder of a black man.

Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe was charged with murder Wednesday for shooting African American Rayshard Brooks in the back, and aggravated the case by kicking the 27-year-old as he lay on the ground bleeding.

The death of Brooks came less than three weeks after George Floyd died while being pinned down by Minneapolis police officers, fueling a national uproar and anti-police brutality protests across the country.

“I thought it was a terrible situation, but you can’t resist a police officer,” Trump said of Brooks’ death in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity.Å “I hope he gets a fair shake because police have not been treated fairly in our country.

“But, again, you can’t resist a police officer like that. And they ended up in a very terrible disagreement and look at the way it ended. Very bad.

Very bad.”

Trump also mentioned Floyd, saying he had been unable to watch the nearly nine-minute clip of Floyd’s death.

“Who could watch that?” he said.

On Tuesday Trump issued an order to improve policing – calling for a ban on dangerous chokeholds – but he has stopped well short of demands made at nationwide protests against racism and police brutality.

Critics, including the Democrat speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, have derided his efforts.

“The president’s weak executive order falls sadly and seriously short of what is required to combat the epidemic of racial injustice and police brutality,” she said in a statement this week.

Trump derided the Democrats during the Fox News interview, claiming: “They do nothing and they want to defund and they want to abolish, they want to abolish police departments.” AFP

LONG OVERDUE.

Houston city workers remove a statue of confederate soldier Dick Dowling from Hermann Park on June 17, 2020 in Houston, Texas. AFP

Business

B3

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks gain again; JG Summit up T HE stock market rose Thursday on hopes a basic steroid treatment tested by the UK will provide a cure to COVID-19 patients worldwide.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index advanced 66.44 points, or 1.1 percent, to 6,348.45 on a value turnover of P1.04 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 124 to 69, with 46 issues unchanged.

The World Health Organization on Tuesday hailed as a “lifesaving scientific breakthrough” the British use of a basic steroid to treat severely ill COVID-19 patients, saving about a third of them.

Britain will immediately start giving dexamethasone to coronavirus patients, after a trial showed the steroid saved the lives of one third of the gravest cases.

JG Summit Holdings Inc. of the Gokongwei Group rose 5.4 percent to P64.30, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the biggest fast-food chain, climbed 3.4 percent to P149.90.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. of the Sy Group increased 3.2 percent to P32. MerryMart Consumer Corp., however, fell 18.4 percent to P2.75 after advancing for three consecutive days from its initial public offering price of P1 a share.

The rest of Asian markets were mixed Thursday as investors took a breather after a broad two-day rally, while they weighed concerns about a new wave of

virus infections against massive monetary easing and stimulus measures.

The financial support, along with the easing of lockdown restrictions, opening-up of economies and positive data have provided support to equities across the planet in recent months.

But there is growing sense that traders may have got ahead of themselves and observers warn markets could be in line for a pull-back unless there is a major event to move higher, such as the development of a vaccine.

After starting the day on the back foot, regional equities clawed back losses and some managed to shift into positive territory.

Tokyo ended down 0.5 percent and Hong Kong dipped 0.3 percent, while Sydney slipped 0.9 percent after data showed a mas-

sive jump in Australian job losses.

Wellington was also down one percent after news the New Zealand economy suffered its worst contraction for almost three decades in the first quarter.

Seoul slipped 0.4 percent, while Bangkok and Jakarta were also down.

But Shanghai ended up 0.1 percent, Singapore added 0.3 percent, Mumbai climbed 0.7 percent and Taipei put on 0.1 percent.

“There is no doubt that economic activity is recovering from its worst levels,” said Stephen Innes at AxiCorp. “We can see that in numerous official and anecdotal reports. Still, financial data is thought to be unreliable these days and the positive knock-on effects seem to be losing swagger quickly as we all know the economic nasties are coming down the road.” AFP

PSEi June 18, 2020 TOP GAINERS

TOP LOSERS

Indonesia’s central bank cuts rates to lift sagging economy

Estafa case of Gaisano daughter going nowhere A LADY investor belonging to the rich Gaisano family and duped by her stock brokerage company is not pleased with the way her syndicated estafa complaint is progressing in the court.

Valerie Gaisano-Sebastian, one of the daughters of business tycoon Edmund Gaisano Sr., is perplexed by attempts to transfer the hearing of the estafa case against officers of DW Capital Inc. from Cebu City to Makati or Quezon City. She filed the charges on behalf of her mother, Judy Gaisano.

The Gaisano camp suspects a high court official is instrumental in trying to recommend a change in the trial venue, citing the powerful influence of the rich clan in Cebu. The official recommended the proposal to the SC’s first division, chaired by then-Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta. Valerie’s lawyer naturally resisted the move.

Valerie’s legal suit started in 2017 when DW Capital sold her aggregate investments worth P2.6 billion without informing her of the transaction. She later filed a complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission detailing the unauthorized transactions.

Valerie in October 2018 charged 10 DW Capital officers and personnel with syndicated estafa before the Cebu City regional trial court. Following the raffle of the case to Branch 7, Judge Stewart Himalaloan in March 2019 issued a warrant of arrest against the accused officers and personnel.

Judge Himalaloan issued the warrants of arrest to at least nine other accomplices who remain fugitives. They include Wong Chung Yin or David Wong, DWCI chief financial officer; Derick Wong, DWCI vice president and director; Dianne Wong, DWCI vice president for sales; Lucy Chua, DWCI assistant manager and corporate secretary; Juvy Ting, DWCI independent director; Susan Lu, Beverly Ansay and Leonardo Marzan.

In April 2019, Derwin Wong, one of the accused, was arrested in Makati. Derwin was married to Eda Frances Gaisano, Valerie’s sister.

Early this year, members of the International Criminal Police Organization, or Interpol, in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation, arrested DW Capital treasurer Davidson Wong in Madrid, Spain for the same syndicated estafa charge.

David Wong, another co-accused remains at-large but the fugitive managed to file a petition for a transfer of venue from Cebu to Makati or Quezon City on the grounds that the Gaisanos could influence the outcome of the trial in their hometown.

Valerie’s lawyers opposed the petition for transfer, citing that the judge and the city prosecutor had already determined that the Cebu City RTC had jurisdiction over the case, and that David Wong had not even asserted his innocence before requesting for a change in trial venue.

Derwin Wong, meanwhile, filed a petition for bail on May 7, 2019. To the surprise of the complainant, Judge Himalaloan granted Derwin Wong’s petition to post a bail of P800,000 despite the charge of syndicated estafa, a non-bailable offense.

Valerie’s lawyers, meanwhile, are puzzled by David Wong’s assertion about the Gaisanos’ supposedly strong influence in Cebu City. Valerie has lost her petition to oppose the bail filed by Derwin Wong despite the clan’s “influence.”

The Wongs are said to be influential in Quezon City and Makati, the two places where David Wong requested the trial to be heard.

If any of the parties want to avoid influence-peddling from either side, then shouldn’t the case be heard somewhere where neither party has influence? The closest RTC branches to Cebu are in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. Why the rush to transfer the hearing of the case to Manila?

Fugitive David Wong seems to be exerting his influence over a high court official in seeking the relief.

DISNEYLAND IS BACK.

Visitors and members of the media walk in Hong Kong’s Disneyland on June 18, 2020, after the theme park officially reopened following nearly five months of closure in a fresh boost for a city that has largely managed to defeat the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Manila

Standard

TODAY

JAKARTA—Indonesia’s central bank on Thursday cut interest rates for the third time this year and scaled back its growth projections as the global pandemic batters Southeast Asia’s biggest economy.

Policymakers at Bank Indonesia reduced the key lending rate by 25 basis points to 4.25 percent, while lowering their full-year economic growth forecast to between 0.9-1.9 percent, from a previous 2.3 percent.

The move comes days after the government warned of a 3.1-percent contraction in the second quarter -- the latest in a series of downward revisions.

Central bank governor Perry Warjiyo signaled there was “still room” to cut rates further in the coming months, but added that he expected growth to rebound next year.

“This (rate) decision is consistent with efforts to maintain stability and boost the economy during the COVID-19 era,” he said Thursday.

Indonesia has announced a stimulus package worth some $48 billion to help offset the impact of coronavirus, which forced a wide-scale shutdown that hammered growth, including in the key tourism sector.

“We expect further gradual easing over the coming months,” research house Capital Economics said, citing a “very poor outlook” for the economy.

“Virus containment measures are having a huge impact on the economy,” it added.

This month, the Southeast Asian archipelago, home to nearly 270 million people, said it was rolling out a “new normal” policy that included gradually easing movement restrictions in a bid to head off economic collapse.

But Indonesia’s infections are mounting with cases topping 40,000 on Wednesday, surging beyond neighboring Singapore to mark the region’s highest. AFP 6795 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street Makati City, Phillipines (02) 8777-2266 or 1-800-10-777-2266

Manila

Standard

TODAY PHILIPPINE SEVEN CORPORATION 7th Floor, The Columbia Tower Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City Tel. Nos. 8724-44-41 to 53 Fax No. 8705-52-09

NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS Please take notice that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the PHILIPPINE BANK OF COMMUNICATIONS (“PBCOM”) will be held on Tuesday, 14 July 2020, 2:00p.m. – 4:00 p.m. The meeting will be conducted virtually and can be accessed at the link provided in the Bank’s website at https://www.pbcom.com.ph/.

AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Certification of Notice and Quorum 3. Review and Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting held on 4 June 2019 4. Annual Report of Management and Approval of the Audited Financial Statements for 2019 5. Ratification of Acts of the Board of Directors and Management since the Last Annual Meeting of Stockholders 6. Amendment of the By-Laws to include BSPprescribed board level committees of the Bank 7. Election of Directors 8. Appointment of External Auditor 9. Other Matters 10. Adjournment For purposes of the meeting, only stockholders of record as of 15 May 2020 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, PBCOM will be holding a virtual Annual Meeting. The conduct of the Annual Meeting will be streamed live, and stockholders may attend, participate and vote only through proxy, remote communication or in absentia.

The requirements and procedures for voting in absentia and participation through remote communication are set forth in the Information Statement.

Stockholders who choose to vote by proxy must submit and address their signed proxy to the attention of the Corporate Secretary at 5/F PBCOM Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, Makati City or via e-mail at mshlao@pbcom. com.ph not later than 5:00 p.m. on or before 03 July 2020.

In compliance with SEC Resolution No. 196, Series of 2015, a copy of the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements of PBCOM with Management Discussion and Analysis for the period ended 31 March 2020 shall be posted in PBCOM’s website at https:// www.pbcom.com.ph/ on or before 09 July 2020. A hard copy of the said interim financial statements shall be provided within a reasonable time upon request by any stockholder.

Copies of the following documents will be available upon request: (i) Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on 4 June 2019; (ii) Information Statement; (iii) Management Report; (iv) Audited Financial Statements for the year 2019.

PBCOM IS NOT SOLICITING PROXIES.

MICHAEL STEPHEN H. LAO Corporate Secretary

TO THE STOCKHOLDERS: Notice is hereby given that the annual stockholders meeting of PHILIPPINE SEVEN CORPORATION (the “Corporation”), will be conducted virtually and livestreamed through the link which can be accessed at the Corporation’s website at https://www.7-eleven.com.ph/2020-asm/ on Thursday, 16 July 2020 at 2:00 P.M. for the purpose of taking up the following: 1. Certification of Notice of Meeting & Quorum and Call to Order 2. Approval of Minutes of the Annual Stockholders Meeting held on 18 July 2019 a. Chairman’s Message b. President’s Report 3. Approval of 2019 Audited Financial Statements contained in the Corporation’s 2019 Annual Report and in the Information Statement accompanying this Notice and Agenda 4. Ratification of Actions Taken by the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Board Committees and Management since the last annual stockholders meeting 5. Election of the Board of Directors for 2020 6. Appointment of External Auditor 7. Approval of the Amendment of Fourth Article of the Amended Articles of Incorporation on Corporate term to perpetual pursuant to the Revised Corporation Code (RCC) 8. Approval of the Amendment of Sections 4, 5, 7, 15, 17, 25 and 33 of the Amended Bylaws to adopt the provisions of the RCC on sending of notice of meetings, quorum, holding of meetings and voting by remote communication, emergency board, updating the corporate officers and per diem.

9. Other Matters 10. Adjournment For purposes of the meeting, only stockholders of record as of June 10, 2020 are entitled to vote in the said meeting.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting will be streamed live, and stockholders may attend and participate via remote communication by registering on or before 5:00 PM on July 10, 2020 using the registration form found in the https://www.7-eleven.com.ph/2020-asm/.

Stockholders may send in questions or remarks to asm-psc@7-eleven.com.ph.

To cast your votes as a stockholder, you may vote through remote communication or in absentia, or through a proxy. Voting by remote communication or in absentia shall be done by completing the online voting form or submitting a scanned copy of the downloadable voting form found in https://www.7-eleven.com.ph/2020-asm/. The requirements and procedure for registration and voting are set forth in Annex “D” of the Information Statement and shall be published in the Corporation’s website at www.7-eleven.com.ph.

Pursuant to SEC Notice dated April 20, 2020, a copy of the Notice and Agenda of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Information Statement SEC Form 20-IS), Proxy Form, Management Report/Annual Report (SEC Form 17-A) for the year ended December 31, 2019 and Sustainability Report, and 1st Quarterly Report (SEC Form 17-Q) with Management’s Discussion and Analysis and unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three (3) months ended March 31, 2020 (“SEC Form 17-Q”) will be posted on the Company’s website at www.7-eleven.com.ph. on or before June 24, 2020.

The Information Statement (SEC Form 20-IS), Annual Report (SEC Form 17-A) and 1st Quarterly Report (SEC Form 17-Q) are available at PSE Edge portal at https://edge.pse.com.ph/.

The Corporation will provide, without charge, a printed copy of SEC Form 17-A and SEC Form 17-Q, upon the written request of a stockholder addressed to the Corporate Secretary.

We are not soliciting your proxy. However, you may attend by submitting a duly-accomplished proxy form which must be submitted to the Office of the Corporate Secretary at 7th Floor, The Columbia Tower, Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City on or before July 07, 2020. Soft copies of the proxies can be emailed in advance to asm-psc@7-eleven.com.ph. The proxies shall be validated on July 09, 2020, at 10:00 AM at 15th Floor, South Tower, BDO Corporate Center, 7899 Makati Avenue, Makati City.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com (MS-JUNE 19 & 20, 2020)

MOST ACTIVE

(MS-JUNE 18/19, 2020)

(signed) EVELYN S. ENRIQUEZ Corporate Secretary

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

B4 FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020

Business

ADB expects PH economy to contract 3.8% in 2020 THE Asian Development Bank said Thursday it expects the Philippine economy to contract 3.8 percent this year, a reversal of the actual 6-percent expansion a year ago, because of the debilitating impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

It was also a downward revision from the 2-percent growth estimated made by the bank in April 2020. The latest forecast was contained in the supplement to ADB’s annual flagship economic publication, the Asian Development Outlook 2020.

The expected 3.8-percent contraction of the Philippine economy this year is better than the -6.5 percent estimate for Thailand, -6 percent for Singapore, -5.5 percent for Cambodia and -4 percent for Malaysia.

Indonesia is expected to contract by 1 percent, Laos by 0.5 percent and Timor-Leste by -3.7 percent. Vietnam is expected to post the fastest growth this year at 4.1 percent, followed by Myanmar at 1.8 percent and Brunei at 1.4 percent.

“Economic activity in Southeast Asia is expected to contract by 2.7 percent this year before growing by 5.2 percent in 2021. Contractions are forecast in key economies as containment measures affect domestic consumption and investment, including Indonesia [-1.0 percent], the Philippines [-3.8 percent], and Thailand [-6.5 percent],” ADB said.

“Vietnam is forecast to grow 4.1 percent in 2020. While that is 0.7 percentage points lower than ADB’s April estimates, it is the fastest growth expected in Southeast Asia,” the bank said.

Developing Asia is seen to barely grow by 0.1 percent this year, down from the 2.2-percent growth forecast in April and would be the slowest growth for the region since 1961.

Growth in 2021 is expected to reach 6.2 percent, as forecast in April.

The interagency Development Budget Coordination Committee earlier predicted that the Philippine economy would contract by 2 percent to 3.4 percent this year because of the pandemic. Julito G. Rada

66.44 PTS. 6,348.45

TOTAL VOLUME 2,770,132,829 TOTAL TRADES 117,818 TOTAL VALUE 10,440,825,056.20 ADVANCES 69 DECLINES 124 UNCHANGED 46

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.1370

Japan

Yen

0.009347

0.4686

UK

Pound

1.255700

62.9570

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129034

6.4694

Switzerland

Franc

1.054074

52.8481

Canada

Dollar

0.737300

36.9660

Singapore

Dollar

0.717721

35.9844

Australia

Dollar

0.688200

34.5043

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655196

133.123

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266631

13.3681

Brunei

Dollar

0.715154

35.8557

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.032041

1.6064

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.6509

Euro

Euro

1.124500

56.3791

Korea

Won

0.000823

0.0413

China

Yuan

0.141173

7.0780

India

Rupee

0.013110

0.6573

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.233754

11.7197

New Zealand

Dollar

0.645300

32.3534

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033766

1.6929 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF PSE suspends trading of Pepsi

EXPRESSWAY OPENING. The ‘Build, Build, Build’ team of the Duterte administration and private sector partner NLEX Corp. open the 2.6-kilometer section of NLEX Harbor Link from Caloocan Interchange in C3 to Mel Lopez Boulevard (formerly R10) in Navotas City. Attending the opening ceremony are (from left) NLEX Corp. president and general manager Luigi Bautista, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. president and chief executive offiver Jose Ma. Lim, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Bases Conversion Development Authority president and CEO Vince Dizon.

CebuPac’s ground handling unit to lay off 1,000 workers

By Darwin G. Amojelar

1

AVIATION Groundhandling Services Corp., the ground handling service provider of Cebu Pacific and Cebgo, said Wednesday it is laying off more than 1,000 employees as the aviation industry reels from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This unprecedented and uncertain situation with COVID-19 will continue to impact the aviation industry for many months ahead. Most forecasts show that it will take about two years before the aviation industry recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given this situation, it is clear that the company still needs to take more drastic measures to ensure its survival,” 1Aviation said in a statement.

“With a heavy heart, we are left with no other recourse but to let go of 25 percent of our total workforce. Their last day as employees will be on July 20, 2020,” the company said.

The ground handling service provider has nearly 5,000 employees. 1Aviation already laid off 400 newly-hired staff in

April because of the pandemic.

1Aviation said to cope with the pandemic, it implemented cost-mitigation measures such as a freeze on hiring, key projects and capital expenditure, restricting overtime and deferment of salary increases.

The company, however, assured that the affected employees would be treated fairly and respectfully. “The welfare of affected employees will be taken cared of as we always do, with packages that are above what the law requires. We also assured them that they will be prioritized for hiring once the situation stabilizes and business picks up again,” it said.

“We regret having to make this difficult decision and thank all our employ-

ees for their dedication, understanding and support,” it said.

The International Air Transport Association said in its latest report the pandemic could cost 548,300 jobs in the Philippine air sector this year and cut the industry’s revenues to $4.48 billion.

Air Carriers Association of the Philippines, which includes AirAsia Philippines, Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and their affiliates, asked for financial support to enable the aviation sector to operate sustainably once the community quarantine period is lifted.

ACAP requested the government to provide a credit guarantee scheme (not cash) to cover the banking sector’s loans and credit lines, most of which are secured with collaterals, to remove the aversion to the poor credit risk of the airline industry under the present operating environment.

The group sought a long-term facility at attractive rates or a guaranty facility to enable airlines to restructure debt to a more manageable level and give them leverage to negotiate better terms from aircraft lessors, lenders and creditors to ensure a successful recovery plan.

ICTSI plans new acquisition despite BPI readies COVID bonds to support affected MSMEs decreased capex PORT operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. said Thursday it is looking at a potential acquisition to expand its portfolio amid the coronavirus disease pandemic.

ICTSI chairman and chief executive Enrique Razon Jr. said the port operator was keenly on the lookout for opportunities to expand its portfolio even during the pandemic. “[We] continue to be very active in seeking out potential acquisitions or new projects whose potential or valuation makes sense in this environment,” Razon said during the company’s virtual annual stockholders meeting.

“We have seen the severe impact of the pandemic on global trade flows starting from China in February and cascading to all by the end of March and at this juncture we still do not see the end in sight,” he said.

Razon said the impact of COVID-19 to the company was not as severe as expected, proving the tremendous resilience of its business.

“Reacting quickly to the situation we have slashed almost all new capital expenditures to almost nothing leaving only those projects that were about to be completed and those absolutely necessary,” he said.

ICTSI cut its capital expenditure budget to $160 million this year from the original $270 million.

“We have also drastically cut our operating cost budget by 11 percent across the board with further cuts planned,” Razon said.

“Given the great uncertainty of many economies and the global economy itself, we have shored up our balance sheet, and we will continue to seize every opportunity to further strengthen our finances going forward,” he said.

The company raised $400 million from the issuance of new senior unsecured notes to refinance and extend maturing obligations.

Darwin G. Amojelar

PSE INDEX

Thursday, June 18, 2020

THE Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday confirmed the planned issuance of the country’s first COVID Action Response Bonds (CARE Bonds) by the Bank of the Philippine Islands, which qualified as social bonds under the ASEAN Social Bonds Standards in the Philippines.

BPI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it would use proceeds from the issuance to finance or refinance eligible micro-, small- and mediumenterprises under the recently established Sustainable Funding Framework.

BPI president and chief executive Cezar Consing said the BPI CARE Bonds highlighted the bank’s commitment to achieve positive social outcomes by creating value not only for its business, but also for stakeholders including clients and the communities in which it operates.

“MSMEs account for a relatively small percentage of total bank borrowings but a very large percentage of total nationwide employment. Loans to MSMEs go a long way to keeping Filipinos working. To support MSMEs is to embrace the Bayanihan spirit,” Consing said.

The bank will soon release further announcements on the planned BPI CARE Bonds. The bank said the issuance would be “in recognition of the significant contribution of micro, small and medium enterprises to the Philippine economy, and as a direct response to their needs as one of the sectors hardest hit by the global pandemic.”

“The planned offering supplements BPI’s efforts to support the recovery of MSMEs. Some of these initiatives include the loan payment deferral program that allowed businesses to delay payments without interest charges,

waiver of fees for online funds transfer transactions, and discussions with state-owned Philippine Guarantee Corp. to refine its loan products for qualified clients,” it said.

BPI’s parent company, Ayala Corp., also launched the Ayala Enterprise Circle network, where MSMEs can have access to exclusive to Ayala Group solutions and offerings, expert mentorship, online dialogs and master classes and business-matching and co-marketing opportunities.

BPI is among the top universal and commercial banks in the country in terms of assets, loans, deposits and branch coverage.

The bank’s net income declined 5 percent in the first quarter to P6.39 billion from P6.72 billion a year ago on higher provisions for loan losses because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Julito G. Rada

THE Philippine Stock Exchange said Thursday it suspended the trading of Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. after the company’s public float fell below the minimum level.

The PSE said trading of PCPPI was suspended on Thursday after a recent tender offer to minority shareholders left only 2.1 percent of the company’s shares in public hands.

PCPPI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange a total of 1.132 billion shares, representing 30.7 percent of the company’s total issued and outstanding capital stock, were tendered and accepted by Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co. Ltd. at the end of the tender offering period.

This will increase Lotte Chilsungs stake in PCPPI to 69.5 percent.

Quaker Global Investments B.V., the wholly-owned subsidiary of PepsiCo, Inc., which owns 25 percent stake in PCPPI did not participate in the tender offer. Jenniffer B. Austria

Bloomberry pursues second casino project BLOOMBERRY Resorts Corp. said the completion of its second hotel and casino project will be moved to the end of 2022 to early 2023 because of the lockdown in Metro Manila.

Bloomberry chairman Enrique Razon Jr. said during an online annual stockholders’ meeting the construction of Solaire North in Quezon City partially restarted and that the period of lockdown could be reasonably added to the completion date.

“We are continuing with the construction of Solaire North in Quezon City which, given the delay due to the lockdown, should be completed by the end of 2022 or early 2023.

We strongly believe that the timing of Solaire North could well coincide with a full economic recovery,” Razon said.

Razon also said that Solaire has reopened to a very limited capacity on June 15. “Our number one priority now is to ensure the safety and well-being of our guests and employees. We have invested heavily and have gone to extreme lengths to make Solaire and our guests as sanitized and safe as possible,” Razon said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Mega Global invests P500m in new plant MEGA Global Corp., the company behind sardines brand Mega sardines, is investing P500 million to put up another processing plant in Luzon.

“The company is poised for further exponential growth. Demand has been outstripping supply for the past five years. We will continue to strive to be a solid quality food provider for the Filipino,” Megal Global president and chief executive William Tiu Lim said in a briefing Thursday via Zoom.

Lim said demand doubled and sales were up nearly 100 percent in recent months because of the pandemic. The health crisis also pushed capacity utilization to over 80 percent in recent months, but operations normalized in June.

Lim said the lockdown affected the plant’s workforce and the company resorted to shuttling the workers to the factory and back to their residences. Othel V. Campos

Alsons registered P310-m profit in Q1 ALSONS Consolidated Resources Inc., the listed company of the Alcantara Group, said Thursday net income climbed to P310 million in the first quarter from P104 million in the same period last year.

Net earnings attributable to the parent also climbed considerably in the first quarter to P55 million from P6 million a year ago as consolidated revenues grew to P2.21 billion from P1.22 billion.

The company attributed the higher income and revenue in the first three months to the continuing operations of the company’s power plants including the 210-megawatt Sarangani Energy Corp.’s coal-fired baseload power plant in Maasim, Sarangani Province.

The SEC coal plant began operating at full capacity with the commencement of commercial operations of the second 105-MW section in October 2019.

“Our operations are ongoing, and we continue to dispatch power to our various customers in Mindanao,” Alsons executive vice president Tirso Santillan Jr. said earlier. Alena Mae S. Flores

San Miguel Brewery eyes sustainable recovery

By Jenniffer B. Austria

P&G FACEMASKS. An employee of Procter & Gamble Philippines works in the company’s newest manufacturing line to produce medical-grade facemasks for donation. P&G is raising local production of facemasks in its plant in Cabuyao City, Laguna to address the heightened demand from Filipino frontline workers and citizens as the country battles against the coronavirus pandemic.

SAN Miguel Brewery Inc., the beer unit of conglomerate San Miguel Corp., is looking at sustainable recovery after a slow first-quarter performance with the imposition of quarantine restrictions and liquor ban across the country.

SMB said in a statement it began implementing programs to recover from the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

These include adjustments in operations to adapt to the new environment and shifts in consumption patterns, strengthening demand for beer products through increased product visibility and availability in the right channels and implementing focused sales programs.

SMB said the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in March, which brought most economic activities to a halt and prompted liquor

bans in cities and provinces nationwide and the increase in excise taxes at the start of the year slowed SMB’s momentum in the first quarter.

SMB reported a net income of P3.7 billion in the first quarter, down 44 percent from P6.7 billion in the same period last year.

Consolidated sales also contracted 18.5 percent to P28.4 billion following the decline in sales volume and the effect of the price increase on the company’s beer products implemented on March 1, 2020.

The decrease in sales volume was due to the liquor ban imposed in the Philippines by local government units and the total lockdowns in some areas of both domestic and international operations as part of the measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in a decrease in demand for beer products.

Sports

Performance of Tactical at Royal Ascot fit for a queen LONDON, United Kingdom—Queen Elizabeth II could be forgiven for jumping out of her chair in celebration at nearby Windsor Castle on Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time) as her colors were carried to victory by Tactical on the second day of Royal Ascot.

The 94-year-old monarch has had to miss the meeting for the first time since she came to the throne in 1952 because of the ban on spectators due to the coronavirus pandemic.

James Doyle delivered the Andrew Balding-trained runner with a perfectlytimed challenge in the suitably named Windsor Castle Stakes to give the Queen her 24th victory at the meeting and her first since 2016.

It brought the queen consolation for missing out earlier in the day when her First Receiver lost out in the dying strides in the Hampton Court Stakes.

“Throughout the conversations the Queen was saying how delighted she is to produce a two-year-old winner at Royal Ascot,” her bloodstock adviser John Warren said.

“It is obviously a great shame Her Majesty isn’t there to enjoy the buzz of having a runner, but she has studied every bit of it today, watching the races.

“It’s the icing on the cake to have a winner for her.”

For Doyle it was his second victory of the day—the 15th of his career at the meeting—having taken the feature race, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, on Lord North.

“This is what dreams are made of, to ride a Royal Ascot winner for Her Majesty,” said Doyle.

“I recall the manic scenes when she won the Gold Cup in 2013 and sadly we don’t have that today for obvious reasons.”

Balding said the staff back at his stables would be going nuts.

“This is very exciting,” said Balding.

“I can’t imagine what the atmosphere will be like in the yard.

“The Queen is very well-informed and knowledgeable about racing.

“We were expecting big things today and I am so pleased it came off.”

‘The history books’ Lord North under Doyle produced an electrifying burst of pace to surge from last to first and ease to victory in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

His trainer John Gosden said gelding, or castrating, Lord North had transformed his character. AFP

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020

Jockey James Doyle (center) wearing the Queen’s silks riding Tactical wins The Windsor Castle Stakes on day two of the Royal Ascot horse racing meet, in Ascot, west of London, which is taking place behind ‘closed doors’ due to the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic. AFP

UAAP Season 83 lacks venues

By Peter Atencio

L

ACK of venues for games is holding up preparations for Season 83 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

And this is just one of the hurdles that is confronting incoming host de La Salle University when they officially accept the hosting rights from outgoing host Ateneo de Manila University.

“We are not talking about the next season yet. And we have no ready venues,” said Edwin Reyes, La Salle’s representative to the league’s board of directors.

So far, most of the venues that the league usually uses to stage games are currently being used as quarantine facilities for coronavirus patients, or a testing facility.

Board members are set to meet next week, but discussions will be limited to closing ceremony that is being planned at the end of Season 82.

Reyes said the league needs ad-

vice from the government and the Interagency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases on when they can proceed with the season.

He explained that many school teams will need three or four months to get ready once the greenlight is given.

The incoming hosts are looking forward to having a full calendar of events during their watch.

And this will mean that they will have to closely follow the format of the Southeast Asian Games, in which many events begin at the same time.

Under such a format, Season 83 could within end within one semester.

US Open gains star power as Serena commits to play NEW YORK, United States—Serena Williams committed to play at this year’s US Open on Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time) as US Tennis Association officials vowed they can safely stage the first Grand Slam since the coronavirus pandemic shutdown.

With top men’s stars questioning the wisdom of the staging the event, the USTA said the event will be staged August 31 to September 13 without spectators at New York’s National Tennis Center, which in April became a temporary hospital facility to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

“I really can’t wait to return to the US Open 2020,” Serena Williams said in a video message. “I think the USTA is going to do a really good job of ensuring everyone is going to be safe.

“This is crazy. I’m excited.”

The Flushing Meadows fortnight will be the first Grand Slam event staged since the deadly virus outbreak shut down global sport. Wimbledon was cancelled and the French Open was postponed until September.

The site will also host the ATP Western and Southern Open, typically staged in Cincinnati, the week before the US Open with a similar safety “bubble” that includes testing for players and their entourage.

The USTA expects an 80% drop in net

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Serena Williams of the US reacts after a point against China’s Wang Qiang during their women’s singles match on day five of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne in this file photo taken January 24, 2020. AFP

operating income as a result of having no spectators for the US Open but will provide $60 million in prize money for the two events in New York combined plus another $3.3 million each to the ATP and WTA. “We have the resources we can do this for a one-off year,” USTA chief executive officer Mike Dowse said.

Novak Djokovic has been among several top players critical of the idea of staging the US Open as scheduled given the severe US impact of COVID-19, although the major issues in the New York area have been declining for several weeks.

‘The right decision’ “It’s the right decision for tennis,” Dowse said. “Our fans told us unequivocally they’re excited to see the best players in the world.”

Players will be tested for COVID-19 when they arrive at the tournament hotel and at least once a week thereafter, with those electing to stay at private homes being tested more often as they enter the “bubble” area of the tournament.

“We’re confident we can pull this off,” said Dr. Brian Hainline, USTA Medical Advisory Group chairman.

“We know how we can start doing things in a manner that doesn’t necessarily prevent one person from getting the disease but we can prevent a major outbreak of COVID-19.” AFP

PBA optimistic season can resume soon

Alaska Aces big man Rodney Brondial (center) protects the basketball against NLEX Road Warriors defenders, from left: Kiefer Ravena, Larry Fonacier and JR Quiñahan during PBA action. PBA

DESPITE the strict quarantine rules necessitated by the lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19 the Philippine Basketball Association believes competition will resume late this year.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said he was not surprised with the decision of the InterAgency Task Force on Management of Emerging Infectious Disease which was approved by President Rodrigo Duterte to extend the General Community Quarantine in Metro Manila.

“COVID-19 hasn’t been contained, and so I myself was expecting Metro Manila staying under GCQ for the rest of the month. Tingin ko talaga mga July pa mag-i-ease into less strict quarantine measures ang NCR,” said Marcial.

“And July would not be late for our teams to have physical activities in the gym, leading hopefully to full practices and season return sooner than later.”

He added that his meeting with player representatives will push through as scheduled on June 23.

He will then have a separate conference with the officials of the 12 PBA ball clubs including their team managers and coaches.

“Initially, it’s a meeting with team managers but then may mga coaches na nagsabi i-meet mo rin kami,” said Marcial.

The Board Governors have set August as the deadline when they will decide if Season 45 would resume or be scrapped altogether.

The PBA season started March 8 when the six-peat-seeking Philippine Cup champion San Miguel Beer topped Magnolia. It has since been stalled for the last three months as the government imposed strict quarantine protocols to stem the spread of Covid-19.

PSC to support Team Philippines up to Olympics WITH around P1.3 billion of its funds redirected back to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to fund the country’s Covid-19 fight, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) assured members of the national team of its support for their 2021 Tokyo Olympics bid.

By virtue of Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, P596 Million, and P773 Million were realigned by the DBM from the sports agency’s National Sports Development Fund and the fund from the General Appropriations Act (GAA) respectively.

Before the lockdown, the Philippines already had four qualifiers for the 32nd quadrennial meet including national pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, male artistic gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo, national boxers Eumir Felix Marcial and Irish Magno.

The PSC board assured that the agency will support them for as long as they can, explaining that the investment of both the government and the athletes into their Olympic dream cannot be set aside that easily.

PSC Chairman William Ramirez is hoping to send more athletes to represent the country in the prestigious multi-sport event.

“We will not waiver in our quest to fulfill the country’s Olympic dream and we are very hopeful that more athletes will be able to qualify once the situation gets better,” said Ramirez.

The sports agency is banking its hopes on 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz of weightlifting, four-time SEA Games champion Kiyomi Watanabe of judo, 2019 SEAG double-gold medal winner Margielyn Didal of skateboarding, multi-titled jin Pauline Lopez of taekwondo, and Junna Tsukii of karatedo among others.

The budget cut has forced the sports agency to take belt-tightening measures in recent weeks, to be able to cover all commitments.

“It’s a tough situation but we understand the priorities of the national government. We will do what we can to continue the support we give to our athletes especially those vying for an Olympic slot,” said Ramirez.

Aside from financial support, the PSC also continues to provide online sports psychology consultations, virtual training sessions, nutrition, physiology, and conditioning webinars to athletes and coaches through PSC’s Medical Scientific Athletic Services (MSAS) and the Philippine Sports Institute (PSI).

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Sports

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020

FEARLESS. Residents watch as a young Syrian man performs a ‘parcours’, an obstacle course method derived from military training, over the ruins of a building destroyed during past shelling by pro-regime forces, in the town of Binnish in the country’s northwestern Idlib province. AFP

Paragua leads field in online chess tourney GRANDMASTER Mark Paragua will be the man to beat in the Woman Fide Master Sheerie Joy Lomibao-Beltran 41st birthday celebration online chess tournament on August 4, 2020, Tuesday, 1 p.m. (Philippine time) at Lichess.org.

The 36-year-old New York, US-based Paragua is the winningest Filipino player in the free registration by invitation online chess tournament.

The 1998 World Rapid Under 14 champion won the 1st Philippine Bullet Chess Championship, Curly King Shark online chess tournament and Week 10 of the National Blitz League Royal Rumble Arena. He pocketed P30,000 when he topped the 1st Philippine Bullet Chess Championship Grand Finals.

Challenging Paragua are GMs Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., Darwin Laylo and Arizona, US-based Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr. There will also be International Masters Barlo Nadera, Ronald Dableo, Oliver Dimakiling, John Marvin Miciano, Roel Abelgas, Emmanuel Senador, Michael Concio Jr. and Kim Steven Yap, Fide Masters David Elorta, Dale Bernardo, Narquingden Reyes, Mark Jay Bacojo, Jonathan Tan, Alexander Lupian and Randy Segarra, National Master Robert Arellano, Jasper Rom, Leon Marohom, Noel Dela Cruz and Zulfikar Sali.

Also set to fight for their place are Woman International Master Kylene Jor Mordido, Woman Fide Masters Antonella Berthe Racasa, Cherry Ann Mejia and Jerlyn Mae San Diego, Woman National Master Francois Marie Magpily, Ernie, Jasper, Jerick Faeldonia, Noel Jay Estacio, Jeffrey Pascual, Abel Dimalanta, Dr. Jenny Mayor, National Para games coach James Infiesto and coach Ederwin Estavillo.

Also playing are Arena Grandmasters Henry Roger Lopez and Joseph Galindo, Dg Cruz, Sherwin Tiu, Kevin Arquero, Tyrone Delos Santos, Ricky Batcho, Recarte Tiuason, Jaime Criste, Ritche Jocson, Ivan Travis Cu, Angele Tenshi Biete, Oshrie Jhames Reyes, Bonjoure Fille Suyamin, Jeremy and Jersey Marticio, Ariel Santander, Doodeel “Dudz “ Libongcogon, Jed Abudanza, Israel Landicho and Eduardo Campos Jr. “As long as there is Covid, this is the format where chess players will spend their time,” said Genghis Imperial of the organizing Bayanihan Chess Club headed by Arena Grandmaster Marlon Bernardino.

“No Chess Engine and No Human Assistance or Piloting in this invitational event,” he added.

The deadline for the submission of entries on August 1. Please message Genghis Imperial at his Facebook account for complete details.

Obiena healthy, injury-free and on track to Olympics T

By Peter Atencio

HERE’S no need for pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena to worry about a discomfort that he is feeling during training.

While some feel the back spasms that he is experiencing while doing workouts is leading to an injury, his parents are confident that the 24-year old Obiena is in good hands.

His father Emerson clarified that EJ is doing alright during training and has no injuries to think about, and to get distracted on.

His coaches, led by world champion Vitaly Petrov, have done their best to prevent the young Obiena from getting a serious back problem.

“He is getting cramps on a certain muscle group on his back. And this slows down his training sometimes. It’s not an injury, just a discomfort,” said Emerson.

To keep this muscle group on his back from getting stressed during training, EJ

has been advised to just do work outs on other areas in his back.

Obiena continues to train with Olympic gold medallist Thiago Braz da Silva in Fornia, Italy.

The 24-year-old Obiena has never stopped doing his daily physical routines and preparations to join the the Diamond League, which is an annual series of elite competitions across Europe.

The Diamond will have 15 one-day competitions and only a few will have pole vault events.

The 26-year-old Braz is the reigning Olympic Gold medalist and holds the Olympic record of 6.03 meters.

And Braz has provided Obiena a lot of inputs since he started training in Italy.

“He is like a big brother to EJ. He gives him a lot of advice,” said EJ’s father Emerson.

The elder Obiena said they have been training together in their facility, and outdoors, now that lockdown restrictions in Italy have been easing gradually.

“Magkakasama na sila na pag-training since nung bata pa sila,” said Obiena.

Braz has set the world record twice in 2016, and has been with EJ as he trains for international athletics meets which are set to reopen in Europe this August.

And EJ’s supporters are still waiting for word if he will be allowed to join in any leg of the Diamond League.

“He is waiting for an invitation to join,” said Obiena.

Obiena and his coaches will still have to find which events will put pole vault on their schedule.

After joining the Diamond League, he will prepare for the World Indoor Athletics meet, which will still be held in Nanjing, China.

The Nanjing meet will also be part of his preparation for the Tokyo Olympics.

2020 PGA Championship to go ahead without fans LOS ANGELES, United States— The PGA Championship will be held in August but without fans, after California health officials on Monday gave the green light to the first major championship of 2020, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The tournament scheduled for August 6-9 in San Francisco had hoped to attract up to 40,000 fans a day at Harding Park golf course but that was before the USPGA Tour was shut down because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The PGA Championship, which is run by the PGA of America, was originally scheduled to take place in May. Harding Park last held a PGA event in 2015 and has never hosted a major championship. Construction on grandstands were already underway when the Tour was shut down in March at the Players Championship.

Brooks Koepka will defend his title at Harding Park, where he’ll look to become the first player to win three straight PGA Championships since Walter Hagen won four in a row from 1924-27.

The PGA cancelled 11 tournaments and revised its remaining schedule, finally resuming last week with no spectators at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Daniel Berger parred the first extra hole to beat Collin Morikawa in a playoff as the Tour made a muted return from the pandemic in Fort Worth, Texas. The next four events of the restart will also be played without spectators.

The first tournament to have fans will be The Memorial, July 16-19 in Dublin, Ohio. Officials are planning for up to 8,000 fans per day at Muirfield Village.

After the Charles Schwab, the PGA Tour will feature the RBC Heritage (June 18-21) in Hilton Head, South Carolina; the Travelers Championship (June 25-28) in Cromwell, Connecticut; and the Rocket Mortgage Classic (July 2-5) in Detroit, Michigan.

The US Open is rescheduled for September 17-20 in New York. AFP

China’s first UFC champ Zhang creates own hype SHANGHAI, China—Zhang Weili retained her UFC title in March in one of the greatest women’s fights in MMA history, was then stranded in the United States for six weeks by coronavirus and finally flew back to China in a protective suit and visor.

But after all that, it was the sight of airport and medical staff with “welcome home” scribbled on their own protective gear to greet arriving passengers that deeply affected her.

“I was really touched and excited, I’ve never felt such warmth in all my life,” China’s first and only Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champion told AFP in Shanghai.

The 30-year-old Zhang, who as a child was challenged by her mother to jump out of ditches to toughen her up, has enjoyed a life-changing 10 months.

Last August she thrilled a home crowd in Shenzhen with an upset knockout of UFC champion Jessica Andrade of Brazil in just 42 seconds to make Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) history.

Zhang then successfully defended the strawweight title in a brutal dust-up in Las Vegas in early March against Poland’s Joanna Jedrzejczyk, despite her

build-up being badly disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak.

She boasts a 21-1 MMA record and UFC president Dana White has touted her to rank alongside Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey as a global superstar of the sport.

The excitement surrounding Zhang’s swift rise to prominence has reached such an extent in China that she is being mentioned in the same breath as basketball giant Yao Ming, who led the Houston Rockets to the NBA playoffs four times.

But the articulate Zhang, who hails from the northern province of Hebei, gives that lofty comparison a swift verbal jab.

“I am not Yao Ming or anyone else,” she said.

“I just want to be a better me.”

‘I like that interaction’ Coronavirus has eased in China since the disease emerged in the country late last year, allowing Zhang to conduct an open workout for the media at UFC’s newly built Performance Institute in Shanghai this week.

China’s first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champion Zhang Weili attends a training session at the UFC performance institute in Shanghai. AFP

But UFC fight nights, like most sports, are taking place behind closed doors to prevent the spread of infections among spectators.

Asked about the pandemic’s impact on her daily life, Zhang replied: “My life is about training. So if it affects my training, it affects my life.”

Zhang’s next opponent has not been

confirmed, but the prospect of defending her title with nobody there to cheer, or jeer, is not one she relishes.

“Now there are no spectators, I feel a lot of things are missing and I don’t feel that special excitement,” said Zhang.

“That’s why I think that spectators are really important. I don’t know how I would react if there is no audience.” AFP

Trump says Kaepernick deserves shot at NFL

US President Donald Trump speaks during an event in the Rose Garden on Safe Policing for Safe Communities, at the White House in Washington, DC. AFP

LOS ANGELES, United States—The American president said Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time) he “absolutely” is in favor of giving the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback another chance in the NFL. The comment is in sharp contrast to his 2017 stance, when he told a political rally that players like Kaepernick who kneel during the US anthem are “sons of bitches” and should be expelled from the league.

“If he deserves it, he should,” Trump told a Washington, DC television station when asked if Kaepernick should get another shot.

“If he has the playing ability. He started off great, and then he didn’t end up very great in terms of a player. He was terrific in his rookie year. I think he was very

good in his second year. And then something happened. So his playing wasn’t up to snuff.

“The answer is absolutely I would. As far as kneeling, I would love to see him get another shot.”

Trump’s about-face comes as a wave of protests against police brutality and racism continued across the United States following the death of George Floyd, a black man, in Minneapolis police custody on May 25.

Just three weeks ago, Trump waded back into the anthem debate, tweeting that he believed players should stand during the song.

“There are other things you can protest, but not our Great American Flag—NO KNEELING!”

An eye on Kaepernick Trump’s latest comments come two days after commissioner Roger Goodell encouraged teams to sign Kaepernick.

“If he wants to resume his career in the NFL, then obviously it’s gonna take a team to make that decision,” Goodell said. “But I welcome that, support a club making that decision, and encourage them to do that.”

Kaepernick has not commented on Goodell’s statement.

Kaepernick filed a grievance with the NFL in 2017 alleging the owners conspired to keep him out of the league after he sparked a kneeling campaign to protest treatment of black Americans.

In February 2019, he settled for an undisclosed amount of money. AFP

Entertainment ABS-CBN vice chairman Atty. Augusto “Jake” Almeda-Lopez appealed to Congress to recognize the value and the major contributions of ABS-CBN and its 11,000 workers to the country.

“Can you give me another two minutes? You know we are fighting for our lives,” said AlmedaLopez during the House panel committee hearing on the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN. “We deserve the renewal of our franchise, and that if you don’t renew our franchise you’re going to deprive the public of so much entertainment, news, and more or less the building of culture,” he said.

Almeda-Lopez emphasized that ABS-CBN is more than just TV channel 2 and DZMM AM radio and that it has made key contributions to the nation such as the Knowledge Channel.

“Knowledge Channel is a very important public

We deserve the renewal of our franchise —ABS-CBN exec

An ABS-CBN executive emphasized that the embattled network is not just about news and entertainment, it’s also about public service and nation-building.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020 nickie.standard@gmail.com

service we are providing. It was even cited and awarded by the United Nations as one of the most effective public service programs in the country,” he said.

He likewise mentioned how ABS-CBN Foundation has been providing relevant public service programs, as it has been “the first responder or one of the first responders to any disasters in this country.”

Almeda-Lopez, who was general manager of ABSCBN in 1966, also cited the Foundation’s Bantay Bata program that rescues and protects Filipino children from abuse, the Pasig River clean-up program, and several medical missions rendered “in the service of the Filipino.”

“So I plead to the members of Congress to give ABS-CBN a chance to show its worth and contribution to the country,” he said.

How quarantine helped Jannelle So discover her daughter’s talent

'Prima Donnas' lead stars (from left) Sofia Pablo, Jillian Ward, Althea Ablan, and Elijah Alejo.

‘Prima Donnas’ stars reunite for special online show BEGINNING today, and every Friday thereafter, viewers are in for a treat as the cast of top-rating GMA Afternoon Prime series Prima Donnas comes together for a special livestream dubbed as Prima Donnas: watch From Home on GMA Network’s official social media accounts.

Prior to the suspension of tapings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, viewers were on the edge of their seats following the riveting and shocking plot twists in the family drama.

Kendra’s (Aiko Melendez) dirty antics to earn Jaime (Wendell Ramos) and Lady Prima's (Chanda Romero) trust continue to put the life of Lilian (Katrina Halili), who was arrested for allegedly stealing the Donarian necklace, in great danger. Out of desperation and without Jaime’s permission, Donna Lyn (Sofia Pablo), Donna Belle (Althea Ablan) and Donna Marie (Jillian Ward) sneaked out to visit Lilian who has an important revelation to the three Donnas.

Jillian is delighted to share what they have been working on these days to their avid supporters, “What truly matters to me is making our viewers happy. I know how much they miss our show, the actors in it, and so much more.

So this is a gift for all of them, and to us—our team. It’s just so refreshing to

finally be working with my co-actors after such a long time.”

Althea hopes for the continuous support from their fans, “We are excited because a lot of our viewers are waiting for our return. I hope they’d continue supporting us in our journey in our special online show.”

Sofia is beyond thrilled to be working with her co-stars once again, “I’m really excited since this is the first time that we’re going to be together after a few months that we’re in quarantine.”

Elijah Alejo, who has done justice to her contravida role as Brianna, expresses her excitement to spread happiness among their fans who missed seeing them on television, “I miss my co-stars and also our fans who are looking forward to watch us again. I miss working and making people happy because of our show.”

Apart from the four girls, Aiko, Katrina, Wendell, Benjie Paras, and director Gina Alajar are joining the much awaited grand reunion.

Prima Donnas: watch From Home streams at 5:00 p.m.. Kapuso viewers from across the globe can also catch their favorite Kapuso shows via GMA’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV International. For the program guide, visit www.gmapinoytv.com.

Alex Gonzaga goes all-out

OPPO A series endorser Alex Gonzaga

CELEBRITY YouTuber Alex Gonzaga is hosting a special livestream launch event for the newest addition to OPPO’s best-selling A Series. The digital event is happening this afternoon at 4:00.

Alex will be sharing how she continues to #LiveAllOut even while at home, by doing her favorite activities with her new mobile device - from staying fashionably fab and mastering her smartphone photography skills, to learning how to cook new dishes. Fun games and exciting prizes, including the new OPPO A92 and W31 earphones, also await viewers and participants.

To know more about the official livestream launch of the latest OPPO A92, visit OPPO at www.oppo.com/ph or via OPPO’s official Facebook page at OPPO Philippines.

J

ANNELLE So thought she knew her four-year-old daughter as well as possible. She was involved with her school work and activities and had spent plenty of time with her throughout each day.

After California issued a “shelter-inplace” order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Los Angeles-based television host realized her daughter Lilly could still find ways to surprise her.

“I discovered more things about her,” said Jannelle, who also has a one-yearold son, Leo. Among the things she discovered was that her daughter could understand big words, like coronavirus and quarantine, and that she had a sharp memory as well.

“She would repeat to me a conversation we had two or more days prior and will repeat those or bring those up in other conversations, almost verbatim. That she is very curious-asking questions and paying attention to the answer and asks for clarification when she doesn't understand," said Jannelle.

Jannelle began recording her daughter’s BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. TV host Janelle adventures on her iPhone, posting an So with husband Lester Perkins and kids average of one video per week to her Lilly and Leo. Instagram account (@sojannelle). Her editing. They only produce videos when husband, Lester Perkins, is a director Lilly wants to, and allow her to pick the and helped out with the production and topic. She's also recorded a Salute to Frontliner and Counting to 10 in Five Languages.

Through the first ten videos, the topics have included how Lilly would handle the coronavirus pandemic if she was president (“People want the truth, so I will tell the truth, even when I’ve been naughty”) and explaining what social distancing means to kids like her (“We can’t even have sleepovers”).

“She loves the camera and she loves to talk. But she is very rarely interested in watching herself in the finished edit. To her, after filming, the fun is done,” said Jannelle.

What Jannelle has found is that viewers have considered the clips to be a bright spot during otherwise difficult times.

“We were very encouraged by the response of people who liked and commented on our posts. They said she was helping take away their stress and anxiety during these times,” said Jannelle.

The response has been so great that Jannelle decided to create an Instagram account for Lilly (@lillyjadeperkins) and a YouTube channel, LifewithLilly.

The stay-at-home orders have not stopped Jannelle from work on her own show, SO Jannelle, the weekly magazine/ lifestyle she launched in July 2017, and which airs every Sunday at 6:55 p.m.

EST (3:55 PT) on The Filipino Channel.

Replays can be seen on the Lifestyle Network, and the show also airs in syndication on KSCITV-LA18.

As for her parental duties, now that school is out of session, So has adapted a Janelle So is an LA-based TV host and a soft schedule to maintain some structure mother of two beautiful children.

Lilly, 4, and Leo, 1, are Janelle's bundles of joy.

and nurture learning. After breakfast, she’ll read at least five books to each of her children, before allowing them some free time to roam around and play educational games.

So has also set up a classroom setting where she teaches Lilly her “lessons,” which consist mainly of writing letters, counting, and some reading. “She actually calls me ‘teacher’ and we pretend there are classmates. So it’s like pretend play which encourages creativity and imagination,” said Jannelle.

Winding down includes prayer, where Jannelle and Lilly put everything into perspective to end the day.

“I ask her to enumerate three things she’s thankful for from the day, three things she is sorry about and three things she needs God to help her with the next day.”

As for us, we're grateful for perspectives like Lilly's, videos like Lilly's and like the So-Perkins family, time to spend with each other, for discovery and creativity.

Parokya Ni Edgar stages virtual concert PAROKYA Ni Edgar is rocking the virtual stage tonight via Tanduay Isang Tinig with Parokya ni Edgar streaming on Tanduay Rhum Official Facebook page at 8:00 o’clock.

“At Tanduay, we encourage everyone to have Tibay ng Loob (resolve) and this event is the embodiment of that.

We are staging this concert to help uplift the Filipino spirit during these challenging times and, at the same time, promote online socializing and entertainment so that we can continue to observe social distancing,” said Tanduay Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing Paul Lim. Parokya ni Edgar will be performing some of their

biggest hits. They will also perform some of the viewers’ song requests.

Questions will be flashed during the concert, with special prizes awaiting lucky viewers who will send in the correct answers.

The online concert will have a tambayan segment where the band will share what they have been up to during the quarantine period. Viewers are encouraged to participate in the online interaction by sending in their comments.

For more information about the online concert, visit the Tanduay Rhum Official Facebook page.

Parokya Ni Edgar will perform its biggest hits in tonight's virtual concert.

Bernadette Lunas, Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

C4

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020

Locked down

in Broadway

Life

TRAVEL AND LEISURE TRAVELLING THROUGH THE SOUND OF MUSIC. The author relives the magic of the Sound of Music in Salzburg, Austria with the freespirited Maria.

Hotels welcome back guests with ‘book now, stay later’ promo

B

EING a senior citizen, I am now in my fourth month of “house arrest.”

This limited mobility is quite challenging to my sanity, especially because I miss the magic words, “This is your Captain speaking,” music to my ears each time I cross an ocean.

Being a music lover, I took my mind off this predicament and went on a melodious tour to exciting places on the wings of classic Broadway hit musicals. Do you want to know how I did it?

Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start. I landed in Salzburg, Austria singing “Do-Re-Mi” but I couldn’t finish the song. I immediately found myself busy solving a problem like Maria, and counting bright copper kettles, warm woolen mittens, brown paper packages tied up with strings, a few of my favorite things.

I enjoyed my trip because I did not have to climb every mountain, nor search high and low, because it was right there greeting me, Austria’s national flower: Edelweiss. It’s small and white, clean and bright. The sight of it made me want to stay longer and cling on to the magical Sound of Music but I had to move on and let go, for how can you hold a moonbeam in your hand?

Crossing the Atlantic, I landed in my favorite, New York City. I went straight to the West Side to follow the Story of the modern-day Romeo and Juliet.

Along the way, I passed by a happy and playful group of immigrants from Puerto Rico. I heard the ladies chanting, “I wanna be in America, everything’s free in America”; but their male counterparts butted in, “if you’re all-white in America.”

Further down, I saw in an alley in between tenement houses the lovestruck Tony, who was professing to his lady love, “Tonight, there’s only you tonight, what you are, what you do, what you say.” Of course, Maria, the object of his affection, assured him that they’ll go somewhere to make their love flourish. I didn’t want to witness their sad ending, so I decided to go somewhere where there is peace and quiet and open air.

Oklahoma is where the wavin’ wheat can sure smell sweet when the wind comes right behind the rain. It was such a beautiful morning, and a beautiful day, I had a wonderful feeling that everything was going my way.

So, I hopped on to the surrey with a fringe on top whose wheels are yeller and upholstery’s brown, and the dashboard’s genuine leather. It also had curtains you can roll right down in case there’s a change in the weather. I had so much fun, I was almost tempted to stay longer, but I knew other places were waiting for me.

Thailand’s Grand Palace as seen from across Chao Phraya River. (Photo from Wikimedia)

It’s bustling in New York City.

The fountain in the Mirabell Gardens seen in the ‘Do-Re-Mi’ song. (Photo from Wikimedia)

I was thinking of visiting Kansas, to walk along the yellow brick road with my friends, but they were all off to see the Wizard of Oz. Too bad for me, because I wanted to go on a hot air balloon that would take me somewhere over the rainbow, way up high. If happy little bluebirds fly, then why, oh why can’t I? It also crossed my mind to go back to New York’s 14th street to greet a friend, “Hello Dolly” because I heard she’s back where she belongs. They say she’s looking swell, and she’s glowin’, crowin’, goin’ strong. But I dropped the plan, and, instead, flew across the Pacific to the only monarchy in Asia.

I found myself visiting Headmistress Anna, who was in the service of a very strict and fearsome King. I myself felt the fear but I held my head erect and whistled a happy tune so no one will suspect that I was afraid. But I was very surprised that, even if The King and I have just met, he was very nice to me, making me very comfortable and at ease inside the Royal Palace.

Going through the crowd, I had a chance to say hello to young lovers and assured them that all my good wishes were with them that night. The fun inside the Royal Hall escalated when the King asked Anna, “Shall we dance, on a bright cloud of music shall we fly?”

Hearing this from the King, I felt I had to say goodnight but mean goodbye.

My last stop on this tour was far down below in the South Pacific, in the beautiful island of Bali Ha’I, where the sky meets the sea. What caught my interest in this island are the natives, who always engage in happy talk, and keep talking happy talk. They talk about things they’d like to do. But, I had to have a dream because if I don’t have a dream, how am I gonna make a “dream come true.”

My visit to this magical island ended in some enchanted evening where I heard someone laughing across a crowded room. But I know I didn’t have to stay on, because I will always hear that laughter again and again.

Thank goodness I found this fun way to bear an unbearable sorrow, to right the unrightable wrong, and to try even when my arms are too weary. No amount of quarantine woes could faze me now, as I feel like I am the Man from La Mancha, riding high on his impossible dream.

MARRIOTT Bonvoy hotels in the Philippines look forward to reopening their doors as they offer discounted staycation packages guests can book now and use once restrictions further ease.

Participating properties across the country include Manila Marriott Hotel, Sheraton Manila, Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo, Clark Marriott Hotel, and Sheraton Manila Bay. Suites are discounted up to 40 percent, while guest room rates are slashed up to 30 percent. The promo also comes with free one-time rebooking.

Packages include overnight stay for families, staycation with dining credits, and romantic getaway for two.

Staycation with the family Manila Marriott and Sheraton Manila Hotel’s family staycation promos for two adults and a maximum of four kids under 12 years old are inclusive of breakfast or in-room dining (Sheraton).

Sheraton Manila Bay’s overnight stay for two adults and two kids comes with breakfast and 10 percent discount on food and beverage.

Clark Marriott, on the other hand, treats guests to a breakfast buffet for two adults and two kids, a BBQ platter and dinner, and complimentary access to Kid’s Club. Courtyard Iloilo is offering a staycation with breakfast

Courtyard Iloilo offers families a staycation package in its deluxe rooms.

Guiding your

‘Waze’

--------O---------YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE Why is the letter W, in English, called “Double U”? Shouldn’t it be “Double V”?

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

and in-room dining for two adults and four kids.

Stay and dine Those looking forward to relax and relish sumptuous meals are invited to book at Manila Marriott whose overnight stay in a deluxe room is inclusive of P4,000 worth of dining credits at Marriott Café and in-room dining, while a stay in a premium room comes with a dinner at Cru Steakhouse.

Sheraton Manila’s deluxe room accommodation comes with P3,000 worth of dining credits at S Kitchen, Oori, The Lounge, and in-room dining.

Romantic getaway Couples itching to escape are offered with romantic staycation packages at Sheraton Manila Bay (with breakfast and complimentary pre-dinner cocktails) and Clark Marriott (with breakfast buffet, P4,000 worth of dining credits, a bottle of wine and cheese platter, and bouquet of flowers).

The “save now stay later” offer is valid for stays until May 31, 2021.

Dates of stay should be pre-booked.

Booking period is until June 28.

Rebooking is allowed once and is subject to price change depending on published rates less the discount.

For more information, go to hoteldeals.marriott.com/limited-time-offerphilippines.

Wazers are notified to follow local travel guidance when driving in GCQ areas.

COMMUNITY-DRIVEN navigation platform Waze rolls out new app updates to help drivers navigate the roads amid the ongoing pandemic.

New notification—Following the implementation of general community quarantine in many parts of the country, a “Drive only if necessary” notification will now appear on the app to remind users to “Stay safe and healthy. Follow local travel guidance and only drive if you must.”

Drive-thru and curbside pickup—Users can now locate the nearest store offering drivethru and/or curbside pickups on the app.

COVID-19 donation center—Users can search for the nearest donation drop off center by typing “Donation center drop-off” in the destination search bar. Wazers can also choose among other drop-off centers found in the search results.

Updated reference laboratories—In April, Waze added COVID-19 Reference Laboratories to its map. Waze has pinned 59 reference laboratories as of date and will continue to add more as they are made available by the Department of Health.

COVID-19 landing page—Waze’s COVID-19 Impact Dashboard is now available externally so that governments, academics, and the public can gain more insight into local driving trends. On this page, governments around the world can also contribute data on both medical testing center and emergency food distribution center locations to help improve Waze maps for users.