Manila Standard - 2020 October 18 - Sunday

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 226 • 2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SAVING THE CORALS. Divers of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of Masbate transplant coral fragments and rehabilitate reef balls within the Colorada Marine Protected Area at Barangay Tigbao in Aroroy. The reef balls provide shelter and serve as a breeding ground to the reef fishes thriving inside the marine protected area. The project was done in partnership with the Masbate Gold Project. DENR Bicol

Infra budget to be scrutinized

‘Inequitable’ allocation up for review even as Velasco extends ‘healing hand’

By Joyce Pangco Pañares and Maricel Cruz

S

PEAKER Lord Allan Velasco said the House leadership will address the “inequitable” allocation of infrastructure funds under the 2021 proposed budget—an issue that hounded his predecessor, Taguig Rep. Alan Cayetano who, together with his wife and allies, was accused by lawmakers of getting the lion’s share.

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM OCT. 17)

354,338 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

2,673 52,423 NEW

ACTIVE

6,603

73

295,312

593

DEATHS

NEW

RECOVERIES

NEW

Velasco said the House of Representatives will scrutinize the allocations under the budget measure that was passed on third and final reading Friday night.

“If we cannot accomplish that (equitable distribution), we can still do that next year. But as much as possible, we will do everything we can so that we can equitably, fairly distribute,” he said.

Lawmakers from the Lower House have until October 19 to submit individual amendments to the General Appropriations Bill.

AWS PINS HOPES ON ASIAN STARTUPS

“We are making sure there is no pork in the said budget,” Velasco said.

Asked if the reported P8 billion infrastructure allocation for Taguig’s two districts, represented by CayCay etano and his wife, Lanie, will be affected, Velasco did not give a categoricategori cal answer.

“I’m still looking at it,” the new Speaker said.

FIRST AID KIT FOR YOUR PETS

MISS UNIVERSE PH: FEARLESS FORECAST

Emergencies happen. For such instances, it is best to always be prepared.

Digital technology giant Amazon Web Services expects Asian startups to adapt to the new business environment amid the coronavirus pandemic this year and sustain their operations next year.

Miss Universe Philippines, the most anticipated national beauty tilt in the pageant world, is definitely going to happen amid the ongoing crisis we are experiencing at the moment.

BUSINESS / A4

PETS / B4

A WORLD OF WONDER AND DISCOVERY

GREEN CENTRAL’S GREEN THUMB HUB

Sophie’s World does not force any specific ideologies on you, but offers a wide array of theories and speculations by many philosophers to choose from as you concoct your own ideology of the world.

LIFE / B1

Gardening, whether in an urban or rural setting, is the way to go nowadays.

Whatever one’s reasons are, there is no harm in flexing that green thumb.

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

manilastandard.net

truly believe that he deserves the position. He can choose either a committee chairmanship or a deputy speaker position,” Velasco said.

Cayetano has yet to make any comment as of press time.

“Like what I said last time during one of my speeches, I said I’m extending my healing hand to former Speaker Cayetano and I did,” Velasco said, adding that there will be no reorganization or changes in the key leadership posts in the House at the moment.

“As of now, we won’t change anything because we want to have unity and harmony within the members,” Velasco said.

“In times like these, especially with the COVID, we need to be unitunit ed, a unified Congress to fasttrack the passage of several legislation that will address the problem as well as help our people cope with the health crisis,” Velasco added.

STORIES ON PAGE 2

PH COVID CASES REACH 354,338 RODY BACKS 2 URGENT BILLS 11‘DISGRUNTLED’ ASG SURRENDER

Ysbella Ysmael

ENTERTAINMENT / B3

HOME/DESIGN / B2 twitter.com/ MlaStandard

The infrastructure budget issue, according to Cebu Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa, triggered Cayetano’s downfall.

Ahead of the squabble over the speakership—which saw Cayetano having the numbers initially only to lose his allies to Velasco during the so-called rump session held outside Congress -- presidential son and Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte was the first to send a signal that a leadership change may be in the offing to address the budget allocation issue.

Still, Velasco maintained that he is extending a “healing hand” to Cay Cayetano, who was stripped of another position Friday, this time as the care caretaker of the First District of Camarines Sur. Velasco renewed his offer Cayetano to be his senior deputy speaker or chairman of any House committee.

“He’s the former speaker and I

AGRI TO LIMIT CORN IMPORTS BLOCKCHAIN TECH PUSHED

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

News

A2

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Palace seeks quick, efficient budget passage

By Vito Barcelo, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon RamosAraneta

M

ALACAÑANG has appealed to the Senate for a quick but efficient passage of the P4.506 trillion 2021 national budget which the House approved on third and final reading Friday night.

OLD NORMAL. Members of the QC

Task Force Disiplina raid a KTV/restobar along Roosevelt Avenue in Quezon City on Friday night. Violation tickets were issued to the owners and staff of the establishment as well as to their guests for not observing IATF health protocols.

Norman Cruz

Bills to protect banks, strengthen AMLA certified urgent

By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has certified to Congress as urgent measures those that would aid financial institutions during the coronavirus pandemic and strengthen the anti-money laundering law.

The certifications were issued on Friday, the last day of Congress’ special session which Duterte called for. But Congress failed to pass the two bills.

Duterte said he wanted the speedy passage of Senate Bill 1849 or the Financial

Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) bill which would help banks unload bad loans and assets through special purpose vehicles.

The bill recognizes the role of banks and other financial institutions as mobilizers of savings and investments and in providing the needed financial system liquidity to keep the economy afloat.

“It is essential that banks and other financial institutions are able to maintain their financial health in order to cushion the adverse economic impact of the COVID-10 pandemic,” it stated.

Duterte said the bill would “strengthen financial initiatives towards national economy recovery and maintain the stability of the financial sector amidst the Pandemic.”

The FIST bill is endorsed for plenary approval in the Senate.

Meanwhile, the President also certified as urgent Senate Bill 1412 and its counterpart bill in the House, House Bill 6174, which seeks to strengthen Republic Act 9160 or the “Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001.”

“Such compliance will avoid adverse findings against the country which could lead, among others, to increased costs of doing financial transactions, to the prejudice of the business sector and our overseas Filipino workers,” Duterte said in letters sent to Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

Previously, Duterte certified as urgent a bill seeking to grant the country’s chief executive powers to streamline the issuance of licenses and permits in times of national emergencies.

PH logs 2,673 new infections; 35K contact tracers hired

11 ‘disgruntled’ Abu Sayyaf surrender in Jolo

By Willie Casas THE Philippines coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases rose to 354,338 on Saturday after the Department of Health reported 2,673 new infections.

The DOH also announced that 539 more patients have also recovered from the illness, bringing the total to 295,312, while the death toll climbed to 6,603 with 73 new ones.

Among the new deaths, 49 occurred in October, three in September, 18 in August, two in July, and one in May. Meanwhile, the government has hired 35,345 people so far as contact tracers as the recruitment is expected to end next week, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said.

Interviewed at the Laging Handa public briefing, DILG spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said 27,879 of those hired were already trained and deployed in the different local government units in the country.

Further, 65,000 people have applied, of whom 57,743 have been processed.

According to the DOH, the top regions with cases in the past 14 days are the National Capital Region with 646 or 28 percent, Region 4A with 603 or 26 percent, and Region 3 with 213 or nine percent.

Eighty-six percent or 2,286, meanwhile, acquired the virus in the past 14 days. A total of 85 cases were also removed from the total case count.

Of the 52,423 active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine, 84.7 percent are mild, 11 percent are asymptomatic, 1.5 percent are severe, and 2.9 percent are in critical condition.

The DOH said 14 laboratories were unable to submit their data.

At present, the country has 147 licensed laboratories that have tested over 4 million individuals.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque hoped Saturday the House would transmit its printed copy to the Senate as soon as possible to give the latter “ample time” to act on the legislative measure, which has been certified urgent by the President.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar echoed Roque’s statement as he also hoped for a “swift” and “efficient” Senate deliberation.

“As the 2021 GAB progresses to the Senate for its deliberation, the House of Representatives’ approval of the bill will go a long way in helping support and realize the Duterte administration’s outlined undertakings, responses, and programs for our collective recovery from the adverse impacts of Covid-19,” Andanar said.

“We hope that the Senate’s deliberation on the 2021 GAB will be swift and efficient...for us to be on track towards fulfilling our mandate to the Filipinos and our goal of healing, rebounding, and recovering as one nation.”

“We thank the House of Representatives for passing on third and final reading the 2021 General Appropriations Bill on time or within the special session called by President Rodrigo Duterte,” Roque said in a statement Saturday.

The President has several times mentioned the importance of the timely passage of the budget, as the government needs resources to fund its interventions to ease the adverse effects of the COVID 19 pandemic, Roque said.

For his part, Andanar lauded Congress, under House Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco, for the approval of the 2021 national budget.

“As the 2021 GAB progresses to the Senate for its deliberation, the House of Representatives’ approval of the bill will go a long way in helping support and realize the Duterte administration’s outlined undertakings, responses, and programs for our collective recovery from the adverse impacts of COVID-19,” he said.

CONSTANT VIGILANCE. Philippine Coast Guard frontline personnel assist returning overseas Filipino workers, locally stranded individuals, and APORs (authorized person outside residence) at the Port of Jolo in Sulu. Sulu Task Force COVID-19

DA eyes limit on corn importation to help local farmers AGRICULTURE Secretary William Dar has given assurances the Department has begun working on a strategy to only allow the importation of corn during off-season of the local harvest.

Dar gave the assurances to Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri

during Friday’s Senate hearing , when Zubiri urged the department to help local farmers by limiting imports and penalizing technical smuggling of imported products.

Zubiri said: “I’m speaking on behalf of our corn farmers, here in Bukidnon.

The importation of feed wheat has dras-

tically brought down their prices. The dried corn is already P9 per kilo, but there’s there’s also P8 per kilo, that’s too low,” Zubiri said.

He added: “And our farmers here have very good crops, MC 14—moisture content 14— already,” he pointed out.

ELEVEN “disgruntled” members of the Abu Sayyaf terror group in the southern provincial capital of Jolo have surrendered to authorities to avail themselves of the social integration benefits from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Sulu’s local government, the military said Saturday.

The 11, aged 24 to 52, were reportedly under Mundi Sawadjaan and Radulan Sahiron, a press release from the AFP Western Mindanao Command said.

The surrender on Friday afternoon to Col. Antonio Bautista Jr., commander of the 1101st Brigade of the Philippine Army, was facilitated by the 41st and 100th Infantry Battalions and the Municipal Task Force on Ending Local Armed Conflict of some municipalities in Sulu.

There were no immediate details on where the 11 are by Saturday sundown.

The surrender came a week after an Indonesian woman suspected of planning a suicide bomb attack in Jolo was arrested in a pre-dawn raid.

Solon pushes for blockchain technology ALBAY Rep. Joey Salceda has authored and filed a bill proposing what he called a “blockchain tech” to make the Philippines Asia’s financial technoology capital.

The proposed measure, House Bill 7864 or the Blockchain Technology Development Act, seeks to legally recognize and regulate the so called ‘blockchain technology,’ his office said in a statement obtained by the Manila Standard.

Salceda, House Ways and Means Committee chair, said Blockchain, or distributed ledger technology, would enable the existence of cryptocurrency among other things, a method of passing information from one terminal to another in a fully automated and secure manner.

One party to a transaction initiates the

process by creating a block, the statement said.

Salceda said “blockchain is actually more than just cryptocurrency. At the heart of blockchain is a technology that makes the storage and updating of records more secure. It also lowers transaction costs and is very difficult if not impossible to defraud.”

With blockchain, the lawmaker said he expects transaction costs for money transfers and other financial services to be cheaper for Filipinos.

“Blockchain is also very secure and the records are highly portable. That makes it a perfect tool for programs such as the National ID system, better records management in PhilHealth and better distribution of social benefits,” he added.

GETTING INTO THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT. A man cleans Christmas decorations in Dasmariñas, Cavite on October 17, 2020 in preparation for the holiday season even as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. JR Josue

World Thousands of Thai protesters return to streets after police clashes THOUSANDS of Thai pro-democracy protesters massed in multiple locations across Bangkok Saturday, defying an emergency decree banning gatherings for the third consecutive day after confrontations saw riot police use water cannon on peaceful demonstrators.

But the escalation in police tactics has not cowed the burgeoning youthled movement, which is demanding the resignation of a premier first brought to power in a military coup and reform of the kingdom’s powerful monarchy.

“I’m concerned for my safety but if I don’t come out, I have no future,” said business student Min, 18, equipped with a helmet and gas mask as she arrived in Bangkok’s northern Lat Phrao district where more than 2,000 protestors took over a major intersection.

They raised a three-finger salute as passing vehicles honked in support and flashed a thumbs-up at the mostly black-clad protesters.

The Lat Phrao location, as well two others across Bangkok, was announced an hour before the scheduled protest time -- with organizers outsmarting authorities who had closed roads to two suspected venues that ended up not being used.

Across the Chao Phraya river, around 2,500 rallied in the western Wongwian Yai district chanting “Long live the people, down with dictatorship!” while in southeastern Udomsuk another 5,000 brought busy traffic to a standstill.

Carrying signs saying “You can’t kill us, we’re everywhere” and “Stop hurting people,” more than 10,000 protestors had so far gathered across the three locations, according to AFP reporters on the scene.

For the mostly-young demonstrators, Friday’s crackdown was a big learning curve, said Aim, whose friends were blasted with stinging liquid when police fired water cannon.

“We had no armor, just umbrellas,” said the 25-year-old public servant, grasping a pair of goggles.

AFP

A3

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Chechen suspected of beheading French teacher in ‘terror attack’ T HE man suspected of beheading a French teacher who showed his students cartoons of the prophet Mohammed was an 18-year-old Chechen, a judicial source said Saturday, in what President Emmanuel Macron called an “Islamist terror attack.”

Police have detained nine people over Friday’s attack near the school where the teacher worked in Conflans-SaintHonorine, a usually quiet suburb around 30 kilometers northwest of central Paris.

The assailant was shot by police and later died of his injuries.

Police said the victim was 47-yearold history teacher Samuel Paty, who had shown the cartoons as part of a class discussion on freedom of expression that had prompted complaints from parents.

Four of the suspect’s relatives -- two brothers and his grandparents -- were initially detained by police for questioning.

The judicial source told AFP Saturday that five more people had been detained, including the parents of a child at the school.

According to the source, the parents had signaled their disagreement with the teacher’s decision to show the cartoons.

The three other new people detained are members of the suspect’s social circle.

The attack came as a trial is in progress over the January 2015 massacre at the offices of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine, which had published caricatures of the prophet Mohammed that unleashed a wave of anger across the Islamic world.

The magazine defiantly republished the cartoons in the run-up to the trial’s opening in September and last month a young Pakistani wounded two people

People hold a sign reading ‘I am a teacher - Freedom of speech’ in front of a middle school in Conflans Saint-Honorine, 30kms northwest of Paris, on October 17, 2020, after a teacher was decapitated by an attacker who has been shot dead by policemen. The decapitated history teacher had recently shown caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed in class. AFP

with a meat cleaver outside its former offices.

Identification documents found on the beheading suspect showed he was an 18-year-old born in Moscow but from Russia’s southern region of Chechnya.

The attacker shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greatest”) as police confronted him, a cry often heard in jihadist attacks, a police source said.

There had been no previous indication that he was a potential radical, a source close to the investigation said.

French anti-terror prosecutors said they were treating the assault as “a murder linked to a terrorist organization.”

Police said they were investigating

a tweet posted from an account -- since shut down -- that showed a picture of the teacher’s head.

It was unclear whether the message, which contained a threat against Macron -- describing him as “the leader of the infidels” -- had been posted by the attacker, they said.

Visibly moved as he visited the scene, Macron said “the entire nation” stood ready to defend teachers and that “obscurantism will not win.”

His office said Saturday a “national tribute” would be held in Paty’s honor.

Prime Minister Jean Castex tweeted that “our teachers will continue to awaken the critical spirit of the citizens of the

Ardern wins landslide in New Zealand’s ‘COVID election’ PRIME Minister Jacinda Ardern won a landslide victory in New Zealand’s general election on Saturday, leveraging success battling COVID-19 into an unprecedented majority she said gave her a mandate for progressive reform.

Ardern’s center-left Labour Party took 64 seats in the 120-member parliament with 49 percent of the vote, after the youthful and charismatic leader steered the nation through the upheaval wrought by the global pandemic.

“Thank you to the many people who gave us their vote, who trusted us to continue leading New Zealand’s recovery,” the 40-year-old told cheering supporters.

Ardern had dubbed the vote “the COVID election” and campaigned on her government’s success in eliminating community transmission of the virus, which has caused just 25 deaths in a population of five million.

The pandemic is one of a string of emergencies that tested Ardern’s leadership during a torrid first term, after she rode to an unexpected victory in 2017 polls on the back of a wave of support dubbed “Jacinda-mania.”

She displayed both empathy and decisive action on gun control after a white supremacist gunman killed 51 Muslim worshippers in the Christchurch mosques attack last year.

Ardern again found herself comforting a shocked nation when a volcanic eruption at White Island, also known as Whakaari, killed 21 people and left dozens more with horrific burns.

“There’s no doubt the strong, great leadership we’ve had from Jacinda Ardern has been a massive factor in all this,” Labor Party president Claire Szabo said of her party’s win on broadcaster TVNZ. Saturday’s vote marked the first time any leader won an absolute majority since New Zealand adopted a proportional voting system in 1996 and was the party’s strongest showing since World War II. Opposition leader Judith Collins conceded an “outstanding result” for Labor and congratulated Ardern on her win.

“Boy, we knew it was going to be a tough campaign,” said Collins, whose conservative National Party is expected to take around 35 seats after its worst result in nearly 20 years. AFP

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks at the Labor Party’s after party after victory in the the country’s general election in Auckland. AFP

Hong Kong activist ‘Grandma Wong’ says held 14 months in mainland China AN ELDERLY woman who disappeared midway through Hong Kong’s democracy protests last year resurfaced in the financial hub on Saturday after 14 months away, saying she had been detained on the Chinese mainland.

Alexandra Wong said she was forced to renounce her activism in writing, record a video statement saying she was not tortured, and sent on a “patriotic tour” of the country’s north.

Dubbed “Grandma Wong” by her comrades and often spotted waving a British flag, the 64-yearold attended virtually every rally during the early days of the movement for greater democracy and police accountability, which kicked off in June 2019.

She disappeared last August and maintained only sporadic contact with local media in the former British colony.

On Saturday she held a press conference in Hong Kong and said that, after joining an August protest, she was detained by Chinese police at the border with Shenzhen, the mainland metropolis where she has lived for 14 years.

Her testimony was a vivid illustration of the opaque, party-controlled judicial system on the mainland that many Hong Kongers fear is one day Alexandra Wong, a 64-year-old pro-democracy protester speaks to the media at a press conference in Hong Kong on October 17, 2020. Dubbed coming to their restless city.

Wong said she was held by Shenzhen authori“Grandma Wong” by the democracy movement, she confirmed having ties for “administrative detention” and “criminal been detained by Chinese police at the Shenzhen border during a trip detention” for a total of 45 days, without knowing home after participating in a pro-democracy protest last August. AFP

what charges she was facing.

“I was afraid I would die in the detention center,” she said.

When her stay in custody was over, she was asked to declare into a camera that she had not been tortured by mainland authorities, and promise not to take media interviews or protest again.

She was asked to confess in writing that her activism had been wrong.

“The worst thing I did in my life is to write that confession... but I had nothing to bargain with,” she said.

The confessions did not win her freedom immediately. She was later sent on a five-day “patriotic tour” of Shaanxi province, where she had her picture taken holding the Chinese flag, and sang the national anthem.

After that, she was told she would be released on bail pending trial for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”—a catch-all term used by the government to target dissenters.

But she was given no written documents on the charges.

For a year after her release on bail, she was only allowed to go back to her home in Shenzhen, and could not return to Hong Kong. Those conditions lapsed in late September.

“I have no courage to step in Shenzhen again, at least for now, unless there is a radical change in the political situation,” Wong told reporters. AFP

republic, to emanicipate them from all totalitarianism.”

The Strasbourg-based Assembly of Chechens in Europe said in a statement that “like all French people our community is horrified by this incident.”

At the school, parents and teachers paid tribute to Paty, who was said to have been widely liked and himself a father.

Paty’s former student Martial, 16, said the teacher loved his job: “He really wanted to teach us things -- sometimes we had debates.”

Another student Tiago said he saw Paty on the day he died. “He came to my class to see our teacher. It’s shocking that I won’t see him again.” AFP

Japan PM Suga sends offering to controversial war shrine JAPANESE Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga sent a ritual offering Saturday to the controversial Yasukuni war shrine, which is seen by neighboring countries as a symbol of the nation’s past militarism, especially during World War II. Yasukuni honors some 2.5 million war dead, mostly Japanese, who perished in the country’s wars since the late 19th century.

But it also honors senior military and political figures convicted of war crimes by an international tribunal after WWII. The prime minister sent a sacred “masakaki” tree in the name of the prime minister at the start of an annual autumn festival, a shrine spokeswoman said.

Suga, who took office last month, followed a rite conducted by his nationalist predecessor Shinzo Abe, who also sent ritual offerings to the shrine in recent years.

But Suga is not expected to make a pilgrimage during the two-day biannual event, local media reported, as he will start a four-day trip to Vietnam and Indonesia on Sunday, his first overseas visit as premier.

Visits to the shrine by government officials have angered countries that suffered at the hands of the Japanese military during World War II, particularly South Korea and China.

“We express deep regret over the offering by the Japanese government,” said the South Korean foreign ministry in a Saturday statement.

The shrine “glorifies Japan’s past aggressions and enshrines war criminals,” the statement read.

A 2013 visit to the shrine by Abe sparked a similar outcry from South Korea and wartime foe China, as well as a rare diplomatic rebuke from close ally the United States.

Since then, Abe refrained from paying tributes at the shrine in person but other conservative politicians continued, in particular on August 15 to mark Japan’s WWII surrender.

Abe visited Yasukuni days after he resigned in September. AFP

A4

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2020

Business

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

AWS expects Asian startups to survive pandemic D IGITAL technology giant Amazon Web Services expects Asian startups to adapt to the new business environment amid the coronavirus pandemic this year and sustain their operations next year.

“I think that by staying innovative, trying out new ideas and always keeping customers first, startups can move forward with confidence into 2021 and beyond,” says Gaurav Arora, Amazon Web Services head of startup ecosystem in the Asia Pacific and Japan.

Arora says AWS, the cloud computing unit of Amazon, continues to provide solutions to Asian startups and businesses amid the health crisis.

“We have helped many of our customers use the cloud to set up tools and services to help others. For all of these use cases, our customers are moving forward confidently knowing they can depend on the scale, reach, and reliability of AWS to meet any surge in demand,” Arora says in an e-mail interview.

Arora says he is encouraged by how startups and other companies confront the challenges this year. “I think I have one of the best jobs in the world, because I get to work with some of the region’s and the world’s most innovative and exciting companies, and I admire the way the entrepreneurs I work with daily have risen to the challenges of this year to find new opportunities, especially by leveraging technology,” he says.

He says startups have learned to quickly adapt with the new environment. “In the face of a challenge, startups have an incredible capacity to adapt quickly to market changes, try out new ideas, and think on their feet to identify new revenue streams, even when the world around them is changing,” he says.

Arora, however, says COVID-19’s impact on businesses across Asia should not be understated. “For startups in particular, it has been a difficult time, especially for those still building a significant customer base and cash flow. It’s likely that the year they’ve experienced so far has turned out to be very different to the year they were planning. We’re hearing from the startups we work with that they are reassessing their plans and

projections to accommodate for the ‘new normal,’ which can present startups with opportunities,” he says.

Arora says startups across many verticals are using technology to transform their industries and solve the problems that matter to their communities.

“Innovation-driven by nature, startups are best known for the ability to pivot quickly to meet society’s changing needs, and the COVID-19 pandemic has proven this to be true yet again,” he says.

Among these startups is GAIN Credit, an alternative lending fintech startup in India, which had to close its contact center operations for a brief period amid the lockdown. To continue providing customers with core services, GAIN Credit quickly transformed and implemented AWS services to build a virtual contact center.

GAIN Credit’s team developed a cutting-edge chat application that is highly customizable and configurable for its digital lending customer support needs, and using AWS services, quickly built a chatbot and a voice bot, which collectively handled close to 75 percent of incoming customer queries.

Indian health and fitness startup Cure. fit had to shut its physical gyms but quickly saw they could stay connected with customers by running virtual workout classes and creating personalized online programs. The success of the new offering led to a sudden spike in traffic to Cure.fit’s website, which they were able to manage by leveraging AWS services such as a fast content distribution service that securely delivers data, videos, and applications to customers globally.

Arora says in Southeast Asia, startups solve problems that have never been solved before and address challenging structural gaps in day-to-day life.

“In the fintech space, Philippine startup PearlPay is a great example of local innovation on the AWS Cloud.

Gaurav Arora, Amazon Web Services head of startup ecosystem in the Asia Pacific and Japan.

With more than half the population of the Philippines living in rural areas, most people must physically go to rural banks to access cash and perform transactions. But these banks are often lacking ATMs, debit cards and mobile banking services, which are crucial. Being all-in on AWS, PearlPay offers its cloud-based core banking solutions as SaaS to rural banks, enabling them to digitize their services and reach even those with limited or no access to the internet,” he says.

Meanwhile, Jakarta-based healthtech startup Halodoc has built a mobile app on AWS that connects patients with doctors, and then also with pharmacies so they can order essential medications. Using the latest cloud technology allows Halodoc to launch new app features about 30 percent faster, and improve patient-physician mobile call

response times.

In Thailand, telehealth provider Dr. Raksa is all-in on AWS and has built a virtual healthcare consultation app that’s been downloaded by more than 400,000 people, and facilitated over 100,000 doctor consultations since its launch in 2016.

“We’ve also seen new levels of demand for online shopping in the past few months, with so many people around the world spending more time at home. In the ecommerce sector, we work with industry leaders like Tokopedia and HappyFresh in Indonesia, and online fashion destination, Pomelo Fashion, based in Thailand, who are leveraging AWS’s machine learning services to build personalized shopping experiences with recommendation features unique to individual shoppers,” Arora says.

In Vietnam, edtech platform KidsOnline is experiencing rapid adoption by preschool teachers, parents and children.

The fast-growing startup is now available in 40 cities and provinces, is used by over 1,200 preschools and has 150,000 parents and 20,000 preschool teachers using it, with 50,000 daily visits.

“No matter what a startup wants to do, AWS has the tools and applications that enable them to do it. With 175 products and services, we have the broadest and deepest set of capabilities of any cloud provider, ranging from basic compute and storage through to advanced analytics and container services, through to pre-built solutions,” says Arora.

Arora says AWS is particularly enthusiastic about emerging technologies like machine learning. “Startups across Asia like Indian insurance marketplace, PolicyBazaar, Singaporean ecommerce visual search platform, ViSenze, and Korean online fashion retailer, Brandi are using AWS machine learning to build and launch innovative features such as language interpretation, image recognition, and product recommendations,” he says.

Early-stage startups also like working with Amazon Lightsail, which is ideal for simpler workloads, quick deployments and getting started on AWS. Arora says AWS can help Asian startups reach the global market more efficiently. “The great thing about the cloud is that it allows for experimentation. Because it’s so cost effective, startups can easily run tests and experiment without significant upfront investment. Should a startup find success, it can easily scale up usage, and then scale back down again as needed.

This de-risks the growth process and ensures startups do not need to invest heavily in anticipation of future demand,” he says.

“The AWS Cloud spans 77 availability zones across 24 geographic regions worldwide, which means our customers can go global in minutes. This scalability is essential to hyper-growth startups as they grow and expand into new regions around the world,” says Arora. Roderick T. dela Cruz

Retiree asks gov’t to support corn farmers

Golden Haven Memorial Park

Prices of memorial lots rise over the years UNDER normal circumstances, investing in a memorial lot might be the last thing on many people’s minds. After all, the pursuit of leisure and other mundane affairs often take precedence over matters like a final resting place—for themselves or for those they love.

Realizing how fragile and unpredictable life is may motivate them into making smart decisions now such as investing in a memorial lot at any of Golden Haven’s premier locations.

Golden Haven has more going for it than beautiful parks and tranquil settings that honor the dearly departed. As with any piece of real estate, memorial lots at Golden Haven have increased in value over time. With an annual appreciation of 20 percent, investing in Golden Haven lots grant high returns.

One example is Golden Haven Memorial Park in Las Piñas, a 15-hectare property that features elements of Spanish architecture and a butterfly garden. When the park first opened in 1984, memorial lots at the location cost P5,000. That value has gone up to P378,000 today, showing an impressive 2,240-percent increase in 36 years or 67 percent per annum.

Golden Haven Cebu, acknowledged as one of the most beautiful memorial parks in the country with Italian design and mountaintop sanctuary, saw the price of a memorial lot rise from P25,000 in 2005 to P232,000, an increase of more than 828 percent in value in 15 years or 46 percent per annum.

Another choice place is the Golden Haven Memorial Park in Cagayan de Oro which is known for its majestic replica of the famed Christ the Redeemer statue at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 2007, a memorial plot at the location cost P33,000.

Today, those plots cost P89,000 each, representing a 170-percent increase in value.

Many developers are now offering incredibly flexible terms and even substantial discounts to prospective property seekers. They can come in at a low cost— with no risks involved—but with a proven high return on investments.

Nowhere is this more evident than at Golden Haven, one of the most trusted names in the deathcare industry. Golden Haven has 30 sites across the country, offering memorial lots that make perfect low-risk and safe investments.

It is a subsidiary of publicly listed Golden Bria Holdings Inc., the third largest real estate company in terms of market capitalization valued at over P200 billion.

A FORMER vice president of banana-exporting multinational firm Unifrutti pleads for help for poor corn farmers who are being “killed” by illegal smugglers and importers as prices of the grain plunged to an all-time low of P9 per kilogram.

Rodolfo Pancrudo, farmer-owner of Pancrudo Farm in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, asked the government not to allow the killing of corn farmers.

This may be the ultimate plight of farmers as they do not enjoy corn support price, supposedly expected before from the National Food Administration, nor do they have post-harvest facilities to dry and store their harvests, according to Pancrudo.

Mechanical dryers and storage facilities should enable them to hold their sale of corn and wait until prices become more profitable, he said.

“Traders haggle for the lowest price and tell farmers, ‘Your corn is of low quality.’ That’s why farmers are forced to sell their corn even at only P9 per kilo because they need money. Otherwise the harvest will just go to waste since there are no post-harvest facilities,” he said.

Pancrudo said while he is more fortunate because he is a retiree of Unifrutti, one of the world’s largest producer-exporters of fresh produce, corn farmers are not as fortunate.

“I am just more fortunate since I am more of an entrepreneur. I have an integrated farm. It’s a kind of sustainable farming. But I see farmers having a very

Corn entrepreneur Rodolfo Pancrudo and grandchildren

difficult life. They are in a hand-to-mouth existence,” he said.

Pancrudo Farm also has a piggery. The farm uses hogs’ dung to feed a biogas facility and uses it for fertilizer. It also grows papaya as Pancrudo is a sub-contractor of multinational firm Del Monte.

“I hope other corn farmers may also become entrepreneurs. But most of them are not learned. When I retired from my company, I went into farming just to prac-

tice my being an agriculture engineer. But many farmers run to me for these problems. I have to speak for them.”

The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. through president Danilo Fausto has been seeking an audience with the Department of Agriculture to discuss the plight of farmers in light of the Covid-19 health crisis. PCAFI is asking for an increase in import tariff of farm commodities such as rice to support local farmers.

PNB wins ‘best managed bank’ and ‘best CEO’ PHILIPPINE National Bank was honored by The Asian Banker with Best Managed Bank and Best CEO during its annual Leadership Achievement Awards on Oct. 15.

The award was given to PNB for demonstrating excellence on its response to the challenges brought about by the enhanced community quarantine imposed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“The pandemic has proven to be the toughest challenge we are facing as a business community and as a Filipino nation thus far. We are delighted that our efforts in providing safe and sustainable banking have been recognized by The Asian Banker. It is truly an honor.

We thank our chairman Dr. Lucio Tan, the Tan family and our board of directors and management team for their unwavering support. We are grateful for every Philnabanker for their exemplary com-

Philippine National Bank director Dr. Lucio Tan (left) receives the Asian Banker Award for Best Managed Bank. With him is PNB president and chief executive Wick Veloso.

mitment to serve,” PNB president and chief executive Wick Veloso said.

With the appropriate technologies already in place prior to the lockdown in March, PNB was able to quickly deploy

majority of its workforce on a workfrom-home arrangement to ensure uninterrupted financial services while safeguarding the health of its customers and employees.

In addition to its digital platform, financial services were also made accessible to customers as its Bank On Wheels made rounds in areas where ATMs are limited. The bank also launched numerous initiatives to assist individuals severely affected by the ECQ such as PNBigay Tulong, an employee-giving campaign benefiting outsourced personnel who were temporarily not allowed to go to work because of the lockdown.

The Asian Banker’s Leadership Achievement Awards Program is widely acknowledged as the highest possible recognition available to professionals in the financial service industry in Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa.

Youth & Culture B1

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2020

Bernadette Lunas, Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Sophie’s World:

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

CHECK THIS OUT

A world of wonder and discovery

Belle de Jour releases 2021 planners

SOME say planners are the most useless object this year as most, if all, our plans have been postponed or cancelled.

But amid the pandemic, Viviamo, encourages everyone to continue to explore the world and realize their full potential with the help of its latest lineup of yearly planners made of sustainably sourced paper.

YOUNG LIFE

2021 Belle de Jour Power Planner

By Julianne Francesca P. Berse

Viviamo’s flagship offering, the Belle de Jour (BDJ) Power Planner, inspires everyone to “Grow with the Earth.” Now in its 15th year, BDJ recommits to growth with a logo refresh. It features monthly narratives and worksheets, as well as weekly spreads with enough space for priorities, schedules, and self-care mantras. It’s available in four designs.

W

HO are you? Someone with their own thought, knowledge, and morals? Who are we? Do we humans actually know as much as we think we do, or is everything just an illusion masking what we are supposed to see?

Do we really understand the concept of our existence, how we came to be, and why we were brought on earth to live, to flourish, to create, and eventually die?

Surely we were made from something, for something must come from something.

But where did that come from?

Sophie’s World tackles these topics.

The book does not force any specific ideologies onto you, but offers you a wide array of theories and speculations by many philosophers to choose from as you concoct your own ideology of the world. With ingenious analogies and baffling questions, Jostein Gaarder helps the reader build their own train of philosophical thought as they journey into Sophie’s astonishing world.

How was the world created? Is there a life after death? These are the first few questions the author casts upon his unsuspecting fictional character, Sophie, through the anonymous philosopher, Alberto Knox.

The book is not only doused with letters about philosophers such as Plato, Descartes, and Aristotle, but also includes discussions on the various religions and myths that humans have believed in to explain and rationalize the unpredictable nature of the elements.

Around the end of the story, we find out that nearly the entire first parts including Sophie and Alberto are actually a part of its own book and we wind up following the story of the reader named Hilde instead. This sudden shift in perspective adds complexity to the story,

The 1999 drama-adventure film 'Sophie's World' by director Erik Gustavson stars Silje Storstein as Sophie. (Photo from Alchetron)

'Sophie's World' (Sofies verden), a 1991 novel

by Norwegian writer Jostein Gaarder, follows 14-year-old Sophie as she discovers the history of philosophy.

rendering the reader unsure what is true and what is not.

The main character, Sophie is a simple 14-year-old girl, living a normal life until she receives a series of anonymous letters dedicated to her, whose writing and name she does not recognize, and a long essay about how to think and solve things philosophically. She finds it odd

and initially assumed it was simply a mix up in the mail although no mailman had passed by.

Later she becomes suspicious of the content as she sees her very name and address on it. As her curiosity gets the better of her, she reads the anonymous letters being sent to her house and ends up engrossed in her own little world as she learns about philosophy in her secret hiding spot underneath her garden.

Over the course of a few days, she realizes how easy it is to see things philosophically.

She rediscovers the old arguments about whether or not we came from water (Thales), air (Anaximenes), or small indivisible particles (Leucippus and Democritus), and even reignites her younger self’s amazement at the limitless possibilities of Lego blocks (since these represent atoms, the building blocks of matter).

As Sophie continues to communicate with the philosopher, she ends up wanting to delve deeper into the world of philosophy. She realizes how preoccupied her family and friends are with trivial and boring facts and knowledge, that no one even wonders how they came to exist, or how wonderful it is to be alive, and able to breathe the air and discover everything as it is and was.

Read the rest of the article at www.manilastandard.net.

CONCERT

2021 Navi Planner

Navi 2021 makes it possible for adventurers to travel with a virtual “around the world” edition pages that feature lighthouses from 12 different countries and the stories behind them. This traveler-focused planner sports a lighthouse logo, an icon of safety for seafarers. It comes with checklists and writing prompts related to traveling.

2021 Everything is Possible Planner

The shards of broken glass on the cover of the 2021 Everything is Possible Planner symbolizes the beauty of breakthroughs, reminding everyone that transformation only happens when they embrace vulnerability and allow themselves to be broken first. It features a section that helps one stay on top of their goals.

2021 Focus Journal

Each page of this journal is decorated with the icosahedron, a three-dimensional figure that is made of 20 triangle-shaped sides, a structure believed to represent change and the movement and flow it creates. The 2021 Focus dividers highlight powerful words that are significant to change, while its weekly layout provides ample space for to-dos and other reminders.

2021 Essentials Planner

With unstructured pages lined with dots, the 2021 Essentials Planner is ideal for bullet journaling or creative journaling. It features sleek and elegant Art Deco cover designs.

Classical guitarist Ivar-Nicholas Fojas

Fernando Sy-Changco III, David Tiongson, and Edel Mark Bitao of the Kabataang Gitarista trio

Ivar Fojas, Kabataang Gitarista serenade online audience STRUMMING the strings at on ongoing online concert are classical guitarists Ivar Fojas and the Kabataang Gitarista trio.

As part of its Sunshine Classics concert series, Makati-based senior recreation center Sunshine Place presents the two acts on its YouTube channel from October 16 to 31.

A Fulbright scholar at University of Arizona of Doctoral Studies, Fojas had studied under Tom Patterson as well as Grammy Award winners David Russell and Sergio and Odair Assar.

The now teacher at the Philippine Women’s University School of Music Graduate School and De La Salle University Literature Department has been featured as a solo artist by the Tucson Cathedral Concert Series, The Arizona Friends of Chamber Music, and St. Ambrose Church.

Fernando Sy-Changco III, David Tiongson, and Edel Mark Bitao comprise the Kabataang Gitarista trio, which is part of the Kabataang Gitarista (KG), a group of talented public high school students currently being trained

in classical guitar.

The three-concert bundle rates of P650 for seniors and P950 for regular are valid until 12:00 p.m. on October 31.

Once registered, an email will be sent to the registrant containing the program’s link which will be valid respective to the duration of each concert. They can access the concert video as many times as they want.

Contact Mariel Ilusorio at 0917-7092255 or marielilusorio@hotmail.com to purchase tickets.

2021 Petit Planner

Portable and handy, this planner allows one to get a quick overview of their plans and schedules. The neon minimalist typography on the cover is modern and unisex.

The aforementioned planners are now available at go.crazyaboutpaper.com/ viviamoplanners and all major bookstores nationwide.

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

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

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

B2

Home/Design

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2020

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

Green thumb heaven at Green Centrale

Getting ahead of the game in Iloilo

I

LOILO CITY—Property company Megaworld recently announced plans to further expand its residential portfolio inside the 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park (IBP) inMandurriao, Iloilo City.

\Hailed as the “Best Township Development” at the 2018 Philippines Property Awards, the IBP promises to showcase a community that blends urban architecture with the historical grandeur of the city, while providing a holistic live-work-play lifestyle.

With a plethora of state-of-the-art offices, commercial developments and residential properties offered, IBP has seen as much as 127% increase in property values, from 2013 to 2020.

“PINNACLE” OF SUCCESS Set to be the only residential condominium to rise within the township’s boutique hotel and commercial district is The Pinnacle, Megaworld’s sixth residential property inside IBP. The 20-storey condominium offers 572 units, ranging from studio (up to 34-square meters), studio with loft (up to 56-square meters), executive studio with loft (up to 73-square meters), one-bedroom (up to 40-square meters), executive one-bedroom (up to 61-square meters), two-bedroom (up to 84.5-square meters), two-bedroom with loft (up to 89.5-square meters),

and two-bedroom with deck (up to 113.5-square meters).

PROMISING INVESTMENT “Iloilo City, particularly Iloilo Business Park, is an attractive location for property investments,” Jennifer Palmares-Fong, vice president for sales and marketing, Megaworld Iloilo, told the Manila Standard. “Since we started selling our first residential condominium tower in 2013, prices per square meter have already more than doubled. Those who bought a P3 million, 40-square meter unit seven years ago would see their property appreciating to about P6.8 million today.”

The Pinnacle is due for completion in 2026.

Over the past seven years, Megaworld launched several residential condominium towers in Iloilo Business Park. These include the three-tower One Madison Place, Lafayette Park Square, The Palladium, Saint Honore, and Saint Dominique.

Aside from condominiums and office towers, IBP hosts hotels such as the Richmonde Hotel Iloilo and Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo; Festive Walk Iloilo, which was hailed as the country winner for the “Best Retail Development” category at the 2019 Asia Property Awards; the Iloilo Convention Center; the IBP Transport Hub; and the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA).

GARDENING, whether in an urban or rural setting, is the way to go nowadays. Whatever one’s reasons are, there is no harm in flexing that green thumb. With community quarantine paving the way for many to discover new hobbies and interests, a lot of people have turned to becoming “plant parents”.

Green Centrale, a plant retail shop that started as an online shop, has found a way for more people to be touched by its advocacy to bring healthy and beautiful plants from its humble plant nursery in Sta. Rosa into more people’s homes.

Green Centrale is formed under Greenscapes Plus Philippines Inc., an established landscaping company incorporated in 2009. Greenscapes conceptualizes, designs, and implements landscaping projects and provides technical support in landscaping and tree care management.

In 2015, Greenscapes was able to secure the business of country’s leading real estate developer Vista Land and its various companies namely Brittany, Crown Asia, Camella, Lumina, and its condominium brands, Vista Residences and COHO. Greenscapes is also the landscape developer of the Villar Group’s premium commercial centers—Vista Malls, Evia Lifestyle Center in Vista Alabang, and NOMO – A Vista Lifestyle Center at Bacoor City.

GOING BEYOND SELLING PLANTS Greenscapes is made up of professional horticulturists, foresters, and skilled workers equipped with adequate knowledge of technology in tree care and landscaping operations. Green Centrale’s affiliation to Greenscapes ensures that everything Green Centrale offers are cultivated responsibly by professionals that are experts in their field.

Green Centrale advocates for the proper knowledge and care of plants among their clients. The company shares plant care tips regularly on their social media accounts to help guide customers in their journey towards becoming successful plant parents.

Green Centrale sells indoor plants, outdoor plants, air plants, and hanging plants. It also offer various products related to gardening and plant care such as plant racks and a variety of pots which include decorative pots that are hand painted by their in-house artists.

GEARING UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS The company also puts together gift baskets that are curated to ensure that every aspiring plant parent is sufficiently provided with their plant care needs especially during this pandemic.

Green Centrale is getting ready to offer special products such as Capiz pots, Christmas tree shelves, and even Poinsettias.

Aspiring plant parents can check out Green Centrale’s plant selection on their online catalog, uploaded on their social media accounts-- Facebook and on Instagram, @greencentraleph.

Green Centrale also has pop-up stores at AllHome Evia, AllHome Nomo, and Vista Mall Sta Rosa.

ULI-YLG’S ANNOUNCES NEW CO-CHAIRS.

The Urban Land Institute Philippines (ULI) recently

introduced Harly Geraldine Pow and Jezreel Apelar as new co-chairs of its Young Leaders Group (YLG). ULI is a network of cross-disciplinary real estate and land use experts from all over the world who bring together industry leaders with a common commitment to building better communities, promoting the responsible use of land, sharing best practices and sustaining thriving communities worldwide Pow is the business development director of H.S. POW construction and development and managing director of Wellworth properties. Jezreel Gaius Apelar is the deputy executive director for the National Parks Development Committee, an attached agency of the Department of Tourism. “We would like to promote diversity, inclusion and more active participation from our YLG members, and hopefully have a stronger presence in other regions, specifically in Visayas and Mindanao,” Harly said. The other members of the ULI-YLG are: MikkoBarranda, Leechiu Property Consultants; Robert Abano, Asia Landbest Properties, Inc.; Emmanuel Javier, ELESCOR; Angeline Yapyuco, Ayala Land Inc.; Paula Queano, Haptic PR; and Edward Rainier Ramos, Royalegate Corporation.

HAVE RAIL WILL TRAVEL FOR MALOLOS-CLARK THE joint venture between Philippine infrastructure conglomerate Megawide construction corporation (Megawide); Hyundai engineering &construction (Hyundai E&C); and Dong-ah geological engineering company (Dong-ah) recently got the greenlight from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to start construction on the Malolos-Clark railway project.

The MCRP is part of the larger North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project of the DOTr. It will cover 17 kilometers of viaduct structure, including elevated station buildings in Calumpit, Bulacan and Apalit, Pampanga.

“This project will be significant for Megawide as it marks our foray into horizontal infrastructure,” Edgar Saavedra, Megawide chairman and chief executive officer, told the Manila Standard.“We look forward to strengthening our technical competency in these kinds of projects so we may participate in a bigger capacity and share our vision of a first-world Philippines.”

The Megawide CEO revealed that it is also interested in other rail projects in the government’s list of priority projects, including the Metro Manila Subway and the NSCR Southline.

CONDOTELS TO BOUNCE BACK AFTER PANDEMIC Real estate developer CitiGlobal Realty and Development Inc., believes that there is no better time than now for Filipinos, especially Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), to invest in low-risk investments, such as condominium units amid the current global health crisis. With its passion for helping OFWs and other investors, CitiGlobal is currently developing condotels in strategic and high-value locations across the country. Condotels are short for “condominium hotels,” which operate as a hotel.

“Condotels will help Filipinos, especially OFWs who have been working hard for years, ensure financial security and reliable income sources,” Gary To, managing director of CitiGlobal, said. The company aims to deliver projects that will revolutionize the Filipino mindset on leisure properties. Among their currently open real estate projects are Tagaytay Fontaine Villas, Tagaytay Clifton Resort Suites in Tagaytay, and Diamond Beach Resorts in Palawan. To learn more, visit https://citiglobal.com.ph/.

Entertainment

M

B3

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

STANDARD‘S CHOICE

By Eton Concepcion

ISS Universe Philippines, the most anticipated national beauty tilt in the pageant world, is definitely going to happen amid the ongoing crisis we are experiencing at the moment.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2020

Miss Universe Philippines fearless forecast 2020, currently works as coordinator and lecturer at SRG Manila Review Center.

All eyes are now on the resumption of the much-delayed search for the country’s representative to the most prestigious international beauty pageant with 51 candidates battling for the lone, much-coveted crown.

The confidently beautiful young woman who will succeed Gazini Ganados should come from this list of top contenders:

S a n d r a Lemonon

She’s back and never been this strong. This 25-year-old Fine Arts graduate from Escola Portuguesa de Macao is a part-time model and works as a baker. Sandra was 4th runner up in Miss World Philippines 2016 and did a Top 15 finish in the 2018 edition of Binibining Pilipinas.

Ysabella Ysmael

We wouldn’t mind seeing Miss Universe 1973 Margie Moran’s niece representing the country at the 69th edition of Miss Universe. This eloquent, 23-year-old Psychology graduate at De La Salle University is one of the girls to watch out for. The 5-foot-7 beauty is a ballerina and won second place in Century Tuna Superbods competition in 2018.

Apriel Smith

Michele Theresa Gumabao

This 28-year-old, 5-foot-10 Marketing Management graduate at De La Salle University and former co-captain of the UAAP champion varsity volleyball team is not new in pageants. The California-born daughter of actor Dennis Roldan represented the Philippines in Miss Globe 2018 and finished in Top 15.

She’s currently a contract player of a volleyball commercial team and aspires to become a television host someday.

This mesmerizing black beauty could pull off a big surprise like what she did in minor competitions she participated in. This 24-year-old, 5-foot-9 Fil-American beauty from Cebu, is a Tourism Management graduate of University of San Carlos.

She was crowned Miss Dumanjug 2011, Miss Cebu City Olympics 2012, Sinulog Festival Queen 2012, and Miss Badian 2015. She also placed third runner up in the Miss Mandaue 2013 and first runner up in the Reyna ng Aliwan 2017.

Michele Pauline Amelinckx

Skelly Ivy Florida

Everybody wants a beauty that stands out and Skelly can easily fit the description. This 20-year-old, 5-foot6 student in Tourism Management at Biliran Province State University is landing on every pageant critic’s list.

A dusky version of Gloria Diaz, this native of Biliran province, Eastern Visayas, is into modeling and playing volleyball.

Ysabella

This 23-year-old International Studies graduate and model is a Fil-Belgian beauty. A quite experienced in the pageant world, she has a few titles under her belt including Global Beauty Queen Philippines (Mutya ng Pilipinas) 2018 and Miss Bohol 2017.

Alaiza Flor Malinao

Skelly

This lady is always cameraready, not to mention that cameras also love her.

Alaiza is 26-year-old and stands 5-foot-8. She was a college basketball scholar and Psychology graduate at San Pedro College. A farmer’s daughter from Davao del Sur, the international model was Century Tuna Superbods 2014 first runner-up, named in Cosmo Philippines 2015 Top 8 Sexiest Models and was Top 15 in Bb. Pilipinas 2015. She was also a candidate for Asia’s Next Top Model 2016.

Rabiya Mateo

Her name means “queen” and should she win, we are seeing her shine while owning the pageant stage. This 24-year-old, 5-foot-6 licensed physical therapist graduated cum laude at Iloilo Doctors College.

A native of Balasan, Iloilo, Mateo, the reigning Miss Iloilo (Dinagyang)

MUP PH prelims, coronation night on KTX.PH THE search for the country’s next representative to the most prestigious beauty pageant in the world and worthy successor to Gazini Ganados culminates in the coming Miss Universe Philippines preliminary and coronation nights on October 23 and 25, respectively.

Pageant fans worldwide can watch the whole journey of the aspiring beauty queens with the commercial-free live stream of the two events on KTX.PH, the newest digital events platform that offers exciting online experiences.

Watch 51 candidates strut down the Miss Universe PH stage in their swimsuit and evening gown during the preliminary night this Oct. 23 (Friday). Come Oct. 25 (Friday), fans can catch the crowning of the country’s next representative to the Miss Universe 2020 pageant.

Fans can buy their tickets for only P99 to watch each of the two separate events with no interruptions. Access to the livestream also comes with a chat feature, which allows viewers to interact with each other and voice their opinions about their bets as the Reigning Miss Universe Philippines Gazini Ganados pageant unfolds.

Paula Ortega

Her exposure to different cultures might be her big advantage. Born and raised by Filipino parents in Spain, Paula first joined a modeling contest in Spain at age 15 and competed at Global Model of the Year 2017 in Portugal. She was first runner up in Miss Bicolandia 2017. This 24-year-old, 5-foot-9 beauty was a Medical Laboratory Technician and Nursing graduate at University of Barcelona.

Tracy Maureen Perez

A strong competitor for the crown this 27-year-old, 5-foot-5 Industrial Engineering graduate of University of San Carlos is ready to slay on the pageant stage. A Cebuana model, Perez was a Top 12 finalist of Miss World Philippines 2019.

The Miss Universe Philippines 2020 coronation is happening at the Baguio Country Club, Baguio City on Oct. 25, telecast on GMA 7 at 9:00 a.m.. Also to be available, with no commercial breaks, by subscribing to the Ring Light series on www.empire.ph.

Resorts World Manila talks pageantry with Miss Universe Philippines candidates (from left, 1st row): Mandaue City’s Lou Dominique A. Piczon, RWM Corporate Communications Director Joee Guilas, Quezon City’s Michele Theresa I. Gumabao; (2nd row) Paranaque’s Ysabella R. Ysmael, Pasay’s Zandra Nicole A. Sta. Maria, Laguna’s Jo-Ann D. Flores; (3rd row) Quezon Province’s Faye Dominique B. Deveza, Rizal’s Ericka A. Evangelista, Taguig’s Sandra R. Lemonon; and (4th row) Davao City’s Alaiza Flor P. Malinao, and Makati’s Ivanna Kamil S. Pacis.

Resorts World Manila hosts 48 Miss Universe Philippines candidates THE Philippines’ most beautiful women are calling Resorts World Manila (RWM) home for the next few days before heading up to Baguio City for the main events for the firstever Miss Universe Philippines pageant.

Miss Universe Philippines’ stay at the Holiday Inn Express Manila is part of RWM’s Swab + Stay offers that are essential for travelers’ COVID-19 testing requirements. The property’s enhanced safety protocols are aligned with the Interagency Task Force’s (IATF) guidelines for guests’safety making RWM hotels

among the trusted partners of tourists and travelers.

Miss Universe Philippines candidates enjoy world-class thrills within their reach during their stay with high-speed in-room internet connections and a wide selection of RWM favorites available for delivery for a comfortable and hasslefree stay.

For more information on RWM’s Swab + Stay offers visit www.rwmanila.com and follow @resortsworldmanila on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.

B4

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2020

Desiree Carlos, Editor

Pets

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

First Aid Kit for Pets PET TALES

BY DESIREE CARLOS

E

MERGENCIES happen.

For such instances, it is best to always be prepared.

As pet owners, we must have a first aid kit at home.

“A first-aid kit is important not only in the event of a natural disaster, but any time a pet is far away from immediate help – for example when the family takes the pet camping or on vacation out of the area, said ASPCApro.org in “How to Make a Pet First Aid Kit.” “Help make sure your adopters and veterinary clients are prepared in the event of an unexpected pet emergency with this do-it-yourself first-aid kit, recommended by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center,” it added.

The contents of a First Aid Kit for Pets: • Absorbent gauze pads • Adhesive tape • Cotton balls or swabs • Fresh 3% hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting (always check with veterinarian or animal poison control expert before giving to your pet) • Ice pack • Disposable gloves • Scissors with blunt end • Tweezers • OTC antibiotic ointment • Oral syringe or turkey baster • Liquid dishwashing detergent (for bathing) • Towels • Small flashlight • Alcohol wipes • Styptic powder • Saline eye solution • Artificial tear gel • Phone number, clinic name, address of your veterinarian as well as local veterinary emergency clinics.

Please check your first aid kit every few months to make sure nothing has expired or needs to be replaced.

Keep the kit away from children.

When an emergency happens, call your vet immediately and he/she will instruct you on what to do.

Animal Special Days

There are many ways to celebrate the special role dogs, cats and other

Black dogs or black cats do not bring bad luck. Any dog or cat of whatever color or breed bring love to a home.

No cat remains feral forever. As rescuers who rehabilitate feral cats and aggressive dogs, we have witnessed how feral cats become sweet cats as they learn to trust humans. How to gain their trust? Be kind to them, make them feel loved, and give them food and water and a place to rest. Angel is one of our " kitten rescuers" and "cat rehab master." He brings home kittens (we know these are not his babies because he is neutered) and gets feral cats to trust us enough to allow us to put them in a cage and have them vaccinated (anti-rabies and tricat agains illnesses), and even fixed. In the photo, our hardworking cat rescuer takes a nap.

pets play in our lives.

We can hold a birthday party for our pets on their birth day, or the day you rescued her, or the day you adopted him.

Or you can celebrate with others on special days set aside by animal welfare groups or animal lovers.

Here are special days collated by Dog Tipper for this month:

October

Month-Long Observances • Adopt-A-Dog Month®.

American Humane Association.

• Oct. 11-17: National Veterinary • Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month. By Technician Week. Sponsored by the ASPCA. National Association of Veterinary • National Animal Safety and Pro- Technicians of America. tection Month.

One-Day Holidays • National Pet Wellness Month.

• Oct. 1: National Fire Pup Day. • National Pit Bull Awareness • Oct. 1: National Black Dog Day. Month.

• Oct. 4: World Animal Day. Week-Long Observances • Oct. 14: National Pet Obesity • 1st Week of October. National Awareness Day. Walk Your Dog Week.

• Oct. 16: Global Cat Day. • 1st Full Week of October. Ani• Oct. 16: National Feral Cat Day. By mal Welfare Week.

• Oct. 17: National Fetch Day.

• Oct. 21: National Pets for Veterans Day. • Oct. 26: National Pit Bull Awareness Day. Last Saturday in Oct. (unless Halloween falls on the last Saturday, then another date is chosen).

• Oct. 27: National Black Cat Day in the UK. • Oct. 28: Plush Animal Lovers Day. A day that most dogs will be happy to celebrate…as they unstuff those plush toys…

• Oct. 29: National Cat Day.

Don’t Fret, You Won’t Get Wet

How owners can exercise their pets during the rainy season By the Pet Food Institute SEVERAL pet owners believe that it is nearly impossible to give their pets a proper workout during the rainy season. However, owners are reminded that there are several activities that they can do to ensure that their beloved four-legged companions get their daily dose of exercise.

Staying in and teaching their pets new tricks is a great example of a mental workout. Teaching one’s pet new tricks can help improve their behavior, increase bonding with their human, and help the pet be comfortable around people. When training one’s pet, owners are reminded to be patient and to take into consideration factors such as their pet’s abilities and age when they teach them tricks. If their pet is old, owners must not force them to learn strenuous tricks such as standing on their hind legs.

Climbing up and down the stairs is a different form of exercise that owners can enjoy with their dogs and cats. Owners with a staircase at home may use this to strengthen their pet’s strength and stamina. This simple exer-

cise also helps strengthen the bond between owner and pet as synchronicity is required to avoid untoward incidents. If climbing up and down the stairs is not an option, owners may play a game of fetch by sitting on top of the stairs and throwing a toy to their pet. This can also help the owner get exercise, as well, as they bring the ball back up the stairs.

Another game that pet owners might want to explore is the fun nose game. The nose game challenges pets to find treats their owners hid around the house.

Playing this simple yet interesting game physically and mentally challenges pets and helps them rely on their instincts and senses, particularly their sense of smell.

For those who are looking for a more active gameplay, setting up an obstacle course for their pets is a great way to beat the boredom during the rainy season. Pet owners may use boxes, towels, cushions, and other household items that may serve as barriers and hurdles their pets can jump over and avoid. This activity is the perfect exercise for pets because it challenges them physically. Moreover,

this activity strengthens the bond and trust between owner and their beloved pets.

Pet Food Institute (PFI) is committed in educating pet owners about proper pet nutrition to keep pets healthy and happy.

Through its local initiative, WellFed, Well-Nurtured campaign in partnership with the Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines (VPAP), PFI seeks to advocate responsible pet ownership to the ever-growing Filipino pet community.

About the Pet Food Institute Since 1958, the Pet Food Institute has been the voice of the U.S. pet food industry. PFI is the industry's representative before Congress and state legislatures, as well as state and federal agencies; public education and media relations resource; organizer of seminars and educational programs; and liaison with other organizations. PFI represents the companies that make 98 percent of U.S. dog and cat food, an industry with more than $20 billion in U.S. retail sales and $1.3 billion in exports in 2015.