Manila Standard - 2020 July 5 - Sunday

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 131 • 2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

ILOILO OIL SPILL. The Philippine Coast Guard and members of the Marine Environmental Protection Unit of Western Visayas inspect the extent of an oil spill off the port of Iloilo City on Saturday. One of the four oil tanks of Power Barge No. 102 off Zone 3 in Barrio Obrero, Lapuz, Iloilo burst, spilling about 48,000 liters of bunker oil, as the Coast Guard worked to contain the spill.

PCG photos

Groups challenge ‘terror’ act Anti-Terrorism Act takes effect July 18; Fight measure, VP urges

By Maricel V. Cruz

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AWYERS and a former Education Secretary challenged before the Supreme Court Saturday the constitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, signed into law Friday by President Rodrigo Duterte but which takes effect on July 18.

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM JULY 4)

41,830

1,494 NEW

TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

403

1,290

10

11,453

380

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

FRESH

NEW

NEW

In a Facebook post, the group, led by Ateneo and La Salle law professor and lecturer Howard Calleja, filed via electronic filing a Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition against Republic Act 11479, which included a plea for the issuance of a temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction and/or other injunctive remedies.

Apart from Bro. Armin Luistro – former Department of Education chief in the Aquino administration – of the De La Salle Brothers, Inc. and Calleja, other petitioners were Atty. Joseph Peter Calleja, University of the Philippines Law Professor Christopher John Lao, Dr. Reynaldo Echavez, Napoleon Siongco, Raeyan Reposar, civic groups Frontliners: Tunay na Bayani and Bagong Siklab Pilipinas.

The petitioners described the law as “oppressive and inconsistent with our

TRUMP RUSHMORE RANT OMITS VIRUS

Constitution.”

“This fight against Terrorism should not and should never be a threat to the fundamental freedoms of all peaceful Filipinos,” they said.

The petitioners said they would proceed to the Supreme Court on Monday to physically file the petition and make a complete copy of it available.

Vice President Leni Robredo on Saturday denounced the passage of the bill amid calls to scrap the measure while the country continued to grapple with the COVID-19 crisis.

Speaking on Teleradyo’s “Omaga-Diaz Report”, Robredo said the Anti-Terrorism Act, which grants government forces sweeping powers to address terrorism, contained provisions that make it susceptible to abuse.

“When I heard it was signed, I was

BANKO ADVICE ON SURVIVING COVID

US President Donald Trump bemoaned protests demanding racial justice as “violent mayhem” Friday, but said little about an alarming resurgence of coronavirus cases in his country.

The microfinance arm of BPI takes a proactive role in guiding its clients— self-employed microentrepreneurs—in navigating the “new normal.”

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disheartened. It is saddening, frustrating, because this was done despite us being in the middle of a crippling pandemic. This was done despite the opposition of many sectors,” she said.

With the measure’s enactment, Robredo urged the public to “push back” by challenging the law’s constitutionality before the high court, and engaging with Congress to repeal or amend certain provisions of the law.

But National Security Adviser Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said lawabiding citizens should not worry about the Anti-Terrorism Act, adding that critics were not closely reading the provisions of the law.

Esperon cited Section 4 of the Republic Act 11479, stating that terrorism “shall not include advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work, industrial or mass action, and other similar exercises of civil and political rights.”

At the same time, the Philippine National Police gave assurances the AntiTerrorism Act would not be abused, as it welcomed the passage of the law.

“PNP assures that it will not be abused and we shall faithfully uphold all insti-

INDOOR GAMES FOR DOGS It is not easy to be a pet owner during a pandemic, especially when going out might expose us to a virus that can kill us.

From K-dramas to local movies and old American sitcoms, Google Trends data show what Filipinos are streaming and feasting their eyes on.

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MISS EARTH BETS ON VIRTUAL STAGE With the prohibition of mass gatherings still imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19, Miss Earth Philippines is holding its 2020 edition remotely.

Carlo Ventura shows us how green his thumb is through his urban garden in the Better Living suburb of Paranaque City.

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tutional mechanisms that provide safeguards to its implementation,” it said in a statement.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, meanwhile, said the country now had a powerful law to protect the people against threats by terrorist groups.

“We now have a powerful statute that provides law enforcement agencies the legal wherewithal to protect and defend our people,” said AFP spokesperson Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo in a press statement.

Arevalo said the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 would capacitate government security forces against terrorist groups that cause “inordinate sufferings” to the Filipino people.

“The AFP leadership under General (Filemon) Santos, Jr. thanks the Commander-in-Chief (President Duterte) for his resolve in putting public security and general welfare his primordial consideration in enacting the law that specifically targets terrorists,” he added.

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the agency was elated with Duterte’s decision to sign the measure into law. With AFP, PNA

‘WAKE UP’, W.H.O. TELLS WORLD 775 KG OF ‘HOT’ MEATS BLOCKED MMDA PUSHES EDSA CAROUSEL

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NAIA T3 open to int’l flights on July 8 DOH to shift reporting of virus cases

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Ninoy Aquino International Airport, keeping its pace with global aviation, is preparing for the resumption of international flight operations in Terminal 3 this week.

“As global aviation endeavors to return to normalcy, Manila International Airport Authority gears up by resuming international flight operations in NAIA Terminal 3,” the MIAA management said in a statement Saturday.

NAIA chief information officer Connie Bungag said after temporarily closing its doors in March 28 this year, Terminal 3 will finally open its gates to resume international flight services beginning 12:01 a.m. Wednesday (July 8).

She added all airlines which were relocated to Terminal 1 last March would also return to Terminal 3 beginning Monday.

Flights of All Nippon Airways (ANA), Air Aisa Berhad (AK), Cathay Pacific (CX), Emirates (EK), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM), Qatar Airways (QR), Singapore Airlines (SQ) and Turkish Airlines (TK) will arrive and depart from Terminal 3 on July 8.

Bungag said international operations of other airline carriers assigned in Terminal 3, however, “remain suspended to date.”

These are Cebu Pacific, Delta Air, Qantas Airways, and United Airlines.

Meanwhile, Terminal 2 continues to service international arrival flights of Philippine Airlines. PAL international departures, on the other hand, operate from Terminal 1 at present.

Airlines assigned in Terminal 1 shall remain in Terminal 1.

These airlines are Air China (CA), Air Niugini (PX), Asiana Airlines (OZ), China Airlines (CI), China Eastern (MU), China Southern (CZ), Etihad Airways (EY), Eva Air (BR), Ethiopian Airlines (ET), Gulf Air (GF), Hong Kong Airlines, Japan Airlines (JL), Jeju Air (7C), Jetstar Asia (3K) Jetstar Japan (GK), Korean Airlines (KE), Kuwait Airways (KU), Malaysian Airlines (MH), Oman Air (WY), Royal Brunei Airlines (BI), Saudia Airlines (SV), Scoot (TR), Thai Airways (TG) and Xiamen Air.

IN BRIEF

Saudi extends deadline to bring home remains THE July 4 deadline for the repatriation of the remains of 274 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia had been extended to early next week, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.

In a statement, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Riyadh has given Manila extra time to bring home the bodies.

“The July 4 deadline has been extended to early next week for us to fly home our beloved modern-day heroes,” he said.

Bello added that the delay in the efforts to bring home the remains of Filipino workers from the kingdom is due to several factors.PNA

‘2nd Bayanihan bill should be priority’ REP. Florida P. Robes of the lone district of San Jose Del Monte City in Bulacan on Saturday said the passage of the second Bayanihan bill on the Coronavirus disease should be a priority once sessions resume this July.

She appealed to her fellow legislators to unite once again to set aside political differences to pass the Bayanihan To Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 under substitute House Bill 6953.

“We have done it before and I hope we will do it again. We should strive to set aside our political differences for the good of our countrymen who are now suffering because of this pandemic. There should be no delay once session resumes on July 27, 2020,” Robes, as chairperson of the House committee on people’s participation, said. Maricel V. Cruz

By Willie Casas and Maricel V. Cruz

RUSHMORE FIREWORKS.

Fireworks light up the sky above the Mount Rushmore National Monument on July 3 near Keystone, South Dakota, on the eve of the United States’ Independence Day. President Donald Trump spoke before the start of the fireworks display, the first at the monument in about a decade.

AFP

’Wake up,’ WHO tells world of virus threat GENEVA—The World Health Organization on Friday urged countries hit by serious coronavirus outbreaks to “wake up” to the realities on the ground instead of bickering, and to “take control”.

“People need to wake up. The data is not lying. The situation on the ground is not lying,” WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan told journalists at a briefing hosted by the UN correspondents’ association in Geneva.

Asked about the dire situations in nations like Brazil and Mexico, which have been moving away from lockdowns despite ballooning numbers of infections and deaths, Ryan cautioned that “too many countries are ignoring what the data is telling them”.

“There are good economic reasons that the countries need to bring their economies back online,” he said.

“It’s understandable, but you can’t ignore the problem either. The problem will not magically go away.”

While he acknowledged that countries facing explosive outbreaks had some “pretty stark choices” ahead, he insisted that “it is never too late in an epidemic to take control.”

The United States, the world’s largest economy, broke its record for new cases for the third day in a row Friday, with more than 57,000 infections in 24 hours.

It’s expected to record its three millionth infection next week, with cases rising in the south and west particularly

775 kilos of ‘hot’ meat blocked at NAIA in 6 months

By Vito Barcelo and Joel Zurbano THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has intercepted 775.6 kilograms of banned meat and meat products at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from January to June this year amid fears of a new strain of African Swine Flu called G4.

“The meat and meat products that were confiscated include 268.2 kilograms of pork, 106.4 kilograms of beef, 298.2 kilograms of poultry, and 102 kilograms of other kinds of meat, which arrived without permits and health clearance, and were brought in through NAIA from ASF-infected countries,” the BOC said in a statement Saturday.

The Port of NAIA under the supervision of District Collector

Carmelita Talusan said the seized products were without sanitary and phytosanitary clearances for the first six months of the year.

Customs said importation of pork and pork-based products, particularly from China, are temporarily banned due to reported cases of the new G4 strain of ASF. All the items were turned over to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) for quarantine and immediate disposal to prevent the spread of the dangerous virus to local health and to the food industry.

Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero directed BOC NAIA personnel manning the Passenger Area and Air Cargo Warehouses to remain on alert against the possible entry of contaminated meat products.

LEND AN EAR.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte confers with Senator Christopher “Bong” Go (right) during his visit to the Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City on July 3.

Presidential Photo

Probe on online sex traffic of kids pushed RIZAL Rep. Fidel Nograles on Saturday called for an investigation by the House on the reported increase in online sexual exploitation of children during the lockdown imposed to control the spread of the coronavirus.

Nograles filed House Resolution 999 in the wake of a report by the Department of Justice’s Office of Cybercrime that 279,166 cases of online sexual exploitation of children were tallied from March 1 to May 24.

This was a 265.63-percent increase from the same period in 2019, where 76,561 cases were reported, he noted.

Maricel V. Cruz

(see related story on A3—Editors).

Meanwhile, the WHO has updated its account of the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis to say it was alerted by its own office in China, and not by China itself, to the first pneumonia cases in Wuhan.

The UN health body has been accused

by US President Donald Trump of failing to provide the information needed to stem the pandemic and of being complacent towards Beijing, charges it denies.

On April 9, WHO published an initial timeline of its communications, partly in response to criticism of its early response to the outbreak that has now claimed more than 521,000 lives worldwide. AFP

THE Philippines saw an increase of 1,494 infections of the coronavirus on Saturday—the second straight day of reports around the 1,500 level—which brought the national total to 41,830, according to the Department of Health.

This developed as the DOH said beginning next week, it would do away with breaking down cases into “fresh” and “late” cases.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the agency would present cases in a graph, indicating the trend for the past three days.

With the modified format, Vergeire said the DOH was hoping to provide a comprehensive picture of the reported cases, as well as avoid confusion among the public.

Of the number reported as of 4 p.m.

Saturday, 403 are “fresh” cases and 1,091 are “late” cases, the DOH COVID-19 Case Bulletin No. 112 showed.

The department also reported an additional 10 fatalities, bringing the death toll to 1,290. It said 380 other persons recovered from the disease as of yesterday, bringing the total recoveries to 11,453.

“Today’s fresh cases are based on the daily accomplishment reports submitted by only 60 out of 73 current operational labs,” said the DOH. “Of the 10 reported deaths, 8 (80 percent) occurred in June. The total cases reported may be subject to change as these numbers undergo constant cleaning and validation,” it added.

Meanwhile, the DOH said the record-high daily number of COVID-19 cases reported on Friday was due to the change in the time for the extraction of data.

Last July 3, the total number of COVID-19 surpassed the 40,000 mark after 1,531 more cases were recorded.

Rody appeals for calm amid shooting probe

By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appealed to both the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to “stay calm” to defuse tension between the military and police following the shooting incident in Jolo, Sulu, which left four soldiers dead.

“There is now this raging feeling of maybe hate. It could be hate, which is a dangerous thing really to nurture. It does not do any good because there’s the investigation. And I am giving you my word of honor that the investigation will proceed to find out the truth unfettered, unbridled by anybody except ‘yung sa trabaho (those on the job),” the President said in his speech Friday night at Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City.

On the other hand, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said the President also appealed to both the military and police to “settle down” as investigation was underway and to find out what really transpired during the incident.

“The President is appealing to both the PNP and the AFP to calm down. Give the National Bureau of Investigation the time to probe the incident,” Roque said.

During his speech, Duterte said no one would interfere with the NBI, adding: “if there is anyone who is found to make the mistake, then he has to pay for it.”

“What I’m saying is we’re trying to figure out how we can in the meantime do something to give you the assurance that justice will be done. So I’m giving it to you, I said, as a word of honor of a President (that) I will find out the truth from the investigators and I hope that it would satisfy all,” he said.

EDSA Carousel bus project to decongest, cut travel time on roads

By Joel E. Zurbano THE commuting public will experience a more accessible, convenient, and faster mass transport system with the full implementation of the EDSA Carousel project, Chairman Danilo Lim of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said

Saturday.

Lim said designating the innermost lane of Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) exclusively for buses will help decongest traffic, thus reducing travel time to and from north to south entry points of the 28.3-km highway.

“We are prioritizing the movement of more people on EDSA through a more

efficient mass transport system,” he said.

The MMDA chief said they are also planning closing several U-turn slots along the stretch of the dedicated bus lane for unimpeded travel to ensure faster mobility for commuters.

“I have instructed Traffic Engineering Center to study the impact of closing

the U-turn slots and find viable solutions to negate its effect,” Lim said.

He said the convenience of commuters is the topmost priority of the agency, adding that the MMDA will work on the suggestions and ideas raised by members of the House of Representatives to further improve the busway system and the infrastructures.

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Canada nixes extradition with H’Kong OTTAWA—Canada on Friday suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong to protest the tough new national security law China has enacted in the financial hub.

Canada is also halting exports of sensitive military gear to Hong Kong and updating its travel advisory for the city so Canadians will know how the law might affect them, the foreign ministry said.

“Canada is a firm believer in the ‘one country, two systems’ framework,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, referring to the semi-autonomous model adopted after Britain returned Hong Kong to China in 1997.

“We’re extremely concerned about the situation in Hong Kong,” he told a press briefing.

Trudeau said the “one country, two systems” principle was important not just for the city’s 7.5 million people, but for the 300,000 Canadians who live there.

“That is why we are going to continue to look at steps we can take to ensure the safety of its citizens,” he said, mentioning possible new “immigration” measures, without any specifics.

The Chinese legislation enacted this week outlaws acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces.

Beijing has faced a groundswell of criticism, primarily from Western nations, over the law, which radically increases China’s control over Hong Kong.

China’s leaders say the suite of powers will restore stability after a year of sometimes violent protests and will not stifle freedoms.

But police have already begun arresting people for possessing protest flags and banners, and the government in Hong Kong has made clear certain political views, especially calls for independence, are now outlawed.

The law was enacted in a secretive process, without the participation of Hong Kong’s legislature, judiciary or people, and in violation of international obligations, said Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne. AFP

IN BRIEF

2 dead, 13 missing in heavy Japan rains TOKYO—At least two people were feared dead and 13 others went missing in western Japan Saturday as record heavy rain triggered massive floods and landslides, forcing authorities to issue evacuation orders for more than 76,000 residents.

The nation’s weather agency downgraded rain warnings by one notch from the highest emergency level in Kumamoto and Kagoshima on Kyushu island, but Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged local people to be “on maximum alert”.

Abe ordered 10,000 troops on standby for immediate deployment to join rescue and recovery operations, pledging the central government would “do its best to take emergency measures, prioritising people’s lives.” AFP

40 killed in massacre of villagers in Mali BAMAKO, Mali—Unidentified armed men massacred 31 civilians in simultaneous attacks on several Mali villages this week, then killed nine soldiers responding to the assault as violence surges in the country’s conflictwracked centre.

An Islamist insurgency that erupted in the north of the vast West African country in 2012 has swept to its centre, inflaming ethnic tensions along the way.

Clashes between the ethnic communities of Fulani, nomadic herders, and Dogon traditional hunters have increased in recent months, with community-based militias—initially formed for defence—now launching attacks.AFP

ETHNIC PATIENT. Members of the Brazilian Armed Forces medical team speak with a member of the Yanomami ethnic group at a Special Border Platoon, where tests for COVID-19 are being carried out, in the indigenous land of Surucucu, in Alto Alegre, Roraima state, Brazil, on July 1. AFP

Trump mum on virus at Mt. Rushmore rant K EYSTONE―US President Donald Trump bemoaned protests demanding racial justice as “violent mayhem” Friday, but said little about an alarming resurgence of coronavirus cases as he attended a crowded, fireworks-studded Independence Day celebration beneath majestic Mount Rushmore.

Trump, under fire for his response to America’s spiraling coronavirus caseload four months before the presidential election, spoke on the eve of the July 4th celebrations before thousands of closelypacked people—many of whom chanted “Four more years;” few of whom were wearing masks.

In the shadow of four notable predecessors—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, whose likenesses are carved into a granite cliff in South Dakota’s Black Hills—the president called on supporters to defend America’s “integrity”.

He accused protesters calling for racial justice of “a merciless campaign to wipe out our history, defame our heroes, erase our values, and indoctrinate our children.”

“The violent mayhem we have seen in the streets and cities... is the predictable results of years of extreme indoctrination and bias in education, journalism and other cultural institutions,” he added.

The US has been engulfed by a oncein-a-generation reckoning on racism and police brutality since George Floyd, an African American man, was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis on May 25.

That has included a rethink of how America venerates symbols of the proslavery Civil War South, from removing statues of Confederate generals to retiring the Mississippi state flag, which featured the Confederate emblem.

Trump—who has also been criticized for his response to the protests —promised Mount Rushmore would never be defaced, and that he would never abolish the police or the right to bear arms.

“They want to silence us—but we will not be silenced,” he said to cheers, adding later that it was time to “speak up loudly, strongly, powerfully and defend the integrity of our country.”

“The best is yet to come,” he said, promising to establish “a vast outdoor park that will feature the statues of the

greatest Americans who ever lived”.

‘Safe and smart’ Trump did briefly thank those “working tirelessly to kill the virus” during his comments Friday.

But otherwise he has had little to say about the shocking increase in US virus cases. On Friday a record 57,000 new infections were confirmed.

The pandemic has claimed nearly 130,000 American lives, and the recent resurgence “puts the entire country at risk,” top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci has said.

The surge, especially in the south and west of the country, has cast a pall over Independence Day and seen US residents blacklisted by Britain and Europe, who have opened their borders to others.

Trump did tweet Thursday the rise was because “our testing is so massive and so good,” calling that “great news.”

US testing has risen sharply, but health experts say it still lags on a per capita basis behind many other countries and does not fully explain the case rise. They also note that deaths tend to increase a few weeks after cases rise.

Vice President Mike Pence postponed a trip to Arizona this week after members of his Secret Service detail reportedly showed signs of COVID-19, and he and other Republican leaders have belatedly begun emphasizing the importance of wearing masks. AFP

Situation on charity ship off Italy gets desperate MALTA—After suicide attempts, fights erupting on board, and migrants jumping into the sea, charity SOS Mediterranee launched an emergency alert on Friday, demanding to be allowed to immediately disembark at a safe port.

The humanitarian group, whose vessel the Ocean Viking has been at sea for over a week with 180 migrants aboard, said it could no longer guarantee the safety of the migrants or crew and called a state of emergency in an unprecedented step.

The boat, which has been in limbo in the Mediterranean south of Sicily, has been waiting for over a week for permission from Italy or Malta to offload the mi-

grants at a safe port.

Tensions have risen in the past week, as witnessed by an AFP reporter aboard the boat, as migrants have become increasingly desperate to reach land. Others have become distraught not being able to telephone their families to let them know they were safe.

A member of the crew, Ludovic, told AFP he had never witnessed such violence on board a rescue vessel, after a spate of fights between migrants and threats of suicide.

“I don’t feel safe,” Ludovic said. “We have to find a port now, it’s a question of safety.”

Fights break out SOS Mediterranee said in a statement it was not safe to keep migrants languishing on a boat after they had “endured a near-death experience on an unseaworthy dinghy in distress.”

The migrants, which include Pakistanis, North Africans, Eritreans, Nigerians and others, were picked up after fleeing Libya in four separate rescues by the Ocean Viking on June 25 and 30, after setting sail from Marseille on June 22.

The migrants include 25 minors, most of whom are unaccompanied by adults, and two women, one of whom is pregnant. AFP

Trudeau in hot water via ethics watchdog OTTAWA—Canada’s ethics watchdog said Friday he has launched an investigation into Justin Trudeau, after a controversial contract to manage a major government program was awarded to a charity with links to the prime minister’s family.

Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion tweeted that he had “informed” Trudeau of the decision. His investigation is confidential and will be the subject of a report once it is completed.

The announcement came after the co-founders of WE Charity, Craig Kielburger and Marc Kielburger, said they were withdrawing from the program, which they said had “been enmeshed in controversy from the moment of its announcement.” AFP

GROUNDED. Riot

police detain a man as they clear protesters taking part in a rally against a new national security law in Hong Kong on July 1, on the 23rd anniversary of the city’s handover from Britain to China. Hong Kong police made the first arrests under Beijing’s new national security lawas the city greeted the anniversary of its handover to China with protesters fleeing water cannons. AFP

Macron taps right-wing man as PM PARIS—French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday tapped a senior but low-profile bureaucrat as prime minister to replace Edouard Philippe, the first move in a widely expected cabinet reshuffle after dismal local election showings for the ruling party.

The new premier, Jean Castex, was drawn from the right-wing opposition to Macron’s centrist party, and was totally unknown to most in France until now.

But Castex, a former top aide to expresident Nicolas Sarkozy, has been in charge of the country’s progressive emergence from the coronavirus lockdown, a policy greeted as a relative success by experts.

“Let’s be clear: I’m not here to seek the limelight. I’m here to get results,” Castex said in what was effectively his introduction to the general public during a prime-time interview on TF1.

He said he would present his political road map next week, and a wider cabinet overhaul is expected in the coming days.

Macron has promised a “new course” for France to deal with the crisis, which has plunged France into its worst recession since World War II and left millions of people facing unemployment.

The former investment banker, who swept to power in 2017 on pledges to radically reform France, already has a wary eye on his 2022 re-election bid after months of protests and strikes that preceded the coronavirus outbreak.

Speculation that Philippe was on the way out mounted this week after Macron’s centrists were routed in municipal elections last Sunday, which saw the Greens take control of several major cities. AFP

Russia wants journo jailed in terror case MOSCOW—Russian prosecutors on Friday demanded that a journalist be sentenced to six years in prison for allegedly justifying terrorism in a case that has drawn outrage from supporters and rights groups.

Svetlana Prokopyeva is based in the northwestern city of Pskov and works for the Russian service of The US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) as a freelance contributor.

She was charged with publicly justifying terrorism after she wrote a commentary about a bombing attack in 2018.

Speaking from the court, a defiant Prokopyeva said the prosecution had demanded that she be sentenced to six years in prison and banned from working as a journalist for a further four years.

“This is revenge for hard-hitting— and apparently—spot-on criticism,” she told AFP. The court case has its origins in November 2018, when a 17-year-old anarchist blew himself up in the lobby of a Federal Security Service (FSB) building in Arkhangelsk in northern Russia, injuring three service members.

In her opinion piece, published by the Pskov affiliate of the Echo of Moscow radio station, Prokopyeva, 40, linked the teenager’s suicide bombing to the political climate under President Vladimir Putin. AFP

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SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2020

Banko advises entrepreneurs on how to survive the pandemic

By Othel V. Campos

ANKO, the microfinance arm of Bank of the Philippine Islands, takes a pro-active role in guiding its clients, particularly the self-employed microentrepreneurs, in navigating the business environment under the so-called “new normal”.

B BanKo head of financial inclusion and microfinance loans Rodolfo Mabiasen Jr.

BanKo head of financial inclusion and microfinance loans Rodolfo Mabiasen Jr. said the lender continues to find means to serve small entrepreneurs during the pandemic.

“Our clients need our support and guidance especially during these trying times.

We understand their situation, and as their partner, we are here to help them survive and start over for their families,” he said in a recent Go Negosyo Mentor Me Online session on Facebook.

BanKo aims to make banking services more accessible to the unserved and underserved Filipinos. It serves SEMEs by providing them with affordable and appropriate financial prod-

ucts and empowering them with expert financial advice and solutions that promote the growth and expansion of their enterprises.

It has already made a considerable impact on the lives of thousands of previously underserved Filipinos by creating an enabling business environment for them. It is aims to make a significant contribution to the economic development in the long run.

Since the enhanced community quarantine was implemented on March 15, about 62 percent of BanKo’s clients had to temporarily stop their operations.

Now that the lockdown was lifted, these self-employed micro-entrepreneurs are looking forward to restarting their businesses.

To survive and start over, BanKo advised clients to adapt to the new normal by exploring other digital alternatives such as social media.

SEMEs should be as creative and resourceful as they can to deliver the current needs of consumers, Mabiasen said.

Aside from going digital, BanKo also highlights the importance of financial management. Clients are encouraged to follow a strict budget plan, prioritize needs over wants and maintain a good credit standing to be able to renew their loans.

BanKo is committed to help clients start over by offering programs depending on their needs. One of them is the BanKo Term Extension Program— a restructuring program to help clients who, at the moment, need to reduce their installment amount.

Another program is BanKo App, a digital way for convenient monitoring of account and access to BanKo transactions such as Buy Load, Send Money and Pay Bills and BanKo Cash Agents, an additional channel for clients to deposit to their account.

SEMEs can also closely monitor their accounts through the BPI BanKo Mobile App as they wish, whenever, wherever.

“Through this easy, hassle-free online banking tool, clients may easily monitor their NegosyoKo loans, send payments, and check their balance and transaction history in the comfort of their homes.

With a few taps, accountholders may also buy prepaid mobile load and get a 2 percent rebate, transfer

money, and pay bills,” said BanKo head of customer and product management Anne delos Reyes.

The BanKo Mobile App helps the client monitor the movement of their savings, status of their NegosyKo loan payments and due dates.

NegosyoKo Loan is business loan product catering the microentrepreneurs for additional capital or business expansion.

Clients can also buy load, send money and pay bills using the app.

“We encourage our clients to go digital via the BanKo App for easy, hassle-free online banking. We are expanding our BanKo Cash Agent network so that clients can have more channels for depositing for their savings or paying their loan,” Reyes said.

From the time that NegosyoKo was launched, BanKo has already served more than 120,000 clients.

On top of BanKo’s network of 300 branches nationwide, it also has several cash agents including GRJ Jaro, Raquel Pawnshop, Santolan and Tambunting, where clients may deposit and withdraw from their PondoKo accounts and pay for their NegosyoKo loans.

Even in these trying times, BanKoPares and BanKoMares continue to check their clients’ BanKo head of situation and teach customer and product them how they can susmanagement Anne delos Reyes tain their businesses.

BanKo has served more than 120,000 clients nationwide and disbursed P12.9 billion in loans since 2017.

P&A Grant Thornton welcomes two partners P&A Grant Thornton chairperson and chief executive Ma. Victoria Españo welcomes Elano Marcelo from business processing solutions/outsourcing and Nikkolai Canceran from tax advisory and compliance as the company’s new partners.

“Recognizing excellence is important to our firm. That means empowering people who are making a difference with our clients and communities.

Providing our clients with a unique experience, high-quality results, and collaborative thinking is what makes us stand out in the industry. We are proud to count these transformational leaders as an important part of our team,” Españo said.

Firm partners, she said, excel in helping clients discover innovative solutions to their businesses in an everchanging environment. “I believe they are equipped with an extraordinary ability to lead and build relationships with clients and with people at all levels,” she said.

Marcelo previously joined P&A in 1995 in the audit and assurance division and rejoined the company recently. His work experience includes conducting financial audit, due diligence, business process reviews and fraud investigations.

Elano Marcelo

Nikkolai Canceran

He then moved to join the shared services industry, working for a top commercial bank and a global law firm where he headed the financial reporting, finance and accounting, procurement and business process re-engineering operations.

He returned to P&A in 2017 to join the BPS division where he was tasked to manage the staff augmentation engagements and concurrently leads the critical support unit.

Marcelo is the executive vice-president and managing director of P&A

Grant Thornton Outsourcing. He earned his accounting degree from Colegio de San Juan de Letran and is a certified public accountant. As a new Partner, he will join BPS/Outsourcing with Paz Malubay.

Meanwhile, Nikkolai Canceran was a director in P&A Grant Thornton’s tax advisory and compliance practice before joining the partnership.

He began his professional career in the firm’s audit and assurance division in 2007 and later joined the tax advisory and compliance division in 2008.

His extensive experience in providing tax compliance and due diligence audit and tax outsourcing services to local and multinational companies has earned him the confidence of the firm.

He has also crafted tax studies and opinions and transfer pricing studies for many clients.

Canceran graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from Far Eastern University and is a certified public accountant.

As a new partner, Canceran will join tax advisory and compliance partners Olivier Aznar and Edward Roguel and tax principal Eleanor Roque.

Following a rigorous selection process, applicants from within the company are prioritized from candidates from other companies.

“In our firm, the next in line would be the directors. So we matched the competencies of the directors to the competencies that we are looking for,” Españo said.

The company now has 24 partners.

“I am tremendously proud of the promotion of Elie and Nikkolai. Both of them are incredibly impressive and have demonstrated genuine care for our clients, our people, and the community,” Españo said. Othel V. Campos

CIS Bayad Center appoints new CEO CIS Bayad Center Inc., the biggest and widest multi-channel payment platform in the Philippines, named Lawrence Ferrer as its new president and chief executive.

Ferrer replaces Manuel Tuason who has retired after 15 years of being at the helm of Bayad Center, growing the company’s network of stores, strategic partners, franchise business and digital presence.

Now, Ferrer holds the reins in leading the company into the digital era. He brings with him a wealth of experience and solid expertise honed from more than two decades of immersion in the fields of telecommunications, financial

technology and banking.

Throughout his career, he has championed and supported game-changing innovations being used by many Filipinos today. He led the product and business development of game-changing fintech innovations such as Smart Money, Smart E-load, Smart Padala and PayMaya.

As the new CEO and president, Ferrer aims to steer the company towards continued expansion and digitalization.

“A new world order is taking shape and digital innovation is imperative. As the most trusted payment authority in the country, it is our mandate to serve the ever-evolving needs of our customers.

We will continue to advance our onsite to online platform, ensuring that they have a seamless and meaningful payment experience,” he says.

Currently, Bayad Center has 39,000 payment touchpoints nationwide, handling more than 10,000 transactions daily.

Its portfolio of services has grown to include not bills payment but also domestic and international remittance, insurance sales, medical reimbursement, ferry and airline ticketing, ATM cash withdrawal, loan disbursement and more.

The company provides customers with greater accessibility, convenience and security.

CIS Bayad Center president and CEO Lawrence Ferrer

UCPB officer-in-charge Liduvino Geron

UCPB names seasoned banker as new president UNITED Coconut Planters Bank announced the appointment of seasoned banker Liduvino Geron as officer-incharge effective July 2, 2020.

Geron brings with him over 20 years of expertise in various areas of banking, particularly branch banking, strategic planning and lending.

He was the executive vice president for agricultural and development lending of the Land Bank of the Philippines. He rose from the ranks as a LandBank management trainee in 1994 before heading its various units such as the Visayas Branches Group, Lending Program Management Group, Credit Policy Department, Strategic Planning Group and the Branch Banking Sector.

He has a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of the Philippines Los Banos and a master’s degree in Systems Agriculture from the University of Western Sydney.

Geron’s assignment follows the resignation of Higinio Macadaeg Jr. as president and CEO. UCPB posted P4.1 billion in net income in 2019, up by 16 percent from P3.5 billion in 2018, based on unaudited financial statement for 2019.

Youth & Culture B1

SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2020

Bernadet­te Lunas, Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

What are you binge-watching?

By Steph Llarena

M

OVIES and television series have become a reliable companion for many quarantined Filipinos dealing with anxiety and boredom. And as predicted, we’ve bingewatched a lot of Korean dramas, while many have developed interest in local movies and old American sitcoms.

Using Google Trends data of Filipinos’ search visits and streaming sites’ web visits from January to May (before and during lockdown), meta-search website iPrice Group, discovered the following interesting insights into our watching habits during the pandemic.

interests increased by 456 percent.

Meanwhile, Crash Landing on You reached its peak searches after its final episode aired in February, before the lockdown, and searches dramatically decreased in two weeks. But after the enhanced community quarantine was implemented, there was an immediate K-drama fever was real-er resurge of search interests, which notably increased by 105 percent since the than ever Itaewon Class, starring Park Seo-joon period of decreased interest. and Kim Da-mi, had the most surge in interests with a dramatic 9,900 percent Local movie and US sitcom increase compared to two months bethrowback fore the lockdown, while the 2015 KoFilipinos streaming online are rerean drama series Reply 1988’s search visiting local movies such as Heneral

Luna, which garnered an increase of search interests by 809 percent. This was followed by 2013 comedy-drama and meme generator film, Four Sisters and A Wedding with a 376-percent increase. Another historical film, Goyo: The Boy General, was also sought after by Filipinos, which saw an increase of 300 percent.

Older American sitcoms are likewise resurfacing. The 11-season Modern Family, whose first episode aired in 2009, saw a search interest surge of 426 percent, while Community (20092015) recorded a 400-percent spike and How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014) a 355-percent increase.

Money Heist stole many binge-watching hours of Filipinos The Professor and his gang were a hit among Filipino viewers as Money Heist (La Casa de Papel), garnered the most interest in the Philippines among all the most searched shows and movies iPrice Group curated in April.

Trailing behind Money Heist during this period by 157 percent were Itaewon Class and Crash Landing On You. “However, it is important to note that Money Heist’s spike is due to its latest season’s release. Kdramas still garnered a consistent amount of interest throughout the lockdown,” said iPrice.

Niche streaming sites got more web visits

Data reveal Filipinos in quarantine love binge-watching K-dramas, local films, and old American sitcoms.

Mubi, which carefully curates movies around the world and handpicks only 30 available titles at a time, had the most increase in worldwide web visits during this pandemic. The niche site saw a 96.98-percent increase between April and February. Another niche site, Viu, which offers premium Korean shows and other Asian programs, had a notable increase of 59.46 percent. Crunchyroll, which streams anime and manga, went up by 35 percent. iWant, a streaming site that exclusively streams local Filipino shows and movies, garnered a mere 10-percent increase in web visits.

A quarantine food drama

Eating candies and other sweet snacks has become a pastime of many.

By Mikaela Kristina Acido-Muega

have adverse effects on our body. Eating too much food with high sodium THE quarantine has afforded us time content results in water retention, to do things that are usually not prior- which is when salt makes our body itized on our daily schedule. hold water thus making us feel heavier We now have more than normal, among othtime to watch K-dramas, er things. learn something new, But this doesn’t mean YOUNG write a story, make an we should quit our faartwork, play with our LIFE vorite snacks cold turpets, spend time with our key. We can all stay family, and eat. Yes, eat. healthy and fit during While a basic need, eatthe lockdown by wisely ing has become a pastime choosing the food we for some; many people eat. If possible, opt for tend to eat more when they are bored. less preservatives and less sugar and Overeating is bad, and eating a lot less fat. of preservative and sugar-laden food— Also, we should start walking in our which are popular staples during a sit- backyards at least, or plant vegetables uation like this due to their longer shelf and fruits, which is economically and life—is another monster that could socially relevant during this time. We harm us. can also try other workout routines I, for one, am having a hard time that don’t require lots of space, like dealing with this problem. ab, stretching, and breathing exercises.

I do home workouts that I find on the Dancing counts as exercise, too.

Internet and achieve surprising and sigSee, not all hope is lost! Yes, we can nificant weight loss and increased endur- still eat those sweet candy and tasty ance! Nice, right? But my body weight chips, but let’s keep it within limit and fluctuates like a firefly’s light most of do our exercises. the time: I gain weight, lose weight, or You see, this lockdown probably stay in the same weight range. isn’t so bad after all. For one, it gives That’s when I noticed it all boils us more time to stay in the kitchen and down to what we put into our bodies. eat the food that we want, but it also If we eat lots of fatty food, the excess allows us to make smart decisions on fatty acids are stored in our bodies the kinds of food that we eat and the making us gain more weight. exercises that we need to do in order to Similarly, food preservatives can stay healthy and fit.

Online auction for young art collectors YOUNG, discerning art collectors are invited to join the first of Casa de Memoria’s four-part online auction series for a cause on July 11.

Following the success of its Primero and Segundo anniversary and inaugural online auctions, which featured Betsy Westendorp de Brias’ paintings and religious art, the Lhuillier-

The Casa Online 01 will feature (from left) Antoine-Louise Barye's 'Bronze Lioness,' an album containing Spanish advertisements, 'Cafetera' by Victor Arrizabagala, and 'Portrait of a girl' by Henri Matisse, among other art pieces.

managed auction house introduces The Casa Online.

Powered by Invaluable, The Casa Online is a series of auction events that aim to provide budding art enthusiasts and younger collectors with an accessible platform featuring smaller art pieces and interesting bric-a-brac that are within their reach.

Dubbed “The Casa Online 01,” the

Saturday sale will feature EuropeanFilipino art pieces, including “Cafetera” by Victor Arrizabagala, “Portrait of a girl” by Henri Matisse, and “Bronze Lioness” by Antoine-Louise Barye, among others.

Proceeds from the auction will be donated to Sagip Kapamilya, the emergency humanitarian assistance program of the ABS-CBN Foundation.

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Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor E-mail: jdlacsamana@gmail.com

Home/Design

How green is my garden

Growing herbs, vegetables in the new normal

W

HILE the chokehold of traffic consumes Dona Soledad Avenue in the suburb of Better Living, Paranaque, on an early Saturday morning, Celso Ventura is in a space of relative calm, as he tends to the erratic foliage of his urban garden.

In his patch of greenery, the plants are tall, bright, and varied. In one corner, a row of of native banana (Lagkitan Cultivar), papaya, kamias and langka trees, flanked by two huge, fragrant Kaffir lime trees, sit amidst thick clumps of kamote, alugbati, arugula bushes. A heavily-laden trellis runs overhead a narrow pathway with winter melons, jicamas, string beans and gourds peeking below from thick vines.

On another stretch, a riotous foliage of lagundi, malunggay, saluyut, holy basil, insulin, pesticide-free ampalaya vines and lemon grass, sit on organically composted earth, competing for dappled rays of sunshine with potted aloe plants and colorful ornamentals.

Ventura claims no background in farming or gardening. But the retired corporate executive loves cooking Mediterranean, Islamic and Asian dishes. Thus it was ideal for him to gradually plant is own vegetable and herb garden ten years ago. Today, with just a sprig, or a torn leaf or two, the herbs, in particular, are enough to elevate any Italian pasta, Moroccan stew, or Malaysian Assam Pedas into new culinary heights.

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme….

Herbs are what Ventura particularly dotes on. Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme, as the song goes, are just few of the herbs that he grows in the tropical climate. These need lots of sunlight , though not exactly direct, and good soil, and the only adjustment to be made is in

the amount of water they get to absorb.

Ventura tends to his garden about two to three hours every day, usually in the morning. His advice for beginner urban gardeners: “You have to pick the plants for you ... that will benefit you.”

After a few minutes, he talks about lemongrass. “I get fresh tanglad every day. I will just cut it. ‘Di mo na kailangan ‘yung root eh … nag-re-regrow naman agad siya,” he said. “Once you have one, endless supply na siya.”

In a city of clogged roads and harsh pavements, to nurture the soil and create something from it is a kind of silent rebellion, a way of taking control from capitalist means of production.

Vegetable, kitchen garden If you have extra land, Ventura said you can even create a vegetable, or kitchen garden. The French and Italians have been designing such utilitarian gardens since the Renaissance period, usually employing symmetrical or geometric shapes to map out the plots.

The idea is to combine ornamental plants (usually, edible flowers like gumamela) with vegetables and herbs to create pockets of utilitarian beauty. The vegetable garden should be located near the kitchen so that the cook can just amble out, and pick the fresh produce that is needed for the day’s dishes.

But even if you don’t have that extra space, you can easily grow herbs in pots and other containers. “Pick the sunniest part of your house, and make sure that the pots have good drainage holes,” Ventura said. The advantage of growing in pots is that you can easily move them if you change your mind about their location, and of course, you definitely have to find them a sheltered place when the heavy rains come.

Herbs aplenty As far as herbs are concerned, the easiest to grow from seed are parsley, basil, mint, coriander, and sage, Ventura volunteered. At the gardening aisle of the top hardware stores, you can buy the

seeds as well as some plasticized planting trays. Fill up the tray with a seedling or growing mix rather than untreated soil from your backyard. This will give your seeds a head start by providing them with “clean” and nutrient-filled growing material.

After about a few weeks, you will begin to see some sprouts. Let them grow out a bit, until you see what are called the “true leaves.” Once they are about two inches tall you can transfer them to their permanent place, in a pot or outside in your garden.

An easier and faster way of creating an herb garden is to buy grown plantings from garden centers, especially from growers in Silang and Tagaytay.

Just transfer them gently from their containers, making sure not to mess with the roots.

Most herbs are annuals and you do have to plant them again after they start to flower and mature. When it starts heating up, the herbs will bolt quickly.

Snip off the flowers if you want them to last longer, or harvest often so they would grow new leaves.

Most challenging herbs in a tropical setting Rosemary and lavender are the most challenging to care for in a tropical setting.

While the other herbs can tolerate good watering as long as the drainage is good, these two herbs just want enough water to get by. They are also heavy feeders of plant nutrients so make sure to plant them in their own pots for specialized care.

Mint is also a challenge in that it is an invasive plant. It just grows so fast and its snaky roots will overwhelm the rest of your plants. This one is best for pots.

If you must have it as part of an herb garden, you must first place it in a pot and plant the entire container so that its roots are contained, he said.

Thyme, oregano, and tarragon are also quite hardy and can be sown outside together with the ornamentals.

Megawide eyes infra growth in new normal ENGINEERING and infrastructure conglomerate Megawide Construction Corporation (Megawide) will anchor its growth roadmap for the next two years on infrastructure developments in the Philippines, betting highly on its precast technology to meet demand from the recovering market.

The listed construction firm sees its precast technology, which creates concrete that is prepared, cast and cured off-site, as a “benchmark” for construction around this time of a pandemic.

Megawidechairman Edgar. B Saavedraunveiled his company’s post-COVID plans, as well as roadmap for the longterm sustainability of the business, at a virtual stockholders’ meeting this week.

Tripling precast capacity “We will triple our precast capacity to accommodate demands from the external market,” Saavedra vowed.

Megawide’s precast products, he explained, are a standard because of their “functionality and suitability” to social

distancing protocols.

“We anticipate greater demand for precast technology to fast track infrastructure developments and address the country’s six million housing backlog, aside from the acceptability of precast in new normal protocols at construction sites,” Saavedra said.

Last year, external sales accounted for 40% of Megawide’s precast business, lifting its construction segment revenues.

Ports activity affected by pandemic Resuming operations after the months-long lockdown, Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the com-

pany’s joint venture airline with Indian developer GMR Group, have rolled out contactless check-in, inquiries, and purchases.

It has set up a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing facility to help raise Cebu’s virus testing capacity.

The land port Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), which reopened on June 8, is accepting bookings made via its mobile app. It will soon launch an automated ticketing booth.

Drawing a bead on modified “Build, Build, Build” Megawide is eyeing to take on some of the government’s modified “Build, Build, Build” projects, including the Malolos-Clark Railway, North-South Commuter Line, and Metro Manila Subway projects.

It likewise plans to launch a mixeduse development and its proposed second runway at MCIA, as well as to pursue the second phase of PITX development by identifying key areas where it can put up similar land ports.

Deep slumber BED manufacturer Sealy, recently introduced its the posterepedic presidential grand suite, its ultra premium and most elite mattress yet, using the revolutionary posture tech titanium coil.

Part of the palatial crest collection, the mattress features the latest spring technology called “ReST coil” (Responsive Support Technology) that gives three distinct stages of support.

First is the micro-confirming SynerFlex surface that cradles every part of the body; the second is the SRxInnercore that senses the body’s weight and responds with initial conforming support.

The Third stage is that extra deep-down support that the body needs.For more information about Sealy, check out its website: sealy.com.ph

Entertainment

By Eton Concepcion

the Miss Earth Philippines Organization, the candidates were judged each after their video presentation, recorded live from their respective homes or location. The judges cast their votes after making their comments directly to the contestants.

Ong announced the winners at the end of the three-hour online show. Gold medal winner was Isobel Teano of Opol, Misamis Oriental, for her Kuyamis-inspired cultural attire created by designer Jie-jie Aisa; silver went to Rizza Paula Infante of La Castellana, Negros Occidental for her Banana Festival-inspired costume by Rhymyla Nicol-Mangilimutan and Roda Semillano; and the bronze bagged by Ilyssa Marie Mendoza of Fil-Community of Melbourne, Australia designed by Dee Jay

W

ITH the prohibition of mass gathering still imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19, Miss Earth Philippines is holding its 2020 edition remotely.

Just like the preliminary cultural attire (national costume) competition, the pageant pushes through but virtually or via online communication.

The first ever online beauty pageant activity in the country, or perhaps, anywhere else in the world, had 50.8 thousand concurrent viewers (or the number of viewers while the show is live streamed) and was also shown on El John TV in Indonesia.

Hosted in Manila

by Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Gabrena Ong and streamed live on the of f icial Face book o f

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Nickie Wang, Editor; E-mail: nickie.standard@ gmail.com

Abustan and Roy Erwin Tizon, inspired by the Lucban Band Stage “Kiosko”.

The board of judges included Miss Earth Indonesia 2019 Cinthia Rani, designer and educator Eric Pineda, Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines 3rd president Barge Ramos, couture jewelry designer Jerry Sunga, and Manila Standard pageant columnist and national awardee 2019 Eton Concepcion.

Celebrating its two decades of existence, Lorraine Schuck, executive vice-president of Carousel Productions, presentor of Miss Earth Philippines pageant, said it was a great challenge to the organization to hold this year’s edition amid the pandemic.

Watch the Miss Earth Philippines 2020 Grand Coronation today at 10:00 a.m. on GMA.

Miss Earth PH candidates sashay on virtual stage for final competition

Miss Earth 2020 frontrunner Roxanne Allison Baeyens, 23, represents the City of Baguio.

Miss Philippines Earth 2020 Cultural Attire Competition winners: Gold -Isobel Teaño from Opol, Misamis Oriental; Silver - Rizza Paula Infante from La Castellana, Negros Occidental; and Bronze - Ilyssa Marie Mendoza from Melbourne, Australia.

Catriona Gray launches own rendition of ‘Raise Your Flag’ MISS Universe 2018 Catriona Gray is releasing her own version of the inspiring anthem “Raise Your Flag,” her debut single under Star Music.

The song, composed by Trisha Denise and ABS-CBN Music’s creative director Jonathan Manalo, was inspired by the beauty queen’s answer in one of the questions asked during the Miss Universe pageant.

“It feels like I’m coming full circle.

This song was birthed from representing and making my country proud in the Miss Universe 2018.

Now, with it releasing during a time such as this, I feel like the message is still one that needs to be heard, but now it

SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2020

applies to all of us, in raising our voice and raising our flag for what we stand for,” Catriona shared.

“It’s really special to me, especially since most of the lyrics are statements of mine when I represented the Philippines. Now the meaning has evolved, just as I have, I hope others will find their own meaning in the song too,” she disclosed.

Singer KZ Tandingan sang the original “Raise Your Flag” song, with rap verses written and performed by Kritiko. KZ and Kritiko performed the single, together with the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, during Catriona’s homecoming concert held at the Araneta Coliseum after she won in the global pageant.

Aside from her highly anticipated music venture under ABS-CBN’s Star Music label, Catriona is also going into publishing with her upcoming book, Conquering Your Universe.

Catriona Gray raises the Philippine flag in her own version of the anthemic single originally sung by KZ Tandingan.

Learn from home with ‘AHA!’ VIEWERS can now watch AHA! from Wednesday to Friday, 8:25 a.m., while the fun-filled discoveries continue every Sunday with AHA’s original timeslot at 8:15 a.m..

In last Wednesday’s episode, host Drew Arellano and the rest of the AHA! team explored the various personal transport vehicles such as the electric go kart and electric roller blades. They also discussed how abnormalities and birth defects among animals happen and how to take care of those that have these conditions.

The following day, AHA! revisited a ToyCon where dolls took the stage wearing different costumes. Drew also looked back on the earlier version of toy dolls our parents and grandparents played with during their childhood.

In today’s episode, the AHA! Learning from home gets more exciting as the award-winning infotainment program hosted

by Drew Arellano now airs four times a week.

squad tries to play games inspired by the Running Man. Join them as they go inside the 16thcentury dungeons of Baluarte de San Barbara in Fort Santiago, Intramuros, which used to be a storage house of ammunition and arms during the Spanish era.

Do dwarfs exist? AHA! tells us about the tales and beliefs that involve these mysterious creatures. A kid who was so stressed about having swallowed watermelon seed became viral before. AHA! explains what happens when one ingests a seed such as that of watermelon and explores the science behind the human digestive system and its functions.

On Sunday, Boobsie Wonderland joins Drew in ‘Let’s Do It! Let’s Drew It!’ Will Boobsie take on the show’s challenges such as ‘AHA: Walang Tatawa Challenge with a Twist’ and ‘Tongue Twister Challenge’ among others?

In other stories, join Ivan Dorschner and find out what ‘kinetic sand is. What are its characteristics that allow it to take various shapes or be molded in different forms?

And who would have thought that a tropical country like the Philippines has its own ice hockey team?

Find the answers on AHA!, Wednesday to Friday at 8:25 a.m. and Sundays at 8:15 a.m. on GMA 7.

JP Saxe sings ‘Hey Stupid, I Love You’ TORONTO-BORN, critically acclaimed singer-songwriter JP Saxe, releases his latest single, “Hey Stupid, I Love You” on Monday, off of his forthcoming project out later this year.

The track was written by JP and Scott Harris (Shawn Mendes) and produced

by Ojivolta. It is accompanied by an official quarantine-style, heartwarming music video, directed by Lillie Wojcik.

Of “Hey Stupid, I Love You,” JP says: “I’ve recently figured out that when someone asks you for more love, it’s much easier to just give it to them, than to convince them that they don’t need it.

Also, after a few songs that feel a lot like who I am alone at 3:00 a.m. at my piano, grueling and emotional, this one feels more like me at 3:00 p.m., and it feels like

the way I love—rambling and dorky but ultimately sincere.”

Charming and ever-so-cheeky, the new single follows the success of JP’s duet with Grammy Award-nominated artist, Julia Michaels, titled “If The World Was Ending.”

Now certified platinum in the U.S and Canada, the poignant duet was called a “timely soundtrack to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic” by Rolling Stone, and was included in Time Magazine’s “A Playlist For All The Moods Of Social Distancing” roundup.

Despite being released in October 2019, “If The World Was Ending” continued to strike a powerful chord at the peak of the pandemic. To help support the international medical humanitarian

organization Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in its global response to COVID-19, JP and Julia tapped Grammy Award-winners Alessia Cara, H.E.R, Keith Urban, Sam Smith and more for a special charity video, with all proceeds donated to Doctors Without Borders.

The new rendition was praised by Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue, TIME Magazine, V Magazine, and Popsugar, to name a few.

JP made his late night TV debut performing “If The World Was Ending” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last November, with a followup remote performance on The Late Late Show With James Corden during quarantine in April.

Rising singersongwriter JP Saxe releases a new single, a follow up to his Platinum record ‘If The World Was Ending,’ which features Grammy Award-nominated Julia Michaels.

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SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2020

Desiree Carlos, Editor

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

Pets so you can finish your work or a task, said Yurcaba.

You can buy the puzzle game online or you can make this yourself.

We have a mat that has small pieces of cloth sewn on top of the other. You can use something like this and hide the treats and/or your dog’s favorite dry dog food inside. You can also hide a toy if you sew a cloth that is big enough to hide the toy in the same mat.

PET TALES

BY DESIREE CARLOS

I

T IS not easy to be a pet owner during a pandemic, specially when going out might expose us to a virus that can kill us.

It is advised that we stay at home to remain safe. Thus, we can’t bring our dogs to pet restaurants or for paw parties with pets of our friends.

However, our dogs might be feeling cooped up and may now be experiencing cabin fever just like us.

Here are some tips on how to put some spice and excitement in your dog’s life during a self-imposed quarantine.

These activities will also help you exercise and keep you fit while making your dog physically, mentally and emotionally healthy despite all the limitations at this time in our lives.

Jo Yurcaba, in “11 Indoor Activities For Dogs If You Can't Get Outside” in Woman’s Day site, shared fun things to do with your dog to keep him from going crazy.

1. Tug of war My dog Lucas, a shih tzu, always loves to play tug with any cloth. When I come home, he always reaches for my shawl, bites it and tugs at it.

Most dogs love to do this.

You can use any cloth like a towel or a small blanket, or a toy, to play tug with your dog.

Playing tug helps your dog get rid of excess energy, Yucarba said.

This kind of play can also help train your dog on self-control and to prevent or redirect inappropriate use of teeth, Yurcaba said.

This is also a good game for large dogs confined in small spaces at this time, according to veterinarian Julie Taylor.

2. Hide-and-seek using treats I used to do this with our shih tzu Summer when she was a pup but you can do this with any dog at any age.

Get a treat, show it to your dog, then “hide” it in front of the dog.

The next time you hide the treat, do not show her where you placed it. Tell

9. Share the treadmill with your dog

Indoor games for dogs Pups Amber and Amethyst playing at a larger space in the home without furniture or items made of glass.

her there is a treat waiting for her and to with both ends open, a staircase in your look for it. She will use her strong sense home (if you have one), and blankets to of smell to locate the treat. create jumps, tunnels, and small forts for your dog to explore, Yurcaba said.

3. Play fetch in a new way You can put treats inside the box “You can usually play fetch safely or in the “tunnel” to encourage your with small and medium-sized dogs dog to go around the “obstacles” you inside, depending on the size of your have set up. home. But with large dogs, that might This will be fun for both your dog be a lot harder,” Yurcaba said. and you.

You can throw a toy or objects safe for your dogs and yourself up and down 5. Playing from the couch the steps of your home or a long space You can always keep a box full of like a hallway in your home. toys beside the couch so you can play Ask your dog to get the object and with your dog while resting or relaxing. bring to you, or ask yoru dog to just bring what she likes to bring to you.

6. Try online classes There are a lot of online classes on 4. Make an obstacle course. how to train dogs and care for your dog.

An obstacle course can thoroughly “Consider using an online dog trainexercise a dog in a limited space ing course to teach them to be more You can use pillows, furniture, boxes obedient or help them learn a couple of

new tricks,” Yurcaba said.

Yurcaba added there are also online fitness classes for dogs.

7. Teach your dog to pull his weight “Train your dog to pick up their own toys. It might seem impossible, but there are dozens of videos and how-tos to help you do it. That will leave one less chore for you every day,” Yurcaba said.

8. Buy or make a food puzzle game Dogs also need mental stimulation.

“Interactive food puzzles reward your dog's natural drive to hunt and work for their food,” Yurcaba said.

This is also good for teething puppies.

Dogs who eat fast or are picky eaters will also love the food puzzle game, and having one will give you some time off

If you have a treadmill, you can use this to swap for the morning walk which you can not do with your dog at this time.

“You might have to coax them with treats at first and keep them on a leash,” Yurcaba said.

It is best to ask your vet first if this is okay for your dog. This is not advised for a dog who is old or has medical problems, of course.

Also, please check out the speed that is suitable for your dog with your vet, and how long he can stay on the treadmill. These two factors depend on the age, weight and breed of your dog.

If the weather is too hot, this is not recommended.

I also recommend strongly that you always supervise your dog when he or she is on the treadmill. Do not leave the dog alone.

Provide water to your dog after the exercise.

10. A quiet space for your dog If there are always a lot of people in the house, your dog might want a “me” time and a space for himself.

“Gather blankets or your dog's bed and some of their toys to put in a section of the house where they can still see you but where they can have some time to themselves if they want,” Yurcaba said.

It is recommended that the humans pretend the dog is invisible when he is in his space. This will really make your dog feel he has his own space.

11. The shell game Get three paper cups and a treat or a small ball.

“Let your dog watch you hide the treat or ball under one of the cups and then shuffle them. The game helps them work on their problem-solving skills," Yurcaba said.

Bok choy and dogs BOK CHOY, a Chinese cabbage, is a green leafy vegetable that has a light, sweet taste and a crunchy texture that humans love.

It is incredibly nutritious too, says Alison O. Callaghan in “Can Dogs Eat Bok Choy?” in the Happy Puupy site.

But are vegetables good for dogs?

When it comes to carbohydrates, Callaghan said vegetables are the healthiest option.

But most scientists have said that carbohydrates are not necessary for a healthy canine diet, compared to protein and fat, Callaghan noted.

Thus, dogs do not need vegetables to survive, Callaghan said.

Vegetables however “provide essential nutrients and health benefits as a supplement to their regular diet,” she added.

Green leafy vegetables, such as bok choy, are the best to give to your dog, as they resemble the grass he would eat in the wild.

But some vegetables are toxic to dogs, so please always research before giving any to your pet.

Is bok choy safe for dogs?

Bok choy is safe for dogs if given in moderation and with precautions, Callaghan said.

1. When giving any new food to your dog, always give a small piece only to see if the dog has an allergic reaction to the food such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Do the same with bok choy. Start with a small piece only. Then observe your dog and wach out for any allergic reaction. If there is non, then you can give a little more next time.

2. Do not give bok choy with another fruit or vegetable when giving this for the first time so you will know to which food your dog had an allergic reaction to if ever he vomits or develops diarrhea.

3. Do not give a whole bok choy leaf as your dog might choke on it. Cut the large bok choy leaf into small pieces first. Bet-

ter yet, put in a blender for easy digestion.

Preparing bok choy for your dog 1. Wash the leaves thoroughly. Most vegetables are exposed to dirt, chemicals and harmful bacteria in the field.

It is best if you give your dog organic vegetables which are less likely to contain harmful chemicals, Callaghan said.

2. You do not need to give the white, crunchy part of the stem as this does not have as many nutrients as the green leaves.

3. Cut the bok choy leaves into small pieces.

“This will allow your dog to digest it properly, absorb all the nutrients and avoid a choking hazard,” Callaghan said.

4. Give only a tiny amount of cut pieces to puppies as “their bodies haven’t fully developed,” Callagajn said. “They will find it difficult to digest such a high fiber vegetable,” she added. It is best to put in the blender first before giving to the pup.

5. Give only a small amount to dogs of all ages and ask your vet if this vegetable is okay for your dog if your dog has medical concerns.

What are the health benefits of bok choy for dogs?

Bok choy can possibly help a dog with constipation or digestive issues as it is high in fiber. This means however that a dog might develop diarrhea f given too much bok choy.

It also has Vitamin B6 and folate for a healthy heart, Callaghan said.

Bok choy also has the following: 1. Vitamin A which is good for puppies as their eyes are starting to develop.

This will also help prevent eyesight deterioration in older dogs.

2. Vitamin K which helps absorb calcium.

3. Magnesium and phosphorous which are good for healthy bones and teeth.

4. Vitamin C which boosts the immune system.

“However, be careful not to feed too much, as dogs do not need this vitamin,” Callaghan said.

5. A lot of water which will keep the dog hydrated on a hot day.

“However, all of these nutrients should be found in your dog’s daily food and water intake,” Callaghan stressed.

She added, “Because bok choy has a high fiber content, feeding too much can result in your dog having diarrhea. Also, as it is nutrient-rich, your dog could easily overdose on vitamins as well.”

There is such a thing as Vitamin A toxicity or taking in too much Vitamin A through food intake or vitamins.

Symptoms include weight loss, lethargy, stiffness and constipation.

Too much Vitamin B6 can make a dog light sensitive.

Too much Vitamin C will cause bloating or diarrhea.

Please consult your vet if your dog has any of these symptoms. DC Bock choy is a Chinese cabbage that is a good source of magnesium and phosphorous for healthy bones and teeth.

But give this vegetable in moderation and cut into small pieces to avoid choking in dogs. CTTO

So young to be "imprisoned": Ally inside the dirty cage in the holding facility for impounded dogs.

Adopt, don’t buy love

SHE was barely three months old when she was caught and put inside a filthy cage in a subdivision’s holding facility.

At that very young age, she had lost her fur due to severe mange and was suffering from anemia, obviously due to lack of food and/or from eating food from trash bins.

She probably got lost or was allowed to roam freely to look for her own food by her owner.

Volunteers Jocelyn Zulueta, singer Jonalyn Viray of ABS-CBN, Ton Reyes and Cecille Cua brought food and water for the dogs who were impounded.

She was malnourished and so scared.

She and six other dogs, one of whom was a pregnant black asong Pinoy (aspin) who later gave birth to four pups, were to be transferred to a city pound where dogs are put to sleep or killed allegedly by lethal injection.

She was so small and so young to be killed.

Save ALL Inc.- Save Animals of Love and Light decided to get her, the pregnant dog named Bela, and five other dogs.

Save ALL named her Ally.

Despite what she went through, she is so friendly and mixes well with other dogs.

She loves to play but she is not rough with her playmates.

She will be a very loyal and adorable companion, given her ability to express her feelings.

She is now spayed and vaccinated.

She deserves to be in a loving home

Ally today: healthy, happy and beautiful.

where she is treated as a member of the family, and not as a guard dog, because she is such a loving dog.

She is now around three years old.

If you have extra love in your heart for a beautiful puppy like Ally, please contact Save ALL admins Maricel Mondejar, or Julie Rodriguez.

Adoption fee is P1,000.00 which covers the “pabaon” of a 4-kilo bag of dog food and a bottle of multivitamins which her body has been used to. It is not advisable to change the diet and to shift to another vitamin abruptly. The immune system might be compromised.

Thus, Save ALL gives these items to the adopter to help in shifting the dog gradually to another brand.

If you can not adopt now, do share posts looking for adopters for dogs and cats from shelters and pounds.

Or you can pray they find their loving furparents soon.