Manila Standard - 2020 August 2 - Sunday

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 159 • 2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

STORMY VIEW. A huge raincloud is seen dropping its contents onto the far side of Manila Bay as a fishing boat crosses the calmer waters closer to Roxas Boulevard in Manila -- its renowned sunset view nowhere in sight owing to the effects of Tropical Depression Dindo on the country on Saturday. Lino Santos

Frontliners plead for ‘timeout’ Medical groups urge Duterte to revert to ECQ; IATF to study proposals

By Vito Barcelo, Joel E. Zurbano and Maricel V. Cruz

D

OZENS of doctors’ groups on Saturday warned the Philippines was losing the coronavirus fight, calling for a “timeout” and urging President Rodrigo Duterte to tighten a recently eased lockdown to an Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) as cases surged and hospitals turned away patients.

HONG KONG POLLS POSTPONED A YEAR

Eighty medical associations representing tens of thousands of doctors signed the open letter, a day after the country posted a record single-day count of more than 4,000 new infections, pushing the total past 93,000 (see story on A2 – Editors).

“Healthcare workers are united in sounding off a distress signal to the nation—our healthcare system has been overwhelmed,” said the letter addressed to Duterte, COVID-19 chief implementor Carlito Galvez Jr. and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. “We are waging a losing battle against COVID-19, and we need to draw up a consolidated, definitive plan of action.”

Philippine Medical Association (PMA) president Dr. Jose Santiago read the statement during an online press conference headed by the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) on Saturday morning.

“We propose that the ECQ be used as a timeout to refine our pandemic con-

PINOY IS FINALIST IN STELLIERS AWARDS

Hong Kong’s democracy supporters were dealt a huge blow Friday as authorities postponed local elections for a year because of the coronavirus, capping a devastating month of political disqualifications, arrests for social media posts and activists fleeing overseas.

WORLD / A3

Rey Moraga, a 2012 BS International Hospitality Management graduate of Enderun Colleges, was named one of the finalists under the category “Front Office Hotelier of the Year” in the prestigious Stelliers Awards 2020.

trol strategies addressing the following urgent conditions or problems: hospital workforce efficiency; failure of contact tracing and quarantine; transportation safety; workplace safety; public compliance with self-protection; social amelioration,” Santiago read.

“Our health workers should not bear the burden of deciding who lives and who dies. If the health system collapses, it is ultimately our poor who are most compromised. In the end, winning the war against COVID-19 relies heavily on being able to keep our health system capacitated to address the needs of all Filipinos,” the letter added.

In response, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the government was balancing the health and economy of the nation.

“The strict lockdown in Metro Manila has served its purpose, and we need to intensify other strategies,” he added.

Malacañang, reacting to the warning, said Duterte “has heard the concerns of

HOW TO PREVENT A PUP’S DEATH …From swallowing objects, that is. Puppies are as curious as human babies. Some are even more curious.

The COVID-19 pandemic challenges schools to deliver classroom instruction remotely. This is challenging because students and teachers do not have equal access to technologies and stable Internet connection.

DRAWING A BEAD ON PH REAL ESTATE The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Philippines recently held a conference centered on sustainability and resilience in the real estate industry, and explored smarter approaches to the country’s assets, technology, infrastructure, and cities.

STORIES ON PAGE 2

PH VIRUS CASES CLOSE TO 100K ‘VIRUS EFFECTS TO LAST FOR DECADES’

PETS / B4

BUSINESS / A4

FROM TEACHERS TO ‘ZOOM-BIES’

the medical community and the Chief Executive has directed the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to act on these concerns immediately.”

In a statement, Roque said: “The Palace considers our skilled, tireless and dedicated healthcare workers as important frontliners in the battle against COVID-19.

“We are grateful for their immense contributions to heal our people and our nation during these difficult times. Your voices have been heard. We cannot afford to let down our modern heroes. This is our commitment.”

Roque, replying to questions, said the suggestion to put Metro Manila under ECQ would be discussed by the IATF again.

Roque said the country could have recorded 3.5 million infections or more if the government had not taken the necessary steps to limit the spread of the coronavirus. With AFP, PNA

MINDING HIS OWN BUSINESS Chinito heartthrob David Licauco opens new business while in quarantine.

‘SYSTEMIC FLAW’ IN PHILHEALTH FASTER TOWER PERMITS VOWED ONLINE SELLERS SEEK NO BIZ FEES

LIFE / B1

HOME/DESIGN / B2 twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

manilastandard.net

ENTERTAINMENT / B3 Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net

News

A2

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

4,963 new virus cases put PH near 100k

By Willie Casas and Joel Zurbano

WHO says virus effects to last for ’decades’

T

HE number of COVID-19 infections in the Philippines is pushing to the 100,000 mark, following a recordhigh 4,963 new cases recorded by the Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday.

The caseload is now at 98,232 infections, with active cases hitting the 30,000 mark, 65,265 recoveries and 2,039 deaths.

Of the 4,963 additional cases reported Saturday, 4,841 (98 percent) occurred in July and 3,981 (80 percent) cases occurred within the recent 14 days (July 19 to August 1).

The top regions with cases within the last 14 days were Metro Manila (2,087 or 52 percent), Region 4A (959 or 24 percent) and Region 7 (223 or 6 percent).

Of the 17 deaths, 13 (76 percent) were in July and 4 (24 percent) in June.

Deaths were from Metro Manila (5 or 29 percent), Region 4A or Calabarzon (5 or 29 percent), Region 7 or Central Visayas (4 or 24 percent), Region 1 or Ilocos Region (2 or 12 percent), and Region 9 or Zamboanga Peninsula (1 or 6 percent).

Authorities said the latest tally was based on total tests done by 74 out of 94 current operational labs.

Strict measures The mayor of Lipa City has ordered stricter measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 following President Rodrigo Duterte’s classifying the entire Batangas province under general community quarantine (GCQ) effective August 1.

In a video message on Friday, Lipa Mayor Eric Africa said the city would go on a total lockdown because this was the clamor of residents and netizens.

While on lockdown, residents would be required to secure new quarantine passes from their respective barangays.

Secondary roads from neighboring towns leading to Lipa City would also be closed.

FRONTLINERS UNITED. Leaders from 80 medical associations (with their logos inset) representing tens of thousands of doctors hold a press conference via Zoom after they signed an open letter urging President Rodrigo Duterte to tighten a recently eased lockdown as coronavirus cases surged and hospitals turned away patients. (See story on A1)

PACC: PhilHealth ‘systemic flaw’ uncovered THE Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) has found a “systemic” flaw in state health insurer PhilHealth that has allowed a cycle of fraud to persist, a commissioner said Saturday, after the body concluded the first phase of its investigation into alleged corruption at the agency.

PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica told a briefing on state TV the body had identified officials involved in corruption at the agency, which had been tagged in false insurance claims and alleged overpricing of COVID-19 tests.

Reacting to the announcement, PhilHealth said in a statement: “The Corporation maintains that allegations coming out in some broadsheets against it and its

Executives are either false, twisted halftruths or misinformation.”

“The Corporation shall exhaust all legal means against perpetrators of these malicious acts. With the current investigations being conducted by the Office of the President and Senate, it shall answer all issues brought against it in these fora,” it added.

“We assure the public that the Corporation strictly follows all relevant laws, directives and standards in reporting in all its operational processes and that all funds entrusted to it are properly disbursed and accounted for.”

The findings of the “partial” probe would be presented to President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, Belgica told the

Laging Handa briefing, heard nationwide.

“We’ve seen loopholes in the system that’s why this kind of system was perpetuated, and we’ve identified officials involved, positions that are vulnerable,” Belgica said.

He said the report also pointed to “misdoings” of an official who did not act on corrupt practices.

“There’s really a systemic flaw in PhilHealth. That’s why it’s really hard, it happens again and again, corruption won’t stop,” he said, adding the racket was “basically insurance fraud,” involving PhilHealth’s information technology (IT) and legal services that allegedly take advantage of “defects” in the system.

’Tower permits ready in less than a month’

SHIELD OR NO SHIELD. A motorcycle driver checks out shields for sale worth P600 to P650 from a street vendor in Sta. Ana Manila, as the Joint Task Force COVID Shield on Saturday began to penalize motorcycle pillion riders, including some along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City (inset), who traveled without the protective barrier that the government prescribed to protect against the coronavirus.

Party-list: Exempt online sellers from biz listup fees

By Maricel V. Cruz A PARTY-LIST lawmaker on Saturday appealed to local governments and national agencies to exempt online sellers from paying business registration fees.

Rep. Alfred delos Santos of Ang Probinsyano party-list urged this as

more jobless Filipinos turn to online selling to help them survive amid shrinking employment opportunities due to the COVID-19 crisis.

He said no less than President Rodrigo Duterte has made it clear in his 5th State of the Nation Address last Monday that government will intensify its efforts to help businesses, especially

the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“I hope our LGUs (local government units) and even the concerned national agencies will heed the call of President Duterte. Our small businesses need the government’s help and compassion, and I believe this is the right thing to do right now,” delos Santos said.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS firms can now secure permits to build cellular towers within less than a month, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Saturday.

In a statement, the DILG said it would now take less than a month from the previous 6-7 months to secure government permits to build telecommunications towers in the Philippines.

During his 5th State of the Nation Address on July 27, President Rodrigo Duterte directed agencies to ensure the improvement of digital infrastructure in the country.

During the President’s public address on Friday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año reported the DILG, the Anti-Red Tape Authority, and other national government agencies have issued a joint memorandum circular streamlining documentary requirements and processing time for building permit applications on shared passive telecommunications tower infrastructure, also known as common telecommunications towers.

Philippine telcos, in response to Duterte’s ultimatum to shape up and improve on their services until December this year, complained about the time-consuming processes in securing permits to build cell towers especially from the local government units.

GENEVA—The WHO said Friday that coronavirus pandemic effects would be felt for decades as its emergency committee assessed the situation six months after sounding its top alarm over the outbreak.

The novel coronavirus has killed nearly 675,000 people and infected at least 17.3 million since it emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled

by AFP. The World Health Organization’s emergency committee, comprising 18 members and 12 advisers, is meeting for the fourth time over the COVID-19 crisis.

“It’s sobering to think that six months ago, when you recommended I declare a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), there were less than 100 cases and no deaths outside China,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said as the meeting began.

“The pandemic is a once-in-a-century health crisis, the effects of which will be felt for decades to come.”

The committee can propose new recommendations or amend existing ones.

However, there is little doubt that the WHO will maintain the pandemic’s status as a PHEIC—its highest level of alarm—first declared on January 30.

The WHO has been sharply criticized for the length of time it took to declare an international emergency. AFP

IN BRIEF

ww

Locsin: Pinoys leaving Sabah not ‘repatriates’ FILIPINOS leaving Sabah during the coronavirus pandemic should not be called repatriates, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said Saturday.

“When this COVID-19 was starting and Zamboanga was getting quite a lot of infections from Filipinos leaving Sabah to go to Zamboanga, I told the ambassador, ‘Don’t you dare call them repatriates,’” he said, referring apparently to the Malaysian envoy to the Philippines.

“You just say you’re moving Filipinos from one place to the other.

Don’t you dare call them that and he has not.”

In a virtual interview on “Usapang Community Quarantine” by former diplomatic beat reporter Malou Talosig-Bartolome, Locsin said the virus crisis should not be politicized amid a long-standing dispute over Sabah, a territory east of Malaysia’s northern Borneo and southwest of the Philippines’ Sulu.

Put speed limiters on buses—solon THE chairman of the House Committee on Transportation on Saturday called on the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to require city buses plying the EDSA carousel lane to be equipped with speed limiters to avoid accidents as a result of overspeeding.

Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, the panel’s chairperson, reminded LTFRB Chair Martin Delgra and the LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante that the installation of speed limiters on all public utility buses is required not only because of the new bus set-up on EDSA but because it is provided under Republic Act 10916 or the Speed Limiter Law of 2016. Maricel Cruz

Customs deploys more men to NAIA for OFWs’ return

By Joel E. Zurbano The Bureau of Customs has deployed more personnel to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in anticipation of the increase number of returning Overseas Filipino Workers.

Customs-NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan said the augmen-

tation workforce comes as an initiative of the port as they anticipates the influx of returning Filipinos due to the lifting of some restrictions for air travel brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, not only in passenger area but in cargo warehouses.

She said a total of 63 examiners and appraisers were deployed. “There are

also additional frontliners from warehouses doing augmentation despite the risk of possible exposure.”

“The bureau through the Port of NAIA increased its manpower to extend assistance to returning Overseas Filipino Workers and other repatriates in International Airports under the Port’s jurisdiction,” said Talusan.

BACK TO ‘BUTANDING.’ Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia (right) rides a pump boat that brought her to the seas off Barangay Tan-awan in Oslob, Cebu to experience the famous whale shark or “butanding” interaction on Saturday. It signaled the reopening of Cebu’s tourism industry after more than four months under COVID-19 lockdowns. Joining Garcia were Oslob Mayor Jun Tumulak, Cordova Mayor Techie Cho, government officials and Philippine Coast Guard personnel.

World

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2020

A3

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Exile no shield from Hong Kong security law, —US dissident HONGKONG—Hong Kong’s arrest warrants for activists overseas show that exile and foreign nationality are no protection against the city’s sweeping national security law, one of the targeted dissidents has warned.

Democracy campaigner and US citizen Samuel Chu, who runs the Hong Kong Democracy Council in Washington, said Friday he had learned he is wanted for allegedly “inciting secession and colluding with foreign powers”.

Chinese state media earlier reported Hong Kong police had ordered the arrest of six pro-democracy activists living in exile on suspicion of violating the new law.

“Hong Kong police is targeting a US citizen for lobbying my own government. I might be the first non-Chinese citizen to be targeted, but I will not be the last,” Chu said on Twitter.

“If I am targeted, any American, any citizen of any nation who speaks out for HK can-and will be-too,” he added.

It is the first time authorities have invoked the law’s extraterritorial jurisdiction to go after activists not in Hong Kong.

Others wanted by Hong Kong police include prominent democracy activist Nathan Law who recently fled the city for Britain, and Simon Cheng, a former British consulate staffer who was granted asylum in the UK after allegedly being tortured in China.

The city’s pro-democracy camp has come under sustained attack since Beijing imposed the security law last month -- a move China’s leaders described as a “sword” hanging over the head of its critics.

The legislation targets subversion, secession, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces with up to life in prison, but rights groups and critics say it is a legal weapon to silence dissidents and criminalise certain political views. AFP

IN BRIEF

ww

Boston Marathon bomber wins appeal NEW YORK—A US appeals court overturned the death penalty for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on Friday and ordered a lower court to hold new sentencing hearings.

Tsarnaev, 27, was sentenced to death in 2015 for planting two homemade bombs near the finish line of the race in 2013, killing three people and injuring 264 others.

He has admitted carrying out the attack as a 19-year-old with his older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, who died four days after the atrocity in a gunfight with police.

Lawyers for Tsarnaev had asked for a new trial, claiming that it should not have been held in Boston because the city was so traumatized by the attack.

They also questioned the neutrality of two jurors, who lied during jury selection about whether they’d had conversations about the case on social media.

The federal appeals court in Massachusetts upheld most of Tsarnaev’s convictions but instructed a district court to hold a new penalty-phase trial to determine his fate for crimes that carried the death sentence. AFP

Trump: Fed agents to stay in Portland WASHINGTON­ US federal officers will stay in the protest-wracked city of Portland until local law enforcement officials finish a “cleanup of anarchists and agitators,” President Donald Trump said.

The forces -- whose deployment was seen by many as part of the president’s law-and-order strategy for re-election and exacerbated tensions between authorities and anti-racism protestors -- had been scheduled to begin their phased pullout from Portland on Thursday.

Trump tweeted late Friday: “Homeland Security is not leaving Portland until local police complete cleanup of Anarchists and Agitators!”

Hundreds of demonstrators were still on the streets of downtown Portland on Saturday morning, without any federal law enforcement in sight.

Earlier, Portland police cleared parks and nearby roads around the city center on Friday in anticipation of the phased pullout by federal forces.

City mayor Ted Wheeler said the deployment was part of the agreement for federal officers to leave.

AFP

SHEEP CLEANUP. A young sheep farmer drags one of his sheep toward the sea to clean it in Dakar on July 28, ahead of the Muslim Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice), known as Tabaski in Western Africa. Sheep farmers are starting to fill the streets of the Senegalese capital with their sheep ahead of the festival, when prices of their animals can range from 100,000 West African Francs (CFA) to four million CFA (US$7,000). AFP

HK postpones polls over virus; China raises curbs H ONG KONG -- Hong Kong’s democracy supporters were dealt a huge blow Friday as authorities postponed local elections for a year because of the coronavirus, capping a devastating month of political disqualifications, arrests for social media posts and activists fleeing overseas.

Chinese state media reported late Friday that Hong Kong police have ordered the arrest of six pro-democracy activists living in exile on suspicion of violating a new national security law.

The city’s democracy cl0amp has come under sustained attack since Beijing imposed the sweeping security law last month -- a move China’s leaders described as a “sword” hanging over the head of its critics.

The ensuing weeks have sent a chill through a city used to speaking its mind and supposedly guaranteed certain free-

doms and autonomy in a “One Country, Two Systems” deal agreed ahead of its 1997 handover from Britain.

On Friday evening chief executive Carrie Lam, a pro-Beijing appointee, announced that September elections for the financial hub’s legislature would be delayed for a year using emergency antivirus powers.

She denied the move was a political decision to hobble the city’s opposition.

“I am only paying attention to the current pandemic situation,” she said.

Beijing welcomed the move as “neces-

sary, reasonable and legal”.

But the decision infuriated democracy supporters who had warned against any move to delay the polls, accusing authorities of using the COVID-19 pandemic to avoid a drubbing at the ballot box.

“This is a sleazy, contemptible political act to help thwart any victory on the part of the democrats in the original election,” opposition lawmaker Claudia Mo told AFP, warning that public anger could explode.

The postponement came a day after a dozen prominent democracy activists were barred from standing for election because their political views were deemed unacceptable.

“Beyond any doubt (this) is the most scandalous election fraud era in Hong Kong history,” Joshua Wong, one of the city’s most recognisable democracy figures, told reporters Friday before the elections were postponed. AFP

Restricted Hajj hits Somalia’s livestock economy largest livestock market where the pandemic has suppressed trade.

“The effect of coronavirus is apparent,” said Hassan. “The Arab countries are not in need of animals from Somalia, and the nomadic people who would bring the livestock to town for trading are reluctant due to the fear of infection.”

“There is a major decrease in demand,” confirmed Nur Hassan, another Moga-

dishu-based livestock trader, who said the shortage of domestic and foreign buyers was catastrophic, while supply had also seen a dip as herders stay away.

Less Hajj, less livestock The Hajj, which began last week, is mandatory for all Muslims, who are physically and financially able, to undertake at least once in their lifetime and involves pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca and its Grand Mosque. AFP

Massive protests in Russia’s far east rattle Kremlin KHABAROVSK, Russia—Locals say a struggle for democratic freedoms is unfolding in the far eastern Russian city of Khabarovsk, where the arrest of a popular governor has unleashed massive protests.

“Sometimes I feel like crying with joy when I see everyone so united,” 21-yearold student Yekaterina Ishchenko told AFP. For the last three weeks, she and thou-

SAN FRANCISCO—Criminal charges were filed on Friday against the suspected teenage mastermind of an epic Twitter hack and two others who allegedly helped hijack celebrity accounts to swindle people out of more than $100,000 in a cryptocurrency scheme.

Prosecutors in Florida said they filed 30 felony counts against 17-year-old resident of the state identified as the “mastermind” of the cyberattack. He was arrested in Tampa, Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren said.

Separately, the US Attorney’s Office in San Francisco announced charges against three people, one of them from Britain, for roles in the mid-July cyberattack that rocked Twitter.

US officials said 19-year-old Mason “Chaewon” Sheppard of Britain along with Nima Fazeli, 22, of Florida face criminal charges in the case.

Details about the third individual were not released by US officials because he is a minor, but it appeared they were referring to the Florida teenager being prosecuted as adult in that state.

The attack on Twitter involved a combination of “technical breaches and social engineering” that let hackers hijack accounts of politicians, celebrities, and musicians, according to federal prosecutors. AFP

Hurricane Isaias lashes Bahamas on way to Florida

MARS LAUNCH. This NASA photo shows a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover onboard as it launches from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on July 30, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Perseverance rover is part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the Red Planet. AFP

MOGADISHU—The annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca is a time for celebration, not least among Somalia’s livestock herders and traders who export millions of livestock to feed pilgrims.

But this year coronavirus restrictions mean the Hajj is a small, largely Saudi affair, and Somalia’s economy is suffering.

“Business is bad,” said Yahye Hassan who works in the capital Mogadishu’s

Epic Twitter hack: US teen charged as‘mastermind’

sands of other residents of the city 6,000 kilometres (3,700 miles) east of Moscow have taken to the streets, with another huge rally due on Saturday.

For Ishchenko, this is her first taste of political activism.

Tens of thousands attended a rally last weekend, according to journalists and activists, while police put the figure at just 6,500.

Such protests are rare in the region seven time zones away from the capital, where most opposition protests take place.

They were sparked by the arrest on July 9 of regional governor Sergei Furgal.

Investigators accused the 50-year-old former businessman of ordering two contract killings and an attempted murder 15 years ago. AFP

MIAMI—Hurricane Isaias lashed the Bahamas Friday as it churned toward Florida, bringing new dangers to the US state suffering record deaths from an unrelenting coronavirus outbreak.

The category one storm, packing winds of 75 miles (120 kilometers) an hour, gained strength Thursday night after sweeping over the Dominican Republic.

As of 2100 GMT, it was an expansive storm, moving northwest at a speed of 15 mph, kicking up heavy squalls and whipping the southeastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos island chains with strong winds, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said.

“Hurricane conditions will continue to spread northwestward into the central and northwestern Bahamas tonight (Friday) and Saturday,” it added.

The eye of the storm was expected to pass over the southeastern Bahamas sometime during the evening Friday and reach the central Bahamas during the night.

Hurricane warnings were up across the low-lying Bahamas while parts of Florida’s east coast -- including Palm Beach, the location of President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort -- were under a hurricane watch.

Florida could start the feeling the effects of the storm by late Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center. AFP

A4

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2020

Business

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

Young Filipino named finalist in prestigious Stelliers Awards

R Security Bank chief economist Robert Dan Roces

EY Moraga, a 2012 BS International Hospitality Management graduate of Enderun Colleges, was named one of the finalists under the category “Front Office Hotelier of the Year” in the prestigious Stelliers Awards 2020.

Security Bank officers among the best in Asia THE Asset Benchmark Research announced the region’s best local currency bond individuals in research, sales and trading for 2020. Security Bank officers were among the top ranks in the country, securing spots in all three categories.

Security Bank chief economist Robert Dan Roces ranked fourth for research, while unit head of institutional desk Angeline Sia-Uy and department head of wholesale treasury Carlyn Therese Dulay earned second and third place respectively for sales. Inventory management officer Rainier Rubio was highly commended for trading.

“It is truly an honor to be recognized for servicing our clients as best we can for the 12th consecutive year.

It inspires our team even more to continue to keep the Security Bank promise of better banking to our customers with every transaction,” said Carlyn Therese Dulay, first vice president and head of wholesale sales of Security Bank.

The Asian Local Currency Bond Benchmark review is conducted annually, surveying more than 300 institutional fixed investors who are active in 10 Asian currency bond markets including China (onshore and offshore), Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

In determining the ranks, investors were asked to nominate individuals by function. The top individuals were then instated based on their highest weighted score according to their job function and geographic location. For this year alone, over 600 sell-side individuals active in Asian local currency bond markets were nominated but only more than 200 secured a rank.

Speaking on behalf of fellow awardees, Roces said: “We are grateful to The Asset for recognizing Security Bank as a key performer in the industry through these rankings. For us, these reflect our clients’ trust and loyalty. We will continue to deliver quality research in economics and provide expertise in sales and trading in line with our BetterBanking promise.”

Security Bank is not a new entrant in the ABR rankings. The bank’s unrivalled financial services to its investors have been commended by The Asset for several years. The Asset is a financial magazine in Asia that provides C-level insight and analysis.

Rey Moraga

Moraga represents the Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia at the highly respected Stelliers Awards 2020. The Stelliers is the only accolade in Asia that gives recognition to the most talented and dedicated professionals in the hospitality industry.

Rey joins 98 leading hoteliers in Asia recognized across 20 different award categories. The winners will be announced in the grand awards ceremony on Dec. 4, 2020 in Macau.

His rise through the ranks has been extraordinarily swift. After completing a Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management degree in 2012, he joined the pre-opening team of the Raffles and Fairmont Makati in Manila. He started as a concierge and eventually gained membership into the prestigious Les Clefs d’Or, an elite society of the world’s leading concierges, in two short years.

Moraga credits his success to his determination, focus and genuine cu-

riosity for the world of hospitality. To deepen his understanding of the rooms division, he decided to transfer to housekeeping, considered to be the backbone of every hotel.

“It was during this time when our parent company, AccorHotels, one of the world’s largest hospitality groups, noticed my work and named me as ‘The Most Outstanding Heartist in Asia Pacific,’ a distinction which recognizes the most outstanding employees across the group’s 80,000 employees in 825 properties in the 22 countries of the region,” he says.

In 2018, Moraga relocated to Siem Reap after being promoted as front office manager of the Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, arguably Cambodia’s most distinguished and storied hotel. As a department head, he leads a team of over 40 hoteliers—front desk agents, butlers, concierges, doormen, bellhops, telephone operators, duty managers and retail assistants.

“It has been an exhilarating experience. Each day is different. You can be welcoming heads of state, royalty or rock stars. Our job is to make sure that their experience of Siem Reap, the site of the majestic Angkor Wat, is something they’ll never forget,” he says.

His dedication to his work is in part fueled by a lifelong inspiration of Chef Alain Ducasse. “I will always remember his words back when I first met him at École Ducasse Manila at Enderun Colleges. He said, ‘work harder, faster, and smarter.’ I have always admired him for his appetite for excellence and perfection, and his passion for sharing his savoir-faire [know-how]. For him, ‘knowledge is worthless if it isn’t shared’,” he says.

“Over the years, I’ve met him again in Paris, Milan and in Manila, and the same message resonates: ‘excellence in practice.’ I have also been most fortunate to work with many aspirational leaders in the industry—Tom Meyer, David Batchelor, and Oliver Dudler, as well as Philippine Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat who has become a friend. I am grateful to them for showing me what inspiring leadership and true excellence looks like,” says Moraga.

Training also played an important part in shaping Moraga’s work ethos.

Some of his fondest memories during college years include his internship in France where École Ducasse Manila at Enderun Colleges, led by chefs Marc Chalopin and See Cheong Yan, arranged for an internship in two of Alain Ducasse’s acclaimed Parisian restaurants—Rech, a celebrated seafood dining institution and Le Jules Verne, then located on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower.

“At Enderun, we were instilled with the values of excellence, respect, creativity, rigor and curiosity but through the internship program, we got to live it, harness it and breathe it. It was the most ideal setting to really prepare students for the real world. It was an incredibly life-changing experience,” he says.

For young Filipinos who also dream of a career in hospitality, Moraga has some advice to share: “Hospitality is not only an industry but also an attitude. First, stay curious, learn as much as you can, be flexible and willing to move around and try different disciplines within our field. Second, be creative, open-minded and think out of the box.”

“There will be many challenges along the way but creativity can solve anything. Finally, and the most important part is to have fun and enjoy what you’re doing. Hospitality is about caring for people, and creating exceptional moments both for our guests and colleagues, and if you’re having fun, this will definitely echo in everything that you do,” he says.

Bonifacio Global City welcomes back businesses and employees GEARING up for the new normal, Bonifacio Global City has been doubling efforts to strengthen its move towards a safer BGC, especially as more and more businesses begin to reopen. To equip companies and employees as they adapt to the new reality, BGC customized new offerings and services to help locators ease back seamlessly and safely into their workplace.

Recognizing that transportation and mobility remain as one of the pain points of workers and businesses alike, BGC buses have been utilized as private shuttle services, offering exclusive trips to BGC companies.

These buses can take employees from established pick-up points directly to their office lobby, providing a convenient and safer alternative to mass public transportation. To ensure smooth operations, BGC buses are fully compliant with the IATF-established guidelines which include enforcing strict social distancing measures through visible markers to identify seating areas, and regular sanitation of buses in between trips.

A ‘no face mask, no entry’ rule applies and cashless transactions are also being implemented to minimize the risk of infection.

For companies looking for alternative ways to safeguard their workers, The Flats is providing affordable staff housing solutions strategically located in the heart of BGC. Flatmates can enjoy flexible co-living arrangements in a prime location that is just a 5-minute walk to Bonifacio High Street and other essential establishments. At The Flats, employees can conveniently walk to work and come home to a safe space.

Clock In BGC offers flexible and safe workspaces perfect for freelancers, startups and other businesses. This is also fit for companies looking for secondary offices in order to effectively practice physical distancing and those who are clustering their teams to ensure business continuity. Members do not need to set-up anything anymore as they are provided with everything they need such as 24/7 access to areas that can range from meeting rooms to private offices, 50 MBPS high speed internet, along with free flowing beverages and other amenities.

Being a shared space, Clock in wants to continue encouraging a culture of collaboration while keeping everyone’s safety as its top priority through its implemented protective protocols such as social distancing markers, one-way scheme, daily workspace deep sanitation and a lot more.

As safety is a community endeavor, BGC has taken steps to ensure that BGCitizens can easily traverse within the city with the help of the established Personal Mobility Device lanes. These designated lanes offer an eco-friendly alternative which residents and employees can use as their last mile connectivity solution to get to their offices and move around the city.

PH schools go cashless with the help of PayMaya AS SCHOOLS embrace alternative learning methods this year, PayMaya is empowering over 40 schools nationwide with cashless payment solutions online and in-school, providing students a safer and more convenient way to pay for enrollment fees and other educational expenses.

Major learning institutions such as the University of the Philippines, Ateneo De Davao University, La Salle Green Hills, Don Bosco Technical Institute of Makati Inc., Nord Anglia International School Manila, Malayan Colleges Mindanao, University of Immaculate Conception, among others are beginning to adopt PayMaya’s end-toend digital payment solutions such as the PayMaya’s Online payment gateway for online channels and the One

by PayMaya Point of Sale device for school cashiers.

“As we prepare to open another school year, ensuring that health and safety measures are implemented across learning institutions is important to protect both parents and students.

By implementing PayMaya’s suite of cashless payment solutions on their online and physical channels, our school

partners are adapting to provide continuous quality education to students in a safe and convenient way even amid the current crisis,” PayMaya president Shailesh Baidwan said.

As schools transition to the ‘New Normal’ in education, UP, ADDU, La Salle Green Hills, DBTI-MAKATI, NAIS Manila, MCM, UIC, are among the schools enabling their online student portals with PayMaya’s online payment gateway, which allows them to easily process tuition and other payments using debit and credit cards and e-Wallets such as PayMaya.

These institutions are also equipping their school’s cashiers with the One by PayMaya POS device to allow safer and more seamless payments by using the scan-to-pay via PayMaya QR feature or by tapping or dipping using their credit, debit and prepaid cards.

These efforts are in response to the Department of Education’s directive to implement blended learning that utilizes both online and in-person modalities for education, where students are encouraged to utilize online classes, printed modules, and educational TV and radio broadcast as main learning

Students from have PayMaya-powered school IDs. Apart from being a prepaid card that the students can use for purchases, the ID also records school attendance.

channels this school year.

PayMaya’s cashless payment solutions play a critical role in the schools’ shift to blended learning while at the same time helping keep school personnel safe by eliminating risks of cash

handling in light of the current public health situation.

Aside from these digital payment innovations, PayMaya has previously rolled out cashless payment ecosystems starting with the PayMaya-powered

student ID card in schools including University of the Philippines, La Salle Green Hills, LPU-Batangas, and STI, among many others. Students can easily link the PayMaya-powered student ID card to their PayMaya account and maximize for payment transactions even outside the campus at Bancnetpowered payment terminals and ATMs nationwide.

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines, with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants and government. Aside from providing payments acceptance for the largest e-commerce, food, retail and gas merchants in the Philippines, PayMaya enables national and social services agencies, as well as local government units with digital payments and disbursement services.

Through its app and wallet, PayMaya provides millions of Filipinos with the fastest way to own a financial account with over 40,000 Add Money touchpoints nationwide, more than double the total number of traditional bank branches in the Philippines combined.

Youth & Culture B1

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2020

Bernadet­te Lunas, Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

Death by webinar:

From teachers to ‘Zoom-bies’

By Louie B. Dasas

T

HE COVID-19 pandemic challenges schools to deliver classroom instruction remotely. This is challenging because students and teachers do not have equal access to technologies and stable Internet connection.

Despite the overwhelming “digital divide,” schools are told education must continue. This led to schools’ learning continuity plans incorporating teachers’ retooling and reskilling through online professional development seminars a.k.a. webinars.

Since May, professional organizations, publishing houses, and the Department of Education have begun staging free, daily webinars for Filipino teachers using web-conferencing applications and Facebook Live.

So, why the webinar craze? Webinars suit the current conditions of the pandemic. They offer flexibility and sustained availability because sessions are accessible anywhere and recordings can be replayed on-demand.

Webinars are also a cost-effective way for schools to do teacher-training since they do not involve added expenses for logistic, speakers’ honoraria, venue rentals, participants’ food, and printing of certificates.

What motivates Filipino teachers to attend webinars? First, they are free, and second, they give a “Certificate of Participation.”

Webinars democratized professional development by abolishing expensive seminar fees and limited access to training by experts. Webinars also became a fast, cost-effective way to earn

YOUNG LIFE

promotion and ranking “points.” To obtain a certificate, participants must get a 70 percent score from a check-up quiz, prepare a 200-word reflection, or accomplish an evaluation.

Earning numerous certificates also comes with bragging rights as teachers proudly post their “achievements” on social media.

But, why do teachers attend so many webinars? Work-from-home arrangements of some schools oblige teachers to attend them as part of their daily “work plan.” Webinar certificates serve as teachers’ daily output or accomplishment. This gave birth to the “death by webinar” phenomenon.

Teachers scour the Internet for webinars to fill their daily work plans, disregarding the relevance of the online seminar to their actual teaching practice. I recently learned about a group of Science teachers who attended webinars on public administration, forensic linguistics, and economics.

For some teachers, attending webinars meant compliance rather than professional development. Webinars issuing certificates are well-received and well-attended compared to those that do not.

With this, I ask: What happens to teachers without Internet connection?

How will they receive appropriate train-

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.

WEBINAR CRAZE. Webinars are a cost-effective way for schools to train teachers and for educators to earn ranking 'points.' But there are several challenges this new way of learning poses to the future of education. ings? If teachers cannot attend webinars, will they be penalized? On what grounds? Lack of Internet access?

Webinars also exposed the “expertise divide.” Webinar posters banner titles such as “PhD” or “MSc.” I remember Leloy Claudio’s argument about absurd boasting of academic and professional titles.

The Filipino webinar culture exposed the divide between academics with titles and those with none. However, does a PhD always mean an expert? I recently attended a webinar delivered by an “LPT, PhD” which ended up being a reading session of slides with no indication of expertise whatsoever.

The “expertise divide” marginalizes experienced classroom teachers who have so much to share but do not qualify as “experts” because of lacking degrees or titles. What’s more troubling is that some “PhDs,” despite the absence of necessary academic/professional training, boast themselves as “experts” delivering sporadic lectures about topics they do not fully understand. This leads to another divide—the “knowledge divide.”

The proliferation of webinars makes me

WORKSHOPS

Sunshine Place classes go online SENIOR recreation center Sunshine Place continues to bring hope and inspiration to its homebound members with its “sunshine online” classes.

The popular art classes offered at the center are now open online for seniors, as well as adults and kids.

Art Association of the Philippines president and acrylic instructor Fidel Sarmiento will mentor participants all throughout the sessions with handson techniques, application of different brushes and basic strokes, and color rendering. Those interested in porcelain plate painting can learn under Mee Lee Casey.

Members can also discover the beauty and healing power of music through music classes including piano, voice, and music therapy.

There are also special dance classes like Chair Dancing by Danny Vinculado, which gives opportunities for the elderly in wheels or walkers, or those with hip or lower leg injury to be energized. Pound Fitness, under the instruc-

tion of Pound Pro Neru Salas, is an extension of Chair Dancing and the first hybrid class catering to both able clients and PWDs. Seniors dance to the beat, hitting the drumsticks, exercising both body and musicality.

Acrylic painting instructor Fidel Sarmiento

Tai Chi instructor Jose Antonio Anonas

reflect on several questions: To what extent will teachers use the insights they learned from attending webinars to their actual teaching? Are teachers given opportunities to apply what they learned in practice? Are webinars the “new” teaching reality?

I argue webinars are different from teaching such that teaching, whether done in the classroom or online, demands student-teacher interaction. Teaching is not simply telling. It requires knowledge construction and deconstruction, a process shared by teachers and students. If teachers see webinars as gold standard for teaching online, I am certain teachers will fall into the trap of having students who are disengaged “Zoom-bies.”

Undeniably, webinars made learning more accessible for teachers but they also created “divides” and perpetuated a culture of compliance. Webinars for compliance’s sake is both unhealthy and unproductive. Teachers must reflect on the insights gained from attending these

events.

Te a c h e r s must be given s u f f icie nt time to translate “webinar learnings” into teaching materials and learning plans for their students.

In as much as webinars are convenient ways for schools to prepare their teachers for the “new normal,” measures must be undertaken to prevent teachers’ “death by webinars.”

The sustained challenge of remote teaching and learning in a time of pandemic calls for creating communities of practice and communities of inquiry, allowing teachers to discern meaningful ways to make students learn best despite the limitations.

After all, the heart of teaching is student learning.

The author holds a doctorate in Curriculum Studies and teaches at the University of Santo Tomas. He is the husband of a lovely public teacher and a father to two wonderful kids.

Zoning out of Zoom Zoom fatigue, or the mental exhaustion related to videoconferences, is slowly making its way to work meetings and friendly happy hours.

By Angelica Mitra

Acrylic painting students Loida Tan, Vicky Pollisco, and Cherry Novera present their artworks to instructor Fidel Sarmiento via Zoom.

Zumba Gold classes under Zin Emily Osorio, on the other hand, provide lower intensity workouts appropriate for active seniors; while Dekada, under former member of Manoeuvres and Hotlegs, Mark Soler Cruz, highlights popular dance craze of yesterday and today.

Instructor Jose Antonio Anonas leads the Sunshine Place’s Tai Chi Yang Style (24 movements) for beginners.

Sunshine Place also has online classes with Life Care Fitness Management Inc. personal trainers Danica Bautista, Richard Olivas, Danica Duka, and Philip Gutang; as well as online Physical Therapy consultations and workshops with Josh Manoharan to help manage back pains and other body issues.

Contact 0917-515-5656 to enroll in art and music classes or 0917-801-6440 for fitness, dance, and therapy wellness consultations and workshops.

ANOTHER day, another set of virtual meetings and video calls. You wonder why this is draining you when you have been conducting meetings over video even before the pandemic hit.

You are not alone in the struggle.

Videoconferencing has become part of the new daily routine in conducting work meetings and even catching up with colleagues. Even outside of work, video chats are increasingly used to “hang out” with friends and family.

While videoconferencing is an efficient substitute, it comes with some disadvantages. “Zoom fatigue,” or the mental exhaustion related to videoconferences and video calls, is slowly making its way to work meetings and friendly happy hours.

Check these signs and symptoms on your next call: • Headache and/or sore and irritated eyes during or after a video call— Hours on video calls on top of being in front of the computer all day may exacerbate existing vision problems or trigger new complications. The strain of focusing on the screen could cause headaches.

Resting your eyes for a few minutes in between calls or during downtime helps.

• Difficulty in focusing and keep-

ing track of the discussion—It takes a right headspace to perform well during a video call. Ambush video calls or those scheduled too closed after another may disrupt the participant’s thought process and regular work schedule, and may affect comprehension and focus, if not reduce overall productivity for the day.

• Frustration or annoyance at not having a chance to talk or be heard— It’s too easy to be just another box in a screen full of other faces and just let the discussion flow without participating.

But a healthy videoconference or work meeting must promote inclusivity and give everyone a chance to talk and express their views and concerns.

• Dread upon seeing another invite to a video call—Seeing another invite to a videoconference brings back memories of previous technical issues and incites anxiety about having to dress up to look professional, intensified by the constant fear of a housemate suddenly making an unexpected noise or appearance in the background.

A lot can happen in one 30-minute Zoom session and pinpointing one main reason for experiencing fatigue is hard.

Here are some potential reasons why you’re starting to dread Zoom calls: (Read the rest of the article at www. manilastandard.net)

B2

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2020

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

Home/Design

DRAWING A BEAD ON SUSTAINABLE BUILDING O

ULI pushes for resilience in PH real estate amid COVID-19

VER the past six months, there has been a rapid shift to reevaluating our built environment as disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic affects our way of living.

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Philippines recently held a conference centered on sustainability and resilience in the real estate industry, and explored smarter approaches to the country’s assets, technology, infrastructure, and cities.

Delfin “Buds” Wenceslao, former ULI Philippines chair and CEO of D.M. Wenceslao and Associates, Inc. (DMWAI), acknowledged that the past few months “have been challenging, not just in real estate but for everyone in all industries included.”

“There have been a lot of discussions about resilience, livability, and sustainability and while this is a Philippine conference, we at ULI continue to provide these kinds of content, speakers, and open discussions about global issues which are extremely

relevant within our local industry,” he said.

HUNGRY FOR INNOVATION Co-founder and CEO of CUBO Modular Earl Forlales expounded on accelerating sustainable building in his opening keynote speech. He explained how he took the principles behind the “bahay kubo” or bamboo hut; its design, material, and construction methods which he then used to create a potent solution to the affordable housing crisis facing modern cities and other rural areas.

“The Philippine real estate and construction industry is hungry for innovation and that’s how you know that something great and something big is about to come,” he explained. “It will take our collective effort to make our cities and communities better for my

generation, your generation, and all generations that are to come.”

MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT Rafael Fernandez de Mesa, first vice president of operations for AboitizLand Inc., presented how industrial use can serve as a solution for the decongestion of the country’s megacities and could serve as a catalyst for sustainable mixed-use development.

He highlighted AboitizLand’s projects in MEZ II in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu and LIMA Land in Lipa, Batangas. “We are ready to help the country get back on its feet in cooperation with the national government’s program and initiatives that promote an equitable distribution of resources throughout the country, particularly by encouraging Filipinos to return to their home provinces and assist them in transition and support incentives,” he declared.

REDUCING WORKPLACE DENSITY Managing partner at Pinehurst Advisory Peter Succoso, talked about dormitory housing, which he claimed

POTENT FILIPINO SOLUTIONS. Filipino architects are looking into the principles behind the “bahay kubo” or bamboo hut; its design, material, and construction methods to create a potent solution to the affordable housing crisis facing modern cities and other rural areas (Photos of national artist, Bobby Mañosa’s structures by Paulo Alcazaren and the late John Chua). had the attributes for the rapid spread of viruses. Distancing requirements will force a design change in rooms which will essentially reduce the density of occupants per unit, he predicted. “The design of future dormitories will seek to provide better natural ventilation, will use materials that resist bacteria and are easy to clean, will provide more space and areas where workers are most likely to congregate such as quarters, recreational space, canteens, and many more,” he said

Lars Wittig, country Manager of IWG Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and S. Korea at IWG Plc. emphasized distributing business opportunities and office locations outside the central business districts to provide employees flexible and new ways of working to reduce workplace density, “Even with the vaccine in place, I don’t think anybody will want to be locked into the traditional workspace in big numbers,” he pointed out.

Standard Chartered Bank revs up fight against COVID-19

Megawide-led consortium to redevelop NAIA THE Manila International Airport Authority recently granted Original Proponent Status for the redevelopment of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to the consortium led by infrastructure conglomerate Megawide Construction Corporation (Megawide), with its operating partner, GMR. The consortium is the same entity behind the transformation of the MactanCebu International Airport (MCIA), the country’s second largest airport.

In 2018, CAPA – Center for Aviation, the world’s leading airport and aviation think-tank, named MCIA as Airport of the Year. Since the handover of operations in November 2014, passenger volume steadily increased from 4.5 million per annum to 12.7 million in 2019.

“The decongestion and rehabilitation of NAIA is vital to sustainably supporting the air traffic needs of our national capital region,” said Louie Ferrer, Megawide managing director for transportation.

“Our team has transformed MCIA as primarily the country’s top tourism gateway. We aim to contribute our experience in airport development and value engineering to the NAIA project.”

Ferrer revealed to the Manila Standard that the consortium is now awaiting the next steps from the Government. The consortium submitted its proposal for the rehabilitation of NAIA on March 1, 2018 to redevelop and rehabilitate the airport. Shown in photo is Ferrer with Megawide chairman Edgar Saavedra.

STANDARD Chartered Bank continues to donate personal protective equipment to hospitals and city health offices in Luzon and Cebu City. Recently the bank, in partnership with non-profit Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), distributed to hospitals in Manila, Mandaluyong, Paranaque, Quezon City, Makati, Antipolo and Batangas.

SCB head of corporate affairs Mai Sangalang led the delivery and distribution effort last week to San Juan Medical Center (SJMC) and San Martin De Porres Charity Hospital (SMPCH). SJMC medical director Dr. Joseph M. Acosta and SMPCH asst. medical director Dra. Araceli Luna (shown in photo) received the PPEs. Standard Chartered likewise launched a USD50M global fund aid to support immediate relief efforts and long-term economic recovery of impacted communities across the bank’s network.

The bank was cited last month by Leathwaite, a human capital specialist based in the UK, for leading in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NEW BUILDING TOPPED OFF IN ASEANA CITY. Aseana Holdings Inc. recently welcomed the second half of the year with the topping off ceremony for 8912 Asean Ave. building, the newest office development to date in Aseana City. It was a quiet milestone because of the pandemic, but DMWAI CEO, Buds Wenceslao expressed his positive outlook on the construction and real estate landscape. “We are in the phase of uncertainty and hesitancy as Covid-19 has proved to be a strong adversary to businesses,” he said. “But celebrating a milestone of one of our developments only demonstrates the commitment and competence of our team and the trust that we have earned in the decades-long relationships with our stakeholders, clients and vendors.” 8912 Asean Ave. is a 15-storey office development along Asean Avenue with two interconnected towers right across Ayala Malls Manila Bay, the flagship mall of the Ayala Malls group. The project has approximately 69,000 sqm of leasable office and retail spaces with four levels of parking. The project is slated for completion in 2021.

WELL-BALANCED LIVING IN QC. Vista Residences, the condominium arm of developer Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc., is building Pine Crest, a project that offers the luxury of living in a serene and secure community while still having access to the comforts of the metro. “Today, more and more people are looking for living spaces where they can enjoy suburban quietude without having to sacrifice their work in the city,” said Vista Residences chief operating officer Elizabeth M. Kalaw. “Most think that you can’t have both, but Pine Crest by Vista Residences has proven otherwise.” Located along the corner of Aurora Boulevard and Balete Drive in Quezon City, Pine Crest is composed of three residential buildings. Towers 1 and 2 consist of 5-storeys, while Tower 3 is a 15-story structure. Each of the towers is named after famous Swiss cities Geneva, Zurich and Lucerne.

Entertainment Inigo’s indescribable love YOUNG singer and actor Inigo Pascual sings about a ride-or-die invitation for a night of endless possibilities in his new international single “Lost,” a funky pop track produced

by Moophs under Tarsier Records.

“I wanted to make a track that was very chill, laidback and just talk about a love that can’t be described: not sure where it’s going, not sure what is going on exactly but certain about having each other,” Inigo explained about the song which he penned with Moophs while on his first international promo tour in Los Angeles last year.

The singer-songwriter also revealed that the vibe he was going for was that of Asian hip-hop with a mix of RnB. Moophs helped him achieve just that as “Lost” includes a concoction of guitar and synths.

“This song exemplifies a side of Inigo that his fans haven’t seen yet. It’s accessible pop music with a slightly more mature vibe injection,” Moophs shared.

Inigo and Moophs last collaborated for “Catching Feelings,” their most successful team-up to date.

“Lost,” a personal favorite for Inigo, succeeds “Should Be Me” and is also one of the original songs that will be part of his upcoming “Options” LP under Tarsier Records, an ABSCBN Music label that seeks to introduce the Filipino artistry in the international music scene.

Follow along in Inigo’s journey of love by listening to “Lost” on ma-

Inigo Pascual drops a new single under Tarsier Records

Staying true to their commitment to bring more Filipino content to the service, Netflix is announcing new films from Viva Communications, Regal Films, TBA Studios, The IdeaFirst Company, and CleverMinds. This exciting new lineup cuts across multiple genres has something for everyone to enjoy.

"It is an honor having our film be included as a Netflix Original and be shown across Asia. It is a huge opportunity not just for me but also for every Filipino filmmaker to continue creating quality films that can be shown to the world and that every Filipino can be proud of,” RC Delos Reyes, director of Love The Way U Lie said.

"Very few films get to become a Netflix Original, and we at Viva and 1017 are very proud that Love The Way U Lie is part of the elite Originals. This film is a testament to Filipino creativity and we can't wait for Asia to enjoy it,” said Vincent Del Rosario, President of Viva Communications, Inc. “With Netflix releasing Write About Love’ soon, it’s good news for us at TBA Studios that this movie will be made available on one of the most popular and prestigious online platforms,” said Crisanto Aquino, director of Write About Love.

Minding his own business

After ‘Catching Feelings,’ Inigo Pascual collaborates with Mooph again with pop track ‘Lost.’

Netflix adds 15 more local films to binge-watch

NETFLIX ORIGINALS. ‘Love The Way U Lie,’ a film starring Kylie Versoza, Xian Lim and Alex Gonzaga, is now part of the elite Netflix Originals.

B3

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

Kapuso actor David Licauco lives a healthy lifestyle, and his toned, chiseled physique reflects the hard work and discipline that define this positive outlook.

jor digital streaming platforms. For more updates on his music, follow @tarsierrecords on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

STREAMING giant Netflix is back with a brand new slate of 15 Filipino films coming on to the service starting this August, including Netflix Original Love The Way U Lie.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2020

These films will add to the line up of other wildly popular Filipino movies that have come to Netflix including Through Night and Day and Ang Pangarap Kong Holdup, both of which consistently appeared in the Philippine’s Top 10 row on the service.

“We would like to extend our warmest thank you to Netflix for giving our films, Through Night and Day and Ang Pangarap Kong Holdap, a platform where our fellow Filipinos can watch conveniently at the comfort of their homes during these unprecedented times,” said Erwin Blanco, CEO of Mavx Productions.

The films that will start streaming on Netflix this August and September are: Once Before (Hindi Tayo Pwede) starring Marco Gumabao, Tony Labrusca, and Lovi Poe; Time & Again topbilled

by Wynwyn Marquez and Enzo Pineda; Stranded starring Jessy Mendiola and Arjo Atayde; How She Left Me (Kung Paano Siya Nawala) featuring JM de Guzman and Rhian Ramos; Finding You with cast members Jerome Ponce, Jane Oineza, and Barbie Imperial; Love The Way U Lie starring Alex Gonzaga and Xian Lim; Us Again topbilled by Jane Oineza and RK Bagatsing; Us, At The End Of The Year (Tayo sa Huling Buwan ng Taon) featuring Nicco Manalo, Emmanuelle Vera, Anna Luna, and Alex Vincent Medina; D'Ninang starring Ai-Ai de las Alas, Kisses Delavin, and McCoy De Leon; Gasping For Air topbilled by Carlos Dala, Barbara Miguel, Therese Malvar, and JC Santos; Write About Love featuring Miles Ocampo, Rocco Nacino, Yeng Constantino, and Joem Bascon; Sleepless starring Glaiza de Castro, Dominic Roco, and TJ Trinidad; Waiting for Sunset (Kung paano hinihintay ang dapithapon) with cast members Dante Rivero, Menggie Cobarrubias, and Perla Bautista; Distance of Iza Calzado, Therese Malvar, and Nonie Buencamino; and The Vow (Tuos) featuring Elora Españo, Barbie Forteza, and Nora Aunor.

Chinito heartthrob David Licauco opens new business while in quarantine VERY WANG

NICKIE WANG

I

T’S BEEN a rough year for everyone. A lot of business owners are experiencing massive hurdles during this pandemic.

It’s true that starting a new business sounds a crazy idea for most of us, but

not for Kapuso actor David Licauco.

He may look like a typical millen-

“We established As Nature Intended as a one-stop-shop for everything healthy. We wanted to start a community that debunks the misconception that healthy living as a very intimidating concept. We want to promote the perspective that being healthy shouldn’t hurt our wallets and bank accounts,” the 25-year-old actor said in a statement sent to Manila Standard Entertainment.

“At its core, it really stemmed from my passion for health and working out, and helping people achieve a healthier lifestyle, starting with

A cursory look through his Instagram and other social media feeds reveals his passion for sports and his constant commune with the great outdoors, which serve as his welcome respite from his backbreaking showbiz schedule.

nial, but David already has several businesses to his name. He owns a Turks franchise, a Lucky Bunny milk tea outlet in Valenzuela, and an Alpha Fitness Club along Taft Avenue, Manila, and Sobra Comfort Filipino Food, a food-delivery service.

The chinito heartthrob maintains a positive disposition when it comes to managing his own business. In fact, he’s just launched his fifth business— As Nature Intended (asnatureintended. ph)—an online one-stop-shop for everything you need to sustain a holistic lifestyle—and this endeavor was realized while he, and the rest of us, was in quarantine.

The online shop offers a diverse selection of various brands of guilt-free food, skincare products, nutraceuticals/sports supplements, workout/athletic gear, and even wine.

my family and circle of friends. After generously offering such advice, I figured it’s high time to set up a shop that covers all aspects of health and wellness—fuss-free and convenient,” he carried on talking about his inspiration in creating the brand.

Like most recent businesses that showed the resilience of the Filipino entrepreneur during times of crisis, David admits that the idea for the project started out during the lockdown, and came into fruition after exhaustive brainstorming sessions.

He enlisted high school friend Alec Chua as operations manager and tasked himself with handling sales and marketing.

As with most online services, As Nature Intended relies on its core group of delivery service providers.

He elaborated, “Our main come-on

is to promote same-day delivery for Metro Manila first, but we will also be working on provincial shipping soon.”

Given the lingering threat of the deadly pandemic, David feels that it’s not yet feasible to set-up a main physical store for walk-in customers.

He pointed out, “We want to focus on convenience and safety. That’s why ANI is really built and designed for contactless delivery, with our online page and developing app. Right now, our main headquarters and warehouse is situated in Quezon City, which is just minutes away from where I live.”

Listening to David expound on his new company’s long-term vision, one can clearly see that his intentions are not solely profit-motivated.

“Our main goal is not just to sell goods and services. We want to promote a concept—that being healthy is not a taxing undertaking. It should be something that you enjoy and not feel overwhelmed by. Ultimately, if we develop that perspective through even just one consumer, we know we did a good job,” he expounded.

Equally just as important to David is creating a platform where local brands can prosper and flourish as they all get a much-needed marketing boost through ANI’s strategic online presence.

Even more admirable is David’s empathy for colleagues, friends, and other companies severely affected by the current COVID-driven recession. He says, “As we evolve to become a more sustainable brand, we would want to take on that responsibility to give assist ance to those impacted by the crisis.”

Pets How to prevent a pup’s death due to swallowing of objects B4

P

UPPIES are as curious as human babies. Some are even more curious.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2020

Desiree Carlos, Editor

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

symptoms. This is confirmed through an x-ray or other diagnostics like an endoscope to determine the exact location and size of the blockage, and to identify the object itself. Specific signs depend on the location of the blockage and the kind of object.

• If an object is lodged in the stomach or intestines, vomiting will follow and might come and go for days or weeks “if the blockage is not complete and food can pass around it,” Shojai said.

• A complete blockage results in a bloated, painful stomach with sudden, constant vomiting. The dog won’t eat food and will vomit immediately after drinking anything.

• Signs of zinc toxicity (from coins) are pale gums, bloody urine, jaundice— a yellow tinge to the whites of the eyes or inside the ears. Other symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, and refusal to eat.

• Lead poisoning due to swallowing of a battery can also cause teeth grinding, seizures and hyperactivity, loss of appetite and vomiting.

• Copper poisoning has the same signs but the symptoms include a swollen tummy.

• String-type articles may be caught between the teeth so check the mouth, with the rest swallowed.

Yes, pups 'chew' other! That's how playful they are.

Everything is of course new to your puppy, so they taste and even chew everything.

If objects are exposed and on their path, they will most likely taste them, like aluminum foils with food scraps and oil, and even used sanitary napkins.

Please make sure to close lids of all waste baskets.

This curiosity and adventurous nature of a puppy might lead to internal injury, an allergic reaction that might result in a skin problem, or food poisoning. Worse, an obstruction can cost him his life.

“Foreign body obstruction in puppies can be a medical emergency that costsyou money and could cost your puppy his life,” said Amy Shojai in “What to Do When Your Puppy Swallows a Foreign Object” (reviewed by Jennifer Coates, DVM) in The Spruce Pets online site.

Common Swallowed Objects The top 10 most common items removed from the pets’ gastrointestinal tracts through surgery are (in this order): socks, underwear, pantyhose, rocks, balls, chew toys, corncobs, bones, hair ties/ribbons, and sticks.

“Most items tend to be owner-scented objects, but the list doesn’t stop there,” said Shojai.

Other items swallowed by dogs are: whole toys or parts of toys, jewelry, coins, pins, erasers, and paper.

Extremely dangerous items were also found in dogs’ gastrointestinal tracts: string, thread (with or without the needle), fishing hooks and lines, Christmas tree tinsel, and yarn.

“String from turkey roasts is particularly appealing so watch out for those holiday food hazards. And for puppies able to crunch up the object, pieces of wood or bone prove hazardous. Even too much of a rawhide chew can stop up his innards. Puppies may even eat rocks,” Shojai said.

Veterinary Treatment passed into the intestines and vomiting will not help. “Most objects small enough to pass through the digestive system may be eliminated with the feces and cause no problems. Feed a bulky meal of dry food to cushion stones or other heavy objects, and help them move on out. Food also turns on the digestive juices, which can help soften wads of rawhide treats, so they pass more readily. In most cases as long as it is small enough, objects pass harmlessly through the body and end up on the lawn. Monitor your puppy’s productivity. Use a disposable popsicle stick or plastic knife to chop up and search through the puppy droppings for the object,” Shojai said.

• Go to the vet immediately if he swallowed a metal object like a coin or battery. “DON’T WAIT, get your puppy seen immediately. Stomach acids interact with these metal objects and cause zinc or lead poisoning. String is another dangerous object when swallowed and requires you to seek professional help,” Shojai said.

• If you see the pet swallow an item he shouldn’t have and it doesn’t pass, or the puppy begins vomiting and nothing is coming out, he won’t eat, and looks or behaves distressed, or repeatedly coughs, bring him to the vet immediately. “Any object, even tiny ones, potentially may lodge in and block the intestinal tract,” Shojai said.

Warning Never pull the visible end of the string which you may see out of the mouth or while hanging out of the puppy's rectum.

The string and thread are often attached to a needle or a fishhook which is already embedded in the tissue deep down the digestive tract. When you pull the string at your end, your action might cause more injury to the intestines. This might kill the dog.

First aid for swallowed objects

• If the item was swallowed within Puppy-proof areas where the pups stay, play or sleep. Always keep dangerous and toxic two hours, the object is likely still inside items away from them and their place. the stomach.

• If the item is not sharp, feed your also vomit more easily if the stomach the vet immediately. Do not induce vomitSymptoms pet a small meal, and then induce vom- is full. If he doesn't vomit, bring your ing. The object might cause more damage Diagnosis is based on what the furparif it goes back up when the pet vomits. iting. The food will help cushion the dog to the vet immediately.

• If he swallowed a sharp object, go to • After two hours, the item will have ent saw the puppy swallow or based on object and protect the stomach. Pets

Catnip calms cats The good news is most cats are okay CATNIP. Catmint. Catwort. Field balm.

It doesn’t matter what it is called but with catnip.

But one to two cats may have inherthis herb is certainly the favorite herb ited an allergy to this of cats. herb “Lions, tigers, PET TALES “It's genetics panthers, and your

BY DESIREE CARLOS that determines common domeswhether your tic tabby just can't seem to get enough of this fragrant feline friend falls for this herb,” said Fetch by WebMD in “Truth cousin to basil and oregano. About one cat in two About Catnip.”

“Originally from Europe and Asia, inherits a sensitivity to minty, lemony, potent catnip -- Nepeta the herb. But you won't cataria -- has long been associated with know if your kitten is one cats. Even its Latin-derived cataria of them until sometime between means ‘of a cat.’ And research shows ages 3 and 6 months,” Fetch said.

Catnip's allure is due to its volatile that cats big and small adore this weedy, invasive member of the mint family,” oil, specifically the chemical nepetalactone in that oil.

Fetch added.

“Found in catnip's leaves, stems, and Catnip's Effects seeds, it only takes one or two sniffs of Why do these animals love catnip that wondrous oil before susceptible fevery much? Is this herb safe for cats? lines are licking, chewing, and rolling Catnip is calming to most cats, head-over-tail in kitty bliss,” said Fetch. said Fetch.

The effect is intense but the bliss usu-

ally lasts for only 10 minutes for most cats.

others mellow and calm. But no matter what reaction your cat has, once the pleasure passes it'll be about two hours before kitty responds to catnip again,” Fetch said.

Catnip: Toys and Training

Most cats calm down when given catnip.

“For some, the euphoria translates into aggressive playfulness. At the same time, it makes

Catnip is a powerful training aid because cats do respond to catnip again and again.

“Want to keep kitty from clawing f ur nit ure?

Rub a scratching post with catnip to make it more appealing.

Bought a new cat bed? Sprinkle a little of the herb on kitty's cushion to make it more attractive to your feline friend,” Fetch said.

“You can also provide enrichment for an indoor kitty by creating catnip toys. Sprinkle a bit of the herb into an old sock, then knot the top. Or put a big

It is important that the pup be brought to the vet.

“If the blockage is not promptly addressed, the resulting damage may become irreparable. Sharp objects may slice or puncture the bowel, and obstruction may interfere with blood flow to the organs and cause bowel tissue to die. Peritonitis is the result in either case and usually kills the victim,” Shojai said.

“Once located, the object will be removed. The veterinarian can sometimes do this with an endoscope down the puppy’s throat or the other direction up through his rectum, or with surgery. Any internal damage is repaired. If surgery can correct the problem before peritonitis sets in, most puppies fully recover. Should tissue die, the damaged sections of the intestine may be removed, and the living portions of bowel reattached; these puppies typically have a good prognosis,” Shojai added.

Most puppies stop indiscriminate munching when they grow old. But you can always keep your place safe from a pup to keep him safe and so that he will not grow into a munching adult.

It is always best to keep the pup away from objects that should not go inside the mouth.

“Choose dog-safe toys that can't be chewed into tiny pieces, and supervise object play. Anything a child would put in their mouth is fair game for puppies. Puppy-proof your home by thinking like your dog, so that you won't be caught off guard when your dog eats the rubber bumpers off the door stops,” Shojai said. DC

pinch of catnip in a small paper bag and crush the bag into a tight ball,” it added.

But, Fetch explained that “The intensity of the kitty's response to toys and training will be affected by the type of catnip you use. While most cats enjoy the herb dried or fresh, they're usually less interested in catnip sprays, which generally don't contain enough nepetalactone to appeal to most feline.”

Great news for furparents: catnip is non-addictive.

Luckily also, furparents can easily grow catnip. Just put a pot on window sill or beside a window where the sun can shine on the plant in the morning.

“You can even go so far as to create your own kitty garden with one pot of catnip and one of wheat, oat, rye, or barley grass. Not only will kitty enjoy both, but having its own house plants may keep kitty out of yours. If you plant catnip directly in the garden, remember that, like most mints, it's a vigorous, sometimes invasive, grower,” Fetch said.

A warning from Fetch: “Catnip's potency doesn't last forever; the essential oils quickly dissipate. So if you buy dried catnip for your feline friend, store what you don't use in the freezer.”