Manila Standard - 2021 January 8 - Friday

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America shaken to the core

Democracy under siege: World leaders express shock, indignation at mob rule

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 304 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they try to storm the US Capitol in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021. One of the demonstrators holds up a broom ‘walis tambo which is common among Filipino households during the rioting, lending credence to a claim that not a few Filipinos are among the pro-Trump supporters . AFP

T

HE storming of the US Congress left America’s image as a beacon of democracy severely tarnished Thursday, with allies unable to hide their shock and authoritarian regimes gleefully exploiting the unrest.

In normal times, a state-backed gang laptops to draft a statement of condemrampaging through a legislature to de- nation. mand a lost election be nullified would But after the deadly violence in have US diplomats marching to their Washington on Wednesday, it was the

turn of officials in capitals from Bogota to New Delhi to call for calm.

In a string of statements, leaders could barely contain their shock at seeing Donald Trump’s supporters briefly -- but quite easily -- overrun the crucible of US democracy and challenge the peaceful transfer of power.

“Where were the police and the Next page

Trump pledges US Congress certifies Biden-Harris win, deals Trump a hammer blow orderly transition CHINA, RUSSIA, GERMANY MOCK after riot, chaos WASHINGTON—Outgoing US President Donald Trump on Thursday offered the clearest signal yet that he will voluntarily leave office on January 20, saying there will be an “orderly transition” to Joe Biden’s presidency.

“Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th,” Trump said in a statement

WASHINGTON—Congress formally certified Joe Biden as the next United States president on Thursday, dealing a hammer blow to Donald Trump whose supporters stormed the Capitol hours earlier, triggering unprecedented scenes of mayhem in the seat of American democracy.

Lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives successfully beat back Republican efforts to deny Biden the electoral votes needed to win, prompting

loud cheers when the certification was announced.

The affirmation of Biden’s 306-232 victory over Trump in November essentially closes the door on the unparalleled and deeply controversial effort by Trump and his loyalists to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The president immediately released a statement pledging an “orderly transition” but suggesting he

TRUMP OVER CHAOS

DEVOTEES. Members of the Manila Police SWAT fan out within the perimeters of the Quiapo Church to secure the devotees attending mass celebration on Thursday, two days ahead of the Feast of the Black Nazarene. Instead of the annual traslacion or procession of the venerated image of the Black Nazarene, 15 masses will be held in the church on Saturday from 4:30 a.m. to 10:15 p.m. with attendees limited to 30 percent of the church capacity. Norman Cruz

Next page

LOCAL ROUNDUP Half of adult Pinoys wary of COVID vax

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM JANUARY 7)

By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta

482,083

ALMOST half or 47 percent of 2,400 adult Filipinos interviewed said they would not get themselves vaccinated against COVID-19, 32 percent would get themselves vaccinated, with 21 percent undecided, an independent Pulse Asia survey revealed Thursday.

Results of the survey, conducted from Nov 23 to Dec 2, suggested the prevailing opinion was most popular in Visayas (55 percent), followed by Mindanao (48

TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

1,353 23,675 NEW

9,356

Gordon warns vs. illegal vaccination of VIPs in government SENATOR Richard Gordon, in an interview on Super Radyo Balita heard nationwide, has called on government authorities to stop early vaccination of

some VIPs, saying the covert inoculation was wrong.

Surged that the alleged early vaccination of some VIPs in the country would have to stop.

Gordon said he was amenable to the

decision of Senate President Vicente Sotto III not to invite in the upcoming hearing the Presidential Security Group — reported to be the first to receive COVID-19 vaccines in the counNext page

China yet to be included in list of 26 on travel ban

By Vito Barcelo and Willie Casas more contagious COVID-19 variant in COVID-19 strain was first detected

that country, Malacanang said. in UK in December 2020 and spread Presidential spokesman Harry to Europe, America, Africa, Middle THE government has not yet included China in travel restrictions because Roque said the expanded travel ban East and Asia.

Next page there is no confirmed report of the is now 26 countries after the new

ACTIVE

9

DEATHS

NEW

449,052

360

RECOVERIES

Next page

By Willie Casas

Story on B2

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NEW

PAL attendant’s death remains a mystery: Cops back to square one amid lack of proof

By Joel E. Zurbano, Rey E. Requejo, read the documents, but it was filed and it’s already there,” he said in a radio inMaricel V. Cruz and Rio N. Araja METRO Manila police commander Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. said the toxicology analysis result is one of the key factors to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight attendant Christine Angelica Dacera.

Danao said he also believed that the initial evidence presented by the Makati City police to the prosecutors office stating that the 23-year-old victim was raped was still insufficient.

“I’m not really that convinced when I

terview.

Danao said investigators are now focusing on forensic evidence, especially on the toxicology analysis that would help them determine the cause of Dacera’s death.

He suggested that heavy drinking combined with the use of illegal drugs at what he called a rave party could have caused Dacera to suffer an aneurysm.

On Wednesday, the Makati City prosecutors office ordered the release of the three men arrested and detained at the Next page

News

A2 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Palace for nth time: No to Cha-cha

By Vito Barcelo, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos Araneta

M

ALACAÑANG has said for the nth time President Rodrigo Duterte is not interested in extending his six-year term under the Constitution which expires in May 2022.

Garbin added that extension or even lifting of the term limits on elected officials including members of Congress, that may result in the cancellation of the 2022 elections is not on the panel’s agenda.

“Speaker Lord Allan Velasco directed me to begin deliberations on the restrictive economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution as early as next week,” Garbin said in an interview.

“There will be no discussions on political issues, but only on the economic provisions.”

In Malacanang, Roque said the Palace respects lawmakers’ decision to renew calls of Cha-cha but stressed that the government’s top priority now was to secure and deliver COVID-19 vaccines to Filipinos.

Roque said that a postponement of 2022 national elections could only be

possible through an amendment of the 1987 Constitution.

Garbin met on Wednesday with Velasco, Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability chairman Michael Aglipay and Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez, the former constitutional amendments panel chairman to discuss the Chacha hearings next week.

At least eight resolutions have been filed in the House seeking to amend the Constitution, including Resolution of Both Houses 2 authored by Velasco himself.

Garbin said his committee would treat RBH 2 – which would introduce amendments to the economic provisions under Articles II, XIV, and XVI of the Constitution – as the “mother measure” during the deliberations. With Rio N. Araja and Joel E. Zurbano

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque denied allegations Duterte was pushing for Charter change (Cha-cha) meant to extend the term of his office.

“There is no truth to the report. It’s merely rumors (sic). The President has made it clear, he does not want to stay even a minute beyond his term of office on June 30 of 2022,” Roque said in his regular Palace press briefing.

Talks on the proposed amending the 1987 Constitution resurfaced after Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Francis Tolentino, known allies of the Duterte adminis-

tration, asked lawmakers to convene into a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) in a resolution filed December 7.

Reports also said that Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., chair of the House committee on constitutional amendments, also announced that the lower chamber would resume the Chacha debates this month, focusing on “restrictive” economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

Garbin Jr. said the changes, if any, on the 1987 Constitution would only focus on the economic provisions.

US...

From A1

House acts to defer PhilHealth, SSS rate hikes

would remain in frontline politics, amid speculation that he may run again in 2024.

“Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th,” he said.

“I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it’s only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again!”

The certification came hours after a mob breached the US Capitol and sent lawmakers scrambling for safety. They were able to return hours later, shaken but determined to complete the task.

Egged on in an extraordinary rally across town by an aggrieved Trump, a flag-waving mob had broken down barricades outside the Capitol and swarmed inside, rampaging through offices and onto the usually solemn legislative floors.

Security forces fired tear gas in a four-hour operation to clear the Capitol.

Police said that one woman, reportedly a female Trump partisan from southern California, was shot and killed and that three other people died in the area in circumstances that were unclear.

One Trump backer in jeans and a baseball cap was pictured propping a leg up on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desk, as throngs climbed onto risers set up for Biden’s inauguration.

Another held a banner that read: “We the people will bring DC to its knees/We have the power.”

Biden called the violence an “insurrection” and demanded that Trump immediately go on national television to tell the rioters to stand down.

“Our democracy’s under unprecedented assault,” Biden said in his home state of Delaware.

“This is not dissent. It’s disorder.

It’s chaos. It borders on sedition. And it must end now.”

Trump soon afterward released a video in which he called on the mob to leave but repeated his unfounded claims of election fraud.

“We have to have peace. So go home. We love you -- you’re very special,” he said.

In a significant new crackdown, social media companies pulled down the video on charges it aggravated violence and Twitter temporarily suspended his account, warning the tweet-loving tycoon of a permanent ban if he does not conform to rules on civic integrity.

PAL...

From A1 police station for lack of sufficient evidence against them.

The prosecutor also ordered the police to conduct further investigation saying they needed to know if Dacera was indeed raped or killed, and to iden-

Gordon...

From A1 try even without approval by the Food and Drug Administration.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the smuggling of COVID-19 vaccines could result in another “Dengvaxia scare” if adverse reactions from unregistered vaccines arose.

Building up public confidence on the government’s immunization program against the novel disease would be crucial, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said.

Citing that only 25 percent of NCR respondents topped a survey willing to receive COVID-19 shots, Drilon urged the government to address the issue of

which provide for gradual increases in monthly premium contributions in PhilHealth and SSS, respectively.

“These are extraordinary times and Congress must respond accordingly,” Velasco said, as he called for swift approval of the two bills that both aimed at alleviating the financial burden faced by Filipino workers amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Under the bills, the President may, in consultation with the Secretaries of the Department of Health and the Department of Finance as chairpersons of PhilHealth and SSS, respectively,

“suspend the implementation of the scheduled increases in premium rates in times of national emergencies when public interest so requires.”

In 2018, RA 11223 was enacted to ensure that all Filipinos are guaranteed equitable access to quality and affordable health care goods and services and protected against financial risk.

Velasco said the intent of the law is clear and cannot be overemphasized— Filipinos need and deserve a comprehensive set of health services that are costeffective, of high quality, and responsive.

ichstag in Nazi Germany, while Italian newspaper La Repubblica drew a parallel to dictator Benito Mussolini’s “March on Rome” and seizure of power.

But as the initial shock subsided, policymakers began to try to imagine the profound implications of the world’s preeminent superpower so visibly stumbling.

Former president Barack Obama’s top security aide Ben Rhodes told AFP that “Americans should not have any illusions: today’s images, like the Trump presidency, will permanently alter how the United States is viewed around the world.”

“Tragically, this debasement of democracy comes at a time when authoritarian nationalism is ascendant on every continent.”

The moment was not lost on such regimes, some of which immediately issued wry statements mimicking the criticism they normally received from Washington.

Venezuelan minister of foreign affairs Jorge Arreaza expressed his “concern” about the violence, while calling for an end to US political polarization and for the country to follow a new path of “stability and social justice.”

China’s state-backed tabloid the Global Times -- just a day after a mass crackdown on Hong Kong’s besieged democracy movement -- crowed that “bubbles of ‘democracy and freedom’ have burst.”

Mike Gallagher, a Republican congressman from Wisconsin lamented: “If

we don’t think other countries around the world are watching this happen right now, if we don’t think the Chinese communist party is sitting back and laughing, then we’re deluding ourselves.”

Senior Russian lawmaker Konstantin Kosachyov, sought to fuel conspiracy theories of electoral fraud while offering Moscow’s old foe a kick in shins.

“The losing side has more than enough grounds to accuse the winner of falsifications -- it is clear that American democracy is limping on both feet,” he said.

Like Ireland’s foreign minister Simon Coveney, some allies tried to limit the damage by stressing this was a problem of Donald Trump’s making and not reflective of mainstream America.

“We must call this out for what it is: a deliberate assault on democracy by a sitting President and his supporters,” he said.

In the Philippines, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. expressed optimism that the United States can easily handle the violence that erupted after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, saying it is “not a nightmare of democracy, but a fever.”

In separate tweet, Locsin said: “US democracy is strong to the bone and American power can cope with a civil disturbance and fight wars on three fronts if it wants to—and come out the winner.” AFP with Rey E. Requejo

percent), Balance Luzon (46 percent), and Metro Manila (41 percent).

At the same time, the majority of Filipinos wear face masks to avoid contracting COVID-19, according to the survey.

The use of face masks is most complied with in Metro Manila, with 74 percent of respondents saying they abide

by the protocol, followed by Visayas (68 percent), Balance Luzon (66 percent), and Mindanao (60 percent).

Some 71 percent said they observe regular handwashing and 32 percent said they remain home when it’s unnecessary to go out to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the survey showed.

Concern about the safety of the vaccines, at 84 percent, is primarily the restraining reason of those who said they would not get vaccinated, according to

the survey which had a sampling error margin of ±2 percent for national percentages, Pulse Asia said.

The sentiment was highest in Metro Manila at 89 percent, followed by Visayas at 88 percent, Balance Luzon at 84 percent, and Mindanao at 79 percent.

Meantime, some 5 percent said a vaccination was not required to combat COVID-19, while 7 percent were concerned that it might not be free, and 4 percent said it might be expensive.

tify the persons responsible, and to establish the actual cause of death.

The hearing for the preliminary investigation of the case was scheduled on Jan. 13.

Top Philippine National Police officials maintain there was no lapse on the part of the Makati City police in its investigation.

PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi

Usana said the Makati police were just eager to solve the case. Now that the case has been sent back by the prosecutor, they will have to investigate, he added.

Makati Police chief Col. Harold Depositar said the initial report of the cause of death was a ruptured aortic aneurysm, which may be caused by various factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, infection, or sud-

den traumatic injury.

Initial investigation also showed that the victim had lacerations and sperm in her genitalia, while bruises, scratches and contusions were found on her arms and legs, indicating there was use of force.

Philippine Airlines announced that the remains of Dacera were brought home in General Santos City Thursday morning amid tight security.

By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Lord Allan Velasco on Thursday sought to grant President Rodrigo Duterte the power to suspend the scheduled increases in the contribution rates of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and the Social Security System (SSS) “in times of national emergencies.”

In filing two separate bills, Velasco seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act and RA 11199 or The Social Security Act of 2018,

America...

From A1 Senate bodyguards...?” Czech foreign minister Tomas Petricek asked aloud, as the world watched Trump supporters cart off podiums, ransack offices or strut around Congress in a horned helmet unmolested.

Through slavery and segregation, Civil War and Cold War, US presidents have often hailed their democracy as exceptional, what Ronald Reagan called the “shining city on the hill.”

That image has been questioned many times before, but after four normshattering years of Trump, it took just a few hours of mob rule to make America look pretty ordinary, and as fragile as anywhere else.

Former president George W. Bush went as far as to compare the situation to a “banana republic,” while calling out fellow Republicans for fueling the “insurrection.”

Australia warned its citizens in the United States to take care given the “ongoing potential for violence.”

Brave new world

Some reached for historical comparisons to put the momentous events -- and the scale of the threat to democracy -in context.

Germany’s foreign minister likened incitement at the US Capitol to the Re-

Local...

From A1

“high vaccine hesitancy.”

“The reluctance to participate in COVID-19 immunization program, if not immediately addressed, will spell trouble in the future and can jeopardize efforts to contain the pandemic,” he said.

“We must overcome this growing distrust and hesitancy. We can achieve this by being transparent and by providing Filipinos proper information on the safety and efficacy of the vaccines that we will use in the country,” he added.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the Presidential Security Group would have to submit monthly reports on its personnel that have been vaccinated against COVID-19, adding what the Group did was dangerous.

Trump...

From A1

American democracy is limping

Trump shared blame for the unrest.

“I deeply regret that President Trump has not conceded his defeat, since November and again yesterday,” she said. minutes after the US Congress formally German Foreign Minister Heiko certified Biden’s victory.

Maas called on Trump supporters to “While this represents the end of the “stop trampling on democracy”. greatest first term in presidential history, it’s only the beginning of our fight to Britain Make America Great Again,” he added, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson hinting at a potential 2024 run. on Twitter condemned the “disgraceful World leaders and governments ex- scenes in U.S. Congress. The United pressed shock and outrage at the storm- States stands for democracy around ing of the US Capitol in Washington by the world and it is now vital that there supporters of President Donald Trump. should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power”.

Germany British Foreign Secretary Dominic German Chancellor Angela Mer- Raab added in his own tweet: “The US kel said Thursday she was “furious rightly takes great pride in its democraand saddened” by the events and said cy, and there can be no justification for

Ex-congressman Umali passes, 63

By Maricel V. Cruz FORMER Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali died on Thursday after the COVID-19 disease made his liver ailment worse. He was 63.

Reynaldo, who had been suffering from late-stage liver cancer, was later stricken by COVID-19, his brother Rep. Alfonso Umali Jr. said.

Malacañang offered condolences to Reynaldo’s family and colleagues.

“We extend our condolences to the family and colleagues of former Oriental Mindoro Congressman Reynaldo Umali,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque told reporters.

Umali Jr. said on radio that his brother suffered a heart failure before he died in a hospital in Makati City.

Reynaldo had a medical checkup that revealed he had a fatty liver, but follow-up checkups had to be put on hold because of the Covid-19 pandemic, his brother said.

Alfonso said that when Rey finally had another checkup on Dec. 12, he tested positive for COVID-19 and was found to have Stage-3 liver cancer.

“Then, after a few days, his condition was aggravated and the cancer had moved to Stage 4,” Alfonso said.

He said Reynaldo was admitted to the intensive care unit on Dec. 21, and was intubated on Dec. 26.

On Wednesday, the tests revealed bacterial infection in Reynaldo’s liver.

“This morning his blood pressure plummeted and then he suffered a heart failure,” Alfonso said.

During his last term in the House of Representatives, Reynaldo was chairman of the House Committee on Justice, which conducted the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in 2017, as well as the investigation of the alleged involvement of Senator Leila de Lima in illegal drugs in 2016.

China...

From A1 China was not yet included even after Beijing recently reported that a 23-year-old woman who arrived from the United Kingdom tested positive for the new COVID-19 strain.

Roque said the Philippines is awaiting official confirmation from reputable international agencies that would confirm if the new COVID 19 strain was detected in China.

“We will wait for the confirmation and if there’s confirmation, we will eventually include China in the list,” he said at a news conference.

Duterte has also extended the temporary suspension of flights and prohibition of entry on all travelers coming from the UK until Jan. 15, Roque said.

Filipino citizens coming from the aforementioned countries are exempted from the travel ban but must China’s state-run broadcaster CGTN on Jan. 1 reported that the new variant was detected in a female student returning from the UK. The student was screened for COVID-19 in Shanghai on Dec. 14, the report added.

The list of countries included in the travel are: Denmark; Ireland; Japan; Australia; Israel; The Netherlands; Hong Kong; Switzerland; France; Germany; Iceland; Italy; Lebanon; Singapore; Sweden; South Korea; South Africa; Canada; Spain; United States; Portugal; India; Finland; Norway; Jordan and Brazil. these violent attempts to frustrate the lawful and proper transition of power.”

Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the “rampage at the Capitol yesterday was a disgraceful act and it must be vigorously condemned.”

“I have no doubt that... American democracy will prevail. It always has,” added Netanyahu, who has repeatedly called Trump Israel’s best-ever friend in the White House.

European Union

The EU’s foreign policy chief condemned an “assault on US democracy”.

“In the eyes of the world, American democracy tonight appears under siege,” Josep Borrell tweeted. AFP

News 14 DPWH district engineers sacked

FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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25k cops ready for Nazarene feast

By Vito Barcelo

By Joel E. Zurbano

AT LEAST 14 district engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways have been “relieved” due to alleged involvement in corruption, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said.

The relieved engineers were reportedly among the government officials named by President Rodrigo Duterte who connived with some lawmakers in corrupt practices.

Villar told reporters he had also sought the help of other government agencies to build cases against erring Public Works personnel.

“Actually, those who were named by the President were already relieved,” Villar said.

He said a reorganization would soon be implemented within his department.

Earlier, Duterte ordered Public Works district engineers involved in corrupt practices allegedly identified by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission to resign.

Villar said they were conducting investigations on the other complaints filed against corrupt Public Works engineers, adding its efforts to cleanse the department’s ranks was not yet over.

In late December, the President revealed the names of lawmakers who have been linked to alleged corruption related to infrastructure projects.

In a televised briefing, Duterte also relieved from their posts DPWH district engineers who are involved in the alleged corruption.

In late October, Duterte issued a memorandum directing the Department of Justice to look into anomalies in state agencies until the end of his term in 2022.

HE police are deploying more than 25,000 officers in anticipation of devotees still trying to come tomorrow to the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila, despite the cancellation of the traditional Traslacion.

Solons welcome extension of Bayanihan funds in 2021

By Macon R. Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go on Thursday welcomed the signing of Republic Act 11519 and RA 11520, which seek to ensure the continued implementation of government services and programs to address the COVID-19 pandemic by extending the effectivity of RA 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act and RA 11465 or the General Appropriations Act of 2020, respectively, until 2021.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed both measures into law on Dec. 29.

“Every single peso counts, especially in times of crisis. Any delay in the implementation of government programs and aid to affected sectors will be detrimental

to the country’s path to recovery,” Go said.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte also welcomed Duterte’s signing of the laws extending the validity of unspent funds under both the 2020 General Appropriations Act and Bayanihan 2.

Villafuerte, vice chairman of the House committee on appropriations, said the twin measure’s enactment will let the government further accelerate public spending and speed up the recovery of the economy from the pandemicinduced global economic turmoil.

The Department of Budget and Management had identified P156 billion in unreleased appropriations that were set to be reverted into the National Treasury upon the laws’ expiration in 2020.

More fiscal stimulus needed for PH, says PLM president THE government needs to pump additional fiscal stimulus to arm more Filipinos with cash and provide additional support to the economy, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila president Emmanuel Leyco said Wednesday.

The COVID-19 pandemic has driven millions of people out of work and into poverty, as employers bled due to the lockdowns and quarantine restrictions meant to control the coronavirus outbreak.

“We have to put money in the pockets of our consumers. Right now, unemployment and underemployment are not helping,” Leyco told One News.

“We need to put more programs that will create jobs or more

money in terms of cash aid.”

He says while the ultra-low interest rate environment created by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas provides support to industries, it’s not enough to lift the country’s consumption-driven economy.

“What we would like to see is a stimulus that will produce more in the market, more output. Stimulate the manufacturers,” said Leyco, once an economics professor at the Asian Institute of Management.

“Monetary intervention alone is not enough. We need to put more packages for the producers and the consumers to stimulate the market and make it more vibrant.”

SMC rushing river dredging before onset of rainy season SAN Miguel Corporation plans to accelerate its dredging operations at the Tullahan-Tinajeros River System in the first two quarters of the year, before the rainy season sets in, to help reduce flooding in the areas near the 27 kilometer tributary stretching from La Mesa Dam to Manila Bay. SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang said the company was able to extract 83,600 metric tons of silt and solid waste from the river in 2020, despite the limitations brought on by the Luzon-wide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The dredging complemented the flood mitigation measures implemented by the cities of Navotas and Malabon.

“We extract about 600 metric

tons of waste daily from the Tullahan, and at this rate, we expect to extract 100,000 metric tons in a month’s time. The relatively dry months of January to May gives us an opportunity to intensify the cleaning, deepening and widening of the river so that more areas can avoid flooding during the rainy season,” Ang said.

Launched together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in early 2020, the project is a P1-billion corporate social responsibility initiative of SMC to help address the flooding in parts of Metro Manila and Bulacan. SMC resumed the P1billion dredging project in June following the lifting of strict quarantine restrictions.

T

CHOPPER DONATION.

The Philippine Army officially receives tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan’s helicopter donation on Thursday at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Pangilinan, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, AFP Chief of Staff Gen Gilbert I. Gapay, and Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana led the deed of donation signing ceremony to turn over the BO 105 Rotorcraft helicopter.

National Capital Region police commander Vicente Danao said “all systems go for the Feast of the Black Nazarene.”

He said troops from the Philippine National PoliceSpecial Action Force had been sent to the area as early as Dec. 22 last year, aside from the more than 6,000 policemen from the Manila Police District.

“More or less 20,000 policemen from the other police districts of the NCRPO, Regional Headquarters and Regional Mobile Force Battalion will be deployed on the day before the Feast of the Black Nazarene,” Danao said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health together with the Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 and the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene on Thursday called on the public to refrain from visiting Quiapo Church amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Traslacion 2021 has been cancelled, but the officials of Quiapo Church led by Reverend Monsignor Hernando Coronel said they were still expecting an influx of devotees to view the image of the Black Nazarene.

And instead of the traditional procession, more masses will be held for Black Nazarene devotees On Tuesday, Danao and other MPD officials led by commander Leo Francisco inspected the key areas to be affected by the feast, as well as the four churches in Manila: Sta Cruz Church, San Sebastian Church, Nazarene Catholic School and Quiapo Church, where masses will be held.

Danao said no vendors were allowed within the vicinity of Quiapo Church while the devotees would be prohibited from bringing or using backpacks or colored canisters.

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor

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FRIDAY, JANUIARY 8, 2021 lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

QCitizen ID launches online listup Q

By Rio N. Araja

UEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Thursday spearheaded the launch of the city’s online registration for its QCitizen ID that can be used to access various services, including the Q City Bus, health, and other social services.

An on-the-ground registration for the identification card will be piloted in Barangay Central on Jan. 15, she said.

“The registration will give importance to those who are on the priority list for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine – senior citizens, persons with disability and frontliners,” she added.

The city government recently signed a tripartite agreement with the National Task Force Against COVID-19 and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Philippines for the advance purchase of COVID-19 vaccines for its citizens.

Meanwhile, Belmonte has reconstituted the Ease of Doing Business and Automation Task Force to harmonize the city government’s efforts with various national policies and help further streamline the city government’s processes and services.

In her Executive Order No. 47 of 2020, she turned the existing Ease of Doing Business and Automation Task Force into the Committee on AntiRed Tape and Ease of Doing Business (CART-EODB).

City Administrator Mike Alimurung is the chairperson of CART-EODB, while co-chairpersons are the heads of Business Permits and Licensing Department and Department of Building Official. The heads of various city departments and offices are members.

Alimurung said the QCitizen ID is a unified identification for all residents who would also replace the existing senior citizen, solo parent and PWD ID cards over time.

Pasay team to check occupancy in hotels

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Pasay City government has formed a special team to inspect hotels and similar establishments in the city if they are compliant to the occupancy rules set by authorities to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease.

Mayor Imelda Rubiano cautioned the establishments against violating the policy set by the Department of Tourism and Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Otherwise, she said, they face cancelation of their business permits.

The local government made the move following the involvement of City Garden Hotel in Makati City in the case of a flight attendant who was found dead in the bathtub of a hotel room on Jan. 1.

The hotel reportedly allowed at least 10 persons to have a private party celebrating the New Year.

“We don’t want this to happen in our city. This is the reason why we are reminding hotels to strictly follow the rules of the IATF and DOT,” Rubiano said.

Last Tuesday, the Tourism department issued a show-cause order against the City Garden Hotel management for violating the general community quarantine policy.

Angeles eyes BCDA lot as watershed

By Jess Malabanan

NEW ID. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte holds replica identification cards as she leads the launch of the online registration for the QCitizen ID, which can be used for the vaccine, QCity bus, health services and other benefits provided by the city government. Manny Palmero

Manila losing P148m to 24k ‘nonexistent’ seniors

By Willie Casas ABOUT 24,700 senior citizens registered in Manila are “nonexistent,” which could spell losses of about P148 million a year if left unchecked, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said The “missing” senior citizens had been causing the delay in the release of the PayMaya cards since the Office of the Senior Citizens’ Affairs (OSCA) headed by Marjun Isidro is cleansing the list, the mayor said.

Domagoso’s pronouncements came following a recent raid in Binondo where, along with bogus P1,000 bills and passports, some fake senior citizens’ identification cards were also

confiscated.

“Kaya na-delay…nasakripisyo mga senior citizens. Kaya kami nagmanual nung Pasko. Nalaman naming mahigit 24,000 ang fake na pangalan.

Pag hinayaan namin, matatapon na parang bula ang pera ng gobyerno,” Domagoso said.

He noted that with the P500 monthly financial assistance being given to senior citizens, having at least 24,000 fake elderly citizens would spell a loss of some P12 million a month or about P148 million a year in city government funds.

“Kaya di n’yo ko masisisi na maging masinop dahil bago pa ako magmayor, inabuso ito (OSCA IDs).

Pineke nang pineke..kaya nga sinisin-

op ko, pero kahit pano ni-release namin manual,” Domagoso said.

“Mga walanghiya, pati benepisyo ng mga tao ninanakaw… Tingnan nyo, nahirapan mga senior kaya kami nag-manual,” the mayor added.

Isidro said that so far, around 85,000 senior citizens have been given PayMaya cards, while 60,000 more are still being processed.

The city government, through the initiative of Moreno and the full support of the Manila City Council headed by Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna Pangan as its presiding officer and majority floor leader Joel Chua, has a social amelioration package that grants cash assistance to various sectors.

ANGELES CITY—A 560-hectare lot adjacent to Clark Development Corporation is being eyed by the local government unit here for its forest park and watershed projects once approved by the Bases Conversion Development Authority.

This after Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr., sought BCDA attention informing the latter of the city government plans to convert the forested portion of Barangay Sapang Bato into a protected area.

In his letter, Lazatin asked the BCDA to allow and entrust part of the military reservation area to the city government to push with the site development plan.

City Chief Adviser and Tactician Director IC Calaguas, as the project director, said the 560-hectare land is part of the military reservation area covered by the Bases Conversion law and under the authority of BCDA. Calaguas said that to protect water source and steady supply of water for Angeles, the Sapangbato watershed must be protected.

Part of the plan is to secure the area and conduct massive reforestation to increase water reserves which will benefit the city and the Metro Clark area.

“The city government aims to continue strengthening the protection of our water source,” Calaguas stressed.

“Water is life,” Calaguas added.

Meanwhile, the City Council earlier passed a resolution calling for the immediate transfer of management of the 560-hectare lot to the city government. The resolution was forwarded to BCDA President & CEO Vince Dizon.

DONNING OF RANKS. PBGen. Felipe R. Natividad, Regional Director of the Calabarzon Police, officiates the oathtaking and donning of ranks of newly promoted Police Lieutenant Colonels (inset) on Monday at the MPC Hall in Camp BGen. Vicente P. Lim, Calamba City, Laguna.

Roy Tomandao

Innovative teaching method saves Aklan school with Smart workshop IN JUNE 2020, Echelon Development School in Altavas, Aklan, was on the brink of closure due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Parents who had lost their jobs pulled out their children, said Principal Olivia SabacanPayba. “We could not afford to offer online classes, and we weren’t prepared for modular learning with only four teachers left,” she said.

A week before they were to announce the closure, school officials heard about a virtual event staged by Smart Communications, Inc., and endorsed by the Department of Education (DepEd). It was a three-day web forum on an innovative teaching strategy, the Dynamic Learning Program (DLP), developed by the Central Visayas Institute and Foundation (CVIF).

Because of that, the school was able to continue operations, despite limited manpower.

Not only that. The principal noted remarkable output from their students.

“It helped us press on even in the direst of circumstances,” Payba says emotionally.

“We are amazed at how our teachers have set higher standards for themselves, and how our students continue to rise up to the challenges and perform well.”

CVIF-DLP trains students to learn independently, to improve their performance, especially in Science, Innovative Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). It was first established in 2002 at the CVIF in Jagna, Bohol by world-renowned Theoretical Physicists and Ramon Magsaysay awardees for education, Dr. Christopher Bernido, and Dr. Ma. Victoria Carpio-Bernido.

In partnership with PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) of parent company PLDT Inc., Smart has helped roll out CVIF-DLP workshops for over a decade.

“We’ve supported the CVIF-Dynamic Learning Program because it provides concrete, tried-and-tested solutions to the problems faced by the education sector, to help attain our LearnSmart goal that no learner will get left behind,” said Stephanie Orlino, AVP for Community Partnerships, Smart Communications.

“We are now facing a big shift on how learning can be done,” the Bernido couple says. “We believe that crisis-resilient learning would work if we can gather communities, the government, and private sectors to support every Filipino child’s education.”

Opinion Illegal drugs: A danger to society

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021

B1

EDITORIAL

increased if the illegal drugs seized from the suspect exceeds the weight threshold (in terms of grams) under Section 11 (Section 15).

The following persons are also criminally liable: (a) importers of dangerous drugs (Section 4); (b) sellers or traders of THE drug problem in the Philippines is drugs (Section 5); (c) operators of drug more real than we think. It is deeply root- dens, dives or resorts where any dangered in the system. The young and the old ous drug is used or sold (Section 6); (d) and their respective families have been employees and visitors of the drug den, victimized by this societal menace. Fi- dive or resort (Section 7); (e) manufacturnances of drug users have been depleted, ers of dangerous drugs and/or controlled relationships damaged, and peace and precursors (Section 8); and (f) those who order in their communities affected. De- cultivate or culture plants classified as spite this, rehabilitation can give them a dangerous drugs or its sources (Section lease to a new life.

16).

According to the 2019 National HouseThe most common strategy to arrest hold Survey on the Patterns and Trends of a seller or trader of dangerous drugs is Drug Abuse, there are around 1.67 mil- through “entrapment” or that which is lion or two out of commonly known every one hundred as a “buy-bust” opFilipinos aged 10 to eration. During such 69 who are current operations, there The young and drugs users. This is is a poseur buyer, the old have been a decline from the a law enforcement number of drug usofficer, who transvictimized by this ers in 2016 which acts with the seller menace. was estimated to or trader and hands be around 4 Milover the “marked lion (https://www. money,” and with ddb.gov.ph/newsa pre-arranged and room/511-2019-drug-survey-shows- rehearsed signal the arrest and seizure of drug-use-prevalence-rate-falls-to-2-05). the illegal drugs will be effected.

The survey also showed that at least On the other hand, the user or posses4.73 million or six out of every 100 Fil- sor of illegal drugs may be arrested in a ipinos aged 10-69 have used drugs at a search of a moving vehicle, airport secucertain point in their life. Cannabis or rity search, search as an incident to a lawmarijuana is the most used dangerous ful arrest, stop and frisk, or raids conductdrug with a 57% utilization rate followed ed on parties or drug dens. In one case, by methamphetamine hydrochloride, the Supreme Court found probable cause publicly known as “shabu,” with a 35% to conduct without a judicial [search] utilization rate. (https://www.ddb.gov. warrant an extensive search of moving ph/newsroom/511-2019-drug-survey- vehicles in situations where the distincshows-drug-use-prevalence-rate-falls- tive smell of marijuana had emanated to-2-05). from a package (DOMINGO AGYAO While drug survey results are figures MACAD @ AGPAD v. PEOPLE OF that may appear to be harmless, the dan- THE PHILIPPINES, G.R. No. 227366, ger of drug abuse is immeasurable. The August 01, 2018). short- and long-term effects include An important question is -- who will changes in appetite, blood pressure dis- take charge and have custody of the tortion; and an increased risk for stroke, dangerous drugs, controlled precursors, psychosis, heart and lung disease, can- equipment and paraphernalias seized, cer, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, mental illness confiscated or surrendered? It is the and addiction (https://www.drugabuse. Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority gov/drug-topics/health-consequenc- (PDEA). The apprehending team, after es-drug-misuse/introduction). seizure, shall immediately conduct physiAside from physical and mental harm, cal inventory and photograph the dangera person who is caught in possession of ous drugs in the presence of the persons drugs (Sections 11 and 13, Republic Act from whom the illegal items were con[RA] 9165), using dangerous drugs (Sec- fiscated or his representative or counsel, tion 15), or found to be in possession of a representative from the media and the equipment, apparatus or drug parapher- Department of Justice (DOJ), and any nalias (Sections 12 and 14) may be held elected public official who shall sign the criminally liable. A person arrested, who copies of the inventory (Section 21). is found to be positive for use of any Within twenty-four (24) hours upon condangerous drug after a confirmatory test, fiscation of the dangerous drugs, its conshall be imposed a penalty of a minimum trolled precursors and essential chemicals, of six (6) months rehabilitation in a gov- as well as paraphernalia and/or laboratory ernment center for the first offense (Sec- equipment, the same shall be submitted tion 15). to the PDEA Forensic Laboratory for a If the person is apprehended using dan- qualitative and quantitative examination. gerous drugs for the second time, he shall A certification of the forensic laboratory suffer the penalty of imprisonment rang- examination results shall be issued within ing from six (6) years and one (1) day to twenty-four (24) hours after the receipt of twelve (12) years and a fine ranging from the subject items (Section 21). fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) to two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00). full version at www.manilastandard.

However, the fine and the jail term will be net

He fought on the frontlines until the end I JOIN everyone in mourning the passing of Metropolitan Manila Authority (MMDA) chairman Danilo D. Lim. He was 65.

It is my honor and privilege to have known Danny personally. I looked up to him as an older brother, as well as a fine soldier and a true public servant.

And it is his devotion to duty and self-sacrifice that we also celebrate his life and pay homage to.

Adelle Chua, Editor

Born June 2, 1955, Danny was two years old and youngest of five brothers when their father, Chinese rice trader He Yia Lim, died. He and his brothers were raised by his mother Catalina Delapuz in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya.

Destined for greater heights, Danny finished elementary and high school in Solano with flying colors.

He was in his freshman year at the University of the Philippines when he took and topped the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) entrance exams.

A member of the PMA Makatarungan Class 1978, he was a plebe, when he took and topped the entrance exams to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point.

Uncertain economic outlook T

HE World Bank, true to its conservative approach, is not overly optimistic about the global economic recovery this year, despite the vaccine rollout.

investment to stimulate growth. Policymakers face “formidable challenges... as they try to ensure that this still fragile global recovery gains traction and sets

The reopening of the economy will have to be gradual to avoid another lockdown situation that brought miseries to the population.

The risks to global growth are many.

COVID-19 infections worldwide are still increasing instead of plateauing, while the vaccine rollout even in advanced economies is slow. Developing nations like the Philippines, meanwhile, are confronting rising debt levels as global trading shrinks and state revenues decline amid shrinking economies.

The World Bank has warned that the increasing debt load of developing countries could create a new financial crisis unless a global effort is launched to remedy the situation.

The institution says with millions driven into poverty by the coronavirus recession, governments must find a way to move beyond direct aid and reignite

a foundation for robust growth,” says World Bank president David Malpass.

The global economic recovery hinges on “widespread” vaccine rollout and sustained economic reopening. The latter is hard to implement if COVID-19 infec-

tions continue to climb. Several countries in Europe, notably the UK, are in fact in varying degrees of lockdown.

COVID-19 has caused enormous job losses as social distancing rules restricted the mobility of people and prevented workers from going to their workplaces. To restore and create jobs, the World Bank urged the government to focus on policies to boost investment in order to counter “the pandemic’s lasting scars.”

The lending institution sees the world economy expanding 4 percent this year, or two-tenths lower than it previously forecast, after shrinking 4.3 percent in 2020. But at the same time, the World Bank warns the outlook remains “highly uncertain” and that global economic growth could be as low as 1.6 percent this year if the downside risks materialize.

Pending the rollout of vaccines, countries like the Philippines will have to be watchful of virus spikes. The reopening of the economy will have to be gradual to avoid another lockdown situation that brought miseries to the population.

‘Onli in da Pilipins’ SANTA Banana, the “who” and “how” of the entry of an unofficial and unregistered vaccine administered to a very select few like the Presidential Security Group (PSG), some sectors of the military, and members of the Cabinet are getting murkier. The issue has become an enigma!

Those vaccines from China’s Sinopharm and Sinovac can only be smuggled through Customs. The Senate probe must first begin with Customs. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that smuggling at Customs, a corrupt government agency, has become almost a routine. My gulay, if illegal drugs worth billions of pesos can go through Customs under the very noses of Customs officials, vaccines can just as easily pass through.

But, the “who” must be known. As I said, the picture gets murkier with Chinatown’s civic leader Teresita Ang See saying that some 100,000 Chinese expatriates, including workers for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), have also been administered the smuggled vaccines.

This phenomenon brings to forth the existence of a black market for the Chinese vaccines and even the proliferation of counterfeit vaccines, my gulay!

We need to investigate this matter. It would be good if Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante of the Presidential Security Group could answer many of our questions.

But since President Duterte, commander of the Armed Forces, said Durante would not provide any help to the probe, senators must look elsewhere.

There are many angles to this enigma.

For one thing, it would take a professional medical practitioner to administer the right doses to anybody. That means that the probe must find out who administered those vaccines.

As a result of the President’s intervention, the Food and Drug Administration After graduation, he returned to the country and took the Scout Ranger Course where he graduated No. 1 and opted to be assigned to Jolo.

He commanded the forward Recon Unit of the 1st Infantry Division in Sulu where he was wounded twice in combat, including the rescue of school children hostaged by an Abu Sayaff band in Basilan.

Danny, then a Scout Ranger captain, was among those who led the 1989 coup against the “left-leaning” President Cory Aquino. The coup almost succeeded.

He was detained for two years until he was granted amnesty by Aquino’s successor, Fidel V. Ramos.

He was subsequently involved in attempts to bring down the Arroyo administration.

The bemedalled retired Army brigadier general then ran for senator but lost in

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coining a new term for the approval for the vaccines that the PSG got -- a “compassionate permit.” The FDA law in Sections 11 and 12 prohibits the import, export sale and distribution of any food or drug which had not been cleared by the FDA. I can’t blame the FDA for accommodating the PSG since it is also under the executive branch of the government.

Just how this probe of the Senate will go is anybody’s guess. We now have a circus when other countries are already doing mass inoculations. Here, we are talking about smuggling. Only in the Philippines!

While other countries have started inoculating their citizens, we are still talking about vaccines.

To fast track the entry of other vaccines brands like AstraZeneca from the United Kingdom, Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna from the United States, the private sector and Local Government Units (LGUs) are scrambling to procure vaccines by themselves.

There must be proper coordination with the national government. And my gulay, this is where vaccine czar Carlito Galvez comes in – that is, if he knows what his job entails.

LGUs and city mayors cannot procure the vaccines on their own even if they can afford it, because the proper protocols must be observed. In other words, there must be a clear roadmap in doing these things.

What is really important at this point in time is the fast track of entry of vaccines properly approved by the FDA and administered by professional medical practitioners.

What bothers me is the finding by surveys that only 45 percent of the residents

We pay homage to Danny Lim’s selfsacrifice and devotion to duty.

2010 under the banner of Noynoy Aquino’s Liberal Party.

A year later, Danny was designated Deputy Customs Commissioner for Intelligence under Noynoy Aquino.

Although his team was credited for the drastic reduction of smuggling in Aduana, Danny resigned in July 2013 after Aquino, in his State of the Nation Address, slammed the Customs bureau for alleged

Divided

(www.manilastandard.net)

Int’l airport makes Cebu ‘UNESCO City of Design’

of the National Capital Region (NCR) would like to be inoculated with the vaccine. Is this accurate? This means the urgent need for the proper education and information by the government.

It all springs from the fact that vaccines in the Philippines have had a bad record like the vaccination of Dengvaxia for the treatment of dengue fever which resulted in the loss of lives of school children.

The problem as I know it is that there have been no clear plans, much less a roadmap for the proper entry and administration of vaccines of whatever brand. As a result, it seems that the government acts only when there’s a problem. Government acts only after the fact. *** The controversy over the renewal of the 25-year franchise of the Lopez-owned ABS-CBN does not seem to die with the filing of a bill at the Senate by no less than Senate President Tito Sotto for its renewal.

The bill could become another controversy since it is the House of Representatives where the renewal of the franchise should start. And it is the House legislative franchise committee that should consider the bill granting the renewal of a franchise.

We all know that the House is controlled

by President Duterte, who last year was the reason why the House failed to grant ABS-CBN its new franchise.

This is aside from the fact that there are still pending bills in the House seeking the grant of the 25-year franchise. And all the sponsors of the bills have to be refiled.

The proponents of the renewal, all those with bleeding hearts for the 11,000 workers who were all laid off with the closure of the network believe that under Speaker Lord Allan Velasco the renewal of Lopez network would be granted.

But, as I said, it all depends on the President since he has full control of the House.

Whether or not the House is under a new Speaker is totally immaterial.

Onli in da Pilipins, indeed! incompetence.

In May 2017, President Duterte named Danny MMDA Chairman under whose leadership relentless efforts have improved the traffic situation in Metro Manila, particularly EDSA. Since January last year, the MMDA has played an active role in the country’s efforts to contain the coronavirus.

In late December, Danny disclosed he had tested positive for COVID-19 although his symptoms were mild.

Once a soldier, always a soldier, he stood among the nation’s frontliners in this horrific war against the COVID-19 pandemic.

He has made the ultimate sacrifice.

Danny will be sorely missed by media practitioners who loved him for his straightforward views on critical issues.

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Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Japan gov’t declares ‘virus’ emergency JAPAN’S government declared a monthlong coronavirus state of emergency in the greater Tokyo area on Thursday as the capital reported a record surge in daily infections.

“The nationwide, rapid spread of the new coronavirus is feared to have a great impact on people’s lives and the economy,” said Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga as he announced the new restrictions, which begin on Friday.

The measure is far less strict than the harsh lockdowns seen in other parts of the world, and softer than the country’s first state of emergency last spring.

It primarily targets restaurants and bars, which will be asked to stop serving alcohol by 7 pm and close an hour later, with residents requested to avoid nonessential outings from 8 pm.

In Tokyo and three surrounding areas that petitioned the government to make the move, businesses will also be urged to maximise teleworking with the goal of reducing commuter traffic by 70 percent.

The minister in charge of Japan’s pandemic response earlier warned that Tokyo’s medical system was now “stretched thin”.

“Every day we are seeing record numbers of infections. We have a very serious sense of crisis,” Yasutoshi Nishimura said.

Tokyo recorded 2,447 new cases on Thursday -- shattering the previous record of 1,591 logged a day earlier.

Still, Japan’s outbreak remains comparatively small, with just over 3,700 deaths since the country’s first infection was detected in January 2020.

The government had been reluctant to call a state of emergency for fear of sending the economy into reverse shortly after it emerged from recession.

Greater Tokyo accounts for a third of Japan’s GDP. AFP

China mocks chaos at US Capitol of Congress to certify the 2020 Electoral College results after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol earlier in the day on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on January 6, 2020. Members of Congress returned to the House Chamber after being evacuated when protesters stormed the Capitol and disrupted a joint session to ratify President-elect Joe Biden’s 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. AFP

Pompeo threatens sanctions vs. HK over dozens of arrests US SECRETARY of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday threatened sanctions against individuals and organizations involved in the arrest of dozens of Hong Kong democracy figures, voicing anger that an American was among those rounded up.

Pompeo said the 53 people arrested Wednesday “should be released immediately and unconditionally”.

“The United States will not stand idly by while the people of Hong Kong suffer under Communist oppression,” Pompeo said in a late-night statement after a day of political violence in Washington.

“The United States will consider sanctions and other restrictions on any and all individuals and entities involved in executing this assault on the Hong Kong people.”

Pompeo, who remains in office for two weeks, said the United States would also “explore restrictions” against the financial hub’s trade representative office in Washington.

In an operation involving 1,000 officers, Hong Kong police arrested the activists for “subversion” in an escalation of Beijing’s imposition of a tough security law in the wake of huge and sometimes

Particulars

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE OVER/ UNDER RECOVERIES BASED ON THE FORMULA FOR THE VARIOUS AUTOMATIC COST ADJUSTMENTS AND TRUE-UP MECHANISMS COVERING THE PERIOD 2017 TO 2019 AND CORRESPONDING CONFIRMATION PROCESS PURSUANT TO ERC RESOLUTION NO. 16, SERIES OF 2009 AS AMENDED

BY RESOLUTION NO. 21, SERIES OF 2010 AND ERC RESOLUTION NO. 23, SERIES OF 2010

Generation Rate (GR) Transmission rate (TR) System Loss Rate (SLR) Lifeline Rates (LR) Senior Citizen Rates(SR) Net Results

927,696,962.72 142,269,515.73 139,662,483.82 6,727,608.55 1,281,171.95

(Over) /Under Recovery (Php) 2,591,847.06 (2,390,100.77) 6,177,251.77 (470,612.19) (1,118.84)

1,223,545,009.80 1,217,637,742.77

5,907,267.02

Allowable Revenue (Php) 930,288,809.78 139,879,414.96 145,839,735.59 6,256,996.36 1,280,053.11

Particulars

ERC CASE NO. 2020-008 CF

Generation Rate (GR) Transmission rate (TR) System Loss Rate (SLR) Lifeline Rates (LR) Senior Citizen Rates(SR)

x-------------------------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 27 August 2020, the Aurora Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AURELCO) filed an Application dated 28 February 2020, seeking the Commission’s approval of its over/under recoveries based on the formula for the various automatic cost adjustments and true-up mechanisms covering the period 2017 to 2019 and corresponding confirmation process pursuant to the Commission’s Resolution No. 16, Series of 2009, as amended by Resolution No. 21, Series of 2010 and Resolution No. 23, Series of 2010.

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

That applicant is an electric cooperative duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Philippines, with the principal office at Brgy.

Reserva, Baler, Aurora where it may be served with summons and other legal processes, represented in this instance by its General Manager, Engr.

Noel DV. Vedad, of legal age, Filipino, married and with office address also located at Brgy. Reserva, Baler, Aurora;

2.

Herein applicant is the exclusive franchise holder issued by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to operate an electric light and power services in the (11) municipalities namely; Baler, San Luis, Ma. Aurora, Dipaculao, Casiguran, Dinahmgan, Dilasag and Dingalan all in the Province of Aurora; Dinapigue in the Province of Isabela, Alfonso Castafieda in the Province of Nueva Vizcaya and Brgy. Umiray, General Nakar in the Province of Quezon; That pursuant to ERC Resolution No. 16 Series of 2009, as amended by Resolution No. 21, Series of 2010, and ERC Resolution No. 23, Series of 2010, Luzon Distribution Utilities (DUs) and Electric Cooperatives (ECs) are required to file their respective consolidated application for the approval of their confirmation filing on the Calculation of the Over or Under recovery in the implementation of various adjustment calculations covering the period of January 2017 to December 2019 as follows; Folder 1. a.

Summary of O/U recoveries computation per charges for the entire period in yearly presentation

b.

Proposed scheme of refund/collect using the latest kwh sales

Folder 2. Supplier and Transmission data

(Over)/Under Recovery In Php Php/KwH 2,591,847.06 0.0165 (2,390,100.77) (0.0153) 6,177,251.77 0.0394 (470,612.19) (0.0030) (1,118.84) (0.0000)

WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission that the submitted calculations and computations prepared by applicant be approved; That upon receipt of the Order of approval, herein applicant be allowed to propose the scheme of refund/recovery as the case may be.

Other relief/s just and equitable in the premises are likewise prayed for under the premises.

The Commission hereby sets the instant Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 20 January 2021 (Wednesday) at nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 AM), through a virtual hearing using the Zoom Application as the online platform for the conduct thereof pursuant to Resolution No. 07, Series of 20201 dated 23 July 2020.

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

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

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

2)

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

3)

A statement of the relief desired.

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

Fully accomplished supplier and transmission data sheet;

2)

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

d.

Power bills from suppliers (Power bill-Proof of Payment - Debit or Credit memo)

3)

The grounds relied upon.

NGCP bills

f.

Fully accomplished Statistical Data Sheet for the year

g.

MFSR - Sections B and E/Pilferage Cost Recoveries

h.

Report of implemented other adjustments

Folder 4. Actual Implemented Rates Data i. j. k. l.

Fully accomplished Actual Implemented Rates sheet for the year Fully accomplished Lifeline Discount sheet for the year Full accomplished Senior Citizen Discount sheet for the year Consumer bills per customer class (non-lifeliner)

m.

Consumer bill per Lifeline Bracket (lifeliner)

n.

Senior Citizen consumer bill

Folder 5. Other Docs o.

Computation on how the pass through charges were derived

p.

Submitted monthly URR (January 2017 to December 2019)

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicant that they be furnished with the same prior to the date of the initial hearing.

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

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

WITNESS, the Honorable Commissioners ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN, CATHERINE P. MACEDA, FLORESINDA G. BALDO-DIGAL and MARKO ROMEO L. FUENTES, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 14th day of September 2020 in Pasig City.

That in applying the various formulae in the determination of the adjustments and the recovery or refund of Over or Under Recoveries herein applicant hereby adopts the respective formula as provided for in ERC Resolution No. 16 Series of 2009, as amended by Resolution No. 21 S. 2010. and ERC Resolution No. 23 Series of 2010 together with the specific definitions and sub-formula for each item thereof; That in support of this application has hereby submitted and attached to this application the other requirements, as follows:

0.0377

PRAYER

c.

Folder 3. Statistical Data

5.

Number of Months 36 36 36 36 36

5,907,267.02

Applicant,

4.

Actual Revenue (Php)

PROPOSED SCHEME OF REFUND/COLLECT FOR THE YEAR 2017, 2018 & 2019

AURORA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (AURELCO),

e.

violent democracy protests in 2019.

Pompeo, a vehement critic of Beijing, said he was “appalled” by the arrest of John Clancey, a lawyer working for a firm known to take up human rights cases.

“Let me be clear: The United States will not tolerate the arbitrary detention or harassment of US citizens,” he said.

Hua Chunying, spokeswoman for China’s foreign ministry, said Pompeo’s statement was “in serious violation of the norms governing international relations”, and urged the secretary of state to “stop interfering in China’s internal affairs”. AFP

SUMMARY OF OVERALL (OVER) / UNDER RECOVERY FOR THE YEAR 2017, 2018 & 2019

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Pasig City

3.

C

HINA’S internet erupted in mirth at America’s troubled democracy after supporters of President Donald Trump broke into the US Capitol, with Beijing criticising the “sharp contrast” between Washington’s response to the chaos and the 2019 Hong Kong antigovernment protests.

JOINT SESSION. Vice President Mike Pence presides over a Joint session

AGNES VST DEVANADERA Chairperson and CEO

1

A Resolution for the Transitory Implementation of Legal e-Processes Pending the Adoption of the Interim Guidelines Governing Electronic Application, Filings, and Virtual Hearings Before the Energy Regulatory Commission;

M. Standard – Jan. 8, 2021

On Thursday morning, state media tabloid Global Times tweeted side-byside photo comparisons of Hong Kong protesters occupying the city’s Legislative Council Complex in July 2019 with Wednesday’s Washington riots.

The latter saw hardcore Trump fans invade the US Capitol to protest the election defeat, taking selfies, scuffling with security and ransacking parts of the building. “@SpeakerPelosi once referred to the Hong Kong riots as ‘a beautiful sight to behold’,” the Global Times said in the tweet, referring to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s June 2019 comment about Hong Kong’s mass pro-democracy demonstrations, which at that time were mostly peaceful.

“It remains yet to be seen whether she will say the same about the recent developments in Capitol Hill.”

China’s Communist Youth League also described the unrest as a “beautiful sight” on the Twitter-like Weibo platform.

Beijing’s foreign ministry echoed those sentiments, saying “the reaction of some people in the US, including that of some media outlets, is completely different.” AFP

Russia: Storming of US Capitol ‘mark of decline’ RUSSIAN officials on Thursday pointed to the storming of the US Capitol as evidence of America’s decline, with one saying it showed US democracy was “limping on both feet”.

After the stunning events in Washington, many in Moscow said the United States was no longer in any position to lecture other countries on freedom and democracy.

Under banners reading “Storm of the Capitol” and “Chaos in Washington”, Russian state television showed rolling images of mobs of Donald Trump supporters breaking down barricades and swarming the building, as security forces fired tear gas and police drew guns inside.

“The losing side has more than enough grounds to accuse the winner of falsifications -- it is clear that American democracy is limping on both feet,” Konstantin Kosachyov, the chair of the Russian upper house’s foreign affairs commit-

tee, said in a post on Facebook.

“The celebration of democracy has ended. It has, unfortunately, hit rock bottom, and I say this without a hint of gloating.

“America no longer charts the course and so has lost all right to set it. And, even more so, to impose it on others.”

Moscow has long bristled at US criticism of the state of Russian democracy under President Vladimir Putin, accusing Washington of hypocrisy and condescension.

Russian commentators gleefully pointed to Trump’s refusal to recognise the results of November’s election, and growing divisions in the United States, as evidence of the country’s decline.

The Kremlin has been accused of fostering those divisions with a campaign of interference and disinformation, including alleged attempts to disrupt the 2016 election in Trump’s favour that prompted an FBI investigation. AFP

IN BRIEF Merkel: Trump shares blame for inciting mob GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday she was “furious and saddened” by the storming of the US Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump and said the president shared blame for the unrest.

“I deeply regret that President Trump has not conceded his defeat, since November and again yesterday,” she said.

“Doubts about the election outcome were stoked and created the at-

mosphere that made the events of last night possible,” she said, adding that her shock was certainly shared by the “millions of people who admire America’s democratic tradition”.

She welcomed a statement by President-elect Joe Biden as well as “many reactions from both major parties of the US” which she said reassured her “that this democracy will prove to be much stronger than the attackers and rioters”. AFP

Netanyahu, US treasury chief blast violence ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday condemned as “disgraceful” violence by supporters of his staunch ally President Donald Trump at the US Capitol building.

Netanyahu made the comments in Jerusalem alongside Trump’s Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who called the storming of the Capitol by pro-Trump riot-

ers “unacceptable”.

The Israeli leader said the “rampage at the Capitol yesterday was a disgraceful act and it must be vigorously condemned.”

“I have no doubt that... American democracy will prevail. It always has,” added Netanyahu, who has repeatedly called Trump Israel’s best-ever friend in the White House. AFP

Rouhani: Western democracy ‘vulnerable’ IRANIAN President Hassan Rouhani said Thursday that the chaos unleashed on the US Capitol by US counterpart Donald Trump’s supporters exposed the fragility of Western democracy.

“What we saw in the United States yesterday (Wednesday) evening and today shows above all how fragile and vulnerable

Western democracy is,” Rouhani said in a speech broadcast by state television.

“We saw that unfortunately the ground is fertile for populism, despite the advances in science and industry.

“A populist has arrived and he has led his country to disaster over these past four years. AFP

Business Major firms and business groups slam Capitol chaos WASHINGTON―Major US corporations and businesses groups on Wednesday condemned the occupation of the US Capitol by rioters angry at President Donald Trump’s election defeat, with one organization raising the possibility of the president being removed from office.

The statements came on a shocking day for the United States, which saw mobs overrun Congress after a rally by Trump, who had sought to thwart the process of lawmakers certifying election results.

That was the final administrative step before Democratic President-elect Joe Biden enters the White House later this month, but the normally ceremonial affair spiraled into mayhem.

“Today marks a sad and shameful chapter in our nation’s history,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said on Twitter late Wednesday.

“Those responsible for this insurrection should be held to account, and we must complete the transition to President-elect Biden’s administration. It’s especially when they are challenged that our ideals matter most.”

The Business Roundtable issued a statement calling on “the president and all relevant officials to put an end to the chaos and to facilitate the peaceful transition of power.”

The lobbying group, which represents over 200 chief executives, blamed the events on “unlawful efforts to overturn the legitimate results of a democratic election. The country deserves better.”

US Chamber of Commerce CEO Thomas J. Donohue said: “The attacks against our nation’s Capitol Building and our democracy must end now,” and Congress should “conclude their Constitutional responsibility” to certify the winner of the presidential vote.

Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers went further, calling on Vice President Mike Pence to “seriously consider” invoking the US constitution’s 25th amendment, which would allow him to temporarily become president after Trump is deemed incapacitated.

The group has been viewed as supportive of Trump’s agenda of protecting American manufacturers, but Timmons said, “The outgoing president incited violence in an attempt to retain power, and any elected leader defending him is violating their oath to the Constitution and rejecting democracy in favor of anarchy.” AFP

Stock market rallies; BDO, Metrobank lead advances

T

HE stock market rallied Thursday along the rest of Asia as election wins in Georgia handed the Democrats control of the US Congress, paving the way for Joe Biden to push ahead with his legislative agenda that includes another huge stimulus package.

The Philippine Stocks Exchange Index surged 71.76 points, or 1 percent, to 7,119.61 on a value turnover of P8.7 billion. Gainers overwhelmed losers, 159 to 72, with 31 issues unchanged.

BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets, advanced 7.1 percent to P107, while Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-biggest bank, climbed 6.6 percent to P47.45.

Conglomerate Ayala Corp. rose 4.2 percent to P828, while Dito CME Holdings Corp., the third major mobile phone

firm, added 3.6 percent to P12.70.

Most Asian markets joint the rally Thursday. The twin Senate victories in Georgia allowed investors to look past extraordinary events in Washington, where pro-Donald Trump protesters stormed the Capitol Building and delayed the ratification of Biden’s November victory.

“These political events rarely have a lasting impact on the direction of the economy,” Steven Wieting, at Citi Private Bank, told Bloomberg TV. Lawmakers later resumed their debate after the building was secured.

It also took attention away from soaring coronavirus cases around the world that are forcing governments to impose fresh lockdowns, with traders optimistic that the rollout of vaccines, though slower than hoped, will eventually allow life to get back to normal.

Analysts said there had been some concern that a clean sweep for the Democrats—taking the White House and both houses of Congress—would lead to higher taxes and regulation.

“But the markets are slowly coming

LONDON―While Britain’s post-Brexit trade deal with the EU has at last been reached, the future of the country’s key financial services industry is uncertain ahead of bilateral talks.

London and Brussels finally clinched a deal over Christmas ahead of Britain’s formal divorce from the European Union on December 31.

Britain then departed from the EU single market and customs union with effect from January 1. Yet crucially, the agreement―four and a half years after Britain narrowly voted to leave―did not encompass the finance sector.

“This (trade) deal is a starting point.

We’ve got months of this to come,” Simon Gleeson of law firm Clifford Chance told AFP in reference to financial services.

The 1,200-page post-Brexit agreement gives scant detail about the industry, which is worth about €150 billion ($204 billion, 166 billion euros) per year or seven percent of the UK’s an-

to terms that this might be the bestcase... outcome via a stimulus perspective complemented by a growing understanding that a Biden administration could make a big difference in coordinating and pushing out a national vaccination strategy that will bring herd immunity in the US much quicker than anticipated,” said Axi strategist Stephen Innes.

He added that while the new president could undo a lot of Trump’s tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, he is unlikely to look at those until he has dealt with the virus and got the economy back up and running.

The Dow and S&P 500 both ended at new records on Wall Street, though the Nasdaq reversed earlier gains on worries about possible Democrat-led regulation of big tech firms.

Asia followed suit, with Tokyo, Sydney, Singapore, Taipei, Jakarta, Bangkok and Wellington all up more than one percent, while Seoul added more than two percent. Shanghai added 0.7 percent and Mumbai gained 0.4 percent. With AFP

PSEi January 7, 2021

TOP GAINERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

ORE GEO ZHI TECH COL TECB2 FJP IS AR SFIP

LAST PRICE 1.16 0.35 0.209 7.41 43.9 0.78 3.44 0.136 0.0037 1.79

CHANGE 0.33 0.06 0.029 1 5.9 0.1 0.42 0.016 0.0004 0.19

% CHANGE 39.76% 20.69% 16.11% 15.60% 15.53% 14.71% 13.91% 13.33% 12.12% 11.88%

TOP LOSERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

VVT TFC BKR PBB MBC FGENG KEP UBP RCB IPM

LAST PRICE 14 45 0.93 11.78 12 108 3.18 68 18 6.56

CHANGE -0.78 -2.5 -0.05 -0.62 -0.5 -4 -0.1 -2.05 -0.5 -0.18

% CHANGE -5.28% -5.26% -5.10% -5.00% -4.00% -3.57% -3.05% -2.93% -2.70% -2.67%

MOST ACTIVE

SKI ATTRACTION. Ski tourists queue to take the ski lift in the Stuhleck area in Spital am Semmering, Austria, on January 6, 2021. According to mobile phone movement data, the ongoing rush of tourists to Semmering means that more than 4,000 people are on the pass at peak times. Austria’s government on January 4 effectively extended its third coronavirus lockdown, which is scheduled to run until January 24. AFP

UK finance sector unsure of post-Brexit future

By Veronique Dupont

B3

FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

nual economic output.

Finance dwarfs Britain’s politicallysignificant fishing industry, which accounts for less than 0.1 percent of GDP and yet was a key factor in delaying the trade deal.

Equivalence Britain and the EU are now aiming to seal a memorandum of understanding about financial services by March, establishing a roadmap for cooperation, though officials have downplayed its impact.

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey remains optimistic of negotiating a so-called “equivalence” regime that make rules compatible to keep trade in certain services flowing smoothly.

“We’ve been working on these issues for a long time,” Bailey told a virtual parliamentary hearing on Wednesday.

“We have strong relationships with our partners in the EU... and our joint objective is to keep it that way because it benefits both of us.”

From January 1, the UK financial sector lost single market access and its

European “passport,” a device allowing UK financial products and services to be sold in the EU. The ability of the financial sector to do business in the bloc now hinges on obtaining equivalence across 59 specific areas.

London has already granted equivalence to EU-based financial firms in a number of those areas.

However, Brussels has so far only granted UK-based financial firms equivalence in just two areas, including derivatives clearing.

Japan was granted more than two under its EU trade agreement―despite the fact that Britain was instrumental in the creation of the EU’s financial legislation.

Yet Brussels remains fearful of divergence that could allow UK companies to undercut and threaten the EU’s own financial services sector.

“What Brussels would like is a formal commitment from the UK to regulate in line with the EU regulation,” added Gleeson. AFP The offices of banking giants Citi, HSBC and Barclays are pictured at the secondary central business district of Canary Wharf on the Isle of Dogs in east London on the bank holiday, December 28, 2020.

Business breathed a sigh of relief this week after a post-Brexit trade deal was agreed, but many issues remain unresolved, notably the place of financial services, which represent 80 per cent of the British economy, as the newly inked deal focuses on trade in goods. AFP

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

DITO ACEN GTCAP MBT APL PHR BDO SMPH BPI MM

VOLUME 108826700 67281800 661130 7482800 1858530000 93232000 3037770 6987400 2772480 29548700

VALUE (PHP) 1313614244 608522883 352928255 347397600 346688830 330533640 319841935 273070025 228374226.5 218422914

NYSE delisting 3 Chinese telecom companies in new reversal directive NEW YORK―The New York Stock Exchange reversed course again Wednesday saying it would delist three Chinese telecom equities from trading due to new US government guidance.

Meanwhile, Washington is considering adding Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba and tech giant Tencent to the blacklist, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The latest flip-flop by the NYSE, which will remove China Telecom, China Mobile and China Unicom, reverts the exchange back to its original policy announced last week.

The exchange had abandoned the decision to delist two days ago amid criticism from Beijing, but said Wednesday it will follow “new specific guidance received on January 5, 2021, that the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control provided to the NYSE.”

The move will end trading in the firms after 1430 GMT on January 11.

The US Departments of State and Defense have discussed expanding the list of prohibited firms to include Alibaba and Tencent, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

According to the report, those officials have talked with the Treasury Department about the impact of delisting the major firms with a combined market value of $1.3 billion and that are held by many US funds.

If Washington goes ahead with the broader sanctions, it would be further escalation of President Donald Trump’s campaign against China.

Trump on Tuesday night signed an executive order banning transactions involving Alipay, WeChat Pay and other apps linked to Chinese companies, drawing strong criticism from Beijing. AFP

Tesla market value surpasses $700b NEW YORK―Electric carmaker Tesla closed trading on Wednesday with a market value topping $700 billion for the first time.

The latest surge means the company is worth more than General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Fiat Chrysler and Volkswagen combined.

Tesla’s share price ended with a gain of 2.8 percent to $755.98 for a total value of whopping $717 billion. That came after the stock saw a more than 700-percent ascendance in 2020―a gain some analysts viewed as inflated.

The auto industry disruptor led by Elon Musk wowed Wall Street yet again over the weekend, reporting annual car deliveries of 499,550, just shy of its 2020 target of half a million, but well above analyst estimates.

The disclosure capped a year that saw Tesla report a series of profitable quarters and join the S&P 500, establishing the company as one of the world’s most valuable businesses and elevating Musk

to the second-wealthiest person behind Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.

While industry analysts do not expect another massive surge in value this year, they remain optimistic about the company’s sales prospects, even if the cars remain out of reach for many buyers.

The optimism comes as construction continues on new Tesla factories in Texas and Germany, which will join existing plants in California and Shanghai that are ramping up production.

Musk has expressed determination to cut the price for Tesla’s electric cars, which currently start at $37,990 in the US market.

The Tesla chief is developing battery design, material and production innovations that combine to cut the cost per kilowatt hour by 56 percent.

That should enable Tesla to field a $25,000 model in “three years-ish,” Musk said in September, adding, “it is absolutely critical that we make cars that people can actually afford.” AFP

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

B4 FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021

R.G. Manabat starts technical audit of DITO phone service

By Darwin G. Amojelar DITO Telecommunity, a joint venture of Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy and China Telecoms, on Thursday informed the National Telecommunications Commission of its readiness for the technical audit on its committed level of service.

The country’s third major telecom player said the 30-day audit began on Jan. 7, 2021.

DITO said the independent auditor was chosen from the latest list of accredited auditing firms under Group A of the Securities and Exchange Commission and appointed in accordance with the procedure under the rules and regulation on the selection process of the new major player (MC 09-09-2018).

The chosen independent auditor, R.G. Manabat & Co. (an affiliate of KPMG, an international audit firm) is set to test the connectivity and internet speeds in various areas to ensure that DITO complies with its requirement to cover 37 percent of the population and provide a minimum average internet speed of 27 megabits per second.

“For the past months, amid the difficulties posed by the current global pandemic, DITO has made great strides in the roll-out to ensure that the results of the audit will be positive,” said Atty.

Adel Tamano, DITO Telecommunity chief administrative officer.

The field test is expected to be completed within 30-days, while another 15 days will be needed to prepare the final report. It will use a percentage of the identified 1,600 sites that covers 8,800 barangays in the Philippines as base for the audit.

Tamano said the results of the audit would not affect the planned commercial roll-out starting March 2021.

“As I have said before, DITO Telecommunity is poised to finally offer its services to the Filipino people in March, world-class connectivity that they truly deserve, as we launch commercially,” he said.

PH office space sales fell 70% in 2020—Leechiu

By Othel V. Campos LEECHIU Property Consultants Inc. said Thursday the office market will continue to be a relevant segment of the real estate sector in 2021, as the economy begins to recover from the pandemic.

Office space take-up fell 70 percent in 2020 from 1.9 million square meters in 2019, said Leechiu Property president David Leechiu.

“I think the market will continue to hold in to office space. More companies now have realized difficulties of working from home experiment, but given the option they would go back to the office because one thing that’s missing is the human collaboration,” he said Thursday.

Office vacancy in 2021 would start from the spill-over of spaces vacated

by Philippine offshore gaming operators in 2020 estimated at 300,000 sq. m. or about 20 percent of occupied office space, the company said.

Leechiu said that despite the pandemic, land values in certain portions of Metro Manila would continue to appreciate. He said land in the Bonifacio Global City was observed to have appreciated by 12 percent in 2020.

He said commercial and retail space also started to pick up as Jollibee, Shakey’s and Max’s and retailer SSI Group Inc. reportedly heightened operations.

“They’ve all been on uptrend since October, and they’re about 20-percent away from pre COVID levels. That’s a very good indication of our recovery.

And then you’ve got domestic tourism already opening up a lot of local spots. Many are very eager to get out of the house and you’re seeing that in all tourism markets that have opened recently,” Leechiu said.

Leechiu said while the stock market contracted last year, real estate assets held their grounds and in certain cases appreciated.

Business NGCP making preparations for $1-b initial public offering

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T

RANSMISSION operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines is taking steps to comply with an initial public offering requirement, an executive said Thursday.

NGCP spokesman Cynthia Perez-Alabanza said the company started preparations as early as 2014 “with compliance to our franchise foremost on our minds.”

Bloomberg reported that NGCP was talking to banks for the planned IPO that would raise about $1 billion.

“We were previously advised that market conditions may not be ideal at the moment, but we continue to take steps to prepare for an eventual IPO,”

Alabanza said.

Republic Act 9511, which granted the franchise to NGCP to operate the country’s transmission network, requires NGCP to list at least 20 percent of its shares at the Philippine Stock Exchange within 10 years after it started operations.

NGCP commenced operations on Jan. 15, 2009 and is required to make a public offering of its shares representing 20 percent of its outstanding capital stock on or before Jan. 14, 2019.

NGCP previously asked for deferment of the IPO in a filing with the Energy Regulatory Commission as it cited unfavorable market conditions.

The ERC, in a decision dated March 2020, directed NGCP to list its shares within six months after the order. The ERC then denied the application of NGCP to extend the period to list its shares of stock in compliance with RA 9511.

It said the law’s intention is to disperse ownership of the corporation to allow public investors to ensure that it will not be subject to monopoly. NGCP filed a motion for reconsideration on the ERC decision in August 2020. NGCP said it conducts its business in full compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.

“We are not avoiding an IPO, but merely asked for a deferment of the offering to a more favorable time given the prevailing circumstances at the time of the petition. We fully respect the decision and jurisdiction of the ERC over the matter, and we intend to reply appropriately,” Perez-Alabanza said earlier.

NGCP said it could not undertake the IPO when the National Transmission Corp. made public threats against its concession and that conducting an IPO in the scenario would be irresponsible and disadvantageous to the government.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Thursday, January 7, 2021

71.76 PTS. 7,119.61

Total Volume Total Trades Total Value

46,429,507,355 184,684 8,733,446,529.88

Advances Declines

159 72

Unchanged

31

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.0600

Japan

Yen

0.009705

0.4664

UK

Pound

1.361100

65.4145

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128982

6.1989

Switzerland

Franc

1.138563

54.7193

Canada

Dollar

0.789017

37.9202

Singapore

Dollar

0.758956

36.4754

Australia

Dollar

0.780100

37.4916

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655549

127.6257

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266581

12.8119

Brunei

Dollar

0.756086

36.3375

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000072

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.033478

1.6090

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.0854

Euro

Euro

1.232900

59.2532

Korea

Won

0.000919

0.0442

China

Yuan

0.154703

7.4350

India

Rupee

0.013676

0.6573

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.249501

11.9910

New Zealand

Dollar

0.728900

35.0309

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035718

1.7166 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF 50-MW Bulacan solar project to open in Q1 MERALCO PowerGen Corp., which took a majority stake in PowerSource First Bulacan Solar Inc., expects the completion of a 50-megawatt solar power plant in the first quarter.

Manila Electric Co. said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Thursday that unit MGen acquired an additional 20-percent equity in PFBSI through wholly-owned subsidiary MGen Renewable Energy Inc. to bring up indirect holdings to 60 percent.

Meralco owns 100 percent stake in MGen. “The acquisition is in line with MGen’s goal to diversify and increase investment in the renewable energy sector,” Meralco said.

PFBSI was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Oct. 29, 2015. The company is engaged in the development, construction and operation of solar-powered generation facilities and is constructing a 50-MW utility scale solar facility in San Miguel, Bulacan. The project is estimated to cost P4.2 billion.

Alena Mae S. Flores

ICTSI unit in Mindanao links to more countries

JOY RIDE FRANCHISE. We Move People and Things Philippines Inc., the company behind JoyRide Delivery and Happy Move Delivery, one of the leading Filipino app-based on-demand delivery services, signs a franchise agreement with Happy Move Delivery Cebu Corp. and Trans-Larita Inc. to pursue aggressive growth of on-demand delivery needs in the provinces of Cebu and Laguna.

Signing the franchise contract are (from left) We Move administrative officer for Cebu Marifel Villarubia and Happy Move president and chief executive Victoria Ong.

Investree, Filinvest team up to form crowd-funding portal

By Jenniffer B. Austria INVESTREE Philippines Inc., a joint venture of Filinvest Development Corp. and Investree Singapore Pte. Ltd., is set to operate the country’s first crowd-funding portal.

The Securities and Exchange Commission allowed Investree Philippines to operate a crowd-funding platform that would connect small, medium and emerging enterprises with banks and other lenders.

The SEC said the registration of Investree Philippines as crowd-funding intermediary and funding portal would be valid for one year, subject to a review by the SEC of the actual operation of the crowd-funding portal in the first 11 months for possible extension.

Crowdfunding is a fundraising ac-

tivity typically conducted through an online platform for startups and small and medium enterprises. It involves three parties, including the entrepreneur or project initiator; the supporters or those willing to fund the business idea or project; and the platform or moderating organization that brings the entrepreneur and supporters together to realize the business idea or project.

Crowd-funding may be donationbased, where supporters pool their resources to support a charitable cause; or reward-based, where supporters give money in exchange for a “reward,” usually a product produced by the project initiator.

It may also be lending-based, where supporters lend money to the entrepreneur and receive his/her legally binding commitment to repay

the loan at predetermined time intervals and interest rate; or equitybased, where supporters invest in shares sold by the entrepreneur and receive a share of the profits in the form of a dividend or distribution, subject to the entrepreneur’s discretion.

Under the plan, Investree Philippines will operate a lendingbased crowdfunding platform.

The crowdfunding activities will involve banks or qualified buyers as lenders and will be limited to small, medium and emerging enterprises as borrowers.

Investree Philippines is the first crowdfunding intermediary and funding portal to be registered with the SEC since the rules and regulations covering crowd-funding took effect in July 2019.

MINDANAO Container Terminal, a subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services Inc., said Thursday the new service that connects the Visayas and Mindanao to Asia and the Middle East via Singapore would benefit farmers and manufacturers in the country.

Launched in the Philippines through Regional Container Line’s South Philippines 6 (RSP6) agent Eagle Express Lines, the fixed-day weekly service made its first port call to MCT on Dec. 19 with the 628-TEU MV Pira Bhum.

The service is operated by two vessels and covers the Singapore-Cebu-Cagayan de Oro-Singapore route. The vessels turn in Singapore, which serves as a transshipment hub and provides competitive connections from Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga to other Southeast Asian markets, the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East, while additionally serving the markets further north such as China and South Korea.

MCT general manager Roberto Locsin said the regular service calls could be considered as a product superhighway that would help farmers, manufacturers and other producers in the Philippines.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Axelum allocates P350m for 2021 capex AXELUM Resources Corp., the country’s largest fully-integrated manufacturer and exporter of premium coconut products, earmarked P350 million in 2021 capital expenditures to ramp up production and sustain growth.

Axelum said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the programmed capital spending would be used to fund equipment modernization, capacity upgrades, plant improvements and new product research and development activities.

The company is also seeking to extend its market reach both domestically and overseas by appointing reputable distribution partners in identified key growth areas and continues to look for strategic and valueaccretive targets for either an acquisition or joint-venture.

“We are entering 2021 with a renewed sense of courage and optimism anchored on our collective efforts and various learnings from last year, which strengthened our character and resolve,” Axelum president and chief operating officer Henry Raperoga said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

BSP adopts new bank assessment framework

By Julito G. Rada

MODERN ESTRELLA BRIDGE. Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar (left) and Undersecretary Emil Sadain inspect the construction of Estrella Pantaleon Bridge which is now more than 72-percent completed. Villar says motorists will be able to use the widened and modernized Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge that links Estrella Street in Makati City and Barangka Drive in Mandaluyong City by the second quarter this year.

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Thursday it will push through with the implementation of the Supervisory Assessment Framework this month to help enhance the stability of the banking system under the New Economy “SAFr further promotes effective supervision of BSP-supervised financial institutions and surveillance of the financial system,” BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno told reporters in an online briefing.

“The reform proved timely given the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic which has altered the way the BSP undertakes financial supervision,” he said.

SAFr is a risk-based supervisory framework that aims to facilitate a more robust, dynamic, and forwardlooking assessments of BSP-supervised institutions.

It aims to improve the assessment

framework by further emphasizing business model analysis to identify drivers of risks; aligning supervisory strategies with the unique impact and risks of a BSFI; and applying prompt and calibrated enforcement actions. It also adheres to the principle of proportionality in supervision.

SAFr replaces rating systems earlier used by the BSP, including CAMELS (capital adequacy, asset quality, management, earnings, liquidity and sensitivity to market risks), the primary rating system for banks and quasi-banks; and ROCA (risk management, operational controls, compliance and asset quality), the rating system for foreign bank branches.

The adoption of SAFr is among the reforms introduced by the BSP in response to changes in the operating landscape brought about by financial innovation, deregulation, competition and advancements in information technology.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021

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NBA players stand behind racial justice

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) attempts a layup during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. AFP

Chargers, Jaguars fire coaches after losing seasons WASHINGTON, United States— The Jacksonville Jaguars and the Los Angeles Chargers fired their coaches on Monday, hours after the end of a NFL regular season in which the two teams won just four games after being eliminated from playoff contention.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan dumped Doug Marrone after a 1-15 campaign that left Jacksonville with the top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft while the Chargers axed Anthony Lynn despite his 33-31 overall record in the post.

The fired coaches joined New York Jets coach Adam Gase, dropped Sunday after a 2-14 season, in leaving a total of six NFL coaching vacancies, with Detroit, Atlanta and Houston having finished the year under interim guidance.

Marrone, 56, took over as an interim coach for the final two games of the 2016 season and guided the Jaguars into the 2017 AFC Championship, but departs with an overall 23-43 record.

“I am committed and determined to deliver winning football to the city of Jacksonville,” Khan said in a statement.

“Realizing that goal requires a fresh start throughout our football operations.

“I’ll always appreciate Doug’s passion, grit and class, and I’m confident he will enjoy success in the next chapter of his career.”

The Jaguars also fired general manager Dave Caldwell in November after a 1-10 start.

“As the search for our new general manager continues, now the quest begins to find a head coach who shares my ambition for the Jacksonville Jaguars and our fans, whose loyalty and faith are overdue to be rewarded,” Khan said.

Khan said the team has lacked a star quarterback but the new coach and executive will be in position to change that with several top college prospects available in the draft.

“We are in a better position today than we were a year ago,” Khan said.

Lynn, 52, was axed after a 7-9 season that ended with a four-game win streak.

The Chargers went 12-4 in 2018 but slid to 5-11 in an injury-hit 2019 campaign and lost seven games this season by eight points or less, dropping three by three points or less. AFP

Philadelphia withstands Beal’s 60 to beat Wizards L

OS ANGELES, United States—Joel Embiid’s 38 points and 28 from Seth Curry saw the Philadelphia 76ers withstand a 60-point performance from Washington’s Bradley Beal in a 141-136 NBA win over the Wizards on Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time).

Tobias Harris and Shake Milton scored 19 points each and Ben Simmons added 17 points and 12 assists as the 76ers notched their fifth win in a row and pushed their league-leading record to 7-1.

The Sixers led by as many as 21 points in the third quarter, but the Wizards hung around and knotted the score at 131-131 with four minutes left to play.

From there Philadelphia scored eight straight points to pull away, the defeat more painful for the Wizards as Russell Westbrook departed in the waning minutes with a hand injury after contributing 20 points, eight rebounds and 12 assists.

The marquee matchup in Miami was the first meeting between the teams since the Heat eliminated the Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.

The rematch saw the Celtics emerge from a close game with a 107-105 victory.

Boston used a 10-0 scoring run to build

a 10-point lead with 1:17 remaining only for the Heat to respond with a 10-0 run of their own before Celtics guard Payton Pritchard made a game-winning layup with two-tenths of a second remaining.

Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 26 points. Jayson Tatum paced the Celtics with 27 and Jaylen Brown added 21.

- Fultz out for season In Orlando, Terrence Ross scored 20 points and Dwayne Bacon added 19 to lead the Magic to a 105-94 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

But the victory was marred by a season-ending knee injury to point guard Markelle Fultz in the first quarter.

Fultz’s knee appeared to give out as he drove to the basket and he crashed to the court in obvious pain with what the team later said was a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Charlotte’s free-agent acquisition Gordon Hayward scored a career-high 44

points to propel the Hornets to a 102-94 victory over the Hawks in Atlanta.

The Indiana Pacers, fueled by 35 points from Malcolm Brogdon, notched a 114107 win over the Houston Rockets, whose star James Harden delivered a modest 15 points and 12 assists.

The Milwaukee Bucks, with 25 points from NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, cruised to a 130-115 victory over the Detroit Pistons, who saw Derrick Rose depart early with a right knee contusion.

The Oklahoma City Thunder edged the Pelicans in New Orleans 111-110. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 21 points and George Hill made two free throws to seal the win with 12.1 seconds left to play.

Zion Williamson’s 29 points paced the Pelicans, who also had a triple-double of 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists from center Steven Adams of New Zealand, whose first career triple-double came against his former team.

With 21 points from both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the Los Angeles Clippers held off the Golden State Warriors 108-101 in San Francisco. AFP

LOS ANGELES, United States—As violence at the US Capitol underlined deep divisions in America on Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time), NBA players said the incident helped renew their commitment to fight racial injustice.

Boston Celtics and Miami Heat players knelt during the national anthem before their game in Miami, hours after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol as legislators met to certify Joe Biden’s victory in the November election.

The players issued a joint statement referring not only to the chaotic events in Washington but also to the decision on Tuesday by prosecutors in Wisconsin not to charge the white police officer who shot and paralyzed Black man Jacob Blake in Kenosha last August.

Protests of Blake’s shooting brought the NBA to a standstill for three days in August in a protest of racial injustice that soon spread across an array of sports.

“2021 is a new year, but some things have not changed,” the Celtics and Heat players said in their statement.

“We play tonight’s game with a heavy heart after yesterday’s decision in Kenosha and knowing that protesters in our nation’s capital are treated differently by political leaders depending on what side of certain issues they are on.

“The drastic difference between the way protesters this past spring and summer were treated and the encouragement given to today’s protesters who acted illegally just shows how much more work we have to do.

“We have decided to play tonight’s game to try to bring joy into people’s lives.

“But we must not forget the injustices in our society, and we will continue to use our voices and our platform to highlight these issues and do everything we can to work for a more equal and just America.”

In Philadelphia, 76ers coach Doc Rivers was blunt in his assessment of the scene at the Capitol.

“It’s pretty disturbing and sad,” he said. “I keep hearing, ‘This is an attack on democracy.’ It’s not. Democracy will prevail. It always does.

“It shows a lot though. I’ll say it because I don’t think a lot of people want to—could you imagine today if those were all Black people storming into the Capitol and what would’ve happened? AFP

Obiena continues training in Italy

By Peter Atencio BECAUSE of travel restrictions, Tokyo Olympicsbound Ernest John Obiena will remain in Italy to continue his preparations.

Instead of moving to another country, the 25-year-old Obiena is set to go to the northern province of Padua to get ready to join a series of European indoor competitions this February.

“Nagsisimula na ang training niya for specific preparations para sa darating na indoor season sa Europe. Pero, nothing definite sa schedule,” said Obiena’s father Emerson.

Organizers are still finalizing their schedules since Italy has reported more than 2 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 76,000 deaths.

It has since seen a resurgence of COVID-19 with reports of new cases peaking at more than 40,000 a day in November.

And new lockdowns to stem the COVID-19 resurgence are being done following the discovery of new, potentially more contagious, variants of the coronavirus in the United Kingdom and South Africa.

“Wait and see pa kasi ang mga organizers kung itutuloy nila ang mga competitions,” added the elder Obiena as he monitors EJ’s situation while in Formia.

In Obiena’s last outing in Rome last September, Armand Duplantis made heads turn when he broke Sergey Bubka’s world outdoor record at 6.15

meters on his second attempt.

Belgian Ben Broeders, who set a national record, tied Obiena at the same height and settled for the silver after acing it on his second attempt.

Former world record holder Renaud Lavillenie finished fourth with 5.70m.

His stint in the southern part of Europe was done with the help of coach Vitaly Petrov, and the guidance of 2016 Rio champion Thiago Braz of Brazil.

Obiena is doing his preparations with defending champion Thiago Braz da Silva of Brazil.

Last Sept. 12, Obiena also competed against a talented field, and still managed to pick up a share of a bronze medal in the men’s pole vault meet of the Poznan Athletics Grand Prix 2020 in Poland.

The 24-year-old Obiena has been competing against world class rivals.

But Obiena was still able to keep his composure and cleared the height at 5.52 meters on his second attempt.

On Sept.5, a confident Obiena recorded his second season best attempt of 5.74 meters to grab the gold in the 59th Ostrava Golden Spike competition in the Czech Repubic.

He was supposed to leave Italy, but issues involving his visa has kept Obiena from going to the Doha leg of the Diamond League athletics meet in Qatar.

Ernest John Obiena is set to go to the northern province of Padua in Italy to get ready to join a series of European indoor competitions this February.

Female bodybuilder with one leg captures hearts in China

Gui Yuna (right) is assisted by her coach Zhu Liping as she works out at a gym in Shanghai. Gui, who competed in long jump at the 2004 Athens Paralympics, is new to bodybuilding but won the first time she competed in October 2020. AFP

SHANGHAI, China—Tears fill Gui Yuna’s eyes as she describes losing her right leg in a road accident aged seven and school bullies kicking away her crutch to make her fall.

Tears fill Gui Yuna’s eyes as she describes losing her right leg in a road accident aged seven and school bullies kicking away her crutch to make her fall.

But they would not dare do that now—the 35-year-old is a prize-winning bodybuilder and former Paralympian whose inspirational story has gone viral in China.

Gui, who competed in long jump at the 2004 Athens Paralympics, is new to bodybuilding but won the first time she competed in October.

Images of her strutting on stage in a highheel shoe and bikini – all while leaning on her crutch – featured heavily in Chinese media and won her a sizeable online following.

With her steely determination and positive attitude she has been feted as an inspiration in a country where disabled people are all too often marginalized.

“It’s possible that I won first place not because of my professionalism or muscles, but because of my confidence and bravery to stand on the stage and show myself to everyone,” Gui said.

She spoke following an intense workout at a Shanghai gym, sessions that she regularly posts to her 200,000 followers on TikTok. ‘Three-legged cat’ Gui has almost no memory of the fateful day when she was hit by a truck as she came home from school.

But she cannot forget how, as a young child with only a stump where her right leg used to be, children at school tormented her by kicking away her crutch or yanking away

her chair as she sat down.

“They called me a cripple or ‘three-legged cat,” said Gui, tears welling in her eyes, even though this was nearly three decades ago.

“Most of the time it was abusive language like that and sometimes physical abuse.

“The first time they made me fall I cried, but then I got used to it and I thought: you can bully me however you want, but I’ll be fine because I have a brave heart.”

Gui, who is from the southern city of Nanning, was raised by her mother because her father died before she was born.

The odds were stacked against her but Gui’s athleticism matched her determination and in 2001 she became involved in paralympic sports, going on to represent China at the 2004 Games, finishing seventh in her long jump category. AFP

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Sports

FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021

Top-ranked Johnson motivated to improve LOS ANGELES—World number one Dustin Johnson, whose four 2020 victories included a Masters triumph, plans to keep his foot on the accelerator in 2021.

“I mean, I like being the best,” Johnson said Wednesday on the eve of the US PGA Tour Tournament of Champions at Kapalua in Hawaii. “I want to continue the good play and hopefully can have a little bit better year this year.”

PGA Tour Player of the Year Johnson captured his second major title at the pandemic-delayed Masters in November -- after winning the Tour Championship in September.

The 36-year-old American, who won the Tournament of Champions in 2013 and 2018, thinks there is still room for improvement in his game.

“Short game, putting, wedges -- I still feel like I can get a lot better with the wedges,” said Johnson, who had three runner-up finishes in 2020 along with his quartet of wins. “I continue to practice those, when I do practice, I mean I’m always working on my wedges.

“I can drive it better, I can definitely hit the long irons a little bit better, so I feel like there’s plenty of areas I can improve and so that’s what I’ll look forward to doing this year.”

Kapalua, where he has eight top 10 finishes in 10 starts, is a good place for Johnson to knock off any rust in his first start since his victory at Augusta National.

“It’s OK to be a little bit rusty,” he said. “The fairways are nice and wide and there’s still some shots, you’ve got to hit some really quality golf shots, but I feel like I’ve had the last week or so to play a little bit. I’m rusty, but not too r usty.”

In recent days of practice, Johnson said, “everything feels pretty similar” to his stellar form of late 2020.

“Obviously not quite as sharp as I was probably back at Augusta, but I’m seeing a lot of the same shapes and I feel like I’m doing everything pretty well.”

After the coronavirus disruptions of last year, the US PGA Tour loosened the qualification criteria for this year’s Tournament of Champions to include not only 2020 winners but also players who reached last year’s Tour Championship.

The record 42-strong field includes eight of the world’s top 10, including defending champion and world No. 3 Justin Thomas and second-ranked Jon Rahm of Spain.

A confident Johnson sees no reason he won’t be in the hunt. AFP

Messi double gives Barca renewed hope in title chase

Grand Slam champion Serena Williams

Serena, Barty to headline Aussie Open warm-up tilts M

ELBOURNE—World number one Ashleigh Barty and 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams will spearhead the two WTA tournaments in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open, with the top 32-ranked women split evenly across the simultaneous events, organisers said Thursday.

The onslaught of Covid-19 has forced a radical change to how the early 2021 tennis season will look, with the Australian Open pushed back three weeks to February 8.

Players will arrive in Australia from January 15 and undergo a mandatory twoweek quarantine before two WTA 500 and two ATP 250 events are held alongside the ATP Cup, all at Melbourne Park.

Organizers have branded it the Melbourne Summer Series and named each tournament after areas of Victoria state.

That will see the women play the Gippsland Trophy and Yarra Valley Classic from January 31-February 6, marking Barty’s first appearance in 11 months after opting out of the US and European swing last year over coronavirus fears.

As well as Williams, the likes of world number two Simona Halep, defending Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and previous Australian Open winners Naomi Osaka, Victoria Azarenka and Angelique Kerber will take part.

The leading men’s stars, including Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, will compete in the 12-team ATP Cup, which will be run at the same time and at the same venue.

Those that didn’t qualify will play in two ATP 250 tournaments -- the Great Ocean Road Open and Murray River Open, featuring top names including David Goffin, Stan Wawrinka, Grigor Dimitrov and Nick Kyrgios.

“There’s no doubt this will be an historic week of tennis, and is the biggestever Australian Open lead-in week we have seen,” said Tennis Australia’s major events chief Cameron Pearson.

“While we know the circumstances are unique this year, it is a huge coup to secure such strong playing fields.”

Meanwhile, in Miami, Chilean top seed Cristian Garin will try to win his first ATP hardcourt title at the Delray Beach Open, which on Thursday launches the tour’s 2021 campaign, running concurrently with a tournament in Antalya, Turkey.

Garin, ranked 22nd, and top-ranked American John Isner, 25th overall, lead a 28-player field at the start of a revamped schedule that will not return to US soil until the Miami Open in March.

Britain’s Andy Murray, Canadian Milos Raonic, Japan’s Kei Nishikori and 2020 winner Reilly Opelka are among those who pulled out of the Florida event which begins the run up to next month’s Australian Open.

Garin, 24, made his deepest Grand Slam run into the third round last year at Roland Garros and captured his fourth ATP Tour title last February on clay in Rio de Janeiro.

He gets a bye into the second round and will face either a qualifier or Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

Others with first-round byes include second-seeded Isner, French third seed Adrian Mannarino and Polish fourth seed Hubert Hurkacz.

Isner, 35, owns 15 ATP titles, including 13 on US soil, but has never lifted the trophy at Delray Beach.

American Sebastian Korda, who plays South Korean Kwon Soon-woo, reached the fourth round at last year’s French Open as a qualifier. The son of 1998 Australian Open winner Petr Korda reached the fourth round before falling to his idol, Rafael Nadal. AFP

VisMin Super Cup picks Hontiveros as ambassador, sets April 9 opening

Dondon Hontiveros

INTENT on finding new basketball talents from the South, the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup unfolds in April this year.

In accordance with its mission, the country’s first professional league in the regions has chosen Dondon Hontiveros, Cebuano hoops legend and one of the country’s best shooters ever, as its official ambassador.

Hontiveros, a former standout of the University of Cebu Webmasters and the Cebu Gems, a 13-time PBA All-Star, and many times national team member, is now a councilor of Cebu City’s 2nd district.

Relishing his role in the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup, Hontiveros said: “We will bring back the days where basketball in the southern side (VisMin) of the country was awesome. When people came in droves to watch the games and homegrown players were given a fair opportunity to play for their cities and provinces.”

League officials, led by COO Rocky Chan, and representatives of interested teams already held their 1st virtual

conference and are targeting April 9 for the inaugural conference to be held in a bubble set-up.

According to secretary-general Chelito ‘Marvin’ Caro, confirmed to take part are teams from Cebu City, Mandaue City (KCS), Talisay (MJAS) and Lapu-Lapu City in the Visayas side and teams from Zamboanga City, Pagadian City (Explorers), Sindangan, and Roxas-Zamboanga del Norte (Vanguards) in the Mindanao side.

“Many teams already sent a letter of intent but we will just limit (participants) in the first conference,” said Chan.

“We want to provide a venue for our future stars in Visayas and Mindanao and promote sports tourism in the regions.”

Cebu City will host the Visayas leg while Zamboanga will stage the Mindanao leg. To lessen the teams’ expenses, elimination round games will be confined to their respective regions.

To ensure grassroots development, each team must have at least six homegrown players.

MADRID—Ronald Koeman said Barcelona can still win La Liga after Lionel Messi scored twice on Wednesday in a 3-2 win over Athletic Bilbao.

Messi’s double helped Barca reduce the gap behind La Liga’s leaders Atletico Madrid to seven points, even if Atletico will be hard to catch, given they also have two games in hand.

Koeman admitted last week it would be “very difficult” to close the gap but was more optimistic after the victory at San Mames.

“There is always a chance,” he said.

“The season is very long and you can have ups and downs. It may be that one team that is doing very well will later find it difficult.”

Barca trailed to an early Inaki Williams strike but responded with a slick attacking performance that had Messi at the heart of it.

It was his cross that led to Pedri’s equaliser and then the Argentinian could have had a hat-trick, only for VAR and the woodwork to intervene.

But this was a vintage display from the 33-year-old, perhaps his best of the season so far, at a time when his future at Barcelona remains up in the air.

Only a late mistake took some of the shine off Messi’s night, a poor pass allowing Iker Muniain to finish and make the result look closer than it was.

Bilbao had scored in the third minute and the 90th, each time exposing Barcelona’s defensive frailties that remain unsolved.

Yet in between, Koeman’s team were able to dictate the match and demonstrate why going forward they are still a force to be reckoned with.

‘Team is growing’ “The team is growing, playing with more confidence,” said Koeman.

“Sometimes we look close to our best.”

Pedri was excellent again, his sumptuous backheel for Messi’s first goal another indication of the 18-year-old’s talent and his understanding with his captain.

Ousmane Dembele, meanwhile, enjoyed one of those virtuouso nights where his speed, invention and confidence made him look every bit like one of the world’s most exciting players.

“Everything starts with the player himself,” said Koeman. “He gives us a lot.”

Bilbao were playing their first game under new coach Marcelino Garcia Toral, who led Valencia to win the last completed Copa del Rey by beating Barca in the final.

He was springing off the bench and clenching his fists in the third minute after Williams raced in behind, touching inside the scrambling Clement Lenglet before driving home.

But Barcelona were invigorated.

Sergino Dest should have scored after a neat exchange between Messi and Antoine Griezmann before Pedri did, Messi’s looping cross to the back post cushioned back across for Pedri to nod in.

Dembele was almost unplayable, drifting inside one minute and darting forward the next but it was Pedri’s vision that created Barca’s second.

Messi sent him through, the youngster cutting inside before seeing Messi behind him.

Pedri backheeled, wrongfooting the Bilbao defence and goalkeeper, with Messi sliding in the finish.

Griezmann was denied after more good work by Dembele while Messi had a goal ruled out and then nicked the crossbar with a curling effort from distance. AFP

PESO partners with Mineski to promote youth opportunities in esports PILIPINAS E-Sports Organization, the National Sports Association for esports in the country recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee, recently formalized a partnership with Pillar Digital E-Commerce, Inc., the parent company of Mineski Philippines, to officially accredit Mineski’s Youth Esports Program as one of PESO’s flagship activities in 2021 to promote the growth of esports among its local stakeholders.

YEP is an initiative by Mineski and the Philippine Collegiate Champions League that promotes responsible gaming among young people and brings co-curricular esports programs to schools nationwide. YEP also recognizes chapter organizations within universities, organizes the National Interschool Cyber League, and hosts regular YEP talks for YEP Chapters to come together to compete, learn, and have fun within the program.

As one of PESO’s key programs in the coming year, the association will promote YEP as a training program for future esports athletes, introduc-

ing and endorsing it to schools that might want to formally join the program. YEP will also be endorsed to the International Esports Federation as an example of a commendable esports program for the youth.

Meanwhile, Mineski will assist PESO member organizations in tapping YEP member schools to promote their future events and activities, as promote collaboration with PESO member organizations for joint esports initiatives.

“The Philippines has a vast pool of talent that has the potential to succeed in esports. The partnership between PESO and YEP will put a grassroots program in place that nurtures young talent and engages stakeholders to drive the growth of esports in the country. With the right infrastructure and programs in place, we hope that more young Filipinos will see the potential of esports, from opportunities to participate in high-level competition and cultivate the discipline of an athlete to considering pursuing a career within

the large, growing ecosystem of the esports industry,” said PESO Board Member and Mineski Global CEO Ronald Robins.

Most recently, esports has been announced as an official medal event in the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2022. The team behind YEP notes that this can be motivation to further develop the grassroots program.

“Filipinos have fared well in past global competitions, and with esports becoming an official sport within larger platforms, we hope that more young people will see the potential of bringing together what they love with the discipline and rigor of competing at the highest levels. We know that the next champion could be from anywhere, and YEP will cast a wide net by engaging colleges and universities, as well as student organizations, to drive the growth of esports in the Philippines,” stated YEP Program Director Marlon Marcelo.

To date, YEP has a network of over 200 schools all over the Philippines, which means its wider

reach could present more opportunities in esports.

Beyond organizing competitions, YEP regularly engages its members on such topics as esports careers, esports industry stories, and the benefits of responsible video gaming.

“We recognize that many students are passionate about the games that they love to play. We also want to help the youth who will consider a career in esports as a result of our efforts to develop the right foundation and develop more holistically by encouraging the right balance between esports, their academics, and other pursuits,” shared Marcelo.

YEP also aims to engage schools in integrating esports into the curriculum, from establishing varsity teams to introducing esports-focused courses.

“When schools recognize the value of esports, there is a greater chance for us to provide more structure and guidance to young minds. The academe and esports are not opposing forces but complementary, and can work together to ensure holistic development,” said Robins.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021

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Charlie Dizon takes on first horror role in ‘Horrorscope’ METRO Manila Film Festival 2020 Best Actress and Fan Girl star Charlie Dizon is headlining an episode of Horrorscope, an iWantTFC offering that starts streaming on Jan. 13.

“Horrorscope is an anthology series about how one’s astrological sign can bring misfortune and terror,” says Ato Bautista, the series creator, producer, and director.

In the “Virgo” episode Charlie Dizon takes on her first horror role as Ronalyn, an idealistic rookie police officer who is forced by her superiors to join a group of corrupt “ninja cops” in exchange for a promotion.

To be accepted, Ronalyn needs to extract information from and then execute a suspected drug runner held captive by the group, who turns out to be her

ex-boyfriend and first love Dado (Fino Herrera). Before her bosses find out about their real connection, Ronalyn then must choose between doing what’s right and saving her own life.

Other episodes feature Elisse Joson, Patrick Quiroz, Fino Herrera, Iyah Mina, and Paolo Gumabao.

In the “Leo” episode, Iyah Mina plays the controlling fashion designer Leona, who is mourning the passing of her younger boyfriend Jonas (Paolo Gumabao). Her only wish is to be with him again, so she hires a necromancer to bring Jonas back from the dead.

But raising the dead has its own tragic consequences, and karma befalls the obsessed Leona as her dead boyfriend yearns for her to share his grave.

Patrick Quizon, meanwhile, plays the earnest sacristan Ponce in the “Libra” episode, where he helps a priest exorcise the devil from a mysterious lady named Clarissa (Elisse Joson). During the ritual, Clarissa becomes too strong and her womb swells to give birth to the prince of darkness.

As both of them become overpowered

by Clarissa, the priest decides to kill her as a last resort. But Ponce is paralyzed by fear and his conscience, unable to decide whether to help the priest with his morbid solution or save Clarissa and her unborn child.

Standard and premium subscribers worldwide can watch the three episodes of Horrorscope on the iWantTFC app (iOs and Android) or on iwanttfc.com starting Jan. 13.

Making momma proud Actress Dimples Romana with her firstborn Callie

At 17, Callie has a clear-cut vision of what she wants—that is supporting local artisans and putting their pieces in a platform that is closer to the youth through her business venture Cal the Brand.

VERY WANG

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NICKIE WANG

CREEN star Dimples Romana was a vision of a proud parent when she joined her daughter Amanda “Callie” Ahmee in a virtual conference with the press and members of the blogging community to introduce Cal The Brand, a fashion line that supports local artisans by putting their pieces in a platform that is closer to the youth.

“Callie makes me look like a good mom,” the actress said in jest when we spoke to her about her facial expression while listening to her eldest child talk.

“I don’t hear her talk like that at home.

She seldom talks kaya nagugulat din ako sa mag naririnig ko sa kanya,” the 36-year-old Dimples admitted.

“To have a child like Callie, at 17, it feels like I'm getting to know her more.

I work from one teleserye to another, so during this time, it’s like I was given more time to rekindle with my family, kasi ngayon ko lang talaga sila technically nakasama ng matagal. That’s why while you’re asking my daughter questions, I kept asking myself, ‘anak ko ba ito?’ She really surprises me,” she added.

Born out of her combined desire to be productive back in early 2019, her love for Rattan bags, and her aspiration to follow in the footsteps of her mom and businessman-vlogger dad Boyet Ahmee, Cal the Brand is now all set to reach out to the young online buyers who are looking for aesthetic and locally-made and sourced pieces.

“If you want to start something of your own, it has to be something that’s personal to you and something that you’re confident in. It will reflect on your output and on the decision that you will make.

MMFF 2020 Best Actress Charlie Dizon leads the stars that topbill iWanTFC’s horror anthology series, ‘Horrorscope.’

’COVID vs The World’ on History Channel THE History Channel has announced the premiere of its highly-anticipated local original production, COVID vs The World, a docufilm airing throughout Southeast Asia on Jan. 11 at 9.55 p.m. SGT and will also be aired in Korea on Jan. 26 and Japan on Feb. 14.

This 60-minute feature-length documentary film is directed by Chris Humphrey, executive producer of Emmy award-winning docu-drama, Scars of Nanking. Viewers of the documentary will get an insight into the COVID-19 from the point of view of the virus itself, and the scientists grappling to understand and get in front of the virus during a global pandemic.

The documentary delves into how scientists, doctors, and other experts across Singapore, China, Japan, South Korea, and the U.K. worked tirelessly around the clock to combat the micro-pathogen, and the concerns and opinions of public and political figures.

COVID vs The World also shows how the disease has affected people on the frontline, through survivor and healthcare professionals' personal testimonies.

“One year on from the discovery of the virus that changed the world, A+E Networks Asia is truly proud to present an insightful documentary on the topic from the point of view of the scientists. COVID vs The World is a show created in their voice,” said Saugato Banerjee, Managing

Director, A+E Networks APAC. “Our production team across Singapore, Tokyo, and Seoul worked tirelessly to film, edit and produce this incredibly emotive documentary during a global pandemic.

We are proud to share this film with our audience in Southeast Asia coinciding with the rollout of a vaccine that the scientific community has developed in a record amount of time,” Banerjee added.

2020 will forever be remembered as the year that COVID took on the world.

It may not be the deadliest virus, but it has caused enough sickness to overwhelm the world’s hospital systems and force countries into lockdown.

‘COVID vs The World’ Brings to screen a docufilm that sheds light on the virus that shook the world.

Hallypop kicks off 2021 with two new exciting shows for K-pop stans I just learned that I need to be confident and to not doubt my decisions. I’m just generally happy to see people carry this bag, and hopefully, one day see more people walk down the streets carrying the bags we make. Basically, it’s just about starting with something that you are passionate about,” Callie told Manila Standard Entertainment.

Wanting to offer something new to the market, Callie set her sights on selling unconventional shapes of Abaca bag as s simple initiative to support local craftsmen and to elevate this part of the Filipino culture.

“I wanted to put a twist on it. A twist that will help make it more appealing to people, especially my age,” she added.

As driven and ambitious as she was, Callie’s age both came with an advantage and a setback. On one end, she has this huge and powerful platform that she’s very at home with. On the other end, she had to hit the ground running as far as finding the right people to make her envisioned products a reality and in learning the tropes of putting up a business solo.

“I wanted to start a business, something of my own, and make it my responsibility, from developing designs, creating my own branding, to selling itself. I'm getting closer to college and I feel like this will help so much with gaining independence and confidence in my decisions,” she explained.

While she had mentors that guided her towards the establishment of Cal the Brand, Callie literally had to do the groundwork and learn how to run a business on her own.

“I read some books and articles, learned

from my parents and as well as some close family friends, and just generally learned by myself during the whole process,” she said.

“But whenever I would contact suppliers and manufacturers, they would mention some pretty complicated terms that were new to me, and I had to take note of them and learn their definitions. Sometimes I would just straightforwardly tell them that I was 16, and I kid you not, at least half of the suppliers I've talked to just didn't respond to me anymore,” Callie added.

With hard work and perseverance, Callie eventually found a family friend who gamely teamed up with her for the business. Their collaboration has then paved the way for her first 3-piece capsule collection containing bags and other fashion items—a field that she’s endeared on and familiar with.

“I started Cal with the initiative to support local, so I will surely not stop with fashion items. Though it is my main focus now, I will also be venturing into furniture soon,” she excitedly shared.

This young businesswoman surely has her sights on big things for Cal the Brand, and in really pushing her business forward alongside her dream course aviation.

“Five years from now, I hope to see people with products from Cal wearing or using them proudly, with them being locally made. I hope that, with Cal, people become more inclined to support our local artisans and promote them more, not only locally but hopefully internationally, as well,” she ended.

Cal the Brand is currently available on Instagram with the handle @ CalTheBrand.

THE New Year is looking good for the fans and viewers of GMA’s Hallypop.

The leading Asian pop culture digital TV channel in the Philippines is set to give an early treat this 2021 with two new programs that will surely appeal to all K-pop stans out there.

Beginning Jan. 10, Korean music program Simply K-Pop will feature K-Pop stars performing on stage and interacting with the audience. In the first episode, K-pop groups Lovelyz, Monsta X, EXID, and BTOB will take the audience for an entertaining time.

Meanwhile, live concert program I’m

Live featuring Korea’s top musicians will air on Jan. 16. For its pilot episode, South Korean indie rock band We Are The Night comprised of Ham Byeongseon, Jeong Won-jung, Hwang Seongsu, Ham Phillip, and Kim Bo-ram will bring the house down with their hit songs “You Are In”, “Holiday”, “Our Younger Days”, “Deep In Love”, and “Tiramisu Cake” on stage.

Hallypop is available on GMA Affordabox and other digital TV receivers. Check out the full list of available shows on www.gmanetwork. com/gmahallypop.

The leading Asian pop culture digital TV channel in the Philippines is set to give an early treat this 2021 with two new programs that will surely appeal to all K-pop stans out there.

Life

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

C4

TRAVEL & LEISURE

FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021

By Steph Llarena

A

L FRESCO but with the privacy of dining indoors is offered by the newly launched bubble pods at Sheraton Manila in Pasay, the first in the Philippines.

The bubble dining concept, where diners enjoy their food in a private dome-like outdoor space—usually transparent like a bubble, has been adapted and used in more parts of the globe since the pandemic brought diners outside of restaurants.

A Dutch restaurant first introduced glass booths mid last year, while several New York dining establishments embraced the concept, offering different kinds of pod, from bungalows to greenhouses, in a bid to offer diners more space while still providing the privacy of an indoor setting.

Last week, the first bubble pods were introduced in the Philippines. Sheraton Manila’s Vubble, a portmanteau of its expansive outdoor “Vega Pool,” where the pods are located, and “bubble,” is frameless, transparent structure that, the hotel says, is UV, water, and moisture proof—an answer to the common problem these pods pose, condensation which are likely from water droplets the diners exhale while eating and chatting.

Sheraton Manila introduces the first bubble pod in the country, located by its expansive Vega Pool, where guests can dine or have a massage.

Bubble pod by the pool opens in Pasay hotel

DINING IN DOME. Sheraton Manila’s multifunctional bubble pods, dubbed Vubble, (left) can accommodate up to four persons for lunch or dinner. Hilton Manila also offers three bubble pods (right) that illuminate at night.

Hotel industry’s best THE Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) is the most prestigious group of sales and marketing officers in our country’s hotel industry.

This 41-year-old organization is in the forefront of providing the professionals in this segment of our tourism Clockwise from top left: Erika Denice Patajo, Pio Sanchez, Eun Joo Bae, Ma. Elena Cecille industry with tools, insights, and ex- Daugdaug, Melanie Pagkalinawan, Carmela Bocanegra with the Chroma Hospitality Team, pertise to keep them abreast with the and Dave Pimentel with the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Marketing Team continuously evolving hotel and resort business.

Believing that excellence should be recognized, HSMA launched Virtus Awards five years ago. This groundbreaking, multi-category competition provides the hotel sales and marketing professionals a platform to tell their stories of excellence and success.

This popular tourism industry contest highlights the competitors’ customer and business-focused strategies as well as their innovative and creative programs that bring about measurable results and return on investments to their respective properties.

Although the country’s hotel industry faced seemingly insurmountable challenges brought about by From top left: Margarita Munsayac, Christine Ann Ibarreta, Benjamin Martinez, Desiree de the current pandemic, Virtus Awards Guzman, Amie Villena, Carmela Bocanegra, Michael Jaey Albana, Celeste Romualdo, Cristina Chair Rose Libongco decided to push Carreon, and Loleth So through with the annual event, albeit and institutional teams in addressing the The Team Category was won by Luxvirtually, to further underscore the ho- challenges of the pandemic since the ent Hotel, led by its general manager tel sales and marketing professionals’ lockdown in March of last year.

Melanie Pagkalinawan, which ensured indomitable spirit. Besides, the HSMA Winner for the Individual Category the safety and well-being of its employcontinued to be active and made itself of the Resilience Awards is Maria Ele- ees and their families through mental available to its customers and stake- na Cecille Daugdaug, sales manager of health awareness and alternative platholders, in spite of cessation of tourist Quest Hotel and Conference Center in forms to earn money as partner-providers arrivals resulting from the pandemic’s Cebu. She displayed remarkable dedi- of the hotel. The employees were fully closure of international borders. cation, perseverance, business agility, engaged in proactively increasing revTaking into consideration the cur- and incredible resilience at the height of enue streams of the hotel while reducing rent difficulties and struggles experi- the pandemic. Not only did she protect its expenses during this time of adversity. enced by the industry, HSMA thought the business, she also grew the business Winning the Marketing Communiit best to come up with three Cham- which contributed to the retention of a cations Category is Chroma Hospitalpions of Resilience Awards, to recog- large percentage of hotel staff, according ity, spearheaded by Carmela Bocanegra, nize the contributions of individuals to HSMA Chair Margarita Munsayac. vice president of marketing and sales. Its

While several experts raise concerns about small enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces that increase risk of coronavirus transmission, Sheraton Manila says theirs are well-ventilated with open top and windows. Stable temperature from a portable air conditioner is maintained for the comfort of guests.

Resorts World Manila chief operating officer Stephen Reilly, in an interview with CNN Philippines, said that each pod was constantly sanitized in compliance with the prescribed protocols to reduce risk of coronavirus transmission.

In addition to Sheraton’s three Vubble, Hilton Manila also operates another three bubble pods for Resorts World Manila. Each fully furnished pod can accommodate a maximum of four guests and can be used as a dining pod or as an

marketing campaign, “Safely Apart, Closer At Heart” is the most comprehensive and well-planned campaign.

Its clear messaging is the “most digicentric,” shifting strategies and priorities in the online sphere not only to thrive amid today’s unusual challenges but also to bounce back stronger, explains Munsayac. The interesting and fast-paced video may be viewed any time on YouTube.

Other winners this year are Erika Denice Patajo, events executive of Okada Manila, as Outstanding Sales and Marketing Associate; Pio Sanchez, senior sales manager of El Nido Resorts, as Outstanding Sales and Marketing Manager; Eun Joo Bae, director of Sales-FIT of Conrad Manila, as Outstanding Sales and Marketing Leader; and Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, represented by Dave Pimentel, director of marketing and communications, and Margot Calimon, public relations manager, for its Outstanding Marketing Campaign, “Bid To Forever.”

HSMA President Christine Ann Ibarreta lauds the many hotel sales and marketing professionals who participated in this year’s competition, and proudly banners the Virtus Awards as “a timely reminder of the determination, innovation, and commitment of hotel sales and marketing professionals across the country.”

And, I hasten to add, with people like these whose spirit knows no fear, I am confident that our country’s tourism industry will bounce back even stronger, sooner than later.

HSMA and these Virtus Awardees are the shining paradigm that strength doesn’t only come from what one can do, but also from overcoming the things one once thought he couldn’t do.

YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE: When a wife, during a discussion, says to her husband “Go ahead,” the husband better be aware that such is not a permission, but a dare, and if he wants to spare himself of any fatal injury, it’s best he doesn’t do it.

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@ gmail.com.

outdoor massage space.

Patrons looking for an intimate dining venue can book Sheraton which offers a five-course meal at P5,000++ per person for lunch or dinner. The hotel says it will also offer specially curated menus for upcoming special events like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day. “If you’re planning for a special event at the Vubble, Sheraton Manila’s chefs can customize an exclusive menu to fit your preference,” Sheraton said in a statement.

Hilton Manila, meanwhile, offers a three-course wine pairing featuring a classic surf and turf entrée at P10,000++ for two in its bubble pods.

To book a Vubble at Sheraton, contact 0917-859-7458 or (02) 7902-1800. To book at Hilton, contact 0917-893-7664.

Data from a booking platform reveal Filipinos preferred 4- to 5-star hotels to welcome the New Year.

Filipinos welcome 2021 in upscale accommodations DATA from booking platform Agoda reveal Filipino travelers pampered themselves with upscale stays in New Year’s Eve 2020.

“Compared to 2019, Pinoy travelers are indulging in 4- to 5-star hotels as their preference this year, nudging 1- to 3.5-star hotels to the second spot.”

The top three domestic destinations in NYE 2020 were the same as the previous year’s, with Manila at the top spot, followed by Cebu and Tagaytay.

Completing the list are Subic, Boracay, Baguio, Laguna, Angeles/Clark, Batangas, and Iloilo.

Filipinos also explored destinations that are “outdoorsy” for a quick respite. Laguna made it to the top 10 domestic list along with Batangas.

“While 2020 might have upended many travelers’ plans, Agoda’s data that 4- to 5-star hotels are most popular among New Year’s Eve bookings in 2020 show us that there’s great desire among travelers to pamper themselves and optimistically usher in the New Year in style,” said Errol Cooke, vice president of partner services at Agoda.