Manila Standard - 2021 February 4 - Thursday

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New threat: 2-strain infection DOH raises concern after ‘co-infection’ cases crop up in Brazil

By Willie Casas

A VOL. XXXIV • NO. 331 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PATIENT may be infected with two variants of COVID-19, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.

The statement was issued after researchers in Brazil recently confirmed what could be the world’s first co-infection of coronavirus strains.

Speaking at a government-led virtual briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the country’s task

1 died, 76 hospitalized in ammonia leak incident in Navotas ONE man died while 76 residents from a bayside community in Navotas City were sent to the hospital Wednesday following an ammonia leak in a cold storage facility owned by the family of Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco, authorities confirmed.

Gilbert Tiangco, 44, who worked at the T.P.

Marcelo Ice Plant and Cold Storage, the source of the chemical leak, was declared dead on arrival at a hospital, according to Vonne Villanueva, the incident ground commander.

Tiangco said 59 persons were sent to the Navotas City Hospital and 17 to Tondo General Hos-

force on COVID-19 variants raised such a possibility but said this would need further study.

“Actually, weeks ago, when our task force on COVID-19 variants gathered, our experts had said there could be a Next page

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

pital. Six of the victims were minors, the mayor confirmed.

Around early Wednesday evening, Tiangco said the smell of the chemical already subsided, citing observations by the City Disaster Risk Reduction

(AS OF 4 PM FEBRUARY 3)

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1,266 31,455

528,853 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

NEW

ACTIVE

10,942

68

487,721

130

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

House approves bicam report on corporate tax cut

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives on Wednesday ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act. The chamber approved the final version of the CREATE bill, which seeks to lower corporate income tax from 30 percent to 25 percent for large corporations and 20 percent for small

AMMONIA LEAK. In these photos from CNN Philippines, a senior citizen is lifted into an ambulance after being affected by ammonia that leaked from an ice plant in Navotas City on Wednesday, while residents near the plant in North Bay Boulevard South and Road 10 were evacuated (inset). Red Caay and Carmelo Dado/CNN Philippines

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7m deactivated Alert on smuggled fake vaccine up; EU assures PH of vax supply from voters’ list for 2022 polls

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Willie Casas

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta AT LEAST 7 million voters were deactivated by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ahead of the 2022 national elections due to non-participation in two consecutive elections or other reasons, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said Wednesday.

“Under the Voter’s Registration Act, a registration may be deactivated if the voter fails to cast his ballot in two successive regular elections,” Guanzon said.

She said those who had their accounts deleted or deactivated are those who did not vote for the last two consecutive elections, adding that “only 700,000 have returned to Comelec offices and registered again.”

The Comelec said deactivation can also be done to those sentenced by a court to not less than one year in prison; persons who have committed crimes involving disloyalty to the government such as rebellion, sedition, violation of the anti-subversion and firearms laws, and those declared by a competent authority to be insane.

The law states that a voter may be deactivated if his registration has been Next page

SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday urged the Bureau of Customs (BoC) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure that no smug-

gled or fake COVID-19 vaccines enter the country, amid reports of Chinese authorities confiscating over 3,000 doses of fake vaccines.

The Chinese government seized saline-filled syringes packaged as COVID-19 vaccines, which they sus-

pected were made with the intent to send these abroad.

The gang behind it had been putting saline water into vials and selling them as COVID-19 vaccines in an operation that had been running since last September, according to Xinhua news agency.

Police swooped on several locations across Beijing and multiple cities in the eastern provinces of Jiangsu and Shandong, seizing “more than 3,000 fake Covid-19 vaccines on the spot,” Xinhua said.

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Solon presses review of child motor seat law

By Maricel V. Cruz A LAWMAKER from Metro Manila called Wednesday for a review of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 11229, or the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act, following the suspension of its implementation during the coronavirus disease pandemic.

Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, member of the House Committee on Transportation, asked that the committee chaired by Rep. Edgar Sarmiento of Samar, in the exercise of its oversight function, review the IRR of RA 11229.

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FREE MEASLES JAB. A health worker inoculates a child with a measles vaccine as

part of the government’s free vaccination program in Barangay Bagong Nayon 1 Cogeo, Antipolo City on Wednesday. The Department of Health and Metro Manila Center for Health Development led the vaccination program against measles for children aged nine to 59 months. PNA/Rico H. Borja

Gov’t to ban plastic straw, stirrer despite resistance

By Rio N. Araja THE Philippines may soon ban plastic softdrink straws and plastic coffee stirrers, following the National Solid Waste Management Commission’s approval, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Wednesday.

The NSWMC has approved adding plastic softdrink straws and plastic coffee stirrers in the list of non-environmentally acceptable products (NEAP),

which may be banned soon as part of the implementation of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and Local Government Units Concerns and NSWMC alternate chairperson Benny Antiporda presided over the virtual en banc meeting last Tuesday and came up with a draft resolution declaring plastic softdrink straw and plastic coffee stirrer as NEAP.

The resolution got 11 votes for approval and three votes for disapproval of the two items.

The resolution was passed despite heavy resistance from some members of the commission, such as the Department of Trade and Industry, and the manufacturing and recycling industries.

“I am elated that after 20 years since the birth of RA 9003, the NEAP listing has now commenced. This is long overNext page

BATTLE OF MANILA RITES. Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko’ Domagoso (lower right of photo) leads the wreath-laying ceremony during the 76th Anniversary of the Battle for Manila held at the Memorial Cross in Fort Santiago, Intramuros on Wednesday. American and Filipino forces fought the month-long battle of the Philippine campaign of 1944-45 during the Second World War against Japanese troops, which led to the death of over 100,000 civilians and the complete devastation of the capital. Norman Cruz

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Chinese disown dredging ship

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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HE Chinese Embassy in Manila on Wednesday debunked reports the dredging ship recently seized by Philippine Coast Guard off Bataan came from China.

“Initial investigation on the identity of MV Zhonhai 68 by relevant Chinese authorities has shown that the ship is not registered in China and not a Chinese ship,” the embassy said in a statement.

The embassy stressed there was no Chinese national on board the ship when it was apprehended by the joint operatives of the PCG and Bureau of Customs due to its illegal presence in waters off Orion Point on January 27.

The statement came after the Philippine Coast Guard identified the ship as a “Chi-

nese dredger type vessel.” The PCG also reported that the ship’s two Cambodian crewmembers failed to present proper documents during the inspection.

The Chinese Embassy revealed that information from the International Maritime Organization showed the ship with an IMO number of 8692665, is under the flag of Sierra Leone.

“The embassy hopes that any responsible remarks and reports should be based on facts, rather than speculation and misinformation. China is ready to render fur-

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It has not been made public how many vaccines were sold, but police have traced where the vaccines ended up, it said.

“Our own authorities need to bust any plan to bring those fake vaccines onto our shores. Anyone willing to put other people in danger for quick profit should be apprehended and put behind bars,” Hontiveros said.

As this developed, Senator Christopher Go rated the country’s COVID-19 pandemic response so far as “very good” but cautioned against complacency as the public awaits the implementation of the national vaccination program.

As chairman of the Senate committee on health, Go said that he will support the provision of an additional budget for the Department of Health’s genome sequencing to detect new COVID-19 variants.

Earlier, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an online media forum that the proposed additional P362-million budget represented the consolidated requirements coming from University of the Philippines – National Institutes of Health, Philippine Genome Center, and also the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

probability that a person may have two variants,” she said in a mix of Filipino and English. “However, we have yet to see that here from the tests we are conducting.”

To date, the Philippines has recorded the original strain and the B.1.1.7.

SARS-CoV-2 variant, which emerged in the United Kingdom.

Health authorities have so far confirmed 17 people to have the UK variant: one in Quezon City; 12 in Bontoc, Mountain Province; two overseas Filipino workers who returned from Lebanon; one in La Trinidad, Benguet; and one in Calamba City, Laguna.

“We have yet to record another variant that is of public health significance or something that could affect the COVID-19 transmission in our country,” Vergeire said.

Vergeire assured the public they would be able to conduct genome sequencing of 750 samples this week.

Due to a global shortage in reagents, which are chemicals used in tests, Vergeire said the Philippine Genome Center was only able to conduct genome sequencing of 48 samples last week.

The agency earlier said it was requesting some P362 million to fund genome sequencing efforts for the whole year.

The proposed budget will include a year’s worth of supply of reagents, testing kits and other logistical requirements.

Researchers in southern Brazil last week said they discovered patients infected with two different strains of the new coronavirus simultaneously.

The researchers, who posted their findings Jan. 27 on medical website medRxiv,

Philippines not affected by EU export ban

The Philippines will not be affected by the European Union’s export controls on COVID-19 vaccines, the European Union’s (EU) delegation to the country said after President Duterte criticized the bloc for holding up the global supply of vaccines.

In a statement, the EU delegation to the Philippines said exports to 92 low and middle-income countries covered by the COVAX facility, including the Philippines, are exempted from the ban.

“No impact to the Philippines as well as to other poor countries as exports to these countries are exempted from the export ban,” the EU said in a statement.

Manila seeks 900,000 more Pfizer doses

The Philippines will be sending a letter to the management of the COVAX Facility to request additional doses of Pfizer COVID-19) vaccines, National Policy Against Covid-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Wednesday.

Galvez, also the vaccine czar, said the country will be requesting more than 900,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines apart from the 117,000 doses set to arrive this month.

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From A1 “I support the initiative of the chair to have the implementation suspended but I also hope that the opportunity to review the IRR be taken while implementation is delayed,” Biazon said.

“It seems that there are IRR provisions that go beyond the scope and authority of RA 11229 and also add to the

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Tiangco earlier told the residents to evacuate because of the ammonia leak and advised the public to avoid North Boulevard and R-10 Road.

This was the second ammonia leak incident in Navotas following another in an ice plant on Lapu-Lapu Avenue weeks ago, GMA News reported.

Liquid ammonia is used as a refrigerant or coolant for manufacturing purified tube ice.

In an interview on ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo, Tiangco said the cold storage fa-

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ther assistance to the Philippine authorities concerned in its investigation, should there be such a need,” it said.

The House of Representatives’ Makabayan bloc filed a resolution this week seeking an investigation on the proliferation of the alleged Chinese dredging ships illegally operating in Philippine waters.

Meanwhile, Senator Ronald Dela Rosa has rallied behind the proposed joint diplomatic protest among the Southeast Asian Nation claimants in the West Philippines Sea following the implementation of a new Chinese Coast Guard law.

The new law allows Chinese troops to fire at foreign vessels that will be caught sailing within the waters being claimed by China.

Dela Rosa said the diplomatic action

being proposed by fellow senator Francis Tolentino through a resolution must be done soon to avert possible chaos in the contested area.

“I fully support him with that kind of move, because I know that Senator Tolentino is good when it comes to international law. He knows it well.I support him there. We should really do that thing,” Dela Rosa said.

The former police chief acknowledged that as a sovereign state, China could enact its own laws, but expressed that the Philippines should protest since the country was a claimant of the Scarborough Shoal and Spratly Island in the West Philippine Sea. He noted the Philippines could not prevent China from making their own laws because that was their sovereign power.

said their study would be the first in the world to confirm co-infection with two strains of the coronavirus. The study has yet to be published in a scientific journal and has not been peer reviewed.

The patients, both in their 30s, were infected in late November with the P.2 variant of coronavirus identified in Rio, also known as the B.1.1.28 lineage, and simultaneously tested positive for a second variant of the virus.

Their symptoms were reportedly mild, with dry cough in one case, and coughing, sore throat and headache in the second. They did not require hospitalization.

New variants bring the risk of greater transmissibility and possible resistance to vaccines currently being developed.

severe symptoms account for 2.4 percent.

Active infections account for 5.9 percent of the cumulative total cases, while the deaths represent 2.06 percent.

1,266 new infections recorded

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections in the Philippines reached 530,118 on Wednesday after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,266 new COVID-19 cases.

The additional cases do not include data from seven laboratories that failed to submit their findings on time.

The DOH also reported 68 new COVID-related deaths, bringing total fatalities since the pandemic began to 10,942. This is the fifth straight day that the additional deaths counted more than 50.

Additional deaths announced daily from Jan. 30 until Feb. 2 ranged from 58 to 80.

There were also 130 new recovered patients or a total of 487,721 recoveries.

This left 31,455 active cases, 88.8 percent of whom have mild symptoms, and 5.8 percent of whom are asymptomatic.

Those in critical condition account for 2.5 percent of active cases, and those with

No holiday spike seen

The trend of new COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila has leveled off, as fears of a possible spike after the holidays and the Black Nazarene feast did not materialize, the latest OCTA Research Team report said.

The OCTA report said Metro Manila’s R-naught, which describes the reproduction of COVID-19 cases, remained steady at 1 over the past week.

The group also said despite the preholiday increase in new COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region, “there was no spike due to the holidays or the Black Nazarene festival.”

Despite warnings from the government, thousands of Catholic devotees still participated in the Black Nazarene feast in Manila, which OCTA Research earlier feared could be a “super-spreader” event.

Accuracy of saliva test up for review

The accuracy of the use of saliva as specimen for RT-PCR test for COVID-19 will still be reviewed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made the comment in response to questions about the initiative of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), which already entered a memorandum of agreement with a popular mall to conduct drive-through RT-PCR tests using saliva samples.

and medium corporations.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Wednesday said the ratification of the measure puts the Philippines in a better position to attract fresh money and make our economy more appealing as an investment destination.

“This latest reform to our fiscal regime lowers the corporate income taxes and provides incentives to businesses, therefore providing much-needed relief to our investors—whether big or small—severely impacted by the ongoing global health crisis.

One important feature of this reform measure is to exempt from VAT and other duties the importation of COVID-19 vaccines, personal protective equipment or PPE, and treatment and clinical trial drugs, among others,” Velasco said in a statement.

The Philippines has the highest corporate income tax rates in Southeast Asia, and with CREATE, “we can expect our country to be as competitive as our neighbors,” the Speaker said.

“With the approval of CREATE together with our efforts to amend the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, we are confident that we can hasten our economic recovery, attract more local and foreign investors and create jobs for the Filipino people,” Velasco said.

“We thank our colleagues in both chambers of Congress for ratifying this measure and for heeding the call of the times,” he added.

House Ways and Means chair Joey Salceda said the bill would be the “greatest economic reform of the postEdsa years,” second only to economic amendments to the Constitution.

“Removing the uncertainty will be like opening the floodgates to invest-

ment. I expect at least PHP12 trillion pesos in combined domestic and foreign investment over the next decade due to CREATE alone. USD 90 billion of that will be FDI (foreign direct investments),” Salceda said.

“This will also result in around 1.8 million jobs over the next 10 years. Combined with economic amendments to the Constitution to maximize impact, we can produce some 8.4 million jobs,” he added.

Salceda said fixing the incentives regime to make it more performancebased was also crucial.

“The current investment priorities plan covers some 70 percent of GDP (gross domestic product). While I am willing to give incentives, they must be linked with economic outcomes. Better jobs for our people. Higher wages.

More training. More research and development. Stronger business. More competitiveness,” Salceda said.

confusion and apprehension about the law,” he added.

One example, Biazon said, was the IRR provision on “Fitting Stations,” which is supposedly meant to effectively implement Section 8 of RA 11229, or the Certification Training Program.

“It is my belief that the establishment of fitting stations as contained in the IRR steps beyond the training program intended in Section 8. It is also vague as to the purpose of the fitting stations, with the

question raised if motorists would need to have their units evaluated and approved by a fitting station,” he said.

The Muntinlupa lawmaker said the process of accrediting the fitting stations might also give rise to corruption due to the exercise of discretion by accreditors.

“The law does not mention the creation of fitting stations,” he stressed.

Transportation officials have postponed the implementation of RA 11229 during the coronavirus disease pandemic

as the Land Transportation Office finalized enforcement protocols for the law.

Prior to the deferment of its implementation, the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act was supposed to have taken effect last Tuesday, February 2.

Sarmiento earlier wrote Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to ask that preparatory measures, including a nationwide education and information campaign, be implemented prior to implementation of the law.

cility is owned by a corporation “where my mother is one of the owners. They inherited this from my grandfather.”

He was informed about the situation at 4:19 p.m. and the mayor advised residents to evacuate as soon as he got the news.

Tiangco said authorities from the Bureau of Fire Protection arrived shortly after.

Ambulances and emergency vehicles were also called nearby.

“The first thing they had to do was evacuate the residents. They say it hurts in the nose area, according to those who live nearby. Then the BFP moved in,” he said.

“Even those who do not want to evacuate were told to do so. The area behind the storage is densely populated,” Tiangco said.

The mayor already issued a tempo-

rary closure order for the storage facility, but at press time he had yet to verify if authorities already entered the storage to control the leak.

The mayor apologized for the incident and vowed swift action, especially since the facility belongs to his family.

“Because it is my mother’s company, I am personally asking for forgiveness with what happened. But even if the storage’s owners are related to me, I assure you that they will be held accountable,” he said.

Liquid ammonia, also called anhydrous ammonia, is commonly used in small amounts as a restorative solution for fainting or headaches but may cause similar symptoms when people are exposed directly to large concentrations. Jun David

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From A1 due, and we need to catch up with the demand of solid waste management in our country,” Antiporda said.

“This is a significant milestone for NSWMC, and for the Filipino people.

We have long been fighting for and we are committed to having a NEAP list to comply with the law to combat environmental damage,” he added.

The approved resolution came at a perfect time as the world celebrated Wednesday the International Straw Free Day. “The prohibition on these two singleuse plastic items may be small steps in the

Reform sought for uniformed men’s pension

By Maricel V. Cruz AN OFFICIAL on Wednesday expressed support for a major reform in the pension systems for uniformed personnel as the systems’ liabilities to active service members alone has already reached P9.6 trillion in projected payouts.

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, filed the Military and Uniformed Personnel Pension Reform Bill under House Bill 8593.

Salceda says reform in the pension systems is critical as pension liabilities for current active personnel already runs to P9.6 trillion, according to a study conducted by the Government Service Insurance System.

“P9.6 trillion is half of our GDP. Any pension liability that covers half of your economy is trouble. And the problem will only get bigger if we don’t solve it now,” Salceda said.

“The problem with the pension system for MUP is that there is no sharing between employees and the government, so all liabilities are current. There is no seed fund to grow.

Right now, pension spending for our uniformed services already exceeds the maintenance, operating and other expenses for their departments. That’s not sustainable.

“I would rather do this difficult reform now than face retired service members and tell them, ‘sorry, we can’t pay for your pension anymore’.”

Salceda said unlike all other pension systems, where contributions from both employer and employee are managed in a pension fund, and where the liabilities are deferred, the MUP pension system is essentially no different from for-life government salary.

7m deactivated...

From A1 ordered excluded by the court and he has lost his Filipino citizenship.

She said deactivated voters will only be allowed to participate in the next election after their application for reactivation is approved in the local Offices of Election Officers (OEO) during the voter registration.

The Comelec said that at least 1,050,793 voters have registered for next year’s elections as of Jan. 7.

The poll body is targeting 4 million new registrants by the end of the voter registration period on Sept. 30.

The Comelec official added that the Sept. 30 deadline for voter registration may not be extended since the filing of certificates of candidacy would already start in October this year.

Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos said the Senate has started discussions about the “new normal” in campaigning and face-to-face encounters, including house-to-house visits and rallies.

She said they also tackled other potential super-spreader events that ought to be limited even after mass vaccination against COVID-19.

If online and broadcast will be the preferred campaign platforms, Marcos said it is urgent that they pass a bill increasing allowable election expenses.

She cited the need for more realistic levels “with the caveat that such an increase cannot be so high as to disqualify less-wealthy candidates.”

Marcos said it will be the Comelec’s challenge, as it is for Facebook and other networks, to provide clear guidelines for monitoring social media platforms.

In this way, she said candidates do not exploit their algorithmic and ad potential, nor on the other hand, be held liable for vague, alleged violations.

“Smaller, town-hall gatherings held outdoors or properly distanced, observing health protocols and in less- infected areas may be allowed,” she said.

NEAP listing, but it is a big leap when it comes to compliance with the provisions of RA 9003,” the DENR official said.

“This global celebration aims to encourage the public to go straw-free and say ‘no straw please’ when ordering drinks,” he noted.

Pursuant to Section 29 of RA 9003, “Within one year from the effectivity of this Act, the Commission shall, after public notice and hearing, prepare a list of non-environmentally acceptable products as defined in this Act that shall be prohibited according to a schedule that shall be prepared by the Commission.”

Antiporda lamented that it was only two decades after the law was passed when the commission came up with a list of NEAP.

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USAID gives PH P7.25-b environment grant

By Rey E. Requejo

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HE United States government, through the US Agency for International Development and the National Economic Development Authority, signed a new, five-year bilateral assistance agreement worth more than P7.25 billion ($150 million) to bankroll the program intended to protect the Philippine environment.

TABLETS FOR LAST MILE SCHOOLS. Education Secretary Leonor Briones receives 2,000 tablets from Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian that will be used for DepEd’s blended

distance learning program and will benefit ‘last mile schools’ in far-flung areas. Also present during the ceremonial turnover were Presidential Assistant for Foreign Affairs Robert E.A. Borje and representatives from the Chinese Embassy and the Department of Education. Presidential Photo

NBI not rushing Leachon twits Panelo: ‘Never wanted Duque’s post’ Dacera report By Willie Casas —Justice chief JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday expressed confidence that the National Bureau of Investigation would be able to complete its report before the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office wraps up its preliminary investigation of the case involving the death of flight attendant Christine Dacera.

“The NBI is not rushing its report because it wants all bases covered. But I’m sure that the NBI will be able to submit its report before the prosecutor concludes the preliminary investigation and resolves the case,” Guevarra said in a text message to reporters.

According to Guevarra, he will transmit the NBI’s report to the Makati prosecutor’s office as soon as he receives it.

The NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin says they have no updates as of Wednesday because they are “still running other DNA tests.”

Guevarra ordered the NBI to investigate Dacera’s death last month after finding the initial police probe “not thorough enough.”

As the NBI conducts its forensic investigation, the Makati City prosecutor is conducting a preliminary investigation into the police complaint for rape with homicide against 11 of Dacera’s companions before she died on January 1.

The prosecutor conducted the third hearing on the criminal complaint on Wednesday as part of the process to determine whether to file charges against the respondents in court.

Last week, the police submitted to the prosecutor a medico legal report from the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory stating that Dacera died of a ruptured aneurysm in her aorta that was triggered by an increase in blood pressure. Rey E. Requejo

TONY Leachon, an independent health reform advocate, denied on Wednesday that he wanted to replace Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo recently challenged Leachon to seek an elective post and let the voters decide on his fate.

Panelo also on Saturday hinted that health reform advocate Leachon wanted the position of Duque.

“Truth never damages a cause that is just. To announce that there must be no criticism of the pandemic response, or that

we are to stand by the government right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile but is morally treasonable to our country,” said Leachon in a statement.

“The clear personal attack of Sec. Panelo against me is merely an attempt to misdirect the attention of the people from the real issues regarding the slow pandemic response.

“I dreamt of serving the government before but I have no future ambitions to be a public official. I’d like to spend my sunset years with my family, my patients, and continue doing meaningful advocacy work in healthcare.”

After his retirement from the corpo-

rate world in 2012, Leachon said, he volunteered as a one-peso consultant of the Department of Health to Sec. Enrique Ona and worked on the landmark sin tax law for tobacco and alcohol while practicing as an internist cardiologist and working as a health reform advocate.

In 2016, he said, several people wanted him to apply as DOH Secretary under the new administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“So through channels I sent my curriculum vitae to the wife of Sec. Salvador Panelo, a colleague from the Philippine College of Physicians, Dr. Araceli Panelo.

I applied as some kind of formality

USAID Philippines Mission Director Lawrence Hardy II says through this agreement the US and the Philippines deepen their commitment to protect the environment by promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, expanding access to renewable energy and reducing risks from natural disasters.

Under the agreement, the USAID will implement projects to increase access to clean energy and water, improve natural resource management and protect the Philippines’ landscapes, wildlife and fisheries.

These projects support the Philippines’ and United States’ shared goal of preserving the Philippines’ world-renowned natural treasures while improving the lives of Filipinos and ensuring sustainable jobs, Hardy said in a statement released by the US Embassy in Manila.

“This new agreement with NEDA, which includes partnerships with the Departments of Natural Resources, Energy and Agriculture—Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, marks a new era in our longstanding support to the Philippines,” Hardy said.

“We will work together to address many environmental challenges. Together, we will strengthen government and community efforts in responding to environmental challenges to achieve our shared vision for safer and more resilient Filipino communities. Our assistance will help protect the forests, fisheries and water and energy resources for millions of Filipinos, increase livelihoods and promote nature as an engine of sustainable growth.”

Solons wary of water woes

THE House of Representatives Committee on Metro Manila Development has begun deliberations on various measures aimed at preventing the repeat of another water crisis in the metropolis in preparation for the dry season.

“The combination of a pandemic and a possible water crisis could be disastrous.

We do not want to face these problems unprepared. We should ask the important questions as early as now,” Manila Rep. Manuel Luis Lopez said in a congressional hearing.

“Access to water is a right and we no longer want to experience another water crisis that would burden us even more now that we are in a pandemic.”

In discussing the progress of the recommended Water Security Master plan from the last Congress as well as the measures referred to the panel, Lopez asked these questions: Maricel V. Cruz

ROBBED. Police question a senior citizen who lost about P1 million worth of jewelry and cash stolen by robbers from his jewelry shop along Recto Avenue in Binondo, Manila on Wednesday. Norman Cruz

BI: PH emerging as shipping crew hub Villar: Wetlands

By Vito Barcelo

NEW DEPUTY SPEAKER. House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez (right) congratulates new Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas Lone District Rep. Cammille Villar during the oath taking ceremony at the plenary of the House of Representatives. Ver Noveno

THE Philippines is emerging as a major hub of crew change for international sea vessels, according to the Bureau of Immigration as it processed and cleared last year more than 112,000 seafarers who joined or left their ships.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente says the bureau fully supports the government in pursuing its goal to make the Philippines a major international hub for crew change on maritime vessels.

Morente said immigration officers had been deployed to six ports that had been designated as crew change hubs. These are located in Manila, Bataan, Batangas, Subic, Cebu and Davao.

“We also welcome the DOTr’s move to establish one-stop shops in these ports

which would facilitate crew changes,” he said, adding that the bureau recognizes the contribution of seafarers to the Philippine economy.

According to BI Bay Service Section chief Alnazib Decampong, BI officers assigned in the section processed a total of 112,220 seafarers who joined or left their vessels in 2020.

Decampong said 92,931 of these seamen were Filipinos while 19,289 were foreigners of varying nationalities.

“Crew changes are vital to the international maritime industry as it affords sea vessels the opportunity to refresh their manpower. This is especially vital today amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” Decampong said.

The Philippines is said to be the largest supplier of seafarers to the world’s maritime industry.

Sobejana recalls Sayyaf gun battle that earned him Medal of Valor

By Ben Cal OUTNUMBERED but not outfought.

This was the dangerous situation that then Army Capt. Cirilito E. Sobejana faced when he led a 16-man Scout Ranger team, including two members of the Civilian Armed Group Geographical Unit, during a five-hour

close-quarters gun battle with some 120 Abu Sayyaf in the hinterlands of Matarling, Basilan, on that fateful Friday the 13th of January 1995, killing 42 terrorists.

Five Scout Rangers and the two CAFGUs were killed during the fighting that uncovered for the first time the existence of the clandestine terrorist group hiding in Basilan in 1989.

In an exclusive interview with this writer, Sobejana said the encounter with the Abu Sayyaf led by Abudarjak Janjalani was completely by chance when a nine-year old boy trembling and perspiring went to his unit in Maluso, Basilan, to report the presence of over 100 armed men unloading supplies two kilometers away.

Sobejana, who was resting, was

jolted from his hammock and immediately talked to the boy, who related what he saw.

The location of the Abu Sayyaf was at Sitio Sweet Jackal.

Without wasting time, Sobejana told his men to move quickly toward the area where the gunmen were spotted by the boy, who was tending a carabao of his Capt. Cirilito E. Sobejana father at the time.

need protection

NOTING that there is still no single Philippine legislation that deals specifically on wetlands, Senator Cynthia Villar on Tuesday filed a bill that seeks the protection of wetlands.

Villar, head of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, underscored the need for a concise policy statement on wetlands to be adopted at the national level due to its importance.

The senator filed her proposed measure, Senate Bill 2036 or the “National Wetlands Conservation Act,” on February 2, which is the “World Wetlands Day.” The theme of this year’s celebration was “Wetlands and Water.”

The Convention on Wetlands was also signed on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran. The Philippines is a Contracting Party in the only international treaty focused on the wise use and conservation of wetlands. As a Contracting Party, the Philippines is committed to adopt and implement laws, policies and plans to promote the wise use of wetlands.

Senate Bill 2036 “seeks to guide all concerned national government agencies and local government units in adjusting their sectorial or local policies, plans and programs to be consistent with wetland conservation and wise use”. Macon Ramos-Araneta

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor

A4

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2021 lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

Joy allays fears over EU vaccines

By Rio N. Araja

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Pasay cracks down on profiteers

By Joel E. Zurbano

P

asay City Mayor Imelda Rubiano on Wednesday ordered the local police and market officials to go after abusive traders and profiteers amid the high prices of meat products and other basic commodities.

“I have thus instructed the Pasay City Public Market, the Pasay City Police, and barangay officials to strictly monitor the prices of selected pork, chicken and other food products in all public and private markets, supermarkets, talipapas, and grocery stores in our city,” Rubiano said.

Rubiano said she is planning to form a sub-task force to run after unscrupulous traders and report their violations to the Office of the Mayor, so that proper actions can be taken against them in accordance with the law.

The city government made the move after Rubiano’s office received various information, and complaints from residents who also asked her to act against the skyrocketing prices of commodities.

Rubiano’s order to run after profiteers was also in compliance with an earlier Executive Order 124 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte which mandates a price ceiling on selected pork and chicken products in the National Capital Region.

The city chief executive said she is supporting Duterte’s directive which she said will remain in full force and effect for 60 days upon publication in the Official Gazette, noting that “it will give relief to our constituents who have been complaining of high prices during this health crisis.”

Duterte’s order mandates that prices of pork products kasim/pigue be pegged at P270 per kilo while liempo will be sold at P300 per kilo.

The mandated pork prices are significantly lower than the previous prices of as much as P390 or higher per kilo.

For poultry products, dressed chicken should be sold at maximum P160 per kilo which is also lower from the previous selling price of P210 per kilo or higher.

LAPTOPS FOR TEACHERS. Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi turns over laptops to public elementary and high school teachers to help them with distance learning amid the pandemic. Fresnedi led a turnover ceremony of the 2,557 laptops to Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Dominico Idanan and other school principals last February 3. The local government also provided mobile tablets to students and donated photocopiers to local public schools to aid in the printing of modules for the distance learning modality.

Lance Tan to be inducted as JCI Makati President

Lawrence “Lance” Li Tan

THE Junior Chamber International (JCI) Makati celebrates its 57th Induction and Turnover Ceremony with philanthropist Lawrence “Lance” Li Tan ito be inducted as the 2021 President on February 6 at the Manila Yacht Club by Robert “Bobby” Joseph, Rotary Club of Manila President and Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Latvia.

Being an exemplary leader himself, Joseph believes Tan will successfully lead JCI Makati in continuously implementing programs and projects that create positive changes in targeted communities across the country.

“It is both a privilege and humbling to be the 2021 President of JCI Makati,” says Tan, whose passion is to create young leaders with his projects.

The ceremony will be at 4 p.m. Saturday streamed live on the JCI Makati Facebook page.

Tan’s biggest project is the Positive Impact on Nation’s Change (PINC) Week last November 19, which was composed of 19 projects that were done in a span of one week.

The same culminated with a PINC Congress, which was attended by more than 5,000 youths from different colleges and universities in Metro Manila. It has become an annual major event of JCI Makati to reach more youths and address their immediate issues in the society.

At the height of the pandemic last year, Lance chaired the JCIdeas, where established businessmen and personalities were invited as speakers in encouraging the Filipino entrepreneurs and workers to pivot on the new normal brought by the pandemic.

Lance’s passion in helping the underprivileged sector expanded not only to out-of-school youths but now on a barangay or community level.

Lance’s major projects focus on the 17 goals of United Nation’s Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG). His life revolves around his love for country by doing his own initiative in promoting the Philippines, as he was also hailed as Tourism Business Innovator last year.

QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Wednesday allayed fears that the European Union’s ban on the exportation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines could trigger a problem for vaccine supply in Metro Manila.

She clarified that the city government has not released any money when it signed an agreement with British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said the European Union was holding hostage the supply of COVID-19 vaccines to other countries, and that less-wealthy countries lacked the power to buy all that they sought.

“As I have mentioned, all we did was sign the tripartite agreement. No money has been released from our coffers and there are many, many vaccine suppliers that, I think, now are willing to engage in talks with local government. So that would not be a big loss I think so. Although time would probably be lost,” Belmonte said.

“But then again, if AstraZeneca has a problem, that that wouldn’t be an issue because wala naman silang supply... We don’t see this as a problem for us at the moment,” she added.

She said AstraZeneca has not raised to them any adverse effects of the EU’s prohibition on their tripartite deals.

CODE Team lauds Caloocan efforts

By Jun David

THE Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) Team of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 once again commended the Caloocan City Government for its ongoing fight against COVID-19.

During the CODE TEAM’s visit to Caloocan this February 2, 2021, NTF Chief Implementer and COVID-19 Vaccine Czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. praised Mayor Oscar “Oca” Malapitan for the comprehensive vaccination plan laid out by Task Force Caloocan City COVID-19 Vaccine.

Galvez thanked Mayor Oca as one of the mayors who signed the tripartite agreement with AstraZeneca for the advance order of 600,000 doses of its vaccine.

According to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, the city’s strategy of working with stakeholders such as the church to assist in manpower and information dissemination regarding vaccination is also commendable.

Mayor Oca expressed his gratitude to the National Government, NTF, IATF and to the agencies that accompany the City Government.

SM malls in Bulacan celebrate ‘luck in love’ THE month of February is not just about hearts and roses but also of luck. This year, SM Malls in Marilao, Baliwag, Pulilan and San Jose Del Monte are bringing luck and love to shoppers with many ways to celebrate Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day with family and loved ones.

Keeping the tradition alive, SM City Marilao, SM City Baliwag and SM Center Pulilan will welcome the Year of the Ox with unique Chinese cultural pocket performances and attractions for the mall goers to enjoy.

With health and safety control measures in place; talented performers will bring dance, martial arts, and drumming to enhance the beautiful colorful procession of

Dragon and Lion Dance. This time-honored prosperity dance will grace their way into every corner of the mall to bring luck all year round.

Shoppers may also enhance their luck for 2021 with SM City Marilao’s Luck and Love Fair located at the mall atrium. The fair offered not only Chinese lucky lantern and charms but also popular Chinese treats like tikoy, hopia and kiat-kiat as well as novelty items and gifts for Valentines.

Fresh and dried bouquet are also available in SM City San Jose Del Monte’s garden of love exhibit while chocolates and local sweet treats are offered in SM City Baliwag and SM Center Pulilan’s exhibit area. Jun David

LUCK AND LOVE.

A salesman arranges golden lucky charm metal ox figurines at SM City Marilao’s ‘Luck and Love’ fair at the mall atrium.

The lucky charm is an indispensable decoration for Chinese New Year that attracts wellness, prosperity, success, and good fortune. J Jun David

Inventor pushes ‘Probaton’ as stick substitute

By Jessica M. Bacud TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan— In response to the call of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the Filipino Inventors Society Producers Cooperative (FISPC) is reintroducing “Probaton” for security frontliners.

Francisco ‘Popoy’ Pagayon, President and chief executive of the Filipino Inventors Society Producers Cooperative, is restoring “Probaton,” a patented truncheon made of rubber to equip security officers.

“It is time to reintroduce Probaton because of the President’s call for a

“When a person resists arrest and becomes violent, the first

better alternative to firearms as first line of defense. It looks better than rattan. In fact, it is a high-quality defense equipment. In dealing with unruly suspects, you can use this tool to knock down the attacker, but this would not break their bones because it is made of rubber,” he says.

“The Probaton, which is protected by patent, is ideal for our security front liners, peace officers and village watchmen,” Pagayon said.

President Duterte said in December that he wanted the police to use batons made of hard rubber instead of wood, Francisco ‘Popoy’ as the frontliners’ first line of defense. Pagayon

Opinion Needed: A Cagayan Valley Development Authority A POWERFUL future disasters of Ulriver is a blessing ysses’ magnitude. The for a country. The reasons for regarding more powerful the the Cagayan Valley river, the many imdifferently, administraportant economic tively speaking, have uses of a river: As been indicated above, a means of transnamely, that it is a disportation and interaction, as a source of tinct part of Luzon with a common geowater for households and for irrigation, graphical feature, that the Cagayan Valas the basis for hydro-electric power, ley provinces comprise Luzon’s major and as a means for maintaining balance granary and that the Cagayan River is in the nation’s ecology. a source of numerous benefits for LuThe havoc wrought by the last of zon’s economy.

2020’s typhoons, Ulysses (International The new instrumentality should be name: Vamco) reminded the people of called the Cagayan Valley Developthis country of the existence in Luzon ment Authority (CVDA) and should of a mighty river - the Cagayan River: encompass the provinces of CagayRunning down the entire length of Lu- an, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, zon’s northern half, the Cagayan Riv- Nueva Ecija and, because of its close er separates the proximity, AuroCordillera mounra. Isabela City tain range on the - either Santiago This is a lesson island’s western or Ilagan - being side from the Sicentral, would be we learned from the erra Madre range the ideal seat of typhoon. on its eastern CVDA. side. The nation’s An authority second longest charged with the river - longest is Cagayan Valley’s Rio Grande of Mindanao - the Cagay- development would make possible a an River flows through the provinces focused and comprehensive approach of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, to economic issues specific to the area.

Quirino and Nueva Ecija. So power- Since all the would-be component ful is the flow of the Cagayan River’s provinces have agriculture-based econwater that two of this country’s largest omies, agriculture would be the main multi-purpose dams - Magat Dam in Is- focus of CVDA planning and spending. abela and Pantabangan Dam in Nueva The maintenance and improvement of Ecija -- are located along its course. the Cagayan River, especially the waOver the decades, typhoons have tra- terway’s dredging, would naturally be versed Northern Luzon and in the process another top concern. Strengthening have caused damage to the economies of the river’s ability to provide water for that region’s component provinces, espe- households, irrigation, electricity gencially their farms and infrastructure. But eration and ecological balance would typhoon Ulysses was different. It brought be the common goal of the Cagayan more destruction than its predecessors, Valley provinces. from which the Northern Luzon provincThere are examples in other counes were able to recover more painlessly tries of governments designating river and more quickly. valleys or deltas as special administraUlysses placed much of the region - tive entities. Perhaps the best-known especially Cagayan and Isabela - under example is the U.S.’s Tennessee Valley a large volume of water, which took Authority, which the administration of weeks to drain away. Much of this President Franklin D. Roosevelt estabcountry’s dry-season rice crop was lost lished as part of a program to create as a result. A large part of the cost of industries and jobs in a time of deep repairing farms and reconstructing fa- economic depression. cilities had to be formed by LGUs (loIt is probably correct to say that when cal government units) already heavily Filipinos hear the name Cagayan, what burdened by expenditures associated immediately comes to mind is the with the pandemic.

Cagayan Economic Processing Zone Disasters give rise to lessons, and (CEPZ). CEPZ was created to please the Ulysses experience of the Cagayan an at-the-time-powerful senator and Valley provinces is this: The area com- has proven to be a waste of taxpayer’s prising the valley of the Cagayan River money, with smuggling, not economic needs to be regarded as one entity and processing, its principal activity. CEPZ must be accorded a special adminis- should be wound up and its budgetary trative structure if the provinces in the appropriation transferred to the Cagayarea are able to cope effectively with an Valley Development Authority.

Food security is non-negotiable producers and consumers. We have to nip the problem in the bud. Unfortunately, this price freeze is only a band-aid solution to this continuing problem.

I agree with Secretary Dar that the agricultural sector is more resilient compared to the industrial and service sectors. This A PERFECT storm—this is how Secre- is because the Philippines is foremost an tary William Dar described the factors agricultural country. Despite this, we still that contributed to the sky high prices have not achieved food security. of basic food commodities, particularly Even before the pandemic, the United the price of swine and poultry products. Nations Food and Agriculture OrganizaWhile understandably the COVID-19 tion reported that the country has the most pandemic was an unforeseen intervening number of food insecure population, with factor that gravely 59 million Filiaffected almost all pinos who suffer supply chains, the from moderate possibility of natuto severe lack of Let’s keep in mind ral disasters and aniconsistent access mal-related diseases that the agricultural to food in 2019. that affect our supToday, with sector ensures there ply of fish, poultry, a contracting is food on our tables. and livestock is not economy and unknown. high unemployThus, we have to Early this week, ment rates due make sure there’s also the President signed to the pandemic, Executive Order there is a greater enough on theirs.

No. 124 imposing a chance that the 60-day price freeze numbers would on pork products get worse. and chicken. AcSecretary Dar, cording to the Department of Agricul- during a House hearing on Tuesday, enuture, the price freeze will be implemented merated the priorities of ensuring food starting February 8, 2021. Although this security. These are increased local progreatly benefits consumers, we have to duction, improving local supply and mostrike a balance between the interests of bilization, food diversification, and lastly,

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2021

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EDITORIAL

C

China’s credibility gap

HINA has finally seen fit to try and placate anger in the Philippines over its new coast guard law that explicitly authorizes preemptive strikes against foreign vessels in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. The Chinese embassy in Manila on Monday played down the law as “domestic legislation” and said China would continue to seek a negotiated resolution with the Philippines over their disputes in the South China Sea. “China Coast Guard is an administrative law enforcement agency,” the embassy said on its Facebook page. “The formulation of the coastguard law is a normal domestic legislative activity of China.”

“Enacting such a coast guard law is not unique to China, but a sovereign right to all,” the statement continued. “Many countries have enacted similar legislation. It was the Philippine coastguard law of 2009 that established the [Philippine Coast Guard] as an armed and uniformed service. None of these laws have been seen as a threat of war.”

The last line seemed aimed squarely at Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., who said last week that the law was “a

verbal threat of war to any country that defies it” – after filing a diplomatic protest over the legislation.

“While enacting law is a sovereign prerogative, this one – given the area involved or for that matter the open South China Sea – is a verbal threat of war to any country that defies the law; which, if unchallenged, is submission to it,” Loc-

Our giant neighbor needs to match its actions to its words.

sin said on Twitter.

Against the backdrop of years of Chinese aggression against the Philippines and other claimants in the South China Sea, this week’s assurances rang hollow.

Moreover, the embassy statement comparing China’s new legislation to The Philippine Coast Guard Act of 2009 is ridiculous, as nothing in the Philippine law authorizes the kind of aggression against foreign vessels that Chinese legislators saw fit to include in their new measure.

As if this weren’t enough, the Chinese embassy also dismissed local media reports about the harassment of Filipi-

no fishermen—trying to use one recent complaint that even the Armed Forces of the Philippines deemed “improbable”--to whitewash their aggression.

“Some forces in the Philippines, either for their own political interests or out of prejudice towards China, have not only misinterpreted China’s normal legislation, but also fabricated and spread relentlessly fake news such as ‘China coastguard harassing Filipino fishermen’, despite repeated denial from authorities concerned – including the Philippine armed forces – of such an improbable case,” the statement said.

It does not mention, however, many documented cases of harassment, including 2018 video footage of Chinese coast guard personnel boarding a Filipino fishing boat and helping themselves to its catch.

And as far as its preference for a “negotiated settlement” of disputes, that is not how we remember China’s seizure of the Scarborough Shoal in 2012—or its refusal to recognize the 2016 decision by a United Nations tribunal that dismissed China’s nine-dash line claim to most of the South China Sea, and its finding that the behavior of Chinese ships physically obstructing Philppine vessels is unlawful.

If China really wants to ensure good relations with its neighbors, it needs to match its actions to its words. That is something it has not done in a while.

The hardship continues WE WILL soon be celebrating the first anniversary of perhaps the world’s earliest, longest and strictest lockdowns.

Although the lockdown may have saved lives, the country paid for it dearly. One is an economy that has contracted 9.5 per cent which is the worst since 1946.

About 30 percent of our labor force are still unable to find work and many are being retrenched. People also continue to die because of the coronavirus and in fact the death rate has gone up for the month of January.

We are still in some form of lockdown which will continue for the foreseeable future. Local travel is still restricted and if one must, health protocols are required before one can travel. Yet, daily infection rate has increased sometimes breaching 2,000 a day for 2021. To top it all, the UK coronavirus variant is now with us. This variant has been in the news since early December of last year, and yet it took the government sometime to impose travel restrictions on people originating from the UK. Even when the travel restrictions were imposed, the government allowed Filipino balikbayans from the UK to enter with minimum health requirements.

That was how those Filipinos from the UK were able to get in. When they were tested upon arrival and got negative results, they were able to go to Bontoc the following day and infected about 12 people when they celebrated their homecoming. I can understand that we cannot prohibit our countrymen from coming home. But because of the new virus strains, only Filipinos who are stranded abroad like seamen, Middle East workers wanting to come home and people who went on business trips should be allowed to come home but be stricter on balikbayans who are legal residents in other countries whose trips are non-essential like a vacation. They should be responsible importation. Ideally, we should primarily rely on local producers for our food supply. However, our local producers cannot keep up with the rising costs of production and transportation of goods, especially with the ASF. Hence, there is rampant smuggling of pork products which not only risk ASF entry into the country, but also compete with the sales of local hog raisers. Moreover, importation, which is supposedly the last option, often gets an easier go signal than improving implementation of local agricultural programs and increasing support to local food producers.

I do not have anything against importation. If it is really needed to augment our food supply, then we should do it. However, we cannot simply resort to this solution without untangling the problems in the preceding priorities of the government in terms of food security.

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

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

The focus of the government is now on the vaccine. On this issue, the public has been getting a lot of announcements which are sometimes confusing and contradictory. The latest news is that the first tranche of vaccines that we will get is from the COVAX program of the World Health Organization and not from our own effort to buy them. No definite schedule is being mentioned as to when the purchased vaccines will arrive. I would also think that the public would want to know whether the local government units’ vaccination program are separate, in addition or is in coordination with the overall national government vaccination effort.

By now, there should already be a

detailed plan and specific schedules but we have not yet seen any. We have just relaxed our travel restrictions which makes me wonder whether this is the right thing to do considering that there are now four new variants of the disease--- the UK, South African, Brazilian, and California variants. Maybe this is all because of the economy. The economy, after all, needs to recover at the earliest possible time. But the National Capital Region which accounts for a major portion of our productive capacity continues to be on GCQ joined by the Cordillera Administrative Region and several provinces for a monthlong GCQ which will continue to negatively affect the economy.

How to move forward in order to revive the economy and still not make it so difficult for our people is of course the big challenge to our leaders. By now, I would think that they would have learned enough lessons over the past year to be able to plan and implement effective responses to new evolving situations without having to resort to trial and error solutions. The public will not complain if they have confidence in the decisions made by our leaders. During this difficult time, being honest with the public would be the best government policy. Truth, as they say, will set us free. Our leaders should therefore not underestimate the collective intelligence of the people. They would know if the government is lying, when mistakes are being made or if there is a coverup.

Let us remember that with all the hoopla about vaccines delivering us to the promised land, no shots have been administered to any ordinary citizen yet except to some privileged few. The last year has been hard for everyone and the public is hoping for some respite sooner rather than later.

We need to strengthen our programs and provide expanded support to our local producers. There should be a stricter penalty for those traders, businesses, and other profiteers who enable and continue to import smuggled food products, especially pork. Meanwhile, the DA already has a Bantay ASF sa Barangay program to prevent and arrest the spread of ASF in piggeries. However, it seems that there are loopholes in the implementation and insufficient testing for ASF which may lead to an inefficient containment of the disease. We need to look into the supplies of test kits to make sure that every local government unit with swine and cattle farms are not only capable but truly conducting regular ASF tests.

The government should also focus on Educating helping producers. Apart from subinlocal a pandemic sidies, transportation of food products

should be eased and improved. We have also heard of food diversification. However, supplementary and alternative food products receive inadequate attention, research, and support, while there is inelastic demand of major food products.

I laud the programs and intentions of the government in resolving these agricultural woes. However, the success of these agricultural programs, as with any other government program, lies in its implementation. Hence, I urge the Department of Agriculture to rev up and review its implementation and immediately address the deficiencies. I also call on the national government to revisit existing support given to local producers vis-a-vis the pressing needs in the current circumstances. Let’s keep in mind that the agricultural sector ensures there is food on our tables.

Thus, we have to make sure there’s also enough on theirs.

enough to wait until the situation normalizes so as not to spread another strain of virus to their countrymen that is 70 per cent more transmissible.

Here we are following all strict government regulations in relation to the pandemic including the wearing of a face mask and shield, but if the government is not able to prevent the new strains from entering the country, it would be catastrophic.

We’re hoping for a respite sooner rather than later.

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

B2

World

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF 32 people die, five hurt in car mishap in Uganda THIRTY-TWO people died and five were injured on Tuesday when a truck carrying mourners collided with a car and three other vehicles in Uganda, the Ugandan Red Cross said.

The overloaded truck, carrying mourners and a coffin, collided with a car near Kasese in western Uganda shortly before midnight, according to Red Cross spokeswoman Irene Nakasiita.

“The road is small, it’s under construction and it was dark,” said Nakasiita.

Shortly afterwards, two trucks coming from Kasese ploughed into the crash site and a third coming in the opposite direction, from Bundibugyo, also struck the vehicles and overturned.

“So it made up five cars all involved at the same scene,” said Nakasiita.

Red Cross staff and volunteers worked with Ugandan soldiers to transport the dead and evacuated the five survivors.

Poorly maintained vehicles and unsafe highways are common in Uganda which has one of the world’s highest rates of road traffic accidents.

Fatal collisions are becoming increasingly common and cost the East African nation five percent of its gross domestic product each year, according to a UN report in 2018. AFP

Moderna, Pfizer vaccines ready

A

FRENCH lab will start producing Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine in March, while another will begin making the vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech in April, Industry Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said Wednesday.

President Emmanuel Macron pledged Tuesday that four sites on French soil would begin making coronavirus vaccines soon, as the government draws sharp criticism over an innoculation drive that has started off slowly.

French pride has also taken a hit after its pharma giant Sanofi said its Covid vaccine would not be ready until later this year.

The health crisis has prompted governments to push for more widespread production of vaccines already available,

overriding the industry’s fierce resistance to sharing intellectual property secrets.

“Production at the first site will begin in March for the Moderna vaccine,” at a lab operated by Recipharm, Pannier-Runacher told RTL radio.

“We’ll then have a production site running in April for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine,” she said.

“And in May, we should (also) be producing the CureVac vaccine, for which we are waiting for approval,” she said, referring to the German biotech firm that could start French production at a lab owned by Fareva.

Funeral workers in Portugal near breaking point

Afghan judge shot dead

by Taliban AN AFGHAN judge was shot dead in an ambush in the eastern city of Jalalabad Wednesday, police said, the third court official killed in less than a month.

Judge Hafizullah was attacked as he headed to work in a motor trishaw, said Farid Khan, spokesman for Nangarhar province’s police.

Gulzada Sangar, a doctor at Jalalabad public hospital, said Hafizullah had multiple bullet wounds.

The murder of Hafizullah, who like many Afghans goes by just one name, comes after militants shot dead two women judges working for the Supreme Court in Kabul on January 17.

Several prominent Afghans -- including judges, clerics, journalists, activists and doctors -- have been assassinated in often brazen daytime attacks.

Targeted killings with remotely detonated bombs attached to vehicles, or drive-by shootings, have become favoured tactics of insurgents, especially during the morning commute in big cities.

Earlier Wednesday a policeman was killed and three others wounded in Kabul by a bomb attached to their vehicle.

Four similar bomb blasts rocked the Afghan capital on Tuesday, including one that killed a prominent cleric.

Nearly 11,000 Hong Kongers moved to Taiwan in 2020 NEARLY 11,000 Hong Kongers moved to Taiwan in 2020 -- almost double the number of a year earlier -- after Beijing imposed a sweeping security law on the city.

Democratic Taiwan has long attracted Hong Kong people seeking an alternative to their city’s frenetic pace and sky-high rents.

But a new security law has accelerated an exodus, and the number of Hong Kongers granted short-term residency soared to 10,813 from 5,858 in 2019, according to Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency.

The previous record was 7,506 in 2014 during the financial hub’s pro-democracy “Umbrella Movement”.

Taiwan’s Liberty Times newspaper quoted unnamed sources as saying the number of arrivals would have been higher if not for coronavirus border restrictions.

Taiwan does not have an asylum or refugee law, nor does it accept refugee applications -- fearful of a potential influx from the authoritarian mainland.

Hong Kongers can, however, apply to live on the island through other channels, including investment visas.

The government of President Tsai Ingwen has vowed support for Hong Kong’s democracy movement and launched a new office last year to deal with Hong Kongers seeking to stay on the island. AFP

A person crosses the Bow Bridge in Central Park during a winter storm on February 1, 2021 in New York City. A powerful winter storm is set to dump feet of snow along a stretch of the US east coast including New York City on February 1, 2021, after blanketing the nation’s capital.

The National Weather Service issued storm warnings from Virginia to Maine -- a swathe home to tens of millions of people -- and forecast snowfall of 18 to 24 inches (45-60 centimeters) in southern New York, northeastern New Jersey and parts of southwest Connecticut. AFP

Biden bids to undo Trump’s child separations IN MAY 2018, a six-year-old Honduran boy named Andres was wrested kicking and screaming from his father by US border guards implementing Donald Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy toward undocumented immigrants.

It took another 10 months for the pair to be reunited -- but they were among the lucky ones.

Hundreds of migrant children like Andres are still waiting to rejoin parents after being taken away by the Trump administration.

President Joe Biden has prioritized creating a special task force to reunify the

families as part of his sweeping rolling back of Trump’s hardline policies, which focused on deterring migration from Central America.

“It was a moral failure and a national shame that the prior administration used family separation as a weapon against desperate families and children,” an administration official briefing on Biden’s plans told journalists.

“The Biden administration is committed to remedy this awful harm the Trump administration inflicted on families,” said the official.

Merciless crackdown

MORE than 10,000 people were detained at recent rallies in Russia in support of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny with many subjected to mistreatment in police custody, monitors said Wednesday.

Navalny’s supporters took to the streets in cities across the country on consecutive weekends last month calling for his release from detention and denouncing Kremlin rule.

Hundreds more filled the streets of the capital Moscow Tuesday evening, after Navalny, 44, was ordered behind bars for nearly three years on old embezzlement charges.

At nationwide rallies over the last two weeks, more than 10,000 people were seized by police, the OVD-Info group that monitors opposition protests reported Wednesday.

Detainees are held for hours “in horrid and stuffy conditions, without food or the opportunity to use a bathroom,” OVDInfo analyst Grigory Durnovo told Ekho Moskvy radio.

He added that lawyers from the group, which provides free legal aid to detained

protesters, were at times not given access to detention centres.

Navalny called on Russians to take to the streets after he was detained last month on arrival in Moscow from Germany where he had been recovering from a poisoning with a Soviet-designed nerve agent.

A court in the capital on Tuesday ruled that he must spend two years and eight months behind in prison for violating the terms of a 2014 suspended sentence on fraud charges.

Russian police and investigators continuously issued warnings ahead of rallies, threatening arrests and criminal probes, to discourage protesters from joining.

Over the course of two weeks, several Navalny allies were also detained and key aides have been placed on house arrest pending criminal charges.

Navalny’s arrest and the violent police crackdown on protesters has met with condemnation by international rights groups and Western governments, including the United States, Britain and France. AFP

Manila

SPILLOVER PROTEST. Myanmar migrants hold up portraits of Aung San Suu Kyi as

they take part in a demonstration outside the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok on February 1, 2021, after Myanmar’s military detained the country’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the country’s president in a coup. AFP CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

71 homes destroyed in bushfire in Australia

TODAY

SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late OFELIA R. ANGANGCO has been extrajudicially settled by her heirs per Doc No. 416, Page No. 85, Book No. II, Series of 2020 of Atty. Pauline Marie R. Gairanod, Notary Public for Taguig City, Metro Manila.

(MS-JAN. 27, FEB. 4 & 10, 2021)

LEGAL NOTICE

(FEB. 4/11/18, 2021)

Trump came to power in 2017 promising to halt the mass movement of undocumented migrants over the southern border.

But an initial crackdown only slowed the flow, with tens of thousands of individuals and families—especially from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador—crossing each month, and few mechanisms in place to send them back.

A year later he announced the zero tolerance program, declaring that any undocumented border crossers would be arrested and charged with a crime. AFP

YET ANOTHER phone call comes in for Artur Palma, who is straining to cope with all the bodies piling up at his suburban Lisbon funeral parlor.

The call is from a nearby retirement home, prompting Palma to send his employee Jose Santos to collect the latest Covid-19 victim and drive her body back to the Velhinho funeral parlor he runs in Amadora.

Santos suits up in line with Portugal’s latest health guidelines: head-totoe white suit, gloves and surgical mask.

Then, he sets off in his hearse.

Faced with an explosion in Covid deaths during a virulent third wave in the last few weeks, Palma says that the demands on the business and staff are taking their toll.

“It’s real chaos. There are so many dead people we don’t have enough room for them all,” Palma says.

“It’s an enormous weight at all levels, physically and psychologically. We sleep little and we are reaching our limit. We are reaching the breaking point,” he adds.

Velhinho employees now make three or four trips a week to retirement homes to collect the dead, Santos, 62, tells AFP, at the wheel of his hearse.

That is about three times the number of deaths the funeral parlor handled in January 2020.

According to data compiled by AFP, over the last two weeks Portugal has recorded the largest number of infections and deaths relative to its population of any country in the world. AFP

10,000 Navalny rallyists detained

NOTICE OF Standard EXTRAJUDICIA L

Notice is hereby given to the public that an Extrajudicial Settlement has been executed by the heirs of Muneyoshi Wakabayashi,namely: Catherine C. Wakabayashi, Akira C. Wakabayashi,Youmi C. Wakabayashi,and Yutaka C. Wakabayashi, all of legal age, over CCT 10514, per deed on 11 January 2021, before Notary Public John Edward Trinidad Ang, Per Doc. No. 153, Page No.31, Book No. 111, Series of 2021

A French Sanofi lab will start making the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in the second quarter, even as it pursues research on its own jab, as will the French firm Delpharm.

Separately, Foreign Minister JeanYves Le Drian said Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine could be used in France as long as it meets “scientific norms” and European “standards.”

“If Sputnik is confirmed and approved by the European Medicines Agency and France’s top health authority, there will be no impediment to its distribution,” he told Europe 1 radio. AFP

This general view shows the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, in China’s central Hubei province on February 3, 2021, as members of the World Health Organization (WHO) team investigating the origins of the COVID-19 coronavirus, visit. AFP

AT LEAST 71 homes have been destroyed in a bushfire raging out of control near Australia’s fourth-biggest city Perth, authorities said Wednesday, as they told residents to ignore a coronavirus lockdown and leave threatened areas.

The blaze has torn through swathes of land in the Perth Hills and was moving towards more densely populated areas.

Six firefighters received minor injuries—including one who officials said suffered burns and continued working to extinguish the blaze—but no deaths or serious injuries have been reported so far.

“To the people who have lost their homes, it’s just devastating for them. Our thoughts go out to them,” Western Australian fire commissioner Darren Klemm said.

Several emergency warnings were issued, with conditions set to worsen later

Wednesday and strong gusting winds expected to fan the flames.

The blaze hit a population that had just been forced into a snap lockdown after a coronavirus case was detected.

About two million people in and around Perth fell under the stay-at-home orders imposed on Sunday.

“This is a situation the likes of which we have never seen before,” said Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan.

“A full lockdown and raging bushfires. It is frighting and it will test us all.”

No new virus cases have been detected since the lockdown began, but the number of homes lost is still expected to rise slightly.

As the fire front edged nearer to more populated areas, Klemm called on locals to act swiftly to escape the potentially deadly blaze despite the coronavirus restrictions. AFP

Business

B3

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks down slightly; Metro Pacific climbs T HE stock market fell slightly Wednesday on profit taking as many investors turned cautious on prospects of a shaky economic recovery.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index shed 8.42 points, or 0.1 percent, to 6,859.46 on a value turnover of P9.6 billion. Losers edged gainers, 110 to 106, with 44 issues unchanged.

PLDT Inc., the biggest telecommunications firm, dropped 2.5 percent to P1,388, while rival Globe Telecom Inc. slipped 2.2 percent to P2,002.

Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. of the Gokongwei Group was down 3.3 per-

cent to P58, but Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is into toll roads, water and electricity distribution, hospitals and infrastructure, rose 2.4 percent to P4.25.

Most Asian markets, meanwhile, built on the week’s rally Wednesday, boosted by US stimulus hopes and signs of easing virus infections—as well as improvements in vaccination programs.

Support was also being provided by hopes that the social media-fueled retail trading battle that rattled Wall Street last week appeared to be fizzling.

The gains follow a two-day surge as equities recovered from last week’s rout—though they were tempered by worries that valuations might still be a little frothy—while Hong Kong and Shanghai were hit as China’s central

Is it game over for GameStop’s market saga?

NEW YORK—What a difference a week has made for video game retailer GameStop, which soared on Wall Street in January only to plummet some 70 percent since Monday.

So is it game over for the stock market saga, which saw amateur investors challenge hedge funds with billions of dollars in assets?

Here is a look at the ups and downs of GameStop’s recent fortunes: Why is GameStop stock falling?

GameStop, a well-known retail chain whose business model of selling games on discs has been overtaken by the internet, has seen a precipitous drop in value that is the flipside of its incredible 400-percent surge last week.

The stock had soared after a group of amateur investors organizing on the online platform Reddit joined forces against big hedge funds betting on GameStop’s decline.

This dynamic clearly lost momentum at the start of the week, partly due to funds liquidating their positions in the stock.

Quincy Krosby from Prudential Financial noted that at the end of last week “in the broader market... there were individual names in every sector, where the share price was down, disproportionate to where the sector was.”

“That suggests very clearly that it was a result of forced selling by hedge funds. So anything they could sell in order to make up the difference of covering their shorts,” she said, referring to bets on a stock’s decline.

Other factors may also have come into play, including fear of action by regulator Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the face of extreme market volatility or also the limits imposed on transactions by certain brokerage platforms. AFP

Yellen requests regulatory meeting after wild trading WASHINGTON—US Secretary Treasury Janet Yellen has requested a meeting with financial regulatory authorities to discuss recent market volatility following a socialmedia-fueled buying frenzy over shares in video game store GameStop and other stocks shorted by hedge funds.

Yellen called for the meeting with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Reserve and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, the Treasury said in a statement late Tuesday.

“Secretary Yellen believes the integrity of markets is important and has asked for a discussion of recent volatility in financial markets and whether recent activities are consistent with investor protection and fair and efficient markets,” it said.

Republican and Democratic politicians have called for a review of trading regulations in recent days after a group of online smalltime stock traders helped boost the share prices of previously falling stocks, including GameStop and movie theater brand AMC Entertainment.

Investors organized on Reddit forums to target shares of companies that had been short-sold by hedge funds, which have bet that the price of the company would fall.

The moves led to some retail investor apps such as Robinhood—which says its goal is to “democratize finance for all”—to limit trades on some of the most volatile stocks last week.

Progressive US senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren over the weekend called for action against what they said were Wall Street abuses by hedge funds revealed by the recent frenzy over GameStop shares.

“We need an SEC investigation,” Warren told CNN Sunday. “It’s a rigged game, and it’s been a set of players who come in and manipulate the market.”

And Sanders told ABC “We have to take a very hard look at the kind of illegal activities and outrageous behavior on the part of the hedge funds and other Wall Street players.” AFP

bank sucked more cash out of financial markets to avert a bubble.

All three main indexes on Wall Street ended up more than one percent, and Asia pushed its advance into a third day.

Tokyo, Seoul and Mumbai rose around one percent and Jakarta put on even more, while there were also gains in Hong Kong, Sydney, Singapore, Taipei, Bangkok and Wellington.

However, Shanghai bucked the trend after the People’s Bank of China tightened liquidity in financial markets to temper speculation in markets.

Oil held up after hitting a pre-pandemic high on Tuesday, but there are worries the improvement will give producers an excuse to begin lifting output again.

The Democrat-controlled US Senate voted 50-49 to begin the budget recon-

ciliation process that will allow them to push through Joe Biden’s vast economic rescue package and avoid the filibuster that requires 60 votes for most legislation.

While the move will likely mean the new president will not be able to get the bipartisan agreement he called for, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said a “big bold package” is needed to avoid the long, drawn-out recovery seen in the aftermath of the financial crisis a decade ago.

“We are not going to dilute, dither or delay, because the needs of the American people are just too great,” he told reporters.

The move came after Biden held talks with 10 Republican lawmakers to discuss their $600-billion package that

omitted several measures in his own $1.9-trillion proposal.

“We are still in the early rounds of stimulus discussions, but it seems certain Democrats will end up doing this deal all by themselves,” said OANDA’s Edward Moya.

And while he warned that a hike in the minimum wage—a key part of Biden’s plan—could hit small businesses, he added: “In the end, the economy will see at least a trillion dollars in stimulus via the budget reconciliation.”

The developments came as data showed infections and deaths in the United States—the worst-hit country— appeared to be easing, which experts said was down to better adherence to mask-wearing and social distancing, and the end of the holiday season. With AFP

Business

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

B4

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2021

PSE INDEX CLOSING Wednesday, February 3, 2021 -8.42 PTS. 6,859.46

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

40,569,170,015 188,897 9,576,980,344.10 106 110 44

Foreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2021

CLARK LOCATORS. Clark Development Corp. president and chief executive Manuel Gaerlan (sixth from left) receives

members of the Clark Investors and Locators Association led by Jeannie Ng (seventh from left). With them are (from left) CDC chief of staff Dennis Legaspi, Atty. Gerald Medina, Pepito Zabat III, Evelyn Yumul, Frankie Villanueva, Froilanda Rodriguez, Joselito Mercado, Christopher Magdangal, Maximo GulmayoJr. and Radito Tuazon.

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.0590

Japan

Yen

0.009527

0.4579

UK

Pound

1.366900

65.6918

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129009

6.2000

Switzerland

Franc

1.114703

53.5715

Canada

Dollar

0.782473

37.6049

Singapore

Dollar

0.750525

36.0695

Australia

Dollar

0.760600

36.5537

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

127.4775

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266596

12.8123

Brunei

Dollar

0.747719

35.9346

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.033367

1.6036

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

13.0847

Euro

Euro

1.204500

57.8871

Korea

Won

0.000897

0.0431

China

Yuan

0.154880

7.4434

India

Rupee

0.013718

0.6593

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.247341

11.8870

New Zealand

Dollar

0.719000

34.5544

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035797

1.7204 Source: BSP

Bank loans fell in December amid crisis The BSP said outstanding loans of universal and commercial banks, net of reverse repurchase placements with the BSP, fell 0.7 percent in December, after increasing by 0.5 percent in November.

It said outstanding universal and commercial bank loans, net of RRPs, was broadly steady at about 0.1 percent on a month-on-month seasonally-adjusted basis.

Loans were rising at double-digit rates prior to the onset of pandemic in March 2020, but sluggish economic activities took their toll on large conglomerates and small and medium enterprises. The

By Julito G. Rada

B

ANK loans declined for the first time in December from a year ago, despite the recordlow interest rates, as the economy continued to bear the impact of the pandemic, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed Wednesday.

Manila

Standard

TODAY

HEAD OFFICE: PBCOM Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, 1226 Makati City Customer Care: (02) 8777-2266 or 1-800-10-777-2266 (Domestic Toll Free) *Email: customercare@pbcom.com.ph*Website: www.pbcom.com.ph

BALANCE SHEET (Head Office and Branches) As of December 31, 2020

As of September 30, 2020

ASSETS Cash and Cash Items Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Due from Other Banks Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Available-for-Sale Financial Assets - Net Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets - Net Loans and Receivables - Net Loans and Receivables - Others Loans and Receivables Arising from RA/CA/PR/SLB General Loan Loss Provision Other Financial Assets Equity Investment in Subsidiaries, Associates and Joint Ventures - Net Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture & Equipment - Net Real and Other Properties Acquired - Net Other Assets - Net

P

1,956,153,867.20 20,597,867,786.62 3,646,986,486.30 740,014,979.64 5,178,101,805.48 3,385,893,282.14 60,583,728,428.32 57,266,880,748.68 3,902,951,881.00 586,104,201.36 512,667,211.70 20,251,720.42 1,529,469,564.64 568,620,956.54 5,126,232,436.69

TOTAL ASSETS

P 103,845,988,525.69

P

1,684,313,612.50 22,663,136,378.29 2,057,944,834.36 1,362,552,136.02 4,266,173,662.88 3,188,436,790.19 62,764,575,476.00 57,000,402,495.77 6,359,153,154.00 594,980,173.77 370,642,128.78 20,203,353.35 1,554,997,640.86 547,824,400.53 5,500,677,912.75

P 105,981,478,326.51

LIABILITIES

P

Deposit Liabilities Bills Payable: Other Deposit Substitutes Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities TOTAL LIABILITIES

P

83,299,662,002.64 2,182,844,421.96 2,182,844,421.96 1,292,320,606.04 2,363,516,304.08

P

89,138,343,334.72

P

85,477,546,661.61 2,332,174,154.23 2,332,174,154.23 1,305,197,142.93 2,511,360,374.79

Philippine Statistics Authority reported the gross domestic product contracted 8.3 percent in the fourth quarter and 9.5 percent in the whole of 2020.

President Rodrigo Duterte said the economy was “sinking deeper and deeper” and losing about P2 billion a day because of the restrictions meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019.

“The workers, the Filipino workers would have earned that money if our economy was moving. So, we are sinking deeper and deeper, but not just us. If it’s not us, it’s everyone. But we [in government] are trying our very

ALLHOME Corp., the listed one-stop shop home store of the Villar Group, continued its Mindanao expansion with the opening of a new outlet in General Santos City.

AllHome said in a statement the newly-opened outlet in General Santos is the group’s fourth store in Mindanao, with the other three in Cagayan de Oro, Butuan City and Koronadal City.

“AllHome aims to bring world-class shopping experience to more locations across the Philippines. We want every Filipino to have the best choices in building and furnishing their homes,” said AllHome vice chairman Camille Villar.

The new store is located on a 7,600-squaremeter lot in Purok 9, Barangay Katangawan, Circumferential Road, General Santos, a highlyurbanized city that serves as the commercial and entertainment hub of central Mindanao, making it an ideal location for AllHome’s latest addition to its store network.

AllHome said the new store ensures contrac-

P

14,278,374,781.56 3,030,955,408.16 -2,601,684,998.75

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

P

14,707,645,190.97

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

P

103,845,988,525.69

tors, architects, interior designers and homeowners in the southern part of South Cotabato province of convenient access to a vast range of home-building products and services, value for money, convenience and excellent customer service at AllHome.

“AllHome’s expansion is fueled by our optimism on the recovery of the market this year. As we continue to navigate the new normal, we deem it important to reach outside Metro Manila to cater to new markets.” AllHome chairman Manuel Villar Jr. said.

The store opening also increased the group’s network of AllHome to 51 locations spread across 30 cities and municipalities nationwide.

This is AllHome’s 14th large free-standing format store, while large mall-based stores and small specialty format stores number reached 22 and 15, respectively.

Newly-opened AllHome stores feature a new look including higher ceilings and an expansive racking for the construction area to give shoppers a better view of the store’s offerings.

91,626,278,333.56

P14,278,374,781.56 2,678,510,210.14 -2,601,684,998.75 P

14,355,199,992.95

SAP DISBURSEMENT.

P 105,981,478,326.51

CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS Financial Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Trade Related Guarantees Commitments Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Trust Department Accounts Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts Agency Accounts Others TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

P

1,112,021,074.54 876,789,622.32 403,601,395.52 73,300.00 3,102,081,170.35 7,973,682,763.74 1,681,807,060.72 6,291,875,703.02 57,819,576.40

P

1,098,230,722.02 487,390,640.86 209,191,497.93 2,695,738,278.52 7,555,055,242.86 1,622,444,026.80 5,932,611,216.06 38,853,872.77

P

13,526,068,902.87

P

12,084,460,254.96

Qualified beneficiaries conveniently claim their Social Amelioration Program funds at CitySavings Sampaloc branch in Manila. The thrift bank has served close to 5,000 qualified beneficiaries through strategically located branches across the country under the second tranche of disbursement.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Gross total loan portfolio (TLP) 62,251,347,872.35 Specific allowance for credit losses on the TLP 1,081,515,242.67 Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) a. Gross NPLs 2,257,737,295.57 b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%) 3.63% c. Net NPLs 1,417,431,787.33 d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%) 2.28% e. Ratio of total allowance for credit losses to gross NPLs (%) 73.86% f. Ratio of specific allowance for credit losses on the gross TLP to gross NPLs (%) 47.90% 9,228,314,698.99 Classified Loans & Other Risk Assets, gross of allowance for credit losses DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross allowance of credit losses 2,491,927.97 Ratio of DOSRI loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses, to gross TLP (%) 0.00% Gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables Ratio of gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables to TLP (%) 0.00% Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) a. 8% for Micro and Small Enterprises 3.47% 6.96% b. 2% for Medium Enterprises Return on Equity (ROE) (%) 9.86% Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis, as prescribed under existing regulations a. Total CAR (%) 18.87% b. Tier 1 Ratio (%) 16.01% c. Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio (%) 1/ 16.01%

1/

64,738,398,964.33 1,378,843,314.56

2,053,357,055.28 3.17% 1,084,087,235.92 1.67% 96.13% 67.15% 9,537,747,436.03 3,228,108.75

Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio (%) is only applicable to all Universal and Commercial Banks and their subsidiary banks.

0.00% 0.00%

3.00% 6.44% 10.30% 18.05% 15.24% 15.24%

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) City of Makati ) S.S. We, Arlene M. Datu and Patricia May T. Siy, of the above-mentioned bank do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the above balance sheet are true and correct to the best of our knowledge and belief.

(SGD.) ARLENE M. DATU Comptroller, SVP

(SGD.) PATRICIA MAY T. SIY President & CEO

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this January 26, 2021 at City of Makati, affiants exhibiting their SSS nos. 0356633451 and 0373099955, respectively.

Doc. No. 339 Page No. 69 Book No. III Series of 2021.

(SGD.) ATTY. GERVACIO B. ORTIZ JR. NOTARY PUBLIC City of Makati until December 31, 2021 IBP no. 05729 - Lifetime Member MCLE Compliance No. VI - 0024312 Appointment no. M-82 -(2020-2021) PTR No. 8531011 Jan 4, 2021.

Makati City Roll no. 40091 101 Urban Ave., Campos Rueda Bldg. Brgy. Pio del Pilar, Makati City

Member: Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation Maximum Deposit Insurance for each Deposit P500,000.00

PH tops global ranking in 5G technology improvements

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Philippines ranked number one globally in terms of improvements in 5G technology compared to 4G, according to international analytics firm Opensignal.

Opensignal’s “Benchmarking the global 5G experience” report showed the Philippines led the rest of the world in improvements in 5G technology compared to 4G, when it comes to a video experience improvement of 40 percent.

The Philippines topped Thailand which placed second. The Philippines posted a 29-percent boost while Hong Kong showed an improvement of 14 percent.

The country also overtook Australia and Hong Kong, ranking second in 5G download speed improvement with 10.1 times increase versus 4G at 117.2 megabits per second.

Ian Fogg, Opensignal lead analyst, said “for 5G to be relevant to mainstream mobile users, the

PMFTC Inc., the local unit of Philip Morris International, on Wednesday announced plans to reduce its workforce after the pandemic affected its finances and reduced profitability.

The company said in a statement it had a tough time arriving at the decision to streamline manufacturing operations that was impacted by the market conditions over the past years.

“With the economic challenges brought about by the pandemic, our top concern is to ensure the welfare of our employees who are affected by this decision. We are working closely with them to provide the assistance they need in this difficult time,” PMFTC said.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said in an earlier interview that PMFTC raised the possibility it would retrench more than 300 employees after an assessment showed redundancy in the company’s workforce.

PMFTC said it offered to provide generous separation packages in excess of legal requirements and a viable care program to help the retrenched workers transition to other sources of livelihood.

It said that while it would reduce its workforce, it would diversify resources and investments from manufacturing to emerging business ventures such as business process outsourcing.

The reinvestments in the BPO industry will more than offset the streamlining at the Marikina plant with the opening of new job opportunities in the planned shared services and call centers within the next two years, the company said.

PMFTC is a joint-venture of Philip Morris International and Fortune Tobacco Corp. of tycoon Lucion Tan. The two companies merged their resources in 2010 to form a new company which now controls 90 percent of the Philippine cigarette market.

IN BRIEF

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings

By Othel V. Campos

best to keep us afloat,” Duterte said in Filipino.

The BSP slashed the overnight borrowing rate by a total of 200 basis points last year that brought it to a record-low of 2 percent as support measure to boost the economy amid the lingering global health crisis.

The interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were also at an all-time low of 1.5 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively.

Data showed that despite the rate reduction, lending remained tepid as banks continued to be risk-averse amid the ongoing pandemic.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Villar’s AllHome opens 4th store in Mindanao

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PMFTC bares plan to reduce PH workforce on virus woes

latest mobile technology must offer an excellent and superior mobile network experience. In this analysis, we quantify just how good the 5G experience can be.”

Globe was the first mobile operator in Southeast Asia to commercially launch 5G for home back in 2019. It launched its 5G for mobile in 2020. Globe said it has the widest 5G coverage in the country.

The telco said it continued to expand its 5G network, now covering 80 percent of Metro Manila. Continuous expansion is being done in key areas nationwide driven by the demand of the public for better connectivity, it said.

“We are inching closer to fulfilling the vision towards a first world network. Creating a nation that thrives digitally begins with a robust network using the most advanced technologies and allowing our customers to fully experience our digital offers and solutions,” said Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu.

No-disconnection plan to hurt economy—solon THE Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives said Wednesday suspending the nodisconnection policy indefinitely may do more harm than good.

“Eventually, it [no disconnection policy] will redound to the detriment of our economy,” APEC Party-List Rep. Sergio Dagooc said.

Legislators continued to ask power utilities to indefinitely prolong the no-disconnection policy to give consumers more time to pay their electricity bills.

Dagooc said if a distribution utility or an electric cooperative failed to pay their obligations to their suppliers such as the generating companies, the latter would not be able to pay their maturing obligations and would be unable to buy fuel or feedstock. He said if generating companies were unable to procure their fuel or feedstock, the economy will definitely be affected. Alena Mae S. Flores

DOE still committed to hiking biofuel mix

THE Department of Energy remains committed to increasing the contribution of biofuel in the country’s energy mix, an official said during the recently concluded virtual 39th Japan Cooperation Center Petroleum International Symposium.

“As Philippine Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi often highlights, it is our priority in the DOE to craft policies that would help the country achieve energy security, self-sufficiency and independence. Increasing the contribution of biofuels in our energy mix is one such way since it would reduce our dependence on imported fossil-based fuels, enhance the quality of the environment, and create opportunities for countryside socio-economic development,” Assistant Secretary Leonido Pulido III said in a presentation on the implementation of Republic Act No. 9637, or the Biofuels Act of 2006.

The minimum biodiesel blends under the law are set at 10 percent for bioethanol (E10) and two percent for biodiesel (B2).

The country had 12 accredited bioethanol producers with a rated production capacity of 380.5 million liters per year as of the end-2020.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Ovialand to take out P1-b Pag-IBIG loan

PROPERTY developer Ovialand Inc. is set to take out a P1-billion housing loan this year from Pag-IBIG Fund, the government institution providing affordable housing loans to Filipinos.

Ovialand president Pammy Vital said in a statement the company was slated to complete 600 housing units this year across four developments in Laguna and Quezon provinces.

Vital said 70 percent of these house and lots were already sold and would be turned over to home-buyers.

Vital commended Pag-IBIG Fund for continued support to real estate developers despite the pandemic.

“Pag-IBIG Fund really went above and beyond the call of duty for the developers during the pandemic. They were able to quickly shift to maximizing the use of technology in verifying loan applications and conducting unit inspections. We supported them 100 percent because we understood that these safeguards in loan processing cannot be sacrificed,” Vital said.

“When 2020 began, we already had a commitment to our clients to deliver to them their homes. As first time home-buyers, their need for their own comfortable home became even more apparent during the pandemic. Thankfully, Pag-IBIG Fund was there to process the loans of our clients,” she said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

SHANGHAI—Born in California and representing the United States before switching to China, teenager Eileen Gu looks destined to be one of the faces of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

The 17-year-old is a freeskier, model and grade-A student with an American father and Chinese mother. She grew up and still lives in the United States.

But in June 2019 she made the “incredibly tough” decision to compete for China, a minnow in ski sports but with grand ambitions.

The world’s most populous country is scheduled to host the Winter Olympics for the first time a year from now, although the coronavirus pandemic and boycott calls threaten to cast a pall over preparations.

Gu, who was 15 when she pledged her allegiance to China, wrote on Instagram that she was “proud of my heritage and equally proud of my American upbringings”.

But Gu, known in Chinese as “Gu Ailing”, said: “The opportunity to help inspire millions of young people where my mom was born... is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help to promote the sport I love.”

China won just one gold medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games in South Korea but the Chinese-speaking Gu has been enthusiastically embraced with the country’s media affectionately dubbing her “Frog Princess” after a green helmet she wore.

“I was raised bilingual and spent every summer in Beijing so I know Chinese culture and American culture as well,” she told the state Xinhua news agency this week.

“So I have that dual identity, where together, two halves make a whole for me.”

Gu graduated from a San Francisco high school last year, 12 months early, so she could forget her studies for a bit and focus on her Beijing 2022 training.

She reportedly scored 1,580 points out of a maximum 1,600 in the SAT, the test used for college admissions in the United States, and has been offered a place at Stanford.

A fashion lover, Gu has featured in glossy magazines such as the Chinese editions of Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Harper’s Bazaar, and already has a raft of commercial deals, including with drinks giant Red Bull.

‘Next Chinese sports icon?’

But for all the modelling shoots and visits to Milan and Paris fashion weeks, it is her performances in freestyle skiing which have earmarked her as a potential star at Beijing 2022 and beyond.

Gu started on the snow at the age of three, was in national competition at nine and won her first World Cup event at 15.

She claimed two gold medals and a silver for China at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne.

Underlining her medal credentials for 2022, Gu made her debut at the X Games in Aspen, Colorado at the weekend— and promptly won two golds. AFP

Sports

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Freestyle skier Eileen Gu (also known as Gu Ailing) poses for photos after signing with Red Bull during a presser in Beijing. Born in San Francisco and representing the United States before switching to China, the teenager looks destined to be one of the faces of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. AFP

New PH volleyball association gets Asian body’s recognition

By Peter Atencio

R

ECOGNITION has been given by the Asian Volleyball Confederation to the newly formed Philippine National Volleyball Federation, inc.

Officials of the PNVFI received the notice this week from the AVC, the governing body of the sport in Asia.

AVC president Rita Subowo wrote a letter of congratulations to newly elected PNVFI president Ramon “Tats” Suzara.

Subowo also raised the possibility of the AVC lending its cooperation

with the PNVFI in staging international meets in the Philippines.

“I look forward to more cooperation between the PNVFI and the AVC in future endeavors,” wrote Subowo.

The PNVFI gained the nod of the Philippine Olympic Committee during its General Assembly meeting last week. All it needs now to get

funding from the Philippine Sports Commission and function as the national governing body for the sports in the country is the blessing from the International Volleyball Federation.

The status of the PNVFI will be discussed during the FIVB Congress 2021, which will have a threeday virtual meeting from Friday until Sunday.

The FIVB decided to hold its gathering online “in light of the significant rise in COVID-19 cases and travel restrictions still in place around the world.”

In the past years, the AVC sanc-

ple who guided me on my journey,” said Pacio.

“Martial arts principles help us in our everyday lives with how we approach people and relationships. It teaches us to apply discipline in all aspects of our lives, and of course, self-control mentally, physically, and emotionally.”

Today, Pacio is one of the most talented martial artists in the industry. He’s reached the pinnacle of the sport through hard work and dedication to his craft. Because martial arts improved not just his professional career, but also his personal life, Pacio urges everyone to practice martial arts.

“Some people may have the misconception that MMA is a brutal sport. But believe me, it will change your life. When you take up martial arts, you learn it’s not just about punching and kicking. That’s just part of it. The lessons go deeper than that. Martial arts will make you a bet-

ter version of yourself,” said Pacio.

“The main thing for me is developing self-discipline. When you have self-discipline, everything else follows. It will reflect in your attitude and work ethic. In the famous words of Kung Fu Panda, ‘there is no secret ingredient, it’s just you.’ This means everything is up to you. So just enjoy what you’re doing, and don’t quit. When you get tired, take a rest, and then go again.

Just don’t quit.”

Eustaquio, on the other hand, notes how martial arts is a holistic fitness undertaking, one that unites the mind, body, and spirit. He shares the same sentiments as his younger teammate.

“Martial arts has played a very big role in my life. It has gotten me through some difficult times. There are times that I get frustrated with different things, but I just go to the gym, sweat it out and leave the gym free-spirited after,” said Eustaquio.

Joshua Pacio

Special or regular? Gilas pool player Navarro mulling PBA draft path to tread

By Rey Joble

William Navarro

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2021

US-born Chinese ‘Frog Princess’ may reign in ‘22 Winter Olympics

Making Martial Arts a part of everyday Life OVER the past few years, people all across the globe have increasingly turned to martial arts as their primary fitness option. It’s no longer just a sport, but also a viable alternative to traditional gym.

In fact, some of the greatest martial artists in the world can attest to the very many benefits martial arts has on human life.

Reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio and former ONE Flyweight World Champion Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio, both members of the famed Team Lakay of Baguio City, Philippines, can say with confidence that martial arts has had a positive effect on their lives.

“Learning martial arts has molded me into a better person. I was a very different Joshua Pacio 15 years ago, before I took up martial arts. And this is because of the core values that martial arts taught me, and of course, because of the peo-

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor

WILLIAM Navarro, the 6’6” center from Ateneo would have played for the Blue Eagles for at least one more season, but his plans were stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced most major basketball leagues in the world to cancel their seasons.

The UAAP wasn’t spared and uncertainty remains on the resumption of the country’s premier collegiate basketball league.

Navarro, also a member of the Gilas Pilipinas national pool, believes it’s the right time to move up and enter the PBA, where he is listed as one of the top prospects from the 97 applicants, hoping to land a spot in Asia’s pioneering professional basketball league.

“The main reason for me joining is because of the UAAP, wala kasing assurance kung kailan mag-start. Kaya sabi ko sa sarili ko, ‘maybe it’s time na rin siguro.’

Ang tagal ko na rin kasi sa college, tumatanda na rin at doon rin naman pupunta. So I talked to my coaches, the Ateneo community and I was asking for their advice, then I made a decision,” said Navarro during his interview with The Link Podcast.

Navarro will be one of the most sought-after big men from among the PBA aspirants, but that would also depend where he would end up.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas recently announced that they requested the PBA to come up with another special draft for Gilas

players, which means that Navarro and the other two draft applicants -- forward Calvin Oftana and guard Jaydee Tungcab -- might be included in the special draft.

But the inclusion of Gilas players in the Special Draft won’t be compulsory as Navarro confirmed that he was asked by Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin whether he wants to continuously be a part of the Gilas program and include him in the special draft or he will join the regular draft.

Navarro added that other than Baldwin, he hasn’t talked with anyone regarding his PBA draft plans as he is more focused of his training with Gilas. The national team is currently preparing for the next FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers window to be held in Qatar late this month.

tioned the holding of the Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship and the Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship.

Two weeks ago, Suzara said this after he was named president of the national sports association that replaced the Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas Inc. and the Philippine Volleyball Federation.

At least five commissions will be formed, making up the backbone of future undertakings of the PNVF. Suzara, who got a total vote of 31, will lead on an interim basis, until new polls are held again next year.

PSC to present model system for LGU sports THE Philippine Sports Commission will provide a model system for sports in local government units as Session 2 of the National Sports Summit 2021 gets underway Thursday.

After the successful launch of its first virtual session last week, PSC continues its weekly sessions by presenting a lecture-forum on ‘Sports in Local Governments (A Model System)’ on February 4.

Davao del Norte Sports and Youth Development Head Giovanni Gulanes comes in as the resource speaker.

“We are excited to showcase DavNor as a model. Hopefully, it could inspire other leaders and coordinators from different LGUs to pursue their own sports development programs” said PSC chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez.

Gulanes will talk about the secret to DavNor’s success in hosting local multisport festivals like the Palarong Pambansa (National Games), Batang Pinoy (Philippine Youth Games), as well as share how their province has successfully and effectively implemented their sports program.

Last January 27, no less than President Rodrigo R. Duterte opened the virtual gathering, with Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth and Sports Senator Bong Go, head of House Committee on Youth and Sports Representative John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto, and Department of Education Secretary Leonor Briones also giving their encouragements to the almost 600 participants from all parts of the country.

“We are very grateful for the strong support the sports sector has been receiving from the President and members of both houses,” Ramirez said.

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Sports

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2021

Uncertainty for Japan’s volunteers, games’ fans

Simmons 1 of 9 NBA stars on Australia’s Olympic team MELBOURNE—Two-time NBA All-Star Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles and San Antonio Spurs’ Patty Mills were included Wednesday in Australia’s Tokyo Olympic squad as they target an elusive gold medal.

They are among nine NBA players on the team, although new head coach Brian Goorjian also opted for some young blood as Australia look to challenge basketball powers United States, Serbia and Spain for the podium.

Ranked three in the world, the Boomers will travel to Japan with a 24-man squad also featuring Aron Baynes (Toronto Raptors), Matthew Dellavedova (Cleveland Cavaliers), and Josh Green (Dallas Mavericks).

But NBA championship-winning centre Andrew Bogut will not make the trip after announcing in December his immediate retirement after a 15-year career.

“It is a well-balanced squad selected by position with a nice blend of experience coupled with a lot of new and exciting players coming through,” said Goorjian.

“These are our top 24 available players and included is significant representation from the NBL, showing the strength of our local league where the standard of competition is recognised worldwide.

“I have spoken to each player over the past fortnight and have been extremely impressed, to a man, by their overwhelming desire to play for Australia in Tokyo,” he added.

American veteran Goorjian only assumed the role in November after former Philadelphia 76ers’ coach Brett Brown suddenly quit, throwing their preparations into disarray.

But he is vastly experienced, leading Australia at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Tokyo will be the fourth Olympics for both Mills and Ingles who in a joint statement said they were honoured.

“We are both excited to again be named in the Australian Boomers squad and we are determined to lead this group of both veteran experience and exciting younger talent to an elusive Olympic medal,” they said.

SOTTO IN TOWN. Basketball star Kai Sotto entertains selfies with fans as he arrives at the NAIA Terminal 3 in Parañaque City on Tuesday night. Sotto, who is part of the Ignite Team in the NBA G League, is set to join other Gilas Pilipinas members currently training for 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers. Norman Cruz

Irving, Harden shine as Nets whip Clippers

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OS ANGELES—Kyrie Irving rattled in 39 points and James Harden bagged the 50th regular season triple double of his career as the Brooklyn Nets outgunned the Los Angeles Clippers 124-120 on Tuesday.

The potential NBA finals sneak preview at the Barclays Center saw the Nets’ big three of Irving, Harden and Kevin Durant combine for a total of 90 points to halt the Clippers’ three-game unbeaten streak.

Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers scoring with 33 points while Paul George added 26 and French international Nicolas Batum chipping in with 21.

Irving said the Nets had been determined to lay down a marker against the Clippers, who led the Western Conference with the league’s best record heading into the game.

“We knew they were going to come out aggressive and they’ve got two wonderful players (Leonard and George) and a great collection of guys,” Irving said.

“We know they’re in contention for meeting us down the line so we wanted to come out and make an impression. I felt like we

did that. It was a total team effort and that’s what it’s going to take every single night.”

The Nets, who had blown a 10-point fourth-quarter lead in a late collapse to the Washington Wizards on Sunday, were given a scare late in the game when a 118108 advantage shrank to a single point with five seconds remaining.

But a length-of-the court pass from Harden to Jeff Green set up a lay-up that made it 122-119, and the Nets eventually made the game safe with two closing free throws from Irving with 1.9 seconds on the clock.

Treat for VanVleet “We’ve got to get our defense in order, last few games we’ve been giving up a lot of points,” Irving said after his seasonhigh points tally.

“So we’ve got to knuckle down on the defensive end and continue to will ourselves to win.”

Harden finished with 23 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds to bring up his half-century of triple-doubles. Durant had 28 points with nine rebounds during his 38 minutes on court.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Fred VanVleet exploded for a franchise record 54 points as the Toronto Raptors demolished the Orlando Magic 123-108.

VanVleet—whose previous best score was 36 points—looked poised to topple Klay Thompson’s single-game threepointer record of 14 after nailing 11 threes in the opening three quarters.

But VanVleet was unable to add to his collection in the closing stages and had to content himself with beating the Raptors previous best scoring record of 52 points set by DeMar DeRozan in 2018.

“It was just my time,” VanVleet said afterwards. “I’ve been missing a lot of open ones this season, more than I usually do.

“But it was my time tonight. Sometimes you just get in that groove and find that zone and my teammates did an unbelievable job of finding me. A lot of them were just catch-and-shoots.” AFP

TOKYO—Mai Tarumi has been looking forward to volunteering at the Tokyo Olympics for years, but now she’s wondering if the Games will end up being a disappointment.

With less than six months to go, Japanese who hope to be involved as spectators, torch bearers and volunteers are confronting the prospect of the Olympics being drastically scaled back or cancelled altogether.

For now, organisers say the Games will go ahead, but have warned spectators might be limited or barred altogether -- something Tarumi said would strip the Olympics of what makes it special.

“If you hold it without fans, it would be the same as any other sports event,” the 33-year-old told AFP outside the taekwondo venue where she plans to volunteer.

“That’s completely different from the Olympics ethos. The Olympics are about gathering people from all over the world, holding the competitions, sharing in a cultural exchange and enjoying the festival.

“That’s what makes it the Olympics.”

Tokyo 2020 chiefs recruited 80,000 volunteers for last year’s original dates, but the 12-month postponement over the coronavirus has left many unable or unwilling to take part this summer.

Tarumi, who was inspired to apply after spending time in Canada during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, intends to volunteer as planned, even if fans are shut out.

But she would prefer Tokyo 2020 to be postponed another year, something organisers have called “absolutely impossible”.

Once in a lifetime A decision on how many spectators will be allowed—and if foreign fans will be permitted to attend—is set to be taken in the coming months.

The nationwide Olympic torch relay is scheduled to begin on March 25, despite this week’s extension of a virus state of emergency now set to last until March 7.

Despite anti-virus measures, including smaller celebrations and social distancing, 10,000 runners are expected to take part, including 62-year-old karate teacher Kazuo Okano.

Okano says karate’s inclusion as an Olympic sport in Tokyo made him want to get involved in the last year’s relay, which was called off two days before its start date.

He’s still keen to participate this year, even if fewer supporters line the roads. AFP

Osaka, Barty struggle but reach quarters MELBOURNE—World number three Naomi Osaka and top-ranked Ashleigh Barty were pushed to the brink Wednesday, but both survived early exits at Melbourne Park.

Japan’s Osaka was made to work hard against in-form Katie Boulter, but fought back for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory to reach the quarter-finals in the Gippsland Trophy.

She next meets British world number 14 Johanna Konta or Irina-Camelia Begu from Romania as she ramps up preparations for the Australian Open starting Monday.

“Today was really tough for me. It just felt like a new experience playing here again after such a long while,” Osaka said.

“For me, I thought she played really well. I sort of had to raise my level, kind of go within myself.

“I was actually more calm after losing the first set because I felt like for me, I

THE BOTTOM LINE LITO CINCO LAST week, I dwelled on the sad fate that befell a lot of ex-athletes after their careers had ended, focusing more on basketball.

This was an off shoot of the recent news on Terry Saldana, who was in the hospital and in desperate need of financial help. The good thing was there were a lot of of people who extended help to the former PBA player.

You see, it is also a fact that there were those, who were given a second chance in life but wasted it, like a former PBA guard who went into drugs, asked for another break, but returned to drugs again.

But it is also true that there were players who made good after retiring from the court, or at least found steady employment mostly in the local basketball world as coaches or assistant coaches, some even in the corporate world as management people.

just wanted to be able to play well,” she added.

British world number 371 Boulter, who has impressed in Melbourne and knocked out teenage sensation Coco Gauff Tuesday with a comeback threeset victory, ran her error-strewn opponent ragged to claim the first set in 39 minutes.

A refocused Osaka lifted her intensity to run away with the contest in a onesided third set.

- Kenin pushed The three-time Grand Slam champion had comfortably beaten France’s Alize Cornet in straight sets on Tuesday in her first competitive match since lifting her second US Open title in September.

World number one Barty also had a fright in her match against Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic, but recovered from a second-set stutter to win 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 in just over two hours.

“Mid-match I lacked execution ... but

happy to get it on my terms in the end,” she said.

It was a quick turnaround for Barty, who beat Ana Bogdan in straight sets on Tuesday night, but she showed no ill effects to cruise through the first set in 32 minutes.

Barty’s radar went awry with 13 unforced errors in the second set and the world number 52 broke in the fifth game before levelling the match.

Barty continued to struggle on serve in the deciding set but held on to reach the quarter-finals of the Yarra Valley Classic.

Barty, hoping to break her country’s 43-year singles title drought at the Australian Open, will face Shelby Rogers of the United States next.

Defending Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin was also pushed hard, taken to three sets by American Jessica Pegula before prevailing 5-7, 7-5, 6-2.

World number four Elina Svitolina was another who struggled and had to

Preparing for one’s future So this time, let me talk and give credit to those who were able to see into the future and prepared for it.

For those who were superstars in their heydays and got hefty paychecks, I can say the likes of Alvin Patrimonio and Allan Caidic are set for life. They are fortunate, too, that they got employed by their former teams as team managers or in the coaching staff.

Chito Loyzaga, after retiring, worked with La Tondena, both with the team and in marketing. I was VP Operations then of Victoria Court and Hotel La Corona when Chito, together with Mike Bilbao, who was also in marketing, supplied our hotels with distilled water.

Hector Calma, together with wife Inez Ortiz, made a bid to handle warehousing operations for San Miguel Beer in the south area, and as far as I know, still runs the business.

Ginebra’s role player Wilmer Ong was low key, but is a very successful business-

man, hands on at that with his wife. Their business has something to do with beauty care products.

Atoy Co opened a restaurant at the Metro Walk, but I am not sure how the business is now with this pandemic.

I also saw a Facebook post of a media colleague, not in sports though, showing off a beautiful rest house in Tagaytay, supposedly owned by Rommel Adducul. The said house is now open for private events.

To own a good property in this area means you have money.

For those who went into the corporate world, at the top of the list is Great Taste’s Cho Sison, who became a senior official at the Philippine National Bank.

There is also Fritz Gaston, who even worked as an expat in Indonesia for several years with wife Duday. They even hosted me and my family in the mid-80s in Jakarta one time, while Steve Watson recently retired from Sky as a senior manager.

Japan’s Naomi Osaka hits a return against Britain’s Katie Boulter during their Gippsland Trophy women’s singles tennis match in Melbourne. AFP

come from behind to beat 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-7 (7/4), 6-3, 6-2.

She’ll next face world number 20 Elise Mertens, who knocked out CaroGabby Cui is employed in the MVP Group of Companies and is also a team manager, while my good friend Mike Advani is a successful businessman, who supplies apparel to SM, aside from coowning several Shakey’s restaurants. He is the current president of the Filipino-Indian Chamber of Commerce.

I also know of two very good MICAA players, Gerry Versoza from YCO and Vito Orcullo from Crispa, who became successful even after their playing careers. Gerry was (or maybe still is) GM of Baguio’s water utility, while Vito has put up his own life insurance branch, a very successful one at that.

There were a lot of former players, too, who tried their luck in the United States and Australia, and at least enjoyed a relatively comfortable life.

San Beda and Tanduay’s Chuck Barreiro has long been based in Hawaii with his wife BJ. I have visited him several times, not because I have money, but because of a lifetime trip pass as a result of my wife’s long years working at Philippine Airlines.

Mainland USA hosts a lot of former

line Garcia of France with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 victory.

Serena Williams and world number two Simona Halep are in action later Wednesday. AFP basketball players, led by Abe King, Gary Vargas, Noni Robles, deceased Danny Florencio, Estoy Estrada and Anthony Dasalla, who even hosted a mini-reunion at his house when I was there with Estrada and Marte Saldana. You also have Francis Arnaiz, Etok Lobo, Rene Canent, Bernard Fabiosa, Abet Guidaben, Jett Dungo, Cris Calilan, Ramon Duzon, Mike Bilbao, Yoyoy Villamin, Joel Gomez, Ed Cuevas and Ricky Relosa, among others.

Ex-coaches Perry Ronquillo and Rino Salazar are also in the list.

If you are in America, try to get in touch with ex-FEU player Danny Manalastas, who can connect you practically to anyone.

We also have those who went into basketball coaching, like Robert Jaworski, Leo Isaac, Turing Valenzona, Frankie Lim, Ed Cordero, Gabby Velasco, Estong Ballesteros, Pido Jarencio Boyet Fernandez, Leo Austria, Johnny Abarrientos, Jojo Lastimosa, Freddie Webb, Jeffrey Cariaso, Glenn Capacio, Gerry Esplana, Boybits Victoria, Bong Ravena, Norman Black, Caloy Garcia, Chito Victolero, Dindo and Derek Pumaren, Atoy Co, Allan Caidic and Gaston.

Entertainment Musical reinvention

By Nickie Wang MULTIHYPENATE Gari Escobar is not letting the pandemic affect him. Instead, the singer and composer has been using his time at home to indulge in his passion for music.

He’s also hosted Facebook live to reach out to people who might be feeling down or just simply give them some entertainment while passing the time.

“I sing and play the guitar every day.

And I always think of different ways to make my music fresh and exciting.

As for my FB live, I realized that a lot of people are feeling depressed because of the pandemic. So, I decided to do an FB live to at least give them some words of encouragement,” the businessman and music artist told Manila Standard Entertainment in an interview.

“With my music, I have started kind of late. While some people start at a very young age, I went through some difficult times and I had to gather all my courage to finally realize my dream to become a recording artist. I was bullied before so I guess you understand where I’m coming from,” he carried on.

While his self-esteem was affected by negative words, the same experience pushed him to prove his bullies wrong.

T

HIS Saturday, viewers are in for a treat as everyday people take on the challenge of a lifetime with showstopping performances in an attempt to be hailed as a great pretender on GMA Network’s newest reality game show Catch Me Out Philippines.

Based on the popular UK original and a first in Philippine entertainment, Catch Me Out Philippines follows two amateur contestants who will go through weeks of intensive training with mentors and each with a different performance to master – from aerial silk dance to beatboxing – aiming to trick the viewers and celebrity catchers into believing that they are professional entertainers while performing alongside actual experts. The impostor who manages to dupe the most members of the audience is hailed as winner.

Catch Me Out Philippines is headlined by no less than well-loved comedian Jose Manalo who is known for his top-notch hosting skills that can liven up any crowd.

Joining him is comediennesinger Kakai Bautista and Kapuso hunk Derrick Monasterio whose witty banter as Celebrity Spotters, together with ten Celebrity Catchers, is sure to amuse and perhaps confuse the viewers in guessing who among the performers is the amateur.

Jose entices viewers on what to look forward to in this exciting new offering, “Isa sa

YUGEL LOSORATA FOR us who were teenagers back in the ‘90s, it should sound amusing that the kind of rock we heard in our youth is now deemed classic. Empower that into a new recording and you have a creation that fuses the old and the new in aggressively delightful sound.

That’s what the new rock song “Kumunoy,” by the band Asiano, offers.

Logic comes into the fold considering that the majority of the personnel had stints with hit bands Orient Pearl and Alamid — two acts that belonged to the big wave of groups that defined the Philippine music scene of that final decade of the previous millennium. In fact, the group is taken into account by insiders as a sortof Alamid-Orient Pearl project even if it doesn’t mean we’d hear the distinctive voices of Naldy Padilla and the late Gary Ignacio.

Still, listeners may partly feel the souls of both bands breathing through the music and, pun-intended, rising from “Kumunoy,” which had been dropped in digital stores last Monday.

Carl McFly, the Asiano vocalist who

“Their words hurt me for a time but they kind of inspired me, too,” he asserted.

Two years ago, Gari was able to release a self-titled album under Ivory Music & Video with Vehnee Saturno joining him as album producer. The album is composed of 12 tracks, 10 of them written by Gari.

“You see, I have so many experiences in life. And I want to be the voice of the people who might be experiencing the same thing. I express them through songs.

I believe, one way or another, people can relate to my music,” he said.

According to Gari, the lyrics to his songs are inspired by his personal experience and he tries to tweak the words to make them relatable and applicable to any situation.

“I have a song for my mom, but some people interpret it as a love song. This makes me feel more inspired to create music because when people listen to my songs, they get to have different interpretations. It means, they really try to listen and understand the meaning of the songs,” he related.

Last year, Gari received the Best New Male Recording Artist of the Year Award from the 11th PMPC Star Awards for Music for his composition “Baguio.” The song was the carrier single of his debut

Singer-composer Gari Escobar has started writing songs for his sophomore album, which he succinctly describes as his musical reinvention.

Show-stopping performances via exciting reality game show

‘CATCH ME OUT PHILIPPINES’ Kakai Bautista Jose Manalo

Derrick Monasterio

aabangan nila ‘yung routine naming tatlo, kung gaano kami ka-relax sa isa’t isa. Ang ipinapakita rito sa show ay may mga tao pala na kayang turuan.

‘Yung parang akala nila hindi ko kaya, kaya ko naman pala, na kapag sumayaw ako parang propesyonal na. Dito, halatang nanggaling sila sa napakalupit na training para gumalaw sila na kagaya noong mga kasabay nilang propesyonal.”

Kakai, in turn, expresses her excitement upon being chosen as part of Catch Me Out Philippines, “Noong nalaman ko ‘yung role, na-excite talaga ako. Kasi kaming mga komedyante, people don’t get to see our other side. I’ve been in theater for 20 years now and in showbiz, nabigyan talaga ako ng chance. I’m very grateful that people will see a different side of me, hindi lang makulit, but may say rin sa mga bagay specially sa mundo ng entertainment and that excites me every taping.”

Meanwhile, Derrick recounts how he relates to the show, “Actually, marerelate ko ang Catch Me Out sa life ko in the sense na I was an amateur before and then I trained with one of the most prestigious choirs in the world. Na-train ako sa kung anong kaya kong gawin ngayon. Before I entered showbiz, noong nasa choir pa ako, pumupunta kami sa iba’t ibang bahay para kumanta at magentertain ng tao. ‘Yun ‘yung similarity ng humble beginnings ko with the show.”

Catch Me Out Philippines is under the helm of esteemed director Rico Gutierrez. It premieres on Saturday, 7:15 p.m., on GMA-7, and Feb. 7 on GMA Pinoy TV.

Good ol’ rock reemerges once replaced Ignacio in fronting Alamid, heard the song penned by one Jon Fabrigar when he joined a group in Indang, Cavite many years back. He shared, “I was immediately blown away by the arrangement and lyrics. Upon forming Asiano, I witnessed the same reaction from everyone when I let them hear it.

We decided to record it.”

McFly, a seasoned FM DJ before focusing on hosting and singing, delivered an inspired performance singing street poetry, like in the song’s second verse that says “Pangakong nasa loob ng posporo/ Tinatabunan pa ng mga palito.” When he sang, “Ayan tuloy hirap sa paghinga/ Para akong nalulunod sa arinola,” the tension in his voice sounded authentic.

Being in Alamid for a decade surely did him well.

Lead guitarist Leo Awatin brought Orient Pearl’s raw strength while songwriting bass player Ryan Gomez complemented it with his fine groove.

The rest of Asiano had been exposed to

classic rock too well to miss a beat. Second guitar man Dennis Canaria played with legends Pepe Smith and Papa Dom. Keyboardist Budz Tejada, who has traveled all over Southeast Asia playing music, used to be a protégé of Alamid’s former keyboardist Roel Hipolito. Then, drummer Manuel Caez III played for Arnel Pineda and Master Rapper Francis Magalona.

Formed in 2018, and named as such upon the suggestion of former Malabon Mayor and DSWD Undersecretary Jayjay Yambao, Asiano is set to record more songs and release either an EP or an album as it works hand in hand with Creative Talent Management headed by Therese Ramos.

McFly sounded optimistic as his vocals always does, saying, “Amidst the pandemic, we have managed to stay afloat. Gigs are on hold for safety reasons but we will see you all in the new normal.”

Back in 2019, Asiano fronted for Parokya Ni Edgar. Other big gigs included sharing the stage with Dong Abay.

Suddenly, it sounds like we’re back in the alternative rocking ‘90s.

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2021

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album.

And for the same album, the singercomposer also received a nomination for Best Pop Artist of the Year from Aliw Awards 2020.

“I really didn’t want to be a singer but I wanted to be a superstar like my idol Nora Aunor. I wanted to be a superstar not as a singer or an actor but in a different field and I believe I have already achieved that dream,” beamed Gari who is one of the top performers of 4LIFE Philippines, for which he has been awarded Hall of Famer by the Direct Selling Association of the Philippines.

Since Gari has been realizing all his plans one after another, he said he would want to produce and direct a film in the future. And sure, Nora Aunor is her chosen star to top bill this project.

And it’s just one of the things that he carefully places on his drawing board.

Soon, he will release another album which songs are again inspired by his life experience.

“I have some dark and sad moments, which reflect into my songwriting. This time I want to use the same experiences for my next music project. I want something upbeat. I know it sounds strange but there are upbeat songs that if you examine the lyrics, they’re really sad or heartwarming. That’s how I'm going to reinvent myself. I'm going for upbeat, danceable melodies but with the same style of writing,” he ended.

Alan Walker’s

‘SORRY’

NORWEGIAN DJ and record producer Alan Walker has a brand new track that features ISÁK, a rising band in his home country.

Entitled “Sorry,” the singe consists of hard-hitting, in-your-face electronic beats, with ISÁK contributing with haunting vocals and Sami indigenous joik - melded together into a breathtaking, expressive Norse collaboration of two worlds.

Treating fans with new music, “Sorry” is released with its own music video creatively directed by Walkercollaborator Mads Neset, paying tribute to the moments we missed in 2020 and will make up for in 2021.

Filmed before the pandemic hit, the music video showcases euphoric moments of Walker’s fans, as well as displaying unique moments from Walkers 2019 The Aviation Tour.

“Spending 2020 at home in Bergen gave me the opportunity to tweak every single part of this song to the finest detail, and nurture my relationship with my fans online. We missed many moments in 2020, and I hope we can all meet again in 2021,” Walker says.

“Sorry” follows Walkers previous collaboration “Space Melody (Edward Artemyev)” with VIZE and Leony from December 2020. Walkers previous collaborations include “Time,” released in May 2020 – a remix of his personal idol Hanz Zimmer, and “Heading Home” released in April with compatriot singer-songwriter Ruben.

Walker to date holds over 120 million followers and 50 billion audio and video streams to his name, previously teaming up with massive hitmakers such as Ava Max, Noah Cyrus, and A$AP Rocky, while producing remixes for internationally renowned artists like Sia, Coldplay, Kygo, Bruno Mars, and Julia Michaels.

The 23-year-old DJ and record producer is currently the 20th most followed artist on Spotify, and with his over 38 million YouTube subscribers, he figures as the 9th biggest artist channel in the world on the platform.

DJ and music producer Alan Walker, 23, releases a new single, a collaboration track with rising Norwegian band ISAK.

Life

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

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HOUSEHOLD

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2021

Chef Wong Wing-keung

Coco Chan and family

Do as the Hongkongers do: Conny Wong

Estella Huang Luang and kids

Auspicious Chinese New Year customs and traditions

Virginia Chan

Claire Yates

By Monica Sanchez

H

OW do you attract luck and bring prosperity into your life during the celebration of Chinese New Year? Does it end in wearing red clothes and eating noodles and delicacies made of sticky rice?

Chinese New Year is filled with cherished traditions that people follow in hopes of attracting good fortune and warding off evil spirits. In Hong Kong, for example, Chinese New Year traditions include visiting the Chinese New Year Fair at Victoria Park and bringing home a colorful windmill from Che Kung Temple or Wong Tai Sin Temple for year-round prosperity.

Other customs and traditions involve eating special dishes, putting up décor, wearing a specific color of clothes, and more.

Eating shrimp Virginia Chan, founder of Humid with a Chance of Fishballs Tours, shares the most important tradition she follows every year is partaking of a special dinner with her whole family. And the spread, she says, must always include shrimp.

“A tradition we had whilst growing up was that my mom would always include shrimp into this dinner,” relates Chan.

She continues, “It wasn’t until I moved to Hong Kong that I learned that the reason people eat shrimp for the Chinese New Year dinner is because shrimp (ha) sounds like laughter, so it is a good omen for happiness.”

In the kitchen of Wong Wing-keung, executive chef at Man Wah in Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Egg Noodles with Crabmeat and Crab Roes is usually prepared as “this dish is known for symbolizing auspiciousness.”

“Another favorite festive dish of mine is Braised Vegetables with Red Fermented Bean Curd which stems from a Buddhist tradi- tion which believes that vegetables purify and cleanse the b o d y a n d

soul,” adds Chef Wong.

Wearing red clothes Clothes in red, the color believed to scare away evil and bad fortunes, are commonly worn throughout the Chinese New Year.

“On the first day of Chinese New Year, we typically dress in various shades of the lucky color red,” says Conny Wong, author-publisher of children’s picture book series Mini Love Tales.

Virginia Chan seconds, sharing that she buys a new top and underwear, both in red, that she wears on the first day of New Year.

Cleaning the house Giving the house a thorough cleaning days before the New Year celebration is another Chinese tradition believed to sweep away bad luck and open up the home for good luck.

“Every year just before the Chinese New Year, we do a deep cleaning of the house, purging our home of items that we no longer use or need, and donate them to a charity,” relates Coco Chan, soul coach and Akashic guide and mentor.

“We deep clean the house physically and energetically to transmute any old energies from the previous year. Just make sure to get it all done before the first day of the holidays, as cleaning during the actual New Year is said to bring bad luck. This sets the stage for us to welcome in any new year energies with abundance and clarity,” she explains.

Meanwhile, Chef Wong shares, “Before Chinese New Year, I would clean every corner of the house as well as all the kitchenware.”

Aside from a clean house, it is also a custom to start the year with a fresh look.

However, it is advised that any haircuts must be done before the New Year.

“It’s important to welcome the New Year looking clean and fresh. I have also always avoided hav-

Deep cleaning must be done before Chinese New Year.

ing a haircut or buying shoes during the holidays as they’re said to bring bad luck for the year,” says Chef Wong.

Decorating with red lanterns and blooms Home décor also plays a huge role in attracting luck during Chinese New Year festivities.

Children’s Medical Foundation chief executive officer Estella Huang Luang says, “Every year, we visit the Mong Kok Flower Market to get bamboo stalks and water fairy flowers, as they all signify health, wealth, and family unity.”

“It is also traditional to decorate the home with red lanterns in order to attract

‘lucky’ energy!” she adds.

In Claire Yates’ household, on the other hand, decorations include flowers and trees.

“I always go overboard with decorations because they are just so beautiful,” enthuses The Lion Rock Press founder. “My favorite is a huge vase of silky pussy willow and golden yellow forsythia on which we hang our decorations as they always look glorious.”

“We also have a lovely orange tree we have on our doorstep, as orange and kumquat trees are said to bring wealth and prosperity. I love peeling and drying the skins afterwards,” adds Yates.

Yates says their family follows and does what their grandmother used to do, “like not sweeping away any fallen blossom from the tree.”

Speaking of flowers and trees, plum blossom tree is also believed to be lucky, according to Virginia Chan. “If I’m out with my grandma or aunties and they see a big plum blossom tree in full bloom, they’ll make me run around it three times clockwise in order to activate my romance luck for the year!”

Giving out money in red envelope Elders and employers traditionally give out money in red envelope on the first day of the new year.

“Before the holiday, we usually go to the bank to get crisp new bills to be put into red packets (lai see). Lai see is typically given out to family, friends, children, and employees over the holidays, and is a nice way of bestowing luck, happiness, and fortune on those who are younger or more junior to you,” says Wong.

Eating shrimp during the Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner is believed to bring happiness.

Ox-inspired plush toys bring the luck and the fun into the household.

Let the plush ox into your home THE Ox, the second sign in the Chinese horoscope, is associated with Water, a symbol of strength reliability, and diligence. Children born in the Year of the Ox are distinguished by their endurance and responsible approach to every task.

The Ox boy from early years demonstrates practicality, reliability, and diligence. He likes to play sports and at the same time have excellent mental abilities.

Practical and frugal, they are happy to play with old cars and designers. They possess logical and spatial thinking, and create new constructions from the simplest details.

The Ox girl is a faithful mother’s assistant—she loves cleanliness and order, and loves to cook. Sweet in disposition, she is trustworthy and prefers to spend time learning. She is drawn to the world of art, and likes attending exhibitions and theatrical performances.

Give your beloved Ox boy or girl any of Toy Kingdom’s collection of adorable ox-inspired plush toys. These plush toys are available at Toy Kingdom stores nationwide and on its website.

Luck and love come together in this ox plush toy with heart-shaped dots.

Giving money in red envelope (lai see) is a way to bestow luck and happiness.