Manila Standard - 2020 September 14 - Monday

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PH govt deports US soldier Pemberton leaves on board military plane, apologizes to Laude kin

By Rey E. Requejo

A

US marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton, convicted of killing a transgender woman in Olongapo City, was deported Sunday morning after being pardoned by President Rodrigo Duterte.

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Pemberton was halfway through his maximum 10-year prison term for the 2014 murder when Duterte this unexpectedly ordered his release, drawing condemnation from rights groups.

Escorted by US military personnel, the 25-year-old left on board a US military plane at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 9:14 a.m., the Bureau of Immigration said.

"Pemberton wishes to express his deepest gratitude to President Duterte for granting him an absolute pardon. He is extremely grateful for this act of compassion," his lawyer Rowena Flores said in a statement.

Flores said Pemberton extends his "sincere sympathy for the pain he caused" to the family of his victim Jennifer Laude, the first formal apolNext page ogy from the marine.

US MARINE Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton, escorted by immigration officers and US personnel, arrives at the NAIA to board a C-130 Hercules cargo plane. An immigration spokesman confirms that Pemberton has left the country at 9:14 a.m. Sunday but the pardon has renewed anti-American sentiment in the Philippines. AFP

PGH doc sees woes in revised social distance Recoveries surge; doubts linger THE government's easing of physical distancing in public transportation amid the COVID-19 pandemic is "problematic," an expert said Sunday.

The use of face masks and face shields will mitigate virus transmission, but "close contact definition remains," said Edsel Salvaña, an infectious disease doctor at the Philippine General Hospital.

"The proposal to decrease the distance in public transport to less than one meter

is problematic. If there is a single COVID-19-positive person in the transport, anyone less than one meter from him/her after 15 minutes becomes a close contact who will need to quarantine and can potentially spread the disease.”

The Transport department earlier said it would push through on Monday the easing of physical distancing in public vehicles to 0.75 meter from 1 meter, following the approval of the Inter Agency

Task Force on COVID-19.

Transport Undersecretary Artemio Tuazon Jr. said the agency moved to reduce physical distancing in transport to accommodate more passengers, especially in the modern jeepneys and buses.

But a leader of a transport alliance on Sunday advised the government to allow all public transportation modes to operate first to accommodate all commuters Next page

Impeach-Leonen an option, lawyer urges SolGen

By Rio N. Araja A LAWYER said Sunday the initiation of an impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen was still an option over Leonen’s failure to file his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth over the years.

Lorenzo Gadon said that would be appropriate if Solicitor General Jose Calida would act favorably on his letter-request urging him to file a quo warranto petition for Leonen’s removal.

“Impeachment will be an option,” Gadon said.

“I will assess that move upon receipt of the certified copies of the SALNs as it may be more practical and appropriate for the Solicitor General to file a quo warranto petition.”

Gadon, citing as precedent the case of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, said he was hoping that the high court would act on the matter on Tuesday to make public Leonen’s SALNs. The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees mandates government officials Next page

OIL firms Unioil Philippines and Cleanfuel kicked off the latest oil price rollback of as much as P1.50 per liter to reflect the movement of prices in the

By Willie Casas THE Philippines logged 20,472 recoveries from COVID-19 Sunday, bringing to 207,568 the number of patients who have recovered from the disease, but a former Health secretary said the country has still not been able to get the coronavirus under control six month after going into the world's longest lockdown.

Total recoveries represented almost 80 percent of all cases, which rose to 261,216 with the addition of 3,372 new infections Sunday.

The Department of Health also reported 79 new fatalities, bringing the death toll from COVID-19 to 4,371.

There are 49,277 active cases in which patients are being treated or under quarantine.

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COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM SEPT. 13)

261,216 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

3,372 49,277 NEW

ACTIVE

4,371

79

DEATHS

NEW

207,568 20,472 RECOVERIES

NEW

• 89 village chiefs sacked over SAP • 17 more quarantine facilities open THE Office of the Ombudsman has suspended 89 punong barangays or village chiefs across the country for six months over anomalies involving the implementation of the first tranche of the social amelioration program.

In a press release issued on Saturday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año ordered the municipal or city mayors of these village chiefs to immediately implement the Ombudsman’s order and his regional and field officers to ensure the implementation of the mass suspension.

"I hope this suspension will serve as

warning to other local officials.

Corruption has no place in our government especially during pandemic," he said.

Año thanked Ombudsman Samuel Martires for immediately acting on the complaints filed by his department against

LOCAL ROUNDUP

SAFE DISTANCE. Modified 'safe distance' markers have been placed inside the LRT-2 trains as the “social distancing” between passengers is reduced from one meter to 0.75 (or 3/4) of a meter to accommodate more commuters starting Monday Sept.

14, 2020. The Department of Transportation has drawn up a graph setting a timeline of implementation. DoTr

Small players lead oil price cuts; diesel down P1.50

By Alena Mae S. Flores

over PH ability to control virus

world oil market.

Unoil Philippines cut diesel pump prices

by P1.50 per liter and gasoline by P1 per liter on Sunday to reflect the changes in the international oil market.

The price changes would vary depend-

ing on location, the oil company added.

Cleanfuel cut pump prices at the same level as Unioil on 8:01 a.m. Monday ahead of the other oil firms. The oil firms usually adjust pump prices on Tuesday.

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Filipino transgender wins online pageant FILIPINA transgender Mela Franco Habijan was named Miss Trans Global 2020 during a virtual coronation ceremony held on Saturday night.

“Pilipinassss, we won! We wonnnnnnn!!! We are the first-ever Miss Trans Globalllll! Lorddddd!!!

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News

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘DOH budget cut unhealthy’ H

By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta

The 2021 proposed spending plan for the Department of Health (DOH) is P127.28 billion, P27 billion more than the 2020 approved budget of P100.559 billion, The Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) said.

But this figure is only 2.82 percent of the proposed 2021 national budget and only 0.6 percent of gross domestic product, the group said.

This proposed DOH budget is akin to allotting P3.16 health budget per Filipino per day, it said.

The AHW also said the DOH budget was insufficient to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and would not meet the health needs of the people being driven by the crisis.

It also slammed the government for reducing the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) for public hospitals and for not including a capital outlay for free health services.

“Worst of all, PhilHealth (the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.) which is plagued by corruption, has been given huge funds that will continue to be milked by corrupt government officials. The P71.3 billion DOH subsidy to PhilHealth should be realigned to the 66 DOH hospitals across the country for free and direct health services to patients,” the AHW said.

A nurses' group on Saturday said the proposed 2021 national health budget is an "uncaring" budget, with only a small

percentage supposedly allotted for the health of citizens.

“The proposed 2021 national health budget is an uncaring budget for a nation suffering from hunger, devastating economic and health effects of a pandemic that continuously wreaks havoc on both the majority poor as well as the health care workers in the frontline,” said the Filipino Nurses United (FNU) in a statement.

“The allotment of 2 percent for health in the national budget reflects the severe callousness on our people’s health and safety, and survival needs while abandoning the distress call of health workers at this time of uncontained pandemic while intending to give the huge budget chunk to firearms, intelligence, roads and infrastructure,” the FNU said.

“It is unfathomable that the proposed 2021 budget would not gear to increase health capacity standards and worst has slashed operational expenses of public hospitals including budget for public health,” the FNU added.

The 2021 budget allotted for health falls short of addressing many health and nursing problems such as chronic understaffing in national and local government hospitals as well as public health.

For decades, augmentation of the workforce is the usual excuse for hiring casuals, contractuals, job order, contract

of service and nurse deployment program nurses.

However, nursing jobs in both hospitals and public health are vital and essential, not piecemeal, or temporary nature of work as the government defines it, they said.

Therefore no nurse deserves to be JO, COS or contractual for more than a year, much less decades. Consequently, creation of regular job positions with appropriate and adequate budget is urgent and mandatory, the nurses said.

Meanwhile, Senate finance committee chairman Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said he hopes his fellow senators will be more discerning during their deliberations on the proposed DOH budget next year due to problems hounding PhilHealth and the department itself.

He specifically cited the poor leadership of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, who also sits as ex-officio chairperson of PhilHealth, with a proposed budget of P71.5 billion in 2021.

Duque and other PhilHealth officials are facing various criminal and administrative charges over fresh corruption issuds involving the interim reimbursements mechanism (IRM), an allegedly overpriced information technology project and doctored financial statements.

In an interview over radio dzBB Sunday, Angara said the ability of Duque to meet the demands of the senators in terms of his performance as Health chief as well as accountability on issues hounding the agency will be a factor on how much the Senate will allocate for the DOH next year.

He also told the interview that at least 14 senators had signed a resolution seeking Duque's resignation for "failure of leadership, negligence, lack of foresight, and inefficiency in the performance of his mandate" amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

PH...

"He wishes he had the words to express the depth of his sorrow and regret," she added.

Pemberton met Laude in October 2014 in a bar in Olongapo City after a joint USPhilippine military exercise.

During the trial, a lower court heard that Pemberton and Laude agreed to have sex but the drunken marine turned violent when he discovered Laude still had male genitals. Laude was found strangled in a motel room with her head in a toilet bowl.

The lawyer for Laude's family condemned the pardon, which has renewed anti-American sentiment in the former US colony.

"May he find peace of mind. (I'm) hoping he has learned from all these the value of life and dignity regardless of gender and

nationality," lawyer Virginia Suarez said.

As part of his deportation to the United States, Pemberton is now banned from entering the Philippines for being a "risk to public safety," the immigration bureau added.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a press statement that Pemberton has been in the bureau's blacklist since Sept. 16, 2015, when he was ordered deported by the Board of Commissioners for being an undesirable alien, after being charged for murder, and later being convicted of homicide.

In a statement on Sunday, the US Embassy said the Department of Justice authorized the release of Pemberton on Sept.

1 and President Rodrigo Duterte granted him an absolute pardon on Sept. 7.

"All legal proceedings in the case took place under Philippine jurisdiction and law. Lance Cpl. Pemberton fulfilled his sentence as ordered by Philippine courts and he departed the Philippines on Sept.

13," the embassy said.

Meanwhile, Department of National Defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong said stricter guidelines will be crafted and implemented between the Philippines and the US in the conduct of joint exercises.

“Both sides are now more circumspect and, as a result, stricter guidelines will be crafted and implemented in the conduct of joint exercises, if there will be any and if the termination of the (Visiting Forces Agreement) VFA remains suspended,” he said.

Andolong made the comment when asked what measures should be taken by the Philippines and US to avoid a similar incident involving foreign soldiers in the future.

“Although we have not had any exercises in the Philippines since the Covid-19 pandemic affected our country, we have engaged our American counterparts in frank discussions regarding future incidents involving visiting military person-

nel,” he said.

Duterte said he granted Pemberton an absolute pardon, saying he was not treated fairly while detained because his good conduct time allowance (GCTA) credits were not recorded by the authorities.

The pardon extinguished the issue of whether Pemberton was entitled to GCTA. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday said the Pemberton case should be taken into consideration should the Philippines negotiate in a Visiting Forces Agreement with another country.

“I am relieved to see the end of the Pemberton episode. Though attended with intense conflict, it has provided insights and lessons to ponder on regarding the future of the Visiting Forces Agreement, the administration of criminal justice and the exercise of the President’s constitutional powers,” Guevarra said in a text message to reporters.

Guevarra made the statement after Pemberton was deported. With AFP

PGH...

Recoveries...

before resorting to shortening physical distancing standards inside vehicles.

Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations or ACTO president Efren de Luna said more commuters would be accommodated if all public transport vehicles were allowed to ply their routes.

Meanwhile, Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco on Sunday opposed the move to reduce physical distancing in public transport vehicles, saying it was inconsistent with the prevailing safety policies.

“Studies of health experts showed that social distancing, along with the proper wearing of face masks and handwashing, help prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease,” Tiangco said.

“Reducing distancing among commuters to increase ridership is inconsistent with the minimum safety standards that we have been teaching our people for six months now.”

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda on Sunday reiterated an earlier recommendation for the Transport department to allow more modes of public transportation to operate to help boost the economy.

“Of course, we need to comply with minimum health standards. That is why the best way to ensure that we can enforce social distancing in transport systems is to have enough space for workers who travel in the first place,” Salceda said. Rio N. Araja

Former Health secretary Manuel Dayrit on Saturday said the Philippines was still unable to control the spread of COVID-19.

“We’re trying to control it, but we’re not able to control it, and that’s why it’s an upward curve. It could be far worse. But certainly, if your benchmarks are countries like Thailand or Vietnam, you know, we’re not doing as well as them,” Dayrit said in an interview on 24 Oras Weekend report.

The National Action Plan against COVID-19 acknowledged and thanked Dayrit for his observations, but said the Philippines wasn't the only country having these difficulties.

“We think our action plan will work alongside other forms of intervention that

we are doing now,” deputy chief implementor of the plan Secretary Vince Dizon said in Filipino.

He also said the country would succeed if people helped each other.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, meanwhile, said more granular data will be made available to the public starting Sept. 14 to effectively address the spread of the virus from the grassroots level.

In a media forum, Vergeire said part of the intervention’s goal is to crush the clustering of COVID cases in communities through strong community engagement.

She said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has ordered the establishment of a system to reconcile and publish barangay-level data. She added that the department is coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government to do this.

Duque said the publication of baran-

gay-level data aims to increase citizen engagement and participation in the localized implementation of the country’s COVID-19 response.

Previously, this data was only available for viewing by the local government units and key agencies that have data sharing agreements.

“We are looking forward to our people being more engaged in the barangay-level response. They can be more vigilant in performing our minimum health standards,” she said.

Vergeire said this approach works alongside a directive making two critical details in contact tracing forms a must: a complete address and mobile phone number.

Adding these personal details as part of the required fields, Vergeire said, will allow more effective contact tracing of individuals who have closely interacted with COVID-infected patients.

her SALNs. “I am confident that Solicitor General Calida will grant my request,” Gadon said.

The Manila Standard sent Calida a text message seeking his reaction, but he did not reply. Sought for comment, Brian Keith Hosaka, the head of the high court’s Public Information Office, said: “Justice Leonen has no comment on this matter.”

Manila Times columnist Rigoberto Tiglao has said in his column that Leonen supposedly failed to submit his

SALN for 15 years: from 1989 to 2003 and from 2008 to 2009.

Leonen was a professor at the University of the Philippines’ College of Law and chairman of the government peace panel before becoming associate justice in November 2012.

In a Sept. 7 letter, Gadon urged the Supreme Court to disclose Leonen’s SALNs from 1990 to 2011.

He said the request was not new, citing his similar letter asking for the SALNs of Sereno, which was granted by the high court on Aug. 15, 2017.

Small...

World oil prices declined last week amid the outlook of lower demand from the US and higher inventories.

US jobless data continued to go up fueling concerns of economic and energy demand growth.

According to the monitoring report of the Department of Energy, global oil supply increased by four million barrels per day from July through August after dropping more than 13 million b/d from April to June.

Oil supply is forecasted to continue to go up, adding 3 million b/d from September to end-2020.

Filipino...

sues around the world.”

The website said the winner of Miss Trans Global will be the community’s spokesperson and will work digitally to influence positive changes internationally.

“They will work closely with activist organizations such as TransValid, TransBeauty Magazine and many more to raise money, educate and inspire transgender people globally,” the website said.

Before joining Miss Trans Global, Habijan was a writer at ABS-CBN, an actress, a performer, an entrepreneur and an LGBTQ advocate.

EALTH workers on Sunday criticized the government for proposing a budget that fails to reflect the objective of giving priority to healthrelated programs and to solve the problems brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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This will be the fourth consecutive weekly price cut for diesel and the second for gasoline.

On Sept. 8, the oil firms cut the price of gasoline by P0.30 per liter, diesel by P0.45 per liter and kerosene by P0.55 per liter, which resulted in a year-to-date net decrease of P4.22 per liter for gasoline, P9.44 per liter for diesel and P13.94 per liter for kerosene.

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Impeach-Leonen...

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and employees to file their yearly statements of assets and liabilities.

Gadon on Friday expressed optimism that Calida would act favorably on his letter-request to file a petition against Leonen.

He said it was Calida’s petition for quo warranto that nullified the appointment of Sereno as Chief Justice for six years, and also for not filing

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Maraming, maraming salamat pooooo!!!” Habijan said in a Facebook post confirming the news.

She said she was extremely happy “to be holding the hands of the best people in my life” when it happened.

According to its official website, Miss Trans Global “is an international online pageant for trans & gender nonconforming people from all backgrounds to raise awareness on transgender and LGB is-

Angara said the senators have been asking for many things from the DOH secretary in terms of deliverables and accountability.

Still, Angara said the Senate will not sacrifice the budget for health programs that the public needs the most at this time just because of Duque.

“You’re talking about budget for hospitals, budget for medicine, and from there- we should be professional in looking at it despite our reservations regarding the leadership," he said.

Angara noted that the DOH traditionally does not completely use up the budget allocated for it, and its low disbursement rate has always been questioned during the deliberations on the department's annual budget.

Also on Sunday, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon pushed for funding of a social amelioration program in the 2021 national budget to ease the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Filipinos and to prevent millions from slipping back into poverty.

“We must provide funding for SAP in the 2021 national budget to combat the worsening poverty. There are items in the budget that we can tap to provide the much-needed cash subsidies to the poor,” he said.

The Senate leader said he will ask the Senate committee on finance to look for excess funds in the budget that can be tapped to provide for SAP. But Senator Joel Villanueva said the government has programs under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other government agencies intended to provide assistance to families in need.

“We needed SAP this year because we had an emergency situation. We should have a better handle of the economic and social situation next year,” he said.

Vaccine trials resume as cases surge in Europe CLINICAL trials of one of the most advanced experimental COVID-19 vaccines have resumed after a brief safety pause, as infection numbers continued to march upward in countries across the globe.

The world's hopes for a reprieve from the pandemic were dealt a blow earlier last week when pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and Oxford University announced they had "voluntarily paused" their vaccine trial after a UK volunteer developed an unexplained illness.

But on Saturday the trial was given the all clear by British regulators to resume following a safety review. The company also announced it was resuming clinical trials in Brazil next Monday after being given the green light there as well.

Sokor eases virus curbs South Korea will temporarily ease coronavirus curbs in the greater Seoul area after a decline in cases, officials said Sunday.

The country largely overcame an early COVID-19 surge with extensive tracing and testing, but has battled several spikes in recent weeks raising concerns of a second wave of infections.

The new cases—mainly in the greater Seoul region, home to half the country's 52 million population—prompted authorities to tighten social distancing measures last month.

But the measures on the metropolitan area will be eased starting Monday for two weeks, South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun told a government meeting, as new local cases declined.

Dozens nabbed at Melbourne antilockdown rally Authorities in Melbourne arrested more than 70 people for flouting stay-athome orders to protest against lockdown restrictions Sunday, with some demonstrators clashing with riot police at a market in the city.

About 250 people attended the illegal protest—the second in as many days in the city—promoted by coronavirus conspiracy groups on social media.

The demonstrators ignored official warnings and public health orders to gather at the central Queen Victoria market, calling for an end to a weeks-long lockdown of Australia's second-biggest city. They were met by a heavy police presence, with scuffles breaking out as the riot squad swept through the market's fruit and vegetable aisles.

Police arrested 74 people and fined 176, saying in a statement that "many protestors were aggressive and threatened violence towards officers." AFP

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the officials, saying it would serve as a warning to all local government units that any wrong-doing will not be tolerated by his department.

17 more quarantine facilities At least 17 more quarantine facilities will be opened next week to accommodate more COVID-19 patients, the Department of Public Works and Highways said Sunday.

The department’s Build Build Build Committee head Anna Mae Lamentillo told Dobol B sa News TV that the new facilities would be available when needed.

“By next week we will have 17 new quarantine facilities. We plan to build more depending on the need. We don’t want them to be lacking,” Lamentillo said.

All provinces now have quarantine facilities where COVID-19 patients may stay until they recover.

Swab test refunds Bagong Henerasyon party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera said Sunday the members of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. who have paid for their COVID-19 swab test should be entitled to a refund.

She says members who are classified as eligible for testing based on the guidelines issued by the Department of Health could avail themselves of PhilHealth’s testing benefit package worth up to P3,409.

“There is a PhilHealth circular that allows members who are eligible for testing to file reimbursement claims for COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test. But unfortunately, the public is not fully aware of this benefit,” Herrera said.

“I urge all qualified PhilHealth members who have personally paid for their COVID-19 tests to directly file their reimbursement claims with PhilHealth.”

Shuttle services required Companies whose total assets are above P100 million and are inside the special economic zones and other areas under the jurisdiction of investment promotion agencies are required to provide shuttle services to their employees, according to officials.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez made the statement over the weekend, adding those companies must also set up isolation areas and implement disinfection procedures.

They said the provision of shuttle services was consistent with Inter-Agency Task Force Resolution 69 dated Sept. 7, 2020. Rio N. Araja

News Pag-IBIG may stop hike in contributions OFFICIALS of Pag-IBIG Fund recently announced that they may put on hold the plan to raise the decades-old monthly contributions of its members in consideration of the plight of workers and businesses amid the pandemic.

Secretary Eduardo D. del Rosario, who heads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees, has instructed the Management of Pag-IBIG Fund to consult stakeholders again to discuss the possibility of delaying the January 2021 implementation of the P50-increase to the agency’s decades-old P100 monthly contributions or savings.

“We recognize that a number of our members and several businesses are experiencing financial hardships brought about by COVID-19. We understand their plight and we want to help them in any way we can. That’s why we are studying the possible delay of the P50-increase in the members’ monthly savings right now.

This is our contribution to the efforts of the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to alleviate the financial burden of our fellow Filipinos during these challenging times,” said del Rosario.

In November 2019, the Pag-IBIG Fund Board approved the staggered increase of the members’ monthly savings from P100 to P150 by January 2021, and to P200 by January 2023. The approved increases also apply to their employers’ share. Both labor and employer groups expressed support for the move as Pag-IBIG Fund officials held months of public consultations before approving the increase. Stakeholders took note that Pag-IBIG Fund contributions remained unchanged for three decades already.

“The adjustments in members’ monthly savings were meant to provide the necessary additional funds to sustain the growing demand for housing. In the last five years, the demand for Pag-IBIG Fund housing loans steadily grew at an average rate of 17.5 percent annually. We expected then, that raising the monthly savings gradually by P50 will infuse more funds so that Pag-IBIG can continue to offer the lowest rates in the market and help more members acquire homes of their own. But again, the study and consultations were done in 2019. The continuing pandemic this 2020 has changed all that. So I urged the Pag-IBIG Fund Management to renew consultations with our stakeholders,” del Rosario explained.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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P1.3-B set for drug rehab centers

By Rio N. Araja

C

EBU Rep. Eduardo Gullas on Sunday said that the Department of Health is set to spend P1.3 billion in 2021 to fund 22 public residential drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers nationwide.

Some of the DOH’s infrastructure P186.9 million, Las Piñas City Drug projects include Muntinlupa City’s Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Bicutan Rehabilitation Center at Center at P6.4 million, Dagupan Re-

habilitation Center at P93.7 million, and La Union’s San Fernando Treatment and Rehabilitation Center at P13 million.

“Families should encourage their members who are drug users to voluntarily seek admission to the centers or may petition for the compulsory treatment and rehabilitation of their members who are drug users,” he added.

Under the law, an apprehended drug user with just a small amount of illegaldrugs may be required to undergo treatment and rehabilitation, instead of a jail term.

“While going through mandatory treatment and rehabilitation for not more than six months, the jail sentences of drug users may besuspended by the trial judge,” Gullas said.

‘Suspend cashless toll fee system’

By Rio N. Araja

TRUCK ACCIDENT. A six-wheeler truck transporting sacks of plastic pellets used in making monoblock chairs turned on its side along Lacson Avenue in Manila, on Sunday September 13,2020. Norman Cruz

New law calls for moratorium on bill payments

By Macon Ramos-Araneta CONSUMERS can heave a sigh of relief insofar as payment for their recent utility bills are concerned, as the ‘Bayanihan to Recover as One Act’ or ‘Bayanihan 2’ provides for a 30-day moratorium, said Senator Win Gatchalian.

He said a provision in the measure assures a 30-day grace period for payment of utility bills covering those falling within the period of enhanced community quarantine or modified enhanced community quarantine.

He said that at present, Iligan City,

Bacolod City, and Lanao del Sur are the provinces that have remained under MECQ until September 30.

The senator said that the payment of interests, penalties, and other charges would likewise be waived in the covered period.

“This provision in the bill will lessen the financial strain of the already overburdened Filipino families living in areas under ECQ or MECQ. For most of them, payment for utility bills eats up a big percentage of their monthly income and this is a relief to those having trouble making payments due to financial difficulties brought about by the Covid-19 pandem-

FRESH FISH. Two women sell fresh tuna at a stall in a road designated for health buffs in Imus City, Cavite on Sunday, September 13, 2020. PonD News Asia Photo

‘Gov’t must fund Tokyo Olympians’

By Rio N. Araja VALENZUELA City Rep. Eric Martinez is asking the national government to pump more funds for the country’s national athletes bound for the Tokyo Olympics in July 2021.

He lamented that the national government has slashed the allocations of all government agencies to augment the Department of Health’s budget and fund social amelioration programs amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a Sept. 7 budget hearing of the Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corp., Martinez requested more fund assistance to help the Tokyo Olympic-bound national athletes in 2021.

He said there are 86 athletes who are currently undergoing a series of training, of which 65 of them are here in the Philippines,

while 21 others are training abroad.

“Thus far, gymnast Carlo Yulo, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, and boxers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno have already officially qualified to participate with weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz expected to be added to the list of Olympic qualifiers,” he said.

“In no other time in the sports history of the Philippines has been this poised to win an Olympic gold which has eluded the country ever since it participated in this prestigious international game in 1924,” he added.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the fighting spirit of the country’s national team has been buoyed by the successful hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, where the Philippines emerged as overall champion.

Martinez said he is confident that “at long last, the elusive Olympic gold medal is now very well within reach.”

ic,” Gatchalian said.

The senator introduced the provision in the measure directing all institutions providing electric, water, telecommunications, and other similar utilities to implement a minimum of 30-day grace period for the payment of bills.

He clarified that after the grace period, the unpaid bills of residential, micro, small and medium enterprises, and cooperatives may be settled on a staggered basis payable in not less than three monthly installments, subject to the procedural requirements of the concerned regulatory agencies.

ANG Probinsyano party-list Rep. Ronnie Ong wants the postponement of the full shift to cashless toll collection to January 2021.

In a television interview, Ong reacted to the Department of Transportation’s directive that all toll road operators must go full cashless in their transactions starting Nov. 2 in a bid to help slow down the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“For us, the timing is not that good. As if they are in a haste… We are not against automation, the cashless (transaction). We are all for that.

But Nov. 2 is quite near,” he said.

“We hope there could be a delay to probably in January 2021 when everybody will be more ready. Of course, in between that, we will fix first the system,” he added.

Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade issued DOTr Order No. 2020-10 requiring all tollways operators and concessionaires to install electronic tags or other cashless systems for all motorists and motor vehicles using the toll expressways and transact only through a cashless mode of payment of toll not later than Nov. 2.

Ong called on the Toll Regulatory Board to integrate the radio frequency identification tags from different toll road operators to make them “all-in-one.”

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor LEA SALONGA

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

THE TOURISTS ARE BACK. A man glides on a zipline in Tagaytay City on Saturday, Sept.

12, 2020. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the city is now open for local and foreign tourists but the local government warned that violators of health protocols will be apprehended. PonD News Asia

Lea Salonga backs ‘Manila Support Local’

By Willie Casas

Cloud seeding for Ecija dam set C

ABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija—At least 100 people, including farmers and irrigation officials, were commissioned as spotters of clouds for a cloud seeding operation to boost Pantabangan Dam water reserve.

Engineer Rosalinda Bote, department manager of the National Irrigation Administration-Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System, said that as of Saturday, the water level of Pantabangan Dam was at 182 meters above sea level (masl), way below the 201 masl by the start of September in 2019, and the 210

masl target by end-October.

“We organized almost 100 cloud spotters within Nueva Ecija,” Bote said, adding these people take real time photographs of clouds in their respective areas through GPS-enhanced phones.

The photos will be sent to the Bureau of Soils and Water Management of the

Department of Agriculture for assessment and prioritization.

Bote said NIA administrator Ricardo Visaya has issued the green light to the activity to induce rains over the Pantabangan reservoir or watershed in preparation for the dry crop season of 2021.

The agency initially allocated P2.64 million from its calamity fund for the cloud seeding activity, with 900 bags of salt procured.

“We are surviving this wet season so far and at the same time there are those who are already harvesting,” Bote said, adding that almost 4,000 hectares of rice

field have already been harvested.

Based on the advice of the government weather bureau, it expects slight La Niña from October this year to January of 2021.

But the scarcity of rains in the last months prompted the local government to turn to induced water to ensure they can irrigate the entirety of the 140,000 hectares service area come summer.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar earlier said cloud seeding will ensure a “respectable rice harvest in Central Luzon, particularly in Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, and Tarlac.”

BROADWAY diva Lea Salonga has joined Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso’s campaign to support local businesses in the nation’s capital as more families are severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Salonga expressed her support for the city government’s “Manila Support Local” campaign and her endorsement of the upcoming “Manila Restaurant Week” during Domagoso’s weekly Facebook Live program “The Capital Report.”

“Napansin ko may mga restaurant sa amin na sarado, na walang mga pumapasok na mga customer. So I felt that it is important to support whatever effort na meron para ang mga negosyante ay matulungan,” Salonga told Domagoso.

“It is important na kahit papaano makatulong, to help encourage businesses, to help businesses stay open.

Kasi right now I think everybody is hit financially, economically, maraming mga negosyo na talagang natatamaan dahil sa pandemya, di na sila napupuntahan,” she added.

Domagoso thanked Salonga for supporting his initiative, saying the Manila City government is doing everything it can to stimulate economic activity in the nation’s capital.

He said Salonga will be the special guest for the grand launch of the “Manila Restaurant Week” this week where she is expected to sing her original song titled “Dream Again.”

The Manila Restaurant Week will formally kick off on Sept. 20 and will run until Sept. 27.

QC, C40 Cities team up for clean air

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte has partnered with climate leadership network C40 Cities to implement solutions to lessen air pollution and achieve cleaner air.

C40’s Air Quality Program directly supports cities to accelerate air quality improvements by facilitating peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, providing technical assistance, capacity building and creating new tools and resources for cities.

Quezon City is one of two cities selected to participate in the 2020-2021 C40 Air Quality Technical Assistance Program after several rounds of evaluation of 31 cities that applied.

C40 shall support Quezon City in con-

ducting an air quality baseline study by evaluating existing air pollution data and deploying a new network of air quality monitoring sensors; developing detailed recommendations and specifications for a permanent air quality monitoring network; running a series of deep capacity building workshops to train staff in air quality management principles, and producing a roadmap to the city’s first air quality management plan.

The project is made possible through the generous funding from the Clean Air Fund, a philanthropic initiative with a mission to tackle air pollution around the world.

The Quezon City’s Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department is tasked to take the lead in the project delivery.

DU30 orders repair of Zambo road PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has directed the public works department to immediately repair portions of the Olutanga-Alicia Road in Zamboanga Sibugay, an official said Sunday.

Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the President gave the order after seeing the photos taken by his agency which were posted on his Facebook page on Sept. 2.

“With just one communication from the Office of the President addressed to the Department of Public Works and Highways, road building equipment and machinery sprung into action,” Piñol said.

He said portions of the highway where vehicles were stuck for days due to deep mud were immediately repaired.

“In one week, it was completed,” Piñol

added.

The 29-kilometer Olutanga-Alicia Highway is being constructed with a P900 million budget funded by the Asian Development Bank.

Piñol said it was awarded to a Zamboanga City-based construction company, M. Abubakar Construction and Engineering, which he added “was obviously ill-equipped to handle the project.”

He said even during the rainy season, the contractor scraped the whole stretch of the road, turning it into a muddy mess with vehicles stuck or falling by the side.

“When MinDA posted the photos following my visit to Olutanga last week, the contractor accused me of being unfair.

They said the rains and the soil type were to be blamed for the mess,” he added.

PROTECTION. Devotees use umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun while attending mass outside Quiapo Church on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. Religious gatherings remain limited to 10 percent of the venue’s seating capacity in Metro Manila and other areas under General Community Quarantine. PNA

Ilocos Norte closes borders to LSIs until Sept. 18 LAOAG CITY—The province of Ilocos Norte has closed its borders to locallystranded individuals for at least six days due to rising COVID-19 cases.

The National Inter-Agency Task Force finally granted the request of the province through members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan who unanimously passed a resolution for the moratorium.

The moratorium took effect yesterday and will last until Sept. 18 to decongest quarantine facilities and allow frontliners to take a break for a few days.

This means that LSIs bound for Ilocos Norte will have to cancel their trips even if they have complete travel requirements.

They are also asked to coordinate with their local government units of destination for advice on when they plan to go home to avoid any delay along the way.

“As we continue to strategize to contain the virus, we ask for your continued cooperation and patience. Together, we will overcome this,” read a public advisory posted Saturday evening on the provincial Government of Ilocos Norte

Facebook page.

On the average, border controllers reported there are close to a hundred LSIs that pass through the major provincial border in Badoc gateway, aside from returning overseas workers.

Based on the latest case bulletin, the province recorded a total of 86 cases with 35 active cases as of Sept. 13, and most of the cases were LSIs. There are over 13,000 quarantine beds found in various local government units and private facilities are at maximum capacity now.

Locally-made products prioritized under Bayanihan 2

WORKOUT. Women dance happily during Zumba class with a loud speaker placed at the back of a car along Kalsadang Bago in Imus, Cavite on Sept. 13, 2020. JR Josue

LOCALLY-made products will be prioritized in the government’s procurement to help local industries severely affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said.

Nograles said the recently-signed “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act” or “Bayanihan 2” includes procurement provisions that give preference to locally-made products, including construction materials for government infrastructure projects.

“Our call is buy local, buy Filipino –

suportahan natin ang sariling atin,” he said during a Facebook live session.

He emphasized the importance of supporting Filipino businesses, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to help save jobs and revive the economy.

“At this point we are talking about how to get our economy back on its feet; one of the best ways is to buy Filipino,” he added.

Nograles, meanwhile, advised the public to report manufacturers taking

advantage of the “buy local” campaign by mislabeling their products and passing them off as Philippine-made to the Department of Trade and Industry.

“DTI knows what it has to do. It is unfortunate that there are those who do this, pero di dapat sila makalusot. Bawal ang mislabeling. There are laws against that,” he said.

The DTI is also urging institutions to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) gears and other medical items from local manufacturers.

Opinion

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

Adelle Chua, Editor

NAKED THOUGHT

CHARLIE V. MANALO

Stories

THE FIFTH GOSPEL JUDE ACIDRE WHEN I started writing this column a year ago, our editors asked me what the titleof my column would be.

I instinctively replied, “The Fifth Gospel.”

At first, they thought I would be writing about religion, an idea that the editors readily welcomed OPEN since this paper doesn’t have a religious column.

THOUGHTS But I explained that it wouldn’t simply be ORLANDO about religion.

It would be about faith as a lived experience, as a living reality. It would OXALES be as if the Gospel were retold through our ordinary everyday experience.

The Fifth Gospel would narrate the story of our faith from the perspective of our everyday lives.

The Gospels are our stories of grief, pain and frustration, as well as of joy, fulfillment and triumph.

That was a year ago. Fifty-plus weeks later, I have written on a wide range of timely topics—from politics to religion, from historical facts to current events, from aspirations of faith to policy proposals.

We often mistakenly think that the Gospels are simply the Biblical accounts of Christ’s life and ministry. But far from being more than just historical narratives or an eyewitness account of the biography of Jesus—the Gospels are stories of faith shared and passed on by telling and retelling what happened to Jesus and what he did and taught.

In the end, the four evangelists were defining Jesus and his message from the perspective of their own lived experience.

With churches closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I spent the Holy Week this year watching the series, “The Chosen”—a beautiful retelling of the life of Jesus by American filmmaker Dallas Jenkins. Unlike previous films on the life of Christ, Jenkins enriched the Biblical narratives by portraying Jesus “through the eyes of those who met him.”

So the opening episode focuses on Mary Magdalene and the apostles Peter and Andrew and their encounter with Jesus—and Christ’s invitation to radical discipleship. The next episodes feature Mary at the wedding at Cana, Matthew at the tax collector’s booth and the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well— and Christ’s response to their own doubts and uncertainties. The season ends with the Jewish scholar Nicodemus who visited Jesus in secret, and their dialogue about the truth of Christ’s mission.

The truth is that the Gospels are our stories— and they cannot be too far removed from our

ON THE first week of October next year, candidates for national and local elective positions will have to file their certificates of candidacy with the Commission on Elections.

CROSSROADS It is a date, a deadline so near, and yet so far from the public mind at theJ.A. moment.

In the proximate DELA past, the race for the CRUZ presidency would already be warming up by this time. But because public interest, nay fear, is still fixated on the health crisis and its ill effects on people’s lives and the macro-economy, 2022, though so near, is yet so far.

It was not like this in 2014. With both SWS and Pulse Asia publicizing their quantitative readings of the public pulse, interest was periodically generated on who could possibly beat the then vice-president, Jejomar Binay, who for the past three years had consistently topped the metrics of public esteem. He looked like a sure winner in the 2016 elections.

The second quarter 2014 surveys gave Jojo Binay some 40 percentage points, while the administration’s champion and Noynoy Aquino’s heir apparent, Mar Roxas, was a far 15 percentage points low. So many politicians were angling to be Binay’s team-mate, from movie actors-turned- senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla, and another popular political figure, Sen. Chiz Escudero being mentioned. But Janet Napoles entered the public consciousness, and the stink from her ghost-project shenanigans threw away the chances of the actor-politicians who had to worry instead about saving themselves from conviction.

With Mar’s figures yet anemic, many were egging the popular senatorial topnotcher

own experiences—of grief, pain and frustration, as well as of joy, fulfillment and triumph.

In writing this column, I would not want to make any pretenses about being a good Catholic. I describe myself as “practicing” Catholic—who continues to be a “work in progress” and to learn how to live out our faith more meaningfully. I make no secret of my own struggles and mistakes, as well as with the grace of God’s providence.

With this column I hope to underscore that notwithstanding the rise of a secular culture, faith and religion will always retain its enduring importance.

In our time, many are often quick to conclude that with fewer and fewer people going to church, it seems that religion has now lost its touch with modern man. This observation, I believe, is far from the truth. For one, a fact that is often overlooked is that there are more people of faith than unbelievers anywhere in the world.

This means religion will always be an intrinsic part not only of our individual lives, but of humanity’s collective existence, providing our lives with the meaning and purSO pose that only faith can give.

The real threat to our faith, however, is not I SEE in the fact that the number of those staying away from religion continues to be LITO on the BANAYO rise—but in the reality that believers have learned to “compartmentalize” their faith from their other everyday concerns.

This is perhaps what Pope Francis had in mind when in the document “Evangelii Gaudium”—the pope wrote, “The great danger in today’s world, pervaded as it is by CROSSROADS consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the J.A. feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, a DELAand CRUZ blunted conscience. Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades.”

Take for example, politics. The prevailing secular attitude, wrongly thought to be established by the constitutional dictum of the separation of Church and State, is that politics should be unmoored from religion.

We forget that many of the great persons in the Bible were people in politics. Moses grew up in the Egyptian court. Saul was the first king of Israel. David was a consummate leader of his people. Daniel the prophet advised the kings of Babylon. Jonah was a revolutionary of sorts, calling the king and people of Nineveh to conversion. Matthew was a tax collector working for the Roman colonial power. Nicodemus was himself a Pharisee, a religious elite that swayed significant political power. Zacchaeus was a corrupt official who found wholeness in knowing the power of God’s mercy.

It was in their politics that these men found God and grew in the faith.

In our time and for many of us, it could be in business, in our professions, in our homes and workplaces that we could encounter God and bring others to meet him.

So the invitation remains for us to find God where we are—or more beautifully, to allow God to find us, and in each of our own callings, write our own Fifth Gospels.

Calm and candor

I

N 18 recorded interviews conducted in February and March, United States President Donald Trump told veteran journalist Bob Woodward that he was aware of how deadly the coronavirus was but that he was playing it down on purpose to avoid causing panic among the people.

Publicly, at around the same time, Mr. Trump likened the virus to the Truthful, fact-based and common flu, telling Americans it compassionate leadership would magically disappear when the will automatically inspire weather got warmer.

Woodward, of course, is one of two confidence in the people. journalists who broke ground by reporting on how a Richard Nixon-led White House knew about and covered NAKED had not taken the virus’ threat so lightly up a break-in at the rival party’s head-THOUGHT in public, his followers would have takquarters at the Watergate Hotel. He has en greater precaution, and there would CHARLIE V. fewer cases and deaths—Mr. been the subject of an Academy Awardhave been MANALO winning film. He has written numerous Trump is blaming Woodward for not books on prominent figures. exposing his revelations earlier if he Woodward’s stature and credibility thought they would be harmful. are likely why Mr. Trump, known for That the president has lied is no his narcissism, spoke with the journal- longer new. Mr. Trump has shown time THE FIFTH ist so candidly in the first place, even and again his healthy disrespect for the GOSPEL as he knew his words were going to be truth, caring only whether something recorded. Now that he is being pilloried JUDE would be beneficial to him or not. for lying to the American people—if he The other question that this episode ACIDRE

The tea leaves for 2022 have not settled.

OPEN

Nobody THOUGHTS but a very few, mostly from Davao, gave a second thought to the possibility of its long-time mayor, Rodrigo ORLANDO Duterte, gunning for the country’s premier OXALES post in the middle of 2014. Not even as the year drew to a close. Speculation was more centered on whether Mar Roxas could catch up with the wounded Binay, or whether Grace Poe would throw her hat into the ring as well. Or, as Malacanang wished, a MarGrace ticket could yet be forged.

“Pang senador lang ‘yan,” most political observers declared of Duterte. Or “baka sakali, pang bise.”

Yet beginning the last week of January 2015, and especially coinciding with the massacre of the Mamasapano 44, the interest in Duterte slowly began.

Still, the first quarter surveys of that year showed the mayor of Davao quite far from the surveyed front-runners.

The rest, of course, is history.

But these parlous days, few even bother to guess about the 2022 presidential derby.

Surviving the health crisis amid a crum-

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bling health system presided over by its bumbling leadership, and furthermore, worrying about the well-being of the mortally-affected economy are foremost in the public mind.

A float by some rather obscure personalities about a revolutionary government presided over by the incumbent himself, with the support of the military, was immediately shut down both by the President and his subalterns. The speculation about the President being succeeded by his daughter, the current Davao City Mayor Inday Sara, has been muted both by her disavowals and by the COVID crisis. Further speculation on Sen. Bong Go, the president’s favorite, whose name Duterte mentions at every opportunity, has likewise been drowned out by the pandemic’s tsunami of ill fate.

But the hands of time do not stop, and unless something out of the extraordinary happens, the October deadline to file is just about a year away.

When will the presidential sweepstakes start heating up?

In a privately commissioned survey I saw some two weeks ago, from field work done nationwide during the first weeks of August, the leading candidate is the personable Isko Moreno, mayor of the City of Manila, with less than a fifth of the total votes as of this time.

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

raises is this: During a crisis, should our leaders sound the alarm and inform the people of dire prospects, or should they act like cheerleaders, boosting people’s confidence and assuring them that everything will be all right?

This betrays a simplistic, either-or way of thinking, one that has become too common among politicians and constituents alike. It also assumes that people are ignorant and do not have the capacity to gather information on their own, much less think for themselves outside of the trite lines fed them by those who control the narrative.

The approach, then, is that it does not have to be one or the other. Leaders have the responsibility to be truthful during a crisis—especially during a crisis. People have to know the situation they are in and the prospects they face. Panic is a very real consequence, but it can be stemmed by a calm demeanor that comes from a fair appreciation of the facts and a sound plan, for the short and long term, on how to navigate the crisis. Such leadership would automatically inspire confidence and cooperation.

Tragic abandonment

IN WEDNESDAY’S Pre-Budget Briefing on the Department of Health’s (DOH) proposed 2021 budget conducted by the House of Representatives Committee on Health, Chairperson Rep. Angelina ‘Helen’ Tan exercised the committee’s oversight function and probed into the implementation and funding of the Universal Health Care Act, the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA) and other health legislation.

Responding to a query on the highest cause of deaths in the country, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that heart related disease was number one and the second is cancer. Yes, cancer is a leading cause of death and disability in the country that according to the University of the Philippines’ Institute of Human Genetics, National Institutes of Health kills four Filipinos every hour—96 lives lost every day!

Compare that with the country’s total death from COVID 19 which by DOH update as of this writing is at 4,108. In the same number of months, there would already have been 17,200 cancer deaths.

Global figures are just as alarming.

NAKED When President Duterte signed into the of 2013, Grace Poe to run, among them her THOUGHT law Republic Act 11218 (NICCA) in Febclose friend Escudero, who was spokesman ruary last year, millions of cancer stakefor the ill-fated presidential run of her father, CHARLIE V. holders were looking forward to an end to the popular FPJ. MANALO decades of struggle and frustration of the But surprises would yet upset the well-oiled government’s neglect in addressing this and carefully organized Jojo Binay quest. disease. Thanks to great advances in innoAllegations of mind-boggling corruption vative medicines, cancers of certain types and hidden wealth were unveiled against him should not be fatal with early detection and when he and his family ruled Makati for the proper treatment. longest time. And the canary who sang the THE FIFTH NICCA is landmark health legislation that loudest was none other than his long-time was virtually unanimously supported by GOSPEL vice-mayor and confidante.

Towards the last both Houses of Congress, crafted through quarter of 2014 and in the JUDE next half of 2015, the collaboration of all cancer stakeholders the nation was fixated by a strip tease of ACIDRE to comprehensively address strategic gaps charges against the front-runner for president, in the country’s cancer control program. Its slowly melting his uber-high survey ratings.

ManilaStandard

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

So near and yet so far SO I SEE LITO BANAYO

B1

programs will make quality cancer care and treatment more accessible and affordable.

It aims to increase survivorship, reduce incidence, lessen mortality, morbidity and disabilities, and improve the well-being of patients, survivors, and their families.

Studies have also shown that cancer patients who get COVID-19 are 16 times more likely to be in the severe and critical categories, the Cancer Coalition of the Philippines said.

This is another piece of great legislation, but so far, since the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) were approved 12 months ago, there has been slow progress in its implementation. The all-important National Cancer Council mandated by the law to lead the implementation of its core programs has not even been organized.

This pandemic is most cruel to cancer patients. According to the recent statement of Cancer Coalition of the Philippines, cancer screening, cancer care and treatment has been disrupted due to non-availability of facilities or for fear of COVID-19 exposure. For the majority of cancer patients who lack financial capacity, treatments were discontinued because funding assistance were also halted. Another alarming development is a report of the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology that almost 74 percent of its members had cancer patients who either deteriorated or died because they were unable to seek urgent care in the hospital.

CCPh further stated: “This situation is now viewed by public health practitioners, oncologists and the cancer community both here and abroad, as a ‘ticking time bomb’ Following him, some four points behind is another mayor, the President’s daughter. Then comes the incumbent vice-president, Leni Robredo, likely the Liberal Party’s standard bearer, just about two points below Mayor Sara. And surprisingly, as if reprising their tight contest for the vice-presidency in 2016, former senator and former Ilocos Norte governor, Bongbong Marcos, a very close fourth.

And along comes the Pacman, the “pambansang kamao” turned politician, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, also a close fifth.

Altogether, the five frontrunners at this point in time, namely, Isko, Sara, Leni, Bongbong and Pacman ratchet up a total of some two-thirds of early electoral predispoSO sitions. The other third is divided, in small I SEE bite-size pieces, by other legislators and a LITO governor from Southern Tagalog, with 10 percent still undecided. BANAYO But these are early days. Quite near in time, but still too far from the public mind.

Surprises may yet emerge, as Rodrigo Duterte surprised everybody in the previous CROSSROADS presidential elections. Or the death of Cory Aquino brought forth the surprise J.A. presidency DELA CRUZ of her son, Noynoy, in 2010.

The tea leaves haven’t settled and the pot, which should be warming up at this time, is still too cold for any reading to be made.

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

or a ‘shadow curve’ that has not yet been recognized, but could well lead to large increases in diagnosis of advanced cancers, progression of disease, deaths, unnecessary complications, and disabilities. Studies have also shown that patients with cancer who get COVID-19, are 16x more likely to be in the severe and critical categories.”

As convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines, we strongly support the call of CCPh’s appeal to legislators, “as mandated in the law, that a budgetary line item and adequate funding for the implementation of the programs under the NICCA be institutionalized in the Government Appropriations Act.” The cancer stakeholders are asking for starter funds for the Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF) as the NICCA mandates and needs fast action now that the traditional sources of medical assistance for cancer patients such as the PCSO was discontinued.

Cognizant of the government’s priority to overcome this virus from Wuhan, this petition sensibly but urgently seeks support so that cancer patients can catch-up with urgent life-saving procedures and treatments.

Based on the proposed DOH budget, cancer stakeholders have reason to worry and the impetus to call out what I feel is a tragic abandonment of cancer patients and their families. There is no line item for the Cancer Assistance Fund, the DOH proposed budget for cancer access program is P137 million which would help only a nominal number of breast and childhood cancer patients.

In solidarity with the CCPh, we call our representatives in Congress, now exercising their power of the purse, to “again show your compassion and concern for cancer patients by ensuring that there are adequate funds allocated for full implementation of all the critical components of this law.”

DOH 2018 data reported 110,000 new cases diagnosed yearly and the death toll from cancer for both adults and children is about 66,000 Filipinos per year. We know that we must win this virus war first but at the very least, the appropriations for NICCA should be institutionalized in the GAA.

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Education is key to full recovery NAKED NAKED THOUGHT THOUGHT CHARLIE CHARLIEV.V. MANALO MANALO

Iloilo bids goodbye to its “dark ages” THE FIFTH GOSPEL TO THE JUDE POINT ACIDRE EMIL P. JURADO

Strike 2 on Harry Roque

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CESAR BARRIQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

US accuses China of escalating tit-for-tat T HE US called a decision by Beijing to impose restrictions on all American diplomats on Chinese soil an “escalation,” the latest rebuke in an ongoing titfor-tat dispute over foreign missions.

Relations between the world’s top two economies have deteriorated in recent months, with both sides locked in fierce recriminations over trade disputes, human rights and the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Friday, China announced “reciprocal restrictions” against US diplomats, days after Washington announced new restrictions on staff working for Beijing’s foreign missions.

Beijing said that the unspecified countermeasures will apply to all US embassy and consulate staff, including the consulate-general in Hong Kong and its personnel, and called the move a “legitimate and necessary response.”

But the US said Saturday that the Chinese measures went further than anything it had done.

A State Department spokesperson who spoke on condition of anonymity said Beijing’s move was an “escalation,” citing the targeting of its representative in Hong Kong and restrictions on Chinese citizens meeting with Americans in the form of a “new meeting pre-notification requirement.”

“These notification requirements now include American citizens with no affiliation to the US government.

We have no such requirement for PRC citizens,” the spokesperson said, using the acronym for the People’s Republic of China.

The dispute over foreign missions flared up in July when Washington ordered the closure of the Chinese consulate in Houston, prompting Beijing to shutter the American presence in Chengdu.

The battle over diplomatic outposts is only one front in an escalating confrontation between the US and China.

Washington has imposed sanctions on officials accused of help-

ing orchestrate China’s mass internment of Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities in the country’s Xinjiang region, a program that has prompted a global human rights outcry.

Last month it blacklisted officials it accused of suppressing “freedom and democratic processes” in Hong Kong, after the imposition of a national security law aimed at quelling civil unrest in the financial hub.

The move prompted China to issue its own sanctions against several prominent Americans.

President Donald Trump has also provoked a furious reaction from Chinese officials by blaming Beijing for the global spread of the coronavirus And Washington has additionally accused Chinese tech firms and platforms – from Huawei to TikTok – of working in the interests of the Chinese Communist Party.

Beijing denied on Friday it was attempting to meddle in the upcoming US presidential election after tech giant Microsoft said it thwarted cyberattacks from overseas groups – including from China. AFP

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

Old debt (Old CAPEX amortization)

DAVAO ORIENTAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (DORECO), Applicant. x-----------------------------------------------------------------x

ERC Permit Fee, Php

Promulgated:

Total Cash Outflows, Php

August 24, 2020 Cash Balance Ending, Php, excess/(shortfall)

NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING

Excess/(Shortfall) on RFSC, Php/kWh

Notice is hereby given that on 10 March 2020, Davao Oriental Electric Cooperative, Inc. (DORECO) filed an Application dated 27 January 2020 seeking the Commission’s approval of its emergency Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) project in the purchase and installation of a new 10MVA transformer for Baganga Substation.

The pertinent provisions of the said Application are hereunder quoted as follows: 1.

DORECO is a non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative, duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office at Madang National Highway, Barangay Central, City of Mati, Davao Oriental;

2.

It holds an exclusive franchise issued by the National Electrification Commission, to operate an electric light and power distribution service in Mati City and certain municipalities of the province of Davao Oriental, namely: San Isidro, Governor Generoso, Lupon, Banay-Banay, Tarragona, Manay, Caraga, Baganga, Cateel and Boston.

LEGAL BASES FOR THE APPLICATION Pursuant to Republic Act No. 9136, ERC Resolution 26, Series of 2009 and other laws and rules, and in line with its mandate to provide safe, quality, efficient and reliable electric service to its consumers, DORECO submits the instant application for the Honorable Commission’s confirmation and approval of its Emergency Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Project, namely: Purchase of New 10 MVA Power Transformer for Baganga Substation.

STATEMENT OF FACTS Sometime on October 9, 2019 at around 8:03 P.M., the head of the Substation Evaluation and Substation Tending Section of DORECO received a report regarding power interruption of SF6 Circuit Breaker which has detected a fault current, thereby causing an abrupt breakdown of the 5MVA Power Transformer of Baganga Substation, resulting in total power outage in the municipalities of Baganga and Caraga, and some areas in the municipality of Manay.

5.

Immediately thereafter, DORECO’s technical personnel performed a series of tests on the 5MVA power transformer to determine the cause of the detected faults. After the final testing with the assistance of the technical personnel from Asiaphil Energy Solutions, Inc.,it was confirmed that the power transformer was damaged.

6.

The personnel who performed the tests recommended the replacement of the damaged power transformer which has likewise already reached its economic life.

7.

Hence, the emergency capital expenditure project subject of the instant application.

8.

The project subject of the instant application involves the Purchase and Installation of a New 10 MVA Power Transformer for Baganga Substation.

9.

There is an urgent need to replace the damaged 5MVA power transformer at Banganga Substation and at the same time upgrade its power transformer to 10MVA, to ensure efficiency and stability of the delivery of power supply to the three municipalities served by the substation, namely: Baganga, Caraga and Manay, ensure the safety of the substation, and farther meet the growing demand in the covered municipalities in the years to come.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

PROJECT JUSTIFICATION

10. This project will also serve power to two more municipalities, Cateel and Boston, in case of maintenance or unexpected interruption of the Cateel Substation.

PROJECT SCHEDULE 11. The project was commenced on December 1, 2019 and completed by December 20, 2020.

12. The cost of the purchase and installation of a brand new 10MVA Power Transformer for Baganga Substation is Twelve Million Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP12,200,000.00).

FINANCING PLAN 13. The project is financed through a loan from the Rural Electrification Financing Corp. (REFC).

Amortization of the loan is computed based on a 7.25% interest rate per annum payable in five (5) years.

RATE IMPACT 14. The table below shows that DORECO’s projected collections of Reinvestment Fund for Sustainable Capital Expenditure (RFSC) is insufficient to cover the annual capital project cost and loan amortizations of the cooperative in 2021 and 2022 after implementation of the project. RFSC collections will be able to cope with the annual loan amortizations only by year 2023, as shown below: 2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

TOTAL

135,826,677

143,467,238

151,330,442

159,342,780

167,450,167

757,417,304

29,224,710.23

55,992,617.50

3,328,247.75

(137,416.51)

(913,098.54)

87,495,060.42

45,601,090.27

48,166,255.81 50,806,169.29 53,496,15153 56,218,044.57

254,287,711.47

CASH INFLOWS Current Year Collection @ Php 0.3534/ kWh @ 95% Loan Proceeds (CAPEXRegular), Php Loan Proceeds (CAPEXEmergency), Php

151,000,000.00

12,200,000.00

151,000,000.00

12,200,000.00

Government Subsidy (if any), Php Total Cash Inflows, Php Available Cash for disbursement

2,916,194.52

2,916,194.52

91,500.00

91,500.00

217,589,001.42 54,271,833.56 54,271,833.56 54,271,833.56 445,679,309.24

55,992,617.50

3,328,247.75

(137,416.51)

(913,098.54)

1,033,112.46

59,303,462.65

0.4122

0.0232

(0.0009)

(0.0057)

0.0062

0.0783

REQUIREMENTS 15. Finally, in compliance with the documentary as well as profiling requirements under ERC Resolution 26, Series of 2009 and the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, respectively, the following documents are being submitted herewith to form integral parts hereof, as follows, to wit:

57,801,090.27

199,166,255.81 50,806,169.29 53,496,151.53 56,218,044.57

4i7,487,711.47

87,025,800.50

255,158,873.31 54,134,417.05 53,358,735.02 55,304,946.02 504,982,771.89

Markings

Nature of Document

Annex “A”

Executive Summary of the Emergency Capital Expenditure Project

Annexes Proof of furnishing of copies of the Application to the Sangguniang Panlungsod “B”and series of Mati City and Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Davao Oriental Annexes “C” and series

Proof of publication of the Application in a newspaper of general circulation in DORECO’s franchise area or where it principally operates.

PRAYER

WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission that after due notice and hearing, DORECO’s Emergency Capital Expenditure Project: Purchase and Installation of New 10 MVA Power Transformer for Baganga Substation, be confirmed and approved accordingly.

Other reliefs, just and equitable in the premises are likewise prayed for.

The Commission has set the instant Application for the determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, pre-trial conference, and presentation of evidence on 01 October 2020 (Thursday) at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.), through a virtual hearing using the Zoom Application as the online platform for the conduct thereof.

Due to the continuous threat to public health and safety brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Commission deemed it necessary to conduct and convene the virtual hearing through video conferencing, subject to certain limitations as set forth herein.

ACCORDINGLY, DORECO is hereby directed to host the virtual hearing at DORECO’s Main Office in Madang National Highway, Barangay Central, Mati City, Davao Oriental, as the designated venue for the conduct thereof, and ensure that the same is open to the public and that the community quarantine guidelines are observed at all times. Moreover, DORECO shall guarantee that, during the conduct of the expository presentation, the participation of the public shall not be impaired.

Any interested stakeholder may submit its comments and/or clarifications at least one (1) calendar day prior to the scheduled virtual hearing, via electronic mail (e-mail) at records@erc.gov.ph and records.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal.erc.gov.ph@gmail. com. The Commission shall give priority to the stakeholders who have duly submitted their respective comments and/or clarifications, to discuss the same and propound questions during the course of the expository presentation.

Moreover, all persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission via e-mail at records@erc.gov.ph and records.erc.gov.ph@ gmail.com, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com, a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) calendar days prior to the date of the initial virtual hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1)

The petitioner’s name, mailing address, and e-mail address;

2)

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

PROJECT COST

Cash Balance beginning, Php excess/(shortiall)

31,033,183.00

20,312,456.04

SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTARY AND PRE-FILING

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

Forecasted Energy Sales, kWh

20,312,456.04

New Amortization (CAPEXEmergency), Php

ERC CASE NO. 2020-010 RC

4.

31,043,183.00 54,271,833.56 54,271,833.56 54,271,833.56 224,891,866.68

New Amortization (CAPEXRegular), Php

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR CONFIRMATION AND APPROVAL OF EMERGENCY CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PROJECT, NAMELY: PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF NEW 10MVA POWER TRANSFORMER FOR BAGANGA SUBSTATION

3.

31,033,183.00

ART IMITATES LIFE. An elderly pedestrian wearing a face mask due to the COVID-19 pandemic walks past a graffiti depicting subjects within famous artworks – such as Edvard Munch’s The Scream – but wearing masks, in Glasgow after the Scottish government imposed fresh restrictions on the city after an rise in cases of the novel coronavirus. AFP

3) A statement of the relief desired.

Likewise, all other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may likewise file through e-mail at records@erc,gov.ph and records. erc,gov,ph@gmail.com, their Opposition or Comment thereon at least five (5) calendar days prior to the initial virtual hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1)

The name, mailing address, and e-mail address of such person;

2)

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

3)

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicant that they be furnished with the same prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, through any of the available modes of service, upon their agreement, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours. In the alternative, those persons who wish to have an electronic copy of the Application may request the Commission for the e-mail addresses of the Applicant by sending an e-mail to records@erc.gov.ph and records.erc.gov.ph@ gmail.com, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com. Nonetheless, any person may also access the Application as posted by the Commission in its official website at www. erc.gov.ph.

Finally, all interested persons may be allowed to join the scheduled initial virtual hearing by providing the Commission, thru legal.virtualhearings.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com, with their respective e-mail addresses and indicating therein the case number of the instant Application. The Commission will send the access link/s to the aforementioned hearing platform within five (5) working days prior to the scheduled hearing.

WITNESS, the Honorable Commissioners ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN, CATHERINE P. MACEDA, FLORESINDA G. BALDO-DIGAL, and MARKO ROMEO L. FUENTES, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 12th day of August 2020 in Pasig City.

FOR AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION:

CASH OUTFLOWS CAPEX Requirement -Regular

185,267,292.00

185,267,292.00

CAPEX Requirement -Emergency (BGASS)’

12,200,000.00

12,200,000.00

AGNES VST DEVANADERA Chaikwerson and CEO

M. Standard – Sept. 7 & 14, 2020

IN BRIEF Ex-Ghosn aide goes on trial THE lengthy saga of ex-Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn takes a new turn next week when the auto titan-turned-fugitive’s former assistant Greg Kelly goes on trial in Tokyo.

Ghosn’s arrest in the Japanese capital in November 2018 on allegations of financial misconduct made headlines worldwide and kicked off an astonishing fall from grace for the businessman, once hailed as a corporate saviour for rescuing Nissan from the brink of bankruptcy.

But Kelly was also detained that day, having been effectively lured back to Japan from the United States on the premise of an urgent meeting.

And with Ghosn in Lebanon as an international fugitive after he made an audacious escape while out on bail in Tokyo last year, Kelly is now the only person expected to face trial any time soon in connection with the case.

The American lawyer appears in court from Tuesday facing a single charge: of conspiring to under-report tens of million of dollars in pay that Ghosn was allegedly promised after his retirement.

Kelly, who will turn 64 on the day the trial opens, denies any wrongdoing. He faces up to 10 years in jail if convicted. AFP

Russia holds regional polls RUSSIANS on Sunday voted in regional polls overshadowed by the poisoning of main opposition leader Alexei Navalny, an economic crisis exacerbated by the coronavirus and major protests in some regions.

In 41 of the country’s regions, Russians are voting for regional governors and assemblies as well as in four by-elections for national MPs and other polls.

Coming a year ahead of parliamentary elections, the vote will be seen as a key test of the Kremlin’s electoral machine amid simmering public anger over falling incomes and economic trouble.

Tatyana Stanovaya, head of the R.Politik analysis firm, said the results of the polls will help the Kremlin determine whether the unpopular ruling party United Russia needs to be reformed and if parliamentary elections should be pushed forward.

Navalny’s poisoning could also influence voters and bring about “contradictory effects,” Stanovaya told AFP. After he was evacuated from Siberia to Berlin, German doctors said Navalny had been poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent.

His associates believe the use of the banned chemical weapon shows only the Russian state could be responsible.AFP

‘Superfungus’ vs. golden frogs COCOONED from the outside world, some 200 critically endangered golden frogs are living a sheltered existence in Panama, protected from a devastating fungus that threatens to wipe out a third of the country’s amphibian species—a situation scientists describe as “critical.”

The frogs, which are yellow or gold with black spots, enjoy a controlled environment inside fish tanks installed at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), a 465-square-meter facility in Gamboa, north of Panama City.

Though endemic to the lush Central American country, no Panamanian golden frog can be seen in its natural habitat, threatened as it is by the chytrid fungus—a so-called “superfungus”—that has decimated amphibians in the wild.

According to a report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) published this week, the planet has lost more than two-thirds of its vertebrates in less than 50 years.

The situation is especially dire in the tropical areas of Central and South America, where the extent of loss is pegged at 94 percent.

Believed extinct in the wild, only about 1,500 of the tiny Panamanian golden frogs are found in zoos where they can reproduce.

But it is not only frogs that are vulnerable to the fungus. Toads, salamanders and caecilians —limbless amphibians similar to snakes--are also at risk. AFP

Business With limited travel, plane cafes a big hit in Thailand BANGKOK—With millions around the world stuck at home due to the pandemic, “plane cafes” in Thailand are offering customers the chance to pretend they are in the sky—and the idea seems to have taken off.

On board a retired commercial airplane in the coastal city of Pattaya, coffee drinkers make themselves comfy on first-class-style seats and pose for photos by the overhead lockers.

Boarding passes in hand, some “passengers” even opt for a tour of the cockpit.

“With this cafe I can sit in first class and also mess around in the cockpit pretending to be the captain of the plane,” 26-year-old Thipsuda Faksaithong told AFP. “It’s a lot of fun.”

Chalisa Chuensranoi, 25, said her visit was as good as any trip she had taken before the pandemic, which shuttered Thailand’s borders in March.

“Sitting right here in the first-class section... really gives me the feeling of actually being on a plane, cruising through the air,” she said.

In another cafe at the headquarters of national carrier Thai Airways in Bangkok, hungry diners appear even to have missed plane food as they gobble up spaghetti carbonara and Thaistyle beef served on plastic trays by cabin crew.

But for Intrawut Simapichet, 38, who came to the cafe with his wife and baby, the experience is about more than a meal.

“Normally I’m a person who travels very often, and when we are forced to stay at home... it’s kind of depressing,” he said as fellow passengers posed with luggage by a fake airplane door. “(The cafe) relieves what’s missing.”

Thailand was the first country outside China to detect a coronavirus case, but it has since registered a low toll, with about 3,400 infections and 58 deaths.

Travel restrictions have nevertheless eviscerated the tourism-reliant economy, while Thais have founded themselves stuck due to quarantine requirements in other countries.

The government is currently mulling travel bubbles with select countries that also have low tolls. AFP

B3

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market may trade past 6,000

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

HARE prices at the Philippine Stock Exchange will likely track a sideways movement this week with an upward bias on improving sentiments as the government moves to reopen the economy further.

Analysts said investors were merely waiting for positive catalysts that would support expectations the economy is indeed on the way to recovery before plunging into the equities market.

“Although narrowing trading bands can mean many things from a technical standpoint, it is most commonly of ‘indecisiveness,’ that is the market is left wanting for a ‘shove’ strong enough to break out from the current trend,” said online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia. com.

“Caution is therefore warranted, especially with the catalysts in the near term not particularly inspiring of a run above the 6,500,” it added.

Among these near term catalysts are third-quarter

corporate earnings and the Monetary Board policy meeting scheduled late this month.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week advanced 3.2 percent to 5,967.96 on bargain hunting and stock positioning as the government continues to open the economy.

Except for mining and oil which ended flat, all sector indices ended in the positive territory. The property index led gainers with a 3.7-percent increase, holding firms rose 3.6 percent, while industrial climbed 3.3 percent.

Foreign investors were net sellers for the week P2.1 billion, while the average daily value traded stood at P5.9 billion from the previous week’s average of P4.7 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were Philippine National Bank, which jumped 21 percent to P23.90; AC Energy Philippines Inc., which advanced 17.8 percent to P3.18; and Eagle Cement which climbed 14.8 percent to P14.22.

Weekly top price losers were Anchor Land Holdings Inc., which dropped 17.1 percent to P7.04; 8990 Holdings Inc., which declined by 4.5 percent to P7.34; and Filinvest Land Inc., which fell 4.3 percent to P0.89.

World stock markets, meanwhile, were mixed Friday as European traders mulled over Britain’s increasingly acrimonious war dance with the EU, while in the United States technology shares continued to pull back.

Sterling remained under pressure as Britain sparred with Brussels, rejecting an ultimatum to withdraw controversial Brexit legislation but agreeing to extend talks next week.

On the plus side for British industry, a stuttering currency―which hauled itself off multi-month midweek lows―has been helping to boost share prices of index multinational’s earnings in dollars.

Those increases helped London’s FTSE index gain ground on Friday.

After Thursday’s sterling selloff, the pound was stable on Friday amid news the British economy expanded 6.6 percent―albeit still well off pre-coronavirus levels.

“Ultimately UK investors will probably thank the UK government for pushing down sterling and allowing the FTSE the room to recover 6000 (points),” said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG. With AFP

Kyala Brown (right) and her husband Danny Benjamin have lunch with their sons Levi Benjamin-Brown, 5, and Luca BenjaminBrown, 2, at their new home in El Cerrito, California on September 11, 2020. Brown’s family previously lived in San Francisco but recently moved to the East Bay in order to be closer to family because of COVID-19 and babysitting needs.

AFP

PSEi September 11, 2020

TOP GAINERS

San Francisco tech workers moving to other US areas

By Julie Jammot SAN FRANCISCO―Real estate agent Kilby Stenkamp sees moving vans on San Francisco streets where she used to see building cranes and tech company hipsters.

A work-from-home trend kicked into overdrive by the pandemic is disrupting a city long a mecca for tech talent.

“People are leaving San Francisco, and they’re taking their jobs with them,” Stenkamp said.

“There used to be cranes in the landscape, now it’s U-Haul trucks.”

Tech workers who flocked to San Francisco to be near Google, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and other internet firms are moving to parts of the US where life is slower and the cost of living cheaper.

Tech titans are encouraging the trend.

PATRICK DAVID CENON

Green Light THE TV series “I Should Not Be Alive” invites survivors to narrate how they overcame the odds in life-threatening survival situations like being trapped on a mountain cliff, being lost in a jungle, or being adrift at sea. After watching over a dozen episodes, I realized that there are valuable lessons that we can learn from their survival experience.

Here are some of the salient lessons which you may find useful in business and management as we try to make it through the COVID-19 pandemic.

1) Do not panic and control your emotions.

There comes the point when the survivors realize that they are in a bad situation, and they may not be able to make it out alive. They often feel fear and hopelessness about their situation. However, many of them made a conscious effort to control their emotions. Once they have placed their emotions in check, it was easier for them to think logically, consider their options, develop a plan, and take action that could save their lives. This lesson helps us make good business decisions. Take time to reflect so that your decisions are driven by facts and strong business logic rather than emotions like fear, anger or frustration.

2) Think logically and develop a plan. Survivors based their strategies and decisions on known facts, which helped them set objectives and manage risks. Having a plan kept them focused and guided them in making decisions and allocating resources.

This lesson reminds us to make plans or business decisions based on facts. This will also help us evaluate and manage the risks associated with each potential course of action. Having a plan will help us prioritize and respond to business challenges appropriately.

3) Focus your energy and resources to solve one problem at a time. It is easy to be overwhelmed when we are faced with many pressing items at the same time. Most of the survivors were confronted with many urgent problems. However, their physical condition or limited resources could only allow

Facebook is changing its hiring practices to recruit talent far and wide instead of needing workers to live near campuses.

The social networking giant said it even might save money, since it adjusts the pay for positions based on local cost of living.

Back in March, San Francisco became one of the first US cities to implement restrictions of moving around for work, school and other activities.

Nearly six months later, life shows little sign of returning to the way it was before the pandemic, causing some residents to question whether to stay.

“Once upon a time, a reason why we wouldn’t have wanted to move was because we had friends who had kids the same age as ours and we saw them all the time,” said consultant Kyla Brown, who left the city for a town about 25 ki-

lometers (16 miles) away.

“Practicality right now was the number one priority; social life has all gone down the drain thanks to Covid.”

The family moved closer to Brown’s parents for babysitting needs, and work is done by telecommute.

Move bytes not atoms Twitter and online work collaboration tech firm Slack have announced employees can work from home indefinitely.

Online bulletin board Pinterest announced recently that it spent $90 million to cancel a lease for more Silicon Valley office space, saying it will stick with its current San Francisco offices.

“As we analyze how our workplace will change in a post-Covid world, we are specifically rethinking where future employees could be based,” said Pinterest head of business operations Todd Morgenfeld.AFP

TOP LOSERS

Lessons in Survival them to attend to the most urgent and important issue. By prioritizing issues, they were able to focus their energy and allocate their resources effectively to solve the most urgent and important problem.

This lesson calls our attention to the way we manage our time, energy and resources. Focusing on the most critical and vital problem may be more effective instead of trying to solve several trivial problems at the same time.

4) If one solution does not work, try a different solution. It was an eye-opener to see how simple tasks become complicated when you are in a survival situation. Conventional approaches were not possible and did not yield the expected results.

Survivors began thinking of solutions to solve their problems. If a solution did not work, they thought of another solution and began trying it to check if it was effective. After numerous attempts, they eventually find a solution that solves their problem. This lesson invites us to unleash our creativity when finding business solutions. Trying new ideas and new ways of doing things can help us find solutions to help improve our situation.

5) Take action and keep moving. In a survival situation, things are likely to get worse before they get better. As soon as they assessed their situation and developed a plan, all of them decided to take action to achieve their survival objectives. Taking action in a survival situation is not always easy because of many factors like physical injuries, bad weather, fear and a lack of motivation. Survivors had to muster the courage and strength to make difficult decisions and take calculated risks. By taking action, survivors took control of their fate instead of letting circumstances dictate the outcome of their ordeal. This lesson encourages us to keep moving despite the challenging business situation. Progress may be slow but take consolation in the fact that you are taking a step towards the right direction.

By taking action, you take control of your destiny instead of being a victim of circumstance.

6) Help and support each other. In some of the survival situations, survivors had to work together and support each other to survive. There were times

during the ordeal when one person was physically injured and had to rely on his friend for support.

There were times when one person would lose hope, but his friend would give him words of encouragement to help him persevere and survive. This lesson reminds us to find ways to help and support each other. It may be an excellent opportunity to explore ways to collaborate with others. When possible, consider supporting other stakeholders like customers, employees, and suppliers.

7) Never lose your will to fight and survive.

Despite having physical injuries, limited resources, and harsh conditions, most survivors had with them a strong reason to survive during their ordeal. They thought about their family and the things they still wanted to accomplish in life. They also made a conscious effort to remain optimistic and maintain a positive attitude. This gave them a reason to live and strengthened their resolve to survive their ordeal. This lesson encourages us not to give up. Use this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of your business. Reflect on the purpose of our business and what your products and services mean to your customers and society.

I hope that the lessons I shared in this article give you a sense of hope by highlighting the fact that people have survived difficult situations and have overcome harrowing odds. There are no guarantees of success, but we can always give our best effort in taking control of our life, career and business to increase our chances of surviving during trying times.

Patrick David Cenon is an Assistant Professorial Lecturer at De La Salle University. He teaches undergraduate and graduate subjects in the Behavioral Sciences Department, College of Liberal Arts and the Marketing and Advertising Department of the Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business. Before joining DLSU, he worked for Toyota for over 13 years, supporting various projects in the Philippines, Asia-Pacific and Europe regions. He can be contacted at patrick.cenon@ dlsu.edu.ph

MOST ACTIVE

Manila

Standard NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF MAGANDEST PROPERTY HOLDING, INC. TODAY

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that (i) on August 5, 2020, the members of the Board of Directors and the stockholders of MAGANDEST PROPERTY HOLDING, INC. (the “Corporation”) unanimously approved the dissolution of the Corporation and the amendment of its Articles of Incorporation shortening its corporate term up to September 30, 2020, and (ii) a copy of the said Amended Articles of Incorporation will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

All parties with valid objection/s to the dissolution of the Corporation are requested to present the same before the SEC within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

This announcement will serve as notice to all concerned of the dissolution of the Corporation.

[Laguna, Philippines] [ Sept. 10, 2020] (SGD) DESIDERIO M. CALIBA PRESIDENT (MS-SEPT. 14,21 & 28, 2020)

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

B4

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

Business

BPOs eye 10,000 tourism workers M

By Othel V. Campos

PSE INDEX

Thursday, September 11, 2020

65.57 PTS.

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE

1,111,602,778 68,640

4,176,031,102.16

ADVANCES 90

5,967.96

DECLINES 92 UNCHANGED 51

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.5790

Japan

Yen

0.009422

0.4577

UK

Pound

1.280800

62.2200

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129031

6.2682

Switzerland

Franc

1.098901

53.3835

Canada

Dollar

0.758323

36.8386

Singapore

Dollar

0.730087

35.4669

Australia

Dollar

0.725400

35.2392

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652238

128.843

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266624

12.9523

Brunei

Dollar

0.727431

35.3379

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000067

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.031949

1.5521

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.2267

Euro

Euro

1.182400

57.4398

Korea

Won

0.000842

0.0409

China

Yuan

0.146331

7.1086

India

Rupee

0.013618

0.6615

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.240269

11.6720

New Zealand

Dollar

0.664400

32.2759

Taiwan

Dollar

0.034171

1.6600

ORE than 10,000 jobs in the business process outsourcing industry will be made available to displaced tourism workers nationwide in a job fair this September, the Department of Tourism said over the weekend.

“The DOT is taking this as a timely blessing for affected tourism workers.

Our tour guides and frontline service providers certainly have an edge, especially those who speak foreign languages, as they find work in the BPO industry while tourism operations are still limited. Part-time jobs are also available, and have work-from-home arrangements in light of the new nor-

mal,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

The DOT and Concentrix will open positions for customer service representatives, technical support representatives, frontline/specialists, supervisors, trainers, managers and others for the human resources and recruitment, finance, IT and marketing sectors.

The virtual job fair “Mabuhay!

Partnership: Overcoming Adversities Through New Opportunities” will provide on-site and work from home jobs in light of the new normal.

“Both the tourism and the BPO industries are people-oriented. We believe in your talent and skills, and we know you will rise above this crisis through this new and exciting undertaking,” Puyat said.

Applicants should be at least high school graduates, can comfortably converse in English, possess good computer skills and problem solving skills with pleasant personality when faced with multiple concerns.

The hiring process will be completed in less than 24 hours after a series of online interviews and assessments. Hired applicants will be compensated while on training.

Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

TRB set to harmonize NLEX, TPLEX roads THE Department of Transportation, through the Toll Regulatory Board, plans to implement toll harmonization between North Luzon Expressway and Tarlac-Pangasinan La Union Expressway by the fourth quarter of 2020.

“We intent to start with NLEX and TPLex by last quarter of the year and we will be pushing for the others by 2021,” said TRB executive director of Abraham Sales.

Sales said TRB was in discussions with the San Miguel Group for the interoperability of its expressways in the north and south of Manila with other operators.

San Miguel operates Skyway, South Luzon Expressway, STAR Tollway and NAIAx, while MPTC runs Manila Cavity Expressway, C5 Link Expressway and Cavity Laguna Expressway.

The Toll Collection Interoperability project was launched in 2017 with the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the DOTr, the Department of Public Works and Highways, Land Transportation Office-Philippines, Toll Regulatory Board, San Miguel Group, Metro Pacific Group and the Ayala Group.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Aboitiz backs DTI call to use local products THE Aboitiz Group fully supports the appeal of the Department of Trade and Industry to prioritize the use of local materials in the administration’s Build, Build, Build (BBB) program to help jumpstart the economy and sustain jobs for Filipinos amid the health crisis.

Aboitiz, which is into cement manufacturing and property development, reiterated its support to government initiatives, boasting its capability to provide unhampered services, as well as competitive and quality products.

“As the country heals and slowly recovers from the current pandemic, the Aboitiz Group continues to look for ways to also address the economic impact of this health crisis. We will keep on investing resources to help the government fire up the economy through solutions and products that are proudly Filipino backed by global expertise,” said company president and chief executive officer Sabin Aboitiz.

“We envision a Philippines with strong and durable infrastructure that will serve Filipinos for generations to come,” he added.

The DTI has pushed for the use of local construction materials in BBB and other national and local infrastructure projects.

Othel V. Campos

LGU ASSISTANCE. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III (center) and Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Prospero de Vera (left) present surgical masks and personal protective equipment to Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro for use by front-liners in the city. The event, which held at the Animal Trail, Marikina River Park on Sept. 10, is part of CODE (Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic) Team’s visit to different local government units to get a first hand on the local situation and the interventions being implemented in the fight against COVID-19.

Toyota PH expanding automotive production this week TOYOTA Motor Philippines said it will expand vehicle production starting this week by returning to two-shift operations to catch up on improving demand and comply with the required production volume under the automotive incentives program.

TMP president Atsuhiro Okamoto said manufacturing was expected to return to original pace before the COVID-19 outbreak.

“By Sept. 14, we will start to see two shifts in Sta. Rosa. That means that our production volume, our production efficiency will return to normal, same as before the COVID pandemic,” he said during the launch of the improved Toyota Hilux over the weekend.

Okamoto said improved production would continue in October but the company

would decide either to maintain the current output or “play it by ear” in November, depending on the volume of demand.

He said demand for the Vios and Innova vehicles picked up, encouraging the company to operate in two shifts.

Toyota vice president for corporate affairs Rommel Gutierrez said the company saw the return to two-shift operations urgent to to catch up on missed opportunities for the Vios that were lost to the pandemic.

Vios was the enrolled model under Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy program.

“It has always been a challenge to meet the target volume requirement of the program. So what Toyota does of course in relation to employment is that we have to keep the current number of workers, so that we will continue to pro-

duce the Vios, and of course the Innova.

The current program is six years, and we are actually halfway. It is affected by the COVID-19, but we have to face the challenges,” he said.

“Of course we want government to extend the number of years of the CARS program because definitely we cannot comply with the volume requirement as originally said. That was set under normal circumstance at that time. But so many things have happened. It started from the introduction of the new excise tax, which affected the sales. Of course [came] the Taal Volcano eruption, and definitely the COVID-19. So as far as extension of the number of years of the CARS program is concerned, we definitely support that. In fact, we may have to ask that separately,” he said.

Villar’s AllHome notes rising sales HOME improvement and furniture retailer AllHome Corp., said sales of appliance and other essential remain strong despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic.

AllHome vice chairman Camille Villar reported a significant increase in sales in the company’s wide range of products despite the imposition of a modified enhanced community quarantine and general community quarantine.

“During the 2nd Quarter of this year, appliances contributed 40 percent of our sales, generated by our tactical pop-up stores placed near All Day Supermarkets. We recognized and capitalized on our AllValue retail ecosystem, of which AllHome is an integral part,” Villar said.

“As the country moved to a more relaxed GCQ, AllHome’s sales saw improvement, with shoppers resuming home projects and select businesses started reopening,” she added.

Because of the pandemic, Villar said shoppers had more time at home and that household incomes were diverted from travel and nonessential entertainment to renovations as well as passion projects. Jenniffer B. Austria

OIL TAXES. The Department of Finance collects over P129 billion in import duties and taxes from fuel products from Sept. 1, 2019 to Sept. 10, 2020 under the Fuel Marking Program. Some 12.321 billion liters of diesel, gasoline and kerosene were marked for taxation by the government during the period. Petron Corp. accounted for 2.842 billion liters or 23.07 percent of the total, followed by Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. with 2.528 billion liters or 20.52 percent, and Unioil Petroleum Philippines Inc. with 1.297 billion liters or 10.53 percent.

Japan Tobacco asks gov’t to impose on tougher penalties against cigarette smugglers JAPAN Tobacco International Philippines, the local unit of Japan Tobacco International, asked the government over the weekend to impose stiffer penalties against people or groups found involved in illicit tobacco trade.

JTI Philippines general manager John Freda said in a statement the problem of illegal trade in tobacco was a growing one and required more attention. He said while the government was striving hard to stamp out the problem, the situation required absolute vigilance.

“Illegal tobacco makers are directly stealing from the state. As legitimate businesses, we are a very effective tax collector and clearly we can’t do that if there is an illicit problem. Illegal trade cheats everyone―governments, consumers and legitimate businesses,” Freda said.

“In my previous role, I had seen situations where if the issue is not mitigated early, things can go badly wrong like Malaysia where over 60 percent of the cigarette market is illegal,” he said.

Freda said for a country with so many islands like the Philippines, it was a huge challenge to control the problem, but the deterrents needed to be stronger.

“Stiffer sanctions are required - we need to see people being caught and brought to justice in a way that deters others from being part of this criminal endeavor,” he said.

“The illegal tobacco trade is a feast for criminals who make huge profits often with very low risk of being caught and insignificant penalties. A lucrative business

indeed for anyone who has the logistics in place and can copy our products and import without paying the taxes, which is unacceptable,” Freda said.

Freda said with JTI products, quality was assured throughout all stages of sourcing, manufacturing, storage and distribution in full compliance with regulatory and legal requirements.

He said JTI’s factory in Batangas ensured that all products passed rigid quality checks before they were released in the market. Julito G. Rada

BIR, Customs exceeded new collection target for 8 months

By Julito G. Rada THE Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs raised P1.636 trillion in the first eight months, up 7.17 percent over the revised P1.527trillion target set by the interagency Development Budget Coordinating Committee.

Citing preliminary BIR and BOC data, the Department of Finance’s Revenue Operations Group said the two agencies collected P109.5 billion more than the revised collection goal set by the DBCC in July.

The DOF said the BIR collected P1.289 trillion in the first eight months, exceeding by P96.44 billion or 8.08 percent the DBCC target of P1.192 trillion for the period. It did not provide year-on-year comparisons.

The Customs collected P347.6 billion over the January-August period, which was P16.97 billion or 5.13 percent more than the DBCC target of P330.63 billion.

The BIR and BOC also exceeded their DBCC-set collection targets for August despite the curtailed economic activities in Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite and Rizal from Aug. 4 to 18, when these areas were placed under a strict modified enhanced community quarantine.

Combined collections of the BIR and BOC reached P216.65 billion in August, which was P61.38 billion or 39.53 percent more than the DBCC target of P155.27 billion for that month, the DoF said.

The BIR collected P172.06 billion in August, exceeding the DBCC target of P118.2 billion by 5.5 percent or P53.87 billion.

A total of P44.59 billion was collected by the BOC in August, topping the DBCC target of P33.68 billion by P10.9 billion or 32.58 percent.

The DOF reported earlier that budget deficit climbed by 86.21 percent in July to P140.2 billion from the P75.3-billion shortfall a year ago, as expenditures increased 10.4 percent and revenue collection dropped 11.2 percent during the month.

“The higher deficit for the month reflects the 10.40-percent growth in government expenditures, boosted by the implementation of various COVID-19 rehabilitation and recovery measures vis-à-vis an 11.22-percent drop in revenue collection,” the Treasury said in a statement.

Gov’t prohibits pork products from Germany THE Department of Agriculture over the weekend issued a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild pigs, pork products and by-products from Germany.

It said the ban was imposed after the confirmation of the first case of African Swine Fever in Schenkendöbern, Spree-Neiße, Brandenburg which affected wild boar, as reported

by Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (National Laboratory).

The official report was submitted on Sept. 10, 2020 by Dr. Dietrich Rassow, director for animal health and animal welfare and chief veterinary officer of the Directorate of Animal Health and Animal Welfare, Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Berlin, Germany, to the World Organization for Animal Health.

Aside from the temporary ban, Agriculture Secretary William Dar also issued an immediate suspension of the processing and evaluation of the application and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance to domestic and wild pigs, pork products and by-products from Germany.

The department said all shipments of pigs, pork and pork products from Germany to the Philippines would be confiscated by all DA-Bureau of Animal Industry veterinary quarantine officers at all major ports of entry.

The DA lifted on Sept. 7 the ban on poultry imports from Brazil after the Brazilian government presented coronavirus prevention measures.

Brazil earlier complained that the Philippine government committed trade violations for imposing the import ban on poultry meat without following the necessary and mandatory principles and steps under Article 5 of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. Othel V. Campos

Sports

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

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

Topex Robinson

BYE BYE HARDEN.

New coach will take over Lyceum Pirates hoop program A NEW coach will soon take over the Lyceum of the Philippines University’s basketball program.

School officials will decide in the coming days, following the appointment of Topex Robinson as head coach of the Phoenix Super LPG Fuelmasters last Friday.

Assistant coach Jeff Perlas would most likely take over as the next head coach and probably as Director of Basketball Operations of the Lyceum System.

“Wala pang appointment pero it will be one of his staff. Coach Topex will continue to be LPU’s consultant,” said LPU athletic director Hercules Callanta.

League rules in the Philippine Basketball Association prohibit head coaches from moonlighting as a coach for any other team out of the organization.

“They will have a meeting Topex and the officials of the school. Nagulat din kami sa pangyayari,” said Perlas.

Perlas has been Robinson’s deputy over the last five years.

The other deputies in the Pirates squad include Rommel Adducul, Gilbert Malabanan, Ricky Reyes and Kevin Lacap.

“We are still waiting for the management’s decision regarding this matter but if everything will fall into place I might be elevated to handle the team. Again no final decision yet but I’m ready,” said Perlas.

It was announced last Friday that Robinson will take over the post of Louie Alas, who was earlier suspended from his job at the Phoenix Super LPG Fuelmaster for 15 days.

Robinson was initially named to take over in an interim capacity, and as team officials anticipate the restart of games in the Philippine Basketball Association. Peter Atencio

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Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) tries to guard Los Angeles Lakers counterpart LeBron James (23) during Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex. The Lakers eliminated the Rockets to advance to the NBA Western Conference Finals. AFP

POC charter change talks to continue after election T

By Peter Atencio

ALKS on changes in the Philippine Olympic Committee constitution and bylaws will continue after the Nov. 27 elections.

POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said after the executive board convened in a virtual meeting over the weekend that no more amendments were discussed.

Discussions on the amendments was deferred during the meeting which instead focused on the creation of the election committee.

Members of the executive board are

keen on using the current charter of the POC. There were many proposals that have been discussed over the past months.

And the first to be approved is the age limit of 78 that will be imposed for leaders of national sports associations who are running for elective positions.

Another proposal that is being reviewed is that board members who

are elected will be limited to just two straight terms.

After that, anyone running for a post can do so after a four-year Olympic cycle.

The alterations in the charter will take effect after the November polls.

The POC election committee is to be composed of Atty. Teodoro Kalaw IV as chairman, with former International Olympic Committee representative Frank Elizalde and the chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Sports Eric Martinez.

The filing of the certificate of candidacy will be from Oct. 1 to 30 with the campaign period set to start on Nov. 1.

Osaka wants to continue campaign for racial justice

Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts in the third set during her Women’s Singles final match against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus at the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. AFP

NEW YORK, United States—Naomi Osaka said she wants to be known for more than just tennis, suggesting she will keep campaigning for racial justice after winning her third Grand Slam at the US Open Saturday (Sunday Philippine time).

Osaka, of Japanese and Haitian heritage, wore different masks honoring victims of systemic racism and police brutality in the United States in each of the tournament’s seven rounds.

The 22-year-old said thinking time during the coronavirus lockdown, which coincided with protests across the United States over the police killing of black man George Floyd, had led to her political awakening.

“I would definitely say it’s been an important few months,” Osaka told reporters after coming from a set down to beat Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“For me, my life was always go-go tennis-wise, especially after the previous US Open that I won (in 2018). It definitely accelerated things, and I’ve never had a chance to slow down.

“The quarantine definitely gave me a chance to think a lot about things – what I want to accomplish, what I want people to remember me by. I came into this tournament, or these two tournaments, with that mindset.”

Osaka first took an activist stance at the Western & Southern Open, a US Open tuneup event, when she threatened not to play her

semi-final match in protest at the police shooting of black man Jacob Blake in Wisconsin.

She said she was “sick to her stomach” and “exhausted” by repeated violence against black people by US police.

Her decision prompted the WTA and ATP to postpone all semi-final matches by a day, inspiring Osaka to change her mind and make herself available for the final.

Osaka’s move came after the Milwaukee Bucks led a historic boycott over the shooting, forcing the NBA to halt its playoff schedule and prompting a wave of walkouts across multiple sports.

She walked onto the court for her first match at the US Open wearing a mask bearing the name Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician who was killed when police shot her in her own apartment in March.

Osaka then donned face coverings honoring Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd and Philando Castile.

In Saturday’s final she honored Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old African-American boy who was shot dead by a white police officer in Cleveland, Ohio in 2014.

Boyfriend’s books During the tournament Osaka received video messages from Arbery’s father and Martin’s mother thanking her for her bringing worldwide attention to their stories.

She said Saturday that she would like to meet relatives of the victims. AFP

Guermalis introduced to running in high school FOR the Guermali brothers Said and Yacine, running was not among their hobbies back in the high school.

Playing basketball and tennis was their passion.

Said—whose father is of Morrocan descent and is into running—discovered his passion for the sport after he was asked to try running back in Portland, Oregon in his sophomore year.

“My coaches asked me to jump in.

And I just jumped in for fun,” said the 23-year-old Said when he recalled how he got into running.

Said and the 21-year-old Yacine, who are into middle and long distance running, recently talked about their love for running during Noli Eala’s Power @ Play podcast last Saturday.

“And I guess Yacine just jumped in after that,” added Said.

The Guermalis will soon train with the Philippine athletics team, and they specialize in middle and long distance running.

Officials of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association will be preparing them for their first international meet next year.

Patafa chief Philip Ella Juico said time is on their side. They have plenty of time after setting their sights on 2021 Vietnam SEA Games, the 2022 Asian Games in Giangzhao, the 2023 Sea Games in Phnom Penh and finally the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Their father, Adam, is upbeat about their capabilities.

“Adam considers it a great honor for the Guermalis to compete for the Philippines. He hopes his sons can train in Baguio,” said Juico.

The two were supposed to join the Philippine team during the 30th Southeast Asian Games. But, they were sidelined by injuries a few weeks before the Games.

The Guermalis have successfully joined events in the 800m, 1500m and 5000m distances.

Juico believes that the Guermalis will do well in the Vietnam SEA Games, with a 1-2 finish in the 1500-meters.

The existing SEA Games record in the 1500 is 4:06:53, and Said’s personal best time is 3:54:26, which je achieved in Portland on May 16, 2016. Peter Atencio

Waterson, Modafferi prevail at UFC Fight Night

By Reuel Vidal UFC veterans Michelle “Karate Hottie” Waterson and Roxanne “Happy Warrior” Modafferi posted hard-earned decision victories at UFC Fight Night at UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada yesterday morning.

Waterson trailed early but rallied in the latter rounds to eke out a split decision victory over Angela Hill.

Modafferi, on the other hand, earned a 29-28 result on all three judges to gain a unanimous decision victory over Andrea Lee. Modafferi relied on her strong grappling game to take down Lee several times through their threeround fight to earn the convincing victory.

Despite the close decision Waterson said she had no doubt of the victory after rallying late and controlling the fight starting in the third round.

“I was confident but you know, we talk about this the whole time leading up to the

fight, you never want to leave it to the judges. I got another split decision. That doesn’t leave a good feeling in your stomach, you know,” Waterson said.

Waterson showed up during the post-fight press conference with bruises all over her face and big welts just above her left eye and on the left side of her lip. She was all smiles during the interview saying she didn’t mind getting beat up as long as she won.

“It’s the new eye shadow color. Black on purple. Every time you take damage and get a victory, it doesn’t hurt. So I’m happy to come home with the victory,” she said.

Waterson trailed early but dug deep into her reserve to rally late in the fight to pull out the hard-earned victory. Starting in the third Waterson consistently moved just outside the reach of Hill’s power shots while connecting on her own strikes from long range.

“I think for me, honestly, it was just adjust-

ment within a couple of inches. You know just being a little further back in reserve. Trying to fight on the outskirts versus biting down, sitting in a little bit deeper and intruding on her space.

Just deciding, ‘alright let’s to go forward,’ ” said Waterson who was clearly in her element in the latter rounds. She even managed to smile during the exchanges while taking damage.

“It’s a fight. This is what we love to do. I think everybody has that within themselves.

It’s like fight or flight. I always remember being in the sport of karate and getting kicked in the face, seeing the blood come down my face and not wanting to retreat and actually wanting to move forward. Sometimes, you just have to get hit to feel that way. ‘Alright, let’s go. This is a fight,’ ” said Waterson.

“After the third round I feel the tide has changed. I felt like I was the aggressor. I was the one in her face, pushing the pace and landing the hard shots.”

UFC veteran Roxanne Modafferi celebrates as she enters the Octagon in this file photo of her fight against Maycee Barber at UFC 246-McGregor versus Cerrone on January 18, 2020. AFP

Sports

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Messi plays 45 minutes in Barca friendly victory

Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (center) challenges Nastic´s defense during a friendly football match between FC Barcelona and Nastic at the Johan Cruyff stadium in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona. AFP

MADRID—Lionel Messi started and played 45 minutes in Barcelona’s first pre-season friendly on Saturday as Ronald Koeman showed no hesitation in reintegrating the Argentinian.

Barca beat third tier side Gimnastic Tarragona 3-1, with Ousmane Dembele opening the scoring on his first appearance since November.

Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho, who was also returning after his loan spell at Bayern Munich, then each scored penalties, either side of Javier Bonilla pulling one back for the visitors.

But Messi’s return at the Johan Cruyff Stadium was perhaps the biggest plus for Koeman, who was taking charge of his first game since being appointed coach last month.

Messi also led the team out wearing the armband after Barcelona had confirmed earlier on Saturday that he will continue as captain this season.

Both club and player appear keen to put on a united front, at least for now, ahead of their return to La Liga later this month.

After condemning the board last week and admitting he had been forced to stay, Messi arrived early on Monday for his return to pre-season training

and worked on the squad’s days off in a bid to catch up.

Koeman, meanwhile, said last month he only wanted players who wanted to be at Barcelona but he was full of praise for Messi on Friday, calling him “the best”, and backed that up in his first team selection.

Messi played 45 minutes as part of Koeman’s plan to field two different lineups in each half.

Yet his starting front three of Messi, Griezmann and Dembele looked suspiciously like a first-choice attack, with Dembele making his first appearance since he tore his hamstring nine months ago.

Koeman also handed starts to youngsters Carles Alena and Pedri in midfield while Jordi Alba, Clement Lenglet, Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto formed a familiar back four, ahead of Neto, who is standing in for the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal.

New signing Francisco Trincao, Coutinho, Frenkie de Jong and 19-yearold American international Konrad de la Fuente were among those to come on for the second half.

There was no place in the squad for either Luis Suarez or Arturo Vidal, who have both been told they can leave. AFP

Esports group appeals to POC T

HE National Electronic Sports Federation of the Philippines has asked the Philippine Olympic Committee to reconsider its decision to accept as member any group claiming legitimacy as the national sports association for esports until after the International Olympic Committee recognizes an international federation for the sport.

NESFP President Ramon Suzara sent POC President Rep. Abraham Tolentino a meticulously detailed letter stressing that the IOC has yet to name an IF for esports and that the NESFP—and not the PESO—has a lock as the NSA for the sport for having organized and managed the competition and selected and trained gold medal-winning athletes in the 30th Southeast Asian Games, where esports was played as a medal sport for the first time in the Games.

“On behalf of the NESFP, I urgently seek a reconsideration of your decision to accredit the Philippine eSports Orga-

nization as an associate member NSA for electronic sports instead of NESFP,” Suzara said in the letter dated September 2.

The POC, in a virtual General Assembly last August 29, accepted the PESO as member –upon the recommendation of Membership Committee head Bones Floro—on the contention that the PESO is affiliated with the International Esports Federation (IESF), which claims IOC recognition.

Suzara said the IESF is neither recognized by the IOC nor is it on the list of the Global Association of International Sports Federations.

“This clearly does not comply with the captioned requirement under POC Membership Rules,” he said.

The NESFP, on the other hand, enjoys the sanction of the Global Esports Federation and its continental confederation, the Asian Esports Federation.

The AESF, Suzara stressed, is also the Olympic Council of Asia’s partner, having received the authority to manage esports as a demonstration sport in the 2018 Indonesia Asian Games.

Suzara requested the POC to revisit the hierarchy of recognition when an IOC-affiliated IF is non-existent.

“The contention is now between one NSA recognized by an IF candidate [PESO], and one NSA recognized by the AF [Asian federation], by the OCA, and by another IF candidate [NESFP],” Suzara said. Once again, in a scenario where two IFs are in contention, the general succession or hierarchy would place the AF to prevail in deciding upon the NF. In this case, NESFP clearly car-

ries all the credentials.”

Suzara also took notice in the letter the absence of any action or correspondence by the POC to numerous letters and attempts by his group to discuss why the NESFP should be a member of the organization.

“Despite several attempts and methods to communicate with the POC, the NESFP has been unable to receive any action,” Suzara said.

“The initial letters and/or emails were transmitted weeks before the pandemic struck, and therefore, would have merited any form of reply from the POC Membership Committee or the POC Secretariat.”

“There is no factual and legal basis for the accreditation of PESO as a POC member. But with the documents the NESFP have presented—and given its experience and outstanding performance in the conduct of the 2019 SEA Games—the NESFP is unquestionably the one eligible for accreditation by the POC,” Suzara said.

Valientes MLV is 1st all-pro team in Zamboanga City THE Zamboanga City MLV Valientes will finally experience playing for a prestigious professional homegrown league in the Philippines.

Owned by Rolando “Junnie” Navarro Jr., the Zamboanga City MLV Valientes are so excited to play in the National Basketball League after turning professional last Wednesday, with the recognition given by the Games and Amusements Board, under its chairman Abraham Mitra.

“The Valientes will always be there for Zamboangueños, win or lose. We want Zamboangueños to play, we know Zamboangueños are good players, we already proved that in National PRISAA when Zamboanga won two titles, and champions in NBA 3x3 in the country,” said Navarro.

Also supporting the team is the accounting firm MLV in Australia, owned

by Michael Venezuala, the co-owner of the Valientes MLV. “It has been a dream of every Zam-

boangueño basketball player to play professionally,” said Navarro, who thanks supporters MLV Accounting of Australia, Cory Navarro, Kings Manpower, Big Fundamental Basketball Academy, Ultra Pi Water-Calixto Street, Kamiseta Mindanao and Vice Cosmetics Zamboanga.

“The Valientes are the original team of Zamboanga, the only team from Mindanao and the first pro team in Zamboanga. The fans are very excited to see our team finally play in the pro league,” he added.

Navarro announced the appointment of new head coach Joseph Romarate, a proud Zamboangueño, while the players are led by former University of the East’s Gino Jumaoas from Boalan, Das “Tausug Hero” Esa from Barangay San Jose, AA Fabian and Jon Rebollos from Sta. Maria.

The Valientes also want to thank their Mayor Beng Climaco for the allout support to the team.

The winning legacy of the late Lando

The Zamboanga City MLV Valientes with muse Empress Schuck

Navarro, Junnie’s father, is now expected to continue and follow the tradition of an all-Zamboanga team that won in the big leagues, such as the Nike Summer League (where Zamboanga beat UAAP teams UP, UST and NU in 2007), the

National Basketball Conference, the Liga Pilipinas and the PBA D-League, among others.

The NBL is the second active professional league in the country after the Philippine Basketball Association.

Execution of Iranian wrestler stuns IOC LAUSANNE—-The International Olympic Committee said it was “shocked” by Saturday’s execution of a young Iranian wrestler over the murder of a public sector worker during anti-government protests in 2018.

Navid Afkari was executed at a prison in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, something the IOC said was “very sad news”.

“The IOC is shocked by this announcement today,” it added.

IOC president Thomas Bach had made “direct personal appeals to the Supreme Leader and to the President of Iran this week and asked for mercy for Navid Af kari, while respecting the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran”.

“It is deeply upsetting that the pleas of athletes from around the world and all the behind-thescenes work of the IOC, together with the NOC of Iran, United World Wrestling and the National Iranian Wrestling Federation, did not achieve our goal.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Navid Af kari.”

Af kari, 27, had been found guilty of “voluntary homicide” for stabbing to death Hossein Torkman, a water department worker, on August 2, 2018, according to the Iranian judiciary.

Shiraz and several other urban centres across the Islamic republic had been the scene that day of anti-government protests and demonstrations over economic and social hardship.

Reports published abroad say Af kari was condemned on the basis of confessions aired on television after being extracted under torture, prompting online campaigns of support for his release. AFP

Brailsford’s Tour de France reign on edge

Team Jumbo rider Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic (right) and his teammates ride during the 14th stage of the 107th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 197 kms between Clermont-Ferrand and Lyon. AFP

LYON—After seven Tour de France victories in eight years, the Ineos reign is being challenged by a powerful Jumbo team that holds the overall lead and most of the aces with seven of 21 stages remaining.

The relentless form of Jumbo’s powerhouse leader Primoz Roglic means 2019 champion Egan Bernal must produce something special in the high mountains ahead.

Yet given the difficulty of the rest of this 2020 route Ineos and Bernal are far from finished, Roglic said on Saturday.

Dave Brailsford, who has masterminded the triumphs of the team formerly known as Sky, told AFP this week he remained confident his plan for an eighth victory on the iconic Champs-Elysees next Sunday is on track.

Brailsford’s approach saw Bernal seize victory on stage 19 last year.

“So far so good,” Brailsford said before Bernal faltered on Thursday, slipping further off the pace.

“It’s kind of what we expected really, it’s going to be a race of attrition.”

Ineos are without the authority of four-time champion Chris Froome or the charismatic 2018 champion Geraint Thomas.

Richard Carapaz, the man catapulted into the line-up to shepherd Bernal up the hills, fell heavily on the first stage, while Bernal has been nursing a bad back.

“Its very peculiar to see Ineos in this situation. It’s the first time in eight years we have seen them like that,” Michael Rasmussen, the Tour’s King of the Mountains in 2005 and 2006, told AFP

in Lyon on Saturday.

“Bernal is highly mature and it’s difficult not to like him. But he’s got his work cut out,” said Rasmussen, now a cycling pundit for Danish media.

“For me it’s Jumbo’s to lose.”

Roglic took the yellow jersey in the Pyrenees and was also stronger than Bernal on Puy Mary in the Massif Central on Friday.

There are four mountain stages left, two with summit finishes.

While Sunday’s ride up Grand Colombier and Wednesday’s slog up Meribel look similar, the second climb is slightly longer, a little steeper and finishes at a much higher altitude, which could help Colombian Bernal.

“The Alpine stage on Wednesday will suit him, but what can stop Roglic?” asked Rasmussen. AFP

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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monday, september 14, 2020

Entertainment

Piolo’s secret revealed

RSP!’s main hosts Aljo Bendijo, Dianne Querrer, and Gab Bayan.

‘Rise and Shine, Pilipinas’ Viewers have something better than a cup of warm coffee to get their day started on a high note with a new morning barkada that joins in their breakfast tables with timely and relevant news, interesting discussions and features, and even valuable help when needed, through Rise and Shine, Pilipinas.

The new morning show is airing on the People’s Television Network (PTV) and aims to be their daily source of useful news and inspiration on how to make the most of their lives, enabling them to eventually rise from their situations and live shining lives.

The program features news, interviews, weather forecasts, special-interest stories, and feature segments.

It also differentiates itself from the usual morning TV fare by having three distinctive highlights: public service, niche segments for OFWs and the millennial markets, and interactivity. RSP!’s main hosts are respected news personalities Aljo Bendijo and Dianne Querrer and youth leader Gab Bayan.

“It’s like radio. Fast-paced and not boring. I am excited to deliver the news in the morning because it is necessary to feed the public’s mind with the freshest news as they prepare for their daily grind,” seasoned broadcaster Bendijo welcomes the opportunity to be part of a morning show, a shift from the primetime newscasts he is so used to doing.

“People may use this program to air their grievances. After all, the pro-

Paolo Pascual is the latest brand ambassador of beauty and wellness brand, Beautederm.

A

ce Kapamilya actor Piolo Pascual has been introduced by Beautéderm Corporation as its newest celebrity ambassador in time for the lifestyle and beauty brand’s celebration of its 11th year as one of major key players in the beauty and wellness industry in the country.

In a statement sent to Manila Standard Entertainment, Beautéderm said that Piolo joining the brand as ambassador is one of the big surprises the company has lined-up for its loyal customers, resellers, and distributors this year.

“Piolo has always been in my bucket list ever since I started the company in

Beautéderm President and CEO Rhea Anicoche-Tan is honored to have the award-winning actor on-board the thriving company that she built 11 years ago.

2009. With hard work, careful planning, and prayers my dream to have him as one of my ambassadors is finally a reality as I have always admired his body of work as one of the most accomplished and respected artists in the industry,” Beautéderm President and CEO Rhea Anicoche-Tan, who is honored by People Asia magazine in the prestigious roster of its annual “Women of Style and Substance” issue this September, said of having the award-winning actor on-board the thriving company that she built 11 years ago.

Piolo, who lives an active and healthy lifestyle, is endorsing Beau Charcoal Soap from the brand’s Spruce & Dash men’s line – a bestseller and a favorite product of thousands of consumers. Beau, an FDA notified and a certified Superbrands bath soap, detoxifies and exfoliates as it provides a clean, fresh, and delicious scent especially for busy men who is always on the go like Piolo.

“My sister has been a longtime user of Beautéderm products, I have read a lot about the brand, and I’ve been hearing positive feedback about it from my colleagues in the business. Beau is a daily essential of mine as it truly delivers its promises – I feel relaxed, energized, and rejuvenated every time I take a shower after a long day,” Piolo shared in a statement.

Anicoche-Tan is also very grateful for the unwavering support of loyal Beautéderm users even during the midst of the pandemic.

“We will continue to be faithful to our commitment to serve not only our users but our resellers and distributors as well in developing more products that boast of the highest quality.

We have partnered with Piolo because we have so many similarities – chief among them is our unrelenting passion for excellence. We, at Beautéderm, are humbled to have him as part of our family,” Anicoche-Tan underscored in her message.

Piolo, who is also a businessman himself, is inspired by the business model of Beautéderm. He is glad to know that the brand is helping so many people and their families because of the business opportunities that it provides

to its resellers and distributors around the country.

“Their sales force is one of the most hard-working teams I’ve ever seen and I am honored to be part of Beautéderm,” Piolo said.

For more information on Beautéderm and Piolo, follow @beautédermcorporation on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to BeautédermTV on YouTube.

Kapamilya network turns to digital to find ultimate ‘Bida Star’ ABS-CBN takes another huge step in its digital shift as it moves from live auditions to discovering new talents online with Bida Star, Star Hunt’s newest virtual talent competition set to discover the first Ultimate Bida Star.

Out of thousands of aspiring talents, 50 were selected to enter the competition and go head-to-head for a chance to take home the P25,000 prize and to star in their own short feature alongside a Kapamilya artist.

Every week, the star dreamers will go through a KUMU acting challenge and a mentor’s challenge which will test their skills and determination. To help them with the challenges, the star dreamers will undergo acting workshops supervised by esteemed mentors who will guide them to unleash their “Bida Star” quality.

Fans can vote for their bets by sending KUMU virtual gifts or by logging in to ktx.abs-cbn.com.

At the end of the week, the star dreamer who will get the lowest number of KUMU virtual gifts and lowest score from the mentors will be elimi-

ABS-CBN takes another huge step in its digital shift as it moves from live auditions to discovering new talents online with ‘Bida Star.’

nated from the competition.

Produced by TVDG, Bida Star is the latest digital initiative of ABSCBN following the recent launch of Kapamilya Online Live that streams its new and well-loved shows live and on-demand, the TuTuBee channel on

YouTube for kids, digital events on KTX.ph ticket portal, and more original digital offerings such as Online Kapamilya Shows (oks.abs-cbn.com), Star Cinema’s We Rise Together, and For Your Entertainment channel on the Kumu app.

gram (PTV) is run using the people’s money and it is mandated to be used for the welfare of the Filipino people,” Bendijo adds.

More than dishing out the latest news developments in and around the country, Querrer is also ready to show a different side of her in the morning program. She, specifically looks forward to the program’s interactive segments which will allow her to engage the audience better.

“The viewers will surely see the bubbly and “less serious” side of me.

People see me always in the primetime newscast delivering mostly serious news. RSP! Now gives us opportunities for casual conversations and more interaction with our audience,” Querrer assures.

For his part, up and coming host Bayan, who is sure to give RSP! a young and dynamic vibe, focuses on keeping the millennial viewers glued to the program through special segments that are truly relevant to their lifestyle. The erstwhile noontime show heartthrob is dropping his dancing skills for now, in favor of exchanging wits with Bendijo and Querrer, who he will be working with for the very first time.

“I am both honored and somehow pressured to be hosting this new program with two respected news personalities. However, I take it also as an opportunity to further hone my craft and to challenge myself each day to bring something new to the table every single day,” Bayan declares.

Rise and Shine, Pilipinas! airs weekdays, from 7:00 to 8:30 a.m., on PTV.

‘Gameboys’ lead stars Kokoy de Santos (right) and Elijah Canlas

The games of Gavreel and Cairo Rising stars Kokoy de Santos and Elijah Canlas bid farewell to Gavreel Alarcon and Cairo Lazaro, their much-loved characters in Gameboys, setting the perfect tone for the upcoming movie version of the hit digital series.

Directed by Ivan Payawal and written by Ash Malanum, it starred the now popular tandem together with Kyle Velino as Terrence Carreon (Gav’s former male lover), Adriana So as Pearl Gatdula (the ex-girlfriend of the young man whose name means ‘angel of peace’), and Miggy Jimenez as Wesley Torres (Cai’s childhood best buddy).

“Not wanting to sound boastful, I want to believe that Elijah and myself are two of the reasons why the show now has a huge following. We gave Gavreel and Cairo the emotional truth people are looking for onscreen pairs. A big credit of course to our director Andrew and writer Ash plus our production staff definitely,” says Kokoy.

“I still find it hard to believe that thousands of people watch it. It’s just surreal.

But I’m glad a story like this is being loved and celebrated. It’s about time.

I think that Cairo and Gavreel’s story truly resonates with the audience. Especially because of the fact that the setting of Gameboys is the world we live in now.

The way these characters were written and directed are for them to feel real. I think Gameboys is just a one of a kind show. It’s really special,” adds Elijah.

For Kokoy and Elijah, Gameboys is

an unforgettable experience. They underscored the fact that the Idea First Company found a way to provide entertainment and tell stories to people even when it seemed impossible to do because of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, talking about his role as, Elijah admitted that he encountered challenges but he’s still thanking because of the reward he got for essaying an interesting character.

“The challenge is making him as human as possible. He is more aggressive while I am reserved around people I’m not close to in real life. He isn’t really the confrontational type while I am. There are a lot more differences but I guess a point of similarity would be the fact that we love junk food and sweets. The best part about playing Cairo is that I get to be courted and be in love with Gavreel,” Elijah shares.

Kokoy, on the other hand, talks about the theme of the series that made it relatable to many viewers.

“Love is love. It does not matter who you love, what is important is whoever is your choice, you know in your heart that it is all worth it.

And you commit to this person and make the relationship work. Gavreel and Cairo’s love for each other is genuine and, pure. And it nice to be reminded why we fall in love in the first place. You just know it,” Kokoy’s ending sentiments.

Life

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

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CLASSIC OR TRENDY? Pancakes are great on their own, but new versions make this well-loved breakfast comfort food more exciting.

FOOD

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR PANCAKE?

Trending recipes featuring the all-time favorite breakfast dish P

ANCAKES or hotcakes are great on their own.

Cooked in a non-stick pan under low heat, drizzled with maple syrup, and topped with a slice of butter.

But the quarantine has given many homebound folks—seasoned chefs or aspiring ones—time to experiment in the kitchen, creating and recreating new dishes featuring this all-time favorite breakfast comfort food.

Pancakes turned cereal A win for anyone who ever agonized over the big breakfast decision: hotcakes or cereal?

This trend creat ive ly combines both, spaw ns various iterations, and is just really cute—not Pancake cereal to mention easy.

Using Maya Hotcake Mix, simply cook it according to the instructions, but in tiny version, as in the size of a 25-centavo or one-peso coin.

Serve with maple syrup, nuts, and fruit slices.

Coffee hotcakes

Tiramisu soufflé hotcakes

This recipe is a perfect way to kick-start the day. Making it is easy, too. Simply prepare the pancake following the instructions on the packaging, and add half a cup of brewed coffee or instant coffee.

Hotcakes, but make it haute. Highly “Instagrammable,” this fancy and fluffy hotcake version can be a little more complicated to make, but practice does make perfect. The secret, they say, is making sure to whisk the egg whites until frothy. Fold it into the batter and cook in very low heat.

The aforementioned pancake recipes are available at www. themayakitchen.com and on Maya’s Facebook page.

Tiramisu soufflé hotcakes

BITES

Coffee hotcakes

FOOD NEWS ROUNDUP

Oreo Seasonals’ Salted Caramel and Red Velvet variants

Well-loved flavors in cookies NEW cookie choices have arrived in the world of Oreo, and they are the crowd-favorite dessert flavors red velvet and salted caramel.

The limited edition range Oreo Seasonals brings back Oreo Red Velvet, a red velvet-colored Oreo cookie with cheesecake flavored crème center.

Meanwhile, the latest addition to the range is Oreo Salted Caramel, a delec-

Puto flan The ultimate coming together of two beloved Pinoy treats, puto and leche flan, this creation has tickled taste buds and sparked a craze.

Simply make leche flan and use Maya Original Fluffy n’ Tasty Hotcake Mix as a convenient puto base. Combine, cook, and serve.

Puto flan

table cookie featuring sweet, creamy caramel punctuated by a hint of saltiness from sea salt.

The two Oreo Seasonals variants are available at all leading stores and e-commerce platforms nationwide until December or until supplies last. Both flavors retail at P76.50 for a nine-pack multi-pack and P41.50 for a 14-piece slug.

Nice & Natural nut bar

Moment Group restaurants now accept PayMaya DIN Tai Fung, 8 Cuts Burgers, and Ooma, among other restaurant brands The Moment Group (TMG) operates now offer cashless transactions online and in stores via PayMaya.

“We want to continue serving everyone with good food alongside a safer payment experience across all our channels,” said TMG co-founder and creative director Abba Napa.

TMG operates Manam, Din Tai Fung, Ooma, 8 Cuts Burgers, Mo’ Cookies, Shawa Wama, Phat Pho, Mecha Uma, and Bank Bar. Customers can use their PayMaya e-wallet accounts as well as any credit, debit, or prepaid card to pay for their meals when they order at TMG’s website (www.momentfood.com) which is now powered by the PayMaya Checkout payment gateway.

Additionally, TMG now accepts cashless payments for VISA, MasterCard, and JCB cardholders, as well as PayMaya QR, using the PayMaya One all-in-one point-of-sale terminals in its Metro Manila store branches.

“Cashless is now fast becoming the default payment option when dining in or ordering food online,” said PayMaya president Shailesh Baidwan.

“We’re glad to partner with The Moment Group in adopting PayMaya’s end-to-end cashless payment solutions to provide its customers and store frontliners a safer and more seamless payment transactions, whether they prefer ordering online or din- The Moment Group-operated restaurant brands now accept PayMaya for online ing in their branches.” and in store transactions.

Kuya J reopens 3 stores Healthy, yummy nut bar Bringing healthy and yummy in one treat, Universal Robina Corporation launches Nice & Natural, a healthy nut bar made with nuts, wholegrain oats, and fruit bits, all drizzled with chocolate.

The delicious treat contains protein, and is a good source of fiber, ideal as a break time snack or on-the-

go treat.

Nice & Natural nut bar comes in Choco Almond Crunch and Mixed Berry Crunch flavors. It’s now available at SM Stores, Robinsons Supermarket, Shopwise, Mercury Drug Stores, Rustan’s Supermarket, Ministop and 7-Eleven outlets nationwide for P23.50 each.

Kuya J reopens SM Seaside Cebu, Robinsons Galleria South, and SM BF Parañaque branches.

TO CATER to more customers nationwide, Kuya J reopens three of its outlets for dine-in, takeout, and delivery orders.

The restaurant’s stores at SM Seaside Cebu, Robinsons Galleria South, and SM BF Parañaque join the 27 more branches that have reopened since the recent ECQ was lifted.

Some of the stores now open—offering Kuya J’s tender and flavorful Crispy Pata, melt-in-your-mouth Lechon Baka, succulent Beef Kare-Kare, and rich and luscious Caldereta—include Otis, SM San Lazaro, Robinsons Manila, SM Megamall, Eastwood, Paseo de Magallanes, Waltermart North Edsa, SM Novaliches, SM Cubao, SM Sucat, SM Southmall, Festival Mall, SM East Ortigas, SM Marikina, Venice Grand Canal Mall, Baclaran, SM Fairview, Robinsons Naga, SM Legazpi, Robinsons Imus, SM Pampanga, SM Lipa, SM Sta. Rosa, Robinsons Valencia, SM San Mateo, and SM Cebu.