Manila Standard - 2020 December 6 - Sunday

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 275 • 2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

NO STOPPING SHOPPING. Shoppers continue to swarm Divisoria, Manila’s main shopping center, on Saturday, unmindful of the tarpaulin displayed along Roman Street that reminded them to practice social distancing and other health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as Christmas comes in three weeks. Norman Cruz

’No magic bullet for COVID-19’ WHO warns vaccines won’t solve crisis soon; PH sets P73b for virus cure

T

HE World Health Organization has warned that vaccines will be no magic bullet for the coronavirus crisis as nations gear up for a massive rollout to tackle surging infections.

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM DEC. 5)

438,069 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

1,733 29,961 NEW

ACTIVE

8,526

17

399,582

133

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

The warning coincided with the announcement Saturday that the government was ready to spend as much as P73 billion for the procurement of coronavirus vaccines to achieve “herd immunity,” the country’s budget chief said.

Meanwhile, Moscow on Saturday began vaccinating workers at high risk of becoming infected with the coronavirus at newly opened clinics across the city.

The WHO however warned against vaccine complacency on Friday (Saturday in Manila) and what it said was an erroneous belief that the COVID-19 crisis was over with jabs on the horizon.

In Manila, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said the country currently had P10 billion in standby funds for vaccine procurement under Bayanihan 2, and a P2.5 billion initial budget dedicated to vaccine procurement under the proposed national budget for 2021.

RESTORE ‘DREAMER’ PROGRAM, US TOLD

The P73 billion budget will be enough to vaccinate around 60 million Filipinos, Avisado said in a public press briefing “The report from Finance chief Sonny Dominguez during our last meeting, he said the government’s ready to spend up to P73 billion to vaccinate more or less 60 million Filipinos, to attain herd immunity,” the Budget chief said.

The Food and Drug Administration said that it will have cleared a COVID-19 vaccine candidate for emergency use by January.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier issued an order allowing FDA emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccines and drugs.

Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo earlier said at least P140 billion was needed to obtain herd immunity, but Avisado assured that the government is finding other ways to fund the vaccine procurement, such as securing loans from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

Senator Christopher Go on Saturday dared vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to be the first ones to volunteer for the injection of a “safe” COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes available in the country.

“I’m challenging Secretary Galvez, once

MERALCO PROMOTES SPOKESMAN TO VP

A US judge ordered the Trump administration to fully reinstate a program that protects from deportation immigrants who came to the country illegally as children.

WORLD / A3

MANILA Electric Co., the country’s largest power retailer, announced the promotion of Agapito ‘Joe’ Del Rosario Zaldarriaga as vice president and head of corporate communications effective Dec. 1.

BUSINESS / A4

HOME OFFICE WINS COMPETITION The 17th Estilo de Vida Interior Design Competition asked contestants to revamp an existing room in their house into a temporary home office not less than 12 square meters and should accommodate up to two persons.

YOUTH / B1

PREVENT KIDNEY DISEASE IN CATS Of late, there have been a lot of posts in social media about cats suffering from or even dying due to a kidney disease.

PETS / B4

The 31-storey residential condominium’s mat foundation and four basement levels are now complete, and work will soon begin on the upper floors.

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

manilastandard.net

She said the CHR recognizes the government efforts to effectively enforce health safety protocols to protect the public against the pandemic but “human rights and dignity must be respected at all times and situations.”

De Guia’s statement came in response to the pronouncement of a government task force on COVID-19 that law enforcers-- to be armed with yantok-- will be deployed to enforce health safeguards, such as physical distancing in public areas this coming holidays.

The CHR also reminded, “the pandemic is not a peace and order issue, but a public health concern. The public should also be equally reminded to follow these health protocols strictly.”

The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday announced 1,733 new coronavirus disease infections, bringing the nationwide tally to 438,069.

The DOH also said that 133 cases have recovered as of Saturday, bringing the total to 399,582. Meanwhile, the death toll went up to 8,526 with 17 new fatalities.

Of the total cases, 6.8 percent or 29,961 cases remain active. Maricel V. Cruz, Willie Casas and AFP

STORIES ON PAGE 2

PH INVESTMENT RULES CHANGE? NPA LEADER FALLS IN RAID

PETS / B4

RIDGEWOOD TOWERS STAR CINEMA’S EARLY RISES AT BRISK PACE CHRISTMAS OFFERING

HOME/DESIGN / B2 twitter.com/ MlaStandard

available na po ‘yung safe na vaccine, ipapakita niya, along with Secretary Duque, sila po ang unang magpapaturok ng vaccine to encourage naman po,” Go said at the Laging Handa public briefing.

Go, also the Senate Committee on Health chair, made the statement as he said the poor and the vulnerable should be prioritized in the access and availability of COVID-19 vaccines. He said he observed that many Filipinos are still hesitant to have themselves vaccinated.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights on Saturday cautioned the government on the threat of enforcers to use “yantok” or rattan stick in enforcing COVID-19 health protocols.

“Violence, even in its slightest suggestion, is not the best way to address the pandemic,” CHR spokesperson lawyer Jacqueline Ann de Guia said in a statement.

Instead of the use of force or actions that may lead to humiliation and trauma, de Guia said “government should continue to employ information dissemination to make the people understand the hazards of going out in the midst of a pandemic, as well as implement programs guided by the sound advice of science and health professionals.”

ABS-CBN’s movie arm takes us back to the time when iconic siblings Teddie, Bobbie, Alex, and Gabbie Salazar deal with challenges and heartaches in Four Sisters Before The Wedding.

ENTERTAINMENT / B3

P1.7B IN DRUGS HALTED AT NAIA FILMFEST GETS RODY’S SUPPORT ‘PENSIONADO’ REVIVAL EYED

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

News

A2

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Speaker bats for relaxed investment rules

By Maricel V. Cruz

H

OUSE Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has cited the need to relax the country’s investment regulations to attract more foreign direct investments, especially in agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

Addressing leaders and members of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce of the Philippines and local business groups during a virtual conference Thursday, Velasco said more foreign investments in agriculture and manufacturing would also mean more local jobs for Filipinos.

“We sorely need investments in these sectors—massive and sufficient—to

generate and sustain employment,” Velasco said in his speech during the 9th ARANGKADA Philippines Forum titled “Foreign Investment in the Post-Pandemic Philippines.”

Velasco said agriculture and manufacturing should be major sources of employment, especially for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), a huge number of them

were forced to return home amid the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He lamented that OFWs were first to get laid off because foreign countries needed to take care of their own workers first. “Would it not have been better if, in the first place, our workers did not have to go abroad to find quality employment?”

“Unfortunately, one of the most crippling structural weaknesses in the Philippine economy is the underperformance of our agriculture and manufacturing sectors,” he said.

To lure more foreign investors, Velasco said the country would need to relax its business regulations to make them more friendly to foreign investments.

The Marinduque solon then called for the enactment of investment-related legislative proposals, especially those espoused by the JFC and Philippine business groups.

These include amendments to the Public Service Act, the Retail Trade Act and the Foreign Investment Act, all of which have already been passed by the House of Representatives and transmitted to the Senate for its consideration.

In a related development, Assistant Majority Leader and Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas pushed for a salary increase for health workers in the private sector to discourage them to leave their families and work

BUSY FIRE DAY. Firefighters try to extinguish

a fire on third alarm coming from a warehouse on North Bay Boulevard North in Navotas on Saturday.

Meanwhile, workers clean up the debris caused by an LPG explosion at a restaurant along Gil Puyat corner Ayala on Saturday. No casualties were reported from either incident. Norman Cruz

Antigen tests BOC halts P1.7b in smuggled drugs at NAIA free for PAL GenSan flights

By Joel E. Zurbano and Vito Barcelo

By Joel E. Zurbano FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines is offering COVID-19 Antigen tests as its early Christmas gifts to air travelers going from Manila to General Santos beginning Monday until Dec. 17.

PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said the local government of General Santos required negative antigen test results from travelers or visitors.

Antigen tests, an alternative to Reverse Transcription - Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests, are an important tool in the overall response against the coronavirus disease and provide results in minutes.

To avail themselves of the free testing, passengers must register via PAL’s testing partner’s booking portal at bit.ly/ PALHMIRegForm.

Villaluna said travelers to Gen San via PAL must be at the Antigen testing center at PAL Gate 3, 1300 Andrews Avenue, Pasay City two to six hours before their flight. The testing center is open from 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. every Monday and Thursday.

Antigen testing may be carried out via drive-thru or walk-in.

Passengers are encouraged to arrive at the testing center as early as possible for faster processing.

Results are released within 30 minutes and travelers may avail themselves of the free PAL shuttle service to the airport.

THE Bureau of Customs seized more than P1.7-billion worth of smuggled drugs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport following its intensified campaign on dangerous contraband and anti-social goods at the airport this year.

The latest apprehension was the P1.8million shipment of diazepam (Valium) and nitrazepam (Mogadon) which was intercepted at the Paircargo warehouse in Pasay City.

Import documents showed that the cargo was shipped by a certain “Muztaza and brother” from Pakistan and was misdeclared as “Health Care Products”.

But Customs examiners found a total of 35,345 tablets of valium and mogadon

which were described as addictive and highly regulated drugs by the 1971 United Nations Single Convention on Psychotropic Substances.

Investigation showed that the tablets were imported without the required License to Operate and Certificate of Product Registration from the Food and Drugs Authority, and Import Permit from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

The seizure brings to 43 the total number of drug apprehension made by the Customs - Port of NAIA under the supervision of district collector Carmelita Talusan which has been active in intercepting illegal drugs both in passenger terminals and air parcels.

Talusan attributed their accomplishments to her men and the continuing support of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug

Interdiction Task Group.

“Since January 2020, in pursuit of the anti-illegal drugs campaign of Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, BoCNAIA with the active partnership of PDEA and NAIA-IADITG already intercepted 43 different shipments of illegal drugs with a total value of P1.72 billion,” she said.

Most of the seized drugs were shabu, ecstasy, cocaine and kush marijuana coming from China, United States and European countries.

Talusan said the men and women of BOC-NAIA are focused not only in doing their best to meet their revenue target but also in protecting the borders.

“Attempts to bring in and out prohibited goods are forewarned since Customs NAIA is aggressively monitoring all parcels and baggage in the port,” said Talusan.

MMFF gets Rody’s support this year THE Metro Manila Film Festival, which will be available on a digital platform this year, has earned the support of President Rodrigo Duterte, who described the event as “a beacon of hope.”

Duterte acknowledged the annual film festival as the “pioneer and foremost industry event that showcases the best Filipino filmmaking, and how it compares with the rest of the world.”

“The Metro Manila Film Festival has given us memorable films that convey the richness of our culture and heritage. This year, festival entries will be shown online so that you can see them with your families in the safety of our homes,” said Duterte, in a pre-recorded speech aired over MMFF’s official Facebook page.

“May the festival continue to be a beacon of hope for the advancement of the Philippine cinema and for the growth as a nation,” he added.

The annual festival, which began in 1975, has given the Filipino audience a time to enjoy the holidays with their family and friends at the cinemas, said Duterte. Joel Zurbano

A LOT OF VALIUM. Officers of the Bureau of Customs–NAIA, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG) intercept 35,345 tablets of diazepam (Valium) and nitrazepam (Mogadon) with an estimated street value of P1.8 million. The tablets were discovered by BoC-NAIA frontliners during the inspection and examination of parcels at the Paircargo warehouse. BOC-NAIA Photo

NPA leader falls in raid in Bulacan

By Jess Malabanan CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga—Police authorities said they have captured a suspected leader of the New People’s Army, believed responsible over the death of four Army troopers in Nueva Vizcaya in September 2017, following a raid in his residence at Barangay Kamias, San Miguel, Bulacan last weekend.

Another NPA rebel was killed during the exchange of gunfire between communist guerillas and members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group at Bgy. Moriones, San Jose, Tarlac Friday.

Police identified the slain rebel as Fernando Lumanlan Poblacio Jr., with standing warrant of arrest for murder and two counts of frustrated murder.

Brig. Gen. Valeriano De Leon, Central Luzon PNP chief, identified the arrested NPA leader as Jose Esperila Bernardino, 58, Secretary of the Regional White Area Committee and Central Luzon Regional Committee of the NPA. De Leon said Bernardino, who would be charged shortly, did not resist when confronted by policemen and military troopers Friday. He said the capture was part of the government campaign to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) in the countryside.

The Central Luzon top cop said Bernardino’s capture was covered by a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Paul Attolba Jr., of the Nueva Vizcaya Regional Trial Court on July 18, 2018 for multiple murder offense.

Police said Bernardino was included in the list of Wanted Persons released by the Department of National Defense and Department of Interior and Local Government.

Body Camera Act must be passed, says Pangilinan TO PREVENT unlawful arrests and planting of evidence as alleged in the case of peasant organizer Amanda Echanis, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan wants the police to wear body cameras during police operations.

“We need to protect the public against the possibility of police abuse of power or use of violence such as planting of evidence, illegal arrest, and even killings,” said Pangilinan on Saturday.

Earlier, together with Minority Senators Leila De Lima, Franklin Drilon, and Risa Hontiveros, Pangilinan called for the immediate release of Echanis and her one-month-old baby boy from detention after their arrest on December 2 for alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

In a statement, the Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas of the University of the Philippines-College of Arts and Letters, where she studied and finished a degree in creative writing, said Echanis was in Cagayan Valley doing relief operations when arrested.

Pangilinan called for the immediate passage of his Senate Bill 427 or The Body Camera Act which requires law enforcers to immediately activate these devices at the beginning of their operations or at the first reasonable opportunity when there is an immediate threat to life and safety. These cameras shall not be deactivated until operations have been concluded.

“This will help in areas without CCTV cameras. This is also a protection for policemen,” he said.

‘Pensionado’ scholar system revival eyed A FIRST-TERM congressman on Saturday pushed for the sending of Filipino scientists and experts abroad at government expense through the revival of the American Era “pensionado system.”

Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles has filed a resolution seeking to provide annual appropriations in the government’s budget for the training of Filipino scientists and experts abroad.

Nograles, a vice chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Higher and Technical Education, filed House Resolution 1380 titled “Resolution Urging the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education to Advocate the Training of More Filipino Scientists and Experts Abroad through Annual Appropriations for this Purpose,” adding that

“we need to provide our scientists and experts with opportunities to learn from the best across the world, and for them to apply what they have learned in our own setting.”

The American Era “pensionado system” was established under Pensionado Act or Act Number 854 of the Philippine Commission, which was passed on August 26, 1903.

The law, which was later passed by the US Congress, established a scholarship program for Filipinos to attend school in the United States to prepare the Philippines for self-governance and present a positive image of Filipinos to the rest of the United States. Students of this scholarship program were known as pensionados. Maricel Cruz

DONATION TO JTF-NCR. Joint Task Force National Capitol Region (JTF-NCR) Commander Brig. General Marceliano Teofilo receives boxes of face shields, alcohol, bottled water, bread, and sacks of rice from the officers and staff of the 407th (ARALD) Transport Battalion-Armed Forces of the Philippines Affiliate Reserve Unit-Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve Command (AFPARU-AFPRESCOM) led by Capt. Mel Hallar, Army Reservist, during the turnover at Camp Aguinaldo, in Quezon City. Teofilo said the relief goods are intended for the victims of Typhoon Ulysses and thanked Hallar for his unconditional support to the men and women of JTF-NCR.

World China-funded exchanges with US terminated WASHINGTON—The US State Department said Friday it was terminating five Chinese-funded exchange programs with the United States, calling them propaganda tools for Beijing.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that these programs, conducted under a US law called the MECEA that permits American government employees to travel using foreign government funds, were “disguised as ‘cultural exchanges.’”

“While other programs funded under the auspices of the MECEA are mutually beneficial, the five programs in question are fully funded and operated by the PRC government as soft power propaganda tools,” Pompeo said, referring to the People’s Republic of China.

“They provide carefully curated access to Chinese Communist Party officials, not to the Chinese people, who do not enjoy freedoms of speech and assembly.”

The termination is the latest reflection of President Donald Trump’s sharply antagonistic relationship with China.

Under Trump, the US launched a trade war with Beijing, has challenged Beijing’s territorial ambitions in disputed Asian waters, criticized its crackdown on freedoms in Hong Kong and blamed China’s handling of the initial coronavirus outbreak for the pandemic now engulfing the globe.

Meanwhile, Trump has ordered the removal of most US military and security personnel from Somalia, where they have been conducting operations against the Al-Shabaab militant group, the Pentagon said Friday.

After ordering major troop reductions in Iraq and Afghanistan recently, Trump’s new move reflects his drive to disengage US forces from what he calls endless wars abroad, making good on a campaign pledge in the final weeks of his presidency. AFP

John Lennon shot on doorstep 40 years ago PARIS—Late on a mild December evening in 1980, a young man with a revolver shot John Lennon four times in the back as the singer arrived home from a recording studio with his wife, Yoko Ono. Police found his killer reading a book as he waited for them to arrest him outside the Dakota apartment building in midtown Manhattan.

Lennon was rushed to hospital on the back seat of a police car but “did not have the slightest chance of surviving” despite receiving several blood transfusions, a doctor told reporters.

An AFP breaking news dispatch on December 8 read: “Former Beatle John Lennon was assassinated in front of his home in New York.”

It was the start of a flood of media coverage that would rival the reach of the world-famous singer, who was just 40 years old.

Fateful autograph Mark Chapman, then 25, had travelled from Hawaii and had got Lennon to sign his copy of the British singer’s latest album, “Double Fantasy”, earlier that day as Lennon left the building.

“I saw the photo where he signed the autograph. It was flashed on TV again and again,” Yoko Ono would write to fans a month later in an ad she took out in major newspapers across the country.

“Somehow that photo was harder for me to look at than the death photo. John was in a hurry that afternoon. He did not have to give his autograph but he did, while the man watched him, the man who was to betray John later.”

Years later from a prison cell, Chapman, an evangelical Christian, told a journalist he was “angry at (Lennon) for saying (in the song “God”) that he didn’t believe in God, that he just believed in him and Yoko, and that he didn’t believe in the Beatles”. AFP

A3

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

CHRISTMAS BEACON. A view shows an installation by Italian artist Fabrizio Plessi set up by the columns of St. Mark’s Square on December 4 in Venice, during the government’s restriction measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus. The installation is a luminous “beacon” composed of more than 80 modules of 1m by 50cm, taking the form of “a tree of life that symbolically unites earth, water and sky, interpreting the deepest sense of Christmas” according to the artist. AFP

Restore ‘Dreamer’ program, US magistrate orders Trump

W

ASHINGTON —A US judge ordered the Trump administration Friday to fully reinstate a program that protects from deportation immigrants who came to the country illegally as children.

The administration must allow newly eligible immigrants to apply to the socalled DACA program, Judge Nicholas Garaufis of the US District Court in

Brooklyn wrote.

Over the summer, the administration had issued a memo limiting the program to those who were already enrolled.

Then-president Barack Obama instituted DACA by executive order in 2012 to help some of the more than 10 million people estimated to be living in America without documentation.

DACA protected an estimated 700,000 people known as Dreamers, offering protection at renewable two-year periods, including authorization to work.

It applied to people who were brought into the United States illegally as children and then grew up here. For many it is the only country they have ever known.

DACA stands for Deferred Action for

Childhood Arrivals.

As part of his crackdown on all kinds of immigration, Trump moved to end the program in 2017, calling it unconstitutional.

The case ended up in the US Supreme Court, which ruled in June that the Trump administration had not followed proper administrative procedures to end the policy.

But in response, the Department of Homeland Security reinstated it only partially. It limited DACA to those already enrolled, rather than allow new applicants as well. And it cut the length of DACA permit renewals to one year, rather than the two years the program had allowed. AFP

MOON MAN.

An Ethiopian man, who fled the Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict as a refugee, watches the rising moon on top of a hill at Um Raquba refugee camp in Gedaref, eastern Sudan, on December 1. More than 45,000 people have escaped from northern Ethiopia since November 4, after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered military operations against leaders of Tigray’s ruling party in response to its alleged attacks on federal army camps. AFP

Brexit casts doubt over Gibraltar’s future with day-trippers GIBRALTAR—With its traditional British red phone boxes, pubs serving fishand-chips and tax-free shopping, Gibraltar has long drawn day-trippers from neighboring Spain.

But the easy flow of people across the border from Spain which underpins the economy of this tiny British territory on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula risks ending when Britain leaves the European Union’s single market on December 31.

Along Gibraltar’s pedestrianized Main Street whose buildings feature decorative

Portuguese tiles, Genoese shutters and British wrought-iron balconies, shopkeepers worry business will be hurt by tighter controls at what will be a new border between Britain and the EU. “It is going to put people off visiting Gibraltar I think,” said 41-year-old Prem Mahtani at his jewelry shop on Main Street, one of four tourism-dependent stores run by his family in the enclave.

Along with gambling and offshore banking, tourism is a cornerstone of the economy for Gibraltar, one of the most

prosperous regions in Europe which is home to 34,000 people and is historically claimed by Spain.

Located at the mouth of the Mediterranean, the British enclave welcomes around 10 million visitors per year, mainly day-trippers who cross from Spain under the shadow of the Rock of Gibraltar, a massive limestone block whose white cliffs soar more than 400 meters (1,300 feet) above the sea.

In addition, some 15,000 people cross into Gibraltar every day to work, accounting for half of the territory’s workforce.AFP

Indonesia summons Brit envoy over Papua

BIDEN BOOTED. US President-elect Joe Biden (center) wears a boot after he twisted his ankle while playing with his dog as he departs an event at The Queen Theater in Wilmington, Delaware, on December 1. Biden announced his economic team at the same event. AFP

JAKARTA -- Indonesia has lodged a formal protest with Britain after a UK-based separatist leader announced an interim government-in-exile for the restive Papua province.

Mineral-rich Papua, Indonesia’s easternmost province, has been dealing for decades with a low-level separatist insurgency, as well as poverty and communal tensions.

Benny Wenda, leader of a pro-independence group, this week declared himself the president of a new interim government in Papua, but an infuriated Jakarta dismissed his claim.

Indonesia’s foreign ministry on Friday summoned British ambassador Owen Jenkins to convey “strong protest” over Benny Wenda’s statements and activities,

according to ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah.

“The British ambassador promised he would deliver Indonesia’s strong protest and he also reiterated the UK government stance on the sovereignty and unity of Indonesian regions,” he said in a statement on Saturday.

The British embassy did not comment.

Indonesia took control of Papua, a former Dutch colony, in the 1960s after a vote -- widely viewed as rigged -- showed a majority favored staying under Jakarta’s rule.

Wenda, who has been living in Britain since the early 2000s, leads one of the groups campaigning for Papua’s independence, and Jakarta has declared that he is no longer an Indonesian citizen. AFP

TikTok keeps ticking past US sale deadline SAN FRANCISCO—TikTok continued serving up short videos in the US despite missing a Trump administration deadline to come up with an acceptable deal to put its American assets into US hands.

Talks between TikTok parent ByteDance and government negotiators were continuing despite the missed deadline set by the Committee on Foreign Investment to carry out an executive order by President Donald Trump, according to a source familiar with the matter.

“The committee is engaging with ByteDance to complete the divestment and other steps necessary to resolve the national security risks arising from the transaction, consistent with the president’s August 14 order,” said a spokesperson for the Treasury, which oversees the committee.

TikTok declined to commentz ByteDance, based in China, had been given until midnight Eastern time on Friday to come up with a plan to sell its US operations to American buyers.

But after the deadline passed, users could still tap into the smartphone app for a seemingly endless stream of video snippets, an AFP visit to the platform showed.

The White House claims TikTok is a national security risk because of potential links to the Chinese government through ByteDance.

TikTok has repeatedly defended itself against allegations of data transfers to the Chinese government, saying it stores user information on servers in the United States and Singapore.

Ban stalled The US had already backed off enforcing a ban on TikTok, in compliance with a court order in favor of the social media sensation. AFP

Kuwait holds polls for parliament seats under virus shadow KUWAIT CITY—Kuwaitis went to the polls on Saturday in a parliamentary election overshadowed by Covid-19, with facilities laid on for citizens infected with the disease to vote in special polling stations.

The oil-rich emirate has enforced some of the strictest regulations in the Gulf to combat the spread of the virus, imposing a months-long lockdown earlier this year.

While some of those curbs have been eased, over-the-top campaign events that traditionally draw thousands for lavish banquets were absent from this year’s election, while masks remain mandatory and temperature checks are routine when venturing outdoors.

Infected people or those under mandatory quarantine are usually confined to home, with electronic wristbands monitoring their movements.

But in an effort to respect their right to vote, authorities designated five polling stations -- one in each electoral district -- for them to cast their ballots, among the 102 across the country.

- Dulled-down campaign Unlike other oil-rich Gulf states, Kuwait has a lively political life with a parliament elected for four-year terms that enjoys wide legislative powers.

Political disputes are often fought out in the open. AFP

A4

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2020

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

By Alena Mae S. Flores

M Jollibee Group Foundation executive director Gisela Tiongson

‘Project Karinderya’ helps relieve hunger

By Othel V. Campos CIVIC groups and the private sector collaborated to create Project Karinderya, the homegrown version of a soup kitchen that seeks to provide relief to hunger many Filipinos at grassroots level have been subjected to due to the pandemic.

Project Karinderya was organized to help provide access to safe food in affected communities and sustain livelihood of small entrepreneurs most affected by COVID-19.

“Aside from ensuring food access in depressed communities, the hope is for Project Karinderya to help ensure that local economic activities in the target communities can continue, especially as these karinderyas have had to stop their operations when the lockdowns were put in place,” said Jollibee Group Foundation executive director Gisela Tiongson.

The Jollibee Group Foundation provides training on food preparation, food safety and customer service to empower and capacitate karinderya owners.

The project aims not only to feed the increasing number of families who have no means of surviving the pandemic, but also extends a helping hand to microfood enterprises or the so-called karinderyas to help them survive and recover their source of income.

Project Karinderya started in April 2020 along with the creation of the COVID-19 Civil Society Sector Organizations and Private Sector Coalition or NGO Collab.

These groups realized the need for coordinated efforts to address the problems on food access and livelihoods in affected communities in Metro Manila.

From April to May 2020, NGO Collab conducted a survey on food and cash aid received during the quarantine among representatives of 141 barangays across seven priority cities in Metro Manila.

The survey found that about 62 percent of respondents said that the food packs they received were insufficient for their family’s needs.

The Kabuhayan sa Ganap na Kasarinlan Credit and Savings Cooperative (KCoop), a microfinance institution that is part of the NGO Collab, also did a rapid survey on the impact of the pandemic among its members in urban poor communities. Of the survey’s 3,296 respondents, 75 percent said they lost their source of income, while 21 percent said that their income was reduced due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, 87 percent of the respondents said they were not able to meet their needs. Most of the micro-entrepreneur members of K-Coop are owners and operators of karinderyas.

It was Bayanihan Musikahan, a member of the K-Coop, that came up with the concept to keep the karinderyas alive and help distribute food in urban poor communities. Bayanihan Musikahan invited Jollibee Group Foundation to help develop the idea further given the Foundation’s breadth of experience in efficiently managing food service systems through its Busog, Lusog, Talino (BLT) School Feeding Program. K-Coop on the other hand readily offered to pilot the approach in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, which is one of the most populous barangays in Metro Manila.

Business

ANILA Electric Co., the country’s largest power retailer, announced the promotion of Agapito ‘Joe’ Del Rosario Zaldarriaga as vice president and head of corporate communications effective Dec. 1, reflecting the trust of his superiors in his capability to help steer the company to new heights.

The 56-year-old Zaldarriaga, a broadcast journalist before joining Meralco, rose from the ranks and helped the company reap awards and recognition for its public relations and corporate communications campaigns.

Having been with Meralco since 1989 from his first post as media relations staff, Zaldarriaga is known for his accessibility to fellow journalists, especially during critical times such as typhoons or calamities where information on power restoration is very important to the public.

He is not one to turn down interviews even at odd hours of the day just to make sure that the public is kept abreast of the power situation in Meralco’s franchise area.

Zaldarriaga is also very patient in explaining the role of Meralco and the intricacies of the power sector. “Public service is at the core of my philosophy in life. I firmly believe that one is most fulfilled when he is of service to others,” he said.

His hard work paid off last year when Zaldarriaga became the recipient of the medallion of honor and scroll of commendation from the University of Manila—a testament to his years in public service exemplified by outstanding communication excellence.

At home, Zaldarriaga is a devoted family man and is very proud of his family. He is married to Christina Hermoso, a journalist who works for a newspaper. His son, Dr. Jose Ma. Zaldarriaga, holds MBA and MD degrees who graduated magna cum laude at Ateneo de Manila University and valedictorian in Grade School and High School.

At work, Zaldarriaga is able to bring together his team and create the best campaigns for Meralco. He is a caring leader to his people and very passionate about PR and communications, most importantly empowering the public with information to uplift the lives of customers.

He works 24/7 around the clock, and truly gives his all, not only to Meralco’s customers but also to his friends, associates and contacts in the media.

He is a strong leader not only in Meralco but also in the entire field of PR communications. He chairs International Association of Business Communicators Phils.

Meralco promotes spokesman to VP Lokal Plate co-founder Bryan So

Lokal Plate joins food delivery

By Jess Malabanan

Meralco vice president Agapito ‘Joe’ Del Rosario Zaldarriaga

Under Zaldarriaga’s supervision, Meralco made a historic back-to-back “Company of the Year” wins at the IABC Philippine Quill Awards—a first in the awards show’s 17-year history.

Meralco is also the only company to have won the said title four times. Last year, it bagged two top awards for communication skills and research—a testament to the company’s strength in business communication excellence.

Zaldarriaga headed the team that won the first-ever PR Team of the Year Award at the 53rd Anvil Awards—dubbed as the “Oscars of PR” conferred by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines.

He also led the country to win several international awards in PR and communications via Meralco campaigns.

Meralco was shortlisted for In-house PR Team of the Year at the 2017 PR Awards Asia. It competed against international companies across Asia Pacific in one of the most prestigious awards shows celebrating the most inspired and successful campaigns, companies and individuals in the region. The 2017 PR Week Asia Awards, held in Hong Kong, is organized

by Haymarket Media.

Meralco garnered trophies from the 2016 The Gold Standard Awards for Issues Management/ Crisis Communications and for Corporate Citizenship and was a in a shortlist for NGO Engagement.

The awards were conferred in December 2016 in Hong Kong, by Public Affairs Asia—the network for senior government relations, corporate affairs and

corporate communications professionals operating across the Asia Pacific region.

The Gold Standard Awards identify and showcase excellence in corporate public affairs, strategic communications, citizenship and stakeholder engagement.

Meralco was given the Gold award for Crisis Communications/ Issues Management Campaign of the Year and Silver for CSR Campaign of the Year from 2016 PR Asia Awards.

Meralco was also a recipient of the Gold Stevie for Community Relations Campaign from the 2016 International Business Awards Stevie Awards, conferred by the Stevie Awards- which is celebrated as the world’s premier business awards. The awards show was held in Rome, Italy in October 2016.

The company was also given the Bronze award for Community Relationship/ Public Service Communications at the 2016 Asia Pacific Stevie Awards in May 2016 in Sydney, Australia.

Meralco was a finalist certificate for Corporate Social Responsibility at 2015 Asia Pacific Excellence Awards, awarded by Communication Director, the magazine for corporate communications and public relations, distributed worldwide with special editions for Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Zaldarriaga, who graduated from De La Salle University in 1985 with a degree in Asian Studies specializing in the Japan studies program, is also busy sharing his thoughts on a variety of issues via his three columns in several publications.

Asian app now helps Filipinos find ‘dream home’

Searching for an ideal property is now easier with Ohmyhome, enabling customers to filter through different property types and sizes, room configurations and price range.

TURNINg one’s ‘dream home’ into reality can be a daunting prospect. After all, leaving one’s comfort zones can make doubts creep in.

Staying in parents’ homes or renting a place for some time, people tend to stick with what is familiar and convenient even if life could be better.

With a global health crisis keeping lives in a state of flux, most people know that they can only find stability and comfort in having their own home—a safe haven that provides ample space for work and leisure in the new normal.

However, purchasing a home in the Philippines can be complicated and challenging. It is an issue that Ohmyhome, an immensely successful proptech startup in Singapore and Malaysia, seeks to address

after launching its application and website in the Philippines.

Ohmyhome’s efficient and easy-to-use platform is primed to help property seekers navigate the tricky process of finding and buying their ideal home.

Rhonda Wong, Ohmyhome chief executive and co-Foundef, says: “We built this platform with Filipino users who are at different stages of their housing journey.

Some users might be exploring options, while others may have specific properties in mind. There are also users who may be too busy to get started. Taking all these scenarios into consideration, we built an O2O [online-to-offline] platform that provides self-help tools on our mobile app, as well as customer services support and in-house agents,” she says.

PH companies begin to embrace machine learning amid pandemic SEVERAL Philippine companies have accelerated the adoption of machine learning—an automation technology that allows computers to analyze and predict—to cope with the challenging situation brought by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Machine learning is a reality now. If you are not leveraging machine learning, then you’re gonna be sort of left behind,” Jonathan Dixon, head of the Enterprise Business Segment in Asia Pacific and Japan at Amazon Web Services, the world’s largest cloud solution provider, says in a virtual interview.

He says the adoption of machine learning and other digital solutions has picked up since the onset of the pandemic. “We

believe digital transformation will continue to accelerate. What was possible in five years will now become possible in a shorter time frame as we continue to move forward,” he says.

Dixon, an Australian national based in Singapore, is an experienced executive with a successful history of working in the information technology and services industry. He has been with AWS, the cloud computing unit of Seattle-based Amazon, for more than four years. Before this, he was with Cisco.

Amazon, as a group, is the world’s largest online marketplace and the largest Internet company by revenue in the world, which made founder and chief executive Jeff Preston Bezos the undis-

puted wealthiest man on the planet.

“What I love about my job is I get to talk to enterprise customers across the region—to really help them around how they transform,” Dixon says via Amazon Chime, Amazon’s video conferencing app that rivals Zoom.

Machine learning is one of the 175 services offered by AWS which helps companies around the world in their digital transformation journey. From data storage and networking company, AWS has emerged as a highly powerful provider of highly-sophisticated digital technologies such as robotics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, data lakes, analytics, internet of things and augmented reality.

It offers these solutions to conglomerates, large enterprises, start-ups, small and medium enterprises and government agencies to help them become more agile and reduce IT costs.

Among its customers in the Philippines are Globe Telecom, UnionBank of the Philippines, Cebu Pacific, PhilPay and TaskUs—companies that have managed to navigate the new environment amid the pandemic because of their ability to harness cloud solutions and enable their workforce to work from any site.

Dixon says digital transformation during this challenging time will be critical to local business operations in the coming months and years.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

ANGELES CITY—Local food delivery provider Lokal Plate has been sending authentic Kapampangan products and delicacies to food enthusiasts to any point of Central Luzon as a way of helping merchant partners whose businesses were affected by the pandemic reach out to more consumers.

Founded by young business-minded individuals lead by Bryan So, Lokal Plate has more than 30 partner restaurants including Aling Lucing, Teresita Razon’s Halo-halo and Palabok, Prime Cut, Quisina, San Matias Ihawihaw and other food shops in Pampanga.

The group expanded its food delivery service to as far as Metro Manila and some Calabarzon areas as demand for Kapampangan food and delicacies grow.

“Lokal Plate banks on locally-cooked food in Angeles City and other parts of Pampanga being the culinary capital,” So, founder and CEO of Lokal Plate said during a news conference at Vista Verde Resort here Wednesday.

Guided by noble intentions to help partner restaurants, Lokal Plate provide customer service to ensure clients satisfaction.

It has mobile application for customers convenience.

“The food service sector is one of the most heavily affected industries during the lockdown. We saw restaurants closure most especially here in Pampanga. We wanted to empower them and bounce back through our business model and sell their products online and deliver it to their customers safely and swiftly. In this way, we can help Pampanga luster again as the food capital of the Philippines.” So said.

Lokal Plate is offering its business to interested resellers and franchising to start new business for P12,888.

“Interested applicants for franchise can avail Lokal Plate package which includes access to e-commerce website, mobile apps to be launched this month of December, processing, packaging and distribution,” said So, adding that franchise holders have the opportunity to earn as much as 15 to 20 percent of the proceeds.

A good use of 13th month pay is paying for the first few months of amortization on a new BRIA home.

Developer offers best investment for 13th month pay DECEMBER is usually the month when 13th month pay sits in payroll account, triggering the urge to splurge.

The lessons from 2020, however, underscore the importance of judicious spending and the need to secure one’s future.

While past holiday seasons were about indulgence, this is a time for spending hard-earned money with a purpose. It is time to use it for property investment.

Financial advisors assert that it is easy to spend wisely when “technically you survived the year without your bonus— you lived off your normal, bonus-less salary. So why not use the extra cash to jumpstart a fund for purchasing your dream home?”

A good use for the holiday windfall is availing of a house-and-lot package from BRIA Homes, whose monthly amortization can be as low as P1,897.

While home ownership involves long-term planning, BRIA’s trusted formula—Affordability (Mura) + Quality (Dekalidad) = A Beautiful BRIA Home for Every Filipino—makes it easier for aspiring homeowners to pursue their dream.

It offers affordable homes in more than 50 progressive towns and cities across the country. Flexible payment methods such as Pag-IBIG housing loans or bank home loans make it easier for prospective buyers.

Youth & Culture B1

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2020

By Steph Llarena

“C

ONDUCIVE to productivity,” “promotes efficiency,” and “ideal for work or schooling.”

The pandemic and its resulting circumstances have made many of us scramble to create a space in our home that meets—if feasible—the aforementioned criteria. And as this is the reality today, an inter-school design competition challenged this year’s participants to create a home office set-up.

The 17th Estilo de Vida Interior Design Competition asked contestants to revamp an existing room in their house into a temporary home office not less than 12 square meters and should accommodate up to two persons. Their office essentials should also promote general office work, productivity for virtual meetings, as well as online schooling and studying.

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts Interior Design student Margaret Therese Hagad clinched the top prize with her design, entitled “Memory in Space,” that explored the interconnectedness of memory and spatial framework.

Using built-in seating and desks, and featuring lots of spaces and lines, the project “attempts to reexamine how workspaces have the ability to improve memory for increased productivity.”

Bernadette Lunas, Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

Home office

designed to improve memory

wins competition

GET WORK DONE. The winning home office design in this year's Estilo de Vida Interior Design Competition, an inter-school contest for young designers, is Benilde interior design student (inset) Margaret Therese Hagad's creation that reexamines how workspaces have the ability to improve memory for increased productivity.

“Memory improvement helps peo- better. As a result, people can boost ple learn and retain new information their performance, which leads to greater overall productivity,” explained Hagad.

Hagad was mentored by Karol Ann Antonio, the adviser of the Guild of the Rising Interior Designers, the official student organization of Benilde Interior Design Program.

Her achievement was Benilde Interior Design Program’s second consecutive win in the competition, following its 2019 victory.

The Program prepared for this year’s competition by forming a technical committee composed of industry experts and Benildean educators and mentors in addition to Antonio, including interior designers Candice Arboleda, Randy Pabona, and Ley Gatpandan, who closely monitored the participating students’ progress, as well as addressed and supported all the issues and concerns in their creative and design process.

Reniel Reyes and Kyle Angelo GaviMargaret Hagad's design features built-in seating and desks, and has lots of lines.

no, both from Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST) placed 1st and 2nd runners-up, respectively.

Virneece Ragragio from SoFA Design Institute bagged the 3rd runnerup, Ynes Sofia Manguerra from the DLS-CSB placed 4th runner-up, while Pearl Raissa Seat from the Batangas State University (BSU) earned the 5th runner-up spot.

Other finalists included Chino Garcia from EARIST (6th runnerup), Danier Ann Mae Ebojo from EARIST (7th runner-up), Lorenz Mico Masangcay from DLS-CSB (8th runner-up), and Rachel Cacao from BSU (9 th runner-up).

Estilo de Vida granted P120,000 to the champion, P60,000 to the 1st runnerup, P32,000 to the 2nd runner-up, and P10,000 to the top seven finalists. Winners likewise received an internship slot to the partner architectural and interior design firms.

Founded in 2004 by Filipino business

BTS tops Spotify 2020 Wrapped K-pop list

A child in Baseco Compound in Manila shows the school supplies and bag he received from World Vision and Globe Platinum.

Ben&Ben most streamed in the Philippines KOREAN superstars BTS may have trailed behind indie folk band Ben&Ben as the second most streamed artist on Spotify Philippines, but it’s a different story on the music streaming platform’s global K-pop list.

With more than 5 billion streams this year, BTS is the most streamed group globally and the top K-pop artist on Spotify in 2020.

Their first all-English single, “Dynamite,” released in September, is the year’s most streamed K-pop song. The track set a new record on Spotify this year, achieving 12.6 million streams in the first 24 hours.

The most streamed K-Pop album of the year is also BTS’ MAP OF THE SOUL : 7.

Following the Bangtan Boys as second most streamed K-pop artist is BLACKPINK. With more than 300 million streams, the girl group’s “How You Like That” is the second BTS is this year's most streamed K-pop artist on Spotify globally. most streamed song of the year.

BTS and BLACKPINK also took the first and second Rounding off the most streamed K-pop artists list at third spots, respectively, as the most streamed K-pop artists on to tenth places are TWICE, Stray Kids, Red Velvet, EXO, Spotify Philippines. “Dynamite” and “How You Like That” Seventeen, IU, NCT 127, and (G)I-DLE. are no. 1 and no. 2 as well on local Spotify.

The most streamed K-pop songs following “Dynamite” and “How You Like That,” are “Boy With Luv (feat. Halsey)” by BTS and Halsey, “Ice Cream (with Selena Gomez)”

by BLACKPINK and Selena Gomez, “Black Swan” by BTS, “ON” by BTS, “Sour Candy (with BLACKPINK)” by Lady Gaga and BLACKPINK, “Kill This Love” by BLACKPINK, “Psycho” by Red Velvet, and “WANNABE” by ITZY. Meanwhile, over on Spotify Philippines, the most streamed artists—from first to fifth—are Ben&Ben, BTS, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, and BLACKPINK. Philippines’ most streamed song of 2020 is local alt-rock band Magnus Haven’s anthemic track “Imahe,” followed by Justin Bieber’s “Intentions” and Ben&Ben’s “Make It With You” on the second and third spots, respectively.

On the podcast front, homegrown podcasters and Spotify Exclusives Sleeping Pill with Inka, Adulting with Joyce Pring, and Boiling Waters PH take the top three spots on the Indie folk band Ben&Ben is the most streamed artist on Spotify Philippines.

Philippines’ most popular podcasts list.

HEY, YOUTH!

SHARE your unpublished essays with the readers of Manila Send your essay (maximum of 800 words) with photo/s, Standard. Chosen essays will be published in the Young Life if available, to manilastandardlife@gmail.com with the subcorner that comes out every Sunday. ject: “Young Life - (title of your essay)” along with a brief This space is open for young writers, aged 13-29 years old. description of yourself.

magnate Jorge Consunji, the annual inter-school contest provides a platform for young designers to test their skills and showcase their talents to contractors, designers, industry professionals, and design enthusiasts.

Co-organized by the Philconstruct Events, Exhibitions, and Conferences Corp., Philippine Constructors Association, and the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers, it promotes the use of sustainable locally sourced materials and the adaptation of the 5Rs of a great design: Restore, Respect, Reduce, Reuse, and Recover.

Each school kit consists of school supplies and printed learning modules approved by the Department of Education.

Postpaid customers band together for students in Baseco IN A strong show of support for our youth, Globe Platinum customers were able to help children from the Baseco Compound in Manila continue their education at home by participating in the brand’s #ForFutureHeroes events.

“Globe Platinum continues to empower its customers to enjoy exclusive events and perks while also creating lasting impacts on their community.

With the #ForFutureHeroes campaign, we aim to help the children from Baseco have a better chance to reach their potential and become future heroes of our nation by aiding them with the learning materials for their continued education.” said Globe Platinum marketing director James Alcantara.

The #ForFutureHeroes campaign aims to provide materials needed for the shift in educational requirements of the most vulnerable students.

In partnership with World Vision,

Globe Platinum was able to raise and deliver a total of 969 school kits to the children of Baseco Compound in Manila.

The school kits, which consisted of school supplies and printed learning modules approved by the Department of Education, were distributed on Oct. 9 and Nov. 16 to grade 6 students from Herminigildo J. Atienza Elementary School and Sen. Benigno Aquino Elementary School.

“For the most vulnerable children in the Philippines, education is one of the bridges toward a bright future. Our young learners inspire us as they and their families pursue education whatever challenges there may be,” said World Vision national director Rommel V. Fuerte.

The #ForFutureHeroes campaign has already reached almost a thousand beneficiaries during the initial distributions, and aims to provide more in the succeeding months.

B2

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2020

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

Home/Design

Ridgewood Towers Premier rises at brisk pace

P

ROPERTY developer C-5 Mansions Development Corp. recently announced that construction of its latest project, Ridgewood Towers Premier, reached ground level.

The 31-storey residential condominium’s mat foundation and four basement levels are now complete, and work will soon begin on the upper floors.

Ridgewood Towers Premier is located along Pres. CP Garcia

Ave., near SM Aura and Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

The mixed-use tower’s six floors covering 168 units, are earmarked for Ridgewood Premier Hotel (Inset photo).Turnover is expected in the latter part of 2022.

TSUKIJI BACK AT CENTURY PARK HOTEL. Century Park Hotel is keeping the

Vista Residences ties up with Lamudi VISTA Residences, the condominium development arm of the Vista Land &Lifescapes, Inc., recently partnered with online platform Lamudi to feature its various projects through the latter’s extensive network of buyers and sellers.

SEARCH FOR CONDOS STILL HOT Lamudi’s The Outlook had reported that property seekers are still looking for a condominium for sale, or for rent, in Quezon City which comprises 26% of the leads from January to the first half of June. This is followed by Makati (12%), Pasig (10%), and Taguig (9%), all National Capital Region cities with central business districts.

Understandably, property seekers are looking for properties closer to their workplace since public transportation has been on limited operations due to the pandemic, Vista Residences is optimistic that listing its ready for occupancy and pre-selling units on Lamudi would help the majority of property seekers find better deals.

READY FOR OCCUPANCY PROJECTS Vista Residences has ready for occupancy projects in Manila such as Vista Taft, Vista Heights, Vista GL Taft, 878 España and Crown Tower University Belt. It also has preselling projects which include Orwell Heights, Plumeria Heights, Tennyson Heights, Bradbury Heights and Sky Arts Manila.

Meanwhile, its move-in ready projects in Quezon City include Wil Tower, Symphony Towers, Pine Crest and Vista 309 Katipunan. It also has preselling projects in the said city such as Hawthorne Heights and Vista Pointe.

INFORMATION IS KING As Vista Residences’ real estate

partner, Lamudi allows property seekers to get information about the developer’s projects online. Seekers can look for homes that suit their preference of price, location, unit dimension, and amenity inclusions.

A dedicated development page for all Vista Residences projects can be accessed on the Lamudi platform. Unit offerings available for the projects feature necessary details, such as area in square meters, price, and price per square meter.

SAFE SEARCH Every property listing under Vista Residences’ developer page connects property seekers directly with the sales team authorized by the developer and the property platform.

According to Lamudi’s trend reports, condominiums have commanded a sustained interest among property seekers when the enhanced community quarantine was first implemented.

For Vista Residences, Lamudi plans to raise brand awareness by coordinating closely with the real estate developer in crafting online campaigns that maximize online visibility.

To know more about Vista Residences, visit https://www.lamudi. com.ph/vista-residences-inc-agn-2/

yuletide tradition alive with the recent reopening of Century Tsukiji, the hotel’s Japanese food outlet. Offering include an “eat all you can special” featuring classic Japanese delicacies. At only P999 net per head, the Christmas feast is available daily from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm. Additional dishes like salmon & tuna sashimi and ramen will be on hand on December 24-25 and 30-31, 2020, and January 1, 2021, for only P1,450 net. Ramen lovers can check out the unlimited ramen offering.

Choose from among five warm bowls of delight, namely: tonkotsu ramen, chashunegi miso ramen, niku shoyu ramen, tori age yasai ramen and niku to uminosachiyaki ramen.

Golfhill Gardens’ dose of the ‘new reality’ THE year 2020 redirected the attention of most homebuyers to bigger square footage, access to outdoor spaces, and opportunities to enjoy a higher quality of life. Golfhill Gardens in Quezon City has all that.

Surrounded by lush landscapes, Golfhill Gardens at Capitol Hills is property giant Megaworld’s prime residential offering that gives you the opportunity to commune with nature while permitting you to shift back to a faster pace when necessary.

A scant 15 minutes away from QC Memorial Circle and the University of the Philippines-Diliman, this lowdensity development has only six clusters. With a variety of unit options available, including studio (29.90 sqm to 30.60 sqm), executive studio (34.60), and one-bedroom (50.50 sqm to 60.60 sqm), you’ll surely find the space that fits your needs, and lifestyle at Golfhill Gardens.

Have sticker will travel METRO Pacific Tollways Corp.

(MPTC) recently kicked off a ‘drivethru’ Easytrip RFID installation for over 100 journalists, and their dependents.

The event, held at the Hong Kong Sun Plaza at Diosdado Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City, was organized in coordination with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr), to make toll fee payment transactions cashless and contactless on Metro Pacific Tollways Corp.operated expressways NLEX, Cavitex, CALAX, and SCTEX. The RFID

installation was only open to Class1 vehicles such as cars, sports utility vehicles, and passenger vans.

No documents were needed. Preregistered media practitioners shelled out P200 for the initial RFID load.

MPTC corporate communication manager Arlene Capistrano, told the Manila Standard that the event, replicated in other locations, made things easier for motorists.

“A drive-thru system, where people don’t have to fall in line physically, is best,” she explained. “You just to be in your car, and wait for the installer and give you the RFID sticker.”

Entertainment

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2020

B3

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

Charlie Dizon, Alexa, Ilacad, Gillian Vicencio, and Belle Mariano portray the iconic roles previously played by Toni Gonzaga, Bea Alonzo, Angel Locsin, and Shaina Magdayao.

Star Cinema’s early Christmas offering

A

BS-CBN’s movie arm takes us back to the time when iconic siblings Teddie, Bobbie, Alex, and Gabbie Salazar deal with challenges and heartaches in Four Sisters Before The Wedding.

Topbilled by today’s most promising young stars Alexa Ilacad (Bobbie), Charlie Dizon (Teddie), Gillian Vicencio (Alex), and Belle Mariano (Gabbie), Four Sisters Before The Wedding is a prequel to the 2013-hit movie Four Sisters and A Wedding.

Helmed this time by blockbuster director Mae Cruz Alviar, the prequel movie is set 10 years before their lives in the original movie. Teddie, Bobbie, Alex are in college while Gabbie is in

high-school, and their youngest sibling CJ (played by Clarence Delgado) is in elementary.

Their blissful innocence and family unity are tested when they discover that their parents – Mama Grace (this time played by Carmina Villarroel) and Papa Caloy (Dominic Ochoa), whom the audience will be meeting in this movie for the first time—are once again on the verge of separation.

They’ve grown up enough to know that a biscuit offering will not easily solve their parents’ marital problems this time around.

In the original movie, the Salazar sisters were portrayed by Bea Alonzo (Bobbie), Toni Gonzaga (Teddie), Angel Locsin (Alex) and Shaina Magdayao (Gabbie). The characters Mama Grace and CJ were notably played by Coney Reyes and Enchong Dee, respectively.

The dad, meanwhile, passed before

A young cager’s dream

Kyle Tolentino, 19, is a three-point shooter from Letran Squires.

Paolo Manuel C. Fule WHEN you are a basketball player playing for the NCAA and a son to a City Councilor and basketball coach, the expectations for you to deliver are incredibly high. That is why this heartthrob athlete from Letran Squires is doing his best to meet everyone’s expectations.

Up-and-coming talent from Letran Juniors team, Filipino-American Kyle Dominic Tolentino, is trying to portray a dynamic image, and at the same time, does his best not to let everyone down.

Born on Sept. 25, 2001 in New York, USA to Marikina City Councilor Elvis Tolentino and Aileen Tolentino, the 6-foot2 cager is currently playing for Colegio de San Juan de Letran as a grade 12 student.

While being an athlete, he has other projects on the side, proving that he also

cares for his community. In the recent typhoons that devastated the country that caused floods particularly in their place in Marikina, Kyle was one of the people who took the frontlines for donations and had helped in relief operations in their city.

In the world of basketball, on the other hand, Kyle is also someone who can deliver for the team when it matters.

In the Manila Elite Basketball League, he was awarded as player of the game when he scored 20 points coupled with 2 rebounds and 1 assist to help beat Titan Angels. His career-high in points is 39 in Marist Basketball League.

For the basketball players that he looks up to, Kyle lists Paul Lee in the PBA and Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson. Asked on how he balances studies and the sports, he said “time management is always the key.”

“The 3-point shot is my favorite shot because I’m confident with it,” shared Kyle.

Apart from basketball, the teen cager enjoys watching movies, and his big dream is to be part of a team that plays in the big league.

YouTube reveals top

trending videos of 2020 in PH THE year has been full of highs and lows, and Filipinos undoubtedly spent more time online to find comfort in their favorite content as they kept themselves safe at home.

YouTube unveils the local lists of trending videos, music videos, and creators that captured the attention of netizens this 2020.

Taking majority of the spots on the list are original prank

videos and challenges from well-loved local creators. In the number one place is the performance video of Pilipinas Got Talent 2011 champion Marcelito Pomoy as he wowed the world in America’s Got Talent with a powerful rendition of Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli’s “The Prayer.”

Here are the top five trending videos that entertained Filipinos in 2020:

2013—this eventually pushed Bobbie to live and work abroad. ‘Four Sisters and A Wedding’ was directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina.

Four Sisters Before The Wedding serves as Star Cinema’s early Christmas offering this 2020, despite the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. It was first announced in February.

Joining the cast of Four Sisters Before The Wedding are Irma Adlawan, Kakai Bautista, Cai Cortez, Jameson Blake, Joao Constancia, Pinky Amador, Minnie Aguilar, Boom Labrusca, Jenny Miller and introducing Jeremiah Lisbo, and Gigi de Lana.

Four Sisters Before The Wedding streams worldwide beginning Dec. 11 via KTX.ph (ktx.ph), iWantTFC (iwanttfc.com), TFC IPTV, Cignal PPV (my.cignal.tv), and Sky Cable pay-perview (mysky.com.ph). This is distributed

by CineXpress.

Ken Tiongson’s enchanting love song MOST popular songs nowadays have stories conveyed by melodies and lyrics, but what if you didn’t need words to tell the song’s story?

Solo artist, Ken Tiongson, masterfully answers this question in his very first single under MCA Music entitled, “Lovestruck.”

Unlike the songs most Filipino listeners are used to, neither vocals nor full-band instruments are heard in the track—just the pure sound of heart-tugging emotions plucked on his guitar.

“Lovestruck narrates the feeling of falling in love with someone who you just met,” Ken explains.

Whether a music lover or a casual listener, “Lovestruck” is able to capture the ears of anyone and transport them into a setting akin to a K-drama scene complete with a gentle wind and falling leaves. The music can serve as a soundtrack to your life’s cheerful and carefree moments or an instant mood-booster for the day. Fitting perfectly into every chillout playlist whether for working or winding down for the day.

You may not have heard of Ken as a solo artist but this “shy guy” has played for some of your favorite OPM artists such as Callalily, Arthur Nery, and Dionela, Ken lovingly takes us to a different world with his guitar—one where he’s the storyteller and his original music are his set pieces. Influenced by similar guitar instrumental artists, Tommy Emmanuel and Sungha Jung, Ken is ready to share his all original compositions instead of just covers.

“I want others to know that my guitar storytelling is about the

2 1

IVANA ALAWI, NAPAIYAK NI IDOL RAFFY. ITO ANG PRANK NA PARANG TOTOO! - 25.8 million views

3

Solo artist Ken Tiongson drops an enchanting love song that needs no words.

feeling of the song... Mostly of peace and relaxation.

You can listen to them when you’re down, depressed, null, or even when you’re sleeping,” he says.

To him, composing and performing instrumental songs is his passion, and wishes to share that happiness with his audiences for all to enjoy.

“Lovestruck” is now on all digital streaming platforms, under MCA Music Inc.

Iguana meets Ivana

by Alex Gonzaga - 14.5 million views

WOW! Marcelito Pomoy Sings “The Prayer” With DUAL VOICES!— America’s Got Talent: The Champions - 44.6 million views

4 5

BOYFRIEND PRANK! | IVANA ALAWI - 13.5 million views

KAILANGAN NIYO NA RIN MALAMAN - 8.8 million views

Pets Prevent kidney disease in cats B4

O

F LATE, there have been a lot of posts in social media about cats suffering from or even dying due to a kidney disease.

Kidneys in cats manage blood pressure and remove waste and toxins from the blood.

As the cat grows older, her kidneys will not function as efficiently as when she was young.

“This is referred to as kidney disease and left untreated, could lead to your adorable kitty suffering from some unpleasant symptoms and irreversible damage. Although age is the primary contributing factor in the development of feline kidney disease, infections and trauma can also cause the condition to develop,” according to Murrayville Vet-

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2020

PET TALES

BY DESIREE CARLOS

erinary Clinic in “How to Prevent Kidney Disease in Cats.”

Types of kidney disease

The two types of kidney diseases are 1. chronic kidney problems, and 2. acute renal failure.

Chronic kidney problems

This disease usually shows symptoms in cats at age seven (7) and older.

This is DIFFICULT TO TREAT as the cause is usually unknown . But the following reasons are often given: · Repeated kidney infections that

Desiree Carlos, Editor

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

lessen kidney function over time. · Blockages such as kidney stones that bring down kidney function at a low level. · Other medical conditions that have been linked to the development of kidney problems. These are periodontal disease, hypertension and thyroid disorder Chronic kidney disease develops over a number of months or several years.

Acute renal failure

“Acute renal failure is the sudden onset of kidney problems, usually over the course of just a few days or weeks,” Murrayville Veterinary Clinic said.

The causes are: Poisoning · Trauma to the bladder or pelvis · Dehydration · Chronic vomiting or diarrhea · Extreme blood loss · Infection in the kidneys · Blockages that prevent blood flowing into the kidney and urine from flowing out of it properly · Heart failure This disease CAN BE TREATED and the side effects can be reversed.

But the cat will definitely suffer some unpleasant symptoms in the meantime.

Preventing kidney disease in cats

About 80 per cent of cats will develop kidney disease during their lifetime.

But furparents can do something to prevent or help reduce the likelihood of your kitty suffering from this common health problem for as long as possible, said Murrayville Veterinary Clinic.

What to do:

Val, a stray kitten rescued three years ago, loves wet food. He will get up on that ledge when he sees a human go out of the house from that side. He will meow endlessly until you give him his favorite wet food. If only wet food is not so expensive, we will give it to rescued cats three times a day.

1. Remove dry food from the diet.

Dry dog food does not provide the moisture your cat needs. Because of this, your cat does not get the moisture her kidneys need to process waste better.

“A dry food diet is the leading cause of kidney-related problems in cats in the U.S. It is essential for all animals to stay hydrated, but this is especially true of cats who need plenty of moisture to remain healthy. However, if your feline consumes a great deal of dry kibble, this will soak up a lot of the moisture that she needs, and this will mean that her kidneys will need to work harder than usual to process waste,” Murrayville Veterinary Clinic.

2. Increase the amount of wet food.

We know that wet food can be more expensive than dry food, but it is a better option for your cat. Wet food will keep her both sated and hydrated. Ensure at least two out of three meals are going to be served up as wet food.

In our household, we added wet food (can) to their diet by giving this at lunch time with their multivitamins. We can

Zachi, rescued by Save Animals of Love and Light Inc. (Save ALL ) when she was kitten two years ago, loves to stay in the hammock. We let her roam often so she will burn the food she eats. Fortunately, she drinks lots of water so her kidneys get enough moisture to release waste from her body.

not afford to give two or three meals of pure canned cat food daily as this will be too expensive.

However, we are now studying what we will put in a homecooked cat meal which will have broth and as many of the nutrients a cat needs. All ingredients will be boiled. Soon, we hope to shift from a diet of two dry food meals and one wet food meal (can) per day TO two homecooked meals and one wet food (can) daily. Through this diet plan, we will be able to remove dry cat food.

3. Give Milk Thistle supplements.

Milk thistle is very good for the kidneys of your cat.

“This is because it contains Silymarin, an active ingredient which helps the kidneys to filter out toxins more efficiently,” Murrayvilled Veterinary Clinic said.

Milk thistle supplements can be bought in pet shops or the clinic.

4. Make sure your cats drinks lots of water.

Most cats are fussy about their water.

“This many mean investing in new water bowls, or even installing a drinking fountain just for your pampered pet,” Murrayville Veterinary Clinic said.

Make sure you monitor the water intake of your cat.

5. Keep the weight of your cat under control.

Obesity leads to many health problems, one of which is kidney disease.

Obesity is “linked to diabetes, and diabetes has a tendency to lead to kidney failure,” said Murrayville Veterinary Clinic.

Talk to your vet about this. There are cat food for obese cats to control the weight.

6. Have your cat checked at least once a year.

Your cat should have a wellness check at least once a year. This includes a series of tests like a blood test that will help determine how healthy your cat is, and if your cat’s kidneys are functioning well.

SAFE AND CALM AMIDST THE STORM:

Tips to keep pets healthy during the rainy season Aside from providing pet’s a clean and dry environment from the rain, these shelters must also serve as a safe haven for pets when they seek refuge from thunder. Several pets tend to seek comfort in the arms of their owners; owners may want to consider letting their pet join them in their room in case he or she is spooked by the thunder.

By The Pet Food Institute THE monsoon season is officially here and as the Filipino community gear up for the cold and damp weather, pet owners must also make the necessary preparations to ensure that their four-legged pals are safe and ready for the rainy season.

The Pet Food Institute, together with its partnered pet food brands, join together to educate the Filipino pet community as they share tips on how to protect pets during the rainy season.

Cleanliness is next to godliness

During the rainy season, grooming is often overlooked however it is also an important part of a pet’s wellbeing to avoid them from acquiring bad infections brought by the humidity that will compromise their health.

Pet’s food bowls must also be regularly cleaned in order to protect their pets from bacteria that could lead to gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and vomiting.

The importance of a well-balanced diet

A common problem among pet owners during the rainy season is how to keep their pets healthy despite having their physical activities restricted by the weather. There are several indoor activities such as playing fetch and learning tricks that pet owners can do to ensure their furry companions stay active and healthy despite the weather. Aside from these activities, pet owners are encouraged to give their four-legged pals a well-balanced diet in order to ensure that their Dogs must still get their baths, at least every other dogs and cats get the right amount of nutrition week, even when it's the rainy season. Choose the day to stay healthy. when the sun is up. For outdoor dogs, you can still use Understanding a pet’s metabolism system is the room temperature water. But for indoor, small dogs, first step in helping them improve it. There are use warm water or maaligamgam. Dry them well. This will prevent colds and cough in dogs. several factors such as age and weight that affect their pet’s metabolism. Consulting a veterinarian is the best step to ensure that their pets are getting ing the rainy season is easier said than done. the right type of diet.

Pets, much like humans, require a dry and comfortable bed to sleep in during the rainy seaA safe haven amidst the storm son. Several breeds of dogs such as Bulldogs Finding the perfect shelter for one’s pets dur- and Chihuahuas, most especially cats like the

Siamese cat are more sensitive to cold temperatures. Therefore, owners must constantly check their pet’s beddings to ensure that their furry pals sleep on a clean and dry space to prevent them from getting sick.

About the Pet Food Institute Since 1958, the Pet Food Institute has been the voice of the U.S. pet food and treat makers.

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 and treat products, an industry with more than $30 billion in U.S. retail sales and nearly $1.5 billion in exports in 2018. Visit www.petfoodinstitute.org to learn more.