Manila Standard - 2020 December 13 - Sunday

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 282 • 2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, DECEMBER13, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

STAR OF BETHLEHEM. This photo at dawn Saturday in Baguio City shows the so-called Star of Bethlehem (circled)—actually the planets Jupiter and Saturn close to alignment, a phenomenon that astronomers say last happened on March 4, 1226 or nearly 800 years ago. The symbolic ‘Christmas Star’ will be visible from December 16 to 21, and can be observed anywhere in the world, although in better conditions in areas near the equator.

The phenomenon can be seen one hour after sunset. Dave Leprozo

PH lags in COVID spending

Duque admits country last among SEA peers in virus response funding

By Willie Casas

H

EALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III made what health observers said was a disturbing admission Saturday: the Philippines, which has been hobbled by coronavirus infections and deaths since March this year, is behind its peers in Southeast Asia in the overall budget for the COVID-19 response.

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM DEC. 12)

448,331 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

1,301 30,168 NEW

ACTIVE

8,730

35

409,433

111

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

“I will have to admit that our fund, in particular the COVID fund, ranks us as number 6,” Duque said during the virtual celebration of “12.12” International Universal Health Coverage Day. Based on the Asian Development Bank’s COVID-19 Policy Database, as of November 30, Indonesia has the largest COVID-19 response package at $116.33 billion, followed by Singapore with a total package of $89.14 billion.

Third is Thailand with $84.09 billion, fourth is Malaysia with $80.7 billion. Vietnam came in fifth with a total package of $26.96 billion, and the Philippines was sixth with a $21.64 billion total COVID-19 war chest.

‘Restore vaccine confidence’ In related developments, a public health expert underscored the need to restore first vaccine confidence among Filipinos

as the country anticipates the arrival of a vaccine against the novel coronavirus.

Dr. Lulu Bravo, executive director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, said there were concerns the country might not be ready yet for COVID-19 vaccination as the public was hesitant and there were many anti-vaxxers on social media.

Bravo said: “Let’s restore confidence in vaccines first because if you bring it here and use it but see a lot of resistance and they may even file cases against it, would you still bring it here if you were the company?”

She said Filipinos’ distrust of vaccines grew after the Dengvaxia controversy that began in late 2017. This has also resulted in the decline in immunization coverage in the country.

A lower immunization rate was observed in the country following questions on the safety of the anti-dengue drug,

which was said to cause severe symptoms if administered on those who have never had dengue.

Cases rising in December Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region or Metro Manila has been increasing in the first part of December, a member of the OCTA Research team said.

NCR’s reproduction number has also been going up.

According to the World Health Organization, the basic reproductive rate is the average number of people infected by one person in a susceptible population.

“The reproduction number in NCR has been increasing. The number of new cases has also been increasing,” UP professor Guido David, a member of the OCTA Research Team, told GMA News reporter Joseph Morong in a report heard nationwide.

From 0.90 on December 1, NCR’s reproduction number hit 0.94 on December 5, then reached 0.96 on December 10. It was 0.88 last November. They have previously said a value higher than one indicates the pandemic is spreading.

Areas of concern At the end of October, the OCTA Re-

search team classified NCR and seven other places as areas of concern due to a spike in COVID-19 cases.

The other places are Davao del Sur, Quezon, Negros Occidental, Pampanga, Bulacan, Misamis Oriental and Western Samar.

In a separate interview, Prof. Ranjit Rye of OCTA Research said the reproduction number of the coronavirus in the country was already past 1.

Rye cited several factors that led to the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country, including the reopening of the domestic economy, with many no longer wearing face masks and face shields in public places.

At the same time, there are several local government units who have not been strict in enforcing health protocols, he said, adding the government must do more testing and contact tracing.

Vaccine side effects possible At the same time, Dr. Rontgene Solante, San Lazaro Hospital’s Adult Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Unit head, said health workers must make it clear to patients that vaccines, such as that of COVID-19, were safe and side effects possible.

US okays Pfizer vaccine, millions of doses begin shipping NO-DEAL BREXIT ON THE HORIZON

MODERNIZING PH LAUNDRY BUSINESS

A Brexit trade deal between Britain and the European Union looked to be hanging in the balance on Saturday after gloomy assessments from leaders on both sides of the Channel, with just hours left before last-gasp talks conclude.

WORLD / A3

A SPANISH startup, formed by three young entrepreneurs in 2015, is now making an impact on day-to-day services such as laundry, hairdressing, and beauty in many countries, including the Philippines.

BUSINESS / A4

SOMETHING BRIGHT, SOMETHING DULL

LG BRIDGES GAP FOR HEALTHCARE

IF EVERYTHING that has happened and is still happening in 2020—a year most of us thought of “fresh start,” of “clear vision”— is any indication, we know by now that we know nothing.

LG’S HEATING, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system has been helping Philippine hospitals to operate 24/7 over the past several months, helping the local health system to maintain financial sustainability in an uncertain and changing environment.

YOUTH / B1

HOME/DESIGN / B2 twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

manilastandard.net

AKF DURING THE PANDEMIC THE Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF) has hurdled many challenges during the pandemic, and even saved many animals in need. This is mainly due to the support of animal lovers who donated funds and resources, compassionate volunteers, and its hardworking staff.

PETS / B4

DEDICATED TO STRUGGLING PINOYS NEWLY crowned Miss ECO Teen International 2020 Roberta Angela Tamondong was treated to a homecoming queen victory press conference upon her return to the country after winning in the second edition of the teen international pageant in Egypt.

WASHINGTON—The United States greenlighted the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine late Friday (Saturday in Manila), paving the way for millions of vulnerable people to receive their shots in the world’s hardest-hit country.

President Donald Trump immediately released a video on Twitter, where he hailed the news as a “medical miracle” and said the first immunizations would take place “in less than 24 hours.”

It comes as infections across America soar as never before, with the grim milestone of 300,000 confirmed deaths fast approaching.

The US is now the sixth country to approve the two-dose regimen, after Britain, Bahrain, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico.

Countries which have approved the Pfizer-BioNTech jab meanwhile were preparing for roll out, as the World Health Organization warned of a potentially grim Christmas season (see story on A3 – Editors).

The move came earlier than expected and capped a day of drama after it was widely reported that the White House had threatened to fire Food and Drug Administration chief Stephen Hahn if he did not grant emergency approval Friday.

Following Britain’s lead, the first vaccine shipments to 14 sites across Canada are scheduled to arrive Monday with people receiving shots a day or two later.

Israel, which accepted its first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine on Wednesday, is targeting a rollout on December 27.

And Hong Kong said Friday it had struck deals for two vaccines -- one from Pfizer and the other from Beijing-based Sinovac -- with plans to launch a campaign in early 2021.AFP

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News

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Recruitment agencies get extensions on licenses

TEEMING WITH SHOPPERS Barangay officials carry around signs to remind the public to observe health protocols at Ylaya St. in the Divisoria market district Manila on Saturday, as FIlipinos scrambled to complete their gift shopping two weeks before Christmas. Norman Cruz

Unified tourist protocols sought

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

OURISM officials want uniform travel protocols in tourist destinations around the country, as the country steadily moves to revive the industry amid the coronavirus pandemic.

At the same time, flag carrier Philippine Airlines is offering a discounted rate for those taking Reverse Transcription - Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR) test, a requirement of air travelers amid the COVID-19.

“PAL’s testing facility at the Philippine Airlines Learning Center at 540 Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila is now offering RT-PCR services at a discounted rate of P3,300 with results released within 24 hours,” the PAL management said in a statement.

The new rate, which takes effect beginning Saturday (Dec. 12), is P700 less than the previous RT-PCR cost of P4,000.

Drive-through or walk-in testing will be available. The testing facility is open from Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said on Teleradyo Saturday: “I want to have uniform travel protocols because destinations right now they vary per destination. I think we are just

Speaker supports battle vs. VAWC SPEAKER Lord Allan Velasco recently called on everyone to contribute to the elimination of violence against women and girls.

Velasco issued the call in his video message to participants of the forum on the “State of Local Response Mechanisms for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Violence Against Women (VAW).”

“Violence against women and girls is a social ill that must never be normalized.

All of us are affected, and all of us must do our part to end it,” Velasco said.

This developed as some 14,000 cases of violence against women and children (VAWC) have been reported since the start of the coronavirus lockdowns, a year-on-year dip that may be due to underreporting and fear from victims, the director of the Philippine Commission on Women said Saturday. Maricel V Cruz

senger Profile and Health Declaration (PPHD) form. There is no need for prior appointment to avail of the test.

The PPHD form is downloadable via https://bit.ly/PALDomPPHD and https://bit.ly/PALIntPPHD and must be filled up to five days before the flight.

To find out which countries and Philippine destinations require an RT-PCR test, PAL passengers are advised to visit https://bit.ly/PALTravelsFromPH (for international) and https://bit.ly/PALTravelsWithinPH (for domestic) PAL is offering direct nonstop flights for returning Filipinos (balikbayans) this holiday season as the government granted visa-free entry privileges to tourists falling under the Balikbayan Program.

PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said Balikbayans and overseas Filipinos may choose from a wide range of regular PAL flights to Manila every week.

‘ABS’ franchise still dead under Velasco—solon

By Maricel V. Cruz

‘Looming skills gap post-virus’ “NO JOBS for the unskilled. No workers for skilled work.”

This was the warning of the economist of the House of Representatives who forecast that some 2.4 million skilled jobs or 6 percent of the labor force might be unfilled within the next decade unless education and training reforms were implemented.

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, warned policymakers there was a looming post-COVID-19 skills gap, where unskilled workers could not find jobs while jobs requiring skills could not be filled.

“This will be a silent crisis, because it will only make itself seen gradually and in the households whose workers cannot find jobs and, in the businesses, where skilled jobs remain unfilled. This situation will definitely bog us down,” Salceda said.

He warned that many of the jobs lost to the Coronavirus Disease-19 pandemic would not return “simply because there will no longer be any need for them, even if businesses recover as “we’ve all moved online.”

“Expect painful permanent shrinkages in the low-skill service sector, and a drag in real wages due to the oversupply of unskilled work, unless we are willing to make meaningful policy changes now.”

starting. Eventually, we hope to have a unified travel protocol instead of having tourists... because others jump from one province to another and deal with different requirements.”

The government earlier eased requirements for domestic tourism as it hoped to boost the country’s economy affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Among the requirements are negative COVID-19 test results and travel authority documents, which may vary on the destination.

Some travelers have, meanwhile, aired concerns about taking the wrong type of tests, wasting resources when finding out they have to take another type of COVID-19 test for their destination.

Passengers are required to bring their identification card, PAL ticket, and QR code indicating completion of the Pas-

LICENSES of recruitment agencies for overseas Filipino workers have been extended as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Administrator Bernard Olalia said Saturday.

In a public press briefing, Olalia said this would help recruitment agencies affected by pandemic, as travel and deployment remain limited to contain the virus.

Olalia said: “As assistance, we have automatically extended their licenses.

This means we will not impose regulations so we could help them.”

Olalia said some 50 agencies intended to close their main offices, while 70 branch offices had closed.

He said: “One of the hardest hit sectors because of the pandemic is overseas employment. The data we receive from Philippine recruitment manning agencies are also affected.”

Travelling has been chiefly affected by pandemic, as flights and overseas recruitment remain limited as the government sought to contain the disease through quarantine protocols.

Starting January, the government will impose a cap of 5,000 on the number of health workers allowed to be deployed per year, covering 12 work classifications under mission-critical skills, including nurses.

Once the situation is seen as easing, they may allow the deployment of another 5,000 workers and may also consider allowing the deployment of other health care workers such as doctors, pharmacists and dentists.

TIME TO PLAY. A group of teenagers from Barangay Maligaya use their free time to play volleyball -- despite public precautions during the coronavirus pandemic -- at the Neopolitan Business Park Leisure Center in Fairview, Quezon City on Saturday . The park is popular among residents in the area to enjoy various sports like cycling and jogging. PNA/Oliver Marquez

Cebu gov summons telco over traffic mess CEBU Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has summoned contractors and officials of the country’s third telecommunications company to address the worsening traffic issues along the highway of densely populated and commercial areas in several towns in Metro Cebu.

In a meeting with local chief executives from the northern towns of Cebu on Friday, Garcia expressed her belief that Dito Telecommunity’s excavation works for the installation of fiber optic cables along the highway is aggravating the traffic problem in the area.

Local officials who attended the meeting reported that Dito’s communi-

cation cables will be installed in a total of 11 potholes.

The meeting was attended by Mayors Johannes Alegado of Consolacion town, Christina Frasco of Liloan, and representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Land Transportation Office (LTO), and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Company officials had yet to issue a statement as of press time.

“They’ve been digging along the highway, which led traffic to be narrowed down to one lane instead of the usual two lanes,” said Garcia.

Hundreds rally to support Justice Leonen OVER a hundred former colleagues and friends of Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen rallied to support the magistrate this week as he faced an impeachment complaint, calling the ouster bid “baseless and unfounded.”

The magistrate, whose term is to expire in 2032, is facing an impeachment complaint before the House of Representatives for alleged betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.

It alleged that Leonen committed betrayal of public trust when he failed to file his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) for 15 years during his ten-

ure at the University of the Philippines.

In a statement dated Dec. 10, lawyers, regional trial court judges, environment and human rights advocates, and students said the complaint filed against Leonen directly assaults the integrity of the High Court and “should not be given due course.”

“This impeachment complaint cannot be allowed to pass, for the sake of the independence of the Supreme Court, and for the sake of continued nation-building with national institutions that can withstand the vagaries of our volatile politics,” the statement read.

The governor said if Dito and its contractor cannot cover the holes with steel plates, the provincial government will have to take care of it, but it will be charged to the telecom company.

“Everybody has to be cooperating here,” Garcia said. “All hands on deck.”

She warned that the local governments “might have to resort to other actions” if Dito does not correct these problems.

“If they cannot correct what they did, which already is an added burden to the Cebuanos who have suffered enough from traffic, I might have to resort to other actions,” said Garcia.

FREE BIRDS.

Sunconur birds perch in front of their handlers from the bird group Majestic Wings at the Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine in San Juan City on International Animal Rights Day on Saturday. The group routinely conducts their birds’ free flight every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday so the animals can stretch their wings outside their cages.

Manny Palmero

A PARTY-list legislator on Saturday doubted that the ABS-CBN Corporation would be able to secure a franchise to operate under the present leadership of the House of Representatives.

Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta of SAGIP has disputed claims of Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza on the grant of a new franchise for ABSCBN television network under the leadership of House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

Marcoleta, main proponent in blocking the renewal of franchise for ABSCBN, said the network had to implement reform measures, including the appointment of new management.

“It’s a long and circuitous process,” Marcoleta said in a statement.

“ABS-CBN has to go through major reforms, starting with a change in management and facilities before they are given new franchise to operate.”

According to Marcoleta, the network must address the various violations of securities and labor laws, and the constitutional provision mandating the 100 percent Filipino ownership of a media company.

Marcoleta said Congress needed to conduct a thorough review of the franchise to be granted to the network to ensure that these (franchise) provisions would not be violated again.

Meanwhile, the Federation of International Cable TV and Telecommunication Association of the Philippines (FICTAP) asserted that the ABSCBN network must pay penalties amounting to P1.6 trillion for alleged violation of its franchise provisions.

“Before a new franchise could be issued, a broadcast network should first pay whatever penalties that it is supposed to pay,” said FICTAP President Estrellita Tamano.

World

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More ambitious climate plans on 5th year of Paris Agreement LONDON -- Global leaders were due to announce more ambitious plans to combat global warming on Saturday, on the fifth anniversary of the signing of the landmark Paris Agreement.

The Climate Ambition Summit, being held online, comes as the United Nations warns current commitments to tackle rises in global temperatures are inadequate.

Britain, the UN, and France are cohosting the summit, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson will open at 1400 GMT and which will be live streamed at climateambitionsummit2020.org.

China’s President Xi Jinping and France’s Emmanuel Macron are among the heads of state taking part, with speaking slots handed to leaders of countries that submitted the most ambitious plans.

These include Honduras, and Guatemala, which were both recently hit by hurricanes, as well as India, which is battling increasingly erratic weather patterns and air pollution.

Business figures set to speak reportedly include Tim Cook, the chief executive of Apple, which has committed to making its whole supply chain carbon neutral by 2030.

But major economies including Australia, Brazil and South Africa are absent. Australia has not committed to net-zero emissions by 2050 and has been accused of setting targets that are too weak.

Speakers will deliver short video messages, with organisers saying they will announce “new and ambitious climate change commitments” and there will be “no space for general statements”.

The 2015 Paris climate accord saw signatories commit to take action to limit temperature rises to “well below” 2.0 Celsius above pre-industrial levels and try to limit them to 1.5C. AFP

Media tycoon Lai faces HK life sentence HONG KONG -- Hong Kong media tycoon and Beijing critic Jimmy Lai appeared in court on Saturday morning to face a charge under the national security law that could put him in jail for life.

He is accused of colluding with foreign countries, by calling on overseas governments to sanction Hong Kong and China in response to the crackdown on pro-democracy activism in the city.

Lai, 73, is the most high-profile figure charged under the sweeping law, which has targeted the city’s pro-democracy movement but brought a semblance of calm to the finance hub after months of often-violent protests.

The police’s new national security department charged him Friday with “collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security” under the security law.

The offence carries a penalty of up to life imprisonment.

The prosecutor told the court Lai’s offence was requesting, from July 1 to Dec 1, that a foreign country or institution, organisation or individual outside mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau “impose sanctions or blockade, or engage in other hostile activities” against Hong Kong and China.

Lai, dressed in a suit and calm throughout, said he acknowledged the charge.

Chief Magistrate Victor So, one of the six magistrates hand-picked by the city’s pro-Beijing leader Carrie Lam to handle national security cases, said the prosecution needed time to further investigate more than a thousand messages from Lai’s Twitter accounts, several media interviews that the tycoon gave, and a number of overseas visits in relation to calls for US sanctions against Hong Kong and China. AFP

ANOTHER ONE. A

woman looks on December 10 at a metal monolith that has popped up on a riverbank of the Vistula in the Polish capital Warsaw, the latest in a string of similar objects that have recently appeared in Europe and the US. Similarlooking objects were found in the United States, Romania, and Britain. AFP

FLYING PENGUIN. An African penguin swims in a large overhanging water tank called ‘Penguin in the Sky’ at Sunshine Aquarium in Tokyo on December 11. AFP

WHO: ‘Tearful’ Christmas if people drop their guard

G

ENEVA, Switzerland—The World Health Organization (WHO) warned Friday that Christmas celebrations could turn to tears if people fail to keep up their guard against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the festive season.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the number of deaths in the coronavirus pandemic was surging and

urged people to think very carefully about their holiday season plans.

“The festive season is a time to relax and celebrate but... celebration can very quickly turn to sadness if we fail to take the right precautions,” he told a news conference.

“As you prepare to celebrate over the coming weeks, please, please consider your plans carefully. If you live in an area with high transmission, please take every precaution to keep yourselves and others safe.

“That could be the best gift you could give -- the gift of health.”

Tedros said there had been a 60 percent increase worldwide in deaths from the respiratory disease over the past six weeks.

However, some continents are witnessing bigger death toll surges than others, said Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead on COVID-19.

She said there had been nearly a 100 percent increase in the number of deaths per week in the WHO’s Europe region over the past six weeks, a 54 percent increase in the Americas and 50 percent in Africa.

“This virus is still circulating. Most of the world remains at risk,” she said.

Billion doses secured Meanwhile Michael Ryan, the WHO’s emergencies director, said the virus was yet to settle down into a predictable pattern.

“The situation globally is still very epidemiologically unstable,” he said.

After Britain this week started rolling out public vaccinations against the new coronavirus, Tedros said the production of safe and effective jabs against a disease that was completely unknown a year ago was an “astounding scientific achievement”. AFP

CAMPING OUT. Protesting farmers rest in their tractor trolley along a blocked highway during a demonstration against the central government’s recent agricultural reforms at the Delhi-Haryana state border in Singhu on December 10. As an army of resolute Indian farmers keeps up its blockade of New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi faces potentially the trickiest challenge yet to his authority and reform agenda. AFP

High court shoots down Texas bid to overturn poll results WASHINGTON -- The US Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a bid by Texas to overturn the results of the presidential election, which Republican Donald Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden, in a fresh setback for the president.

The longshot suit lodged late Tuesday against four states key in the November 3 vote -- Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin -- challenged Biden’s victory in each jurisdiction.

But the Supreme Court, made up of nine justices including three appointed

by Trump, said Texas -- which voted for

the president -- “has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections.”

The court’s decision “is an important reminder that we are a nation of laws, and though some may bend to the desire of a single individual, the courts will not,” tweeted Michigan attorney general Dana Nessel.

Biden spokesman Mike Gwin said the ruling was “no surprise.”

“Dozens of judges, election officials from both parties, and Trump’s own At-

torney General have dismissed his baseless attempts to deny that he lost the election,” he said.

The Texas suit had been seen as audacious and legally unsound, given that no one state has any legal right to interfere in another’s voting processes. Even so, it was backed by 106 Republican lawmakers and 17 state attorneys general.

Texas alleged that the results in the other four states were “unconstitutional” because of their heavy use of “fraudprone” mail-in votes during the coronavirus pandemic. AFP

8 countries blast N. Korea HR record UNITED NATIONS—Eight countries, including the United States, on Friday denounced North Korea’s human rights record after a closed-doors videoconference at the UN Security Council organized by Germany.

“The situation of human rights in the DPRK is appalling and gets worse by the day,” the eight said in a joint declaration read by German ambassador Christoph Heusgen, referring to North Korea by the initials of its formal name.

At his side were envoys from the United States, France, Britain, Japan, Estonia, Belgium, and the Dominican Republic.

“Individuals in the DPRK are stripped of nearly all their human rights, their freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, as-

sociation, movement, and religion or belief, among many others,” the statement said.

“Media freedom is non-existent, neither is there any possibility of a political opposition to the regime’s tight grip on its people,” it added.

The joint declaration was particularly critical of North Korea’s “long-standing system of political prison camps where hundreds of thousands of North Koreans, including children, have died as a consequence of torture, forced labor, summary executions, starvation, sexual and gender-based violence and other forms of inhumane treatment.”

It added that “as we speak, 100,000 prisoners are being detained, suffering from the horrors of being maltreated and abused on a daily basis.” AFP

No-deal Brexit on the horizon as talks finish LONDON—A Brexit trade deal between Britain and the European Union looked to be hanging in the balance on Saturday after gloomy assessments from leaders on both sides of the Channel, with just hours left before last-gasp talks conclude.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen have given their negotiators until Sunday before a decision is made on whether to keep talking or give up.

The mood worsened after von der Leyen told EU leaders at a marathon Brussels summit there were “low expectations” and the “probability of a no-deal is higher than of a deal”.

Ireland and Germany tried to raise spirits, agreeing that a pact was “difficult but still possible”.

But Johnson said it was looking “very, very likely” that Britain would end up dealing with its biggest single trading partner on World Trade Organization (WTO) terms from the New Year.

“If there’s a big offer, a big change in what they (the EU) are saying then I must say that I’ve yet to see it,” he told reporters.

The comments did nothing to inspire confidence in the British pound, which extended its losses on currency markets, dropping more than one percent against the dollar.

“Traders are turning their back on the pound as the language being used now is more serious,” CMC Markets analyst David Madden told AFP. UK chief negotiator David Frost and his EU counterpart Michel Barnier are trying to carve out a deal by Sunday, with just three weeks left until the end of a transition period following Britain’s departure from the bloc in January. AFP

EU flexes muscle against big tech ‘gatekeepers’ BRUSSELS -- US tech giants such as Facebook and Google face unprecedented regulation in Europe, as the EU prepares to unveil landmark proposals that could change the face of life online.

The EU wants the Digital Services Act and its accompanying Digital Markets Act to set strict conditions for internet giants to do business in the bloc’s 27 countries.

The biggest tech firms will be designated internet “gatekeepers”, subject to specific regulation, in a proposal that will be unveiled by EU vice president Margrethe Vestager and commissioner Thierry Breton on Tuesday.

Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon and maybe a few others will almost certainly be slapped with the designation, which could be compared to big banks that are deemed “too big to fail” and subject to special oversight.

“We’ve come to a point where the power of digital businesses -- especially the biggest gatekeepers -- threaten our freedoms, our opportunities, even our democracy,” said Vestager.

“So for the world’s biggest gatekeepers, things are going to have to change. They are going to have to take more responsibility.”

The proposals will go through a long and complex ratification process, with the EU’s 27 member states, the European Parliament, and a lobbying frenzy of companies and trade associations, influencing the final law. AFP

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Business

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

Spanish startup modernizes Philippine laundry business A

SPANISH startup, formed by three young entrepreneurs in 2015, is now making an impact on day-to-day services such as laundry, hairdressing and beauty in many countries including the Philippines.

Jeff cofounder and chief executive Eloi Gomez

Jeff, which started as an on-demand home laundry and drycleaning app, is on expansion mode in line with its goal to become the first international omni-channel ecosystem of day-today services. It is present in 40 countries across Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia where it has more than 2,300 franchises sold.

Eloi Gomez, the chief executive and a cofounder of Jeff, had just graduated from college when he and two friends started the company five years ago. “I met Rubén Muñoz and Adrián Lorenzo, the other two co-founders of the company, in college while we were studying and living in a student house. Together, we created and sold two small companies before creating Mr Jeff, now Jeff,” he says.

“Besides being a young entrepreneur, what I truly wanted was to make a difference in peoples’ lives. My age at the time was not a large factor,” says Gomez who now oversees employees from more than 20 different nationalities who work together to help entrepreneurs.

“Since our start in 2015, we have evolved quite dramatically. We started with Mr Jeff in Europe and Latin America. We then launched in the Philippines, the first market in Asia in August 2019,” Gomez says via e-mail.

Jeff has sold 80 Mr Jeff laundry franchises in the Philippines, with its laundry hubs operating in Metro Manila and Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

In June 2019, the co-founders announced the

evolution of Mr. Jeff’s worldwide business model from a laundry and dry cleaning services app to an ecosystem for day-to-day services with a mission to make people’s lives easier.

“This evolution also brought about a change in its corporate name, which became Jeff, and unified all the business lines that the company had launched, and would launch in the future.

Gomez says while Jeff took a hit at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, its business model features of convenient and safe pick-up and delivery services allowed the company to gain a large number of new customers over the last few months who would normally go to DIY laundry stores.

“Jeff entrepreneurs ensured that the customer’s confidence remained strong. Almost all partners have strengthened their numbers and metrics in comparison with pre-COVID statistics,” he says.

He says that in the Philippines, Jeff is performing better than expected. “The percentage of online orders is around 65 percent to 70 percent. Local franchisees are offering a great service and the quality rating is outstanding at 4.8 out of 5. More laundry stores are currently being set up and are soon to open,” says Gomez.

He says a good number of partners will soon be ready to open in the Philippines to help Jeff gain more visibility and popularity.

“We are very proud of the growth we are seeing in this dynamic, tech-friendly and challenging market,” he says.

The Philippines was the first Asian market Jeff began operating in. “We want to continue to have a strong presence in a country that welcomes innovative business ideas so well. We believe that Jeff and our network of entrepreneurs will continue to grow in the Philippines. The Philippines has a very strong economy, primarily supported by a growing middle class. Manila is soon to be a tech hub and the country is very welcoming to companies that seek to expand and employ locals,” says Gomez.

He says while Jeff’s stores closed in March at the start of the pandemic in the Philippines, they eventually reopened in May. “By June, our stores had already recovered, earning 17 percent more income than before the COVID 19 pandemic,” he says.

Gomez says this is because entrepreneurs have embraced the digital phenomenon and more consumers are engaging in ecommerce and using online shopping platforms. “This has transformed the way people live and do business, which bodes well for us because we are a technology-driven enterprise,” he says.

About 65 to 70 percent of orders for Jeff’s services in the Philippines are made online. The number of orders in the country continues to increase due to high user retention rates and a substantial number of new customers, says Gomez. Roderick T. dela Cruz

Bao Street goes to Angeles City

By Jess Malabanan ANGELES CITY—Bao Street, the fastest growing ambulant food concept, has invaded the streets of Pampanga which is known as the center of Philippine culinary following the opening of its franchise here on Dec 2.

Mounted on a motorcycle with side car, Bao Street navigated the major streets in this city to offer unique preparations of traditional dishes such as adobo (chicken and pork), asado, lechon kawali and bagnit.

The filling is wrapped in soft dough similar to the Chinese traditional siopao. The preparation is easy, but Bao Street adds a touch of class for its market.

Bryan Patrick Lewis, president and chief executive of Bao Street Food Corp., said he started the business with $300 as initial investment in March during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I adapted to the food delivery service. My concept is to bring a variety of traditional food prepared and packed in a unique way. In fact, we already have 89 branches mostly in Quezon City and first in Angeles City,” Lewis said.

Franchise holders of Bao Street in Angele City lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

He said Bao Street store can move in areas where people converge. “It’s a sort

of a rolling store but the only difference is, we offer easy-to-prepare food at cus-

Cisco launches solutions to help MSMEs AFTER the harsh beating suffered by businesses in the first few months of the community lockdown, industry players believe that the economy began to show recovery because of the increasing confidence of small businesses to open-up and get down to “businessas-usual”.

In the recent episode of Cisco’s executive live series “Navigating the Shift”, business leader noticed that as the global and domestic challenges plateaued, global as well as local micro, small and Cisco medium enterPhilippines prises learned managing to adapt to director changes in the Karrie business enviIlagan ronment.

“It’s about understanding the critical business processes and identifying which can be automated a n d digitized.

We see

the need to divest from, so that one can invest,” said Cisco Philippines managing director Karrie Ilagan.

Ilagan said technology is the most important tool an MSME can invest on, especially on how to be omnipresent in all business channels, how to digitize and how to adopt simple technology that can bring them to a borderless platform.

“That’s where you out the technology investments in—invest in digital channels and skills because technology is nothing unless you do not make conscious decisions and become very intentional in digital talents and skills,” she explained.

Department of Trade and Industry bureau director for MSME development Jerry Clavesillas admitted that MSMES found themselves in a dire situation during the lockdown period.

“As we started to ease up the situation or the restrictions, most of the MSMEs are already going back to their normal operation,” said Clavesillas.

“We’ve gone from our first survey in March where about 35 percent of the MSMEs are in a true stop operation, 51 percent are partially operating and 14 percent are fully operating. In our recent survey, fully-closed businesses are only 6 percent while 47 percent are partially operating and 47≠ percent are in full operation,” he said.

He said the digital acceleration played a pivotal role in the survival of MSMEs. Othel V. Campos

tomer’s convenience,” he said.

Lewis said Bao Street plans to expand not only in Luzon but also in the Visayas and Mindanao. “Before the end of this year, we would open another store in Tarlac City, Laoag City and other areas in Ilocos Region,” he said.

“We are currently working on the logistical problems that we are encountering right now, since we are a new company and how we can reach these regions,” he said.

Lewis said Bao Street is open for franchising for P330,000, inclusive of the cart and a brand -new motorcycle.

He said Bao Street opened a franchise in Angeles because it is known as a culinary center. “There should be a Bao Street in the Food Capital of the Philippines to represent our company,” he said.

“We put pride in our food and company, with our competent security and health officers checking the quality of products every day. First and foremost is the quality of food,” Lewis said.

He said Bao Street is an innovation of the traditional ambulant food cart. He assured franchise holders of a return on investments within three to six months.

Gov’t support seen crucial to having world-class telecom services BROADBAND services in the Philippines have vastly improved in recent months, but the government needs to support the telecom sector to attain world-class status.

This is the summary of the report presented by the National Telecommunication Commission to Congress and Malacanang Palace recently, as public demand for data and communication surged amid the community lockdown which the government imposed to contain the spread of the pandemic.

A World Bank economist confirmed that the Philippine government should take the lead in transforming the economy into a digital one. “In a society-wide digital transformation, the government itself must lead by example,” World Bank economist Kevin Chua said.

Governments in other Asian countries are spending billions of dollars to develop their telecom infrastructure, with the South Korean government pouring $24 billion for the country’s public internet backbone.

Japan allocated $162 billion on ICT annually while China budgeted $298 billion for telecom infrastructure between 2016 and 2020. Indonesia’s IT spending amounted to $21.16 billion in 2017.

The NTC said the unprecedented health crisis this year and the subsequent government declaration of Enhanced Community Quarantine in March had considerably changed the way data was being consumed by Filipinos.

It said that despite the increased demand from gaming, video streaming, video-conferencing, online banking, work-from-home connectivity and commercial transactions, internet was stable throughout the country during the crisis.

“It is important to note that since the onset of ECQ until now, internet connectivity did not fail in our country, notwithstanding an estimated 500-percent increase in demand as reported by Converge,” the NTC said in its presentation.

The NTC noted that the Philippines was initialy left behind in telecom tower development because of its initial preference for voice services which did not require as many towers. “Unlike the rest of the world that mainly rolled-out telecom infrastructure for voice service, the Philippines went crazy with text messaging, earning it the title of ‘the texting capital of the world. This technology did not require so many towers until the era of the smartphone began in 2012,” it said.

It said that local government units, seeing the revenue potential from texting, came up with so many permits and recurring annual fees for revenue regulation. “Thus, when smartphones started to dominate by 2012, the above red tape and its costs were felt as telcos started overhauling its network for 3G and 4G. Adding towers got mired in red tape starting 2013,” the NTC said.

More businesses eye hybrid cloud platform

By Othel V. Campos THE big shift in how businesses are run today has many innovators scrambling to peddle a host of solutions that offer varying degrees of efficacy, depending on the need of business owners and scope of their business as the new age created a huge demand for advanced technological applications.

A recent study by IBM Institute for Business Value found that business executives in the Philippines are planning to increasingly invest in hybrid multi-cloud platform strategies and capabilities to drive business transformation and unlock potential value.

IBM Philippines president and country general manager Aileen Jiao said the results of the survey showed that by 2023, Philippine organizations expect to be using an average of 10 clouds per organization. However, only 28 percent of businesses have holistic multi-cloud management strategy in place.

“The prioritization and acceleration of digital transformation really just happened. It almost felt like overnight. And in the Philippines, as we all felt there was a significant digitization effort in acceleration towards the adoption of e-commerce and many things now are done online. Things we are unfamiliar

IBM Philippines president and country general manager Aileen Jiao

with have started to make sense. We also saw, many months ago, how people get to use Webex, Microsoft Teams, Zoom.

All of these collaboration platforms to meet each other online, communication and collaboration platform have really gone a long way in such a short span of

time,” she said in a recent webinar.

The IBV surveyed over 6,000 technology executives and 3,000 business executives in over 20 countries including 100 from the Philippines. The survey cut across 22 industries and sectors to gain a better understanding of the respondents’ use of hybrid cloud, multicloud and their approach to multi-cloud management for the report titled, “The hybrid cloud platform advantage: A guiding star to enterprise transformation in the Philippines”.

According to survey respondents from the Philippines, 17 percent of their IT spend is allocated to cloud, and they plan to increase the share of spend on hybrid cloud from present 39 percent today to 48 percent by 2023.

Most of their cloud budgets are being allocated to hybrid-cloud platforms even as their public cloud spend is set to reduce from 53 percent today to 43 percent by 2023.

Most industries globally will exhibit growth in the number of clouds they will deploy, which can go up to 11 clouds per organization, particularly in insurance, telecommunications, retail, banking and consumer products as these industries will continue to expand multiple cloud deployments in the next three years.

Youth & Culture B1

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

Bernadette Lunas, Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

Trend forecaster Pantone Color Institute picks two colors for 2021—a 'dependable' shade of gray and a 'positive' yellow—in a bid to convey a message of optimism supported by fortitude. (Photos from Pantone)

SOMETHING BRIGHT, SOMETHING DULL:

Pantone picks 2 colors for 2021

‘‘

By Bernadette Lunas

I

F EVERYTHING that has happened and still happening in 2020—a year most of us thought of “fresh start,” of “clear vision”—is any indication, we know by now that we know nothing.

We need to feel encouraged and uplifted; this is essential to the human spirit.

Gray and yellow worn together.

Who would have thought 2020 would be a year of chaos, of one bad news after the other, of days seemingly blurring into one another, of a year marked by a global health crisis?

Also, who could have guessed it would be a year when blue surgical masks and blue medical scrubs would become a ubiquitous sight?

Oh right, Pantone sort of did.

However, when the trend forecaster chose Classic Blue as the Color of the Year for 2020, it was meant to instill “calm, confidence, and connection,” or the three things we don’t have right now.

A year that was forecasted to be calm has been filled with stress and anxiety, confidence is trumped by insecurity, and connection has been bogged down by disconnect and separation. Although one can argue that we made a different kind of connection this year, perhaps with those close to us as we isolate from the rest of the world, or the one we have with ourselves).

For 2021, Pantone Color Institute picked two contrasting yet complementary colors, the second time it selected two in its 22-year history (the first time was Rose Quartz and Serenity for 2016).

The 2021 Colors of the Year, Ultimate Gray (a mid-tone gray) and Illuminating

The use of yellow in neutral, modern minimalist interior design brings a pop of life and character into the space.

(a bright, saturated yellow) seem to encapsulate the overarching theme of 2020: dull but fueled by hope. But Pantone, whose forecasts influence product development and decision in fashion, home, and industrial design, wishes to send a message of “happiness supported by fortitude.”

The pairing, Pantone said, also “highlights our innate need to be seen, to be visible, to be recognized, to have our voices heard.”

The neutral gray, which the forecasters liken to “the colors of pebbles on the beach and natural elements whose weathered appearance highlights an ability to stand the test of time,” is a dependable shade that “quietly assures” and encourages composure, steadiness, and resilience, or the three things necessary for us to survive this year and step into the next.

Much like how a pop of yellow in interior awash with gray adds dimension and life to the whole place, Illuminating aims to be the spark of hope in the combination.

“The union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude,” explained Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of Pantone Color Institute.

Eiseman added, “Practical and rock solid, but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted; this is essential to the human spirit.”

Gray and yellow—like the light at the end of this dark tunnel we all wish to see next year.

Nadine Lustre to raise funds for 88,000 trees NADINE LUSTRE needs your help.

The singer-actress and one of this generation’s most influential celebrities is raising funds to aid a 20-year reforestation project for the Aetas of Yangil, Zambales.

As she continues her journey toward becoming an eco-warrior, Lustre has partnered with European skin care brand Bioten to help For The Future (formerly Fund The Forest) and Make a Difference (MAD) Travel reach their goal of cultivating 3,000 hectares of Aeta ancestral domain, which will help enrich the livelihood of the tribe and the environment itself.

“I believe I have a responsibility to the next generations—I will do what I can to raise awareness for a more sustainable future, as well as take concrete action. I begin here—with raising funds for trees. I hope everyone will join me in doing this,” she says.

As Bioten’s brand ambassador, Lustre and the brand aim to plant a total of 88,000 trees—representative of the 88 percent ingredients of natural origin found in the brand’s Skin Moisture line.

“Bioten has always been honest about the ingredients that are put into every bottle it makes. We’re not 100 percent natural but each box proudly and truthfully states the percentage of natural ingredients used in it,” states Angie Goyena, general manager of iFace, the local distributor of Bioten in the Philippines.

Marian Hukom's 'Nagmamahal, Maria Clara' comic series (right) is a concept born from her and classmate Riza Malolos' thesis film (left) showing Maria Clara meeting a modern-day Filipina.

Comics on modern-day Maria Clara tackles essence of today’s Filipina

Nadine Lustre commits to raise funds for 44,000 seeds, which Bioten will match to bring the total to 88,000 seeds to be planted over a course of several years in a bid to aid a 20-year reforestation project in Yangil, Zambales.

“The skin moisture line uses 88 percent ingredients of natural origin and is the line Nadine is most associated with, hence the commitment to fund 88,000 trees,” she adds.

Through her network and fans, Lustre will commit to raising enough funds

for 44,000 seeds to be planted over a course of several years, which Bioten Skin Care will match, bringing the total to 88,000 fruit and forest trees.

Each seedling costs P50. To donate through Nadine Lustre, go to www.forthefutureph.com/88k-trees. Or donate directly through For The Future’s Maria Margarita Jalandoni’s Unionbank account (1094 8538 0314) or GCash (0945-831-8743).

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.

HOW would Maria Clara live in the 21st century?

Graphic artist and illustrator Marian Hukom explores the concept of family, community, and the essence of today’s Filipina with Rizal’s female protagonist as her muse in her comics “Nagmamahal, Maria Clara.”

In this series, Maria Clara, the embodiment of the traditional dalagang Filipina archetype, finds herself literally and figuratively lost in the chaotic city swarming with liberal values completely alien to her.

“She has always been the ultimate model for us despite present-day norms becoming more liberal. Thus, it leaves women stumbling through modern society,” shares the 23-year-old artist.

In her quest to find her family and friends in the strange metropolis, the protagonist discovers that she has transformed into a person who now dictates her own fate. Instead of dismissing her past, she learns from her mistakes, draws strength from her rich heritage, and takes inspiration from other strong independent heroes in history.

Hukom, together with classmate Riza Malolos, initially created this concept as a thesis film requirement to complete their Multimedia Arts degrees in the School of Design and Arts of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.

Through their initial exploration, the

teammates realized that what was once a very personal project actually encompassed a bigger picture that affected fellow women everywhere.

As they delved deeper, Hukom and Malolos consulted with Grrrl Gang Manila, a group that aims to create a safe space for women. They likewise immersed themselves in the advocacy works of Hella Pinay, Kababae Mong Tao, and Gantala Press, all independent feminist platforms.

“Nagmamahal, Maria Clara” then became a platform to understand Maria Clara as Rizal’s symbolism of the colonized Philippines—beautiful, meek, and obedient.

Hukom advocates a common ground wherein reconstructing the spirit of the modern Filipina does not mean forgetting the subject’s core values.

“We can leave the hurtful or irrational traditions in the past. But we can honor it as a stepping stone in our growth,” she elaborates.

“We shouldn’t follow her footsteps because she was a product of her time. We have evolved from that. Times have changed and our model should, too. Instead, we can leave her in history and take her devotion and pure heart with us moving forward.”

“Nagmamahal, Maria Clara” currently has four issues, all available on view on local online comic hub penlab.ink.

B2

Home/Design

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

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

JEG TOWER BAGS BEST GREEN PROJECT PLUM. JEG Development Corporation’s first green and high-rise tower, JEG Tower @ One Acacia, was recently recognized as the best commercial green development at the 8th PropertyGuru Philippine Property Awards. The 22-storey office and retail building, a landmark in the heart of the Cebu Business District, is one the few LEED pre-certified silver developments in the Visayas. Shown in photo is the JEG development corporation team. Back row (L-R): Aris Masancay, project engineer; Tomas Tan, senior manager – technical services; Jonas Omandan,finance manager; Paolo Sarmiento, director. Front row (LR): Stefan Garcia, head of HR and estate; Marko Sarmiento, chief operating officer; Ayla Gomez, brand manager. PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards recognizes the country’s frontrunners in the real estate industry.

LG bridges gap for healthcare facilities

L

G’S HEATING, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system has been helping Philippine hospitals to operate 24/7 over the past several months, helping the local health system to maintain financial sustainability in an uncertain and changing envirtonment.

The adaptation of LG Electronics’ latest variable refrigerant flow (VRF), multi V 5, and the LG dual vane cassette, an indoor ceiling cassette, have played a large role in providing high quality care for long-stay patients in the new normal.

SAVINGS AND COMFORT A single multi V 5, unit provides a large capacity up to 26HP, so fewer outdoor units are required. This results in a savings of up to 23 percent in total installation space compared to a conventional comparative model.

Customers of existing multi V units can add a hydro kit to enable precise temperature control. A combined solution of the multi V, hydro kit and AHUs (Air Handling Unit) for operating rooms and imaging centers, is ideal..

The dual vane cassette provides six different airflows which allow optimal comfort for each space in a hospital.

Indirect airflow mode, in specific, prevents air blowing

directly on a person which helps patients to relax in a cool and pleasant environment.

STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGIES ON TAP Meanwhile, the LG energy recovery ventilator (ERV), which detects indoor CO2 levels, automatically adjusts fan speeds. It provides air filtration through a purification system to remove harmful bacteria from the air.

LG Electronics offers HVAC and energy solutions using a portfolio of expertise and performance.

Launching Korea’s first residential air conditioner in 1968, LG specializes in the strategic utilization of advanced technologies.

Log on to lg.com/ph, like @LGPhilippines on Facebook, and follow @LGPhilippines on Instagram, for more details.

BATANGAS HUB IN THE OFFING. The Aboitiz Group’s Lima Land, Inc. will expand LIMA Estate in Batangas in response to the increasing demand for industrial and commercial spaces in Region IV-A, or Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon). The expansion, which is targeted for completion by the third quarter of 2022, is expected to generate up to 20,000 new jobs in Batangas and neighboring areas. Lima Land will develop over 100 hectares of its existing 700-hectare property in the next two years to accommodate more industrial locators. Additionally, its 30-hectare business district will be transformed to house new commercial lots, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies, office buildings, dormitories, schools, hospitals, hotels, and civic centers in addition to existing components such as The Outlets at Lipa, LIMA Exchange, and LIMA Park Hotel. “With this expansion, LIMA is well on its way to becoming a full fledged smart city, supported by a complete ecosystem of infrastructure and the latest digital technology,” said Rafael Fernandez de Mesa, first vice president of Aboitiz Integrated Economic Centers.

California living at QC

MINDANAO STAR. Pueblo de Oro Development Corporation (PDO), the real estate company of the ICCP Group, recently garnered several recognitions in the Mindanao leg of Pag-IBIG Fund’s first virtual Stakeholders Accomplishment Report (StAR) Awards. PDO was named Top 8 Developer in Mindanao, and received special awards such as Best in Conversion and Best in Performing Loans Ratio. Pag-IBIG StAR distinguishes organizations and individuals who contributed to the agency’s performance last year. Pueblo de Oro has townships and communities in Cagayan de Oro; Malvar and Sto. Tomas in Batangas; San Fernando, Pampanga; and Lapu-Lapu and Mactan in Cebu. Chrysler Acebu, vice president for Cagayan De Oro operations, accepted the award for PDO.

WHAT comes to your mind when someone mentions “American style living”? You might be thinking of the most exclusive apartments in Manhattan, New York or the luxury penthouses and terraces along Fifth Avenue. But there is more to American style living that makes it distinct.

Imagine a vibrant neighborhood, a welldesigned setting, an assurance of privacy and a walkable community. Imagine stepping into California style of living.

CALIFORNIA-STYLE WITH A TWIST Hawthorne Heights by Vista Residences invites urban dwellers, university students

and young professionals to step into a California style of living with a twist in the city’s most cosmopolitan enclave.

Hawthorne Heights is Vista Residences’ third high-rise condominium project along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City.

LOCATED NEAR UNIVERSITIES,OFFICES, SHOPPING CENTERS The 41-storey tower is centrally located in a place where the academe, the corporate skyline, bustling shopping and nightlife all merge into one community.

Hawthorne Heighs boasts indoor and

outdoor amenities such as swimming pool, fitness center, function room, game room, to name a few.

Vista Residences is the condominium arm of homebuilder Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc., which has ready for occupancy and pre-selling projects in Quezon City and Manila that are near premier universities and colleges and developed business districts.

For more information on Hawthorne Heights and other Vista Residences properties, visit www.vistaresidences.com. ph.

FUTURE-READY HOMES COMPETITION ASEAN construction materials conglomerate SCG and ceramic tile maker MARIWASA, are inviting soon-to-be architects to design future-ready homes through a homedesign competition, STRUKTURA. The contest aims to showcase the skills and creativity of architecture students from different colleges and universities in the country.

STRUKTURA will challenge local architecture students to develop ideas for disaster-proof and innovative Filipino homes. The initiative will also focus on addressing housing backlogs, with the hopes of providing sustainable home ideas.

The layout must be durable, innovative and sustainable. The design will be judged according to its architectural planning and design (40%), innovativeness (20%), product usage (20%) and sustainability (20%).

Interested architecture students may submit their entries for STRUKTURA on or before January 8, 2021. The winning design will receive a prize money of PHP100,000 and an Asus TUF FX705DU gaming laptop. The second and third place winners will receive PHP60,000 and PHP30,000, respectively, tax-free. Download the STRUKTURA Primer at http://bit.ly/Struktura_Primer for updates.

B3

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 nickie.standard@gmail.com

Basketball star on the rise

By Paolo Manuel C. Fule NATIONAL University Bullpups cager Harold Alarcon takes pride in being one of the few selected young basketball players that participated in Basketball Without Boarders (BWB) Asia hosted by Japan last year. He was later named Most Valuable Player (MVP) during the event’s AllStar Game.

Despite all the basketball accolades that he had at a young age, the softspoken dashing cager from NU manages to keep his feet on the ground.

Born on March 18, 2002 to Walter Alarcon and Remylyn Alarcon in Silay City, Negros Occidental, the 6-foot-2 shooting guard is currently playing for National University h i g h school and studying as

The 18-year-old statuesque beauty edged out 34 other delegates during the finals night held in Egypt.

By Eton Concepcion

N

EWLY crowned Miss ECO Teen International 2020 Roberta Angela Tamondong was treated to a homecoming queen victory press conference on Wednesday upon her return to the country after winning in the second edition of the teen international pageant in Egypt.

“Honestly, it hasn’t sunk in yet,” the 18-year-old statuesque stunner told the press. “I really gave my best to win and I hope this victory help give some pride and boost the spirit of the Filipino people amidst their struggle this pandemic.”

Ro-an’s victory “isn’t just a personal triumph based on her strengths, merits, and other hard-earned credentials, but also represents the collective optimism and hope of a nation and people that have endured so many challenges over the past months, yet remained resilient and kept their heads high as they keep on treading through life with so much faith and positivity,” said Arnold Vegafria, national director of Miss World Philippines.

“She was a last-minute entry since the usual search for a representative was deferred due to health concerns and restrictions from the pandemic. She took a break from school, I want to thank San Beda for their cooperation, and she underwent less-thana-week of training, she was diligent and very responsible,” Vegafria added.

Ro-an will be traveling back and forth to Egypt to fulfill her duties as Miss ECO Teen International 2020.

She will travel to New York during her reign and will lead an environmental program and other activities such as tree-planting and clean-up drive amidst COVID-19.

“I want to continue, through social media, to strengthen environmental awareness. I would focus on educating a change in the mindset and lifestyle to help environmental protection and preservation,” Ro-an said.

Tamondong started to train under beauty queen maker Rodgil Flores at the age of 13. She thanked many people in the pageant world including her KF Family, Designers like Jhong Sudlong and Jojo Bragais for shoes.

Asked if she had a celebrity crush, Roan said that she admired Daniel Padilla as an actor and Bea Alonzo, whom, she revealed, not a few were saying as her

Harold Alarcon, 18, currently plays for the high school basketball team of National University.

Twitter unveils #BestofTweets 2020 Philippines Award winners IN RECOGNITION of this extraordinary work, and as we reflect on the toughest of years, Twitter is today introducing its #BestofTweets 2020 Philippines Awards to celebrate and applaud the brands that broke through the chatter to create standout campaigns.

Roberta Angela Tamondong was crowned Miss Eco Teen International 2020 on Sunday, Dec. 6.

look-alike.

When asked to choose between taking on the Darna or Dyesebel role, she exclaimed, “Darna, of course, kasi kaya kong isigaw yung name niya (‘cause I know to how to shout her name),” Ro-an said before giving a sample of the iconic Comics superheroine shout.

A complicatedly lucid song for the confused AFTER releasing a song for the brokenhearted, the alt-pop RnB artist Zack Tabudlo is back with ‘Sigurado,’ his newest release under Island Records Philippines. “‘Sigurado’ was written the same week of ‘Nangangamba.’ I had written a lot of songs during that time last year,” Zack shares. “I wrote it having the same feeling as ‘Nangangamba:’ someone scared to commit and admit their feelings for a person. At the time, there was this popular phrase called sana all. I heard it in class, social media, literally everywhere.

Thinking to myself, I was like,

“What if I write a song called sana all?” It was a joke at first, but I actually did it.”

And the joke caught a tune unique for a song whose topic can be seen as sentimental.

Lighter, more upbeat, and more playful in terms of production, ‘Sigurado’ is a contradiction artistically applied in many ways.

“That's kind of like the catch of the song: having such a hurtful meaning, but bopping and grooving your

a grade 12 student.

Asked how he balances his studies and basketball, he said that he uses time management and prioritizes his academics because as a student-athlete, studies come first before anything else.

He lists NBA player Michael Jordan and PBA’s PJ Simon as his favorite basketball personalities.

“I like the way they play. They have that timing in playing and it’s not something that everyone can easily execute,” said Harold.

His career-high in points is 51 during the NBTC 2018 when he was in his former school, Bacolod Taytung High School. He also played in the 2018 Palarong Pambansa before joining the NU Bullpups.

head ‘til the end of it. It's ironic but it's cool, something new from me,” he explains. “I gave the same twist to the title too. People would think it should be named ‘Hindi Sigurado,’ but I went for ‘Sigurado’ as the title. It’s giving the same energy from the song to the listeners of getting confused, same as the person in the song going through confusion, fear of commitment, and all the insane emotions in the song.”

More than being written for individuals who are scared of admitting their feelings, the single mimics the yearning for the courage and confidence to actually try to be in a committed relationship. Behind each line is the untold story of where this overwhelming fear stems from.

“It’s pretty much seen everywhere,” declares Zack. “Trauma from a past relationship, from getting cheated on and most especially ghosting. A lot of people are getting their hearts broken, whatever the reason is. Going through a breakup as well gave me a lot of inspiration with writing the song.”

‘Sigurado’ was written, produced, mixed, and mastered by Zack himself, like all of his other tracks, including the previously released ‘Nangangamba’ and ‘Cruel.’

Music producer, songwriter, and guitarist Zack Tabudlo

Most Tweeted about Brand While 2020 has been a challenging year for many, music kept everyone accompanied and entertained as more people stayed at home. This resulted in more buzz on music as well as Tweets about a brand that brings it to all Filipinos, Spotify Philippines (@ Spotify_PH).

Best Brand Voice Smart’s #LiveGiga campaign is a standout, thanks to its consistently uplifting and empowering brand voice. It was able to connect to Smart's young, diverse, and passionate audience by encouraging them to live big, dream without limits, and think of new possibilities. The campaign also saw the effective use of video and enjoyed recordsetting impressions and engagement rate, a great example of social listening done right on Twitter.

Best Use of Video Video Andok's Litson Corporation (@ PusongAndoks) winged this category with its witty #ChibokNgPuso campaign featuring its newest endorser, Piolo Pascual. The brand nailed the video on Twitter for its launch by following Twitter's best creative practices: keeping the video short at 15 seconds and ensuring a creative that resonated with the Filipino audience: a romantic storyline featuring a well-loved brand ambassador.

This delivered impressively over 9.7M video views and notably, positive reactions among Filipinos on Twitter.

Best Campaign for Driving Positive Change in Society Globe Telecom, Inc. (@enjoyGLOBE) exemplified this trait best with their Home Prepaid WiFi’s HomeSURF199 campaign.

In this campaign, Globe spread positivity and hope by reminding Filipinos that they have their inner “galing” with them, and this can be enriched even at home. This prompted Filipinos on Twitter to share their own inner “galing” moments at home and sparked inspiration that if they can, then others can do it too.

Best “Launch” on Twitter Gatorade (@GatoradeION) aced the launch arena for their Gatorade ION, a totally new product featuring its brand ambassador, Kathryn Bernado.

Best Connection to Culture Jollibee (@Jollibee) made sure to tug Filipinos’ heartstrings on Valentine's Day with its #KwentongJollibee Valentine Series, which featured several facets of how true love always triumphs in the end. This refreshing take on incorporating brand messaging into moments appealed to many Filipinos especially to Jollibee's young audience. In fact, the video received a whopping 3.5M views, positive responses, and a legion of organic conversations initiated by audiences on Twitter around Valentine's Day. Best #OnlyonTwitter The best #OnlyonTwitter Philippines goes to Closeup Philippines (@CloseupPH) for the launch of the new Closeup All Around Fresh. Over all, this campaign resulted in outstanding awareness and engagement surrounding the hashtag #AllAroundOralCare during its launch period.

B4

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020

AKF launched a relief operation for the San Mateo pound after it was inundated in muddy flood water drowning 20 dogs. AKF volunteers came in droves to bathe, feed and treat the dogs.

Desiree Carlos, Editor

AKF’s Find Love Online, a virtual adoption event, resulted to 55 pets finding loving homes

Pets

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

Kona, a rescued once slaughter-bound dog, found love via our online adoption event. She now lives with a loving family in Quezon City, Metro Manila

AKF during the pandemic

AKF came to the rescue of abandoned pets in an island that is being developed as part of a new Metro Manila airport in Bulacan. Fifty plus dogs are now with AKF.

T

HE Animal Kingdom CLAWS PROTECTION Foundation (AKF) has

BY GREG SALIDO QUIMPO hurdled many challenges AND HEIDI MARQUEZ during the pandemic, and even saved many animals in need.

This is mainly due to the support of animal lovers who donated funds and resources, compassionate volunteers, and its hardworking staff.

Damaging Typhoons

There was flooding at the rescue center brought by Super Typhoon Goni last November 1, a Sunday, and, thank God, it did not cause us major damage but the one that followed, Typhoon Vamco, was more devastating as it fell a lot of our mango trees causing destruction to kennels, storage rooms, building offices and power lines.

As if the pandemic is not enough, dog pounds and small shelters within the island of Luzon were submerged in muddy flood prompting AKF to stage a relief drive. We called on our volunteers to respond and help they did.

It was March when the restrictions were announced and it is already December and still AKF cannot stage fundraising activities. It is a strange moment in our lives and highly concerning because we now have nearly 200 dogs, with a dozen rescued cats, relying on

us. But our top priority will always be the welfare of our rescues, trust us that they will be taken cared of while we find them new loving families.

Our appeal for help online provided us relief at some point but we just did not think it will still be this way 8 months later.

Fingding love online : A virtual dog adoption drive

During the lockdown, we utilized the internet to promote our rehoming program and delivered 52 adopted dogs and 3 cats from March to August.

The whole island of Central Luzon came to our aid and welcomed new pets to their homes.

One fortunate dog that was adopted by a lucky family is Kona. Kona was among a group of dogs rescued from a dog meat trader in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija last year.

Broken windows and damaged structures at AKF shelter caused

by Typhoon Vamco

Damages at the AKF shelter

AKF is thankful to families who have into stray animal feeding from April been opening their hearts and homes for until June providing food and water to these wonderful rescued dogs more than 3, 000 strays and wandering cats and dogs. People have lost their Feed as one: Feeding the jobs, restaurants have closed and their strays during the lockdown pets suffer the consequences.

In the short months of March until We are now realizing the effect of August, we were able to rescue 17 dogs this pandemic as we continue into the during the lockdown and have ventured unknown; monetary donations are totally diminishing, fundraising events are now unthinkable, corporate partnerships seems impossible and our voluntourist project utilizing Airbnb has not had a decent number of guests as our income generation project.

Four dogs rescues from a dog meat trader

Through it all, we did not stop rescuing slaughter-bound dogs. September saw us staging three rescue operations and filing a couple of cases against the dog traders.

One case is that of a dog trader peddling cooked dog meat dish using a motorcycle with a cab in the town of San Marcelino, Zambales. The dog trader has been slaughtering 2-3 dogs per day and cooking the meat to be sold to avid dog meat eaters. He is now behind bars and cases were already filed against him.

Despite the pandemic, a few peddlers of dog meat dish have been actively selling the dish in the guise of

AKF staged surveillance and raids against dog traders even during the pandemic. A dog meat trader in Zambales was arrested in September after one such AKF operation.

selling packed lunches. The restaurants up in the north that sre known to intermittently sell dog merat dish may have stopped operating due to the lockdown but AKF fully knows that some individuals might resort to peddling dog meat dishes and we made sure that the media is able to cover the above-mentioned arrest to warn potential animal welfare violators.

Over 50 abandoned dogs rescued in a fishing village

Meanwhile, we literally saved a whole village of dogs, in an islet, who were abandoned by their owners because a huge part of the town is developed as a new Manila airport. The once islet inhabitants, some 700 families of mostly fisher folks, are either in a new relocation area or have gone back to their provinces. More than 50 dogs are with us now.

Also, there are animals in dire straits in the southern and upper-northern part of Luzon that need immediate help due to the ravaging typhoons. AKF will extend help to these hapless animals no matter what. It is a challenging year and in the coming months, we imagine, but AKF will not abandon the animals as long as we are able to provide them help. Please help us help these hapless animals. Do not hesitate to donate. Your help is very important.

Living with a cat makes an owner healthier

Cats make humans healthy. If you can love a cat for life and treat him as a pet, why not adopt Borhap? He was rescued when he was about five days old, abandoned with his siblings on the side of the road in Quezon City in 2017. There was no mama cat with them. It is a miracle that he survived. He even turned out to be such a handsome catto! Please contact Save Animals of Love and Light Inc. (Save ALL) on Facebook if you wish to adopt a cat.

WANT to be more healthy? Go and find the cat for you and love if for life.

In “7 Scientifically Proven Health Benefits Of Being a Cat Owner,” goodnet.org listed the reasons cats are good for one’s health.

1. Cats help lower your risk of having a heart disease.

Studies showed a cat can lower your stress levels, which leads to lowered risk of having a cardiovascular disease.

“Owning a cat can actually lower one’s risk of various heart diseases, including stroke, by around 30 percent,” goodnet.org stressed.

2. A cat’s purring helps heal bones, tendons and muscles.

A cat’s purring means your cat is happy and comfortable. But this is also a very comforting sound that has been long associated with a therapeutic healing ability on human bones and muscles “A cats purr creates vibrations at a frequency of 20-140 HZ, and studies have shown that frequencies in the 18-35 HZ range have a positive effect on joint mobility after injury, scientists have begun talking about how the cat noise could help humans,” goodnet.org said.

3. You will sleep better with a cat around.

Most cat owners sleep with their cats than with their partners, several studies in the UK showed.

Goodnet.org said “people (especially women) prefer to sleep with their cats over their partners, and they even report sleeping better with a cat than with a human bed companion.”

A recent study from the Mayo Clinic Center for Sleep Medicine confirmed these findings: 41 per cent of the people in that study said they slept better because of their pet, while only 20 percent said that it caused disturbances.

4. They will make you more attractive to women.

Leading pet researcher Dr. June Nicolls found through her research that women get more attracted men with pets.

Goodnet.org said “with a whopping 90 percent of single women perceiving men with cats as nicer and more caring than those without.”

5. A cat’s presence reduces stress and anxiety.

Calming chemicals in the body are released when a cat is around a human.

These beneficial chemicals lower stress

and anxiety levels.

“Cats are known for being super lowmaintenance and a simple petting session is usually enough to make both you and your cat happy,” goodnet.org said.

6. The presence of cats lessens allergies in kids.

A kid under a year old and is exposed to cats will less likely develop all kinds of allergies, a study released by the National Institute of Health in 2002 showed.

Marshall Plaut, M.D., chief of the allergic mechanisms section at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said "high pet exposure early in life appears to protect against not only pet allergy but also other types of common allergies, such as allergy to dust mites, ragweed, and grass."

7. Watching cat videos is good for humans.

In a study of over 7,000 individuals, the Indiana University Bloomington found that “watching cat videos on the internet boosts viewers’ energy and positive emotions while decreasing negative feelings. Turns out all those hours spent on YouTube actually did you some good.” DC

Being around a cat calms humans. Because their presence lowers stress and anxiety levels, a cat owner or the human around a cat has a lower risk of developing heart diseases. Dos, the rescued cat in the photo, is so quiet that indeed, his presence soothes and calms.