Manila Standard - 2020 July 19 - Sunday

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 145 • 2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘DARAGANG MAGAYON.’ Clouds cover the peak of Mayon Volcano as it remains a breathtaking sight—despite rumblings in recent weeks—in this photo by a resident of Legaspi City on Friday. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Friday lowered the warning over Mayon to Alert Level 1 with the continued decline of its activity. Ian Rodrick Astor Ogama via Twitter

‘Terror law won’t violate rights’ PH envoy soothes US solons’ fears; OSG asks SC to dismiss all petitions

P

HILIPPINE Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez has assured American lawmakers critical of the new anti-terrorism law, which the Department of Justice said took effect Saturday, that it would not violate human rights in the country.

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM JULY 18)

65,304

41,464 ACTIVE

TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

2,357

1,773

113

22,067

321

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

NEW

On Saturday, the Office of the Solicitor General asked the Supreme Court to dismiss motions assailing the new law for supposed “utter lack of merit.”

In a statement, the OSG said the petitions against the act relied “primarily on baseless allegations of vagueness of the law, unjustified fears of abuse, and imagined conjectures.”

Vice President Leni Robredo is among those who oppose the Anti-Terrorism Act, and earlier urged concerned citizens to go to the high court to question the the law’s constitutionality.

Before President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11479 into law, over 250 groups from different sectors had appealed for his veto, particularly questioning Section 29.

But human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, in an interview on ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo, disputed the date of effectivity of

US-CHINA ‘COLD WAR’: HOW HOT IS IT NOW? Experts see important historical differences ­—but believe the two powers are entering dangerous territory.

the law, saying a law takes effect 15 days after its actual publication, and not just via online.

“According to (Justice) Sec. Menardo Guevarra, the count should start from July 3. But, when we looked at it, July 3 was just the publication of the anti-terror law on the online website of the Official Gazette,” Diokno said.

He added: “Counting should start from the actual publication of the Official Gazette. Not online, but on paper of the Official Gazette. And that was on July 6. So, our count shows that the effective date is not now, but July 22.)

Former Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te shared Diokno’s view.

“There is no law that says that the online Official Gazette substitutes for the printed OG under Art. 2 of the Civil Code. Publication in the actual OG was on July 6, (therefore) effec-

RAMON ANG: TODAY’S IDEAL PINOY LEADER The country has seen the emergence of modern-day heroes, and the business sector is no exception. On top of the list is San Miguel Corp. president and chief operations officer Ramon Ang.

tivity is July 22, not July 18,” Te said on Twitter.

Romualdez, in a letter on July 16 to the 45 lawmakers opposing the law, explained the Anti-Terrorism Act “expressly excludes legitimate exercises of the freedom of expression and to peaceably assembly (sic) engaging in advocacy, protest, dissent, mass action and other similar exercises that are not intended to cause death or serious physical harm to a person, to endanger a person’s life, or to create a serious risk to public safety.”

“The Philippines remains committed to the protection of civil and political liberties as well as human rights.

The Anti-Terrorism Act itself strongly mandates that human rights shall be absolute and protected at all times,” Romualdez said.

The law, he added, provides significant safeguards to prevent abuses, such as in the detention of persons without warrant.

“Its prescribed period on warrantless detention is also not materially dissimilar from the anti-terrorism laws of other countries, including those in the West,” he said.

SOCIALIZING A PUPPY IN TIME OF COVID-19 The critical socialization period for a puppy is between 4 to 16 weeks of age, and will greatly influ- ence his behavior when he grows up.

He added the power of determining with finality who are to be regarded as terrorists resided with the judicial system through proscription.

Echoing the concerns of several sectors in the Philippines, US Representative Janice Schakowsky of Illinois called the law a new weapon to suppress dissent in the country.

Schakowsky is among the 45 congressmen who asked the Philippine government to repeal the law.

“We believe it’s already being used to stifle peaceful dissent and target civil society including human and labor rights groups in the Philippines,” she said.

Romualdez said criticisms and concerns by certain groups had “diluted the real legislative intent behind the law, which is to uphold the policy of the state to protect life, liberty, and property from terrorism.”

“The law properly defines what are to be considered terrorist acts, predicated by certain essential conditions, i.e., violent actions and violent purpose,” Romualdez said. Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

STORIES ON PAGE 2

PH VIRUS CASES BREACH 65,000 KID PINAY LIVES UNDER PANDEMIC

WORLD / A3

BUSINESS / A4

NESPRESSO TALENTS AND VERTICAL VISION Young Filipino filmmakers demonstrate how to think outside of the box by simply and literally flipping the box.

YOUTH & CULTURE / B1 twitter.com/ MlaStandard

PH REAL ESTATE STANDS ITS GROUND SOME real estate pundits are still “betting their last centavo” on the beleaguered industry’s recovery amid the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

HOME/DESIGN / B2 facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

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manilastandard.net

PETS/ B4

JAK ROBERTO FINDS HIS GROOVE Actor Jak Roberto essays another interesting character, this time, a name every single person on social media knows—DJ Loonyo.

ENTERTAINMENT / B3

EX-ENVOY TO SK FACES SEX RAPS INT’L PASSENGER QUOTAS RAISED FARMERS PRESS FERTILIZER PROBE

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Palace eyes no transmissions via ‘Kalinga’

Young Pinays model life interrupted by pandemic

By Vito Barcelo and Willie Casas THE government is targeting a zero transmission of COVID 19 under “Oplan Kalinga” as it urged persons who are asymptomatic or with mild symptoms to be confined to government isolation facilities and be treated without paying anything.

In an interview, Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms and those who are asymptomatic but do not have the ideal home quarantine could get in touch with their local government units (LGUs) and have themselves picked up and brought to a quarantine facility through the Oplan Kalinga program.

He said isolating persons with COVID 19 but not experiencing any symptoms was the best way to stop or delay the spread of the deadly disease.

“Our isolation centers are air-conditioned. Food is free and with free wifi. You are welcome here,” Roque said.

“Oplan Kalinga is a program launched by the national government to accommodate COVID-19 patients who do not have their own room and own toilet where they can isolate themselves, or for those who have household members who are elderly, with existing diseases, and pregnant women,” Roque said.

The Palace spokesman said this would reduce the risk of more infections in the household and communities, and to identify and isolate infected individuals in proper isolation and quarantine facilities.

The Palace official admitted that the curve could not be flatten unless measures such as isolating COVID patients living in densely populated areas be separated from their community.

“So—if we can meet a zero transmission, why not? We should have done it before. And right now we are doing it,” Roque said.

Ex-envoy hit with sex raps

by S. Korean

By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Foreign Affairs on Saturday said a former Philippine ambassador to South Korea was accused in February this year of sexual harassment at his diplomatic post, but stopped short of disclosing the identity.

In a statement, the DFA said the Philippine Embassy in Seoul received the complaint filed by a South Korean woman while the Filipino envoy was in Manila on official business. The diplomat resigned from service effective March 16.

A Yonhap News Agency report described the accused as 69 years old Filipino ambassador, who has been placed on the Interpol’s wanted list, aimed at asking member states to locate and arrest him.

The complainant alleged that the sexual harassment happened in December last year.

According to the DFA, the complainant and the accused “cooperated with the proceedings conducted by the investigating Committee,” held after it received the complaint.

The DFA admitted that the allegations were probed by the DFA’s Committee on Decorum and Investigation, but it did not divulge the findings and recommendation of the probe panel.

“The Department is committed to ensuring that justice is rendered in this case,” it said.

“It also remains committed in cultivating and preserving a work environment where all personnel are treated with respect and dignity, and free from harassment of any kind,” the DFA statement added.

By Romeo Gacad

LIFE UNDER COVID. This photo taken on June 7 showsFilipina girl Alyson Jacalan, 4, who stayed home with her sister Yohan, 9, for three months due to fears about the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, swimming in the pool at their apartment after the lockdown period in Bangkok. The sisters (also inset), who moved to Thailand in 2017, are among more than a billion children worldwide who have seen their school and home life upended by the pandemic, according to a UN agency. AFP

PH cases breach 65,000; ‘Prevention still the best’ C

By Willie Casas

ORONAVIRUS cases in the Philippines surpassed 65,000 on Saturday as the Department of Health (DOH) reported an increase of 2,357 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country.

This brings the total to 65,304 cases and 1,773 dead from the pandemic since the lockdown in mid-March after 113 additional fatalities.

“As of 4pm today, July 18, 2020, the Department of Health reports the total number of COVID-19 cases at 65,304,” said DOH COVID-19 Case Bulletin #126.

The five areas with the highest number of new cases are the National Capital Region with 1,1824, Laguna with 105, Cav-

ite with 62, Cebu with 49, and Rizal with 39.

A total 2,357 confirmed cases are reported based on the total tests done by 76 out of 84 current operational labs, the DOH said.

DOH also announced 321 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 22,067.

“Of the 113 deaths, 40 (35 percent) in July, 58 (51 percent) in June, and 15 (13

percent) in May. Deaths were from Region 7 (87 or 77 percent), NCR (23 or 20 percent), Region 4A (1 or 1 percent), Region 5 (1 or 1 percent), and Region 6 (1 or 1 percent),” said the DOH. “Fifty-four duplicates were removed from total case count. Of these, two duplicates previously reported as recovered have been removed from the total count of recoveries after final verification,” the DOH said.

“The total cases reported may be subject to change as these numbers undergo constant cleaning and validation,” the DOH said.

The DOH at the same time said getting tested for COVID-19 was not an “immunity passport,” and the best way to avoid getting COVID-19 was to adhere to preventive measures.

Oriental Mindoro 1st District Rep. Salvador Leachon, Vice Governor Jojo Perez, 2nd District Rep. Alfonso Umali, Bongabong Mayor Elgin Malaluan, Gov. Bonz Dolor, and Vice Mayor Richard Candelario (from left) lead the unveiling of the marker of the town’s P33-million new municipal building on Friday.

Lino Santos

3 airports’ int’l passenger quotas raised THE government has given the three major airports in Manila, Clark and Cebu the go signal to increase their inbound international passenger capacity amid the coronavirus disease pandemic.

Manila is now allowed to accept an additional 3,000 inbound international passengers daily, while Cebu and Clark will both have a 1,500 daily limit for international passengers.

Also, the Office of the President announced Friday the government will allow foreign nationals with long-term visas to enter the country beginning next

month as the country continues to ease air travel restrictions.

Conditions for inbound travel include securing a pre-arranged coronavirus swab test and booking with an accredited quarantine facility, where they will be housed while waiting for their test results.

This developed as flag carrier Philippine Airlines reminded arriving air travelers about the government’s mandatory quarantine and COVID-19 swab testing requirements.

In its advisory released on Saturday, PAL stated the government is implementing mandatory 14-day quarantine and testing procedures for all arriving passen-

gers in Manila.

“We wish to remind our domestic and international passengers to check the latest travel requirements applicable to your destination city/country, as well as at your point of origin, as you prepare for your travel,” the airline said in a statement.

On Friday, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) received approval from the National Task Force (NTF) for COVID-19 to release notice to airmen (NOTAMs) relative to the new regulations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), and Clark International Airport (CIA).

Farmers press DA fertilizer probe

FARM TRAINING. One of the 15 owners of farm schools and learning sites in Luzon demonstrates how to use a machine seeder during the ‘Training of Trainers on Production of High Quality Inbred Seeds and Farm Mechanization’ program held at the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar SIPAG) Farm School in Bacoor City sponsored by Sen. Cynthia Villar.

IN BRIEF ‘Warrantless arrest order in QC legal’

NEW BUILDING.

By Joel E. Zurbano

FOR young sisters Yohan and Alyson of the Philippines, the stress of a three-month coronavirus lockdown in Bangkok where the father works as an engineer, was assuaged by family and Netflix, theirs an anecdote of the childhood interrupted across the world due to a pandemic which has upset how kids learn, play and interact.

An Agence France Presse photographer followed the Filipinas, aged nine and four respectively, chronicling their lives indoors over several weeks in an 80-square-meter apartment in downtown Bangkok.

The siblings, who moved to Thailand in 2017 because of their father’s engineering job, are now allowed out of their home.

But looking back on photos of a period that will define their young lives, the pair react with delight and curiosity.

As for millions of others, Netflix became a fixture of their lives inside, with “Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance,” a regular source of comfort and entertainment for Yohan, the older one.

“I’m a fan! I started watching it during lockdown,” she told AFP, thrilled that the photos captured her initial discovery of the show.

The siblings are among more than a billion children worldwide whose normal lives the pandemic disrupted, according to a UN agency.

COVID-19’s economic impact has also left parents jobless, hollowing out the diets of the world’s poorest children and heaping hardship on already difficult lives.

Thailand, which has won plaudits for keeping the caseload down, reopened schools in early July.

But the pupils who returned were greeted by plastic barriers in classrooms, staggered attendance days and strict social distancing.

The girls’ mother, Odette Jacalan, says she took the lockdown more seriously than some other parents.

Fears of her children contracting the illness were a constant weight on her mind, she told AFP, with her husband posted temporarily in Taiwan as the virus struck. AFP

AN ALLIANCE of Central Luzon farmer’s groups has urged Congress to start investigating the allegedly overpriced P1.8billion fertilizer deal of the Department of Agriculture, especially in light of reports that the winning bidder for the region had failed to deliver its supply commitment due last month.

“The House of Representatives and the Senate must push through with their respective investigations,” said Joseph Canlas, chairman of the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon.

“The Department of Agriculture has been covering up this mess. But clearly the supply contracts were not only overpriced, the winning bidder also failed to

deliver on time,” Canlas said.

The supply contracts for urea fertilizer were part of a P5.69 billion procurement under the DA’s emergency stimulus program Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat Kontra COVID-19 (ALPAS sa COVID-19).

In May, the first contracts were awarded to La Filipina Uy Gongco Corp. for Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Western Visayas and Atlas Fertilizer Central Visayas.

However, La Filipina Uy Gongco, as of July 17, has only been able to deliver 200,000 bags of urea, or a little over 20 percent out of the 911,073 bags that it is obligated to deliver in full by the end of June. Rey E. Requejo

THE acting chief lawyer of Quezon City on Saturday defended Mayor Joy Belmonte’s memorandum mandating the warrantless arrest of quarantine violators, saying it “has legal basis.”

To support his justification, Nino Casimiro, acting chief of the city’s legal department, cited different laws that he said provided the bases for the arrest quarantine violators.

The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) earlier said the memorandum has no legal basis.

However, Casimiro cited sections of the 1987 Constitution and Republic Act 11332 as the basis for the warrantless arrests.

“In any case, the city assures the public that strict enforcement of its ordinances shall be tempered by understanding, tolerance and respect of the people’s fundamental rights,” he said.

“The city will also continue its efforts to educate the public of the important safety measures necessary to protect everyone’s health,” Casimiro said. Maricel V. Cruz

‘OFWs to be called back to jobs soon’ THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Saturday vowed to help overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) regain jobs they lost abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the possibility of OFWs being rehired by their former employers gained ground with the reopening of many economies around the world.

“Many governments went ahead of us in easing restrictions. Their industries are almost fully operational again by now. They could recall our OFWs anytime,” Bello said.

If that happens, he said the labor department is committed to provide assistance required by OFWs. The labor chief said the government is able and ready to engage with foreign governments with new policies on migrant workers with regards to safety and health measures against the deadly virus.

“They might ask more requirements from our OFWs like government certifications to prove they are not a threat to the health and safety of their people. We can do that,” Bello said. Vito Barcelo

World

SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2020

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Dutch block EU virus recovery plan

TOPPLED. This photo taken on July 15 shows residents riding a boat past a damaged and flood-affected house near the Poyang Lake due to torrential rains in Poyang county, Shangrao city in China’s central Jiangxi province. The vast Yangtze drainage area has been lashed by torrential rains since last month, leaving 141 people dead or missing and forcing the evacuation of millions more across several provinces. AFP

Snapchat grudges, COVID pressures drive shooting epidemic in US WASHINGTON—A five-month old baby boy struck in the head by a bullet in a drive-by shooting in Chicago Thursday became the youngest victim yet of gun violence battering US cities already hobbled by the coronavirus pandemic.

The infant was in the arms of one of two young men in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood when attackers drove up and opened fire, wounding both of the men.

“He’s in stable condition with a graze wound to his temple,” Chicago deputy police superintendent Eric Carter said Thursday night outside Lurie Children’s Hospital.

“It’s quite heartbreaking,” Carter said. “This is not normal for anyone, whether it’s Chicago or any other city.”

Thousands shot Shootings have become breathtakingly normal this summer across the United States. Hundreds have been killed including dozens of children, and thousands wounded.

In late June a one-year-old died and his mother was wounded in a Chicago drive-by shooting. AFP

US-China ‘Cold War’: How hot could it get?

W

ASHINGTON­—Tensions are mounting by the day between the United States and China, leading to talk of a new Cold War. Experts see important historical differences—but believe the two powers are entering dangerous territory.

US President Donald Trump’s administration has increasingly gone global against China, pushing other nations to reject its strings-attached aid and telecom titan Huawei, and siding unreservedly with Beijing’s rivals in the dispute-rife South China Sea. Trump has made China a major campaign issue as he heads into the November election, but the relationship looks unlikely to change in more than tone if he loses to Joe Biden, who has accused the president of not being tough enough.

Stephen Walt, a professor of international affairs at Harvard University, said the world’s two largest economic powers were engaged in a long-term competition over “incompatible strategic visions,” including China’s desire to dominate Asia.

China sees Trump as a “weak and error-prone leader” and likely believes the “disastrous” US response to the coronavirus pandemic presented opportunities to press its advantage, he said.

“It resembles the US-Soviet ‘Cold War’ in certain respects, but it is not yet as dan-

gerous as that earlier rivalry,” Walt said.

“One key difference is that the two states are still closely connected economically, although that relationship is now under considerable strain.”

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is taking stern warnings about Beijing around the world, did not reject the Cold War comparison in a recent radio interview.

He also noted that the United States was never as economically intertwined with the Soviet Union --and said the West therefore needed to separate from China, especially its technology, which Washington fears will be used for espionage.

Chance of ‘hot war’ Oriana Skylar Mastro, an assistant professor at Georgetown University and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, said it was dangerous to speak of a Cold War with China. AFP

IN BRIEF Biden: Russia, China out to undermine polls \WASHINGTON—Russia and China are trying to undermine US democracy in the run-up to November’s presidential election, Joe Biden said, citing intelligence briefings he is now receiving.

“The Russians are still engaged in trying to delegitimize our electoral process. Fact,” the presumptive Democratic challenger said at a fundraiser on Friday according to the Washington Post.

“China and others are engaged as well in activities that are designed for us to lose confidence in the outcome,” he added.

It is normal for presidential nominees of the major parties to have intelligence briefings, though it is not clear when Biden started to receive his.

On June 30 he said he may ask for a briefing, but that he had not been offered one up until then. AFP

‘Black Forest Rambo’ nabbed after manhunt BERLIN ― After a huge six-day manhunt, German police said Friday they have caught the “Black Forest Rambo”, a heavily armed suspect accused of stealing officers’ weapons and going on the run in the woods.

Yves Rausch, 31, was found sitting in a bush after a tip-off from two witnesses, “with four guns visible in front of him”, said Juergen Rieger, the head of the search operation.

The suspect also had an axe in his lap and one further gun, and there was a letter in front of him, Rieger said.

Rausch was slightly injured in the arrest, as was a member of the special forces who was cut with the axe.

“I am relieved, happy and grateful that this exceptional situation for our town has come to an end,” Uwe Gaiser, the mayor of the village of Oppenau, told reporters.

Rausch had fled into the forest on Sunday after he managed to disarm four police officers, sparking a huge search operation. AFP

TEAM EFFORT.

Doctors and nurses wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suits look after a COVID-19 coronavirus patient at the Intensive Care Unit of the Sharda Hospital, in Greater Noida, India on July 15. AFP

‘Superheroes’ laud boy, 6, who saved sis from dog attack WASHINGTON ― Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Spiderman... superheroes have lined up in recent days to praise the courage of a six-year-old boy who was mauled while saving his little sister from a dog attack.

“You’re a hero, what you did was so brave, so selfless, your sister is so lucky to have you as a big brother,” said

Chris Evans, the actor who played Captain America in the Avengers movies, of which the little boy is a big fan.

“Your parents must be so proud of you,” said Evans.

Bridger Walker, who lives in the western US state of Wyoming, put himself between a German Shepherd mix and his little sister on July 9 as the dog

was about to attack the four-year-old girl.

He was bitten badly in the cheek and underwent emergency surgery during which he had 90 stitches put in his face.

“If someone had to die, I thought it should be me,” the little boy’s parents said he told them afterwards. AFP

BRUSSELS—European Union leaders will meet again Saturday to try to save a huge post-coronavirus economic rescue plan after running into a brick wall of defiance from “frugal” countries led by the Netherlands and Austria.

Europe is in the depths of its deepest recession since World War II and the 27 national leaders are seeking common ground on the terms of a 750-billion-euro ($857 billion) stimulus package that would help lift those hardest hit by the pandemic.

But 12 hours of difficult haggling on Friday failed to yield a result as Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte refused to give ground on his demand for strict controls on payments to his struggling southern partners.

The 27 leaders are scheduled to reconvene at 11:00am (0900 GMT) on Saturday but diplomats are increasingly gloomy about the prospect of a deal being struck this weekend.

The Dutch in particular—but backed by Austria, Sweden and Denmark—are reluctant to hand out cash to countries such as Spain or Italy they see as too lax with public spending.

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron are backing a package of loans and subsidies to member states to revive economies shattered by the virus and preventive lockdowns.

As she arrived for the summit—the first to be held in person since the pandemic began—Merkel warned that the differences among the leaders were “very very large”, while Macron described it as a “moment of truth”.

But, despite the long talks among all the leaders and small group meetings to try to break the deadlock, a diplomat said they had run into “a blockage on the question of governance for the recovery plan.” AFP

Twitter attack ‘work of young hacker friends’ SAN FRANCISCO—Hackers involved in the high-profile hijacking of Twitter accounts earlier this week were young pals with no links to state or organized crime, The New York Times reported Friday.

The attack, which Twitter and federal police are investigating, started with a playful message between hackers on the platform Discord, a chat service popular with gamers, according to the Times.

The paper said it had interviewed four people who participated in the hacking, who shared logs and screenshots backing up their accounts of what happened.

“The interviews indicate that the attack was not the work of a single country like Russia or a sophisticated group of hackers,” the Times reported.

“Instead, it was done by a group of young people - one of whom says he lives at home with his mother - who got to know one another because of their obsession with owning early or unusual screen names, particularly one letter or number, like @y or @6.”

The massive hack of high-profile users from Elon Musk to Joe Biden has raised questions about Twitter’s security as it serves as a megaphone for politicians ahead of November’s election.

“Based on what we know right now, we believe approximately 130 accounts were targeted by the attackers in some way as part of the incident,” Twitter said in a tweet.

“For a small subset of these accounts, the attackers were able to gain control of the accounts and then send Tweets from those accounts.” AFP

John Lewis, US civil rights icon, passes away, 80 WASHINGTON—John Lewis, the civil rights warrior who died Friday aged 80, excelled at what he liked to call “good trouble”—standing up against racial injustice to forge a better United States.

The African-American icon marched with Martin Luther King Jr, was nearly beaten to death by police, and later as a sitting congressman was arrested multiple times for protesting genocide or leading immigration reform sit-ins.

Lewis was a sharecropper’s son whose fights for justice helped define an era, and whose moral authority as an indomitable elder statesman left a permanent imprint in Congress.

He was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in late 2019.

“Today, America mourns the loss of one of the greatest heroes of American

history,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said of the 17-term congressman from Georgia.

She described Lewis as “a titan of the civil rights movement whose goodness, faith and bravery transformed our nation.”

Lewis clashed with President Donald Trump on multiple occasions—boycotting his inauguration and citing Russian interference in the 2016 election to question his legitimacy.

Risked ‘life and blood’ Lewis was just 21 when he became a founding member of the Freedom Riders, who fought segregation of the US transportation system in the early 1960s, eventually becoming one of the nation’s most powerful voices for justice and equality. AFP

CIVIL RIGHTS HERO. In this file photo, Rep. John Lewis thanks anti-gun violence supporters following a rally with fellow Democrats on the East Front steps of the US House of Representatives October 4, 2017 in Washington, DC. The nonviolent civil rights warrior who marched with Martin Luther King Jr and nearly died from police beatings before serving for decades as a US congressman, has died at age 80. In December 2019, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. AFP

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SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2020

Business

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

Ramon Ang: Today’s ideal Filipino leader T HE Philippines, much like every other country in the world, is facing a very challenging and difficult time. Filipinos’ day-to-day lives have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in many ways: the loss of some family members, jobs and income, mobility and even homes because of travel restrictions.

Because of such challenges, there is an overwhelming need for ways to overcome them and for changes to better improve the situation amid the pandemic. There must be focused and noble leadership that would lead the charge in pursuit of properly addressing the country’s problems, notably COVID-19 and map out a brighter future for the 110 million Filipinos.

In the last four months, the country has seen the emergence of modern-day heroes and the business sector is no exception. On top of the list is San Miguel Corp. under the leadership of president and chief operations officer Ramon Ang, known to many as RSA. What he has initiated through the SMC to help not only his employees and the front line workers, but also every Filipino throughout the country is a source of inspiration.

Coming forward to bring about silver lining over the dark clouds hovering over the horizon, RSA has answered the clarion call of President Duterte’s call for the private sector to help the government and the Filipino people to surmount the crisis when the country was placed under a state of emergency and enhanced community quarantine in March.

Living true to form in embracing the noble Filipino trait called “malasakit,” RSA has been serving as the catalyst and rallying leader in the business sector to stay the course to pump prime the economy and extend much needed help to his countrymen through series of relief operations during the pandemic. RSA has been rising as the Philippines’ number one philanthropist, to say the least.

HARDWORKING LEADER Ang was born on Jan. 14, 1954 in Manila. He finished his education with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Far Eastern University. At a young age, he was described by his friends and associates as headstrong and hardworking. He began his long and fruitful career in business by repairing and selling used Japanese trucks and car engines that eventually led him to the recently departed Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., by selling aluminum wheels and reconditioning vintage cars.

From there, he slowly built his way to the top, exhibiting his flair for entrepreneurship while remaining humble and never forgetting his humble roots. Although he has many professional endeavors, such as the Top Frontier Investment Holdings Inc. and Eagle Cement Corporation, he is best known for his groundbreaking work at San Miguel Corp. He was appointed SMC president and COO in 2002, when Francisco Eismendi retired. From then on, he has been managing the conglomerate’s day-to-day operations and the welfare of its people.

Ang’s work and legacy continued to grow from there, especially with his position as SMC’s largest shareholder. His vision for the company entailed not only keeping it afloat, but also ensuring its growth and progress. He spearheaded SMC’s development from a food and beverage company to one of the Philippines’ most diversified conglomerates. In an interview with a newspaper in 2012, he said, “When we started to diversify, people said I was crazy.

But when you look at how far we’ve come today, do you think we made the right move or not?”

As a visionary executive, RSA was on course to bring SMC to greater heights by successfully diversifying the conglomer-

San Miguel Corp. president and COO Ramon Ang (right) and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III lead the opening of the last section of Tarlac, Pangasinan and La Union Expressway all the way to Rosario, La Union. With ten interchanges and 11 toll plazas, it will connect Central and Northern Luzon and make access to and from Metro Manila and beyond, easier. TPLEX will help deliver growth to the regions for generations to come. ate’s interests in brewery, oil, power, mining, infrastructure and car distribution.

In a speech at the Junior Chamber International Senate of the Philippines’ The Outstanding Filipino Award in December 2019, of which he was among the six eminent TOFIL awardees, his now departed son Jomar Ang delivered in his father’s behalf: “We, at SMC, transformed and diversified to keep up with the changing times. I am proud to say that ten years later, our businesses are much stronger and today. SMC contributes to more than five percent of our country’s GDP, equivalent to over a trillion pesos in sales revenue.”

As a TOFIL Awardee in 2019, no less than former Philippine President Fidel Ramos lauded the SMC top honcho saying, “Mr. Ang is a patriotic Filipino and a strategic thinker. Development simply cannot proceed with adequate infrastructure and to fast-track this needs private sector participation. He has a grasp of what it means to be maka-Diyos, maka-Tao, maka-Kalikasan and maka-Bansa.

But more importantly, Mr. Ang takes to heart and fully embraces the Filipino trait, malasakit.”

GIVING BACK Ang would never forget that the Filipino people has supported SMC through the years.

As a form of giving back and showing what Filipinos can do to survive, he has been helping them in every way he can, especially today with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has crippled the Philippines. Because the virus has put a very real threat to human lives, Ang was at the forefront of showcasing the value of life above all else.

“What is more important are lives, not money. We can make money again, but life, once you lose it, it’s gone forever. So between money and life, I’d choose life,” Ang said during an interview with CNN. His statement made such a great impact especially bearing in mind that just a few days after talking to CNN, he lost his son, Jomar, on April 13, 2020. He said, “Jomar was a dutiful, loving, and kind-hearted son, brother and a loyal and dedicated friend to many. He was a source of great joy to us and we are truly blessed to have had his love and presence in our lives. We know in our hearts that he is in a much better place now.”

No one could ever prepare for the pain of a parent losing one’s child, especially when said child was in the prime of his life. But if there’s one thing that this experience could teach anyone, it’s recognizing the precious value of life. By his noble acts of charity, RSA showed the importance of life above anything else.

For example, he ensured the security of the food supply amid the pandemic and the storm of consumers panic-buying basic essentials back in March when the ECQ was initially

enforced. He said, “As far as food supply is concerned, we have the capability to produce enough for everybody and deliver to supermarkets.”

Under Ang’s leadership, SMC has also rolled out a series of expenses dedicated to the COVID-19 relief response. As of July, SMC has spent more than P13 billion all in all.

About P4 billion went to the compensations for SMC employees—ensuring that they still get their full salaries and additional allowances despite the minimized operations—and to the donations of basic essentials—especially food—to the poor communities. Almost P9 billion went to government funds. More than 1.2 million liters of alcohol were distributed to various hospitals and homes. Overall, their efforts benefited over 1.6 million households and 4,000 hospitals.

SMC’s newest initiative is the Better World Edsa facility, a state-of-the-art COVID-19 RT-PCR testing laboratory which aims to test some 70,000 employees in its network. It is equipped with two sets of RTPCR machines and fully automated nucleic acid extraction systems or NATCH. A set is comprised of two PCR machines and one NATCH. It has the capacity to process 4,000 tests per day. With the facility in place, the country’s testing and processing facilities will be unburdened.

In an interview with foreign correspondents and was asked if he was concern that he is giving away too much of the company’s money, Mr. Ang replied. “We cannot afford to simply not move forward because of the pandemic. We have to make sure that our economy keeps on going, so with the livelihood of our people as well as the flagship projects that we have embarked on. We can make money again but life, once you lose it, it’s gone forever. So between money and life, I’d choose life.”

Apart from that, Ang also helped local businesses such as farms in Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Bulacan by vowing to buy surplus fresh carabao milk of 10,000 liters a day. Because of the limited operations in Metro Manila and other provinces in the country, the usual market for fresh carabao milk was lessened. Ang told Rappler, “It’s heartbreaking. There is so much excess milk that goes to waste, instead of giving them to where they are most needed. By buying their excess milk, we are hoping to help not only our farmers stay in business, but also get this produce to food banks and communities to help address the growing food insecurity facing the poorest families.”

Ang’s other initiative to combat food insecurity is feeding the locally stranded individuals (LSI) at the North Harbor through SMC’s food bank and community center, Better World Tondo. As of July 7, there are over 300 LSIs supposedly bound for Wester

PayMaya enables Filipinos to invest in Treasury bonds

DIGITAL financial services leader PayMaya has extended its financial inclusion mission into the retail investing space with the government’s retail treasury bonds offering.

Partnering with Bonds.Ph, a new online investment platform powered by the Philippine Digital Asset Exchange, it will now allow small individual investors to avail of the government’s next Retail Treasury Bond offering using their PayMaya accounts.

To spread investment opportunities among the population, the Bureau of the Treasury allowed the Bonds.Ph app to offer its newlyissued five-year bonds due 2025 to individual investors. Prospective investors can invest in amounts as low as P5,000 to an aggregate of P500,000.

PayMaya account holders can easily add funds to their Bonds.ph accounts using their PayMaya-registered mobile numbers, thereby

democratizing access to government RTBs even to those who do not yet have a bank account.

The Bureau of the Treasury targets to raise P30 billion from its five-year RTBs to be offered from July 16 to Aug. 7 and to be settled on Aug. 12.

“We have always envisioned to provide Filipinos with affordable and secure investment instruments where they can invest and at the same time aid the government in raising funds especially at this time. So we opened up our next Retail Treasury Bond offering to an online platform like Bonds.Ph that allows investors to use e-wallets like PayMaya to invest in RTBs,” said National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon.

“Opening up various online channels that allows Filipinos to invest will ensure a wider participation from individual investors, particularly for this offering,” she said.

PayMaya founder and CEO Orlando Vea

Visayas. They, together with the port frontliners monitoring the LSIs, were able to receive, so far, 7,740 meals. The LSIs will continue to receive free meals until they’re all able to go home to their respective provinces.

BUILDING BRIGHT FUTURE During the TOFIL awards, Ang said, “We [at SMC] don’t just do business for our shareholders. We build the foundations of our country’s growth and make the world better for our kababayans.”

One of SMC’s major undertakings is the New Manila International Airport. Also known as the Bulacan International Airport, the P735.6 billion-project is, as Ang said, “our single-biggest investment in the country.

It is a landmark Filipino project that will be built at no cost to the government and with no subsidies or guarantees of any kind.” The airport promises to cater to at least 100 million passengers per year, create 30 million jobs, ease the Metro Manila traffic, and develop the Central Luzon provinces of Bulacan, Nueva Ecijia, Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales.

The mega project is lauded by many, such as Filipino-American leaders, Roger Oriel, president of the Asian Journal Group of Publications, and Eddie Ferrer, president of the Pangasinan Brotherhood Association. Oriel said, “We welcome with great pride and expectations the approval of the Bulacan International Airport as this will further boost travel and tourism.” Ferrer added, “We salute Mr. Ang for his vision and derring do attitude for investing in large-scale big ticket projects such as the Bulacan International Airport, Skyways and the Tarlac, Pangasinan and La Union Expressway or TPLEX. Modern road networks and world-class airports are what a modernizing Philippines needs in the millennial times.”

His other projects to further the development of the Philippines are: Skyway Stage 3, which will connect the north and south, reduce traffic in EDSA by at least 50 percent and cut travel time from Balintawak to Magallanes from 1.5 hours to twenty minutes; extension of Skyway to Susana Heights in Muntinlupa, which would decongest Muntinlupa, Sucat and Bicutan; and MRT 7, which would run from EDSA Trinoma to Quezon City Circle, Commonwealth and Fairview to San Jose Del Monte Bulacan. As Ang said, “What we hope to build is a long-term solution—a sustainable and world-class Philippine gateway with enough runways and facilities to meet current and future needs.”

Speaking of sustainability, Ang would continue their dedication to it, as it has been long integrated in their operations. He said, “Apart from a major water sustainability initiative, we have also taken a bigger and more active role in helping address the country’s plastic wages problem.” They are doing so by converting waste plastics and rubber files to fuel substitutes for their cement plants.

Moreover, they are building 15 new facilities all over the Philippines using cement made from waste plastics as fuel. They are also using biodegradable plastics for most of their products’ packaging and they built a road using asphalt made with waste plastics, the first ever recycled plastics road in the country.

“San Miguel’s vision has always been to deliver on our nation’s goals, to set the pace for progress and to make the lives of every Filipino better. We are in a better position to get big projects done because of our scale, leadership, expertise, technology, and resources. [...] What drives everything is our greater purpose to help make the Philippines better because this is our country and our home,” Ang said at the TOFIL Awards 2019.

RSA is one Filipino leader the country needs because he inspires Filipinos to strive for a better life—to not just settle with survival amid challenges, but to actually thrive despite them; to refuse mere resilience and, instead, to actively combat whatever obstacles that may come our way. He shows us how bright the country’s future could be.

As the country continues its fight to contain COVID-19, it’s hard to say how many more businesses will close and how many more workers will lose jobs. But the country will pull through because of business leaders like RSA. “Let us all continue to adopt our malasakit mindset and focus on what we, as individuals, can do to make a difference, because many are counting on us,” Ang told SMC employees.

said: “This is a new exciting path that the government is taking towards financial inclusion and we are delighted to be chosen as an enabling technology partner.”

PayMaya account holders simply need to download the Bonds.Ph app from the App Store for iOS users and Google Play Store for Android Users, register and verify their accounts, and easily cash in using their PayMaya-registered mobile numbers.

To add funds to your Bonds.Ph account using PayMaya, simply follow these steps: Go to the Cash In section of the app and select Pay with PayMaya. A minimal fee of P5 per transaction will apply. Choose the amount you want to cash in, then complete the payment process after receiving the payment details in your email. Once your account has been funded, choose the bond offering you want to invest in, review the transaction details, and click “Buy”.

Cola-Cola Philippines president and general manager Winn Everhart

Coca-Cola sustains 15,000 jobs in PH

By Othel V. Campos COCA-COLA Philippines continues to move forward, unrelenting to the threat of the pandemic as it gathers support from loyal and hardworking people on the ground.

Cola-Cola president and general manager Winn Everhart says that despite the difficulties and challenges, he believes the company will emerge as a stronger and more agile organization, having planned and prepared recovery strategies going forward, as they face the new normal.

“Working for a company with a long, proud history as Coca-Cola, one of the things we do have on our side is our ability to look back through time and see how our business has performed coming out of a crisis,” Everhart says.

“One of the things we’ve consistently seen is that if we focus on the consumer, if we focus on their needs, we see that we do emerge stronger. In fact, even the ecosystem where we operate seems to operate at an even higher rate,” he says.

Coca-Cola shares how the Refresh the World, Make a Difference mission has gained even more relevance and deeper meaning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Facing the uncertainty of the next normal, Everhart says the pandemic has fiercely altered the way people think, move and interact and inflicted impact on the livelihood of many enterprises.

For Coca-Cola, he points out the importance of understanding the needs of their people, ensuring their safety, and supporting the communities where Coca-Cola operates.

In the months during the lockdown and towards the easing of quarantine restrictions, the company’s workforce and associates have stayed safe and healthy to sustain their jobs with healthcare support.

Everhart says that the company’s 15,000 associates have worked non-stop, never missing a beat, working in the Coca-Cola system—in plants, distribution centers, and those working from home— to continue the provision of products that sustain the needs of consumers, in addition to keeping the economy alive.

The company has always believed that it is only as strong and sustainable as the communities it serves, he says.

Coca-Cola ensures that their partners across their value chain are also well protected and empowered, as they support them in every way they can, from strengthening their presence in digital space and helping restart small businesses to providing them with access to resources and necessary training that they can use to their advantage.

How 2 companies are transitioning NO GLOBAL disease outbreak since the Spanish Flu of 1918 has affected the world’s populace like the novel coronavirus disease. Up to now, societies are coping with the ongoing pandemic, with countries around the world still struggling to flatten their case numbers while keeping their economies afloat—a volatile balancing act between humanity and economy.

The Philippines is in the midst of this struggle. On June 1, after nearly three months of keeping non-essential businesses suspended in efforts to prevent the further spread of the deadly virus, the government eased much of the social and economic restrictions of the enhanced community quarantine and allowed most businesses to re-open under the general community quarantine in the National Capital Region and Cebu City—the country’s two busiest economic centers—albeit still with strict guidelines that follow rules on physical distancing and proper disinfection and personal hygiene.

Unlike the immediate cessation of activities in the workplaces when the community quarantines were announced in mid-March, the resumption of business operations and the revival of workplaces haven’t been as swift for many companies. Painstaking adjustments have had to be made in order to ensure the health and safety of workers.

Two companies that have made the most out of the adjustments have been Synchrony Global Services Philippines and Ingram Micro Philippines.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, business process outsourcing company Synchrony Global Services Philippines, a subsidiary of premier consumer financial services company Synchrony, the largest issuer of private label credit cards in the United States with over 50 million card members, employed 3,000 employees onsite in its Manila and Cebu offices.

Youth & Culture B1

SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2020

Bernadet­te Lunas, Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

Nespresso Talents Philippines 2020 grand prize winner, 'Tsinelas' by Charlene Tupas.

Vertical vision Nespresso Talents 2020 local winners capture Filipino virtues

By Bernadette Lunas

Y

OUNG Filipino filmmakers demonstrate how to think outside of the box by simply and literally flipping the box.

Shot in vertical format, three short films by local amateur directors, were chosen as winners of this year’s Nespresso Talents Philippines.

Nespresso Talents is a celebration of creative filmmaking by means of telling a story shot vertically (9:16 frame) in 2-3 minutes.

The competition, unique on its own merits, highlights the company’s principles, or as Fabio De Gregorio, Nespresso Southeast Asia regional business development manager and one of the local jurors, explained, “We see a clear link between our business and filmmakers: both share commonalities which is craftsmanship.”

Anchored on the theme “Virtuous Circles,” the winning shorts for the fifth edition feature heartwarming stories of hope with focus on real Filipinos and Filipino virtues.

“This year’s theme is timely and relevant. All stories are pure and sincere, bringing us back to simple stories, to what it’s like to be a human being, a Filipino, especially now that magulo sa paligid (we’re surrounded by chaos),” juror and multi-awarded writer and director Antoinette Jadaone said during the virtual awarding of winners held via Zoom.

Pandemic notwithstanding, the Philippines ranks as the second country in the world with the most entries. We are also the sole participant in Southeast Asia, and one of the two Asian countries aside from China.

Nespresso Talents engages over 50 countries and typically garners more than 2,000 entries in a variety of genres. However, this year’s run captured more than the usual number of entries despite the pandemic.

“We received, in the end, more than twice than the normal number of videos submitted in the past years,” said Colas Dupont, Nestlé Espresso S.A. Global Sponsoring and Experiential Events project manager.

Dupont added, “We had to adapt and we adapted pretty well. We were surprised that filmmakers continue to follow us in this journey.”

“We have seen a huge diversity in the

‘‘

For every frame, I strived to create something real.”

– Charlene Tupas, grand prize winner of Nespresso Talents Philippines 2020 profile of videos in all markets—documentaries, animation, imaginary stories.

The number of videos we received from the Philippines was really amazing.”

The top three winners from the Philippine pool, interestingly, capture the same spirit of wide-eyed innocence of children.

Grand winner, “Tsinelas” by Charlene Tupas was recognized by Jose Javier Reyes for its “extremely original” and innovative take on vertical filmmaking by means of split-screen that sewed the stories of two young boys who come from similar backgrounds joined together by a torn slipper.

“For every frame, I strived to create something real. And then I had this crazy idea, I got non-professional actors and trusted that it will all just work together,” shared Tupas, who revealed that her winning entry marked the first time she directed a motion picture.

“I haven’t been to a film school, but I’m committed to exposing myself to the world of cinema,” she said.

Second prize winner Ramil Lantican used his three minutes to present a feelgood story about a group of classmates who appears to be scheming to cheat on their exam but is actually planning to surprise their teacher, one of the frontliners and “new heroes” featured in “Cheat Day.” Despite the challenges of filming more than a dozen kids in just five hours, Lantican was able to create something that’s raw—“I instructed the kids to be who they are, to play in the set, to have fun”—and, according to Jadaone, “may kurot sa puso.”

The story of a young boy’s admiration for his older brother is featured in Massah Gonzales-Gamboa’s “My Brother,” which won third prize.

HEY, YOUTH! SHARE your unpublished essays with the readers of Manila Standard. Chosen essays will be published in the Young Life corner that comes out every Sunday.

This space is open for young writers, aged 13-29 years old.

Send your essay (maximum of 800 words) with photo/s, if available, to manilastandardlife@gmail.com with the subject: “Young Life - (title of your essay)” along with a brief description of yourself.

Because the entire film was shot in Silay, Negros Occidental, GonzalesGamboa’s film evokes a sense of authenticity, showcasing the real and raw picture of a typical Filipino family. “We were able to show what kind of life people have…It shows you exactly what the city is all about.”

'Cheat Day' by Ramil Lantican

'My Brother' by Massah Gonzales-Gamboa

Reyes noted that the top three films stood out from the rest because of their clear and effective portrayal of the Filipino people.

“I’m so happy that the best films were not glamour films. People look like people. This is the Filipino humanized and not glamourized,” said the seasoned

director and member of the jury.

Each of the winners took home a Nespresso machine and capsules, trophy, and cash prize. Tupas received a cash equivalent to 1,500 euros and an all-expense paid trip to Cannes as a delegate of Nespresso Talents 2021. Lantican and Gonzales-Gamboa received EU1,000 and EU500, respectively.

Musings on ‘The Little Prince’ As the pilot and the little prince journey further, they form an unlikely friendship.

YOUNG The stories they share are heartfelt enough “IF YOU look at the stars, you’ll remember to touch one’s inner child.

I could be among them instead. It’ll be as if LIFE The little prince shares his voyage to I had given you, instead of stars, tiny little Earth and six other planets, including the lights that know how to laugh.” - Antoine de people he had met in the latter: a king obSaint-Exupéry sessed with power, a conceited man, a This story may change you. Or it may not. drunkard, a greedy businessman, a workaIt depends on whether or not you have alholic lamplighter, and a geographer who has ready become an indifferent grownup, unable to wrap your mind around the underlying wisdom never been anywhere. Each of these men lived in isolation.

When the little prince reached planet Earth, he says he children often carry with them.

The Little Prince is a well-known and well-loved story, found billions of the same odd men he had met, but all enjoyed by adults and children alike. It somehow unites the clumped together. This shows us the reality of a harsh and materialistically driven world where adults share similar worlds of grownups and kids in a very unlikely way.

First published in 1943, author Antoine de Saint-Exupé- foolish goals and interests.

However, Earth is not all that bad. In it the little prince enry, a pilot born in the 1900s, chose to narrate the story not counters a fox, who taught him through the titular character but patience as he tamed it. He learns through the others. how numbers and value cannot Saint-Exupéry used boa conweigh the scales for something strictors, elephants, overly anatruly important. That it is the lytical scientists, clown outfits, heart and the lingering moments and even asteroids to give a hint after that define how you reon the main character’s childmember a particular event. That hood, including how wide-eyed even if a single rose would be curious children view a world set against gardens of flowers, seemingly full of gray and mateit would still be the only rose he rialistic grownups. owned because he has cared and Younger readers may find this tended for it. story relatable, while adults may In the same vein, even if there feel offended which is not surare plenty of foxes out there, the prising at all. The book helps the little prince has only tamed and readers reflect on how much they befriended one. This realization have grown up and lost touch may seem childish, but it is the with their younger selves. truth. No one can measure the The narrator of the story, the small things in life. pilot, who has crashed on a desert The little prince tells its readers and is left with supplies that can how much more sentimental and barely last him a week is hopeless significant are the ties one cannot and lonely, until a child, whose see nor hear. It reflects the sad realappearance seems unfazed by ity of the world then and now, that the drought and endless horizon, people, like the men he had met walks up to him and asks to be 'The Little Prince' (Le Petit Prince) on the six planets, tend to outgrow

by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry drawn a sheep. their childish, true, soulful, and Though unsure of the situation, the pilot grabs a pencil, and after several attempts, loving nature, and forget how it was to view the world and the the young boy approves his drawing of a sheep in a crate. small things in life with the enthusiasm of a child.

Unexpectedly, it is that enthusiasm that we need in order At least that is what the boy sees from the made-out-ofspite crate, which was supposed to be a box. Apparently, a to find our true purpose in life. This story ends on that child’s imagination can see more than that. The confused note. The little prince leaves the pilot, but the boy’s brief pilot is pleased with the creativeness of the boy, whose out- presence on Earth made him feel whole, sentimental, and foolish for growing up (figuratively). fit is just like that of a little prince.

Like that pilot, sometimes we just need a certain someThe boy came from an asteroid with three volcanoes, one spoiled rose, and countless annoying weeds that carelessly one to remind us of the little joys in our lives, and show us sprung out from the ground. One day, he decided to leave his exactly how rich we are just by having these.

The author is a 13-year-old incoming Grade 9 student at own small world to discover the other worlds out there, pretty Miriam College. She loves to play the piano, sketch, and write. much like a child going out to school for the first time.

By Julianne Francesca P. Berse

B2

SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2020

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

Home/Design

PH real estate resilient amid pandemic

S

OME real estate pundits are still “betting their last centavo” on the beleaguered industry’s recovery amid the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and corresponding community quarantine protocols that go with it.

“It should be business as usual for [property] investors,” said Professor Enrique Soriano III, Wong + Bernstein Advisory Group’s executive director, in a recent interview. For those interested in investing in property, “managing the risk as a result of the current uncertainty is the only hurdle for property players to overcome,” he averred.

Soriano’s bullish view shines amidst the lowered local GDP forecasts by economists (like those from the UnionBank of the Philippines) and global firms (such as JP Morgan Chase and JLL Global), because of fluctuating real estate investment.

Industry observers pronounced the local real estate market as decidedly resilient, with the large unmet demand for housing a major contributing factor. It is seen to continue being a local, long-

term play with attractive relative returns compared to other asset classes.

“Behaviorally, in any downturn, the real estate market will naturally correct itself,” Soriano explained. “The upside is clear: it is a very resilient sector struggling to cover more than 6 million housing units; all these housing requirements are based on real demand,” he added.

Commercial real estate poised for comeback A Cushman & Wakefield report picked commercial real estate as the most resilient sector, owing to the longterm nature of properties that will allow losses to be regained sooner than later.

Real estate services company Santos Knight Frank (SKF) identified key trends that would help shape the industry as a whole throughout the year. These include office-sector-driven growth, mainly from the BPO sector as it expands within and outside the metropolis.

Real estate companies like AboitizLand continue to prepare for this expected upswing with integrated townships such as LIMA Estate in Lipa, Batangas, where it plans to develop commercial buildings and sell commercial lots in its upcoming business district.

The industrial and logistics sectors are also seen to expand outside Manila with the increasing demand for warehouses and distribution centers, especially as e-

commerce booms. The hotspots for expansion are seen to be CALABARZON, Cebu and in the NLEx-SCTEx-TPLEx corridors in North Luzon.

AboitizLand remains prepared for this inevitable expansion amid the pandemic with industrial hubs like LIMA Technology Center in Batangas, and MEZII and West Cebu Industrial Park (WCIP) both located in Cebu. Plans are underway for LIMA and WCIP expansions to create additional inventory to take advantage of this demand.

Homebuyers deep in the hunt Opportunities are also present for homeowners looking to invest in, live in and rent out properties. With buyers wary of current stock values, relatively stable real estate investments are becoming more attractive.

According to SKF, real estate investment trusts or REITs, which may help democratize the Philippine property market by allowing smaller investors to participate in high-value real estate assets, are seen to pick up this year.

Environmentally-conscious developments will also become more attractive to people who look towards low-density areas that offer house-and-lot type properties with green, open spaces.

Best-of-both-worlds developments that are located away from Metro Manila cities are eyed as the

best in this area. AboitizLand developments such as Seafront Residences, The Villages at Lipa in Batangas, and Ajoya, a mid-market horizontal development in progressive areas in Central Luzon, are examples of these developments.

For those opting for the bustling city, Metro Manila remains to be a prime residential market especially with the rising popularity of co-living spaces. Micro-studios, such as Point Blue Microstudios will increasingly become the accommodation of choice for employees and young profession-

als who work in CBDs but require the cozy privacy of a studio.

Real estate bounce-back Colliers International Philippines noted that high demand and low interest rates will benefit the residential market greatly once things go relatively back to normal,.

The general consensus from various other sources? Buy property now versus when economic recovery from COVID-19 begins. People with cash on hand, especially, could benefit from being able to negotiate for better, discounted prices on select properties.

HOLCIM BATS FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN COVID RECOVERY. Cement manufacturer Holcim Philippines, Inc. recently reiterated its commitment to improve environmental and social performance as it supported calls for COVID-19 recovery programs to be aligned with efforts to address larger sustainability challenges. Holcim Philippines progressed in its 2030 targets of reducing carbon emissions by 40% vs. 1990 levels, and freshwater withdrawal per ton of cement by 30% vs. 2015. Among the drivers of its lower emissions blended cement options and use of low-carbon fuels. Solido, a blended cement designed as a better alternative to Ordinary Portland Cement, has become a significant portion of Holcim’s product mix in 2019 with its lower environmental footprint among its main selling points. Holcim also used more than 170,000 tons of alternative fuel and alternative raw material processed from biomass and waste materials from industries. “We are determined to help where we can to ensure that new ways of doing business supports the overall efforts to build resilience against similar global challenges,” explained Holcim Philippines president and CEO John Stull.

P.A. PROPERTIES OPENS SANJOS MARKET SAN PEDRO.

Four years ago, a community in Caloocan welcomed SanJos Market, the first commercial market venture of P.A. Properties, a developer of affordable housing in Southern Luzon. P.A. Properties recently opened SanJos market in Barangay Langgam, San Pedro. Situated in a 8,110 square meters lot, the project has a spacious parking facility, and three sections: wet, dry and food cart sections, providing the public a wide range of selections. Apart from meat and fresh produce such as fruits and vegetables, SanJos has other amenities; it houses a pawnshop and money remittance center, general merchandise, rice dealers, food kiosks, a pharmacy and a local supermarket.

GREENFIELD BUILDS HOMES FOR TOP COMPANIES. Greenfield Tower is one the latest high-rise office buildings in Greenfield district of Mandaluyong that caters to the growing demand for better office spaces. The project is accessible to both private and public transportation owing to its proximity to major thoroughfares such as EDSA and Shaw Boulevard. Greenfield Tower’s digital backbone with fiber-tothe-office technology (FTTO) meets global standards with its integrated fiber optic system. Greenfield Tower is currently home to both fledgling start-ups and established companies. Its present locators include money transfer company Remitly, medical equipment provider Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, government agency Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), Teletransform, ECCL Singapore PTE Ltd and Goldilocks. Soon joining these tenants will be Japanese engineering firm Oriental Consultants Global internationally acclaimed insurance provider Sun Life Financial, software company Rhipe Philippines, The Asia Foundation, and Fulbright Philippines.

Entertainment 5 compelling student docus worth watching on iWant KNOWLEDGE Channel’s "Class Project: Intercollegiate Mini-Documentary Competition" has served as a haven for aspiring documentarists in highlighting Filipino values and culture and telling inspiring stories in today's society.

On its third year, the competition in partnership with ABS-CBN, DocuCentral, and Philippine Association of Communication Educators (PACE), delivered once again 10 remarkable

student documentaries that viewers can now watch on iWant for free.

Amid today's uncertain times brought by the pandemic, these Class Project documentaries aim to uplift the spirits of every Filipino through inspiring stories straight from the heart.

Here are five of the must-watch “Class Project” winning mini-documentaries:

The dedication of ‘Titser Gennie’ It revolves around the story of Gennie, an Aeta teacher, whose dedication to her profession traverses heights, as she treks the trails of Sitio Tarukan daily to teach Aeta children. In the docu, she narrates her struggles and triumphs in becoming a licensed teacher. Titser Gennie, produced by students from the University of Makati, won first prize in the recent Class Project 2019.

Learn more about Pampanga’s heritage ‘Kulitan’ Also from University of Makati, this documentary shows the cultural heritage of Kapampangan’s language and pre-colonial writing system called “Kulitan.” The feature also highlights the efforts of the people working to preserve the lost art of Kulitan. For them, it’s not only an ancient writing system, but it also signifies Pampanga’s hidden legacy. Kulitan won second prize in Class Project 2019.

Witness the determination of ‘Mga Batang Anipa’ This docu is a testament to the determination of the Filipino youth to reach their dreams. It follows four children who go to school daily, traversing the surging current of the river aboard a lifesaver. Despite the risks, the students did not let the currents drown their goal of pursuing a better life for their families through education. The documentary, also from students of the University of Makati, won third prize in Class Project 2019.

Know the hardships of every Filipino farmer in ‘Binhi’ This Class Project 2019 finalist, produced by students from Palawan State University, narrates the struggles of Mang Ariel, a farmer from Taytay, Palawan, in providing for his family. Despite the hardships, he strives against all adversities to bring a bright future for his children.

The cultural significance of the betel nut in ‘City Painted in Red’ “City Painted in Red” highlights the cultural significance of chewing betel nuts or the traditional practice of northern tribes called “moma.”

The red dye it leaves on the chewer signifies the rich highland tradition of Cordillerans. Despite numerous health claims about the dangers of chewing betel nuts infused with tobacco, highlanders say that it helps them in quitting smoking and has its benefits too.

Viewers can also catch more Class Project documentaries every Friday at 7:30 p.m. on Knowledge Channel. Download the iWant app or visit iwant.ph to stream more acclaimed documentaries for free.

SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2020

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

Jak Roberto finds his groove playing DJ Loonyo

By Nickie Wang

A

FTER portraying Dante Gulapa, the former male club dancer who swept the online world by storm, actor Jak Roberto essays another interesting character, this time, a name every single person on social media knows—DJ Loonyo.

Last night, the 26-year-old actor starred in Magpakailanman, which features the life story of viral dancer, and choreographer DJ Loonyo.

In an online interview with Manila Standard Jak said that he felt inspired by the digital personality’s determination and driven attitude. His story as a struggling dancer, the stumbling blocks he had encountered before making it big in his chosen field, are some of the things that made him believe it’s necessary that DJ Loonyo’s story be heard by more people.

“I admire him for his determination, his being passionate and driven at kung paano niya hinarap ang lahat ng pagsubok nuon at ngayon especially that he’s very visible on social media,” Jak said.

“We know that not all dancers don’t make it big, and before you succeed in this field, you have to encounter numerous challenges. Having small earnings is just one. His journey as a choreographer wasn’t an easy ride, thus the story we’re presenting teaches people not to judge too quickly. We all have our own share of hardships and situations,” the young GMA Network actor pointed out.

DJ Loonyo, or Rhemuel Lunio in real life, was born and raised in Cagayan De Oro. He started dancing jazz in high school, but eventually grew to love the urban dance style of hip-hop. He also trained under some of the country’s dance champions like Philippine Allstars and Rockstars.

DJ Loonyo formed his own dance group called ‘Rock*Well’. Their dance challenge videos became viral online and it wasn’t long before they gained popularity on social media.

But behind his entertaining moves and millions of views, who is DJ Loonyo?

“I feel very honored to have my story featured in their show because through this opportunity and blessing, I will be able to share more with the people and really connect with them. It is a true privilege for me to show them what I’ve been through, the struggles, the wins, the losses, the process, and the faith I had with me,” the 24-year-old Loonyo said.

Joining Jak Roberto in this episode of Magpakailanman, an episode directed

by Zig Dulay, are Liezel Lopez, Lovely Rivero, and Jong Cuenco.

Jak Roberto shared that he had to master several dance routines to portray DJ Loonyo, who is also known as the viral ‘Dance King of Quarantine.’

The ‘Magpakailanman’ episode goes beyond the story of DJ Loonyo (right) being a dancer, discjockey, and choreographer. It delves into the various challenges he had encountered before becoming an internet sensation.

Stars unite for World Vision’s virtual run WORLD Vision in the Philippines, together with its celebrity ambassadors, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Gretchen Ho, Enzo Pineda, and Gelli Victor, is appealing to the public to support its 1st Virtual Run for Children.

The virtual event aims to help the underprivileged Filipino children and communities especially those who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

World Vision encourages the public to join this fundraising activity to help other people by participating in the virtual run.

“Through God's grace, we stay committed in serving the most vulnerable children. We pray that the World Vision virtual run will inspire many people to take an active role in helping others even in these complex times.

Thanks to our ambassadors, and may all of us have a wonderful time running for children,” said Rommel Fuerte, World Vision National Director.

How does Virtual Run work? The participants can walk or run whether indoors or outdoors and use running or steps app to monitor the distance. Just a reminder, they should always follow the community quarantine regulations in their area. The fees are ranging from P1,050.00 to P1,650.00 and it is inclusive of a race bib, shirt, medal, and an e-certificate.

“World Vision’s Virtual Run for Children gives an opportunity for people to have an outlet for physical activity despite the challenges of the community quarantine but more importantly, it becomes an avenue to support the needs of underprivileged children in the country. Takbo.ph is so proud to be part of this initiative,” said Jinoe Gavan, Managing Director of Takbo.ph, the official partner of World Vision for

the Virtual Run 2020.

Those who have already registered may already start running either 21K, 50K, 100K, or 200K. They can finish the run anytime and anywhere until July 31. Once they reached the goal, they can get the limited-edition World Vision Virtual Run for Children Finisher Shirt and a Finisher Medal.

For more updates on the event, like and follow World Vision Run on Facebook, www. facebook. com /worldvisionrun.

World Vision celebrity ambassadors Jasmine Curtis-Smith (top photo) Enzo Pineda (left) and Gretchen Ho.

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SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2020

Desiree Carlos, Editor

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

Pets able with and then build up again,” RSPCA suggested.

5.

Socialization sessions should always be short and positive. Introduce only one up to two new things at a time to avoid overwhelming the pup.

(Part 1 of 2)

T

HE critical socialization period for a puppy is between 4 to 16 weeks of age.

The experiences of a puppy during this period are critical for his learning and development, and will greatly influence his behavior when he grows up.

“So, it is vitally important to socialise puppies from a young age; this means exposing them to lots of different experiences in a safe and positive way so that they cope with different situations and know how to interact with and relate to other dogs, other animals, and people,” stressed Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in “How can I socialise my puppy during the COVID-19 pandemic?”

A puppy’s experiences will shape his behavior in adulthood, but how does one socialize a pup during a quarantine period or at a time movements of humans are limited? This was raised by a number of pet owners in Facebook groups on dogs and animal welfare recently.

Socializing a pup 1. It is not just about meeting other puppies, dogs and humans. “ This is important, but there are many experiences to which we can introduce our puppies to help them cope well with situations they will encounter during their lives, including introducing them to different sights, objects, surfaces, sounds, experiences, and skills,” RSPCA said.

2. It is important to pair anything new with something good. This can be a delicious treat, a fun game, or praise and petting. This will allow the puppy to form positive associations with each experience, RSPCA stressed.

“Socialisation and training should only ever use reward-based methods, whereby the puppy is set up to succeed and is then rewarded for performing the ‘good’ behaviour (positive reinforcement),” RSPCA said.

Socialisation with people and other puppies/dogs

Socializing a puppy

in the time of Covid 19 Let the pup play with other pups in a safe environment.

Tips on socializing your pup 1.

Make sure the pup is calm before

Introduce your pup to a ball or play tug with him using a blanket or a towel.

any experience and have plenty of treats to use as a reward.

2. Make sure the pup has space to “investigate” what or who is being introduced or to move away if the pup does not want the new experience/person/object.

3.

Never force the pup to do anything. Instead, reward him/her for investigating a new experience, whether that is just looking calmly or approaching/interacting.

4.

Reassure the puppy if he/ she looks worried. If the puppy still looks anxious or becomes nervous, just remove the puppy from the situation and try again another day. “You might have to go back a couple of steps to something they are comfort-

Unfortunately, you can not socialize your pup to other pups and dogs during this pandemic due to the necessary social distancing and movement/gathering restrictions.

You can not bring your pup to parks or other dog places at this time.

But socializing the puppy must be done and can be done.

“However, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, you should be able to go out for walks, as long as you are not sick or in a situation where you must not leave your home, such as being quarantined,” RSPCA said.

“If you are allowed to go out for walks, you can still take your puppy.

You can do this by carrying your puppy if they have not been fully vaccinated, or by walking with them if they are fully vaccinated. You will need to practice social distancing and stay at least 1.5m away from other people and dogs,” RSPCA said.

(Editor’s note: Vets discourage pet owners from bringing their unvaccinated/unprotected pups or dogs outside their homes. It is best to have your pup vaccinated at 6-8 weeks of age to protect him/her from diseases that can lead to death.)

“So while you will not be able to take your puppy to meet other people and dogs close up, you can still create positive associations with other people and dogs. Every time you come across another dog or a person, you can reward your puppy with treats they really enjoy and verbal praise,” added RSPCA. Please practice social distancing while walking or carrying your dog outside the house. Avoid areas where people and dogs meet and gather, and shared areas. DC (To be continued next week)

Dragon fruit is safe for dogs PET TALES

BY DESIREE CARLOS IT IS always fun for dogs to have new flavors in their food.

It is also always good to give your dog food that will provide a different set of nutrients.

Please make sure though that the new food should be low in calories and should not cause unnecessary weight gain.

One such food that can be given as a treat or as a supplement to a dog’s main diet is dragon fruit.

But introduce any new food slowly by giving very small amounts.

“Your pooch can safely eat dragon fruit as it is completely non-toxic to dogs!” said wag.com in “Can Dogs Taste Dragon Fruit?”

Dragon fruit is sweet, yummy and full of nutrients, wag.com said. It is good for both humans and dogs, thus an owner can have a dragon fruit for a snack with his/her dog.

How to prepare dragon fruit You have to remove the skin of the dragon fruit before giving it to your dog.

“The skin is tough to eat and is hard to digest,” said wag.com Give your dog a small amount of the flesh of the dragon fruit. Too much dragon fruit can upset the stomach and cause loose stool or diarrhea in dogs and humans.

Some dogs may not like the texture of dragon fruit because it is very soft.

But there are dogs who love the mushy, very soft textures of dragon fruit. Our shih tzus do.

When I ate a dragon fruit, I found it to be a cooling food. I suggest you give dragon fruit in the morning or up to 2 p.m. , or when it is hot, because it will cool your pet’s body. Do not give it at night, as it is already cold at night.

“Dragon fruit is naturally sweet, meaning most dogs should really enjoy this special fruit after a little bit of time to get used to it,” said wag.com It is important to observe your dog when giving new food like dragon fruit.

Signs your dog likes dragon fruit Body Language: Staring Alert Whining Wags tail Raises ears Lip licking Drooling Whale eye

Dragon fruit is a very healthy fruit you can give to your dog. But remove the skin before giving this fruit to your dog. Give only a small amount.

min C which will boost the dog’s immune system.

2. The general rule is to NEVER eat or give

2. micronutrients , essential vitamins and minerals that help prevent cancer and diseases, and boost the immune system.

3. a high fiber content that helps the digestive tract function properly and remain healthy. This means your pet will be able to always clean out his/her digestive tract by removing harmful toxins.

4. omega 3 which helps protect your dog's skin and coat, make the fur strong and shiny, boost the immune system, and decrease inflammation, among others.

5. high levels of calcium and iron which keep your dog's bones strong and very healthy.

will not get stuck in the body or harm the dog. You do not have to remove the seeds of a dragon fruit before giving to your pet.

3. Do not give the thick, leathery skin of the dragon fruit to your pet. The dog may not be able to chew and digest the skin.

4. It can be eaten raw and in various ways. You can give the fruit as is, or mix in their food.

5. If it upsets the dog’s stomach, do not give more. “Limit to 1-2 spoonfuls at a time. Don't give them the skin,” wag.com said.

We give our shih tzus about 3-4 very small pieces three times a week. We take advantage of this time when dragon fruit is in season which is May - August.

We prefer to give the purple variety or what sellers call the “red” dragon fruit which is reddish purple inside because our dogs prefer this.

I guess it is because it is more juicy. But if we can not find the red variety, we give the one with white flesh inside.

Other signs you might notice if your These will also prevent a lot of diseases, including the seeds of the non-toxic fruit or vegetable. But dragon fruit’s seeds are so small and soft that it heart disease and cancer. dog likes dragon fruit: Staring at You/the Food Pawing at Your Leg Licking their Lips Begging for More

Some interesting facts about dragon fruit The dragon fruit is believed to help people improve eye sight.

It also helps humans with hypertension.

It is believed that the small and soft black seeds in the dragon fruit help normalize blood sugar levels in people who suffer from diabetes.

Shakti , now 12 years old, loves dragon fruit. Our other shih tzus love dragon fruit too.

Science Behind Dogs and Dragon Fruit

Some reminders

This fruit is packed with powerful nutrients and is thus good for humans and dogs alike, wag.com said.

It stressed that dragon fruit has: 1. a very high amount of antioxidants and vita-

1. Dragon is not toxic to dogs and is a healthy food to give to your dog BUT give it in moderation. ‘Most dogs will only need a few smaller spoon fulls for them to reap the fruit's health benefits, “wag.com stressed.