Manila Standard - 2021 January 24 - Sunday

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 320 • 2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DINAGYANG MOTORCADE. Devotees of the Child Jesus brave the coronavirus and the crowds on Friday as they line the streets of Iloilo City, where Mayor Jerry P. Treñas led the ‘sadsad’ (carriage) sendoff of 20 Sto. Niño images paraded for the Dinagyang Señor Santo Niño Religious Motorcade. Unlike past years, the motorcade this year was mostly a virtual celebration, as COVID-19 has tested the faith of many Filipinos who cling to the Child Jesus for hope. Iloilo City Mayor’s Office

Banaue bars travel to Bontoc DOH sends out 60 tracers to contain northern surge of UK COVID variant

By Dave Leprozo, Joel E. Zurbano and Willie Casas

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HE town of Banaue in Ifugao on Saturday prohibited all non-essential travel to neighboring Bontoc in Mountain Province after 12 cases of the more contagious United Kingdom strain of the coronavirus were found there.

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM JAN. 23)

511,679 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

1,797 33,603 NEW

ACTIVE

10,190

54

467,886

166

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

This developed as the Department of Health expedited contact tracing operations in the Cordillera Administrative Region to contain cases of the B.1.1.7 or UK variant detected in 13 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the region -- 12 of them in Bontoc and one in La Trinidad, Benguet. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, the country’s contact tracing czar, said the DOH is now organizing a team of more than 60 trained contact tracers to be fielded to the region to trace other possible cases. According to DOH Assistant Secretary Dr. Maria Francia Laxamana and DOH Epidemiology Bureau Medical Specialist IV Dr. Alethea de Guzman, the team members will come from Regions 1, 2 and 3 and the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and will be under

Magalong’s supervision. Meanwhile, Banaue Mayor John Raymund Wesley Dulawan announced on his Facebook page that all its residents returning from Bontoc “regardless of length of stay shall be automatically quarantined at our facility, regardless of RT-PCR swab result status.” The mayor said Banaue’s border control at the Mt. Polis boundary will also be intensified. The town famous for its Rice Terraces is 61 kilometers away from Bontoc, which takes almost three hours to reach by car. In other developments: • The World Health Organization has said it has no plans to change its guidance recommending fabric facemasks as new coronavirus variants spread, because the mutated strains are transmitted in the same way. Germany and Austria have made medi-

cal masks mandatory on public transport and in shops—allowing only surgical or FFP2 masks, rather than fabric—amid concerns over the threat posed by the rapidly-spreading new virus mutations. • The coronavirus strain that has swept Britain and beyond in recent months could be more deadly as well as more transmissible, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. The sobering news came as the UK sees record deaths from COVID-19, following a surge in cases and hospitalizations since the variant was first identified in southeast England in September. The strain has also spread to more than 60 nations—including China, where the pandemic began more than a year ago— according to the WHO (See related story on A3—Editors). At least two barangays in the Mountain Province capital of Bontoc have been placed on lockdown after a cluster of cases of the new COVID-19 variant had been detected in the second-class municipality, according to a health official. Dr. Ruby Constantino, Regional Director of the Department of Health in the Cordillera Administrative Region, said local officials in Bontoc clamped a lock-

down in affected barangays where cases of the more transmissible coronavirus variant were detected. In an interview on Teleradyo, Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey said the town’s first case of the UK COVID-19 variant arrived on that date to visit her family. She initially tested negative for the virus. According to the mayor, the arrival had a small celebration with family members and had a ritual in line with their beliefs. After that, they developed symptoms. “But we are still gathering correct information to relay this to the public properly,” the mayor said. Most of the 11 infected with the new variant in the town, Odsey pointed out, were the Filipina’s relatives, adding “inlaws and relatives were the first people who had close contacts with the index patient.” The Filipina was confined in the hospital and was discharged after a 14-day mandatory quarantine, he said. The index case is currently under home quarantine and is awaiting another set of swab results.

Tracing czar blasts LGUs for ‘political’ mindsets THE country’s contact tracing czar called out Saturday local government officials for what he described as inconsistent COVID-19 testing and tracing efforts, saying projecting a well-managed coronavirus situation in localities was becoming “political” in the run up to the 2022 elections. In a virtual briefing, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong did not rein in words in criticizing local chief executives as regards boosting and maintaining their COVID-19 tracing and testing capacities. This emerged as the country confirmed additional cases of the more transmissible strain of the virus and an observed post-holiday surge in the total number of cases following increased activity during Christmas time. On Friday, the country recorded 2,178

NETIZENS RAVE OVER ‘VOLTES V’TRAILER

new cases, the highest daily tally seen in over two months. Magalong said he hoped local government units would adopt the “mindset to really expand, go the extra mile” to raise contact tracing efforts. The ideal ratio, he said, is 37 contacts traced for every COVID-positive patient. “I cannot overemphasize the importance of contact tracing… we have to expand it to the third generation, this is even SOP (standard operating procedure). Our aim is to go beyond the second generation, even third, fourth generation,” he said. Rody gives green light to LGUs Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the decision of cities throughout the country to procure their own COVID-19 vaccine supplies,

so long as the jabs are approved by the Food and Drug Authority (FDA). “Doon sa mga local governments, Sakur, wala akong objection kung magbili ang local government para iturok doon sa mga tao. OK ’yan. Walang inggitan ’to, puro tayo gobyerno,” Duterte told Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan during his visit to Army headquarters in the province on Friday. Clearing vaccines first with the FDA is a must, the President added. “Ang akin lang is that kung anuman ang i-ano ninyo, i-vaccinate, just clear it with the FDA. Lahat naman dumadaan talaga diyan. So, it’s a mandatory requirement. Other than that, I have nothing to do,” said Duterte. Willie Casas and Dave Leprozo

Larry King, iconic talk show host, 87 THE iconic TV and radio interviewer Larry King died Saturday at the age of 87, his media company said. Ora Media did not state a cause of death but media reports said King had been battling COVID-19 for weeks and had suffered several health problems in recent years. The longtime CNN host became an icon through his interviews with countless newsmakers and his sartorial sensibilities. His son, Chance, confirmed King’s death Saturday morning. King hosted “Larry King Live” on CNN for over 25 years. A statement was posted on his verified Facebook account announcing his passing. AFP

GMA Network has finally released a new teaser trailer of the highlyanticipated live-action adaptation of the hit Japanese anime series ‘Voltes V: Legacy,’ drawing positive feedback from loyal fans and netizens.

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KUDARAT SHOOTOUT. Police carry off one of the 12 gunmen killed after an operation Saturday in Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao. The suspects were loyal to former village chief Datu Pendatun Talusan and were linked to illegal drug trafficking, double frustrated murder, robbery with homicide and carnapping charges, according to authorities (see story on A2). Mark Navales

‘Reds recruiting in 18 big colleges’ A SENIOR military official identified Saturday top universities and colleges as among 18 learning institutions which are breeding grounds for anti-government communist recruitment. Immediately, the state-run University of the Philippines administration said it was open to a dialogue with the Department of National Defense to discuss the latter’s termination of a 31-year-old agreement with the institution. It said it wanted more information about allegations that students were recruited for the communist insurgency. In an interview on GMA News’ Super Radyo dzBB heard nationwide, Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., spokesman for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), said the military had listed at least 18 colleges and universities, mostly in the Na-

tional Capital Region, where communist recruitment activities were taking place. Parlade said the institutions included UP, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), Far Eastern University (FEU), Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), University of Santo Tomas (UST), Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), De La Salle University (DLSU), and University of Makati. Parlade said that because of the DNDUP accord, the military had faced hurdles in confirming communist recruitment, adding that the abrogation of the accord is just right. In a separate interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Dr. Elena Pernia, Vice President for Public Affairs of UP, said the school’s administration open to a dialogue with the DND to discuss DND’s termination accord. With Frankie Tuyay

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Rody ‘stakes presidency’ on trust in vaccine czar

COURTEOUS WELCOME. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (second from left) is welcomed by Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan (right) upon the Chief Executive’s arrival at Jolo Airport in Jolo, Sulu on Friday. Presidential Photo

‘Terrorism, insurgency still threats’ P RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has lamented that terrorism and insurgency remain a threat to public order amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Speaking before troops in Jolo, Sulu on Friday, Duterte said terror groups and the communist movement have done nothing but disrupt progress in the country. “Our progress as a nation has been hindered by the insurgency and terrorism for several decades,” Duterte said. “To this day, terrorism and insurgency continue to plague our land, disrupting public order in the middle of a pandemic. Eh, they are taking advantage of the situation.” Duterte, nevertheless, expressed confidence that his administration, through

the state forces, will succeed in its fight against terrorism and insurgency. He was also grateful to men and women in uniform who are “taking the risk to deter those who disrupt the peace of our country.” “With your support, I remain confident that we will prevail over the challenges that confront us. Be assured that the entire Filipino people are behind you as you secure genuine and lasting change for our motherland,” Duterte said. Duterte renewed his vow that the military would get his “full” support amid

their war on terrorism. “To you, the men of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, I would like to tell you that I am here—not really to protect wrongdoings because I will not also do that—but you have my full support in everything that we do, which I think is the best for the country and for the rest of the Philippines,” he said. Duterte gave the reassurance as he honored AFP personnel who exhibited “exemplary heroism in the face of danger.” He also thanked the members of the Joint Task Force Sulu and the 11th Infantry Division for their recent gains against the Abu Sayyaf Group. “Your determination has greatly reduced their strength in the past year,” Duterte said. “As we march onwards this new year, I am hopeful that we will

continue to eliminate these terrorist groups in Sulu for good.” Duterte said no compromise would be reached with the terrorists and communist insurgents. “Kung bayan ang pag-usapan, kapakanan na ng bayan (If we are talking about the welfare of our country) – and to everybody, to the communists, to the Abu Sayyaf, hindi ako puwede diyan (I will not allow it), I will not compromise,” he said. The Communist Party of the Philippines’ New People’s Army has also been listed by the Philippines as a terror group. Apart from the Philippines, the CPPNPA has been branded as a terror organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Frankie Tuyay

Village chief, cop, 12 killed in S. Kudarat By Nash B. Maulana COTABATO CITY—A police operation to arrest a former village chief in nearby Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao led to the killing Saturday of a police officer and 12 alleged followers of the target. Major Esmael Madin, chief of the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Maguindanao, said 12 men backing former village head Datu Pendatun Talusan were killed along with him during the operation that lasted for over five hours from predawn. In the exchange of fire, Police Sergeant Reynel Pido of the CIDG was also killed. Madin said Talusan, former chairman of Barangay Limbo in Sultan Kudarat, and five others were “the subject of an arrest warrant for frustrated murder, robbery with murder, and double frustrated homicide.” Their resistance to the arrest warrant led to clash between the ex-village chair’s group and the arresting officers. Three other police officers and three civilians were also wounded in the crossfire. Backed by a group of armed men, Talusan reportedly fired at the police, who were assisted by Marines from the Philippine Navy.

Chinese posing as Pinay nabbed By Vito Barcelo IMMIGRATION operatives arrested a Chinese national who allegedly misrepresented herself as a Filipino. BI Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the suspect as Li Xinlei, 51, who was arrested inside the Pasay City Hall compound by members of the BI’s Intelligence Division (ID). According to BI ID Chief Fortunato Manahan, Jr., Li is a fugitive from justice, subject of an arrest warrant in China for economic crimes. “When our agents arrested her, she was unable to show proper documentation. Records show that she is already overstaying and has reportedly misrepresented herself as a Filipino using a fraudulently acquired Philippine passport,” Manahan said.

BIG BUST. Elements of the PDEA-NCR confiscate illegal drugs and arrest two suspects —one hiding his face under a blanket (left) —in a buy-bust operation in Barangay San Roque, Pateros on Friday night. Seized were 160 capsules of suspected Ecstasy called “molly” worth P192,000 and 20 grams of shabu with street value of P130,000 (inset) along with various drug paraphernalia. Norman Cruz

Probe price increases, Cayetano urges DTI By Maricel V. Cruz THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) was urged Saturday to investigate the recent price increases in the country and to take action to address the issue. Former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the increase in the prices of basic commodities are felt deeply everyday by

millions of Filipinos who were rendered jobless, poor, and hungry by the pandemic and made homeless by recent typhoons and natural disasters. “Per recent reports, inflation across the country is quickly, inexplicably picking up as the prices of many of our basic commodities are rising rapidly,” he said in a social media post. “The figures are alarming. In Decem-

ber last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority observed a 3.5 percent increase in the price of basic goods,” he added. Cayetano said while the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas had expected the increase due to rising prices of oil and agricultural products, it is “one thing to look at the numbers on a spreadsheet, and quite another when you see the effect on the faces of our kababayans.”

Ferrer, ‘Pinoy James Bond’, passes at 86

VETERAN actor Tony Ferrer, dubbed as Philippines’ James Bond, died on Saturday as confirmed by his daughter in a social media post. He was 86. According to Mutya Laxa-Buensuceso, her father died in his sleep and in the comfort of his home in Pasig. “During his last days, he was surrounded by the care of his San Antonio family, the love of his children, and the joy and songs of his grandchildren. He

was a remarkable, selfless man who always thought of others first, impacting a lot of lives on and off screen. We shall all remember him with fondness,” the former actress and beauty queen wrote on Instagram. Born Antonio D. Laxa on June 12, 1934 in Macabebe, Pampanga, Ferrer had a decadeslong career as an actor, film director, and producer. He had starred in 203 films before he retired as a screen star. Nickie Wang

COLLEGE AID.

A parent of one of 60 college students receives educational assistance from Tabaco City Mayor Krisel Lagman (second from right) as part of a regular program of the Office of the City Social Welfare Department and will cover two semesters. The city Gender and Development Office also allocated P1 million this year for additional beneficiaries because of the pandemic. Norman Cruz

Tony Ferrer

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has expressed his willingness to stake his presidency to prove that National Policy Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., “is a man of honor and has no links to corruption.” “I will bet my presidency on Galvez. He is not involved in graft practices. I know him,” Duterte said in a speech delivered in Jolo, Sulu on Friday. He made the statement after some senators earlier questioned Galvez’s alleged refusal to disclose the prices of the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines that the Philippine government would receive from at least seven drug makers. The President vouched for Galvez’s integrity, saying the vaccine czar was “doing everything he can” to help the country succeed in its fight against COVID-19. He also said he saw Galvez’s potential to serve the government when the latter played a key role in the 2017 Marawi siege. A former military man, Galvez was among the generals who led the fivemonth battle against a terrorist group in Marawi City in 2017. “I was there in Marawi when we were fighting the Islamists and I saw in him the integrity…So when he retired, I chose him to be part of my Cabinet. And now, I gave him the task [to lead the vaccination drive],” Duterte said. Galvez on Wednesday said the government was expected to finalize the supply agreements with seven pharmaceutical firms by the end of January or the first week of February. The Philippine government has been negotiating with COVID-19 vaccine makers Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac, Gamaleya, and Novavax. Vito Barcelo

Du30 wants Hueys out, 7 choppers in PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte revealed that he is bent on procuring at least seven new helicopters for the Philippine Air Force (PAF). Duterte’s plan came after a UH-1H “Huey” combat utility aircraft helicopter crashed in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon on January 16, killing five military personnel and two militiamen. In a speech delivered Friday in Jolo, Sulu, he expressed his intent to decommission all the PAF’s Huey helicopters to protect soldiers against possible plane crashes. “How many Huey helicopters do we still have? I want those replaced. They are already outdated,” Duterte said. He said he had already entered into a deal for the procurement of new helicopters. He, however, did not elaborate on the agreement. “I will buy six or seven helicopters to replace the Huey cargo helicopters. I already had a deal,” Duterte said. The PAF has already grounded all of its Huey helicopters following the crash in Bukidnon. The UH-1H and UH-1D models, or “Hueys”, are Vietnam War-era helicopters that have been refurbished to serve as the PAF’s main workhorses. The Huey helicopter that crashed in Bukidnon went on a supply mission to a patrol base in the province but encountered engine trouble after taking off from Malaybalay City. The latest plane crash was the fourth incident reported in six months, three involving Huey helicopters. Killed in the crash were Lt. Col. Arnie Arroyo, pilot; 2nd Lt. Mark Anthony Caabay, co-pilot; Sgt. Mervin Bersabe; Airman 1st Class Stephen Agarrado; Sgt. Julius Salvado; Jerry Ayocdo; and Jhamel Sugalang. Frankie Tuyay

DILG: Road clearing deadline now Feb. 15 By Joel E. Zurbano THE government is again extending the deadline for local officials to reclaim and clear public roads of all obstructions. The Department of Interior and Local Government stated it is giving local government units until February 15, so they have enough time to prepare for their respective COVID-19 vaccination plans. “The department is fully cognizant of the urgency for LGUs to prepare their vaccination plans against COVID-19 that’s why the road clearing timeline is extended anew. This is, however, the last extension to be granted by the

DILG,” said DILG Undersecretary at spokesperson Jonathan Malaya. The original deadline for the department’s Road Clearing Operation 2.0 (RCO 2.0) was supposed to be on Jan. 15 but was extended until Jan. 22 upon the request of the LGUs. The campaign includes the removal of road and sidewalk obstructions, conduct of road inventories, physical removal of road obstructions without prejudice to the property rights of the affected stakeholders, crafting and implementation of displacement plans, rehabilitation, and maintenance of cleared roads, and creation of a grievance mechanism.

World

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Scientists probe how COVID-19 variants spread PARIS—The emergence of several, more infectious strains of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has worried governments and scientists, who are investigating how and why the virus became more transmissible. Like all viruses, SARS-CoV-2 mutates in order to maximize its survival chances. When it replicates, tiny errors in its genetic coding are introduced. Most of these are inconsequential. But some—as with the virus variants that emerged recently in Britain, South Africa, and Brazil—can give the virus a decisive new advantage. “When we keep case numbers high, we are maximizing the virus’s opportunities to get into weird situations, that might be rare, and most of them might lead nowhere,” said Emma Hodcroft, epidemiologist at the University of Bern. More cases equal more transmissions, which maximizes the chances that a significant mutation will occur, she said. “If we keep case numbers lower, we essentially restrict the virus’s playground.” Wendy Barclay, a virologist at London’s Imperial College, said mutations were a result of several factors. “It’s a combination of how much virus is out there, the number of times you roll the dice defines what happen, coupled with the environment the virus is currently in,” she said. It was not unexpected for the new variants to appear after a year of Covid-19 as levels of global immunity increase through vaccinations and natural infection, she added. “In South Africa and Brazil there was already quite a high level of antibody response from people who had been infected and recovered from the virus.” Other experts expressed doubt that immunity levels directly influenced the current mutations. AFP

Pro-Navalny protesters get jail time MOSCOW—Russian police detained dozens of protesters on Saturday as supporters of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny took to the streets following his call to protest against President Vladimir Putin’s rule. Putin’s most vocal domestic critic called for mass rallies after surviving a near-fatal poisoning with a Novichok nerve agent and returning to Moscow last weekend following months of treatment in Germany. He was arrested at Sheremetyevo Airport and jailed. The rallies -- planned for dozens of cities across Russia -- are expected to be a major test of the opposition’s ability to mobilize despite the increasing Kremlin pressure on critics and the coronavirus pandemic. The first protests took place in the Far East and Siberia including Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, and Chita where several thousand took to the streets, Navalny supporters said. OVD Info, which monitors detentions at opposition rallies, said around 50 people were detained in 10 cities. Authorities vowed a tough crackdown with police saying unsanctioned public events would be “immediately suppressed”. In Moscow, which usually mobilizes the largest rallies, protesters plan to meet in the central Pushkin Square at 2:00 pm (1100 GMT) and then march towards the Kremlin. - ‘Help will come’ On the eve of the rallies, Navalny, who is being held in Moscow’s high-security Matrosskaya Tishina jail, thanked his supporters. “I know perfectly well that there are lots of good people outside of my prison’s walls and help will come,” he said on Friday. AFP

SERUM SAVED.

Workers wearing protective gear walk after a fire broke out at India’s Serum Institute in Pune on Thursday. A fire broke out on January 21 at India’s Serum Institute, the world’s largest maker of vaccines, but a company source said production of drugs to prevent COVID-19 coronavirus was not affected. AFP

Wuhan marks anniversary; Biden warns of 600k deaths

W

transport in Wuhan, underscoring the UHAN—The scale of the recovery in the metropolis Chinese city of of 11 million where the pathogen first emerged before going global. Wuhan marked The spread of the virus was acceleratone year since the start ing elsewhere, with British Prime Minisof its traumatic 76-day ter Boris Johnson saying a new strain that emerged in the UK could be more deadly coronavirus lockdown and more transmissible than the one that Saturday while the menaced Wuhan a year ago. “In addition to spreading more quickly, pandemic continued to it also now appears that there is some evirage elsewhere, with dence that the new variant... may be associated with a higher degree of mortality,” US President Joe Biden Johnson told a news conference. warning America’s death The sobering news came as Britain retoll could pass 600,000. ported record deaths from Covid-19, following a surge in cases and hospitalizaTraffic hummed, sidewalks bustled, tions since the variant was first identified and citizens packed parks and public in southeast England in September.

The nation’s death toll -- 95,981 as of Friday -- is the highest in Europe. In the United States, the world’s worsthit country, the new president gave his highest estimate yet of its eventual toll, as he stepped up federal aid. “The virus is surging,” President Biden told a news conference. “We’re at 400,000 dead, expected to reach well over 600,000.” Globally, the virus has killed more than two million people, infected tens of millions of others and hammered economies. There were new signs of the depth of damage dealt to the global economy, with the closely watched Purchasing Managers’ Index showing that Europe was heading for a new recession, while Latin America suffered its steepest drop in foreign trade since the global financial crisis. AFP

MEALTIME.

Young Buddhist monks pray before lunch at a temple in Samrong district in Cambodia’s Takeo province on the outskirts of Phnom Penh on Saturday. AFP

Relatives of Indonesian plane crash victims mourn at site JAKARTA—Relatives of 62 people killed when an Indonesian passenger jet slammed into the sea scattered flowers at the crash site Friday, as investigators look for clues to why the plane dropped from the sky minutes after takeoff. The memorial came as the search for human remains and wreckage ended two weeks after the Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737-500 plunged roughly 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) in less than a minute before crashing into waters off Jakarta.

However, the hunt continues for a stillmissing cockpit voice recorder, as investigators pore over details from a retrieved flight data recorder -- so-called black boxes that could be critical to the probe. Maintenance logs pointed to an issue with the plane’s auto throttle, which controls engine power, authorities said, but it was not clear what role -- if any -- the apparent malfunction played. On Friday, dozens of relatives tossed red petals from the deck of a navy ship, some overcome with emotion. “When I cast the flowers, I could see

my sister’s face on the surface of the water,” said Heri Purnomo, whose older sibling Agus Minardi and her husband were on the flight. “I burst into tears... It was a very sad moment.” Jefferson Irwin Jauwena, the airline’s president director, said he was “devastated” by the accident which claimed 12 crew lives. “We also feel sad and lost,” he said. So far, 47 of the 62 victims have been identified through fingerprints and DNA matches to living family. AFP

TikTok stunt near train tracks kills teen

HEADLOCK. Police officers detain a man during a rally in support of jailed

opposition leader Alexei Navalny in the far eastern city of Vladivostok on Saturday. Navalny, 44, was detained last Sunday upon returning to Moscow after five months in Germany recovering from a near-fatal poisoning with a nerve agent and later jailed for 30 days while awaiting trial for violating a suspended sentence he was handed in 2014. AFP

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—A young man was hit and killed by a train in Pakistan while being filmed walking along the tracks for a TikTok stunt, police and rescue officials said Saturday. The accident happened on Friday in the Shah Khalid neighborhood of Rawalpindi city, near the capital Islamabad. Hamza Naveed, 18, was walking next to the tracks while a friend filmed him, Raja Rafaqat Zaman, a spokesperson for the local rescue agency, told AFP. “The moving train hit him while he was posing for a video and walking on the railway track,” Zaman

said. Rescue workers rushed to the site, he said, but the young man was already dead. Friends of the young man told rescue workers he was posing for the video to post it on TikTok and his other social media accounts, Zaman said. A police official at the local station confirmed the accident and other details. Taking selfies and making videos for social media is wildly popular in Pakistan, as in other countries, with many youngsters using the posts to update their Facebook, Twitter and TikTok accounts. AFP

Trump impeach trial starts Feb. 8, says top senator WASHINGTON—Donald Trump’s US Senate trial will begin in the second week of February, days after a fresh impeachment case against the former president is transmitted by the House, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Friday. The newly announced schedule reflects a deal struck by Senate leaders to delay the substantive portion of the trial for two weeks so that the chamber may conduct other critical business including confirmation of President Joe Biden’s cabinet nominees. The House of Representatives impeached Trump for a historic second time on January 13, just one week before he left office. Schumer said the article of impeachment will be delivered and read out to the Senate on Monday at 7:00 pm (0000 GMT Tuesday). The chamber’s 100 members will be sworn in as trial jurors the next day. The House members assigned by Speaker Nancy Pelosi as impeachment managers, and members of Trump’s yetto-be-named defense team, will then be given time to draft their legal briefs. “Once the briefs are drafted, presentation by the parties will commence the week of February 8,” Schumer told colleagues on the Senate floor. During the two-week interim, the Senate will act on Biden’s cabinet nominations “and the Covid relief bill which would provide relief for millions of American who are suffering during this pandemic,” Schumer added. “Healing and unity will only come if there is truth and accountability, and that is what this trial will provide.” Members will deliberate whether to convict Trump on what the US Constitution describes as “high crimes and misdemeanors.” AFP

Major nuke powers missing as treaty prohibition begins UNITED NATIONS—The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons took effect Friday -- but the milestone is marred by the lack of signatures from the world’s major nuclear powers. Despite the missing participants, the occasion was marked by praise from the United Nations and even Pope Francis. “The Treaty is an important step towards the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons and a strong demonstration of support for multilateral approaches to nuclear disarmament,” UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres said in a statement. He praised “the first multilateral nuclear disarmament treaty in more than two decades,” and called on “all States to work together to realize this ambition to advance common security and collective safety.” The treaty seeks to prohibit the use, development, production, testing, stationing, stockpiling and threat of nuclear weapons. The pope heralded its enactment during his general audience Wednesday. “This is the first legally-binding international instrument explicitly prohibiting these weapons, whose indiscriminate use would impact a huge number of people in a short time and would cause long-lasting damage to the environment,” Francis said. AFP

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Business

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

UnionBank mobile app allows opening of checking account By Othel V. Campos SMALL and medium enterprises now get more support and assistance they need as more financial institutions offer a dedicated lending window for small and medium enterprises. As one of the more technologicallysavvy banks, the Union Bank of the Philippines came up with an innovation to empower SMES and micro-businesses through the UnionBank SME banking app. Recognized by Asiamoney as the Philippines’ Best Bank for small and medium enterprises in 2020 for providing better funding opportunities to small businesses, UnionBank’s newest product aims to continue empowering SMEs to embrace digital transformation and unlock more opportunities for them to pivot, grow, and thrive in the now digital normal. “Many of you might be surprised that we received such an interesting award when we are known as a cash management bank. In the last three years, we have been very active in the area of consumer banking or mobile banking, but the area of SME banking is relatively new to Union Bank. Four years ago when we were working on our strategic plan, we recognized that 99 percent of the businesses in the Philippines are small. So you’re talking of SMEs and MSMEs,” said UnionBank executive vice president for mass market Chut Santiago. “And as the economy grows, it is important that this so-called backbone of the economy—the small businesses—grow together with it because if done properly, they could be the engine that will sustain

the continued growth of the country,” Santiago said. The new app underscores UnionBank’s primary goal of using digital expertise to extend more financial services to Filipinos. The UnionBank SME app was developed as an all-in-one access platform that caters to every Philippine SME’s needs. To support these SMEs, UnionBank is providing an accessible and user-intuitive app that is tailor-fitted to how they want to run their business. “As the country continues to recover, Philippine SMEs need innovative, convenient and secure banking solutions. Through our platform, we want to empower them to bank the way they want and according to what their business needs,” said UnionBank vice president for SME platforms Jaypee Soliman. Through the UnionBank SME banking app, any business owner can open their own checking account online with ease and convenience. There is no fuss as the account will be available and ready to use within the same day sans the need to fill out any forms or visit a branch. “I can tell you that this is the first of its kind in the Philippines, even in the region. Not very many banks have this kind of mobile app that is tailored specifically to the needs of SMEs. So from this app, they will be able to do their basic banking transactions. They can link to our platforms. They can open their online stores. They can track inventory. They can, in the next iteration apply for loans and so on. There are so many things that they can do so that the SMEs become even more efficient, and even more successful,” Santiago said.

Clark back on the map of MICE destinations

Hilton Clark

By Jess Malabanan CLARK FREEPORT—State-run Clark Development Corp. expressed optimism that this Freeport will become a major MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) destination with the opening of a new five-star hotel here. Hilton Clark, a 308-room resort complex at the D’ Heights estate owned by Donggwang Clark Corp., has so far exceeded expectations since its soft opening on Dec. 30, 2021. This augurs well for the vision of CDC to make Clark as a MICE and tourism destination in the Asia-Pacific region. CDC president and chief executive Manuel Gaerlan said CDC aims to make the Freeport a “modern, sustainable aerotropolis and the preferred MICE and tourism destination in the Asia-Pacific region by year 2030.” He emphasized the need to focus on the “reset, rebound and recover” strategy to boost Clark’s business climate amid the harsh after effects of the pandemic. This means attracting more investments and opportunities that are geared

towards fostering economic growth under his leadership. DCC invested about P15 billion in the hotel resort and golf course complex on a 309-hectare hilly portion of the Freeport. It operates a separate hotel building at the commercial area. DCC president Lee Seong Gi, in a courtesy call on Gaerlan, expressed gratitude to the state-owned firm for its support to the various developments in its leased properties. Meanwhile, the opening of Hilton, a renowned brand worldwide known for outstanding service and top-notch amenities, is expected to heighten Clark’s economic performance in the coming years Hilton Southeast Asia vice president for operations Paul Hutton said Hilton is “on a promising growth trajectory in the Philippines”. He is confident that “Clark is well positioned to cater both business and leisure travelers within and outside the Philippines”. Clark had 2,900 hotel rooms, supplemented by 111 dining facilities, 85 convention halls and 27 facilities for wellness, golf and other sports-related activities as of March 2020.

Ohmyhome floats benefits of using app in next housing journey MOST Filipinos think of property websites as convoluted web pages with messy interfaces, duplicate listings and poorly written property headings and descriptions, resulting in stressful and disorganized processes they used to endure in traditional housing transactions. That is, until Singapore-based proptech startup Ohmyhome entered the Philippines to offer customers a real estate app that is convenient and easy to use along with the services of competent in-house real estate Designed with a minimalist and agents. intuitive interface, the Ohmyhome app Ohmyhome’s founders Rhonda and Race and website easily leads buyers and Wong said their key difference from other sellers to its main options: Find a Home, property platforms is that they take care of Post a Property, or Get an Agent. clients’ housing journeys from beginning to end. The DIY option enables users to buy, sell or rent a property on their own, while in-house agents—available with just a click—can help them with the rest of the transaction. Since Ohmyhome’s launch in September 2020, the app has been accepted well by Filipino users, as evidenced by its high application ratings and positive client feedback. Rhonda Wong, Ohmyhome chief executive and co-founder, confirms this. “We are very happy that the Ohmyhome platform has been well-received by Filipino customers,” she says. “Considering the volume of properties that has been listed on our app since our launch, we have barely received questions on how to use the interface— and when we do, these are resolved quite swiftly. In fact, initial feedback has disclosed that users are pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to use the Ohmyhome app.”

Amigo co-founders Matthew Siy Cha and Kimberly Rose Siy

Young Mindanao entrepreneurs roll out ‘friendly’ delivery service

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WO young entrepreneurs from the Siy Cha Group that grew its business out of Sultan Kudarat province are launching a Filipinoowned, technology-driven last-mile delivery service that aims to take advantage of the exponential growth of electronic commerce despite the quarantine restrictions imposed by authorities to contain the pandemic. “We saw the need and opportunity to innovate and help provide for fellow Filipinos who serve as our main inspiration. We wanted to provide them with a reliable and efficient delivery partner. Thus, Amigo was born,” says Matthew Siy Cha, co-founder and president of Amigo, an on-demand delivery platform that connects customers and businesses to partner riders through a seamless and convenient application and ready-ride service. “The name Amigo is actually a Visayan term for friend. Our family’s origin is actually from Davao,” says Matthew, who worked in the family’s motorcycle retail and finance businesses before establishing Amigo. “Our own-demand delivery platform aims to be that friend—someone that customers and businesses can depend on to fulfill all their logistics needs safely, on time and at a very reasonable price. Similarly, [it is] someone whom riders can depend on for fair income, fair benefits and be part of an environment where they actually enjoy what they are doing and know that we always have their back,” says Matthew who graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Systems and a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering with Business. Amigo aims to take advantage of the booming delivery market in the Philippines, which is seen to expand to P36.6 billion by 2024, and the P10.4-billion projected revenues in food deliveries by the end of 2021, said Amigo founder and president Matthew Siy Cha. Initially, the Amigo service offers deliveries of up to 20 kilograms by motorcycle riders in Metro Manila, Rizal and Cavite, but Matthew says the plan is to expand the fleet to include cars and trucks and deploy them in more cities around the country. Matthew, in a virtual briefing, confirms that the Siy Cha Group provided business tips on how to launch the business. “For us, we are very lucky to have them as advisers and consultants on how we can actually make our processes a lot more efficient. So aside from the logistics business, we also have motorcycle retail that can actually help us provide more benefits for our riders in terms of motorcycle loaning, servicing and repair,” he says. Kimberly Rose Siy, a co-founder managing director of Amigo, agrees, saying “we are lucky to have the support of the Siy Cha Group of Companies and their well-experienced management team, who have been in the motorcycle retail busi-

ness for more than 30 years now. “Leveraging on our industry expertise, we saw launching Amigo as a way to serve our fellow Filipinos and create a lasting positive impact on society by introducing a reliable delivery service for consumers, riders, and merchants,” says Kimberly, who graduated from Ateneo de Manila University with a Bachelor’s degree in Management Economics. She is also the chief operating officer of SPICA Distribution, the Philippines’ leading producer of household private labels and got her experience in the e-commerce space with DealGrocer. They Siy Cha Group is a conglomerate that started as an agricultural trading company in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat before diversifying into different businesses. Its subsidiaries include Sultan Kudarat Milling & Trading Inc., Siy Cha Hardware Corp., Millenium Distribution Systems Inc., Central Universal Corp., Gentrade International Philippines Inc., Metrocycle World Corp., Transcycle, Powercycle and Unistar Credit and Finance Corp. Matthew says they conceived the business model of Amigo as early as December 2019 through Project Move Inc., the company behind Amigo. “We spent the early half of 2020 to conduct survey and market research, so we can fully understand what the potential users and partner riders actually require from an ondemand service. Together with experts, we then continued developing, testing and refining our service to ensure that our processes are not only legal but also effective and highly scalable,” he says. He says they are set to formally launch the service in February this year despite the global pandemic because “the pandemic actually motivated us to fast track all planning, development and now our launch”. “We saw a significant change in Filipino culture, the boom in online shopping, a much higher demand for parcel delivery and increased trust in online payments,” he says. Matthew says they are hoping that the launch of Amigo will help create more job opportunities for Filipinos during this challenging period. “Together with this unfortunate [health crisis] was the increase in the unemployment rate, reduction in employee salaries and benefits and reduced opportunities in the job market. This is where Amigo really wants to be an ‘amigo’,” he says. “Ultimately, as a fully Filipino owned on-demand service platform, we want to create a lasting positive impact on society by creating new opportunities for Filipinos to thrive. At the heart of Amigo’s operations is our aim to move the parcel logistics landscape to greater heights through technology, data-driven processes and of course empathetic solutions,” he says. Amigo is inviting more rider partners to join the service. Matthew says he is hopeful about the potential of the service as the last-mile delivery market in the Philippines is projected to be around P36.6 billion by 2024. “We have a lot of riders who have shown interest, and we haven’t fully launched yet, so that’s a really good sign for us. Ultimately, our goal is to be able to keep our promise. When a customer requests for a booking, the customer is matched with a rider as soon as possible,” he says. Kimberly says Amigo makes customer

convenience a top priority, from a booking process that takes as little steps as possible to flexible booking times and an option for both cash and cashless transactions, where customers can opt for COD, credit/debit card and PayMaya transactions. She says Amigo has real-time tracking of riders and a security code feature to ensure packages arrive at the right locations and to the right people. The Amigo Chat provides customers real-time communication with riders or a customer support agent, where they can send their location or images all within the Amigo app. Amigo merchants share the same services as customers. Amigo takes it further by providing them with special promos and pricing, weekly analytics reports, and a dedicated account manager who will facilitate and cater to their needs. Kimberly says to take care of riders, Amigo makes sure that they always feel empowered. This starts with the Amigo Wallet feature, where they receive their earnings in real-time after every delivery. With the integration of PayMaya, they can conveniently do online top-ups and withdrawal of cash easily, straight from their Amigo Wallet. Riders also have direct access to AmiGoals, which is Amigo’s incentive programs and leaderboards to help them gain extra earnings, stay competitive and always motivated. Customers may either book now or have a scheduled delivery. They also have the option to pay a priority fee if no rider is accepting their booking and provide both feedback and tips for their riders. Amigo lets customers have up to 20 dropoff locations for one booking alone. Kimberly says Amigo’s platform ensures customers’ information and personal details are kept safely and cannot be accessed by riders upon completion of a delivery. A number masking feature, which hides contact numbers from app users, will also be made available in the coming months. She says Amigo offers advanced analytics to help riders improve their personal delivery business. Amigo also has a route optimization feature, and can cater to multiple drop-offs to ensure that merchants get the most out of each booking. Amigo has policies and protocols in place for every challenge that merchants may encounter such as rider cancellations and damages to their package. Merchants also have package insurance with clear and easy-to-understand guidelines on different situations that they may encounter. Matthew says Amigo aims to provide good service to customers, merchants and riders. “As Amigo, we will do our part by ensuring that the parcels of our customers are delivered on time and in one piece. For merchants, we understand that we have a duty and as a homegrown business to promote and enrich our goal by making them more accessible. As fellow Filipinos, we understand the difficulty that riders are going through, and we would like to extend a hand to help them with their ventures,” he says. “Amigo was inspired by the hard work that countless Filipinos put in every day, and it was established so that we can do our part and extend a helping hand to all of our stakeholders. Amigo is more than just a business for us—we want it to be a reliable partner who goes the extra mile for Filipinos,” says Matthew. Roderick T. dela Cruz

BRIA becomes millennials’ home of choice

BRIA Homes, a trusted developer of affordable housing, has become the home of choice for millennials.

BRIA Homes, a trusted developer of affordable housing, has become the home of choice for a vast number of young and ambitious property seekers—the millennials. Ready to embrace adulthood, this generation of achievers is drawn towards the kind of environment that promotes balance between a busy, up-tempo work life and the solace of a peaceful home. This is precisely what BRIA Homes offers in all its fifty-plus residential communities across the country. BRIA Homes has been quick to adapt to technology. Its communities

have reliable internet connections for maximum productivity, a feature that especially appeals to the telecommuting generation. With the health crisis spurring young professionals to work remotely, they need to keep work disruptions to a minimum. With internet-ready homes, BRIA residents are encouraged to do digital payments—for both local and international bills—through BRIA’s partner banks. Using e-wallets such as All Easy, GCash and PayMaya also allow them to remit payments from the safety of their homes.

Youth & Culture B1

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 2021

Bernadette Lunas, Editor Bernadette

@manilastandardlife

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@MStandardLIFE

Festival promotes cashless revolution

Top up to win P10k or to get these 10 WFH must-haves on Shopee CASHLESS FUTURE. E-commerce platforms lead the way for a cashless future where consumers shop and pay for their purchases using digital options such as e-wallets.

By Monica Sanchez

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Papemelroti planner whose 100 percent recycled paper features monthly spreads printed in black and white to help WFH folks stay on top of their deadlines.

EADING e-commerce platform Shopee starts the year with another rewarding treat for customers.

In a bid to promote cashless transactions, shoppers who top up their ShopeePay, the platform’s integrated mobile wallet, during its first-ever ShopeePay Cashless Festival will get a chance to win P10,000. Eligible participants are those who will top up at least P300 or transfer P1 during the promo period that started on Jan. 21 and runs until Jan. 28. “With the launch of our inaugural ShopeePay Cashless Festival, Shopee encourages more consumers to adopt digital payments for a safer, more rewarding, and seamless shopping experience,” said Shopee Philippines director Martin Yu. According to Yu, Filipinos are slowly embracing a more cashless lifestyle, made possible by electronic wallets. In addition to the grand prize, ShopeePay users also enjoy free shipping (for first time ShopeePay users purchasing at least P149), coins cashback, and more exclusive rewards. The coins cashback includes 20 percent on gadgets, home and living, mom essentials, and sports and motors categories. While those who pay their bills with a minimum spend of P800 get 15 percent of their cash back, or 20 percent

on Jan. 28 only. Other deals include 50 percent on evouchers, P1 deals, and flash deals on mobile load and data. ShopeePay is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. It allows users, aside from topping up or loading their e-wallet, to also purchase items on the platform and withdraw. Non-verified accounts have a monthly balance and daily purchase limit of P50,000, while verified accounts can purchase in one day or have a maximum of P100,000 in their ShopeePay. E-commerce platforms such as Shopee have been popular among consumers for offering a wide range of products. The convenience of having them delivered straight to the customer’s doorsteps and paid for via a variety of options also plays a huge role. Some of the items popular on the platform, especially last year when many shifted into a work-from-home set-up, are office and home items that promote productivity and comfort for homebound employees. Shopee recommends the following 10 items that can help maximize efficiency at home:

Socone seat cushion can be used on the seat or back of the chair.

Plextone diffuser/ humidifier is said to help improve air quality in the workspace, especially if it’s too dry, and can also be used as a diffuser for relaxing scents.

Akari extension cord is useful for those who only have one outlet accessible from their workspace as it has 3 gang universal sockets, 2 gang multi-purpose sockets, and a three-meter wire.

Mumuso LED desk lamp features three adjustable levels of brightness, ideal for working or for video calling.

FAIR AND FESTIVAL Arts and antiques at a 2-day flea market LHUILLIER-managed Palacio de Memoria on Feb. 6-7 stages a colorful arts, antiques, and artisanal fair inspired by the El Rastro de Madrid flea market. The “Flea Market at Palacio de Memoria” will feature affordable antiques and art, as well as unique and curated products from Rue Angelique, Archivo 1984, Gallery of Prints, and more. Happening simultaneously outdoors are art-related activities such as connoisseur talks by renowned collectors,

film screening by ABS-CBN Film Restoration, Inc., and Cigar Night by Tabacalera Incorporada. There will also be exquisite dining by Cibo di Marghi by Chef Margarita Fores, as well as an open bar by Don Papa and Remy Martin. The two-day flea market is open to the public for free, but registration is required. Strict safety measures will be implemented throughout the duration of the fair. Go to www.palaciode- Palacio de Memoria is staging an El Rastro de Madrid-inspired flea market in February. memoria.com for more information.

Online bazaar featuring Pinoy artisans extends run MUSEUM Foundation of the Philippines (MPFI) is extending its online bazaar MaArte @ Zalora until end of February on account of “strong support” from patrons. The extended run will be featuring a new inventory, restocked with items that

were previously unavailable during the holidays. MaArte Fair’s first online bazaar opened in October last year. Patrons can check out pieces from Gifts & Graces, MCV Designs, Milvidas, TdLG by Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez, Whimsy by Si-

Boho ring cuff from TdLG by Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez (left) and carry-all bag from MCV Designs.

Bostanten blue light glasses help prevent eye strain, especially for those who spend hours in front of a computer screen, with the help of a coating that filters harmful light emitted by digital monitors.

lay Export, WYC-Wear Your Culture, and Barba by Vittorio Barba. Some of the available items are rings and necklaces with pendants handcrafted by T’boli artisan metal crafters of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato (Gifts & Graces); as well as Bohostyle ring cuffs and ear huggers in sterling silver and yellow gold (TdLG). There are also unique bags designed to adapt to today’s need for sanitation and safety—carry-all On-the-Go totes covered in plastic and lined with tarp material (MCV Designs). Accessories cases made from locally sourced cotton are available, too (Milvidas). MaArte @ Zalora has table mats and pillowcases featuring Manobo embroidery (WYC), and roomy kaftans made of ultra-comfy cotton challis (Barba). Go to zalora.com.ph/ maarte or download the Zalora app to visit the online fair.

Hydro Flask water bottle is not only made for going out as it keeps beverages hot or cold for hours, perfect for long days of working.

Soundpeats Desk Organizer storage box features a nine-piece pen holder, three storage compartments, and a drawer— helpful in keeping desk uncluttered.

Lotus Activewear wrist and ankle weights make working out easier to sneak into daily routine as each pair of this antibacterial set weighs 0.5lbs.

Buzzbee mini LED speaker is a Bluetooth speaker that boasts a working range of up to 10 meters and a working time of five hours.

HAPPY FEET

Stan Smith for nature AFTER gracing the tennis court and the streets, adidas Originals’ most iconic silhouette, Stan Smith aims to be a steward for nature. Dubbed Stan Smith, Forever, the new collection features the same style of the beloved sneakers, but “will become an experimental canvas in adidas’ journey to help end plastic waste.” The first two sneakers in the drop are composed of white Primegreen uppers, a series of high-performance recycled materials, atop white recycled rubber outsoles. The women’s iteration features printed earth-inspired graphics, a white heel tab, and an ivory tongue graphic.

Meanwhile, the next makeup features embossed earth-inspired graphics, gold eyelets, and green heel tabs. Rounding out the trio is the pair made of a white recycled Primegreen upper, complemented by Stan Smith’s quintessential green heel tab atop a white recycled rubber outsole. The classic look is updated with earth-inspired embroidery throughout. Bringing the sustainability focus full circle, each pair in the collection comes packaged in the classic adidas Originals blue box composed of more than 90 percent recycled paper. The sneakers are now available at adidas. com/stansmith.

adidas Originals drops three Stan Smith, Forever sneakers that aim to help end plastic waste.

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

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Home/Design

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 2021

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

FILIGREE SHOWSUITES UNVEILED R

EAL estate brand Filigree recently opened its doors to Showsuites, its newest headquarters to provide a glimpse of the quality and attention to detail that the brand is known for.

“We want our clients to experience what it’s like to live in a Filigree home with just one visit,” explained Filigree deputy head Daphne Sanchez. “Showsuites is the embodiment of everything Filigree stands for, and we made sure that this would be evident in the design and customer experience.” Well-designed expanse Design firm Periquet Galicia was commissioned to take on the work of realizing Filigree’s vision. Principal designer Tina

Periquet shared insights on her experience of working on the project. A visit to the 2,500-square meter property takes one through well-designed expanses that comprise the personalized tours carried out by account specialists. Reflecting the aesthetic quality of the planned spaces is a symmetrical lobby that sets the tone for the overall experience. Each area, whether it be the lounge or the AV room, were intended to echo the design principles of Filigree. Towering ceiling heights, floor to ceiling glass walls, spacious hallways, and color schemes represent the signature aesthetics of a Filigree project. Two model units, designed by Periquet Galicia, demonstrate the potentials of selected units of Botanika Nature Residence’s Tower 2. Meeting unique challenges “We spent many months developing the

MPIC links up with UNGC, SASB. Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) recently threw its support behind two alliances, geared towards strengthening global standards of monitoring the sustainability initiatives of corporations. MPIC confirmed participation in both the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the largest corporate sustainability initiative aimed to align strategies and operations with universal principles on good governance and ethical business practices; and the Sustainable Accounting Board Alliance (SASB), a program for organizations and individuals that support the need for more cost-effective sustainability disclosure. MPIC president and chief executive officer Jose Ma. K. Lim, affirmed its responsibility to the UNGC’s ten principles to meet fundamental responsibilities in the four areas: human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption; and to take strategic actions to advance broader societal goals. “Metro Pacific’s businesses aim to create shared value between us and our stakeholders, with ESG involvement chiefly becoming a priority,” explained MPIC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan. “Our commitment to SASB attributes more credibility to the corporation

space plans of every single condo unit in the building,” said Periquet. “Each square inch was pored over to ensure that the ideal distribution of space was achieved, while seeing to it that the rooms were well-shaped, so that standard furniture from stores could fit neatly. The challenge was to resolve upfront all the complexities stemming from the curved shape of the building, so that the unit owners need not have to deal with any awkward corners or odd elements, and can just furnish and move in with minimal customizing,” she explained. Get a better sense of Filigree’s Showsuites at https://filigree.com. ph/contact/. Showsuites is located on Corporate Avenue, Filinvest City, Alabang, across Bristol at Parkway Place.

in the interest of new and existing investors.” Shown in photo is the MPIC sustainability team headed by CFO Chaye Cabal-Revilla with the SASB membership and engagement team.

Oasis of peace, serenity in QC

Commonwealth by Century gets thumbs up from homeowners WHAT makes an ideal home? Many would say that you can’t pass up a property found in an accessible location, while others would consider having more than enough living space as the most important consideration. When it comes to choosing a home, you have to assess your options and pick the best one that suits your budget. Lehani Francisco, Roberto and Beth Carabuena, and Dr. Don Peczon, all believe it’s still possible to find a property in the city where you can feel safe, do all the things you love, and have the space you need to create a home. These homeowners, all settled in Commonwealth by Century (Main photo), prove that even in the middle of bustling Quezon City, you can have security and serenity. A place to thrive “I consider myself as a ‘no permanent address’ type of person,” Lehani Francisco quipped. After living in Singapore for years, she and her family decided to settle and invest in a place in the Philippines – with Commonwealth by Century catching their attention. “I felt that I can build a home here and plan how the bedrooms and living room would look like,” the working mom said. Contrary to popular belief that it’s difficult to do many things in a condo home, Lehani and her family make the most of the spacious unit. Aside from having a functional workspace, she and her husband, who is a chef, also run a food business called Hani’s Kitchen from the comfort of their home. There’s no shortage of space for the brood and they even use the balcony as the dining area. “The balcony is what I love most. I have a 10-seater dining table in the balcony area,” Lehanisaid. Like any other family, the welfare of the children and their safety are of utmost importance. They also love the relaxing and peaceful surroundings. “Every afternoon, the kids look forward to the opportunity to bike around the property. You’re living in a property in the city but when you’re inside, it’s as if you’re not in the city because you can see the mountains, there are trees, and even open spaces,” she noted. Second family Who says condo living is meant only for young professionals and families? Just like how Roberto and Beth Carabuena (Shown here)

are making the most of their condo unit, active retirees can also live comfortably in a condo unit. “We’ve been living here for five years. We love being near the church, the mall, and the availability of public transportation,” said Roberto. Commonwealth by Century is only a few minutes away from the nearest mall, and the upcoming Don Antonio station of the MRT Line 7. “I think we’re one of the first homeowners here,” added Beth. Aside from the reliable security, the couple also appreciates the assistance offered by the property management staff. “We treat them as our second family. In other properties, we’re just a number. Here, there are safety protocols in place and they are very proactive when it comes to health and the concerns of the homeowners,” Beth averred. Especially in these uncertain times, the Carabuenas consider themselves fortunate to be able to call Commonwealth by Century home. They can stay active by dropping by the gym and they enjoy some downtime by spending time in the balcony. “We can stay here for hours. Staying in this condo makes life easy. We’re very satisfied and happy,” they said. A middle ground For ophthalmologist Dr. Don Peczon (Inset photo), location is the most important consideration given that he holds clinics in the north and in the south. With Commonwealth by Century’s convenient location, Dr. Peczon can easily go to his clinic in Caloocan, and travel to Calamba on weekends. Since Commonwealth is in the middle, visiting the family home is also easier. Beyond the convenience, Peczon also appreciates the benefits of living within serene surroundings. “Even in isolation, there’s peace and quiet, and good security. There are things to do within the condo unit. You can also go to the rooftop to see the views of Sierra Madre or the mountains of Bataan and Zambales,” Peczon said. Know more about these homeowners’ Century stories when you subscribe to Century Properties’ Youtube Channel: youtube.com/user/ CenturyPropertiesInc.

L U C K Y PLANTS FOR 2021. Potted plants are in demand right now, most especially “lucky plants” that are perceived to bring the owner good health, fortune, and prosperity, apart from many health benefits. A few lucky plants from Green Centrale that you can give as gifts to loved ones to welcome the New Year are the following: Lucky Bamboo -- this auspicious plant for the home summons fortune, happiness, and prosperity depending on the number of bamboo stalks; Chinese Money Plant, is perceived to symbolize fortune and good luck. Its leaves stack on top of each other and give the appearance of large green coins, from which it got the name; the Welcome Plant is also called ZZ plant or Zanzibas Gem. It is said that it represents the glint of gold because of its shiny leaves; The Money Tree is probably one of the more well-known lucky plants out there. The plant is believed to bring fortune because its braided stems symbolize interconnectedness and longevity. To know more about these plants and the proper care that they require, visit Green Centrale at at Facebook.com/greencentraleph and Instagram.com/greencentraleph.

KING OF THE HILL. Standing 25-storeys high, the third tower for Park McKinley West, offers unit layouts ranging from one-bedroom (up to 70.5 square meters); two-bedroom (up to 110 square meters); three-bedroom (up to 212 square meters); four-bedroom (up to 229 square meters); and five-bedroom (up to 336 square meters).Property player Megaworld recently launched the project, one of the residential condominium clusters in the 34.5-hectare McKinley West development in Fort Bonifacio. The company is expecting to generate around P8billion in sales from this new tower alone, slated for completion in 2024.

Entertainment

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FTER almost a year of anticipation, GMA Network has fi nally released a new teaser trailer of the highly-anticipated live-action adaptation of the hit Japanese anime series Voltes V: Legacy drawing positive feedback from loyal fans and netizens.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 2021

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

Netizens rave over latest ‘VOLTES V: LEGACY’ teaser

The one-minute trailer features hyperrealistic and more enhanced computer graphics of Voltes V’s headquarters Camp Big Falcon where the crew and their vehicles were seen launching from the base on a mission to save the Earth from the Boazanian empire’s invasion. The group’s leader Steve Armstrong was also shown leading his members and piloting the Volt Cruiser while shouting the show’s popular catchphrase “Let’s Volt In!” The second teaser of the groundbreaking project by GMA’s Entertainment Group has taken the internet by storm, gaining over 900,000 views on YouTube, 2 million views on Facebook, and 847,000 views on Twitter since its release on Jan. 14. Meanwhile, netizens and fans of the iconic anime series took to social media to express their excitement and approval over the much-awaited live-action adaptation. “World Class! I trust Mark Reyes will pull this off because he did an amazing job with Encantadia. This will be setting the next level of visual effects in the Philippines,” a netizen commented. In a previous interview, the director of the project Mark Reyes V confirmed that GMA Network has partnered with TOEI and Telesuccess. The network also engaged the services of Riot Inc. Post Production along with GMA Post Video graphics team in handling the CGI and live-action elements of the series. The director also reveals the reason behind the materialization of this project, “It has been a 7-year journey for me to make Voltes V a reality. This is a passion project from someone who is a true fan. Someone who grew up believing in the overall theme of Voltes V which is family, love, and fighting for good. And without GMA, this would still remain a pipe dream.” December of last year, Reyes also teased the fans with anonymous photos of artists who are set to portray the characters of Steve, Big Bert, Mark, and Jamie during their costume fitting. The official date of the launch and the final cast members of Voltes V: Legacy are yet to be announced.

Stills from ‘Voltes V: Legacy,’ GMA’s highly-anticipated live-action adaptation of the hit Japanese anime series.

Starting over with Aiana Juarez ONLINE singing sensation Aiana Juarez formally kicks-off the first quarter of 2021 with the official digital release of her newest single titled “Simula Muli (Start Over).” A signed artist of AmplifyD Records and represented by TalentMarketers Inc., Aiana is one of the most influential online artists who is well-known for her cover versions of popular songs that are uploaded on her official YouTube channel. Aiana was catapulted to mainstream popularity with her cover version of Ex Battalion and OC Dawgs’s “Hayaan Mo Sila,” which received an overwhelming 6.2 million views. Her winning streak on YouTube is sustained with her cover of Michael Dutchi Libranda’s “Binalewala” with 9.4 million views, Shanti Dope’s “Nadarang” with 4.6 million views, and Moira and Jason’s “Ikaw At Ako” with 4 million views while her cover of Black Pink’s “Kill This Love” has 2.1 million views. “Simula Muli” is the official Filipino version of “Start Over” which is originally recorded by South Korean singer Gaho as part of the soundtrack of the hugely popular 2020 South Korean television series Itaewon Class, which stars Park Seo-joon, Kim Da-mi, Yoo Jae-myung, and Kwon Nara. With a more than 55 million views on YouTube and 14 million streams on Spotify, “Start Over” is one of the biggest and most successful singles released in Asia in 2020. South Korea’s Mapiacompany selected 30 artists from around the world to record their versions of “Start Over” in their own languages and Cebu-based singer Aiana was chosen to translate and record a Filipino version of “Start Over,” which was arranged by KT-P who is one of the most legendary pop composers in the history of South Korean music. The official international launch of “Simula Muli (Start Over)” is set for Jan. 27.

American singersongwriter Greyson Chance came out publicly in 2017 and started using his platform to be a resource and champion for others in the LGBTQ community.

Singer and YouTube sensation Aiana Juarez

Greyson Chance’s ‘Holy Feeling’ GLOBAL pop artist and musician Greyson Chance has released his latest single and music video for “Holy Feeling” via Arista Records. The soaring track, made available on Jan. 19, was written by Greyson, produced by Teddy Geiger and Chad Copelin at Sonic Ranch in El Paso, Texas. The video, on the other hand, was directed by Bobby Hanaford and was shot in Los Angeles. In the video, Greyson wore Saint Laurent by Anthony Vacarello. “Holy Feeling,” which showcases the talented singer’s vocal prowess, is the first single off of Greyson’s forthcoming album due for release later this year. “It was a daunting task to write an album in the middle of a pandemic year, I won’t lie. But ‘Holy Feeling’ came at a time when I felt the most stuck and the most unsure of myself; in that way, it served as an awakening. I crafted my entire album around the song, both sonically and narratively,” Greyson said in a statement.

Batang Gilas and FEU Tamaraws’

towering Torres

By Paolo Manuel C. Fule TOUGHNESS, perseverance, and determination are traits that drive athletes to overcome obstacles in life. On the hardcourt and in life, this young athlete epitomizes the kind of resiliency that dreams are made of. Meet future basketball star Xyrus Dane Torres. Born on Sept. 23, 2000 in Sto. Tomas, Pampanga to Diosdado Torres and Edna Torres, the 6-foot shooting guard is currently studying at Far Eastern University and is playing for the FEU Tamaraws of the UAAP tournament. Xyrus is also a member of the Batang Gilas Pilipinas FIBA U18 Asian Championship. And in 2019, he managed to be part of Slam Rising Stars Classic that features top high

school basketball players in the country. Blessed with boyish good looks, humility, perseverance, this talented cager believes that “inside the bright lights of stardom and fame, character and attitude always stand tall.” The 20-year-old student-athlete lists Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs as his NBA idol, while Dondon Hontiveros of the Alaska Aces is the one he idolizes on the local basketball scene. Xyrus’s career-high in points is 28, which he recorded during his UAAP stint. This threepointer’s most unforgettable game was the FEU Baby Tamaraws champion season in UAAP 79. His ambition is to become a professional PBA player and be able to share his basketball talent with young dreamers like him.

According to the 23-year-old singersongwriter, “Holy Feeling” is about being present and focusing on the beauty of what’s in front of you, instead of what lies unknowingly in the future. “I wrote it at Sonic Ranch in El Paso, which felt like a second home to me being from Oklahoma. I think it captures a more unpolished version of myself, and I am excited to share more of that person with this upcoming album,” Greyson explains. Last year, Greyson completed his headlining Portraits World Tour where he performed over 115 shows across North America, Europe, and Asia. During the U.S. leg, he partnered with The Ally Coalition, and at each show, the organization introduced attendees to a charity in their respective communities in need of support. Greyson plans to embark on his next world tour alongside his new album. A native of Edmond, Oklahoma, Greyson came into the national spotlight in 2010, after an unforgettable performance of Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” was viewed by over 60 million people on YouTube. What followed was a plethora of national television appearances and world tours. In 2019, he signed with Arista Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, and last fall, released “Boots,” which Billboard called “a rollicking rock-pop banger.”

Towering threepointer Xyrus Dane Torres is a 20-year-old student-athlete from Far Eastern University.

Pets Cavite-based shelter needs help B4

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 2021

Desiree Carlos, Editor

daycarlos28@yahoo.com

to feed over 100 rescued dogs and cats

M

ANY homeless dogs and cats in Cavite province are reported in Facebook, with concerned netizens seeking help to rescue them. Stray dogs and cats are spotted with injuries in the head and body, very weak, severely emaciated, or ran over by vehicles. Owned pets are reported suffering tied with a short leash to a post or fence, almost choking them, or kept in a filthy, small cage with not enough room for the dog to stand up or move.

Realizing many dogs and cats need help in the Cavite province, Charito “Charry” Hidalgo Akahoshi decided to put up a shelter in the area and rescue animals being reported as abused, neglected, injured and abandoned in the province. Charry works in Japan but connects with rescuer friends in Manila and the Calabarzon region to help animals in need. Joanna Capati, communications director of Care for Paws Shelter and Sanctuary (CPSS), shares CPSS’ journey with its founder Charry: “Charry realized that the city of Cavite lacked support but there is a great opportunity for setting up an animal shelter there because of the low-priced large vacant lots in the area. She founded Care for Paws Shelter Sanctuary - CPSS Inc. last July 15, 2016 as a non-profit organization. With Paula Chavez, they set up the first shelter in Brgy. Biga Uno, Silang, Cavite. They

rescued dogs in Silang and nearby Manila areas after seeing the situation of abandoned strays in the streets. They also started fostering 20 dogs until the number of rescues increased to almost 100. Charry decided to put up a bigger shelter in a new location in Brgy. Iba, Silang Cavite with a set of admins and caretakers since then. CPSS currently has 80 dogs, 47 cats, four caretakers, and a few online volunteers turned admins who assist with the management of the shelter. Rescuing, fostering, rehabilitating, and sustaining the shelter with the rescued animals is never easy. CPSS needs funds and in-kind donations for the vetting of rescues, for transportation, food, cleaning supplies, rent, utility bills, caretakers’ salary, and shelter maintenance. CPSS spends an average of P100,000 a month to provide the needs of rescues

Former stray dogs who survived the streets of hunger and violence feel safe now in the sanctuary.

Rescued dogs of Care for Paws Shelter Sanctuary (CPSS) during feeding time. A 20-kilo bag of dog food is only good for 80 dogs at the shelter. They need help to continue feeding the furbabies.

and to continue shelter operations. A 20-kilo sack of dog food lasts up to three days, and a 50-kilo sack of rice for dogs lasts up to four days. Three kilos of cat food are consumed by the rescues for one day only. Besides keeping the dogs' and cats' vaccinations up to date, CPSS recently

There are 47 rescued cats in the shelter. They consume three kilos of dry food daily.

Eggs for a healthy cat PET TALES

BY DESIREE CARLOS YES, eggs are good for cats. Eggs can provide the protein and fat that your cat needs. “..cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they eat a diet of mostly animal protein, “ said Dalal Hares, DVM, in “Can Cats Eat Eggs?” in petMD.com But eggs can not be the sole food of your cat. Eggs are given only to supplement the protein in the cat’s diet. “Egg whites contain protein without fat. Egg yolks, on the other hand, contain mostly fat with some protein. So take note that feeding your cat egg yolks will increase the fat content of their diet,” Hares stressed. The eggshells, on the other hand, are good sources of calcium and other minerals but are less palatable or less tasty for your cat. You can crush the eggshells and put in the wet food or dry food of your cat. Give only a small amount once a week or ask your vet for a more specific amount. Check with your vet first how much egg and eggshell you can be given to your cat as you may give too much fat to your cats. Vets check the kidneys and heart of cats to see if they can take in more fat through a blood test. Also, “Supplementing minerals in your cat’s diet should only be done under the direction of a veterinarian,” Hares stressed.

scrambled to your cat to reduce these iting and diarrhea.” “Salmonella infects 1.35 million risks. Egg whites contain almost no fats, making them the better source of people in the United States every year and does carry a risk of hospitalizaprotein for your cat. tion and death in humans. In general, Raw eggs feeding raw eggs will increase the There are risks to giving raw eggs risk of exposing you, your family, and to cats. your pets to harmful bacteria. It is Hares said the Centers for Disease much safer to feed your cat eggs that Control noted that “ingesting raw are cooked to an internal temperature eggs or raw egg whites increases the of 160°F,” Hares added. risk of getting infected with a bacteria called salmonella. Salmonella can inKittens and eggs fect both pet parents and their cats. It Kittens can eat scrambled eggs or can cause GI symptoms such as vom- boiled eggs, preferably the egg whites, in small amounts only. Again, eggs should not be the kitten’s sole source of protein. It should only complement a complete, formulated diet for kittens to ensure they get all the nutrients they need for their growth. Again, check with your veterinarian prior to giving eggs to your kitten, Hares said.

Recommended amount of eggs for cats

As a supplement, give only one tablespoon of egg white to a cat. But Hares warned that cats “are generally good at turning extra calories into fat or extra pounds. It is important that cats are fed a completely balanced diet.” “Cats are also susceptible to developing disease secondary to nutritional deficiencies, such as cardiac disease. If you are considering feeding your cat a home-cooked diet, consult with a veterinary nutritionist who can help you formulate a balanced diet,” Hares added.

How to give eggs to cats

You can give scrambled eggs or boiled eggs with no salt or seasonings. Scrambled eggs or boiled eggs with the yolks have an increased fat content which leads to an increases in calorie content. This will increase the possibility of your cat becoming obese or too fat which is not healthy, of course. Fatty meals, Hares said, can lead to gastrointestinal (GI) upset and pancreatitis. It suggested that you feed only the egg whites that are either boiled or

Reminders:

Always give a complete diet with all the nutrients a cat needs for all life stages. Consult your vet for this. Eggs can provide ADDITIONAL protein and fat to complement and supplement your cat's diet.

1. Egg whites for cats should be boiled or scrambled without salt or seasonings. 2. Make sure the eggs are cooked well. Eggs must be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F. 3. Let the eggs cool, then add a small amount to the top of your cat’s normal food. 4. Give only a maximum of one tablespoon of egg white. DC

decided to give them complete blood chemistry tests as well. CPSS wants to see if there are underlying diseases/ bacteria/parasites. CPSS wants to address the problem before the symptoms occur to lessen the emergency and worst cases that happened in 2020. These tests cost around P3,000 for each dog/cat. CPSS also needs help in maintaining the spay and neuter project for each new rescue that averages P1,500 each rescue. CPSS has spayed 90 per cent of the rescues to encourage adoption and lessen the overpopulation of the strays in our country. Other projects include the adoption drive which requires an adoption fee/ donation for the shelter, raffle events, CPSS merchandise such as t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and reselling other merchandise, brand collaboration, and social media marketing/posting of rescue/donations/provision updates. To donate, please the see donation details in https://www.facebook.com/ cpssshelter/about/?ref=page_internal or send to Paypal: charry154white@gmail.com

Gcash - Charito Akahoshi 0995-9040405 BDO-Charito Akahoshi 0086-3009-2047 BPI-Ma.Lalaine Joy Callosa 3619-0500-52 • Rescue hotline: 0995-904-0405 • Email: careforpawsph@gmail.com Through your help, CPSS can continue its mission to spread awareness on animal welfare by setting standards on how to care for pets in its lifetime. CPSS can also continue to work in partnership with selected facilities and sponsors to provide shelter to homeless and abused dogs and cats and educate the pet owners to do the same. By setting as an example, CPSS can end the overpopulation of homeless dogs and cats and see people safeguarding them from harm than abusing/neglecting them.” Care for Paws Shelter and Sanctuary is located at 875 Purok 6, Brgy Iba, Silang Cavite, Philippines

Pasig LGU starts spay/ neuter of pets for a safer city Spaying and neutering project of the Pasig local government started Thursday. (Photo from Mayor Sotto's page)

THE Pasig local government started its spay/neuter project last Thursday to lessen the number of dogs and cats in the city. Spaying is a procedure wherein a female animal's reproductive organ is removed while neutering involves the removal of the balls of male dogs and cats. A controlled animal population will lessen the number of bite incidents in the city. This, in turn, will lessen if not completely eradicate, cases of rabies infection. The Pasig LGU has been vaccinating dogs and cats against rabies for the safety of both animals and humans. To the LGU, the spay/neuter project is aimed at ensuring less and less animals will be born who can be carriers of rabies. To animal welfare advocates however, spaying and neutering will lessen the number of dogs and cats who will later be abandoned, abused and neglected. Based on several studies, only 10 per cent of pups and kittens end up in good, loving homes. A lot of dogs and cats end up as strays, while a number of owned pets are neglected due to financial difficulties and the owner’s ignorance on the proper care of dogs and cats.

Cats and dogs were spayed to ensure female pets will no longer get pregnant to control animal population in Pasig City.

Save ALL Inc.-Save Animals of Love and Light, a SEC-registered animal welfare group, salutes the Pasig LGU and the city veterinary office for its spay/ neuter project to help control animal population. This is a continuing project, according to Mayor Vico Sotto. Mayor Sotto posted in his facebook page: “#atm Spay and neuter Kasama po ito sa efforts natin para maging mas ligtas ang ating mga lansangan. Ngayong 2021 sunod sunod na po ang mga proyekto ng City Vet.”