Manila Standard - 2020 December 31 - Thursday

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NBI joins vaccine probe, ‘smuggled’ drug at issue

By Rey E. Requejo and Willie Casas JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday said he has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the reported illegal distribution and use of unregistered vaccines against COVID-19.

Guevarra said the NBI is mandated to determine possible violations of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Act, the Consumer Act, and the Medical Practice Act. He clarified, however, that the investigation would not focus solely on the inoculation of members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) using an unauthorized vaccine as early as September.

The FDA has yet to issue any emergency use authorization (EUA) to any vaccine for COVID-19.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said some Filipinos, including military men, have already received COVID-19

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LUCKY OX. A store assistant displays a golden ox figurine

along Ongpin St. in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Wednesday.

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2021 is the year of the metal ox, which symbolizes diligence, persistence, and honesty. PNA/Avito C. Dalan

New virus strain spreads to US

PH holds travel ban, awaits official report; local transmission ‘inevitable’

By Willie Casas, Othel V. Campos, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Vito Barcelo

T

HE United States will be added to the list of countries on which the Philippines will enforce a temporary travel ban once the US officially declares to a World Health Organization body that the new strain of the coronavirus has entered its borders, the Department of Health said Wednesday.

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 298 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario updating its list of banned countries— Vergeire clarified that the DOH will wait currently at 20 nations—owing to the new for an advisory from the WHO’s Interna- form of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Next page tional Health Regulations office before

Sinopharm avers 75% potent, touts as Asian success

By Willie Casas, Vito Barcelo PHASE 3 trials of a Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine found it was 79 percent effective, the Chinese pharma giant said Wednesday, lower than rival jabs developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna but a potential breakthrough in the battle to stem the pandemic in Asia.

China has been racing against the

RITES FOR RIZAL. The Philippine flag

is raised at Rizal Park on Wednesday as the nation marked the 124th celebration of Rizal Day. President Rodrigo Duterte delivered a videotaped message (inset left) as Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Rizal Park administrator Cecile Lorenzana Romero and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana lead the ceremony. Meanwhile, members of the Knights of Rizal -- replete with face masks and shields -- reenact the walk done by National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal on the way to his execution at Fort Santiago in Intramuros (inset right). Norman Cruz

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COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM DECEMBER 31)

472,532 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

1,014 23,793 NEW

ACTIVE

9,230

68

439,509

518

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

Rody vetoes ‘inappropriate’ cut on PAO’s forensic ops budget

By Vito Barcelo and Rio N. Araja the budget.”

Duterte calls on citizens to emulate Rizal’s heroism

By Vito Barcelo and Willie Casas Rizal in confronting the enemies for the ity of Rizal “enabled our forebears to

sake of his countrymen, and learn the rise against tyranny and build society PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte, in a example to bring change in society, as founded by lessons taught in history.”

In his message on Rizal Day, the pre-recorded message, called on the Fil- the country marked the 124th anniverPresident said he hoped people would ipino people Wednesday to emulate the sary of his martyrdom.

Duterte underscored that the nobilcourage of the “great Filipino” Dr. Jose Next page

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has vetoed the special provision in the 2021 national budget bill that would cut the operations of the forensic laboratory of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).

In his message to Congress after signing the P4.5-trillion spending plan for next year, Duterte said the provision is “inappropriate” as it “does not relate to particular appropriations in

“The doctrine of ‘inappropriate provision’ enunciates, among others, that ‘when the legislature inserts inappropriate provisions in a general appropriation bill, such provisions must be treated as ‘items’ for purposes of the [Governor’s] item veto power over general appropriation bills,” Duterte said in his veto message to Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.

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US law bars entry of foreign execs violating press rights THE United States, which will have a new president in three weeks, has passed a law requiring the US Secretary of State to deny entry to foreign government officials who violate the rights of journalists, including Rappler

CEO Maria Ressa in the Philippines.

This is provided under the US government spending bill that outgoing President Donald Trump signed on Sunday night (Monday in Manila). He was expected to sign it a week earlier,

but delayed it for still unknown reasons, raising the specter of a government shutdown.

From Malacanang, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque issued a

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Romualdez: Let solons in graft list face accusers

By Maricel V. Cruz

PINOY POPULATION KUWAITI TO HANG TO HIT 111.1M IN ‘21 FOR SLAYING PINAY Story on A2

Story on A2

HOUSE Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on Wednesday said the Department of Justice (DOJ) had a duty to give legislators tagged by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) a forum to face their accusers and defend themselves.

“We are hopeful that the DoJ will double-check and assess thoroughly Next page

ON THE SAME SIDE. House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez

(left) chats with House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco as they expressed their full support to President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign to weed out corrupt officials from all level of governance. Ver Noveno

A2

News

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PH population at 111.1m in ‘21 F

ILIPINOS will continue to grow in number in 2021—although at a slower pace—as their number is projected to reach 110,881,756 next year, according to the Commission on Population and Development.

age group due to increased unplanned pregnancies.

Among population groups, the most notable increase was observed within the working-age or Filipinos between 15 and 64 years old, which will increase by just over one million from 2020 and will reach 71,278,520 by next year, making up 64.15 percent of the entire Philippine population.

Broken down by sex, there will be more males in this group at 36,139,866

than females at 35,138,630. This implies the need for the country to create at least a half a million new jobs next year, posing a huge challenge for the labor sector in the midst of the pandemic.

The changing age structure of the Philippines’ population due to the increase in the working-age population indicates a demographic precondition for greater productivity, given its potential to support the dependent population. Willie Casas

Despite the rise in absolute numbers, the population grew gradually to 1.31 percent by the start of 2021—an increase from the previous 109,480,590 at the onset of 2020. From a 1.68 percent population growth rate in 2016, it was

at 1.45 percent between 2019 and 2020.

With the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic such as service delivery disruptions on family planning factored-in, the figure is estimated to swell at 111.1 million, affecting mainly the under-one

NBI joins...

From A1

Kuwaiti woman to hang for slay of Pinay maid

vaccine from Sinopharm despite the lack of approval from the FDA. Presidential Security Group (PSG) commander Brigadier General Jesus Durante III later confirmed that some of the President’s security aides have been administered with an anti Covid-19 vaccine.

He declined to say how they obtained the vaccines, however, and said they did not seek the President’s permission for the inoculation.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) said the people responsible for PSG vaccinations could be liable for violating the FDA Act. IBP president Domingo Egon Cayosa added that officials cannot conceal the source of the vaccine.

The Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009 prohibits the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, and distribution, among others, of “any health product that is adulterated, unregistered or misbranded.” Those convicted of the crime will be sentenced to one to 10 years of imprisonment or a fine of P50,000 to P500,000, the law says.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the vaccines used were smuggled into the country because they did not get clearance from the FDA. Still, he defended the early inoculation of the PSG members, saying it was “justified.”

Earlier, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the vaccines had been donated—but did not say who donated them or where they came from.

PSG chief Durante said the vaccinations began in September and the last batch was in October.

“All of the personnel inoculated so far are doing good. No side effects whatsoever,” he said in an ANC interview. He also said the President was not informed about the inoculations until after the PSG men were vaccinated.

“We didn’t ask permission. We just informed him about it after all the close-in personnel were vaccinated.

He was surprised,” he added.

Durante refused to disclose how many PSG personnel were inoculated, but said the men were always with the President. He also did not confirm nor deny if he received the vaccine.

“We are soldiers so we have to take risks just to accomplish our mission. The bottom line here is we have to accomplish our mission at all costs,” the PSG commander told ANC’s Headstart.

Durante said no public funds were used to buy the vaccine, as the PSG “asked” and “requested” for it. However, he refused to disclose from whom it was sourced.

Rody...

From A1 He said lawmakers cannot “encumber the general appropriation bill with veto-proof ‘logrolling measures,’ special interest provisions which could not succeed if separately enacted, or ‘riders’, substantive pieces of legislation incorporated in a bill to ensure passage without veto.”

PAO Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta thanked Duterte for his direct veto on the provision that she attributed to Senators Sonny Angara and Franklin Drilon.

The veto lifted the spirits of the kin of school children whose deaths have

Romualdez:...

From A1 the list submitted by the PACC to President Duterte, to verify which of these charges have basis and which are mere products of the imaginative minds of rival politicians,” Romualdez said.

“We do not wish that the President’s war against corruption gets sidetracked by polluted sources who are engaged in local partisan politics,” he added.

He also said the President is serious in getting rid of corruption in the last remaining years of his term.

PhilHealth rate increase pushing through in 2021

By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth) is implementing the scheduled increase in premium contribution rates and adjustment in income ceiling for 2021 to ensure sufficient funding for the health care benefits of its 110 million members, as mandated by Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law. “PhilHealth fully recognizes the current pandemic situation that is taking its toll on many businesses and livelihood of many Filipinos,” Dante Gierran, President and Chief Executive Officer of the state insurer, said in a statement.

He said the agency “is bound to implement the UHC Law, which has been the beacon and source of hope for the country that is aiming for better healthcare services even as it battles the coronavirus disease 2019.”

Senator Imee R. Marcos, however, stressed it was “cruel” to impose this additional burden on Filipinos at this time of pandemic.

“Very much like the earlier announcement of increase in SSS contributions beginning 2021, the timing of these increases coincides with a period of overwhelming economic difficulty due to the pandemic,” she said.

But worse in this case, Marcos said the demand for PhilHealth services is magnified due to health hazards of COVID-19 on top of the financial consequences of the pandemic.

A KUWAITI criminal court on Wednesday handed a death verdict by hanging to a Kuwaiti woman who tortured to death Jeanelyn Padernal Villavende, a Filipino domestic worker, due to jealousy.

The Kuwaiti woman’s husband, on the other hand, was sentenced to four

years imprisonment for covering up and not reporting the crime.

Philippine embassy lead counsel Sheikha Fawzia Al-Sabah said the court’s ruling was fair and in compliance with the law and Sharia.

Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Mohd Noordin Pendosina Lomondot

thanked Sheikha Fawzia and the Kuwait government for the ruling.

Villavende died on December 28, 2019 at the hands of her employer. Her embalment certificate said she died due to “acute failure of heart and respiration as result by (sic) shock and multiple injuries in the vascular nervous system.”

New virus...

From A1

Duterte) may impose restrictions to travelers coming from the United States in light of this new development, the guidance of the Chief Executive is clear: This shall be upon the joint recommendation of the Department of Health, which sits as Chair of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), and the Department of Foreign Affairs,” Roque said.

This developed as Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan put his province in lockdown from Jan. 4 to 17, 2021 to prevent the spread of the new, more contagious virus variant.

The lockdown will ban the entry of returning migrant workers and residents who are not frontliners, Tan said, but goods from other areas will still be allowed entry into the province.

The governor said the lockdown was necessary after nearby Sabah detected the new coronavirus variant.

Senator Christopher Go had recommended stricter border control and travel restrictions in seaports after Sabah state in Malaysia reported the presence of the new coronavirus variant.

Duque said the emergence of a new coronavirus variant in the Philippines is “inevitable,” but Filipinos are not defenseless against COVID-19 “It’s not a question of if. It is a question of when. Notwithstanding that, we can also have our own variant here, that could happen in the Philippines. So, we

just have to watch out for this,” Duque said in an interview on CNN Philippines.

“Whatever is the variant, I think what’s important is for our people to understand that we are not defenseless… We can put up a fight,” Duque said, noting the importance of adhering to minimum health protocols of wearing face masks and shields and social distancing.

The Philippines imposed a temporary travel ban on the United Kingdom and 19 other countries which recorded a new variant of the coronavirus that is said to be more transmissible.

The travel ban currently includes Denmark, Ireland, Japan, Australia, Israel, The Netherlands, Hong Kong, Switzerland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Lebanon, Singapore, Sweden, South Korea, South Africa, Canada, and Spain.

The Bureau of Immigration said it will not allow the entry of foreign passengers from and transiting through the 20 countries from Dec. 30, 2020 to Jan. 15, 2021. Outbound travel, the bureau said, remains subject to existing protocols of both the Philippines and the destination country.

Filipino citizens coming from these countries or areas will also be allowed to enter the Philippines but will be required to undergo an absolute facility-based 14-day quarantine period, notwithstanding a negative RT-PCR test result.

continue to celebrate Rizal and the modern-day heroes, including frontliners, and “learn from their example.”

“Today, we see many ‘Rizals’ fighting for our people, this time against an unseen adversary — a pandemic. We have our brave frontliners who continue to serve the nation in their unique capacities notwithstanding the risks to life and limb.

In them, we see a new expression of heroism that is truly inspiring,” he said.

“May we continue to celebrate Jose Rizal and our modern-day heroes, to learn from their example, and to express the love and respect of a grateful nation,” he added.

The President did not physically attend the Rizal Day ceremony in Luneta Wednesday and instead sent a pre-recorded message.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana represented the President and was joined

by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno during the flag-raising and wreath-laying rites.

Lorenzana stressed that Rizal’s advocacies for the youth continued to live on through the country’s present-day defenders, from soldiers in the remotest areas to the daily front liners, who continue to embody Rizal’s spirit of patriotism and sense of self-sacrifice.

“Our One Defense Team remains steadfast in our commitment to protect the young generation from the forces of corruption from the communist terrorist groups who lead promising, youthful lives astray,” Lorenzana said.

The event included a wreath-laying ceremony and prayer over the monument of Rizal, who was executed on the site in 1896.

Simultaneous events were also conducted in other Rizal museums in Calamba, Laguna; Dapitan, Zamboan-

ga del Norte; and Fort Santiago, Intramuros in Manila.

Rizal Day 2020 was celebrated with the theme “Jose Rizal: Inspirasyon sa Pagbangon at Paghilom ng Bayan”.

The Department of National Defense said Rizal’s spirit was reflecting on the lives of frontliners who are considered as modern-day heroes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines was scheduled to conduct a series of online activities in commemoration of Rizal Day. Webinars were also conducted at 2 p.m. that included cultural tribute to Rizal. A reading of Rizal’s famous poem Mi Ultimo Adiós was held on Jose Rizal Dapitan’s Facebook page at 8 a.m.

Meanwhile, Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles urged the youth to continue speaking out against what they perceived to be wrongs in society. With Maricel V. Cruz

been linked to the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine being investigated by the PAO, as Rueda-Acosta vowed to pursue criminal and civil charges filed against former Health secretary Janette Garin and 38 others.

“We all feel relieved. The presidential veto has lifted our dampened spirits,” Sumachen Dominguez, president of the Samahan ng mga Magulang at Biktima ng Dengvaxia, told Manila Standard.

Dr. Erwin Erfe, PAO’s forensic division chief, earlier raised concerns the 206 Dengvaxia-related cases filed against Garin – now a lawmaker for Iloilo -- and 38 other accused, including executives of Sanofi Pasteur Inc., might not win in court due to suppres-

sion of evidence.

“The forensic laboratory of PAO holds the pieces of evidence against all of the accused,” he said.

But with the President’s veto, Erfe believes the charges would now prosper.

Meanwhile, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Ferdinand Gaite on Wednesday criticized as “unconstitutional and unsound” Duterte’s refusal to disclose to Congress how intelligence funds in the 2021 national budget would be spent.

Interviewed on ANC, Gaite said the use of P9.5 billion in confidential and intelligence funds of the Office of the President should be transparent.

“The supposed veto is definitely un-

constitutional and unsound. According to our Constitution, a public office is a public trust. Every centavo that the government uses, even the President, must be accountable,” Gaite said.

The lawmaker hit Duterte’s office for having a large chunk of intelligence fund, which should instead go to the military and police, and called on his colleagues in Congress to be vigilant on how these funds would be spent.

Drilon earlier said PAO’s laboratory duplicates the forensic work of government investigative bodies and vowed to transfer its P19.5-million budget to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) instead to improve its crime laboratory.

Chinese officials have repeatedly assured the public of the vaccines’ safety, claiming that there have been no serious adverse reactions.

More than 1 million people have already been vaccinated with unapproved vaccines in China under its emergency use program, including frontline health workers, state-owned enterprise employees and workers planning to travel abroad.

The United Arab Emirates approved a Sinopharm vaccine earlier this month, becoming the first foreign country to approve a China-developed COVID-19 vaccine. It said the vaccine was 86 percent effective, according to interim results of a Phase 3 trial.

Beijing has pledged to share the vaccine at a fair cost -- a potential boost for poorer Asian countries who are otherwise reliant on the limited distribution offered by the COVAX scheme.

“China has made the firm commitment that after China’s new coronavirus vaccines are completed and put into use, they will serve as a global public product and be supplied to the world at a fair and reasonable price,” foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Friday. With Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

countries that are not at war, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Tuesday.

The figure shows an increase in the targeting of reporters investigating organized crime, corruption or environmental issues, the watchdog said.

It highlighted murders in Mexico, India, and Pakistan.

Eighty-four percent of those killed this year were “deliberately targeted” for their work, RSF said in its annual report, compared to 63 percent in 2019.

In a statement, Ressa’s international legal team, which includes Amal Clooney and Gallagher’s fellow barristers Can Yeginsu and Claire Over-

man, applauded the US legislation, saying: “We deeply appreciate US Congress’s commitment to holding accountable those in the Government of the Philippines who are persecuting her.”

Roque, however, said: “Each must learn to respect each other’s domestic policies and intrusion to another nation’s sovereignty must be frowned upon. This basic principle of international law is based on the United Nations Charter which declares, ‘The organization and its members shall act based on principle of sovereign equality of its member.’” AFP

“We will wait for the US to officially notify the WHO IHR or official announcement by their government regarding this new strain identified in Colorado before we include it in our official list,” she said.

“The policy is yes, we will include them,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque said earlier in an online press briefing when asked if the US would have to be included on the list.

“Remember, this is not a permanent ban. This is only a temporary ban to give us time to assess our situation and to check whether this new variant has already arrived in the Philippines or not yet,” he said.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis announced Tuesday that the US state discovered their first case of the COVID-19 variant B.1.17, the same strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2 discovered in the United Kingdom.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, quoting Vergeire, tried to temper fears of the US ban, saying both Filipino and non-Filipino travelers from the States will be allowed entry as the DOH still has to confirm the travel ban.

“As to whether the President (Rodrigo

Duterte...

From A1

“Let us support him and stand with him in this crusade,” Romualdez said.

One of the nine lawmakers tagged by the PACC said the agency had no basis for accusing her of receiving kickbacks.

Isabela 4th District Rep. Alyssa Sheena Tan said “there is absolutely no truth in the allegations” that she owns construction companies which were awarded with projects in her district.

“I have never owned any construction company. I do not have any shares in any construction company,” Tan said, saying this could be easily verified.

Tan vowed to cooperate with the PACC in its investigation.

US law...

From A1 statement saying the Philippines recognized the “democratic process” of any sovereign state and the country respected that sovereignty, independence, and equality.

But Roque said: “Consistent with this position, we have our own independent institutions and domestic laws that must be enforced and applied to all.”

Meanwhile, 50 journalists and media workers were killed in connection with their work in 2020, the majority in

Sinopharm...

From A1 West to develop its own COVID-19 vaccines, with 5 already in large-scale Phase 3 clinical trials.

But Wednesday’s announcement was the first data released regarding the efficacy of a Chinese vaccine candidate.

“The protective effect of the (Sinopharm CNBG Beijing) vaccine against COVID-19 is 79.34 percent,” said the Beijing Institute of Biological Products, a Sinopharm subsidiary.

Sinopharm has applied to China’s drug regulator for approval of the inactivated coronavirus vaccine, the statement said, a type of inoculation using particles of the pathogen.

But China has struggled to gain international trust for its vaccine candidates, hindered by a lack of transparency on test results.

It has also been slow to complete Phase 3 trials, which had to be conducted abroad due to China’s success at curbing the spread of COVID-19 within its own borders.

‘No adverse reaction’

News

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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Lakas distances from Quezon gov survey

By Maricel V. Cruz

L

AKAS-CHRISTIAN Muslim Democrats Secretary General Prospero Pichay on Wednesday distanced the party from a survey for the Quezon province gubernatorial post that had linked Lakas-CMD to the individuals who commissioned the local poll.

NEW TRAIN. The latest addition to the Philippine National Railways fleet, the Diesel Hydraulic Locomotive (DHL), is now on PNR tracks. The state-owned train firm is doing the loading gauge test as a precondition to its validation run to ensure the new fleet is within the track gauge and that no obstructions are on level crossings.

PNP warns vs. Facebook scams by person posing as police chief THE Philippine National Police on Wednesday warned the public against “poser” Facebook accounts illegally assuming the identity of its chief, Gen. Debold Sinas, for unscrupulous activities.

“We inform the public that the said FB account is fake. The use of the Chief PNP’s name, photos and other items appearing to be attributed to his person was apparently a devious act by unscru-

pulous individuals using the social media to malign the PNP’s top leadership,” PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana said in a statement.

Usana was referring to a purported FB account of Sinas, where screenshots of an exchange of messages between him and a netizen were shown.

Based on the conversation, the netizen, who was a police officer’s widow, sought Sinas’ help for the release of the

pension of her late husband.

The owner of the poser account who assumed Sinas’ identity assured the netizen that her concern would be given appropriate action in exchange for “grease money” to be given to his staff.

“We also advise FB account holders and the netizens to be prudent, discerning and judicious at everything they see in the social media. Some of the things seen in social media do not any-

more reflect the truth and legitimacy of the information and tend to destroy the reputations of an innocent individual,” Usana said.

He said fake news peddlers and online scammers would face the full force of the law.

“At this point, the PNP is on computer forensics to locate the perpetrator/s behind this wrongful act in violation of the Anti-Cybercrime Act,” Usana said

“As far as the Lakas-CMD party is concerned, it has no knowledge about the survey. The party does not conduct or sponsor local surveys. It is confident that its people on the ground are winners,” Pichay, a deputy speaker and a congressman from Surigao del Sur, said in a statement.

“We, the party officials, should have been informed by the said political group and politicians before using the name of Lakas and linking the party to the survey.

If indeed any person behind the survey is a member of Lakas, then that member should have secured the consent of the party before using its name.”

An article published in the Manila Times Tuesday said the Philippine Research and Information Service Publishing, led by professor Manuel Mendoza, conducted a local survey for governorship in Quezon province from Nov. 2, 2020, to Dec. 21, 2020.

The article also claimed that the survey “was sponsored by a business group and politicians affiliated with the LakasCMD party.”

“We condemn and do not tolerate any attempt to drag the name of Lakas without its consent for any purpose, especially those that are political,” Pichay said.

“We expect a clarification from the people who used the name of Lakas. It is unfair and irresponsible that the party was linked to the survey as the party itself and its officials are not aware of it,” Pichay said.

“The firm is not known. The method is not scientific. Thus results are biased.

If Lakas will commission a survey, it will hire a reputable and known group.”

Customs burns hazardous medicines Mining approach

By Joel E. Zurbano amid storms cited CUSTOMS agents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Wednesday destroyed in Trece Martires, Cavite, another smuggled shipment of hazardous products and unregistered medicines.

NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan said the 365 kilos of medicines and cosmetics were imported without clearance from the Food and Drug Administration and were declared unsafe for human consumption.

“This mode of condemnation of thermal decomposer (Pyrolysis) will guarantee that no single item will find its way to the market and ensure that the public is safe against unregistered goods,” she said.

On Dec. 7, Customs-NAIA also de-

stroyed at least four tons of cosmetics and food products that were declared unsafe for human consumption The latest condemnation brings to 373.19 tons the total unregistered goods that had been destroyed by the Port of NAIA. The series of condemnation is in line with the directive of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonard Guerrero to inspect all abandoned and overstaying cargoes in order to check illegal goods and their immediate disposal to decongest warehouses. It is also part of the agency’s intensified campaign against erring importers.

Talusan says despite the ongoing pandemic, the Bureau of Customs is focused on disposing of illegal shipments that unnecessarily congest Customs facilities.

RARE SIGHT. A young girl happily plays on a swing with her father at a theme park in

Alfonso, Cavite on Wednesday. Families have turned to open-air leisure parks to let their children play as the Inter-Agency Task Force has prohibited children below 14 years of age from entering malls to protect them from COVID-19. JR Josue

Climate change to hurt PH fisheries THE impact of climate change on the fisheries sector is a key contributor to the Philippines’ economy, it being an archipelago.

According to a study, the impact of climate change on fish harvests is projected to cause a decrease by about 9 percent of its gross domestic product with the mitigation scenario, and about 18 percent of GDP with the extreme scenario up to 2060, as compared to the baseline scenario.

This impact results in income reduction by as much as 0.36 percent for urban households and 0.38 percent for rural households in the economy.

Limuel Aragones, director of the University of the Philippines Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, in an earlier Tugon Kabuhayan virtual presser said there was a need to take into account scientific considerations to mitigate the effects of climate change in the fisheries and aquatic resources.

Intensified management of the seas surrounding the Philippines, including the West Philippine Sea, Visayas Sea, Celebes Sea and Sulu Sea will require a lot of resources and focus, he says.

“We are an archipelago surrounded by seas. This is our great asset,” Aragones said.

By Rio N. Araja THE Environment department on Wednesday cited its proactive approach to responsible mining amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the powerful typhoons that hit the Philippines in the last quarter “We have faced a lot of challenges this year, especially during the last quarter. A series of typhoons hit parts of our country triggering massive flooding and lahar flow that led to the loss of life and damage to property and natural resources,” Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said.

“However, we in the department, together with Mines and Geosciences Bureau and all the concerned agencies, were proactive in finding solutions to these problems. We assure you that we will continue to exert the needed effort to prevent and mitigate natural disasters.”

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau investigated mining and quarry activities within the hazard-prone areas and closed down illegal mining operations in the country during recent months.

It also coordinated with national government agencies and local government units to address the destruction in floodand landslide-prone areas to prevent disasters from happening again.

Separate investigations were conducted in Marikina City and the provinces of Albay and Rizal to evaluate whether mining and quarrying activities contributed to the massive flooding during the typhoons.

The DENR has already been monitoring the contracts/permits of mining companies and operators to ensure compliance with mining laws, rules, and regulations, Cimatu says.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the bureau conducted virtual audit and monitoring of the mining activities based on submitted reports and real-time photos/videos from its regional offices.

NEW YEAR TREATS. A woman selling banana cake walks past a woman selling a

pump horn, a device recommended by authorities for use by revelers on New Year’s Eve, in Dasmariñas, Cavite on Wednesday. The Department of Health said the public should use this kind of noisemaker instead of the traditional mouth-blown horns that could produce mists of saliva that could spread the coronavirus. Emerito Antonio/Pond News Asia

Housing vows to regain Marawi’s glory MORE than just rehabilitating the wartorn Marawi City in Lanao del Sur, the government, through the Task Force Bangon Marawi, is determined to bring back the former glory of the Philippines’ only Islamic city, housing czar Eduardo del Rosario said Wednesday.

Since July this year, the rehabilitation work by 56 implementing agencies under the TFBM, led by Del Rosario, in Marawi City’s most affected area or MAA, or the so-called “ground zero”, had gone full blast immediately after President Rodrigo Duterte approved the release of the P3.56billion budget in April and May. Outside the MAA, composed of the 72 least affected barangays, economic vibrancy has returned as evidenced by the dramatic increase in revenue collection

in terms of real estate and business taxes by the local government—from a mere P500,000 annually prior to the May 2017 siege to about P30 million this year.

“Clearly,” the government is on the right track not only in rehabilitating the city but also in modernizing it with cutting-edge infrastructure, said Del Rosario, head of the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development.

“We envision the rehabilitation of Marawi to be a catalyst for growth and sustainable development, a model for good governance and serve as a template to achieve peaceful environment,” he said.

“I won’t be surprised that after the rehabilitation, maybe in 10 years, Marawi City will bloom economically and be very competitive.” Rio N. Araja

Boracay task force on track to meet all targets ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu said Wednesday the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force is on track to meet all its targets by the time its term ends in May 2021.

“The BIATF is capping 2020 on a high note, setting us off in 2021 with solid confidence that we will hit our targets within the remaining five months ahead of us,” Cimatu said.

He is the chairman of the BIATF, which President Rodrigo Duterte created more than two years ago to supervise and manage

Boracay Island’s rehabilitation in Aklan.

In its year-end report, the BIATF’s implementing arm, the Boracay Inter-Agency Rehabilitation Management Group, revealed that the number of structures violating the easement rules in Boracay was now down to only 342, representing 21 percent of all 1,569 illegal structures on the island.

Of the 1,569 structures, 1,230 were inside the 12-meter road easement while 339 establishments were inside the 25+5-meter beach easement limit.

Majority or 943 of these structures are commercial establishments with 212 violating the 25+5-meter easement rule and 731 within the 12-meter easement. This was followed by residential houses at 456 (117 and 339 in 25+5-meter and 12-meter easements, respectively).

BIARMG general manager Natividad Bernardino said Boracay’s rehabilitation was successful in terms of compliance by hotels and other commercial establishments. Rio N. Araja

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

ILOILO HONORS RIZAL. Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas (third from right) leads the wreath laying ceremony at Plaza Libertad in honor of National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal on Wednesday, as the country celebrated the 124th year of Rizal Day, commemorating the heroism of the doctor and novelist who was executed by firing squad on December 30, 1896. Arnold Almacen/Iloilo City Mayor’s Office

Isko warns against illegal vaccines M

By Willie Casas

AYOR Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso warned the capital’s residents on Wednesday against receiving unauthorized COVID-19 vaccines that are reportedly being smuggled into the city.

At the sidelines of the Rizal Day celebration in Luneta Park, Domagoso said there is no guarantee that the smuggled vaccines are effective.

“The money that you’ll spend to get

a vaccine in advance won’t give you assurance. It’s dangerous. You’ll just waste your money,” Domagoso said.

The mayor also said health workers who would be caught administer-

ing unauthorized vaccines would face charges.

Domagoso said the Manila city government and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been conducting raids in search of reported illegal vaccination hubs in the city.

The FDA has yet to authorize the use of any COVID-19 vaccine in the country.

Asked to comment on the recent issue of several Presidential Security Group (PSG) members getting inoculated against COVID-19, Domagoso said: “All I can say is, we in the City of Manila, we

are certain about our rules.”

“These things are not allowed. And it should not be emulated, or it should not be copied by any other agency in the national government or local government,” Domagoso added.

Domagoso said he understands the PSG’s motives behind the vaccination but added that violations cannot be ignored.

Government officials earlier revealed that some of President Rodrigo Duterte’s security personnel were given vaccines supposedly donated by Chinese stateowned firm Sinopharm.

Navotas workers get P10k reward

By Jun David THE City Government of Navotas has granted a P10,000 service recognition incentive for its regular and contract of service employees.

Mayor Toby Tiangco on Wednesday signed City Ordinance Nos. 2020-44 and 2020-45, giving cash incentives to 534 regular and 1,832 contractual employees who have been working with the city government for at least three months.

“Our employees have been instrumental in our fight against COVID-19.

Their commitment to fulfilling their duties despite risks enabled us to respond effectively to the pandemic and manage our COVID situation,” Tiangco said.

“We want to recognize all their hard work and sacrifices and motivate them to continue giving their best in service of Navoteños,” he added.

Previously, the city government granted P5,000 cash assistance to 208 members of Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERT).

In August, it also released P2.8 million for the one-time special risk allowance of 428 city health frontliners.

“This year has been tough for everyone, especially for our frontliners and employees. That is why we continue to encourage every Navoteño to do their part. Practicing safety measures and taking care of themselves contribute much in our fight against COVID-19,” the mayor said.

Tiangco also reiterated his call to residents and workers in Navotas to undergo swab testing in January.

“The test is free. You just have to coordinate with your barangay or our Business Permits and Licensing Office so they could arrange your test schedule,” he said.

“Help us also decide what vaccine to purchase. Participate in our survey so we could determine how best to pursue our vaccination program,” Tiangco urged.

GENTRI AWARDS. Director Lionel Dapole, Cavite DILG head (4th from right), awards two plaques to General Trias City Mayor Antonio Ferrer (2nd from left) as Best LGU in the conduct of COVID-19 contact tracing in the province on Monday. Also in photo are Rep. Luis Ferrer, Councilors Jonas Labuguen and Gani Culanding. Dennis Abrina

GenTri mayor vows ‘jitney,’ trike drivers to get vaccine GENERAL TRIAS CITY, Cavite—The local government here has promised to include “jitney” and tricycle drivers in getting the free COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes available in the market.

Mayor Antonio Ferrer promised this during a meeting with 30 leaders of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (JODA) and Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) at the Jollibee GenTri Bayan function room in barangay Bagumbayan on Monday.

“The city government plans to buy the vaccine king hindi kayo i-considered as frontliners. We the LGU will provide to all around 4,000 members of jeepney and tricycle drivers to them to continued transporting passengers,” Ferrer told the drivers.

“Para makalabas agad, para makapasada agad, hindi po kayo kayang sustentuhan ng pamahalaang lokal. Ang priority po natin ay kumita ang bawat isa para mabuhay ay para umusod ang ekonomiya.” Ferrer added.

He stressed that persons 15 years old and below and 65 years and older should not be allowed to ride their vehicles to prevent the spread or infection of COVID in the area, and passengers must be required to wear face masks and shields upon riding.

Rep. Luis Ferrer IV of the Lone District of General Trias also said he is ready to cooperate in opening new access roads or streets for ease of traffic flow in the area and to install decent jeepney and tricycle terminals in the city.

Taguig measure bans firecrackers for New Year too

By Joel E. Zurbano THE use and sale of firecrackers are also banned in Taguig City.

Members of the Taguig City Council passed Ordinance 87 prohibiting “any person to sell, distribute, discharge, explode or cause to discharge or to explode any firecracker, pyrotechnic device, or any such other similar device outside the designated firecracker zones.”

The city councilors believed that prohibiting firecrackers “will not only reduce the risk of firecracker-related injuries, but also discourage mass gatherings and will thus reduce community transmission of the pandemic.”

“Taguig City will always strive to ensure that the New Year Celebrations be as orderly, safe, and peaceful as possible, which this year includes safety from the pandemic,” the ordinance stated.

Meanwhile, Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano conducted a meeting with city councilors and members of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to discuss security plans during emergency situations at the remaining days of the holiday season.

Cayetano said the meeting was also organized to prepare for the rainy long weekend based on the forecast of the Taguig Open-Access Weather and Environmental Response System.

The system is the first of its kind technology that offers real-time, roundthe-clock feeds from cameras situated across some 100 locations.

“Due to the heavy rains this past few days, the lake’s water level is also being monitored to administer emergency response in case of flash floods,” Cayetano said.

The city chief executive urged his constituents to spend the weekend and remaining days of the holiday season in their households for a safer celebration of the incoming new year.

CL police arrest ‘cracker seller

By Jess Malabanan CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga—Police on Wednesday arrested a man caught selling firecrackers despite earlier warnings on the sale and manufacture of prohibited pyrotechnics, following raid at a shop along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Binang 2nd, Bocaue, Bulacan.

Police identified the suspect as Rhendel De La Cruz Siongco of Sitio Bihunan in Binang. He did not resist arrest.

Police Colonel Lawrence Cajipe, director of the Bulacan Provincial Police Office (BPPO) stationed at Camp Alejo Santos in Malolos City, said the suspect is also into online selling of prohibited firecrackers.

In his report to BGen. Valeriano De Leon, Cajipe said Siongco was caught in the act offering prohibited pyrotechnic items to customers, who turned out to be undercover police.

Seized from the suspect were six packs of “Goodbye Philippines,” a pack of “PlaPla,” and an “atomic bomb” firecracker worth a total of P1,320.

De Leon on Tuesday warned pyrotechnic traders to refrain from selling any kind of firecrackers or face arrest, in the wake of reports that some traders are still hawking firecrackers either online or through face-to-face selling.

“Sale of firecrackers is prohibited,” said De Leon, adding that violators will be sent to jail and will be facing criminal offenses.

The entire Central Luzon police force is enforcing all laws and rules and regulations regarding the manufacture, sale, and use of firecrackers and pyrotechnics as directed by higher police headquarters, he said.

De Leon encouraged New Years’ Eve revelers to use any other kind of material to create noise in welcoming the new year.

’Botete’ kills 3, puts 4 in Leyte hospital

By Ronald O. Reyes THREE people were killed while four others were hospitalized after they allegedly ate a puffer fish, locally known as “botete,” for dinner in Tabango, Leyte Monday, December 28, 2020.

The fatalities were identified as Restituto Sumalinog, 63, married, construction worker; Lucricia Anislagon, 49, married, housewife; and Ramil Catam-isan,

40, farmer.

Hospitalized were Jolito Dalut, 25, construction worker; Rodulfo Hiki, 26, married, farmer; Lucina Hiki, 24, married, housewife; and Beinvinida Sumalinog, 53, married, housewife, all residents of Sitio Patag, Barangay Tabing, Tabango.

Initial investigation disclosed that a certain 60-year-old resident named as Corazon Yaon brought a pufferfish to Restituto around 2 p.m. Monday.

3 Sarangani LGUs bag national competitiveness awards THREE Sarangani towns were named among the country’s top 14 most competitive municipal governments for resiliency in this year’s National Virtual Summit of the Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index (CMCI) held in Gen. Santos City.

Malungon, Maasim and Alabel towns were ranked 3rd, 13th, and 14th, respectively, the first time that three towns from

Sarangani bagged the top rankings.

The CMCI is an annual ranking developed by the National Competitiveness Council and the Department of Trade and Industry, with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development to stimulate competition among local government units (LGUs).

The annual awards started in 2014 and

is anchored on the four pillars of economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, and resiliency.

The highest-ranking among the municipalities, Malungon has earmarked a specific budget for disaster risk reduction and procurement of emergency response equipment, which are among the top indicators for the resiliency pillar.

WINNERS ALL. The towns of Malungon, Maasim and Alabel in Sarangani province were named among the country’s top 14 most competitive municipal governments for resiliency in this year’s National Virtual Summit of the Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index (CMCI) in Gen. Santos City. Pictured are municipal CMCI representatives and DTI provincial director Ethel Laksmi Gumana.

Opinion The most significant events of 2020

Hope in the New Year prepare for its impact. Yet, perhaps we can say that the country has done better than the others. For one, national government agencies worked together to abate the economic and social impact of the pandemic. The social amelioration program is one of the major proTHE year has finally come to an end. grams implemented by the government Perhaps this is the most awaited day by that significantly helped families surmany. Year 2020 has undoubtedly been vive the months-long lockdown. This difficult. The island of Luzon, particu- was complemented by other programs larly Southern Luzon, was devastated under the Bayanihan to Heal as One by the eruption of the Taal Volcano at and Bayanihan to Recover as One acts which were passed the start of the year.

by Congress in A few weeks later, time. the country recordWe are, after all, On the other ed its first case of living on borrowed hand, local govCOVID-19, and the ernment units rest is history. Totime. immediately imday, we face anothplemented exer threat as we aptraordinary meaproach a new year, a new strain of the dreaded COVID-19. sures to ensure that local transmission The year seemed to pass swiftly as of the COVID-19 would be prevented we spent months in our own homes. and managed. Travel restrictions were The quarantine has left many in limbo put in place. Hospitals were provided for the first half of the year. Many went with supplies. The Provincial Governjobless, businesses closed, and classes ment of Quezon continuously provided were cancelled. The situation indeed livelihood assistance to the locals in brought out the worst. Yet, it also re- cooperation with the different national agencies. We also opened several vealed the best.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a nov- quarantine facilities in the province. el and unprecedented experience. No Quezon Province is among the first to country, understandably, was able to establish its own testing center early on

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandard.net

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020

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EDITORIAL

combination of adverTHE most signifsaries this country has icant events in the difficulty imagining. country in the year Along the way, in that ends today can 2020, the Filipino peobe summed up in ple’s attention was disix words: Lockverted from the nation’s down, recession, grave problems by two budget, ABS-CBN, distracting events. One was the battle for Speakership and typhoons.

It would be the greatest understate- the Speakership of the House of Reprement to say that the life of this country sentatives between two individuals who in 2020 was almost totally dominated by had agreed to a term-sharing arrangement the greatest pandemic to afflict the world brokered by President Duterte. When the since 1918. The onset of the novel corona- time came, in October, for him to honor virus, COVID-19, forced the administra- his agreement with Lord Allan Velasco, tion of President Rodrigo Duterte to place Alan Peter Cayetano blatantly refused Metro Manila, Calabarzon and a number to step down, resorting to disingenuous of other major population centers under a political tactics. In the end, a humiliated tough Enhanced Community Quarantine. Cayetano had to step down.

The other distraction also had the With the operations of the transportation, House of Represennon-essential manutatives as its venue. facturing and service That was the series (especially tourism) of Lower House industries brought to They can be hearings on the frana halt, the Philippine summed up in six chise renewal of economy went into words. the nation’s largest a tailspin. Gross Dobroadcast network, mestic Product fell 75-year-old ABSby close to 9 percent CBN. Setting aside during the first quarter and by a much-sharper 16.3 percent all the defensive explanations offered in the second quarter. The third-quarter by the network’s legal team, the Lower GDP contraction was smaller, and while House committee on franchises – not the country was placed under a less strin- the full chamber, in plenary session – gent quarantine regime toward the end of voted to deny ABS-CBN’s application. the year, 2020’s final quarter is unlikely Mr. Duterte went to great lengths to to see a return to a near-normal economy. deny any involvement in the matter, but Swift and robust government action how else could the administration-domto ameliorate the plight of the job and inated Lower House act when the Chief business losers clearly was called for. Executive had repeatedly declared that The Duterte administration proposed, there was no way he would allow ABSand Congress approved, legislation – two CBN to obtain a renewal of its franchise?

Bayanihan to Heal as One measures – to With ABS-CBN temporarily out of the provide Social Amelioration Program picture, the remaining major broadcast funds for around 18 million needy fami- network, GMA, has had to single-handlies, small-business owners and transpor- edly support the government’s anti-corotation industry folk. The government’s navirus information effort.

Elsewhere in the world, the most imfiscal response has been criticized on the ground of inadequacy; the leadership of portant 2020 event was the defeat of the Department of Finance clearly ap- Donald Trump in the November 3 US peared to have been more concerned with presidential election. The administration maintaining an acceptable debt-to-GDP of President-elect Joe Biden will put an ratio. At the end of 2020, the ratio stood end to the Trump administration’s anat close to 58 percent – still a respectable ti-internationalism and restore the US to the leadership of the free world. figure.

A Philippines ravaged by global warmGrave weather disturbances have always been a feature of this country’s ing stands to benefit greatly from Mr. existence, but with the growing intensi- Biden’s intention to return America to the ty of global warming, really devastating Paris Climate Accord.

The other top international event of typhoons have been visiting the Philippines with increasing frequency. Of the 2020, apart from the economic lockdown-the-alphabet typhoons that hit the downs in all the major countries, was the Philippines in 2020, two – “Rolly” and continuing saga of the United Kingdom’s “Ulysses” – were particularly vicious. effort to obtain an acceptable post-BrexThe 2020 typhoons delivered a double it trade deal with the European Union. whammy to the nation: They destroyed After many extensions of the deadline, a infrastructure assets on which the gov- trade deal was reached a few days ago. In ernment had spent billions of pesos and recent times, it became increasingly clear they caused the diversion of billions that the UK was not negotiating from a more from the budgets of government position of strength. Time will tell whethdepartments manning the COVID-19 er the government of Prime Minister Bofrontlines. The pandemic, the recession ris Johnson got a good deal for Britain’s and the typhoon – they make a powerful economy.

ManilaStandard

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

T

COVID confidential

HERE are so many things wrong about the secret, early inoculation of members of the President’s security team and unnamed Cabinet officials against COVID-19 that one hardly knows where to begin.

In defending this wayward “vaccination program,” which shot doses of an unauthorized vaccine into the arms of a coterie of presumably important individuals, its apologists and defenders insist that no illegal act was committed, but in the process expose themselves to be bereft of any ethical or moral backbone.

By the President’s own admission to his chief of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), we learned earlier this week that some members of his security team had received a COVID-19 vaccine from the Chinese company Sinopharm--becoming the first people in the country to be immunized against COVID-19—without the necessary regulatory approval.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has since confirmed that members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) had agreed to be inoculated using the unauthorized vaccine, and cited the importance of the President’s health as a justification.

The presidential spokesman, Harry Roque, went one step further, arguing that the vaccination was not illegal because no government funds were spent as the vaccines were a donation. He add-

ed that the law prohibiting public officials and workers from soliciting and accepting gifts of anything of monetary value was “not absolute.”

Senate President Vicente Sotto III also took the legalistic route.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong about that. There is no law that says you cannot take any medicine or vaccine that FDA has not approved,” Sotto said in a message to reporters when sought for comment.

For the benefit of the ethically challenged, here are a few things wrong about what they did.

“Last [I] recall, there is even no law vs suicide. So what’s the fuss? I don’t think [the government] paid for those vaccines they used. I’m sure they were given and administered for free,” he added.

Roque tried to put a lid on the issue.

“It was not paid for so it’s a donation, but that’s all that I know,” he said.

“Let’s not take it the wrong way because that will result in the President’s good health and let’s close the issue at that.”

Not so fast, Mr. Spokesman.

For the record—and for the benefit of the ethically challenged—here are a few things wrong about what they did.

1) The government has a stated poli-

cy that health care workers and at-risk individuals such as the elderly and the poor will be given priority access to COVID-19 vaccines. This secret program contravenes that policy and allows favored individuals to jump the line, albeit with an untested vaccine.

2) If the objective of the vaccination of PSG members was to protect the health of the President, why was he not given the unauthorized vaccine as well? Or has the President also received a dose?

3) While professing the virtues of transparency, the government has been as transparent as a brick wall when it comes to this issue. Who authorized the vaccinations? How many doses were involved? How were the vaccines acquired? Have they been adequately tested and found to be safe? We know for a fact that the FDA has not approved any vaccines for use in the Philippines, so what do we really know about the ones they used? And who are the Cabinet members who jumped the vaccination line? We also hear of high-profile politicians who have been vaccinated, some of whom have been named. Why have we not heard them confirm or deny these reports?

4) The use of an unauthorized and untested vaccine is not only unsafe, it undercuts the authority of the FDA and the Department of Health. This, in turn, can hurt the credibility of the government’s vaccination campaign.

The Palace spokesman should know that “That’s all I know” and “Let’s close the issue at that” just doesn’t cut it, no matter how much he wishes everything would get back on the q.t. and stay very hush hush.

One act of brutality It is not often that a single act of brutality by one policeman could trigger so much condemnation from every sector of our society. In an altercation with his neighbors, Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nueszca shot and killed Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony in a fit of anger.

The act was totally unjustified. Nuezca did it so nonchalantly that is why the outrage was universal. He is now facing double murder charges and is in jail. It is doubtful whether he will ever be a free man again. He is also in danger of losing all his service benefits.

The killing has resulted in calls for meaningful Police reform and the resurrection of the death penalty which has been dormant for a while. About eight senators now appear to support the restoration.

Immediately after the incident, the PNP issued a statement that there is no need for PNP reform because the incident is isolated. Unfortunately, it is hardly an isolated incident. Police abuse has happened in the past and will happen again unless there is change. By and large, however, the vast majority of police personnel are doing their duty as best as they could. But this incident demonstrates how one deed by a single policeman can easily erase the many good accomplishments of the PNP accumulated over a period of time.

The PNP can no longer afford this.

This is why the PNP must be composed of officers and men who are thoroughly professional, competent, respected and equal to the demanding job of maintaining law and order. The Police, like the military, is always in need of reform but it is very difficult to reform. To say otherwise is a huge mistake. The Police must continuously change in order to be relevant to the times. Failure to do so will consign the Police to Jurassic policing. The PNP leadership must understand that reform is a never-ending in the quarantine.

Until now, we continuously work to curb COVID-19 transmission and help people adjust to the “new normal.”

Apart from that, we remain committed to ensuring that other public programs are available and implemented.

Now, as we approach a new year, I am hopeful that better days are coming. Let us take this opportunity to ponder the lessons of this year and nourish our faith.

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

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

process. Every time an act of barbarity is committed by someone in the force, there is a need to look very closely into it. In this case, Even the President who is so tough about people getting killed was also outraged.

How, for instance, was Nuezca able to be promoted in rank when he has been charged so many times for misconduct in the performance of his duties? Maybe there is need to look at

The PNP can no longer afford this. the promotional system in the PNP if people like him can be promoted so easily. It is time for the PNP to start implementing a merit-based promotional system instead of the old practice wherein all that a policeman needs to do is wait for his turn to be promoted.

During our time in the service, the PNP strength was about 110,000. Today, it is 205,000-strong and increasing by leaps and bounds. With the way the PNP strength is increasing, there is bound to be some deterioration in the quality of recruits and the quality of training.

How is the PNP coping with this kind of situation, given that being an instructor is not a sought-after assignment for officers and men? Everyone would rather have a field assignment because that is where the action is. If there is no meaningful reform in this area, the PNP will always have the Nuezcas out there I personally believe that our faith in the Lord has been saving us from the worst.

At this point, perhaps we should seek His forgiveness from all our mistakes and wrongdoings, and reflect on the things we need to change. After all, we are living on borrowed time. Let us make the most out of our lives and do good. Let us enter the new year with renewed hearts and stronger faith.

Have a safe and Happy New Year to all.

doing damage to the PNP. According to PNP records, from 2016 when the Duterte administration took over to February of 2019, 2,528 police personnel were dismissed and 6,440 were meted various administrative penalties. For the year 2019, there were 4,540 police personnel who were charged for various offenses. About 87 percent of these were resolved. 4,540 cases out of 205,000 policemen are about two per cent which does not seem to indicate widespread breakdown of discipline. We do not know, of course, whether the police personnel involved in these cases reported by the Internal Affairs Service of the PNP includes the so-called extra-judicial cases being reported by various non-government organizations and human rights groups.

Perhaps it is not the numbers that matter but the kind of abuses that are committed by the police. The bottom line is that the PNP must stop these abuses or end up losing public support completely. *** I do not think anyone would have objected to vaccinating the close-in security of the President or President Duterte himself for reasons of national security if procedures were followed.

Regardless of what vaccine was used or how it was acquired, it should have been given Emergency Use Authorization by the Food and Drug Administration first instead of vaccinating without the EUA and in secret. Now, there is a controversy when there should have been none. Whoever planned the vaccination should have his head examined for creating an unnecessary problem.

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IN BRIEF At least 15 feared dead in mining camp landslide

Chinese court jails 10 democracy HK activists for 3 years A CHINESE court on Wednesday jailed 10 Hong Kong democracy activists for up to three years over a bid to flee the city by speedboat to Taiwan, as a crackdown on dissent in the territory intensifies.

The group was arrested by the Chinese coastguard on August 23 en route to the self-ruled island, which has quietly opened its doors to Hongkongers seeking sanctuary.

The court in the southern city of Shenzhen sentenced Tang Kai-yin to three

UP to 15 people were feared dead after a landslide struck a mining camp in central Papua New Guinea following heavy rain, officials said Wednesday.

Local MP William Samb said the camp in Goilala was buried as miners slept early Monday.

“Unfortunately there are no survivors from what we hear,” Samb told ABC, Australia’s national broadcaster.

“Sadly they were all buried alive.”

Manila Republic of the Philippines Standard Officials said the exact death National toll was Capital Judicial RegionTODAY unclear, but two bodies had so far REGIONAL been TRIAL COURT Branch 84, Quezon City recovered and up to 15 were feared dead.

The group was panning a riverbed for IN RE: PETITION FOR gold.

NATURALIZATION OF EMILY ROSE Heavy rain and a lack ofFAST, equipment Petitioner. had hampered local rescuers attempting x--------------------------------------------x to dig through the mud.

SP. PROC. NO. R-QZN-19-18790-SP Better tools and supplies were being ORDER and NOTICE OF HEARING flown in to help the recovery effort, with On December 18, 2019 Petitioner through counsel, filed this the Governor of the Central Province, verified Petition praying that after due notice, publication and Robert Agarobe, expected to arrive Thurshearing, an order be issued granting the Petition by declaring that petitionerAFP has all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications day to help assess the damage.

years in jail and Quinn Moon to two years for organising an illegal border crossing.

The eight others were sentenced to seven months behind bars for illegally crossing the border.

The sentencing follows the imposition of a sweeping new security law in Hong Kong this year that has given the government broad powers to prosecute political dissidents.

A number of activists have fled the city for overseas and political organisations

have shuttered their doors as Beijing seeks to keep a lid on unrest that rocked the financial hub for months last year.

A total of 12 people were caught on the boat and the group were facing prosecution in Hong Kong related to last year’s protests before attempting their escape.

They will likely be hit with further charges in the city after serving their mainland sentences.

Two minors from the so-called “Hong Kong 12”, aged 17 and 18, were returned

to the city on Wednesday after they admitted wrongdoing, Chinese officials said.

The pair face charges of conspiracy to commit arson and possession of an offensive weapon and have been remanded in custody ahead of their next court appearance.

The 10 adults first appeared before the Shenzhen court on Monday, but the trial—like many in China’s opaque legal system—was not open to foreign reporters or diplomats. AFP

Manila

Standard

EU leaders sign post-Brexit trade deal E TODAY

U LEADERS signed their post-Brexit trade deal with Britain and dispatched it to London on an RAF jet Wednesday, setting their seal on a drawn-out divorce just hours before the UK brings its half-century European experiment to an end.

for acquisition of Philippine citizenship thru naturalization under C.A. 473; and issuing an order that a Naturalization Certificate be issued and that said Naturalization Certificate be registered in the appropriate civil registry.

New deady tremors shake Brieftly, the petitioner alleged that she is a Canadian Citizen, of legal age, single, born in Langley,Canada on 3 September Croatia; seven killed 1996 and presently residing at No. 85B Pingkian 1, Brgy. Pasong

Tamo, Tandang Sora, Quezon City; that the petitioner was a NEW tremors shook Croatia early Wednes-Street, Langley, British Columbia, Canada; resident of 8835-213 day as the Adriatic countrythatwas shestill is apicking daughter of Pastor Michael John Fast and Eva Wiebe who are up the pieces of a deadlyRose earthquake thatresiding in the Philippines for more than 23 years doing missionary works with the Baptist Conference in the claimed at least seven lives and that reduced Philippines; at the age of 3, Petitioner and her family came to reside in the Philippines. They arrived in the Philippines on buildings to rubble a day before.

8, 1999 together with her parents who came here The new 4.8 and September 4.7 magnitude in pursuit of their missionary works. They landed at the Ninoy quakes struck after 0515GMT the sameAirport on board Japan Airlines with Flight Aquino in International JL745 and damPetitioner was carrying Passport No. VG891161 zone south of Zagreb thatNo.was badly issued by the Government of Canada. Such fact is shown at the aged on Tuesday, according to the United Certification issued by the Bureau of Immigration; that petitioner States Geological Survey.holds an Alien Certificate of Registration No. G1906013876TV with SSRN No. 1410EF1209234726 issued by the Philippine Rescue teams spent the night scouring Government which is valid until June 25, 2020 and a holder of ruins in the hard-hit areaCanadian around Passport Petrinja,No. HM689374 valid until November 15, that petitioner holds an Alien Certificate of Registration No. a town 50 kilometres 2026; (30 miles) from G1906013876TV with SRRN No. 1410EF4209234726 issued the capital, where numerous rooftops by the Philippine Government which is valid until June 25, 2020; that having resided in the Philippines at an early age, Petitioner collapsed under the force of Tuesday’s and completed her schooling in the country and which is 6.4-magnitude quake. started detailed as follows: Pre-school – SEATS Preschool – 670 Edsa, But no new victims were overBrgy. E.found Rodriguez, Cubao, Quezon City; Primary – Gospel Light Christian rescue Academy – Matahimik St., cor. V. Luna, Brgy. Malaya, night by the country’s mountain serQuezon City; Secondary – Gospel Light Christian Academy – vice, which searched more than 80St.,villages Matahimik cor. V. Luna, Brgy. Malaya, Quezon City; Tertiary in the quake-hit zone, the organisation’s – University of the Philippines Diliman – Bachelor of Arts in Film – Magna AFP Cum Laude (2013-2018); that presently, Petitioner is chief Josip Granic told reporters. a freelance photographer, videographer and film maker. She is

EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, the heads of the European Commission and European Council, smiled at a brief televised ceremony to put their names to the 1,246-page Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

“It has been a long road. It’s time now to put Brexit behind us. Our future is made in Europe,” von der Leyen said Britain will leave the European single market and customs union at 11:00pm (2300 GMT) on Thursday, the end of a difficult year and of a post-Brexit transition period marked by intense and tortuous trade negotiations.

But first the hefty document, bound in blue leather, will be flown by the Royal Air Force to London for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to add his signature, and the UK parliament will embark on a rushed debate to clear the decks before the looming deadline.

According to Downing Street, Johnson will tell MPs that the agreement heralds “a new relationship between Britain and the EU as sovereign equals, joined by friendship, commerce, history, interests and values”.

In Brussels, Michel agreed, saying: “On major issues, the European Union stands ready to work shoulder to shoulder with the United Kingdom.

“This will be the case on climate change, ahead of the COP 26 in Glasgow, and on the global response to pandemics, in particular with a possible treaty on pandemics.”

Johnson’s government only published the accompanying UK legislation on Tuesday afternoon -- less than 24 hours before the debate is to start in parliament an hour after the signing in Brussels.

AFP

also is the official film maker for the Baptist General Conference of Canada and was assigned in the Philippines to assist the South East Asian Theology Schools, Inc. in filming lecture videos; that in pursuit of her missionary works, Petitioner teaches in Pingkian European Kid’s Net (2013 to present). This is a weekly values class for local Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (left) and European Council President Charles Michel (right) bump children from the ages of 3 up to 12elbows years old.inTogether withon 9 December 30, 2020, after signing the Brexit trade agreement due to come into force on January 1, 2021. EU their Brussels, other missionary workers, Petitioner teaches lessons, prepares leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel signed on December 30, 2020 the post-Brexit trade deal agreed with Britain, in a brief activities and cooks snacks for the kids of Pingkian 1 Central, JONATHAN Pollard, anthe American jailed Brgy. Pasong Tamo, Tandangceremony.

Sora, QuezonThe City; texts that shewere is alsothen to be flown to London in an RAF jet for the signature of British Prime Minister, on the eve of Britain’s departure in the US in 1985 for spying a Leader for of theIsrael, Pingkian Youth Ministry This is AFP from the(2014-present).

EU single market. a weekly gathering wherein around 30 youth of the community landed in the Jewish state on Wednesday, come together to discuss the Bible in Pingkian 1, Central, Brgy. where he was received by Prime Minister Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora, Quezon City; that she acts as the Benjamin Netanyahu. Secretary of Pingkian 1 Neighbor Youth Association (PINYA) (2013-present) in Pingkian 1 Central, Brgy. Pasong Tamo, Pollard, 66, served 30 years in prison Tandang Sora, Quezon City. This is a government-recognized for giving away classified US documents, association that promotes community service and involvement of theparole youth in terms local events. and had been confined by to As a member of PINYA, she is involved the US since his releasein indifferent 2015, activities despitelike organizing Christmas presentations, holding workshops, setting up garage sales, street-sweeping, Israeli pressure to allow him to leave. and other community activities; that petitioner likewise, is a Sunday School Teacher of the Metro Manila Bible Community The US Justice Department removed (215-present) in 19 Col. Salgado St., Brgy. West the terms and conditions(MMBC) last month.

Kamias, Quezon City. This involves teaching Bible stories and values children every Sunday; that petitioner was a A video distributed by the lessons prime tominmember of the University of the Philippines Cinema Arts Society ister’s office showed Pollard and his wife (UP CAST) (2013-2017) and served as Secretary; that all of the Esther walking down theforegoing stairs ofactivities a plane and membership in different organizations establishes strong toward Netanyahu, who raised histhe hand in tie of the Petitioner with the Filipinos and through such constant association, she can fluently speak in welcome.

Pilipino/Tagalog, learned to love and embrace the Filipino culture, Pollard then removedcustoms his mask got and that she has been residing in the andand traditions; more down on his hands and Philippines knees to for kiss thethan 20 years particularly at the address stated above and has been a law-abiding resident of Barangay Israeli ground, with Esther following suit. City; that petitioner seeks to acquire Pasong Tamo, Quezon Netanyahu along withPhilippine PollardCitizenship said the thru naturalization under Commonwealth Act No. 473 (C.A. 473) otherwise known as “ An Act to Provide traditional Jewish blessings for something for the Acquisition of Philippine Citizenship by Naturalization; long-awaited happening that and petitioner for prisoners has complied with all the other formal and substantial requirements being released, before handing him an Is- under C.A. 473 for the acquisition of Philippine Citizenship thru naturalization including age and raeli identity card. AFP years of residence in the Philippines; that she possesses all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications set forth in C.A. 473; that in the 20 years of petitioner’s stay in the Philippines, she was able to establish and maintain a good reputation among her students, peers, religious group, classmates and within the community; that petitioner has never directly or indirectly disobeyed the Philippine Constitution since she believes in the underlying principles thereof; that neither did she transgressed any laws and regulations for the period of her stay in the Philippines; that since 2013, petitioner serves as the Secretary of Pingkian I Neighbor Youth Association (PINYA) in Pingkian 1 Central, Brgy. Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora, Quezon City; that not only moderate knowledge of conversational Pilipino Tagalog, Petitioner can speak Pilipino/Tagalog fluently having been raised and lived in the Philippines since age of 3. In fact, her accent and the way she pronounces Tagalog words will let one think or believe that one speaking is Filipina – not a foreign national.

She is likewise fluent in English; that she does not defend or teach necessity of violence, personal assault or assassination for the predominance of ideas that she is not a polygamist or believer in the practice of polygamy; that petitioner have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude; that petitioner is not suffering from mental alienation or any incurable contagious disease; that petitioner has socially mingled with Filipinos.

Her various missionary activities and membership is different organizations establishes the strong tie of the Petitioner with the Filipinos and through such constant association, she learned to love and embrace the culture, customs, traditions and ideals of Filipinos; that petitioner is a national of Canada which country grants Filipinos the right to become a naturalized citizen or subject thereof; that she believes in the underlying principles of the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and undertakes Volunteers and fans of the Croatian football club Dinamo clear to preserve and protect the same; that petitioner will continue to rubble from damaged buildings in Petrinja, some 50kms from Zagreb, after the town was reside in the Philippines from the date of filing of this petition up to the time of her acquisition of Philippine Citizenship; and that hit by an earthquake of the magnitude of 6,4 on December 29, 2020. The tremor, one of upon being admitted as Filipino citizen, petitioner will renounce the strongest to rock Croatia in recent years, collapsed rooftops in Petrinja, home to some her allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, protectorate, 20,000 people, and left the streets strewn with bricks and other debris. Rescue workers and state or sovereignty and particularly to Canada of which she is a citizen at present. the army were deployed to search for trapped residents, as a girl was reported dead. AFP

Convicted American spy Pollard lands in Israel

DONE DEAL.

India to trace thousands of suspected infected British nationals

INDIAN authorities were trying Wednesday to track down tens of thousands of people who entered the country from Britain in recent weeks as cases of a new and fast-spreading coronavirus strain more than doubled in 24 hours.

They have launched efforts to locate around 33,000 people who flew to India in the last month from the UK after 20 people tested positive for the new, more virulent strain -- up by 14 cases since Tuesday.

India also extended on Wednesday the ban on flights to and from Britain by a week to January 7 in a bid to combat the new strain that British authorities say is no more deadly, but which spreads more easily.

“Comprehensive contact tracing has been initiated for co-travellers, family contacts and others,” the Indian health ministry said Tuesday, referring to those who flew between November 25 and December 23, when Delhi suspended air links with Britain.

It remains unclear how many arrivals from Britain it has traced so far.

Delhi wants to learn about their movements in order to prevent a wider outbreak in a country combatting the world’s second highest Covid-19 tally.

Britain is home to a huge Indian community and several flights per day take hundreds of people from London to New

Delhi and Mumbai.

More than 30 countries have suspended air links with Britain over the new strain, which British medical officials have said is “out of control”.

Indian Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said any resumption of flights to and from Britain would be “strictly regulated”.

Of the 33,000 passengers to enter the country in the last month, more than 130 people have tested positive for coronavirus.

The cases have been reported across India, but most are in Delhi and Bangalore.

AFP

Israeli air strikes kill Syrian soldier, wound five others—monitor ISRAELI air strikes in Syria targeting the pro-Damascus Lebanese Hezbollah group and Syrian air defence forces killed one Syrian soldier and wounded five others, a war monitor said Wednesday.

The air raids early Wednesday hit positions in a rural area northwest of the capital, said the Britain-based war monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Syrian state news agency SANA, citing a military source, said one Syrian soldier was killed and three others wounded in an Israeli strike on a military position near the capital.

“Today at 01:30 (2230 GMT) the Israeli enemy carried out an air aggression with missile bursts from northern Galilee, targeting a unit of our air defence forces in the Nabi Habeel area,” the military source said.

“Our air defense countered some of the Manila

missiles, which caused one martyr and wounded three soldiers.”

The Observatory on Wednesday morning said the number of wounded had risen to five, two of them in grave condition.

The strikes targeted Hezbollah rocket and ammunition depots in a mountainous area near the town of Zabadani close to the Lebanese border, destroying them and causing casualties, it said, without providing a toll.

Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said pro-Iran groups use the heights around Zabadani to store weapons and ammunition.

“Hezbollah uses (the area) as a storage spot before transporting weapons and ammunition into Lebanon,” he said.

Israel refused to confirm or deny the strike.

“We do not comment on foreign media

NOTICE is hereby given that the instant petition will be heard before this Court sitting at Room 105, Hall of Justice Building, Quezon City on JUNE 7, 2021 at 8:30 in the morning (in-court hearing) at which date and time, all persons interested and concerned may appear and show cause, if any, why the petition should not be granted.

LEGAL NOTICE

Standard

TODAY

Let this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation to be chosen by raffle, the last publication of which shall be at least more than four (4) months before the date of hearing. Petitioner is ordered to serve a copy of the Petition upon the Office of the Solicitor General and the respondents, and to submit proof of service thereof at least ten (10) days prior to the date of scheduled hearing. The respondents and/or any interested person may file opposition thereto within fifteen (15) days from notice of this Order or from the last date of publication of this Order.

Notice is hereby given to the public that Cadbury Marketing Services Pty Ltd under the business name Cadbury Confectionery– Philippine Branch has ceased all its business operations on 13 November 2019 per the Board Resolution of its Head Office and has officially begun its winding up procedures.

This notice is in compliance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Court further orders counsel and petitioner to submit their email addresses within 15 calendar days from receipt hereof and/or send in advance to the official email of the courtindicated below.

SO ORDERED.

Given this 23rd day of September 2020 at Quezon City, Metro Manila.

(Sgd.) HON. LUISITO G. CORTEZ Presiding Judge cc: Atty. LELAND R. LOPEZ Counsel for the Petitioner Block 5, Lot 14, Sampaguita St., Palmera Homes Phase II, Brgy. Sta. Monica, Novaliches, Quezon City EMILY ROSE FAST Petitioner No. 85B Pingkian I, Brgy. Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora, Quezon City Office of the Solicitor General No. 134 Amorsolo Street Legaspi Village, Makati City Local Civil Registrar Quezon City National Statistics Office East Avenue, Quezon City City Prosecutor’s Office 4th Floor, Quezon City Hall of Justice Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION and DEPORTATION Port Area, Intramuros, Manila

(MStandard - Dec. 17 29 & 24, (MS-DEC 16, 17, 18,21, 23,10, 25,28, & 31,2020) 2020)

reports,” an army spokesperson told AFP. Israel has launched hundreds of strikes in Syria since the start of the civil war in 2011.

It has targeted government troops, allied Iranian forces and Hezbollah fighters.

It rarely confirms details of its operations in Syria, but says Iran’s presence in support of President Bashar al-Assad is a threat to which it will continue to respond.

In the night of Thursday to Friday last week, Israeli missile strikes on Syria killed at least six Iran-backed fighters in the Masyaf district of Hama province, the Observatory said.

One of the missiles, which were fired from Lebanese airspace, also targeted a government-run research centre where surfaceto-surface missiles are developed and stored, the Britain-based watchdog said. AFP

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late RUVENAL PABILLAR MAYOR and JOSEFINA BASA DOMINGUEZMAYOR (also known as Josephine Basa Dominguez-Mayor) has been extra-judicially settled among their heirs WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS as per Doc. No. 423; Page No. 86; Book No. II; Series of 2020 before Notary Public ATTY. JORDAN ANDREW Q. LIM. (MS-DEC. 24/31, 2020 & JAN. 7, 2021

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late PRIMITIVO VICENCIO DOMINGUEZ, SR. and NATIVIDAD BASAS DOMINGUEZ has been extrajudicially settled among their heirs, as per Doc. No. 429; Page No. 87; Book No. II; Series of 2020 before Notary Public ATTY. JORDAN ANDREW Q. LIM. (MS-DEC. 24/31, 2020 & JAN. 7, 2021

POWERFUL QUAKE.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Argentina legalizes abortion after hours of debate in Senate ARGENTINA Wednesday became one of only a handful of South American nations to legalize abortion, after hours of debate in the Senate.

Hundreds of thousands of illegal abortions are carried out every year in the nation of 44 million, and pro-choice campaigners have long-urged authorities to put an end to dangerous backstreet terminations by legalizing the process.

“It becomes law,” said Senate president Cristina Kirchner, after more than twelve hours of debate.

Thousands of pro-choice activists cheered in the streets of the capital after the bill was approved 38 to 29, with one abstention.

It legalizes voluntary abortions at any stage up to 14 weeks of pregnancy.

Ahead of the vote, pro-choice and anti-abortion demonstrators had gathered outside parliament despite coro-

navirus fears.

“This fight was born in the streets,” Silvia Saravia, a pro-choice activist, told AFP. The vote overturns a similar one in 2018 which, although also passed the lower house, ultimately foundered in the Senate by 38 votes to 31.

South America has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world.

In Argentina, terminations were allowed in only two instances: rape, and danger to the mother’s life.

‘Legislate for everyone’ The bill was proposed by President Alberto Fernandez and passed the Chamber of Deputies on December 11, despite fierce opposition from the Catholic Church and evangelical Christians.

“I’m Catholic but I have to legislate for everyone. Every year around 38,000 women are taken to hospital

due to (clandestine) abortions and since the restoration of democracy (in 1983) more than 3,000 have died,” said Fernandez.

“The interruption of a pregnancy is a tragedy. It abruptly ends another developing life,” said Ines Blas, a senator from the ruling coalition.

However, Senator Silvina Garcia Larraburu, again from the ruling coalition, said she would vote for the bill this time despite voting against it in 2018.

Love for all children Despite measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, thousands demonstrated in front of parliament, following the debate on giant screens.

Pro-choice activists have campaigned for years to change the abortion laws that date from 1921, adopting a green scarf as their symbol. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW B

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As a rollercoaster year draws to a close, two major weights on sentiment―US stimulus and the Brexit trade deal―have been navigated reasonably positively, leaving traders a little more upbeat about the next few months.

With central banks unlikely to step back anytime soon from their vast monetary easing programs, and vaccines allowing life to get back to some semblance of normality, analysts are hopeful that equities have a long way to go higher.

“This is an economy that is recovering, policy is going to be accommodative for years to come, it suggests a good backdrop for risk assets―it doesn’t mean there aren’t going to be some challenges as we progress over the next couple of years,” Brian Levitt, a strategist at Invesco, told Bloomberg TV. “The reality is the markets are going to be focused on a recovery.”

Wall Street’s three main indexes dipped from Monday’s records on disappointment that Republicans had blocked a move to ramp up stimulus cash hand-

RESTAURANT RELIEF. Pisticci

TOP LOSERS 1

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restaurant and bar owners Michael and Vivian Forte set up a table outdoors in front of their establishment in New York on December 29, 2020.Washington’s long-awaited pandemic relief package offers a lifeline to the devastated US restaurant industry, but eateries still face months of turmoil before they are clear of the coronavirus crisis.

Vivian Forte, who with her husband owns Pisticci in New York City, said Monday she was “exuberant” the relief bill was finally enacted. Without it, she would have had to lay off the entire staff. AFP

MOST ACTIVE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

DITO ACEN APL MM FNI SMPH AR BDO ALI SM

VOLUME 257,080,800 54,844,400 3,239,380,000 69,269,200 150,745,000 9,207,200 89,845,000,000 2,768,820 6,322,500 248,185

VALUE (PHP) 2,762,857,934.00 480,598,219.00 434,248,530.00 432,238,340.00 399,792,470.00 354,615,305.00 301,270,600.00 294,847,331.00 260,995,205.00 260,662,395.00

020 Wind generates more than half of UK electricity

an Markle, announced their intention to take a less e in royal affairs.

2020 Oscars, Parasite, a 2019 Korean dark comt the interactions between two families from oppoof the economic divide walked away with the most ncluding Best Picture and Best Director. It was the ign language film to be namedpower Best Picture by the LONDON―Wind accounted y. for more than half of Britain’s daily entagon officially videoson of unidentified flygeneratedreleased electricity Saturday in ts. the wake of Storm Bella, according tothe rancis named Luis Antonio Tagle Carinal-Bishop, energy in giant tle of a cardinal the Drax.

Catholic Church. Pope Frances percentage of wind power in the sed parentsThe of LGBTQ children that God loves their energy record 50.67 and camecountry’s out in support of mix samehit sexa civil unions.

BS-CBNpercent franchiseonexpired.

Filipinos witnessedsaid a rare Saturday, the company solar eclipse andthe an previous even rarer overannular the weekend, beating great conjunction Jupiter and Saturn, record of 50 percent inofAugust. a once-in-800 years event believed by “For the first time ever (on Saturday), some to have been the same event that amidguided #StormBella, more than half of toe wise men to Bethlehem.

Great Britain’s electricity was Joe Biden was declaredgenerated presidentby the wind,” Group tweeted. elect of theDrax United States, which makes first first female viceever presIt Kamala added: Harris “This the is the time the country. windident has ofsupplied the majority of the In 2020, lost Kobe Bryant,ofRuth country’s powerweover the course a Bader whole day.”Ginsburg, Chadwick Boseman, bek (host of Jeopardy), and Naya Rivera.

The encouraging news comes ahead of A hopeful ending COP26, UN’s climate year draws to a the close, we global look back at a change year and which beepidemic held in Glasgow avaged summit, by probably the will worst in modern nextthis, year.

As I write the Philippines has reported over COVID-19The cases British and over 9100 deaths. Thewants global government uch higher, over wind 81.2 million andone over 1.77 offshore farms tocases provide third deaths. of the country’s electricity by 2030, ver, we also end the year with the promise of the availas part of its strategy to reach net zero f multiple vaccines against COVID-19. The speed by 2050 help meet ch these carbon vaccinesemissions were developed andtobecame comits commitments under the Paris climateof available has been unprecedented and is reflective be done accord. when people and countries work together. At The received UK has also placed approval nuclear power vaccines have emergency by mulntries andatare rolled the endenergy of 2020. thebeing heart of out its before low-carbon of the good news for 2020 comes from the field of scipolicy. technology, not justhas withexperienced the COVID-19 vaccine but “Britain a renewables h things as advances in sustainable energy that could revolution over the last decade with worsening global climate situation. the growth of biomass, wind and solar ore important part of the good news is in how we all power,” said.a boost from the enforced All things virtualDrax received Added to the picture, n. Many people are now muchbrightening more comfortable with gy. The boost to e-commerce, e-payments, e-banking National Grid’s Electricity System r online services unlikely to division unwind post the criOperatorare(NGESO) declared ediscovered our communities.

We spent moreyear time Tuesday that this year was a historic and alone.

We rediscovered old passions and spent for UK renewables. e on our health. We rebuilt friendships across miles as “2020ofwas the greenest year on record vered the magic electronic hangouts.

Britain’swhat electricity with of all, wefor discovered things are system, truly important. average carbon intensity―the red the boundaries of the human spirit and measure found that of CO2 emissions per unit of electricity e vast. We discovered our own resilience and marthe graceconsumed―reaching and generosity of thosea willing help in new to low,” difficulty.NGESO said in a statement. face 2021,National we look forward to a revealed new, new normal.

Grid also that on It world with the vaccine. We will once again be able to Christmas Day, December 25, the share side of our own homes. But we will always have 2020 of coal in the UK electricity mix stood ack one, the terrible year that helped us discover at our for the r reach, zero our core, andfirst our time. strengths.

New Year That to all!compared with just 1.8 percent

the previous year―and 20 percent in

ers can email 2009.Maya AFP at integrations_manila@yahoo. visit her site at http://integrations.tumblr.com.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

outs, though there is a feeling US lawmakers will eventually push ahead with more support measures as Joe Biden takes over at the White House.

Hong Kong led gains in Asia, rallying 1.5 percent, while Seoul jumped 1.9 percent and Shanghai and Taipei also put on more than one percent each. There were also advances in Singapore but Tokyo eased after piling on more than two percent Tuesday, while Wellington, Bangkok and Jakarta were also in the red.

Sydney retreated as investor confidence is jolted by fears over a spike in infections in the city.

The clusters come as a mutated strain of the disease, which spreads more quickly but is no more deadly, has been detected in several countries, putting pressure on governments to impose

Jobless to get weekly aid despite Trump’s late approval WASHINGTON―Jobless Americans who risked not receiving unemployment aid this week due to President Donald Trump’s delay in signing off on it will indeed receive the money, the Labor Department said on Tuesday.

Congress in March expanded the US unemployment safety net as the coronavirus pandemic struck, creating the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) for freelancers and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) for the long-term unemployed but only funding them until the end of the year.

After months of stuttering negotiations, Congress agreed to reauthorize those programs in a $900-billion spending package passed only days before their December 26 expiration, but Trump objected to its contents before eventually signing it on Sunday―one day after those programs lapsed.

Because many states determine benefit payments for the week ahead on Sunday morning, experts feared Trump’s evening signing of the bill could mean benefits under the two programs wouldn’t be paid this week.

In a statement to AFP, a Labor Department spokesperson said it would work with individual states to make sure payments under the programs, which were reauthorized until March 14, continue uninterrupted.

“As states are implementing these new provisions as quickly as possible, the department does not anticipate that eligible claimants will miss a week of benefits due to the timing of the law’s enactment,” the spokesperson said.

An interruption in weekly jobless payments would have increased the pressure on Americans put out of work by the

world’s largest Covid-19 outbreak.

The United States saw unemployment spike to 14.7 percent in April after business shutdowns were ordered to stop the virus from spreading.

Though it decreased to 6.7 percent in November, Labor Department data released last week said more than 800,000 people on average are losing their jobs each week, a level above the worst single week of the 2008-2010 global financial crisis.

As of the week ended December 5, the Labor Department said more than 9.2 million people were receiving PUA benefits and more than 4.8 million were receiving PEUC. Meanwhile, American workers could start seeing stimulus payments of as much as $600 in their accounts as soon as Tuesday night, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said.

“Treasury and the IRS are working with unprecedented speed to issue a second round of Economic Impact Payments to eligible Americans and their families,” Mnuchin said.

“These payments are an integral part of our commitment to providing vital additional economic relief to the American people during this unprecedented time.”

On Twitter, he added that for those not receiving electronic payment, “paper checks will begin to be mailed tomorrow.”

The stimulus bill set aside $166 billion to provide cash for families to help weather the pandemic, but Trump blasted the amount and demanded it be increased to $2,000.

Democrats agreed, and the House of Representatives approved a bill to do that, but Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked the measure, refusing to allow a vote. AFP

stricter containment measures.

Biden’s virus warning And Biden warned that the dire situation may not ease up until “well into March.”

“The next few weeks and months are going to be very tough―a very tough period for our nation, maybe the toughest during this entire pandemic,” he added.

Traders are keeping tabs on Capitol Hill after Donald Trump on Sunday finally signed off on a $900-billion rescue package, which will see hard-up Americans receive up to $600 handouts to help them through the crisis.

There are hopes his demand for that to be hiked to $2,000 could come to fruition after the Democrat-run House passed a top-up bill, but Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked the measure, refusing to allow a vote.AFP

Leaders set to sign UK-EU deal as MPs rush debate LONDON―The UK and European Union will Wednesday sign a mammoth trade pact to put the seal on their drawn-out Brexit divorce in the dwindling hours before they part ways definitively at the dawning of 2021.

EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel will ink the 1,246-page Trade and Cooperation Agreement at 0830 GMT, officials in Brussels said, days after it was clinched on Christmas Eve following months of hard-fought talks.

The hefty document will then be flown by the Royal Air Force to London for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to add his signature, as the UK parliament embarks on a rushed debate to clear the decks before a December 31 deadline.

According to Downing Street, Johnson will tell MPs that the agreement heralds “a new relationship between Britain and the EU as sovereign equals, joined by friendship, commerce, history, interests and values.”

The government only released the accompanying UK legislation on Tuesday afternoon―less than 24 hours before the debate is to start in parliament an hour after the signing in Brussels.

The government intends to ram all stages of the 85-page European Union (Future Relationship) Bill through the Commons and the House of Lords in one day, before the EU trade deal takes effect at 11:00 pm (2300 GMT) on Thursday.

At that hour―midnight in Brussels―the UK will be entirely out of the EU, following an 11-month transition period in place since Brexit took legal effect and more than four years after Britons voted to leave in a divisive referendum.

Each side will work “hand-inglove whenever our values and interests coincide, while fulfilling the sovereign wish of the British people to live under their own laws, made by their own elected parliament,” Johnson will say. AFP

In the Alps, white caviar offers an exclusive alternative

By Blaise Gauquelin GRODIG, Austria—In his waders, Stefan Astner checks on the albino sturgeon: Almost two decades after they hatched, they’re ready to be gutted for their caviar to be shipped out for New Year’s celebrations.

“The fish have already been through the ultrasound so we saw that they are full (of roe) and they will go into production soon,” Astner says, dipping his net into a small pond teeming with the rare, white sturgeon.

Deemed the most expensive food in the world, demand for caviar—essentially, salted roe—has driven most sturgeon species to the brink of extinction in the wild.

But fish farms like the one where Astner works in the village of Groedig, near the Austrian city of Salzburg, offer a more sustainable alternative.

Owner Walter Gruell is one of about 2,500 sturgeon farmers worldwide that produce a combined 415 tons of caviar a year, according to the World Sturgeon Conservation Society’s most recent figures dating from 2018.

But patience is imperative for producers.

The required investment is high and doesn’t pay off for years until the sturgeon begin carrying roe—that’s if they aren’t stolen by gangs hoping to skip the arduous breeding process.

The albino female that Gruell slices with surgical precision is 16 years old.

Rare 16-year-old albino female sturgeons ,whose caviar at astronomical cost will soon be shipped around the world on New Year’s Eve, are seen at Walter Gruell’s fish farm in Groedig village near Salzburg, Austria, on December 15, 2020. Deemed the most expensive food in the world, demand for caviar—essentially salted roe—has driven most sturgeon species to the brink of extinction in the wild, but farms like the one in the village of Groedig, close to Salzburg, offer a more sustainable alternative. AFP

Slowly, he removes, rinses, and weighs the cream-colored roe, which, like the fish, lacks pigmentation.

There are no more than 40 sturgeon breeders specializing in albinos worldwide, according to Thomas Friedrich, an expert on sturgeon at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna.

Though there’s no research suggesting

that lack of pigmentation affects caviar’s taste, Gruell is convinced of its superiority, asserting that “it’s even sweeter, even smoother than the traditionally black one.”

Consumers are willing to pay for the difference.

The female that Gruell just cut yields 600 grams (21 ounces), worth 8,000 euros ($9,750)—more than three times the price

that black caviar fetches.

Sturgeon rustlers The coronavirus pandemic has curbed demand as upscale restaurants, like all eateries in Austria, have been closed, but retail is booming, partly because people still want to treat themselves, Gruell believes.

“People want to savor the present moment,” he says, between the many phone calls ahead of the end-of-year celebrations, when he makes close to 40 percent of his annual turnover.

While AFP visited his farm, Gruell spoke to a luxury automaker, and shortly before had been in contact with an airline hoping to serve first-class travelers caviar “Made in Austria.”

Demand for caviar remains high, and not just from paying customers, but sturgeon rustlers, too.

A year ago, 400 kilos of sturgeon were stolen from a farm less than two hours away from Groedig.

The eviscerated fish were later found in a reservoir.

A year before that, 400 individual sturgeon worth 50,000 euros were stolen from another farm.

At Gruell’s farm, the fish, which include sturgeon native to the Danube, are protected by surveillance cameras and high fences with heavy padlocks.

Outliving dinosaurs Though sturgeon breeding in countries like China, Italy and France started as a purely financial venture, it is now also seen as a sustainable alternative to wild sturgeon. AFP

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

B4

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020

PSE INDEX CLOSING Tuesday, December 29, 2020 17.46 PTS. 7,139.71

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE

95,975,334,126 188,528 11,111,420,745.74

ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

119 122 36

Foreign e xchange r ate

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2020

Soum d to baum 00, MSC 00. the gud at per000 and that for

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.0360

Japan

Yen

0.009636

0.4629

UK

Pound

1.345300

64.6228

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128934

6.1935

Switzerland

Franc

1.125619

54.0702

Canada

Dollar

0.778513

37.3967

Singapore

Dollar

0.751936

36.1200

Australia

Dollar

0.757700

36.3969

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655267

127.5484

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266482

12.8007

Brunei

Dollar

0.749120

35.9847

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.033156

1.5927

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.0789

Euro

Euro

1.221800

58.6904

Korea

Won

0.000913

0.0439

China

Yuan

0.152945

7.3469

India

Rupee

0.013597

0.6531

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.247066

11.8681

New Zealand

Dollar

0.709800

34.0960

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035564

1.7084 Source: BSP

DA expects 2.5% growth in farm, fishery sector in 2021

Business NEDA warns of P2.1b in daily wage losses in case of MECQ

T

HE National Economic and Development Authority on Wednesday warned that reverting back to modified enhanced community quarantine could cost workers in Metro Manila and adjacent regions some P2.1 billion in daily wages.

It said the general community quarantine in these areas were already costing these regions around P700 million in wages daily.

“These losses and setbacks point to the need to work together to safely reopen the economy further in 2021,” NEDA said in a statement.

It noted that for almost 10 months, the government implemented a series of strict community quarantines to help save lives from COVID-19, while building up the health system capacity. In three of these 10 months, the stricter ECQ/MECQ effectively shut down around 75 percent of the economy, resulting in huge losses in jobs and income.

“Based on the second and third-quarter GDP numbers, NEDA estimates that every week of ECQ/MECQ in NCR and its adjacent regions alone shaves off 0.28 percentage points from GDP growth. This is equivalent to around P2.1 billion in lost wages a day. The amount during GCQ is lower at around

P700 million, but this amount is still significant enough to bring hardship to many people,” said acting Economic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua.

“When we restricted the economy in the second quarter, GDP fell by 16.9 percent and the unemployment rate increased to 17.7 percent. On the other hand, when we further relaxed the quarantine in the second semester, GDP improved to -11.5 percent in the third quarter and the unemployment rate decreased to 8.7 percent in the fourth quarter,” he said.

“The combined efafects of these were concretely felt by the people. According to the most recent Social Weather Stations Survey, the hunger rate fell significantly to 15.7 percent in November from a record-high of 30.7 percent in September 2020. But we can still do better,” said Chua.

Chua said a big part of these forgone wages came from restricting children and family activities. “For years, the country’s strong growth has been supported by its demographic dividend, where the country’s young population forms a large part of the labor force, earning income and driving demand,” he said.

The Philippine median age is 25, and 36 percent of the population is 18 years old or younger, data showed.

The 2018 family income and expenditure survey also showed that families with at least three members accounted for around 90 percent of total non-essential spending.

By Othel V. Campos

THE Department of Agriculture expects a modest growth of 2.5 percent in agriculture next year, faster than the 1-percent increase this year amid the pandemic.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a year-end report while COVID-19 continued to affect the national economy, the need for sustenance remains a top priority.

“For this reason alone, agriculture registered positive contributions to the economy compared to the other ose and striving forof innovation, Century Properties movers the economy such as conmes. From ensuring the safety of employees struction, real estate and manufacturcontinues to be of service—delivering on its ing,” he said.

Agriculture joined the top three industries that posted positive rates in the third quarter. These were financial and insurance activities at 6.2 percent; public administration and defense, compulsory social activities, sion, system loss, lifeline subsidy and senior percent; andbut agriculture, forestry, citizen 4.5 discount rates, also incurred a toand fishing, 1.2 percent. tal of P2.38 billionatunder collection in the generation ERC chairperson Agnes Therate,” Philippine Statistical AuthorDevanadera said. said the Philippine gross ity earlier The ERC asked Meralco to implement its domestic product shrank 11.5 over and under-recoveries by way of percent refundincollecting the third quarter, an subject improvement ing and the same, to the final evaluation the commission. from the by previous quarter’s contrac“Let it be emphasized that the commistion of 16.9 percent. sion, in acting on the pass-on charges conBank sees firmationThe hasAsian the Development consumers’ welfare as its primordial consideration. will find the Philippine economy We dropping 7.3 means,percent such aswhile stretching the collection of the International Monany under collection to a longer period and etary Fund predicts an 8.3-percent effecting a quick refund for over collection, decline in 2020. in order to temper the impact on consumer’s bill,” Devanadera said. the forecast is, your “But whatever Meralco head of utility economics Lawdepartment sees the Philippine agriculrence Fernandez said the company would ture sector to remain as a robust conimmediately begin preparations to comply tributor with the ruling.to the economy,” Dar said.

The ERC collections include He said said the the over sector could do more if transmission rate, system loss rate,and lifeline it was given the recognition supsubsidy rate and senior citizen subsidy rate. port it deserved, especially in the case of its modest share to the national budget.

Agriculture’s share in the general appropriations at a minimal 1.7 phytosanitary import stood clearances in Septempercent in 2020, which to was inber 2020 as a belated response thequite drastic drop insignificant palay prices during with the wet harvest compared Indonesia’s season.

3.4 percent, Thailand’s 3.6 percent and It said, however, the department neglectVietnam’s percent, Dar said. ed to clarify that6.5 SPSICs issued before the suspension had a validity periodconof He order said the share is minuscule at leastsidering 60 days.that As athe result, over 131,000 sector contributes metric tons or 2.64 million bags of rice imabout 10 percent to the GDP and emports still arrived during the peak harvest around a third the Filipino period ploys between October and of December.

Datalabor showed as of Dec. 4, total rice imforce.

to collect P2.38b er next 24 months

n of rice import permit

ports reached 1.974 million tons, surpassing the 1.857 million tons imported in the first ten months of implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law from March to December 2019.

FFF national manager Raul Montemayor said there was is no logical and consistent basis “for allowing or suspending the issuance of SPSICs”.

“As a result, the DA usually reacts and suspends the issuance of clearances only when it is already too late, and then relaxes the rules even when it is too early,” he said.

Hilton opens 308-room hotel in Clark Freeport amid pandemic HILTON, one of the fastest-growing hospitality companies in the world, announced Wednesday the opening of the 308-room Hilton Clark Sun Valley Resort in Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone, Pampanga.

Owned by Donggwang Clark Corp., the hotel is a short 12-minute drive from Clark International Airport and located close to the city’s main business hubs and entertainment attractions, such as Clark Museum, Aqua Planet and Nayong Pilipino.

“We are delighted to welcome Hilton Clark Sun Valley Resort to the Hilton family as our third hotel in the country,” said Paul Hutton, Hilton vice president for operations in Southeast Asia.

“Hilton is on a promising growth trajectory in the Philippines, with the launch of Conrad Manila back in 2016, followed by Hilton Manila in 2018. This is testament to our commitment to the Philippines, and we are confident emerging destinations in the country, such as Clark, are well positioned to cater to both business and leisure travelers from within and outside the Philippines,” said Hutton.

“As our flagship brand, Hilton Hotels & Resorts is known the world over for its exceptional service, delivered by a team of committed and passionate Team Members. Our Hilton hotels have also set the benchmark for hospitality around the world, providing new product innovations and services to meet guests’ evolving needs,” said Alexandra Jaritz, Hilton senior vice president for brand management in Asia Pacific.

“I am confident Hilton Clark offers domestic and, in the longer-term, international travelers to Clark, exactly that and more with its strategic location and a wide range of leisure facilities that are all readily accessible, providing an all-encompassing experience for guests staying with us,” said Jaritz.

IN BRIEF MB: Foreign banks get relief from SBL

ROLLER COASTER RIDE. The Philippine Stock Exchange index closes at 7,139.71 on Dec. 29, the last trading day of 2020.

The PSEi climbed 54.4 percent from its lowest closing level in 2020 of 4,623.42 on March 19. However, the main index dropped 8.6 percent year-on-year. Leading the closing bell ringing ceremony are (from left, by row) PSE finance division head Roberto Jose Jimenez and Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines chief operating officer Renee Rubio; and PSE chief operating officer Roel Refran and PSE president and chief executive Ramon Monzon.

PSE approves one-year voluntary suspension of King’s Power Securities for financial troubles

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Philippine Stock Exchange said Wednesday it approved the one-year voluntary suspension of a brokerage firm over financial incapacity.

PSE president Ramon Monzon said in a memorandum King’s Power Securities Inc. applied for voluntary suspension because of financial incapacity brought about by the decreased trading transactions and the impact of pandemic on operations.

The one-year voluntary suspension will be effective beginning Jan. 1, 2021 until Dec. 31, 2021.

It said the application for voluntary suspension was approved after King’s Power’s complied with the relevant rules and regulations of the exchange and Capital Markets Integrity Corp.

The PSE said with the suspension of operations, the client accounts of King’s Power were transferred to COL Financial Group Inc., Solar Securities Inc. and Quality Investments & Securities Corp.

Average daily average value turnover slightly improved to P7.35 billion in 2020 from the P7.29-billion average in 2019. Foreign selling, however, increased to P128.65 billion from P14.26 billion last year.

“This year is truly unprecedented for the stock market with the circuit breaker triggered three times and with the PSEi recording its steepest intraday drop in PSE history. The main index may have failed to return to pre-pandemic levels but it’s good to see that it managed to stay above the 7,100 level,” said Monzon.

The PSE index ended 2020 at 7,139.71, down 8.6 percent year-onyear. The index, however, climbed 54.4 percent from its lowest closing level in 2020 of 4,623.42 on March 19.

The all-share index also finished lower year-on-year, down by 8.1 percent.

Among the sector indices, only mining and oil closed in the green, up by 17.8 percent. The financials sector was down the most by 22.3 percent year-on-year.

PLDT AWARDS.

PLDT Inc. and wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. receive back-toback recognitions throughout 2020 from renowned international and local institutions and award-giving bodies. The group’s most recent citation came from the World Benchmarking Alliance, where PLDT ranked first in Asia and Emerging Markets and fourth out of the Top 100 Most Influential Technology Companies Worldwide in the group’s 2020 Digital Inclusion Benchmark.

Mike Toledo joins Metro Pacific as managing director MICHAEL Toledo is joining Metro Pacific Investments Corp. as managing director for government and public affairs.

A lawyer by profession, Toledo was the managing director of the MVP Group of Companies Media Bureau, chief operating officer of Silangan Mindanao Mining Company Inc., and senior vice-president for public and regulatory affairs of Philex Mining Corp.

MPIC is a leading infrastructure holdings company with operations in toll roads, water and electricity distribution, hospitals and rail networks.

Prior to his engagement with the MVP Group of Companies, Toledo was the president and chief executive of the Manila office of Weber Shandwick, one of the world’s largest and leading full-service public relations and advocacy firm with offices in every major business and government capital.

Toledo served as press secretary and presidential spokesperson during the administration of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada and was also the campaign spokesman and media bureau director of former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, who ran for president in 2010.

Toledo was a corporate, litigation, labor, intellectual property and criminal lawyer. He started his legal career at the Angara, Concepcion, Cruz, Regala and Abello law offices or ACCRA Law. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of the Philippines. He earned his Master of Laws in Public International Law at the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science through a scholarship grant (Chevening) from the British Government. He was accepted at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Boston in 1993.

THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, approved the grant of regulatory relief to branches of foreign banks that were established in the country prior to the effectivity of Republic Act 10641.

The relief exempts the banks from penalty until Dec. 31, 2021 if they breach the single borrower’s limit.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno, who is also the board chairman, said consistent with the other regulatory reliefs or initiatives earlier implemented by the BSP, the latest measure was expected to help boost lending in support of businesses and sectors, and pump prime the country’s economic growth and post-pandemic recovery.

“Additionally, this will diversify credit exposures, particularly in financing big ticket projects, that otherwise will be concentrated to domestic banks,” he said in a statement to reporters.

The regulatory relief was extended in view of the lapse of the transitory period for the SBL computation on Dec. 31, 2020 implementing R.A. No. 10641. Julito G. Rada

GCash books over P1t in transactions GCASH, the mobile wallet of Globe Telecom Inc., has recorded over P1 trillion in transactions earlier this year, a 254-percent growth year-on-year.

The service peaked to P7.5 billion in daily gross transaction value, and more than 6 million transactions a day.

Meanwhile, customer base ballooned to more than 33 million―a third of the Philippines population―from 20 million in 2019.

“The remarkable growth GCash experienced this year shows that Filipinos have embraced financial technology. People have realized that fintech isn’t just an option but a necessity, allowing them to fulfill their financial lifestyle conveniently,” GCash president and chief executive Martha Sazon said.

Sazon attributed the exponential growth of the mobile wallet firm to people’s readiness to shift to cashless. Consumers found fintech a necessity during the pandemic.

The growth is driven by an unprecedented surge in usage in GCash to GCash money transfers, bank transfers, online and offline cash-in services, and bills payments, all of which have become necessities during the pandemic. Darwin G. Amojelar

Sales of electricity co-ops improve 3% ELECTRIC cooperatives in the country recorded a three-percent increase in electricity sales during the third quarter year-on-year as some economic activities resumed, the National Electrification Administration said.

NEA’s Information Technology and Communication Services Department said in a report to NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong that the ECs sold 6,153 gigawatt-hours of electricity from July to September this year from 5,950 Gwh a year ago.

NEA ITCSD also reported that the figure was also three-percent higher than the 5,988 GWh of electricity sold by the electric co-ops in the second quarter this year.

NEA ITCSD manager Roderick Padua said the energy consumption level registered in the third quarter was “gearing towards the normal level prior to the coronavirus disease pandemic.”

Most businesses resumed full commercial operations in the third quarter as transportation became more available. Alena Mae S. Flores

Sports

Gilas Pilipinas Women eye French league cager Henson

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020

C1

By Peter Atencio UNITED States-born Filipino cager Mai-Loni Henson will be among three more aspirants who have expressed their intention to suit up for the Gilas Pilipinas national women’s basketball team.

The 23-year-old Henson, who was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, recently signed on to join the women’s team. She has played for Al Aplemont, a Division III Frenche league team based in Le Havre, France last April.

The 6’1” Henson was already with the French squad starting last August and she will be them for a season until April 2021.

Her stint with Gilas is being finalized after US-based Filipino coach Cris Gopez of a group called Fil-Am Select reached out to her.

“I’m hoping in the future that I can go over there and represent my country so that’s kind of in the works right now. That’s something I’m looking forward to. I know my mom is really excited,” said Henson.

Before she went to France to turn pro, Henson saw action for four years with the University of Washington Huskies.

In the final season of her stint in the Pacific Coast Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association first division, Henson averaged 6.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, ranking second in assists (2.4 apg) and third in steals ( 1.2 spg).

Henson also recorded her third career double-double with 15 points and a season-high 11 rebounds against Seattle U in November last year.

She managed to play five games, until the schedules began getting postponed and reset because of restrictions imposed to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in France.

“We play one game a week. I was only there for about five games until they postponed everything but there were some games we had to travel eight hours. There were also some games not too far,” added Henson.

Henson, the daughter of Eric and Jean Henson, who are based in Illinois, said her dad influenced her to play the game when she was six.

Her cousin Alex Cabagnot, is playing in the Philippine Basketball Association.

The Gilas women’s team is also reaching out to two other prospects, Kayla Padilla and Mia Yanogacio.

Recently, coach Patrick Gregorio got the commitment of Duke University freshman Vanessa de Jesus.

Kendrick Nunn (25) of the Miami Heat blocks a dunk by Jordan Nwora of the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. AFP

Bucks’ long-range shooting buries Heat; Clippers rebound L

OS ANGELES—The Milwaukee Bucks set an NBA record for three-pointers in a game, draining 29 from beyond the arc in a 144-97 blowout win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday.

The Heat, who stunned the top-seeded Bucks in the second round of the 2020 Eastern Conference playoffs en route to the NBA Finals, never got a look in, trailing by as many as 51 in a game Milwaukee led all the way.

Sam Merrill drilled the record-breaking 28th threepointer of the game, surpassing the 27 set by the Houston Rockets against the Phoenix Suns on April 7, 2019.

Jrue Holiday had six three-pointers on the way to 24 points. Khris Middleton, who led the Bucks with 25 points, made four of five from three-point range.

Starting guard Donte DiVincenzo’s 17 points includ-

ed five three-pointers, and Brook Lopez had three treys on the way to 14 points.

Two-time reigning Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo was the only Bucks starter not to make a three-pointer, coming up empty on two attempts in a nine-point performance.

His brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo drained one three-pointer for the family on the way to five points off the bench for the Bucks, who simply steamrolled a Heat team that was without injured forward Jimmy Butler.

“Honestly, (we) just played hard,” Holiday said. “We know the Heat way and how they’re going to come out and play no matter who’s playing.

“So we just wanted to take that approach.”

It was a bounce-back win for the Bucks, who were blown out 130-110 by the Knicks in New York on Sunday.

“Last game in New York, we didn’t show what we wanted to show,” Holiday said.

They left no doubt in this one, leading by as many as 24 points on the way to a 46-26 first-quarter lead

and never let up.

“Some nights, the basketball golds are with you a little bit, and it was probably one of those nights for us,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said.

“But I liked our defense, too. I think the energy on both ends of the court feeds and builds on each other and good things will happen.”

The Bucks’ previous record for three-pointers in a game was 22, against the Sacramento Kings on November 4, 2018.

The most the Heat had given up before was 24.

“It looked like they had been thinking about this game for 80 days,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, whose team will get a chance to avenge the embarrassing defeat when they host the Bucks again on Wednesday.

The Los Angeles Clippers also rebounded from a big defeat.

Two days after a 124-73 loss to the Dallas Mavericks the Clippers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-101.

Lou Williams scored 20 points off the bench to lead seven Clippers players who scored in double figures. AFP

UE coach: Like Casio, Pascual has star quality JACK Santiago, a cerebral guard during his playing days, but became more successful as a member of La Salle’s coaching staff, headed by Franz Pumaren several years ago, watched JVee Casio rise to stardom when the latter was still playing for the Green Archers and became a part of the 2007 UAAP champion team.

Casio was then a star player from San Beda high school, but the Green Archers had to gradually immerse his talent and mold him to become a leader at the latter stretch of his collegiate career.

True enough, Casio has become one of the most dependable guards in the PBA today.

“Si JVee Casio, nu’ng kinuha namin ‘yan for La Salle noon, star player talaga siya ng team, but we have to integrate his talent to our system and slowly lang

‘yung ginawa namin sa kanya while he was still adjusting to the college style of play,” said Santiago, the newly-appointed coach of the University of the East Red Warriors. “But he became a star and turned out to be one of the leaders of the team when we won the championship in 2007.”

Casio continued to embrace that leadership role with the Alaska Aces and is now one of the acknowledged elder statesmen of the team.

Santiago is envisioning a similar mindset on his new recruit, Migs Pascual, the graduating student and team captain of the San Beda high school basketball team.

Pascual had already committed to play for Santiago’s UE team and similar to Casio before, the coach sees this young player to become an integral part once he joins the Red Warriors when the new season of the

UAAP starts two years from now.

“Based naman sa nakita ko sa kanya, sa San Beda, impressive naman siya,” said Santiago. “But of course, ganu’n rin gagawin natin. Dadahan-dahanin lang natin siya, especially during his rookie season with the team.”

A point guard just like Casio, Pascual was a member of last year’s San Beda high school champion team. He was also a former co-captain of the Batang Gilas squad several years ago.

As the COVID-19 pandemic forced a stoppage on most of the major basketball events in the country, Pascual was reduced to doing skills workouts and spent the General Community Quarantine period training under some of the finest coaches—BA great Allan Caidic with his shooting and ex-pro Rob Labagala with his ball handling and defensive skills.

Roger, Rafa re-elected to ATP players’ tennis council

Migs Pascual: Star in the making

Singapore to host ML Bang Bang M2 World Championship DECEMBER—MOONTON Technology Co. Ltd. is pleased to announce various promotional activities to celebrate the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M2 World Championship, taking place in Singapore from 18th to 24th January 2021.

Organised by MOONTON in collaboration with Singapore’s Cybersports and Online Gaming Association and supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, M2 will be the first global offline esports event to be held in Southeast Asia in 2021 as top esports teams from around the world will be converging in the safe confines of Shangri-La Hotel Singapore to battle for a prize pool of $300,000 behind closed doors.

Besides battling for a prize pool of $300,000, the winning team will walk away with $140,000/- in cash and will also receive its very own skin integrated with the team’s branding on a hero of choice.

MOONTON is also pleased to announce that top esports teams hailing from as far as Japan, Brazil, and Russia will be flying to Singapore to compete in this highly anticipated esports tournament.

The teams who have been invited to Singapore are as follows: Indonesia - RRQ, ALTER EGO ESPORTS; Philippines - BREN ESPORTS, OMEGA ESPORTS; Malaysia - TODAK; Singapore - RSG, EVOS SG; Myanmar - BURMESE GHOULS; Japan - 10S GAMING FROST; Cambodia - IMPUNITY KH; Russia - UNIQUE DEVU; and Brazil - DREAMMAX As one of the most popular esports titles in Southeast Asia and in international markets including Japan, Brazil and Russia, MLBB recently reached one billion downloads

day to its roots in Southeast Asia and MOONTON is very pleased to bring this great news to gamers everywhere with much thanks to the support of the Singapore government and our industry partners. This will be our most exciting event ever as our top players embark on this epic journey to battle it out in Singapore”, says Justin Yuan, co-founder and Chief Executive of MOONTON. “The team at SCOGA and myself are very humbled to be working with the wonderful team at MOONTON along with local government agencies and industry partners.

Hosting one of the world’s biggest events right here in Singapore not only gives hope to so many esports fans in a time of unprecedented disruption, it also provides many opportunities to Singaporeans and encouragement to pursue their dreams and aspirations”, according to Nicholas Khoo, co-founder of SCOGA and esports veteran.

One of Southeast Asia’s most popular esports titles, “The growth of esports continues to accelerate, espeMobile Legends: Bang Bang M2 World Championship will cially in such uncertain times. We are heartened to welbe holding its biggest tournament in Singapore in Janucome a global title like Mobile Legends, as we safely and ary 2021, with a slew of promotional activities lined up, gradually resume events in Singapore. MOONTON’s conorganized by game developer MOONTON supported by fidence in hosting the M2 World Championship in SingaSingapore Tourism Board pore is a testament to our reputation as a safe and trusted on iOS and Android mobile phones in November this year. destination and we will continue to step up the necessary In November, MOONTON also announced that 9.77 bil- precautionary measures to ensure the safety and well-belion matches have been played and 9.8 million players have ing of all visitors. With the hosting of the M2 World Chamreached the top rank of Mythic. The growth of the game pionship, we look forward to connect with fans virtually has been exponential in the past year and M2 World Cham- and hope to welcome esports enthusiasts around the world pionship is expected to reach 400 million views through for future international esports tournaments and events”, said Jean Ng, Executive Director, Attractions, Entertainvarious broadcast channels.

“Mobile Legends traces much of its global success to- ment & Tourism Concept Development

PARIS—Tennis legends Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, ranked second and fifth in the world respectively, have been re-elected to the ATP players’ council, whose term runs until June 2022.

The council, as voted by ATP player members, also saw the re-election of Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, Australian John Millman, South African Kevin Anderson, Briton Andy Murray and Brazilian Bruno Soares.

In addition, France’s Gilles Simon returns to the council having served previous terms, while newcomers Pablo Andujar of Spain and New Zealander Marcus Daniell will serve their first term.

Briton Colin Dowdeswell and Venezuela’s Daniel Vallverdu were elected as representatives of retired players and coaches respectively.

The council’s president and vicepresident will be elected at its first meeting in 2021.

It was presided over until last year by world number one Novak Djokovic.

But the Serb broke away in August to establish a new players’ association which he said would include women and was intended to bring players together to give them a louder voice in decisionmaking.

Federer and Nadal both spoke out against the proposal when it was announced, calling for “unity, not separation”.

The coronavirus pandemic continues to reshape the men’s tennis calendar with Indian Wells absent from the schedule for the eight weeks following the Australian Open, released by the ATP on Tuesday.

Indian Wells in California is traditionally the first Masters event of the year on the men’s tour and runs alongside a women’s tournament.

The ATP said that “due to the impact of COVID-19” it would not be held on “its customary dates in March.”

C2 C2

Sports Sports

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

Extravagant Heavyweight party dents champ Joshua Neymar’ s helps gyms image improved

Shiffrin lets Messi passes World Cup leadPele slipasas topprevails scorer Gisin

using own money

MADRID—Lionel Messi beat Pele’s record of goals for a single SEMMERING—American Miclub Shiffrin when he failed scored to hiscapitalise 644th for kaela in a 3-0 victory against onBarcelona her first-run lead in the World Valladolid on Tuesday.

CupThe slalom at Semmering on TuesArgentina forward scored day, finishing thirdwhen afterhea collected floodlit Barca’s third goal second Pedri’srun. backheel and struck the ball Swiss rival Jordi Michelle past goalkeeper Masip Gisin in the grabbed a surprise victory with a 65th minute. combined of 1min “When time I started playing42.05sec football asI Austrian Katharina Liensberger never thought I would break any came second 0.11sec records.

Andateven less and the Shifone I frin slippedtoday,” to third, 0.57sec achieved Messi postedoff on theInstagram pace. shortly after the game.

Petra Vlhova but “I can onlyfinished thank fourth all those retained the overall Cupyears, lead. who helped me World over the Vlhova and Shiffrin won the my teammates, myhad family, my past 28 World Cup slalom befriends and all those whoraces support tween them. day.” me every “IMessi have had stopped a series of Saturwins equalled Pele on from two giants, my first day in a 2-2 drawand withit’s Valencia. world eightat years, TheCup two win men in scored almost so an rate for theirsaid clubs.

I equal feel amazing,” all-rounder It was the 33-year-old Argentine’s Gisin.

749th competitive match Barca, The victory marks the for 27-yearmeaning has scored old Gisin’shefirst Worlda goal Cup every win 1.16 but shegames. did win the 2018 combined The Brazilian scored 643 goals in Olympic gold in terrible conditions matches with Santos, where he in757 South Korea. played between 1956 and 1974, or Shiffrin, a three-time overall one every 1.17 matches.

World Cup winner, is seeking a 68th “Like you,victory I knowwhich what it’s like World Cup would to love wearing the same shirt every move her ahead of Austria’s Marcel day. Like you,stand-alone I know thatthird thereonis Hirscher into nothing better than the place we feel the all-time winners’ list. at home,” Pele wrote to Messi InShiffrin has had a difficult on 2020 stagram after tied the was marked by the theArgentine sudden death of record. her father in February and she finyour slahisishes“Congratulations the year without on a single toric record, Lionel. But above all, lom win. congratulations on your beautiful The 25-year-old is still behind career at Barcelona. Stories like compatriot Lindseythe Vonn’s World ours, of loving same82club for Cup wins and Swede Ingemar Stenso long, unfortunately will be inmark, who racked victories. creasingly rare up in 86 football.

I adShiffrin 51.09 seconds in mire you timed very much.” the Semmering first runBallon to leadd’Or by Messi, a six-time just 0.02sec AFP winner, is ahead by far of theGisin. highest scorer in Barca history (Cesar Rodriguez is next on 230 goals), the highest scorer in the history of the Spanish league championship (451 goals, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s 311), and the player who has won the most trophies with the Catalan club (34, including four Champions Leagues).

“I see Messi happy. He is working hard, and he is a very important part of our attacking game,” said Koeman after the win.

Pele claims to have scored more than a thousand goals, counting all the matches Michelle Gisin he played, official and unofficial. AFP

In this file photo taken on December 13, 2020 Arsenal mascot Gunnersaurus watches from the sidelines as the players warm up ahead of the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Burnley at the Emirates Stadium in London. The world football bubble seems to have burst under the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic. With several billion euros in shortfall for clubs and worrying Tokyo 2020 Games CEO Toshiro Mutothe (right) is pictured on aclubs videohad camera display he speaks during athey presscould. conference prospects forOlympic 2021. With no cash flow during spring lockdown, to plan theiras spending wherever AFP following a Tokyo 2020 Olympics Executive Board meeting in Tokyo. AFP

18 virusnames cases new cast doubt Tokyo director on s future forPremier OlympicLeague’ ceremonies L T ONDON—The PremierofLeague confirmed on Tuesday that OKYO—Organizers the coronavirus-postponed 18 players andOlympics staff have said testedWednesday positive forthey coronavirus, Tokyo 2020 have plunging the continuation of the season amid mass spike picked a new creative director to redesigna“simpler in infection rates acrossopening England and into closing doubt. ceremonies for and more restrained” next That year’s figure is Games. the highest since weekly recorded a number of positive coronavirus

testing began, surpassing the previous high of mammoth 16 recordedtask for November The will fall to 9-15. adverManchester City’s clash Evertonwho was tising executive Hiroshi atSasaki, postponed on Monday after an outbreak helped produce the ceremony handing of multiple positivefrom casesRio at City. over the Games to Tokyo— “The Premier League can today confamously featuring then-Prime Minister firm thatAbe between Monday 21 December Shinzo as a character from the Suand Sundayvideo 27 December, 1,479 players per Mario game. andOrganizers club staff were tested for Covid-19. said the decision to re“Of there were 18 new positive placethese, a previous seven-person cretests,” league saidimprove in a statement. ative the team would efficiency said they have recordasSheffield reshape United the traditionally lavish and ed a number ofceremonies positive tests, but“in theirtune trip spectacular to be to Burnley later on Tuesday and the other with the situation.” ceremonies willthis still be a six“The Premier League games midweek great to be enjoyed by are stillcelebration set to go ahead. the athletes and world but Southampton willwatching be without manager will likely take aforsimpler andof more Ralph Hassenhuttl the visit West restrained approach designed to reHam as a member of his household has flect positive. the overall simplification of the tested Games and United the potential need the to still “Sheffield can confirm club consider COVID-19 countermea-

Brandon Vera

THE BOTTOM LINE LITO CINCO THE local world of sports has been down I AM I guess that my since the lucky COVID-19 pandemic hit column us and this weeka falls on Christmas eve, bydate mid-March, general lockdown was giving me a chance to share my perfirst experienced by Filipinos. sonal on what this to season Therethoughts were no sports events watchhas or become for me. cover and that is why I grabbed the opporSo for this piece, allow me not to dwell tunity before the year ended and accepted on sports, but rather talk on how people the invitation from the Philippine Sports can look at Christmas. When I was a kid, Tourism Association, headed by Charles I would eagerly look forward to this seaLim its awarding son to forcover the gifts and someceremonies cash I exlast December 10 at the the more, Marriott pected to receive, theHotel better.in Clark, Pampanga, but I chose to write this But for so many years now, the meaning of asChristmas my yearender piece. completely for me. has changed finally, for thethat firstthis time in nine IAnd haveso come to realize is the time months, with ainface and to shareequipped one’s blessings life,mask instead of face shield, I drove all theboxing way toasthe venhow I would describe a giveue.and-take It was worth affair. the effort, after all, as I also Itgot theinopportunity to stay was the early 1990s whenovernight I first set at the Marriott with a much anticipated

tests after the latest round of testing,” the Blades said in a statement. sures,” organizers said in a statement.

“The individuals Sasaki replaces who a have team tested led posiby tive haveNomura, now entered into aofperiod Mansai a master tradi-of self-isolation accordance with Premier tional Kyogenincomic theatre who had League and Government guidelines.” pledged to produce ceremonies “rich A record 53,135 in Japanese spirit.”coronavirus cases were reported the UK onthe Tuesday.

Sasaki indesigned stripped-back Further down the English football pyraevent organizers held in July to mark mid,new postponements are the mounting with the year-to-go until postponed seven of the 12 games scheduled for TuesGames. day in saw League One called off due CoThat Japanese swimmer andtoleuvid-19 infections. kaemia survivor Rikako Ikee appear in Rochdale are of thestadium League One clubs a darkened andone empty clutching the and Olympic flame in described a lantern, affected their club doctor the which organisers was continuation of thesaid season in reflective the currentof clithe principles that would guide the redemate as “not the wisest thing.” signed ceremonies.

Dr Wes Tensel told the BBC: “In the “It is ofappropriate make ceremomiddle a pandemictoand the spread and nial events and simpler all that’s going on programmes - the numbers are rising and themthat in we’ve some way reflect - andhave the fact got these tierand four respect the world’s experience of the

places where people can’t travel but footCOVID-19 pandemic,” they said. ballers can go in and out and take things Speaking to reporters, Sasaki said he back to their family, I think it’s probably still remembered watching as a child notopening the wisestceremony thing at the the formoment.” the 1964 The Premier League havehosted so far Olympics, the first time Tokyo insisted the protocols put in place the Summer Games, and had enjoyedare still stringent enough to prevent anoththe traditionally lavish events opening er shutdown like the three-month stopand closing the sporting event. page March June earlier “But between now these flashyand extravagant this year. are considered as too ceremonies “The much and Premier we must League think ofcontinues this time to full confidence its protocols ashave an opportunity to inchange due toand rules, and the way in which all COVID-19, or rather thanks toclubs CO-are implementing them,” the league said in a VID-19,” he said. statement on Monday.

He conceded that he has not made However, Theyet Telegraph much progress on the reported directionthat have begun but oversaid a two-week ofdiscussions the new ceremonies, they shutdown to bring the infection would emphasize themerates of down. the Cityserving had as already announced Games the “light at the end on had been four ofChristmas the tunnel”Day after there the pandemic.

Organizers areatpressing with positive tests the clubahead for players preparations forand theGabriel postponed Games, Kyle Walker Jesus and two announcing a new budget, event staff members prior to thetest latest posischedule andon coronavirus tive cases Monday. countermeasuresThe in recent club’s weeks. training ground has been But public in Japan remains closed for opinion an “indeterminate period” opposed to holding theonevent nextand year, with further testing players staff with a majority favoring further AFP deto take place before it cana reopen. lay or outright cancellation. AFP

Morantbrand to miss 3-5 weeks Vera is Holcim ambassador with sprained left ankle

BUILDING solutions provider Holcim Philip- some of the sport’s biggest names in his nearly pines, Inc. has partnered with mixed martial 20-year career. arts organization ONE Championship heavy“We are excited to work with ONE Championweight world champion, Brandon “The Truth” ship and Brandon. Aside from tapping into their LOS ANGELES—Reigning NBAfan zlies in aaligns statement.

Vera, for a campaign to highlight the company’s growing base said which with our own Rookie of the Year Ja Morant is expectMorant was clearly this in pain as he strong legacy of excellence in helping partners customers, we decided to continue partnered to miss three to five weeks with a hopped off the court, falling to the floor build important structures in the country. ship due to shared values with them. Our Holsprained left ankle, the Memphis Griz- just beyond the baseline. He was taken Called “Built to Excel,” the campaign will cim Excel brand is set to reach its 20th year in zlies said Tuesday. to the locker room in a wheelchair. feature Vera highlighting the similarities of his 2021. During this period, billions of bags of this The young Grizzlies star was hurt He later returned to sit courtside path to being a champion with Holcim Philip- product have been used by our partners to build minutes before halftime of a win over with a protective boot on his injured pines’ journey in establishing itselfNets, as the lead-he rose important all over the country.

It’s a the Brooklyn when to try structures ankle, enthusiastically encouraging ing building solutionstoprovider in the country. testament to the trust it has built in delivering block a shot by Nets forward Timo- teammates as they pulled off a 116-111 The campaign will highlight Holcim Excel, and the came excellent Weover believe that Branthe Luwawu-Cabarrot down performance. overtime win the Nets. company’s flagship on general purpose cement Holcim Excel means to ourtest Luwawu-Cabarrot’s foot. don embodies what “A moment like that can really brand which is set to celebrate its 20th year in partners and thrilled to have him for this “Further imaging revealed a Grad 2 you,” Grizzlies coach Taylor camJenkins 2021. Holcim will primarily use social for paign,” said said Holcim President and ankle sprain, withmedia an expected recovery of thePhilippines moment Morant went down. the campaign and produce its weeks,” trade CEO John Stull.The 21-year-old Morant, who had time materials of three tofor five the Grizpartners nationwide.

For his part, Vera said: thanks to Holaveraged 36 “Many points in the team’s first Vera won the inaugural ONE Heavyweight cim for trusting me to be the face of their two games of the season, brand. sounded World Championship Ja in Morant December 2015 has I am honoured to have chosen by a compositive on been Twitter on Tuesday, post(center) of and the Memphis Grizheld the title ever since.

One of on theduring first successpany who in its industry forsmiling products ing a picture of himself durzlies looks the game against the is known ful Filipino-Americans to make a breakthrough outingfora game their captioned: excellent performance, Brooklyn Nets on December 28, that 2020stand at “i know God is in mixed martial arts, Barclays Vera hasCenter competed againstAFPstrength, and working, durability.” in Brooklyn. so i smile”. AFP

foot inbreakfast mystical at Mt.theBanahaw in Quezon buffet hotel’s coffee shop Cityfollowing for a realmorning. management team-building the conducted by my16good friend and psychic There were different categories, Frank Regis.

I was withpicked Victoriadifferent Court where the organizers then as VP of Operations, andvery it was a real winners, with some of them familiar eyeand mind-opening experience for me. names and places like Clark as the DestiSince thatYear time,and I have nation of the Subicbeen as topreturning Marketto the place withOfmycourse, family,the friends, and ing Destination.

2019 SEA other people to by share thewinners, same experience, Games, hosted both was a big more so at the turn of the century I factor and these two places will when always retired from full time work, have the edge in terms of sports facilities.

I started similar team building, Fact is, thedoing New Clark City, with its newleadership and values formation workly built world-class track and field stadium shops there. and the swimming venue used for the SEA Truth is, I have done sports teamGames, awardee asbasketball Venue of buildingwas foranother the women’s the Year. teams of the University of the East, CenwereUniversity, also individuals like Manny troThere Escolar and last year, the Pangilinan, chosen as Sports Personality Foton volleyball team, described by Dinof Year (Private Sector), by dintheSantiago-Manabat as represented the best one Sonny from the Samahang Basketshe hasBarrios experienced. bolSeventeen ng Pilipinas;years and Dumaguete Citya Mayor ago, I started small Felipe Remollo, picked as to theindigent Sports PersonChristmas gift-giving kids ality of the Year (Government Sector). MVP

A Christmas live event time for me, for finally me

there in Barangay Lucia, with just was named patron ofSta. sports, while Remollo, 30 kids.

The number has grownwho to a hunwas chosen as an organizer, hosted dred as anational lot of people I had brought various and international eventstoin Banahaw extended a helping hand.

Dumaguete, which he is branding as aThis firstwas waydestination. of giving back to the place classmy sports thatAnd had Ichanged believe my himlife. as I have covered a There was a time Sufew events likeeven triathlon andPilipinas the Unigames perliga import and Foton player Katie in the past in his beautiful city, having met Messing me there, Remollojoined from way back.bringing her own gifts for kids.

Being tall,atpretty, and Truth is, I sharedwhite, a table the event, friendly, she was a big hit with the kids. graced personally or through virtual messagwith the corona panes,Unfortunately, with some old friends from the Triathlon demic and all of its travel restrictions, Association of the Philippines, led by SecI was forced to forego for the first time retary General Mon Marchan, representing this annual Christmas event, a big disapTRAP president Carrasco, oldnot and pointment for meTom definitely, but itanhas older friend of mine, and coach Melvin Fausstopped me from continuing with other to. I still have the trophy for the best National gift-giving activities.

Sports Association category won bymany TRAP You see every year for the past as Mon only used a motorbike going to Clark years, every December, together with and could not load the trophy on his bike. former students from the Young Journalfamiliar awardee was Ironman istsAnother Association (YJAM), who I brought organizer Sunrise asmake Sports to Banahaw, too, we theOrganizer rounds ofof the Year in the private sector. Its president

RIO DE JANEIRO—Rumours of a giant year-end party organised by Neymar in Brazil in the midst of the LONDON—Britain’s world heavypandemic have revived his image as weight champion Anthony Joshua an eternal spoiled child. has made a substantial donation to The Paris Saint-Germain striker’s boxing gyms as the 2012 Olympic entourage vigorously denies reports gold medallist media, fears many go of in Brazilian but themay silence outthe of player, business due to active the coronanormally on social virus pandemic. media, speaks for itself.

Numerous have been When amateur a younggyms woman filed a forced to shut temporarily thelast complaint against himthrough for rape lockdown Joshua year—aand case that is wasconcerned eventually thatdropped—the many amateur boxers will have to Brazilian football hang their if some were tointistarupdid notgloves hesitate to reveal close permanently. mate exchanges of messages with Joshua is the latest high-profile his accuser.

This time, he to is voice keeping boxing personality his quiet. fears So too are that his main following of hissponsors promoterPuma, Eddiewho wrenched Neymar away fromfor-Nike Hearn and Northern Ireland’s September.world Contacted

by AFP, merintwo-weight champion Carl the German sports-goods manufacturer Frampton. refused to comment.

Joshua—who retained his world The refusal to deny the stoppage party is taktitle belts with a ninth-round place has brought a reaction of ing Kubrat Pulev earlier this month—from hasBrazilian made hismedia. donation to clubs via the would be much simpler if Neythree“It home nations federations. mar wenthelped on social networks “Boxing shape me, and bothsaid he had nothing to do with it.

LeBron physically and mentally,” said Joshua.

James, Lewis Hamilton, Lionel Mes“It is no secret that without boxsi or Cristiano Ronaldo don’t throw ing and the family created around my any parties,” said Galvao Bueno of amateur gym, my could evening. have been TV Globo, on life Monday very different.

Juca Kfouri, another veteran sports “The sport has me aspeaking lot and of journalist, wentgiven further, I want to helpirresponsibility” highlight the issues “criminal in aaf-podfecting grass roots clubs and do cast from the UOL website. what I can“Not to keep theislights for those only there on nothing in his most in need. head, but he is irresponsible, this “I not using as an opporis am a very bad this example for Bratunity criticise government for itsthat zil,”to said Kfouri, recalling lack funding towards boxing— theof 28-year-old striker has ofthese unprecedented ten are appeared alongsidetimes— far-right however I would like to usewho my has President Jair Bolsonaro, repeatedly downplayed the imporplatform to respectfully ask them to tancetheir of the virus. rethink stance.

Brazilian media we has will filledlose in the “Without support silence with the potentially supposed party. community hubsofand the reportedly plans a stars Neymar of tomorrow.” seven-day, non-stop rave forto500 The funding will be distributed guests, has bought disused clubs via England Boxing,a Welsh Box-hanhide VIP helicopters and priinggar andtoBoxing Scotland. vate jets.

Kevin Bell, chairman of Boxing ‘He has not committed a crime’ Scotland, praised Joshua for not forAfter a series of seasons marred getting his roots. by isinjuries, failures incredit big matches “It to Anthony’s great that and complaints about his diving he recognises the impact of Covid-19 when tackled, Neymar helped Paron amateur boxing, from loss of trainis Saint-Germain reach their first ingChampions among boxers to the inability to League final. host His showsimage that sustain clubs finan- lift received another cially,” whensaid he Bell. and Kylian Mbappe led the “It is also the hallmark of a true Paris Saint-Germain players off the world and Olympic champion he a field after a match officialthat aimed hasracist proactively to help amaremark sought at a coach of opposing teurBasaksehir boxing—which he acknowlthree weeks ago during a edges played a significant role in his Champions League match. career—during ongoing period but “His imagethiswas improving, of uncertainty.”

AFP damaged again, has been severely even though 2020 was one of his best years,” sports marketing consultant Erich Beting told AFP. Beting does not think the striker will lose sponsors.

“Often the language in contracts are quite rigid. Even if Neymar’s attitude may be morally reprehensible, he has not committed a crime,” Beting said.

State law in Rio de Janeiro does not prohibit parties in private residences.

The city council of Mangaratiba, the seaside resort where Neymar owns a villa he uses for parties, said a statement that it “did not have the power” to intervene.

“The problem with Neymar, who is used to throwing parties for his birthdays, is that he is sending back this idea of a guy who is out of touch,” Jerome Neveu, founding president of Advent, a French consultancy firm specialising in ‘celebrity marketing’, told AFP in Paris. AFP Anthony Joshua

the Makati Manila, dis-Uy-rounds of the streets along the South Resorts World Manila. is streets Alaska in PBA team and owner Wilfred tributing Christmas family packs and SuperThe Highway andheld Roxas Blvd. to PBA, which a bubble conference tengsu, who was represented

by Princess toys to street dwellers A few out more family packsfrom recently in Clark, sentChristmas a video message Galura.

It was only fairand thatkids. the 2019 Iron-give years I Cebu also that included themore MistoysCommissioner to kids.

Willie Marcial, same man ago, 70.3 in attracted thanandPBA sionaries of thefrom Poor,17a different shelter for spePlease not thinkofI Tourism, wrote this to dewith thedoDepartment where 2,200 entries countries cial kids and abandoned seniors. brag about what we do.

I did this hoping was selected as the International Event of partment secretary Bernadette Puyat cited Last December people could joinfastest me. This is also sports tourism as the growing tourism the Year awardee.13, together with our more newly started sports vlog The SWAB to acknowledge the many kind-hearted The Domestic Event of the Year was the segment in the country.

(Sports World And Beyond) team Norte. and individuals who have awarding been helping out4th in ediAfter the formal of the Tin Man multi-sports event in Ilocos UE coach Ai Lebornio, we turned over a the past, including ex-PBA players Mike Media Coverage of the Year award went tion of this event, I had a short chat with lottoofPTV basic4,goods to of thethe shelter, Gaston, Estong PSTA Fritz founder Charles and Ballestehe talked of Airline Year plus was gifts baggedAdvani, forbythe residents.

Jeanyear’s Henrievent Lhuillier and foundawhich of his course will not Philippine Airlines, while another Clarkros,next Then a week later, we were at the NAG tion, Alex Wang, Ai Lebornio, Michael place, The Mansion Boutique Hotel was cover 2020, but 2021, and I wished him center in Addition Hills in Mandaluy- Yulo, Dilip Budhrani and Shan BomHotel of the Year. Coca-Cola Beverages luck in this project. ong, turning over family packs to home- miah, Nisha from SupportOne Mana few days left for the year, allow me Phils. went home with the Event Sponsorless people, who were given temporary powerWith Services, my batchmates from to greet oneSchool, and all,Batch particularly those who ship of the Year trophy. shelter by the city government. The re- Paco Catholic ‘72, YJAM, follow piece regularly, samebrods, with our The last twoand awards for the over Adven-Atty. maining packs toyswere we turned Robthis Avenida and his frat sports vlog, The SWAB (Sports World And ture Event of the Year, won by Tour de Cebu to a DSWD facility for abused kids, also and many others.

Beyond) a happy and hopeful new year. with its vintage car race.

Next year, its orgain Mandaluyong. Proud to say my son Their continued support has enabled by year the after way, year. our Thanks first vlog nizers to go beyond theEunice, Visayas.were me toAnd JM and plan his family, Joy and do this to for 2021will be on volleyball superstar, pretty The Charity Award went to Run with me there. you people.

DindinChristmas.

Manabat, hubby Chico, and baby With Mex, a charity fivethedif- Merry On December 30, we run will for make ferent beneficiaries and sponsored by daughter Chloey. Watch it on You Tube.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020

RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR

with ‘Kapuso Countdown to 2021’

D

ESPITE a challenging and rough 2020, the festivities continue with Kapuso Countdown to 2021, GMA Network’s grand celebration to welcome the New Year.

The biggest and brightest Kapuso stars banner an evening that takes a look back at the tough year that 2020 was, and welcomes a brand-new year with a unified purpose–to celebrate life, to give thanks, and to spread hope by continuing the tradition of excellence in providing worldclass news and entertainment.

To commemorate GMA Network’s 70th anniversary this year, the show begins with a nostalgic look at the milestones of the station.

Main host Alden Richards brings

to the stage heartwarming songs about the significance of sharing the joys of the season. In collaboration with GMA Regional TV, he is joined by top local performers from various regions across the country.

All set to lead exciting musical numbers are Lani Misalucha, Julie Anne San Jose, and Christian Bautista.

To amp up the fun, stars Ken Chan, Rayver Cruz, Kyline Alcantara, Gabbi Garcia, Khalil Ramos, Mark Herras, and Rochelle Pangilinan will also take part in the grand celebration.

Viewers should look forward to performances by Hannah Precillas, The Clash grand champions Golden Cañedo, Jeremiah Tiangco, and Jessica Villarubin, The Clash alumnus Garrett Bolden, together with StarStruck graduates Shayne Sava, Lexi Gonzales, and Kim De Leon.

Other special guests including Janine Teñoso, GForce, DJ Loonyo, and Mannex Manhattan are also set to spice up the show.

‘Quaranegosyo’ launched for budding entrepreneurs

Millenial Darna wears Signarama's personalized face shield. (Inset) Signarama's president Wesley Que.

SIGNS are what business owners need to communicate messages and silently seed their brands in potential customers' minds.

Simply put, these are important in marketing strategy and the need has been recognized more than two decades ago

by Willie Que, Signarama Philippines president Wesley Que's father.

Signarama is the largest sign franchise in the world with over 800 locations in 64 countries.

"When Signarama came to one of the franchise shows, we decided it would be the perfect opportunity to boost our brand," Wesley expressed pride in partnering with the international brand representing 80 percent of the global franchised sign business.

"We decided to take the Master Franchise License for the whole Philippines and believe that this would take us to that next level of growth," he added noting that the company has been around and operating for more than 34 years.

Wesley worked as general manager in the family's Signarama franchise when it started in 2014 and took on the role of president in 2018.

"In order to serve our customers better, be true to our vision of helping businesses grow, and reach more of those we haven't reached before, we have decided to create subbrands under the main one," Wesley announced the changes applied to their family business.

Signarama Philippines now has three

NOW that this year is just hours left, most of us must still be hoping that there’ll be a universal reset and things would turn out differently the past 12 months.

Partly for the same reason, I am currently drawn to a Netflix series concluded two years ago, called Timeless. This American-made science fiction series features a time-traveling team trying to stop a mysterious organization from ruining history. In Season 2, episode 6 titled “King of the Delta Blues,” one of the characters led the group to November 1936, or on the day singing blues guitarist Robert Johnson was to record songs that in essence would pave the way to popular music produced in later decades.

In the fictional tale, villains were trying to kill Johnson before he could record

while the protagonists purposely traveled back to protect him. The lead character, played by actress Abigail Spencer, knew that “killing rock n roll at its source” would mean “killing the counterculture as we know it.”

In real life, the great blues musician, who legend claimed sold his soul to the devil to become a master guitarist, died aged 27 in 1938. Or before most members of the infamous 27 Club were even born. He only participated in two recording sessions that yielded 29 songs. Quite productive considering how his music impacted the decades especially after World War II. Oh, if some bad people can resort to time-traveling to shake up history to their favor, so do the well-meaning real people of 2020 who would get on board a time machine any given opportunity to go back and fix the world’s currently broken heart. How we all wish someone could at least

Hosted by Alden Richards, 'Kapuso Countdown to 2021' aims to bring to the stage heartwarming songs about the significance of sharing the joys of the season.

An uplifting performance from Julie Anne of “Written in the Sand”—a song composed by Maestro Danny Tan and Agnes Caballa for GMA’s participation in the 1999 Millennium Day Broadcast, which also marks the beginning of GMA’s tradition of welcoming the new year—leads to the countdown proper as the network and its artists welcome 2021 with high hopes and cheerful spirits.

In the spirit of family and togetherness, heartfelt messages from GMA Pinoy TV viewers will also be showcased as part of the show’s global celebration with Filipinos across the nation and all over the world.

Come midnight, a bright and magical drone show lights up the sky to officially welcome 2021. And as an added treat to the viewers, GMA Network will share a sneak peek at its exciting program offerings for the coming year.

Kapuso Countdown to 2021 airs tonight from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on GMA-7 and GMA Pinoy TV. It will also be livestreamed on GMANetwork.com.

categories—Signarama Corporate, Signarama Home Business, and Signarama Personalized.

As the brand provides top-quality, worry-free, and comprehensive sign solutions to customers, the target market's range has grown from contractors to interior designers.

The products have also diversified from building ID, graphics, displays, signage repairs, video shoot props to neon signs, canvas prints, and face shields.

During this pandemic, personalized face shields and pouches are endorsed by local celebrities like Maine Mendoza, Alex Gonzaga, Jane De Leon, Moira dela Torre, Markki Stroem, Gretchen Ho, Jennylyn Mercado, and more.

As Signarama Philippines thrives in its business category, it attempts to live up to its commitment to service by giving back to fellow business owners.

Wesley announced the Quaranegosyo program (in partnership with The Narrative) specifically aimed at people who have been laid off during the pandemic, those whose businesses have slowed down or stopped, and others who have started a business during this season.

Quaranegosyo is Signarama Philippines' simple way of giving hope to and rewarding the hard work of a deserving kababayan.

Here are the promo details.

Interested participants must have: • Started own business during the pandemic (Validity begins April 2020) • Experienced one of the following • Retrenchment / job loss • Reduced work schedule • Closing down of business How to join: • Submit a testimonial video (maximum of 3 minutes) with the following elements • Previous occupation / business • How it was affected by the pandemic • How it affected you and your family • Why you chose to start your business • How the business was conceptualized • Current state of business Prizes at stake: Php100,000 worth of cash and signages • Php70,000 in business signage package • Php30,000 in cash Entries must be sent to quaranegosyo@ signarama.com.ph.

The deadline for submissions is on Jan. 31.

Gabay Guro ends year with star-studded benefit show

THE destruction to life and property brought about by recent super typhoon Rolly and succeeding typhoon Ulysses in the last quarter of the year that ravaged the Bicol and Cagayan Valley regions and other places in the country prompted the big-hearted Gabay Guro prime movers of the PLDT-Smart Foundation to organize a fundraiser and extend help to affected teachers, students, and schools.

Gabay Guro Chairman Chaye CabalRevilla leads the organization as it ends the challenging year of 2020 by mounting a starstudded online musical concert billed Himig Ng Pasko at Pag-asa, a New Year’s benefit concert for typhoon victims, happening tonight.

PLDT Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, giving his all-out support to the endeavor, said, “in these challenging times, we must be able to rely on each other for support. We are privileged for the opportunity to be of help to our brothers and sisters through this Gabay Guro activity.”

Revilla carries the torch of Gabay Guro’s advocacy close to her heart. “For as long as we can as much as we can, Gabay Guro will be here to share whatever we can to help lighten the burden of our kababayans, especially the teachers and the students who were adversely affected. We want to help and we will help,” she said.

Presented by PLDT-Smart Foundation Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Inc., in collaboration with the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. and the Department of Education (DepEd), the almost two-hour show will be streamed via the Gabay-Guro and DepEd Facebook pages and the Gabay Guro Youtube channel beginning at 8:00 tonight.

The online musical features top Filipino artists and celebrities in never-before-seen collaborations as they re-introduce the grandeur of original Filipino music to the world via Himig ng Pasko at Pagasa. Musical arrangements will be provided for by the country’s renowned maestros and composers

Reset and reflect YUGEL LOSORATA

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be transported to 2019 and obliterate coronavirus before it contaminated a place in China called Wuhan.

Meanwhile, in speaking of fixing the world’s broken heart, mobile services provider Smart Communications embraced the mindset of music fans with its RESET 2021, a starstudded online concert featuring top OPM artists led by Bamboo, The Itchyworms, and Unique Salonga.

The event will be streamed later today (Dec. 31) starting at 10:40 p.m. via Smart's YouTube channel and simulcast on TV5 and Cignal.

Also joining the e-show are R&B artist Kiana Valenciano, alternative rock band She's Only Sixteen, and beatmakers Ace Ramos and MC Pao Avila. It will cap off Smart GigaFest described as a season of celebration featuring world-class entertainment, e-sports tournaments, digital innovations, and exciting promos and

freebies.

“After a most challenging year, we are one with our nation in hoping for a brighter and better 2021. This is the time to find our footing once again, rise together, and #OWN2021 with a sense of renewed purpose,” said Jane J. Basas, SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart.

Smart also ushers the new year by turning 21 lucky subscribers into millionaires through GIGAMANIA, which offers over P30 million worth of exciting prizes and weekly freebies for lucky Smart and TNT customers nationwide via the GigaLife App. Time to face the music, especially if it'll be just like starting over.

Smart's New Year countdown e-concert RESET 2021 features Bamboo, The Itchyworms, and Unique Salonga.

led by National Artist Ryan Cayabyab. Louie Ocampo, Jimmy Antiporda, Nikko Rivera, and Mon Faustino lend their outstanding talents to the production as well.

Participating artists include Sharon Cuneta, Gary Valenciano, Regine Velasquez Alcasid, Martin Nievera, Kuh Ledesma, Basil Valdez, Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, Randy Santiago, Vina Morales, Joey Albert, Mark Bautista, Erik Santos, Christian Bautista, Morisette, Jona, Sam Concepcion, The Company, Klarisse, Aicelle Santos, Kiana Valenciano, Paolo Valenciano, Gab Valenciano, Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano, The Ryan Cayabyab Singers, Jessica Sanchez, Christine Allado, Ito Rapadas, Jeremy Glinoga, The A-Team Dancers, RJ Dela Fuente, and Pops Fernandez, who is hosting the event.

The megastar Sharon Cuneta and popular young band Ben&Ben are also supporting the concert event by way of promotions as they already have prior year-end engagements, respectively.

With creative content and music production

by Eloisa Matias, Himig ng Pasko at Pagasa hopes to ignite hope in the hearts of every Filipino for a better 2020 despite the bleakness of the passing year. Matias promised that in this show, the public will not be seeing the usual guesting and greeting from guests but they will be seeing more personal, interactive, and heartfelt messages from the artists.

The show will benefit teachers and students from areas identified by the DepEd. To those whose hearts will be moved to donate, please make deposit to the following bank accounts: For Metro Pacific Investments Foundation, Inc. BDO-001688020944, BPI-003561030153 and Unionbank-000320022766. For PLDT-Smart Foundation Inc. BDO PesoAccount - 005310151681; BDO Unibank Dollar Account -105310164708 with address at GV Locsin Bldg., Makati Ave., Makati City with Swift Code BNORPHMM.

Life

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

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HOUSEHOLD

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020

The Emergency Quarantine Facility team (right), led by Dr. Glenn Angeles and Architect William Ti, wins the Lalaban Ako Award for their design of the isolation facility.

Award-giving body recognizes

COVID-19 HEROES Young CEO Martin Xavier Peñaflor (right) wins the Pilipino Ako Award for mobilizing his market research mobile application to help those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

T

HIS year’s Ginebra Ako Awards was special in two ways—first, it pushed through despite the global health crisis, albeit virtually, and second, it recognized individuals and organizations who work to unite the country and uplift our countrymen amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a time when Filipinos look up to reallife heroes for inspiration, the “Ginebra Ako Awards Year 3: Pagkakaisa sa Gitna ng Pandemya,” held on Dec. 18 via Ginebra San Miguel’s Facebook page, recognized Filipinos for their contributions to COVID-19 efforts.

The awardees recognized for their contributions during the pandemic were Martin Xavier Peñaflor, chief executive officer of Tangere for Pilipino Ako Award; Minnie Pascual Klepacz, a nurse based in the United Kingdom and one of the proponents of Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Network and Filipino Nurses Association United Kingdom (FNA-UK) for Matapang Ako Award; and the Emergency Quarantine Facility project led by Dr. Glenn Angeles and Architect William Ti for Lalaban Ako Award.

App maker extends help Pilipino Ako Award recognizes those who emphasize the value of unity in ad-

vancing their causes. This year’s awardee, Peñaflor, 35, mobilized his market research mobile application to accurately and quickly understand the situation on the ground and to figure out how to get help for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as by the Taal Volcano eruption and typhoons Rolly and Ulysses.

The young CEO also attributes the success of their efforts to the community of Tangere users who donated their points for the purchase of essential goods.

“We also reached out to fisherfolk and farmers during the pandemic who could not sell their goods. We did a quick survey and sent it to the right people who can help them out,” added Peñaflor, whose dream is to help more SMEs to have a competitive advantage with market research by giving them insightful and real-time data.

A nurse and a leader A person or a group who goes beyond their call of duty in uniting their fellowmen for a common purpose receives the Matapang Ako Award. And this year, it went to 40-year-old Klepacz, who has been working in the UK as a nurse for 20 years.

A matron for ophthalmology at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, she leads the BAME Network that provides risk assistance to healthcare workers. At the height of the pandemic, she also formed the FNA-UK to address the concerns of Filipino nurses and provide support to them outside of work including cooking meals for colleagues who were recovering after being in intensive

Nurse Minnie Pascual Klepacz (top) wins the Matapang Ako Award for her efforts in providing assistance to healthcare workers in the United Kingdom.

care due to COVID-19.

“Kahit na pagod hindi mo mararamdaman ang pagod ‘pag nakikita mo silang masaya tapos kapag nakikita mong gumagaling at bumabalik na sila sa trabaho.

‘Yun ang talagang nagbibigay sa akin ng lakas ng loob. Kailangan mong tapangan ang sarili mo,” shared Klepacz.

Designers for frontliners Those who get the Lalaban Ako Award use their talent and exemplify excellence in their craft to help those in need, which exactly what childhood friends Dr. Angeles and architect Ti did in creating the Emergency Quarantine Facility (EQF).

The facility provides hospitals more space to safely and effectively treat COVID-19 patients, as well as space for healthcare workers to rest and recuperate or even isolate if they have been infected. The EQF can be built within five days using standard materials and tools found in hardware stores. Singapore even adapted the EQF design, proving Filipino ingenuity.

The duo also gathered other friends and colleagues Engr. Dan Quiaoit, Prim Paypon, Maj. Carmelo Jaluague, and Lt. Col. Banjo Badayos to form the core team of EQF. In four months, the group, with the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, was able to build a total of 75 EQFs that can accommodate over 1,200 patients or frontliners. It is also equipped with Wi-Fi, providing isolated patients ways to entertain themselves as well as connect with their loved ones through virtual interactions.

“We decided on the temporary facilities to help the hospitals decongest the overwhelmed healthcare system of Manila, and at the same time to prevent families from being broken apart by the virus,”

said Angeles.

The awardees per category each received P100,000, a certificate, and a trophy. Runners-up per category, meanwhile, each bagged P25,000 and a certificate.

Love it, hate it:

2020 yearend sentiments

New year, new gadgets and appliances smartphones and more, as well as the party-perfect rechargeable JBL Party Box speakers with fabulous sound and dazzling lights.

Shoppers who purchase at SM Appliance Center or via online channel (www.smappliance.com or Viber) from Nov. 15 to Jan. 15, 2021 get a chance to win more appliances. Every P1,000 purchase is equivalent to one raffle entry. Samsung appliance grand prizes include 75” 8k QLED TV, 1.5 HP Premium Inverter Wind Free Plus Aircon, 24.7 cu.ft. Side by Side Refrigerator, and 6.5kg Frontload Washer. Go to smappliancepromos.com to join.

Get a television and a piece of art in one with Samsung 55” QLED 4K Flat Smart TV.

IT’S the season of upgrading our old gizmos at home. With many sale events from left to right, it sure doesn’t hurt to welcome a new year with a new smartphone or smart TV or air conditioner.

SM Appliance Center carries a wide range of electronics from different brands.

Get a TV and piece of art in one with Samsung’s The Frame TV whose Art Mode lets users turn it into over 1,200 pieces of art when it’s off. It also comes with a customizable frame.

Make working from home a lot more bearable with energysaving inverter window and split type air conditioners from Hitachi and Carrier. Make food storage easier with LG inverter side by side refrigerators.

Tired of takeouts? Make more meals at home with the help of La Germania ovens.

Say goodbye to hours of dealing with laundry with LG allin-one washer and dryer combo washing machines which can be remotely operated. Users can also download additional cycles with its LG ThinQ features.

SM Appliance Center also offers Samsung Galaxy A71

Store food in LG Inverter Side by Side Refrigerator whose features include Smart Wi-Fi and Hygiene Fresh.

Bye 2020, hello 2021!

By Bernadette Lunas NO YEAR in recent history has been hated so much thousands, if millions, of people from across the globe have been wishing for 2020 to be over since October—or maybe even earlier.

When we entered this year, we were promised “clarity,” clear vision, because, well, 20-20. It was also seen as a fresh start, as it opened another decade. Many of us were hopeful, excited, even, to tackle our goals, to go places, to meet new people, to experience new things.

And then January rolled in.

International tension that almost led to World War III and the tragic death of basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna opened the year. Here at home, the Taal Volcano erupted on Jan. 12, which marked the beginning of yearlong mask-wearing as it was followed by the COVID-19 pandemic slowly creeping into the Philippines Fires, earthquakes, typhoons happened in and outside the country. We lost many beloved celebrities and personalities, and most especially people we know due to COVID-19 and other causes.

Go places? No. This was a year we had to stay put, literally. That many got stranded where they were when lockdown protocols were put in place.

Some walked for days, hitched a ride, or biked their way to their destinations because mass transportation was not available.

Meet new people? Not quite. Handshakes and hugs are discouraged and we had to shift to virtual meetings and meet-ups.

Experience new things? Well, we sort of did. It was a year we created and recreated several food trends and other social media trends—some danced their boredom away on TikTok. Many took advantage of the opportunities that suddenly opened—free online courses, free webinars, and free virtual concerts, among other things. And many opened small businesses.

Love it or hate it. The year 2020 has indeed hurt us in unprecedented ways, but also taught us many things, one of which is how to be stronger, smarter, and kinder as we face another year.

Here’s to the pain we should leave behind, and the joy we are eager to welcome in 2021! Happy New Year!