Manila Standard - 2021 April 7 - Wednesday

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Duterte lowers decibel of blusters over China incursions pressed confidence that the Philippines’ apparent conflict with China over Chinese ships’ presence in Julian Felipe Reef would not hinder the two nations’ cooperation to fight COVID-19.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has exIn an online press briefing, presidential

By Vito Barcelo, Rey E. Requejo, Macon RamosAraneta, and Maricel V. Cruz

spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte’s stance is to resolve the issues concerning Julian Felipe Reef through diplomatic channels and through peaceful means.

Duterte, Roque said, was confident that Next page

VOL. XXXV • NO. 51 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

ERAP BACK IN ICU, INTUBATED AFTER PNEUMONIA WORSENS FORMER President Joseph "Erap" Estrada, who is battling COVID-19, was using a mechanical ventilator to breathe after his pneumonia worsened on Tuesday, his son, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada, said.

The younger Estrada said his father was brought to the hospital’s inten intensive care unit and intubated on Monday night so he could breathe properly.

Despite this, the older Estrada's vital signs are normal, Jinggoy said, as he appealed to the public for prayers.

“I am appealing for your prayers for my father, for his speedy recovery,” the former senator said.

Jinggoy could not say if his father, who was sedated because of the intubation, was "out of danger" but said his condition is guarded.

Next page

Vax shortage to drag rollout PH to be hit by Covax supply delays as India bans AstraZeneca exports

T

HE Philippines and other countries depending on the COVAX facility for their COVID-19 jabs will need to find alternative sources as India has imposed a temporary ban on the export of AstraZeneca vaccines to meet local demand, Moody’s Analytics said this week.

India is one of the world's largest pro- COVAX facility, which seeks to ensure ducers of COVID-19 vaccines, supplies the equitable distribution of COVID-19 millions of AstraZeneca doses to the vaccines.

World Health Organization (WHO)-led "South Korea, Indonesia, the Philip-

Lockdown costs: P30b in lost pay, mass job layoffs

PANDEMIC SCENES. A large tarpaulin hangs outside the emergency room entrance of the Far Eastern University-NRMF Hospital in Quezon City, telling visitors it is already at full capacity from coronavirus cases with the overwhelming number of patients seeking treatment on Tuesday. Meanwhile, vaccination continues for senior citizens and adults with comorbidities at schools in Mandaluyong City, while former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Taguig Rep. Lani Cayetano distribute food packs to residents of Upper Bicutan in Taguig City (inset photos). Manny Palmero and Norman Cruz

NCR hospitals ‘at critical level’ even as infection rate declines

By Willie Casas, Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Department of Health said Tuesday that intensive care unit (ICU) beds in 14 out of 21 hospitals in Metro Manila was at a "critical" level or "almost 100 percent.”

This, as Metro Manila's quarantine level may be eased to a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) by next week as the virus reproduction rate in the National Capital Region is slowing down, the OCTA Research Group said Tuesday.

Malacañang earlier said it was considering placing Metro Manila under MECQ after two weeks of ECQ, the highest in a

four-step level.

The capital region's current COVID-19 reproduction number, or the number of people infected by a virus patient, has decreased to 1.53 as of Monday, said OCTA Research fellow Guido David, adding it was expected to slow down to 1.2 after 2 weeks of ECQ. Officials may reevaluate by the end of the week on whether to extend strict lockdown in the capital region and nearby provinces Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, David also said.

"Of course, if the reproduction number doesn't decrease, it will be difficult for us...So far, it seems we can make it to 1.2, or even 1.1 but the latter is too optimistic,” Next page he said.

Writer-director Nestor Torre Jr. dies, 78 VETERAN writerdirector and journalist Nestor Torre Jr. passed away on Tuesday due to COVID-19 and heart disease complications, his nephew said. He was 78.

Jan Alexander Torre told ABS-CBN News his uncle expired at the Sta. Ana Hospital in Manila at

8:29 a.m. on Tuesday.

Boots Anson Rodrigo, a close friend of Torre and his family, said his remains will be immediately cremated at Arlington Memorial Chapels in Quezon City.

His family has yet to finalize his inurnment at Next page

pines, and Vietnam are among countries to be hit by shipment delays to vaccines they have been promised under the COVAX program. The shortage could leave these countries further behind in inoculations, increasing the vaccine inequity, and undermine international efforts to counter the pandemic," Moody's Associate Economist Eric Chiang said.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the AstraZeneca shots from the COVAX program might arrive later this month, citing information from the WHO. Next page

By Julito G. Rada and Othel V. Campos

PREMIUM ON PORK. A meat vendor prepares his wares at a market in Mandaluyong City on Tuesday. With only a few days left before the price ceiling on pork is lifted, prices in public markets climbed to as high as P400 a kilogram on Monday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported. Manny Palmero

Lenient rule on curfew violators up

By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice has appealed to local governments to afford quarantine violators “compassionate justice” by letting them render community service as a

form of penalty.

Justice Secretary Guevarra, a member of the COVID-19 task force, said he proposed the penalty of community service instead of fines or jail time “because life is Next page tough these days.”

Gov’t cautions public on ivermectin treatment and prevention, after a lawmaker said he planned to distribute the antiparasitic drug.

Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike MALACANANG urged the public Tuesday to wait for regulator approval for Iver- Defensor said Monday he would distribute Next page mectin, said to be useful for COVID-19

By Willie Casas and Maricel V. Cruz

THE two-week enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and its four nearby provinces, which ends on April 11, will result in about P30 billion in losses in household income and hundreds of thousands of job losses, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said Tuesday.

In a statement, the NEDA said the extended ECQ in NCR Plus — Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan — will “have a negative impact on the majority of people.”

In its estimation, the state economic planning agency said the two-week strict Next page

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM APRIL 6)

812,760 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

9,373 152,562 NEW

ACTIVE

13,817

382

646,381

313

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

DOH: 382 virus deaths due to glitch This as the Philippines logged 9,373 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 812,760, as 10 laboratories were not able to submit their data on time, the DOH reported.

“A technical issue with the case col-

lection systems resulted in lower reporting of COVID-19 death counts over the past week,” said the DOH. One of the information systems that collects hospital data experienced a technical failure which caused incomplete

fatality numbers and data to be encoded, the department said.

“As a result of this error, there were 341 deaths prior to April 2021 that went unreported. The number of deaths reported today (Tuesday) already includes the said deaths not reported in previous counts,” said the DOH. Total deaths were at 13,817, while active cases were at 152,562 cases, or 18.8 percent of the total cases.

Despite the additional cases, the cumulative case fatality rate for the Philippines remains low at 1.7%, and the average deaths per day for March is at 28—comparable to the 27 aver-

Vax...

von der Leyen has threatened to halt exports of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccines if the bloc did not receive its promised deliveries first, escalating a row that has fanned international tensions.

On Monday, US Secretary of State said the United States will soon be able to ramp up vaccine assistance abroad and will not seek "favors in return.”

Blinken said the top US priority was to fight COVID-19 at home but that the goal would be achieved soon, pointing to President Joe Biden's promise that 90 percent of Americans will be near a vaccination site by April 19.

"We are exploring options to share more with other countries going forward. We believe that we'll be in a position to do much more on this front," Blinken said.

"By helping bring to a close one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, we can show the world once again what American leadership and American ingenuity can do."

Acknowledging "growing desperation" in parts of the world, Blinken said: "I promise we're moving as fast as possible."

Blinken named Gayle Smith, who headed the US Agency for International Development under former president Barack Obama, to a new position of US coordinator for global COVID response and health security.

Smith most recently headed ONE, a campaign backed by pop star Bono to

fight extreme poverty.

In a veiled criticism of China and Russia, which have assertively promoted their vaccines, Blinken said the Biden administration would follow "core values" on COVID relief and seek not to worsen inequities.

"We won't trade shots in arms for political favors. This is about saving lives," Blinken said.

"We'll treat our partner countries with respect. We won't overpromise and underdeliver," he said, vowing only to distribute vaccines "proven to be safe and effective."

The United States last month announced a joint initiative with India, Japan, and Australia to produce more than one billion more COVID vaccine doses by the end of next year, with a focus on administering them in Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile, the Philippines' vaccine expert panel (VEP) has given its recommendation to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on whether Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccines can be used by senior citizens or those 60 years and above.

The Philippines has so far received 2.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines: 525,600 from the UK's AstraZeneca and 2 million from China's Sinovac.

While AstraZeneca is allowed for elderly use, Sinovac was not given the same recommendation based on its emergency use authorization because of the lack of clinical trial data.

Dr. Rontgene Solante, an infectious

disease expert, said the VEP is forwarding its recommendation to the Department of Health (DOH).

Solante said while there is an absence of data on the efficacy of the Sinovac’s CoronaVac on individuals older than 60, the shortage of AstraZeneca vaccines has prompted experts to reevaluate and determine whether to recommend the use of the China-made vaccine for this age bracket.

Countries like China, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Turkey have been using CoronaVac on people older than 60 based on the vaccine’s Phase 1 and 2 clinical trial data.

“Now we are looking at the data again since they don’t have data on 60 years old and above. At this point, we need the vaccine for those 60 years old and above,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino during a DOH briefing.

“The question now is, can we change the recommendation to say that we can give the vaccine to [those] 60 years old and above… We in the VEP already made our recommendation, we just finished the recommendation the other day,” he said but declined to say what that was, saying the Department of Health would make the announcement.

Also on Tuesday, testing czar Vince Dizon rejected calls for mass testing in Metro Manila and said risk-based targeted screening was the way to go, according to the experts. Willie Casas with AFP

said.

Despite the dip in reproduction rate and the negative growth rate in some cities, OCTA said the utilization rate of hospital and intensive care unit beds in NCR remained high.

All LGUs have greater than 60 percent hospital bed occupancy except for Mandaluyong and Parañaque.

Meanwhile, ICU utilization for COVID-19 patients in Metro Manila LGUs is greater than 70 percent, except for Caloocan, Parañaque, and Marikina.

DOH spokesperson Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said isolation beds at hospitals in the National Capital Region

is at "almost 80 percent." "'High level hospitals are nearing 100 percent capacity. But Level 1 hospitals still have beds that can accommodate patients,” Vergeire told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo, but stopped short of naming the hospitals.

She said that moderate, severe, and critical cases should be hospitalized while mild and asymptomatic patients should be referred to isolation facilities.

Home quarantine is possible, but patients must consult a doctor first via telemedicine, said Vergeire.

"The ideal setup would be a quarantine facility, (for) which we are adding more beds in Metro Manila,”

she said.

Virus cases are expected to rise as the agency will apply rapid antigen tests in communities with a high rate of COVID-19 transmission, Vergeire said.

"The number of cases is expected to rise as our testing would be faster and we can identify more positive cases,” she said.

The saliva test should be covered by state insurer PhilHealth as it is also the same process as gold standard RT-PCR, Vergeire said.

"RT-PCR test must be covered by PhilHealth. The specimen is the only thing that changed, saliva and not a nasal or oral swab,” said Vergeire.

retary Karl Kendrick Chua said in a statement: “The latest data shows that we are at a critical juncture.

Our collective actions today will spell the difference between containment and further spread of the virus. ECQ alone does not reduce the spike in the COVID-19 cases.

“The solution is to further enhance our implementation of the PDITR strategy with clear targets to achieve. This will help reduce the spike in COVID-19 cases given the new variants,” he added.

Chua noted the PDITR strategy worked between August 2020 and February 2021 when the country was able to reduce cases to below 2,000 per day, which allowed for the gradual opening of the economy.

However, with the new variants, the implementation of the PDITR strategy must be intensified.

Last April 3, 12,576 new cases were recorded with a positivity rate of 21.1 percent. The standard positivity rate is less than 5 percent, according to the World Health Organization.

On the same day, the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases recommended the one-week extension of the ECQ in NCR Plus, making it a total of two weeks from March 29 to April 11.

Lenient...

sures at worst,” he added.

“That it [has taken more] than a year to have an epiphany says a lot about the mess we are all in,” he said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier reported that 1.5 million violations of health protocols were recorded between Aug. 20, 2020 and March 23, 2021.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday said it has ordered the PNP to investigate the death of a man in Cavite after he was allegedly ordered to do intense physical exercise as a punishment for violating quarantine rules.

It added that the local government unit will look into the liability of the village officials over the incident.

PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana said based on initial investigation, General Trias police chief, Lt. Col. Marlo Solero denied imposing physical exercise as a sanction for quarantine violators.

Reports said Darren Manaog Peñaredondo, 28, died after reportedly being forced to do a body pumping exercise 300 times before being freed. He was earlier arrested for violating quarantine rules on Maundy Thursday.

By Willie Casas

T

HE death toll from COVID-19 infections hit a record daily high of 382 fatalities on Tuesday, which the Department of Health said was the result of a “technical issue.”

From A1

“Because of the global vaccine shortage, there will be a delay. The agreed quantity which was 920,000 vaccine doses will come but because of the shortage, what we have been informed is that we may need to expect the reduced quantity which may come over [in] the next few weeks,” the WHO country representative Rabindra Abeyasinghe said.

Galvez also said the Philippines would receive 1.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by China’s Sinovac and 500,000 doses from Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute this month.

The Philippines is the 50th country in the world with the highest number of COVID-19 shots administered, Galvez said on Tuesday.

The country has administered out 854,063 doses as of April 5, the 50th highest among 155 countries, he said. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines has the fourth highest vaccination figures, next to Indonesia, Singapore, and Myanmar, Galvez added.

Those vaccinated in the Philippines include 789,415 health workers, about 11,000 elderly, and some 7,100 people with comorbidities, said Galvez, who is also chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19.

Earlier, European Union chief Ursula

NCR...

From A1

It is expected to reach 1 million cases by the end of the month, OCTA earlier said.

The figure went down from 1.88 percent tallied before the reimposition of enhanced community quarantine, OCTA said.

Researchers reported a 10-percent growth rate in the average number of new COVID-19 cases reported per day in the past week.

“Previous one week growth rates in the NCR were as high as 70 percent,” OCTA

Lockdown...

From A1

lockdown will result in some 252,000 more individuals without jobs and 102,000 more poor individuals.

“On top of these, the more stringent quarantine in NCR Plus translates to a daily household income loss of P2.1 billion or almost P30 billion for the two-week period,” it said.

“All in all, the two-week ECQ may shave off 0.8 percentage points from the country’s full year economic growth in 2021,” it added.

Last weekend, Malacañang announced the one-week extension of the ECQ in NCR Plus, which started on March 29 and was supposed to last until only April 4.

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) also said the ECQ extension would cost billions of losses to the economy.

NEDA, meanwhile, said there was a need for a more intensified implementation of the Prevent, Detect, Isolate, Treat, and Recover (PDITR) strategy for the enhanced community quarantine to be more effective in reducing COVID-19 cases.

Acting Socioeconomic Planning Sec-

Gov't...

From A1

Ivermectin to the sick and elderly in Quezon City, despite Food and Drug Administration warnings on the unauthorized use of the drug used to treat worms in animals.

In an interview on Dobol B TV on Tuesday, Defensor said he is not doing anything illegal with pushing the use of ivermectin.

He said he has been obtaining ivermectin from legal compounding laboratories, and emphasized that a doctor's prescription is still needed to use this drug.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra did not directly answer a question whether Defensor was violating the law, saying it is not a specific case before his office.

“Generally speaking, it is prohibited, under the FDA law, to manufacture, import, export, sell, offer to sell,

distribute, transfer, promote, advertise, etc… health products that are unregistered with the FDA,” he said in a text message to reporters.

“I am sure that as a lawmaker, Rep. Mike Defensor knows the FDA law very well and that he is very much aware of what acts are allowed and what acts are prohibited under the said law,” Guevarra said in another message.

Also interviewed on Dobol B TV, Department of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire pointed out the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin is not yet registered and was still subject to the evaluation of the Food and Drug Administration.

“We want to caution the public that the government cannot assure that unregistered drugs are safe and can give protection from the disease,” she said.

The drug is currently registered for use against worm infestations and parasites in animals.

From A1

Guevarra’s statement seemed to be a reversal of his previous position that quarantine violators could be punished under various laws given the gravity of the situation.

But rather than rely on The Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act or Republic Act 11332, Guevarra said local ordinances are the better basis for implementing quarantine measures because these are “very direct to the point.”

The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers welcomed the DOJ’s proposal.

“At long last. It is a positive idea.” NUPL president Edre Olalia said, in a statement.

“Yet, looking back, it is not only enraging but tragic that hundreds of our citizens who do not have the same entitlements as those in or close to the corridors of power had to endure this manifest injustice through a patently erroneous reading and misapplication of a vague law to justify harsh implementation of quarantine protocols at best and cover up repressive mea-

Erap...

From A1

A former senator and Vice President, Estrada was last in public service as Manila City mayor from 2013 until 2019.

Another son of Estrada, former Senator JV Ejercito, lamented that "COVID is unpredictable," saying: "My dad was recuperating very well the past few days when suddenly it shifted yesterday when his Pneumonia worsened, thus the need to use a ventilator."

"Your prayers would mean a lot," JV wrote on his social media account.

Jinggoy said his father may have got-

Writer-...

From A1

the Sta. Ana Church columbarium, where Torre’s mother Isabel is also buried.

Torre leaves behind a rich legacy in entertainment journalism and stage musicals. His rise in local showbiz started

age deaths per day seen in February and lower than the 32 average deaths per day last January, the department said.

There has been no reported spike in the number of deaths anywhere in the country, the DOH said.

Of the active coronavirus cases, 97.5 percent are mild, 1.1 percent are asymptomatic, 0.5 percent are critical, 0.5 percent are severe, and 0.31 percent are moderate.

The DOH also reported that 313 persons recently recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 646, 381, which is 79.5 percent of the total.

EU medical body still undecided on Astra ‘clots’ THE European Union's drug regulator said Tuesday it is still deciding whether the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine causes blood clots, after a top official said there was a clear link.

The European Medicines Agency's safety committee "has not yet reached a conclusion and the review is currently ongoing", the Amsterdam-based EMA said in a statement to Agence FrancePresse.

"We will communicate and hold a press briefing as soon as the review is finalized. This is currently expected tomorrow (Wednesday, 7 April) or on Thursday, 8 April," it added.

The statement came after the EMA's head of vaccine strategy Marco Cavaleri was quoted in Italian media as saying that there was a "clear" connection, and that the agency would announce it within hours.

"In my opinion, we can say it now, it is clear there is a link with the vaccine.

But we still do not know what causes this reaction," Cavaleri told Italy's Il Messaggero newspaper in an interview.

After several countries suspended the use of the AstraZeneca jab, the EMA said on March 18 that the benefits of using it outweigh the risks and it should remain in use.

But it has said there is a possible link to rare blood clots and that it would issue updated advice during this week's meeting of its safety committee. AFP

Duterte...

From A1

ten the virus from a recent visitor.

The former chief executive, who is turning 84 on April 19, tested positive for the respiratory illness last week.

On Friday, he addressed the public through a video, despite being hooked up to an oxygen line, to express his gratitude for their prayers, as he assured them that he is fine.

Estrada won the presidency in 1998 but saw his term cut in 2001 as he was ousted over corruption allegations.

He was convicted of plunder in 2007 and sentenced to life imprisonment, but his successor, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, pardoned him a month later.

the ongoing maritime dispute between the two countries would not have an adverse impact on their resolve to help each other in defeating COVID-19.

“Whatever differences we have with China will not define our bilateral relations and will not be an obstacle to the overall positive trajectory of our bilateral friendly relations and our deepening cooperation in pandemic response, including vaccine cooperation and in post-pandemic economic recovery,” Roque said, quoting Duterte.

National Task Force against COVID-19 and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. echoed Duterte’s position, saying the controversy surrounding Julian Felipe Reef as an issue separate from the COVID-19 response.

“The Chinese government is joining us in fighting against Covid-19…

The issue on the West Philippine Sea is another issue),” Galvez, who joined Roque at the press conference, said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The conciliatory words from the Palace came as an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the expulsion of a diplomat could be part of the diplomatic actions that the government might consider.

This was after the Chinese embassy in Manila issued a statement impugning Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana as “unprofessional” for demanding the immediate pullout of Chinese vessels in the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea. “Normally, this is part of the range of diplomatic courses of actions, but I have no confirmation yet,” Foreign Affairs Executive Director Ivy Banzon-Abalos said, in a message sent to reporters.

This came after the Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday denounced the Chinese embassy’s attempt to impugn Lorenzana by calling his statement demanding the withdrawal of Chinese vessels at Julian Felipe Reef “unprofessional.”

The DFA reminded the Chinese Embassy that they are “guests” of the Philippine government and “must at all times observe protocol and accord respect to Philippine officials.”

The DFA denounced what it called “blatant falsehoods” being peddled by the Chinese embassy as well as its attempt to promote “false narratives” of its expansive and illegitimate claims in the West Philippine Sea. “Julian Felipe Reef is part of the Kalayaan Island Group and lies in the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of the Philippines. It is located 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza town in Palawan and 638,229 nautical miles from Hainan Island,” the DFA said.

The Philippines on March 21 lodged a diplomatic protest against China over the presence of around 200 Chinese vessels at the Julian Felipe Reed in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

in the early 1960s when Rodrigo’s late husband, Pete Roa, asked him to direct ABS-CBN’s “Two for the Road” talk show with Elvira Manahan, Joey Lardizabal, and Eddie Mercado.

Before this, the young Torre, fresh from earning his Master’s degree in journalism, radio and television at the Northwestern

University in Illinois, had also taught at the University of the Philippines, where Rodrigo (more famously known as Boots Anson-Roa before she remarried) was one of his students in broadcast media.

Torre later co-hosted "Two for the Road II" with Manahan, Johnny Litton, and George Sison. He also directed Pete Roa in “Sanlinggo,” a PTV4 talk show.

News

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021

P3m in ecstasy, kush marijuana seized in Pasay CUSTOMS agents assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport intercepted another shipment of ecstasy and kush marijuana worth a combined P3 million at bonded warehouses in Pasay City.

The operations were conducted with the help of operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group.

Seized were air parcels of 1,681 tablets ecstasy with an estimated street value of P2,857,700, found concealed inside a microwave oven, and 133 grams of kush marijuana worth P159,600 discovered inside a metal toy box.

“The seized drugs Ecstacy and Marijuana have an aggregate value of P3,017,300,” Bureau of CustomsNAIA chief Carmelita Talusan said.

Import documents showed that the party drug ecstasy was shipped from Netherlands and consigned to a Quezon City resident while the intercepted marijuana was shipped from the United States and consigned to a certain individual from Pasay City.

Both parcels were turned over to PDEA on Tuesday for case build up and profiling for possible violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. Marijuana, ecstasy and shabu are among the top narcotics distributed in the streets and these prohibited substances are manufactured by Chinese, Taiwanese, and Mexican drug syndicates, according to PDEA. Airport authorities have heightened vigilance in the campaign against illegal drug trafficking in a bid to discourage international drug syndicates from using the Philippines as a transshipment point for illegal substances.In 2020, Port of NAIA, under the supervision of District Collector Carmelita Talusan, seized a total of 44 shipments of shabu, ecstasy, marijuana, and other prohibited substances worth P2 billion.

They added the campaign is in full support of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero’s border control initiatives.

Joel E. Zurbano and Vito Barcelo

IN BRIEF

Taguig buys more COVID vax brands THE Taguig City government has purchased three more brands of vaccines for the coronavirus disease to fulfill its target to vaccinate a million residents.

The city initially signed a deal with the biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca for the procurement of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano said the city government signed a deal with the British drug supplier, and was also in the process of procuring other brands from suppliers in the United States and India.

He says the procurement will serve to complement the vaccine supply from the national government.

“While supplies from the national government continue to come in, we are expecting our orders of AstraZeneca, Covovax, Covaxin, and Moderna to arrive by the third quarter of the year. This will help the city in achieving its aim of fully inoculating the Taguig citizenry,” said Cayetano.

Cayetano made the statement Monday after receiving his first dose of Sinovac vaccine together with other A1.5 government frontliners, senior citizens and adults with comorbidities.

“I urge all Taguigeños to register through Taguig Registry for Access and Citizen Engagement to secure your vaccination,” he said.

The local government prepared a P13.5-billion recovery budget for this year, with P1 billion to be used for the COVID-19 vaccination program.

Meanwhile, Mayor Cayetano ordered his men to prepare the list of residents who will receive ‘ayuda’ or financial assistance that will be given by the national government to Metro Manila and other areas covered by ECQ. Joel E. Zurbano

Navotas gains ‘Seal’ for 3rd straight year NAVOTAS has received the Seal of Good Education Governance from the Synergeia Foundation for the third consecutive year.

The city received the recognition during the 14th National Educational Summit.

Only two local government units in the National Capital Region were given such distinction.

Mayor Toby Tiangco thanked the city’s education sector and all its partners and stakeholders.

“We are grateful to our teachers, parents, local school boards, school governing councils and all of our education stakeholders for their steadfast commitment to give Navoteño youth the best education possible, whatever the circumstances are,” Tiangco said.

Last year, Navotas distributed 49,000 NavoSchool-in-a-Box to carry out the Department of Education’s Learning Continuity Plan for 2020-2021. The NavoBox contained textbooks, self-learning modules, worksheets, lesson guides for parents/guardians, school supplies and hygiene kits.

The Department of Education recognized NavoBox as a model for blended learning delivery and used as benchmark by other cities nationwide.

The Navotas Schools Division Office also launched the Hatid-Aral Project, in which barangay officials and members of school governing councils helped deliver the NavoBox to the homes of students whose parents could not physically pick it up.

It also instituted the Project: Teach-aLearning Child, in which a volunteer tutor assists a learner with the worksheets in the NavoBox. Jun David

A3

36 test positive for virus in P’que Hall of Justice

By Joel E. Zurbano

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN. A patient using an oxygen tank is wheelchaired into the Sta. Ana Hospital in Manila on Tuesday.

Several government hospitals have declared full capacity for coronavirus patients with COVID-19 cases in the country recently reaching near 800,000. Norman Cruz

Campaign on to create more Rizal poll districts

By Maricel V. Cruz

E

ven before a plebiscite could be scheduled, congressman from Rizal province has started campaigning for the ratification of a new law that creates two more legislative districts in the province, saying more government resources will now be channeled to the locality with the reapportionment of its Second Congressional District into three.

This as Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for signing the bill that created two more congressional districts for the province.

“On behalf of the residents of Rizal’s Second District, I wish to thank the President for signing the reapportionment act. This will go a long way toward addressing issues of inequity under the present setup, and ensure

that in the near future Rizaleños will have better access to the government’s resources,” Nograles, the principal author of House Bill 6222, said.

Under the recently-signed law, the town of San Mateo was established as Rizal’s Third Congressional District and Rodriguez (Montalban) town as the fourth legislative district.

The current Second District will retain the towns of Cardona, Baras, Tan-

ay, Morong, Jalajala, Pililla and Teresa.

“I am glad that the piece of legislation that I promised to Rizaleños has been achieved, and with very good timing because this will give ample time for all concerned to prepare so that new leaders could be given the mandate to serve during the 2022 elections,” Nograles, a deputy majority, leader, said.

The Harvard-trained lawyer had lamented in the past that his current district’s pandemic response was being hampered by the sheer number of its constituents.

“It is a good challenge to be able to serve more than one million constituents. But it is a challenge that does not need to continue existing in the future, and I’m glad that the country’s leaders recognized the urgent need for a more equitable distribution of resources as we try to recover from the pandemic,” Nograles said.

THIRTY-SIX employees at the Hall of Justice and Legislative building in Paranaque City tested positive for coronavirus disease, prompting the local government to close the building until Sunday.

Mayor Edwin Olivarez placed the building, situated at the back of City Hall, under lockdown from April 5 to 11 upon the recommendation of city health officer Olga Virtusio.

The offices being housed in the Legislative Building include those of the Vice Mayor, 18 city councilors, Barangay Operations Office and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation.

The legislative building headed by Vice Mayor Rico Golez was placed on lockdown on March 16 to 21 after several employees tested positive for COVID-19.

On the other hand, the offices at the justice hall include the regional trial courts, municipal trial courts, prosecutor’s office and clerk of courts.

City officials said all court hearings and transactions at the justice hall will be postponed this week until further notices.

Virtusio on Monday informed Olivarez that a total of 36 employees from the legislative and justice hall offices contracted COVID-19, “which need immediate attention.”

As of April 5, the city government recorded 13,512 confirmed cases of COVID-19 including 11,763 (87 percent) recoveries and 319 (2.4 percent) deaths, leaving 1,430 active cases.

Barangay BF has the highest number of active cases with 155 among the city’s 16 barangays. This was followed

by Barangay Don Bosco with 149 active cases and Barangay San Dionisio with 141 active cases.

Virtusio recommended mandatory RTPCR tests on all occupants of the two offices as she suggested to reduce the number of personnel that can physically report for work at the city hall complex.

City chief information officer Mario Jimenez also announced that the office hours will be shortened this week due to the surge in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among staff.

Navy set to use new ships vs. terrorists THE Philippine Navy will next year deploy its fast attack interdiction craftmissile off the waters of Mindanao to help in the operations against communist terrorist groups.

“The FAIC-Ms will be deployed initially in the Mindanao AORs (areaof-responsibility) where there is a continuous operation against LTGs (local terrorist groups) and CTGs (communist terrorist groups) These platforms are best suited operating in these environments to act as effective deterrent not only against the terrorist groups but also against other lawless elements operating in the littoral areas,” PN chief Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said when asked where these naval crafts would be deployed once delivered next year.

The FAIC-M project (also known as the Shaldag Mark 5) was already issued a Notice of Award by the Department

of National Defense last January 4.

“These individuals involved in piracy, smuggling and human trafficking, among others, use fast boats and go from island to island in order to evade our maritime law enforcers. With the FAIC-Ms, the Navy can ensure that these criminal elements will be effectively neutralized and in the process provide a safe and secure maritime environment to our countrymen,” Bacordo said.

The NOA was signed by DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana as head of the procuring entity. The project, which consists of two lots, is worth around PHP10 billion.

Lot 1 consists of the acquisition of the naval platforms and the upgrade of the Cavite Naval Shipyard while Lot 2 is focused on the acquisition of the weapons system of these FAIC-Ms, which include remotely-controlled gun and missile systems.

ROOFTOP FIRE.

A fire burns at the rooftop of Vernida Tower in Salcedo Village, Makati on Tuesday. The fire started at 2:52 p.m., was raised to second alarm at 3 p.m., and was declared under control at 3:30 p.m.

The fire was out at 3:48 p.m, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection - National Capital Region.

Farmers in CamSur gain gov’t land via DAR after 27 years

By Rio N. Araja “AFTER 27 long years,” the Department of Agrarian Reform has finally distributed 81.85-hectares of agricultural lots in Pili, Camarines Sur, to 149 farmerbeneficiaries as their rightful owners.

The farmers have now taken possession of the land in Barangay Cadlan after a lifelong administrative and judicial fight with its owner, the Manubay Agro-Industrial and Development Corp., according to Camarines Sur II agrarian reform chief Maria Gracia Sales.

“The final step in the land acquisi-

EXTRA DUTY.

An officer of the Bureau of Fire Protection assists at the checkpoint conducted by Imus police in Cavite on Tuesday due to the number of vehicles using the Aguinaldo Highway to speed up the flow of traffic past the checkpoints. JR Josue

tion and distribution process is the installation of these agrarian reform beneficiaries on their Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program-awarded lands,” she said.

She said the land tenure services personnel at the provincial and municipal levels worked tirelessly for the past 27 years to bring the activity to a successful conclusion.

Under the government’s agrarian reform law, DAR is mandated to acquire public and private agricultural lands and distribute them to tenants, farmers, farmworkers or other tillers who could meet the qualifications to be-

come beneficiaries.

In 1994, DAR acquired the land under the CARP but pending cases and the strong resistance of landowners contributed to the sluggish processes.

“I am extremely proud of all of our employees, including the Philippine National Police officers, ARB leaders and barangay officials who selflessly assisted in the execution of this important activity. I hope that these ARBs will become responsible stewards of the lands that have been entrusted to them. I hope that they take good care of their lands and keep them productive,” Sales said.

A4

News

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021

One-year tariff HOUSE WAITING FOR PALACE SIGNAL rate freeze under new water deal THE revised concession agreement between the administration and Manila Water Company, Inc. provides for a oneyear tariff rate freeze and disallows the concessionaire from charging its corporate tax to consumers.

These provisions are among the salient features of the agreement which the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System billed as a testament to President Rodrigo Duterte’s resolve to protect the interest of the Filipino consumers and the national government.

MWSS Board Chairman and Acting Administrator Reynaldo Velasco made the statement following the signing by the government and Manila Water of the revised concession agreement.

The MWSS chief also lauded the collective efforts of the government panel involving several top officials from the Office of the Executive Secretary, the Department of Finance, Department of Justice, Office of the Solicitor General, and Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, among others that collectively pursued over several months the completion of the new concession agreement.

Velasco signed the contract for MWSS in his capacity as Board Chairman and Acting Administrator.

“The contract is both advantageous to the Government, a big win for the Filipino people and the consuming public and that it is commercially and economically viable to the investors and the concessionaire,” he said.

The new agreement is modeled after the New Clark City joint venture agreement of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) which was developed with the assistance and advise of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Among the provisions of the new deal to protect the interest of government are the removal of government non-interference clauses and the removal of provisions that duly compromise medium and long term government liabilities.

Special session for ayuda bills

By Maricel Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

C

ONGRESS is willing to hold a special session if President Rodrigo Duterte calls for it to ensure the timely passage of bills on financial aid for those affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.

Taguig Representatives Lani and Allan Cayetano lead the distribution of food packs to the residents of Upper Bicutan on Tuesday amid the extension of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in NCR Plus areas to stem the surge of COVID-19 cases. In San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora leads the release of food packs - the 16th wave of ayuda from the local government since the pandemic began last year. Norman Cruz and Manny Palmero

Sustainable, inclusive COVID recovery pushed AS COVID-19 continues to ravage lives and livelihoods across the globe, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has urged the international community to take a collective effort to address socioeconomic inequalities further exposed and exacerbated by the pandemic.

Velasco’s call was made in his remarks delivered virtually during the 2021 Global Parliamentary Workshop organized by the Paris-based The Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and International Monetary Fund on Monday.

“Even as this pandemic severely

tests our respective health systems and economies, it can yet be our collective opportunity to harmoniously usher long-needed and wide-ranging socioeconomic reforms toward a definitive and sustainable path,” Velasco said.

“The pandemic continues to surface the fact that we are all interconnected.

Individuals, communities, and nations form a chain, and we all have the responsibility to assure that our own link is not the weakest in the midst of this global threat,” he added.

The workshop served as a venue for legislators from all corners of the plan-

et to engage in a dialogue with World Bank and IMF senior management to share lessons learned and strategies to achieve a sustainable and inclusive COVID-19 recovery and strong country outcomes.

Velasco led the House delegation to the workshop, which included Committee on Ways and Means chairman Joey Salceda of Albay, Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries chairman Junie Cua of Quirino and Deputy Minority Leader Jose Christopher Belmonte of Quezon City Maricel Cruz

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco gave the assurance Tuesday following the appeal of Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon for the President to call for a special session.

Congress went on break on March 27 and will resume session on May 17.

Velasco’s Bayanihan 3 that proposes a P420billion fund to stimulate the nation’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis is among the measures pending at the chamber.

According to Velasco, his bill and similar measures are currently being reviewed by the House committees on economic affairs and social services.

“By the time the measures are finished at the committee level, we would have resumed session in May,” Velasco said.

“However, if Malacanang certifies the bill as urgent, we will comply,” he added.

The House leader filed the measure in February after the passage of the bill extending the validity of Bayanihan 2, and upon seeing further need to allocate additional funds to help the nation cope with the pandemic.

To date, 224 members from the supermajority, minority and independent blocs in the House of Representatives have signed either as principal authors or co-authors of the measure.

House Bill 8628 or the proposed “Bayanihan to Arise As One Act” seeks to allocate P108 billion for additional social amelioration to impacted households, P100 billion for capacity-building for impacted sectors, P52 billion for wage subsidies, P70 billion for wage subsidies, P70 billion for capacity-building for agricultural producers, P30 billion for internet allowances to students and teachers, P30 billion for assistance to displaced workers, P25 billion for COVID-19 treatment and vaccines, and P5 billion for the rehabilitation of areas impacted by recent floods and typhoons.

Solon seeks monthly release of social pension for seniors

Members of the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office flush debris after an ambulance rammed concrete barriers along P. Burgos Avenue in Manila Monday night. The passengers of the ambulance, which was transporting a COVID-19 patient who has already recovered, sustained injuries and were given first aid by responders. Norman Cruz

DENR launches climate awards

By Rio N. Araja THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources has launched its climate and disaster resiliency awards to recognize Filipinos who have been making a difference in bolstering climate and disaster resiliency.

The agency, through its Gender and Development Office and Climate Change Service, rolled out its “Mga Kwentong KLIMA-likasan Tungo sa Katatagan: A Climate and Disaster Resiliency Recognition Awards.”

“This award will be a testament of the zeal and passion of all the people who do not merely talk but labor in the peripherals to bring knowledge and assistance on climate change concerns to those who need them most,” Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said.

The Climate and Disaster Resiliency Recognition Awards is in support to the Global Good Stories Movement, and seeks to recognize the stories of individuals and groups on the impacts of climate change and disasters in their communities, and on how they are addressing these through relevant programs on environmental protection and conservation, climate change and disaster risk reduction.

A CONGRESSIONAL leader on Tuesday batted for a monthly release of social pension for senior citizens.

Assistant Majority Leader and Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas made the suggestion to the Department of Social Welfare and Development as the agency transitions to cash cards for beneficiaries of the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens and the Unconditional Cash Transfer Program.

The DSWD has partnered with LandBank of the Philippines for the implementation of the new payout mode.

“Our indigent senior citizens need all the help they can get right now because of the uncertainties caused by the pandemic. Pagaanin natin ang buhay nina nanay at tatay, nina lolo at lola,” Vargas said.

The chair of the House committee on

social services said the shift to online lessens the logistical requirements that usually accompany the pension roll-out.

“I think the release of social pension to our senior citizens on a monthly basis is very feasible since the system has gone automated. And with automation, we allow our beloved elderly to maintain the dignity they deserve,” the lawmaker said.

The social pension program is a provision under Republic Act No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

Qualified indigent senior citizens receive a monthly stipend of P500, which is paid out on a semestral basis at P3,000, to help with their daily subsistence.

Vargas also expressed hope that a bill seeking to double the social pension’s amount to P1,000 will be enacted soon.

Maricel Cruz

Basilica in Cebu to be declared a National Cultural Treasure THE Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu is set to be declared a National Cultural Treasure after the Pontifical Mass marking 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines on April 14.

The National Quincentennial Committee, in partnership with The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu and the Augustinian Province of the Santo Niño de Cebu, will facilitate the declaration on behalf of the National Museum of the Philippines.

The declaration will be followed by the opening of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines‘ exhibit titled Paghangop: The

Santo Niño and the Filipinos at the Basilica’s convent.

“The values embodied in the theme Victory and Humanity of the government-led 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines are aligned with the 500 Years of Christianity’s theme Gifted to Give,” said Rene Escalante, NHCP Chair and concurrent NQC Executive Director.

“NQC appreciates the emphasis of 500 Years of Christianity in celebrating the journey of Christian Filipinos in the last 500 years, which is Filipino-centric in point of view,” he added.

SM Supermalls begins its multi-mall vaccination drive as it inks partnership with various local government units nationwide to be the venue for their COVID-19 vaccination program. SM earlier joined hands with the Olongapo city government for its two-day vaccination program held on March 30 to 31 at the SMX SM City Olongapo Central.

Skills training for displaced urban poor in NCR Plus THE Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor will continue to conduct capability building programs and livelihood training for the urban poor despite stricter lockdown measures due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.

PCUP chairman and chief executive officer Alvin Feliciano said their target is to hold training and seminars for those who have lost their jobs and livelihoods during the pandemic.

The commission’s programs and projects should not be stopped for

the marginalized sector who are out of reach or lack assistance, he said.

“They need our support even more now since it’s ECQ again. The commission will continue to assist with programs that will help them earn to survive daily,” Feliciano said.

“Seeing pandemic hit hard to ur-

ban poor communities, this year, we will start focusing even more on their recovery,” he added.

In the National Capital Region, urban poor members residing in Quezon City, Caloocan City and Malabon City are among the commission’s top targets. Rio Araja

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Forty eight work habits.

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Ombudsman’s field of that change is in the education or functioning Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s camprocesses and undermine societies.

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Microsoft vice iscampaign when these are such aplatform) brazen In the second quarter of 2020, the about afor COVID-19 infection. much more as and CEO tive and aggressive operations ofde allven been fromwoand their work. they may be teaching ngs o ATF mee ngs? any perceived adversary.

Given such an M for cyber Microsoft vice is when these are done in such a brazen Meanwhile, enseek orgetting otherwise, c process as h s hack ng group has been cra cha enger Joe B den’s s de g he aomproo comproly—to their respective peoples. and found wanting.

It is not the fresh perspective on will how we should view We were hop ng ha Ombudsman Mar resjust nonote ahere fanc fu erm buEverybody s even a emen of this hacking group has been cratic challenger Joe Biden’s side given the ic process.. would be enough tothe accomplish those celebrations as posted Thea Diplomat: of can these indeed bein easily undermined byfac the Russian hackers via learn phishing attacks goods andas such as those in foodyears, Un ment.

Students their lessons, yond one’s an work inservices the same manner for many from conditions before he was past curfew hours; his cousin said he sis isofmeans” finallythe ove Today they have tothe use technology to subreciting dangers of not doing so? s ry ng h s or her bes o he comfor of he r homes bu s def time.” . p esen a e a yea o ba ng he COV D 19 environment, the security and stability president Tom Burt has been quoted as sayand wayward manner as what happened to Everybody is trying his or her best to allies made it handily into the Senate elecers and journalists ” We suspec ha s s mp y mposs b e environment, the security and stability of president Tom Burt has been quoted as sayand wayward manner as what happened to the comfort of their homes, but there is defiFinance Secretary Carlos Dominguez says led to contain the pandemic Thus the answer to question of the much-chang pine economy slumped tohe its lowest in yystems, “...One such example ofsome thisandis the respons binof e then for of mos provocasanc ons and writers hbashing gh prof bash ng decades, ennarrative. en re sys emsstory to tell.

As mposed some noted and eresponsible and even teach our EMIL has hadeducators heever mebuy ohistory reflearn ec in on h teach sschools decthen sbetter, onand andand a“...On ha says exceed one’s n- stitute click ofMarch a one’s finger Grabe. against the campaign’s communications manufacturing or and power utilities tasks.

That fateful decision and his misfor some the most provocasanctions imposed and high profile 16,expenses 2021, weviolation, wille comwill to may only have “disto shift to an apprehended for the the punishwent out to He was brought priceless.

(Uni theenv interactions and experiences theyintegrity If these latest hacking attempts othan operations for c The As the numbers of COVID-19 cases resto be o new earn n hwhich s new ronpandem Ma acañang spokesman e on n water. eaga y“the no hInhe ng comfor ab e abou do ng your nations and societies asintegrity well as the ing that initial failed attempt on Biden’s UCPB which can unhinge the banking sysco a even he 26 membe shaving ncyber aUCPB stothe ng ewhich nations and societies as well as Duterte’s the ing that the initial failed attempt on ab Biden’s can unhinge the banking sysstill be learn in this environcomfortable about your The beast, as we They may have marked difference incyber thehistory retelling of tions solidified power have been the Duterte has vowed to continue his “war veATF and aggress ve opera ons a nothing hese woimposed coun r saying esgetting havelately, been ge osoil ng from athens or usthese p atwo nacademics decisive (lockdown) helped us avert an the younger generations. this Mabayo Ten days before Duterte the lockwhether or not the appointment of Gierran how bnitely aof an y congoes ns he, avowed fdoing gh come and athe oable her revenue aken oge her calculation ofmain enemy forces, led by Lapu memorate the 500th anniversary of the tive and aggressive operations of all countries have been from plain the country’s -a 16.5-percent parents will learn how best they can supties.”

This, he says, is altogether new way of teaching. ment provided suffi cient proximate cause to the town plaza where along with other erwise secure organizations in US eports coming out high, we should expect to live with cen y desc bed gove nmen ennot os ra s dark oondea men S uden satargeted wsand earn heand rof standing essons omm of and companies and institutions campaign was “...specifically by resulted tem.

Or,the to companies providing essential work nmanner he same manner for many years oom o of hoFerdinand ough y”and n e gendeath. y tem. d Anscuss standing companies institutions campaign was “...specifically targeted by Or, to companies providing essential ment.

Students will learn their lessons, JURADO work in the same for many years, ofbecome events orsuch incibut story Magellan’s martial law years were as and utbut mostly for me he Trump adm piece, oft-repeated note—history is ufor ransparency Unfor una e y he has used h s Spec f ca y f a governmen off c ab e Lapu, in Magellan’s death. arrival of Europeans in the Philippines. time.” the Trump administration. uch luport their children.

Nothing prepared us We agree that wer They could have trouble with their tools base.

Longtime aide, Christopher Go, and on drugs” which will be “as relentless and is legal depends on whether his name was estimated 1.3 to 3.5 million infections accordwn on March 15 2020 there were only involve the most hotly contested electorablishment but of to bring his underlying illness to the fore, curfew violators, were made to do pumping traction in economic production.

On top of these lockdowns for much longer.

We can w h he con ag on as “exce en ” a c a m of note can indeed be easily undermined by the Russian hackers via phishing attacks goods and services such as those in food educa orsattacks o was each be in er the and ofHe note can indeed be easily undermined by sarilyToday ma yfor hea latest h ssue and hem ong o aeoththe Russian via phishing goods and services such those inaga food even hen havIttong ohackers sh omeans an will r historical rests educators towteach better, and tonio Pigafetta, the Italian scholar who even decades, anddecades then having to useless asRussian these are saying theya the Tod written by the victors—which has been me ofor perfec h sas argumen nsand hoshift doanadrhence ve af the BMW on alearn ow mon h to yearn amorhese a oes hack emp sexercises on o this, hIn he case ofguys he Russ an for opera ons gh and deve oped hav struck face by a Mactan is day that different things so complaining nothehelp.

Ifn these hacking attempts on In theterly case ofinthe operations veloped equatethey toHeal corr and withIf connectivity, or they also the planet, using as ethey Russian military stroke.

100 times. that for the Board of Trustees Davao’s police Ronaldo dela chilling on the itcontraction began ”could wants hope the chief, people tasked to implement ing towill researchers from our universities.

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Inorganizations the case of would Army commanders. aorour oge her new way of each ng athe detailed journal of the events of the want everybody to Like parents will learn how best they canbes supde rigueur fornew most gets aoff better altogether way ofutilities teaching. ng of fes y e checks for governmen c a s za on—we wonder where ha ex s s—or stitu warrior a local After, the se secure organ za ons nthe US so Trump’s ecmethods on heavailable, repor com ng so ou different countries and their peoples. few years Hackcy’s stitute the intera In finding stride, it is best to reshould not take Filip find iterw difficult to be effective at their in manufacturing US soil Trump’s re-election, the reports coming outin Hackmost sophisticated it erwise iskept US The mayor of General Trias has anBut Peñaredondo failed to keep up with us them dousfrom not, themselves,the play“drug god and InoHAVE requested toInhto repeat reay un aandeallpandemic ngnoe ms And he Pasituations ace s and pretty basic 2019, the Rights Watch re-Spanish o mter othe ano he andand subsequent Rosa, initially spearheaded death penalty banned under the Constitupor hehealth rIt’s ch dren No hwho ng voyage, wrote of how Magellan wasyelectorbeconflict as theone lockdown enabled reinforce our ilippines is just the epicenter in the They cou have roub w he r Philippines, oo sHuman than even counterpoint as farodas historical hor-does rans atrouble ebeen corrup on ” etools buys mu ptheir emy houses on aNothing m ed prepared sa ary port children. us prepared retreated Cebu.

2020, the -percent growth drop “...To the that first conThey could have with their nvo ve he16.5 mos ho con es ed“Wea e ec usand of he secur y es ab shmen bu of nd he corner member crisis affects families We perishes. know that nonmany using the only available medium of GDP instrucnotdistress farfetched to think that thebut same can anks, consultants involve most hotly contested not of the security establishment of ner nounced he wants theforces police togovconduct anshipsdetermine the others, sothat he one was made tobelief do 300 pushwho lives and who ported that “State security and has no been he ped any by he v a v d icle written by a 26 membe s a e p esen n eve y sieged by natives in Cebu while attemptcountry was at that time, there were missons for my that the appointment of for h s so comp a n ng w no he p * * * he sa d before awmakers a a budge hear ng ha has no s gn f can y ncreased over he and wsystem h connec vbuild y or up heyour cou dthis, a so for so complaining will not help. a race n using he ptoane us ng the as recession hey do he M crosof seRussian f any s 888 hamilitary Russ antion m race ary and communities differently.

This should vaASEAN ed n no be war,” were elected to the Senate.

Dela Rosa done anywhere at time and against and with connectivity, or they could also cratic fundraising for crimes reimposed for tion. and capacity to do wide-nation with a total 265 casal inmost the planet, asbe they do Microsoft itself is thatof dbeinacno means the country is now in with investigation into asthe matter. hardly Public service, after all, is a calling ups instead.

Th to doin the sho ernment-backed paramilitaries continue eo oand apar batakes angay olowchave apoints p even ng200 awere ood ds.

Secretary mee and amos eRajah g ven say nuhods es ingngons to help Humabon, amme recently and butorganizations there high In facformer sa dbe ha he correct govyears hen ha red f In ag aThis po In fastride, nd ng stoearlier rnde-named s bes o reany perceived adversary.

Given an vice fhend dNational ffeffective cu oawsuffered be effec ve abrings he obsserves our and soph s cave ed ab find eimprove arge ed USsuch organ za have of Investigation Inr any finding our itour is best to reMeanwhile, students are also adjusting to its difficult to atBureau their an Iothers—most suggested that the it iscluded most sophisticated methods available, itoava is Tuesday hackers have targeted 200 US me part was to head theTO Senate committee drug crimes spread testing inourour communities.

From just ItMicrosoft is become No 21 thehackers world The Philippines consolation—to the family ofcolumn He struggled toempathy go home but ajobs THE harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, and in first semester drop in economic output of 9 Duterte imposed one of the earliest lockgood to certainly, never Cultural Diplove yinpoints de om p ck ng up an o de o Army commanders. point Army commanders.

Catholicized local ruler convert others and celebratory ones as well. ident cannot lega say he p ece on eve y aspec o he p ob ern ng fes y e checks s og ca and ha he er on where o ook more c ose y environment, the security and stability of en quotedde as saylockdowns will policy” make half in of short-sightedness.

In on doing our ab best to president member ha affects one crfamilies sshould s Now, affec the screate fam es demands of schoolwork. useventually ng he yGierran ava med umPeñaredondo, of ns rucno to farfe ched h nk hacanhe same can (po ca partanks, es hconsultants nk anks consu anthe s much-changed member one crisis using only available medium ofethe instrucnotBut farfetched think thato the same (political parties, think chief Dante as andthat chief President athem “jobs some instances kill political acand to the rest of us. convulsion and died downs inthe the world.

Still, even ifon it Saturday. was to In cause harm. charged with investigating police people love the President for ber reof the Board Embassy Ma- o nations around 1,282 PCR day con“inBiden’s ugaw” ce po dge by ns s ng haBack lodged Germany yesterday and is barely 2019, Human Rights Watch toeve Catholicism and loyalty toworst Spain.

But that would another story.

In 2019, Human Rights Watch re-matters POINT em ythe mee ng dVIRTUAL ake mo eMahanme and Itwou isanywhere the recession incope, hisand societies as as the integrity n ends oour o also amend How d fftests cu attack sper hand sand concep o grasp? ttempt the poor. butCongress we on should pick out theactual les- tivists, They may have grown up with technology, commun es d fferen y people Ththe s shou d the be done aand any aga nsask and even hebe ma n well Democra c fundra s percent. ng v esondangerous and communities differently.

This should be done anywhere at any time against and even the main Democratic fundraising ngerous tion. environmentalists, community leadworld’s longest and strictest, the lockdown executive officer of PhilHealth is illegal much more as pre the wake of so many jobless people as a reREALITY ng insight and a gellan believed that his display of force to Mabayo’s notes on the quincentennial he ood em was no cons de ed “essen ported that “State security forces and govported that “State security forces and govand standing of companies and institutions cally targeted by wo hou s a eas He akes ssue w h he phrase “ v ng beWe are aghas o hear ha hese words and the “drug war.” the “drugs war ” In May 2019 two top Remittances—a mainstay of the sons that will come handy when this criducted in the last week of March, our capacity 000 cases belowfor No 20 attacks.

Italy 288 but mostly for recreation and such socialization. any adversary. perce ved Given adversary Ganven failed suchMeanwhile, ancontain the tory. p acyber form) for cyber a 761 acks vice M crosof ce n such aplatform) brazen empa hy and any vperceived Meanwh e salso uden s are a ers, so us ng oourmprove Microsoft brazen improve empathyourand correct our correc our and journalists.” students are adjusting to ad to pandemic.

Thus, the an EMIL we shouldattacks view would be enough to accomplish those celebrations as posted The Diplomat: ofack notengcan indeed bein easily undermined by phishing Under Section 1 of Republic Act 11223 a ” hus up housands o ang y ernment-backed paramilitaries continue to ernment-backed paramilitaries continue to sult of the COVID-19 pandemic yond one’s and That ns s swisdom ha a person be ng has u vowed eredshor by very offIn c4.ado We suspec uitthe he hato no hav ng Senate economy because is the one that insisy is finally over. would be are Today they have use technology to subenv ronmen he secur yany and s ab ofmeans” pres denhas Tom Burquoted has been quo ed as saywhaschools o Tom Failure contain communist allies made handily into the elecenvironment, security and stability ofeconomy president Burt been as sayDuterte to continue his “war ened tohappened -she gh doing edness ngto our to bes o thatthe Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez says he much-changed demands of schoo work Ten days Duterte imposedofthe lockwhether or not th short-sightedness.

In our best the much-changed demands schoolwork.

For the whole of 2020, the is before exour and a“...On click ofMarch a finger Grabe. communications tasks.

That fateful decision and his mis16, 2021, we will com-backg in the first quarter of 2020, by 16.5 pereven v u en esponses om ne zens harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, and in may on y have “d s or ed va ues and pr or whose ob s o champ on ransparency harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, and in Duterte imposed one of the earliest lockDuterte imposed one of the earliest lockound n ep dem o ogy o e a ed JURADO fuels consumption—fell by 4.2 perTONY LOPEZ priceless.

(Universal Healthcare Act) upon the recstitute the interactions and experiences they The Department of Labor and Employand soc eases asintegrity we as he nThey egr onymay ng hafailed he nattempt ausfa avert ed Biden’s a emp B den’s eeIn he ng(lockdown) sys-the initial onhdrugs” which will be “as relentless is legal depends down March 15,grown 2020,have there were only nations and na societies as well the ing that on ng syscope bu we pick shou9and dperathe so plesck ou the he esThey may grown up wand echno ogy cope, but we also out have up with technology, Muslim separatist movetions which solidified Duterte’s power decisive helped anthedon thisbank Mabayo calculation ofbu enemy forces, led10

by Lapu anniversary of pected toons decline by percent.

BizNewsAsia cent in theinthe second quarter, and VIRTUAL es ” Th sconfirmed heVIRTUAL says s none of this our bus ness accoun ab yshould nbegan.” governmen We The vamemorate a vcampa deo the us500th a es wha s wf ca ong instances attack and kill ac- shortlist f instances and kill political ac- political cent insome theattack first half.

That 4.2 percent downs the world. even ifsurgency itsome was the and downs inchilling the world.

Still, even ifStill, it ment was the sc pedstanding nes heand eauc a s ofmak ng upeshe in that on day itcome Heby wants TWO cases.

At writing, theand ommendation of the Board Trustees of PhilandMagellan’s ng compan and ns u ons gn was “in spec y arge by resulted rov d ng essen will deny this for sure but a survey and of scompanies and institutions campaign wasof“...specifically targeted by ssential sons ha w come handy when h s cr bu mos y for recrea on soc a za on sons that will handy when this cribut mostly for recreation and socialization. note—history is Lapu, in death. arrival Europeans the Philippines.

Without a vaccine cent in the first half.

We are having the We agree ha wea h does no necesare much a armed over Mr Mar res’ ment base Longtime aide Christopher Go and w h he Du e e adm n s a on s woe u y tivists, environmentalists, community leadtivists, environmentalists, community leadis equivalent to losing $1.4 billion of imated 1 3 to 3 5 million infections accordworld’s longest and strictest, the lockdown world’s longest and strictest, the lockdown ATF po cy mak ng body s mp y can I HAVE been requested to repeat my reaIt’s pretty basic. estimates the GDP contraction for the whole death penalty, banned under the ConstituREALITY REALITY isHealth the pandemic epicenter in the IN Acan previous I talked about of noincolumn ethe caneasily ndeed eas yPresiunderm ned by they Russ an v aattacks ph shtongofaHe acks hwhich hose n food note indeed be undermined by sar Philippines the Russian hackers viahackers phishing nasfood cle President shall the agens spandemic. fThat nashowed ywisdom Tha wsons sdom wou d be thatand almost half of the theappointment country sof hey have o failed use ogy otohsubsis is finally would be hasnadequa been have toathe use technology toechno subwas struck face by abecMactan It is ahe day that means different things worst recession insover. our history. yToday equa eASEAN o Today corrup on Mr Mar res dcontain sappoint or ed nk ng Because ’sover our for axes for myand belief that your dollar income. e hand ng o he he COV Dgn’s 19 pan ers, journalists.” ers, journalists.” to the pandemic. failed contain the no c a an n eg a ed o ho s o sc tion for most crimes, to be reimposed 11-nation with total of 265,888 casThe killings of political activists and alDavao’s former police chief Ronaldo dela dent Rodrigo Duterte’s achievements.

Now, gple, to researchers from our universities The a c ck of a f nger Grabe aga ns campa commun ca ons ower and u es could be as large as 30 percent -assuming a a click of a finger Grabe. against different the campaign’s communications utilities Army commanders. gets adem better pr ce ess s u e he n erac ons and exper ences hey warrior using a local scimitar.

After, the priceless. countries and their peoples. for general use, the cy’s president and CEO from the Board’s stitute the interactions and experiences they About 75 percent of the economy was adult labor force of 60 million are jobless former National Bureau of Investigation ake p nos forThe s mp e ons and our wedays -be ngassistant haDuterte are business athesimposed ake here In an Is there hope in that bleak scenario? c om Ma ch 16 the 2020 o oday mo Watch e ence hasea vowed to continue his “war Duterte has vowed to continue drug crimes.

Ten days before Duterte imposed lockTen before theDuterte lockbased oach o comba ng COVtheshou es.dItno is No. 21 Fin the world.

Philippines here areapp hisinitially failures: he shoes Jun cban d dent essedhis s “war mp y earlier transplant.

The editor, Sathco In 2019, Human Rights re-Spanish leged NPA leaders have failed to the Rosa who spearheaded “drug kdown enabled reinforce our health far as historical loss of P1.5 trillion fors each lockships retreated from Cebu.

TONY LOPEZ Philippines, that first con- D TONY LOPEZ chief Dante Gierran as president chief President down.

Household consumption, We knowof ha many governmen off cbarely a s onsshut very much our bus ness Well, yes.

Lift the which But the people love the President for non-ex-officio members han a yea “...To ause tothe on drugs” which will be “aslockdowns relentless and on drugs” which will be and “as relentless and should dislodged Germany yesterday and is down Santa they are the new poor!

March 15, 2020, there were onlyBanana down on March 15, 2020, there were only 19 un ess hey e y on consu an o do month 1. The Philippines’ greatest depression a ked e He exuded qu e compe tur Ocampo, a closet communist, went into ported that “State security forces and govofficer of illegal. the wake of so m could rage providing three-fourths of GDP, by executive 52-year old communist insurgency.

Muslim war ”Indown. were elected to the Senate Dela Rosa stem and We build upernment-backed our capacity tondogh widehave senseless and the “drugscases. war.”

In this May 2019, two top 23,000 below No.recession 20, Italy, that 288,761.

This lockdown –thethePhiliplongest andcases severchilling onproved the day it PhilHealth began.” wantsthe e back o squa e one ng chilling on the dayproduced itisUnde began.”

He andem wants the osecond of 2020, TWO President confirmed At writing, thefell TWO confirmed cases.

At this writing, the he ng hemquarter This means cannot apence and au ho yHe he The newest of the “new poor” are paramilitaries continue to h nk hiding.

The other senior business reporter, Under Section 1The of Republic Actsome 11223 sult ofMARCOS thebeen COVID cluded inSecretary the shortlist.

Otherwise, thethe Pres- allies 15.5 percent in Q2 for a 7.8-percent made it handily into the Senate elecopposite effect. lockdowns were Finance Carlos Dominguez says I HAVE re AS I HA pine economy slumped to its lowest ever in death penalty, banned under the Constituhe COV D 19 pandem c sa d Sen Joe terrorists are on the warpath marked by a was named to head the Senate committee death penalty, banned under the ConstituPhilippines is the pandemic epicenter in the Philippines isofthewent pandemic epicenter in(Universal the 000 Tha sest whe he world consu an shas cons sAng in our communities Fromarrest, just and in IN previous I point talked about PresiTO THE harass, threaten, arbitrarily IN Acolumn previous column I talked about Presiinethe the –will run for seven months. he Healthcare T mes g ew b gge by ofead the testing earliest lockJake Macasaet, on119 a US tour grant.

THE Philippines’ oldest practitioner the2021.

Act), upon thespec rec- a z ng The nDepartme Army commanders Gierran unless he is a member the Army commanders. ident cannot legally appoint you asavert a of mem000 to 140 retrenched teachers well into Now, lockdowns make half of decline in H1 2020, according to MaPRESIDENT Duterte has extended tions which solidified Duterte’s power “the decisive (lockdown) helped us an supposed to save 4,000 people from sons for my beli dark days of M sons thecacountry’s history --na We 16.5-percent con- dent tion for most crimes, to be reimposed for V anueva as he gove nmen announced Boar tion for most crimes, to be reimposed for 11-nation ASEAN with a total of 265,888 cas11-nation ASEAN with a total of 265,888 caso med doc o s come see a ew some instances attack and kill political acdent Rodrigo Duterte’s achievements.

Now, , even if it was the Rodrigo Duterte’s achievements.

Now, ommendation of the Board Trustees of Philc me and po ca s o es ment will deny t new phenomenon—suicide bombers.

The with police That vacuum made me an acting business daily grind of professional is base. ber of the of Trustees ofyear PhilHealth, ound 1 282 actual PCR tests per day con- charged Ininvestigating 2019 heofPOINT Human R gh s Wa chstate reIn This 2019, the Human Rights re-matters half theWatch economic production the people poor. nila-based Asian Development Bank. the of Board calamity forinfections onejournalism aide, Christopher Go, and and staff out of the more 700 estimated 1.3 to 3.5 million accorddying, people whothan would die private anyway, former traction inmeans economic production.

On 21,ved theyNational went o form drug crimes. e u n otivists, he environmentalists, Enhanced Commun y leadcommunity drug crimes. es.until It is No. 21Longtime the world.

The ctest, the alockdown Health, the President shall appoint the agenes.

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The Philippines o ported hem onthat TV bu eda security eas one appea sytop o of showed that alm here are his failures: much more as president and CEO. here are his failures: the B n awe o ha powe he T mes ece editor serving at the same dead. por ha “S a e secur forces and gov“State forces and govPNP has budget, andbeen the “drug war ” eThat former police more chief, Ronaldo dela Remittances—a mainstay of the Unemployment than tripled, Sept, 2021.

Please note: That is upThe to Davao’s ing to21, researchers from our universities. cted the last week of journalists.”

March ourascapacity the contraction in the first quarchief Dante Gie lockdown orits noanti-insurgency lockdown, is0.7-percent gone cannot be recovered chie portraying Marc which will remain closed These ers, and cy’s president and from thebecause thetripled people love President for emic. in Qua adult labor force an ne ECQ a so known a “ ock But the people the for dislodged yesterday and isschools barely Thus, thein answer to the question of Germany have o ced oby esnow. gn a that po nthe ng ou dislodged Germany yesterday and17.7 is But barely 1.one The depression 1.Crispulo The Philippines’ greatest EMIL each day a CEO s the eady slove eam oBoard’s vPresident s o s—cab time as Judicial editor of theApril Construction and Real Julio “Jun” Icban, Jr. died early ernmen -backed param ardrop es coneight nue ogreatest ernment-backed paramilitaries toPhilippines’ the P Rosa, initially spearheaded the “drug lockdown enabled usbefore to reinforce our health economy because iscontinue that from 5.1 percent in 2019 to months just thedepression May 2022 •who The Development Fund, the basis terFailure 2020, the 16.5 -percent GDP growth executive officer most of them already had fatal disc uded n he shor s O herw se he Presexec cluded in the shortlist.

Otherwise, the PresBut did not a worrying sign.

4 to contain the communist innon-ex-officio members. has vowed toSec continue his “war Santa Banana, thS has grown to about 32,000 average daily tests e imposeddown the lockwhether or not the appointment of Gierran the “drugs war.”

In May 2019, two top ” No in saDuterte d o me Hea h e a y four months.

23,000 cases below No. 20, Italy, 288,761. the “drugs war.”

In May 2019, two top schools have lost income because of lack of apses nlockhe gove nmen s hand ngbyrar oIn he 23,000 cases below No. 20, Italy,Rosa 288,761. the second quarter ofelections 2020, thecapacity PhilipInand the second quarter of 2020, Philipne membe s sena oBut s cong essmen Under o he Section Estate Section.

With two reporters anda two evening Monday, April 5, from pneumotheDuterte first quarter of 2020, 16.5 perTO THE war,” were elected to the Senate.

Dela TO THE harass arb ywith arres nofdepends harass, threaten, arbitrarily and in system and build upon our tothe do wideimposed onerelentless ofbythe earliest Duterteonimposed one of the earliest lockJURADO fuels 4.2 perpercent in April 2020 “when lockdowns presidential when we choose of the financial benefits of the judiciary; means the consumption—fell country ishrea nowen inarrest, recession Th eases other than COVID. several den canno ega y appo n you as a memU ident cannot legally appoint you as memthat men do live This means that the President cannot apThe newest of drugs” which will be “as and is legal whether his name was 0, there Espe were only The are allies made allies itpohandily into thesome Senate elecanza Cab ain the ha second s no quarter, qu e accu Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez says itand handily into themilitary Senate elec5. Coddling ofcmade the police and the and the separatist movepandem We don know hey sona Secretary Carlos Dominguez says pine economy slumped to slumped itsour lowest inreasons this (August).” pine economy toever itsbout lowest ever in was ans mes bus enrollees Finance Carlos Dominguez named to the Senate committee cent 9surgency perresearchers, IBoard produced what I believed was nia after a shortlist heroic two-week with COVIRTUAL downs spread testing in From just some nsMuslim ances a pe ack and kyof ca acinstances attack and kill political ac-9po in thedrop first half.

That 4.2 percent firstccent semester inSecretary economic output downs theday world. even if itsome was the inchilling the world.

Still, even ifStill, it and was the were widespread and at their most Duterte’s successor.

•Finance The Amusement and Gaming (Universal Heal point unless he isare a member the nessmen 119,000 toPresi 140 thousands more dying orofwill ber ofof he Board of Trus ees of Gierran Ph Hea hpeople ber ofPhilippine thehead Trustees of PhilHealth, (Uni interred with the in that forcommunities. the Board of Trustees. oniny the began.”

Heby wants At this writing, POINT POINT tions which solidified Duterte’s power a eworld’s asthewelongest e ac ua en half. s iteps beh nd “the decisive (lockdown) helped us avert an tions which solidified Duterte’s power ament end ATF mee ngs o no “the decisive (lockdown) helped us avert an the country’s history -a 16.5-percent conthe country’s history -a 16.5-percent concharged with investigating police matters One equen v s o was a guy named Be Without a vaccine cent in the first We are having the around 1,282 actual PCR tests per day conthe best business section (eight pages) of a ID-19.

He was 85.

He was my colleague, Duterte has employed more generals, percent.

It is the worst recession in our histivists, environmentalists, community leadv s s env ronmen a s s commun y eadAdds Dominguez: “Without the lockdown, is equivalent to losing $1.4 billion of strict,” says ADB. Exports declined by Another year of state of calamity Corporation, which provides an additional The group representing these teachers and strictest, the lockdown world’s longest and strictest, the lockdown andThis staff,brings outomm of I HAVE been requested to repeat how my rea-much ommendation of It’s pretty basic. explains that “no matter money much more as president and CEO. much more as pres den and CEO die because of hunger, malnutrition, and death penalty, banned under the ConstituEALITY mic epicenter in the clearly spelled out in base.

Longtime aide, Christopher Go,J and squa e one They recession we epandemic. among hose who be fir estimated 1.3 topercent 3.5 million infections accordbase.

Longtime aide, Christopher Go, and which Thetory.

ATF adollar so consu s Me Man a in oftraction estimated 1.3 to 3.5 million infections accordtraction economic production.

On top of the “drug war.” ducted incontinuing the last of our capacity economic On top of and worst in our history. n spawned gno noy” Aqu no He hobnobbed daily inof those months of crisis. boss, mentor, andweek idol. schools sons for myand belief that the your income. and journalists.”

21.4 inthethe first half. means restrictions and reguers ourna s so”appointment source revenue to fund the *production. * March, *rate Health, Presi failed failed to contain the Thus, answer tomiscellaneous the question tion for the most crimes, to pandemic. be reimposed forers, Thus he answer o the heofformer ques on “N of Heaow diseases by the lockdowns. otal of 265,888 cas-to contain Marcosthe a heel from military and the police, than any The killings of political activists and aland staff claim that the P500 million allothe of infections and deaths could have EMIL EMIL countries pump into their economies, their Davao’s police chief, Ronaldo dela b s ed a he p es den a spokesman s ing to researchers from our universities.

The Davao’s former police chief, Ronaldo dela 4.

Failure to contain the communist ins For o Is seek he ova oof po esex-nue ingwhether to researchers from The the inof the firstIold quarorThegeneral use, the About 75 percent of the the economy was the whole of 2020, the economy is the contraction in the first quarschools have lost ofcy’s TraI wacting h erran heEconomic gods o Planning he Cen Seca Deskcy’s edItpresident by former National Bureau Investigation In an earlier column, suggested that the met Jun Icban atprime the Manila Times there hope that bleak scenario? lations.

Prices commodities, activities of or thenot government; has vowed to continue his “war Du erapp ein has vowed o c0.7-percent con h I0.7-percent scontraction “war drug crimes.

Ten days before Duterte imposed lock-mayo Ten days before Duterte imposed theDuterte lockthe of Gierran whe herappointment orour nouniversities. heto appo npresident men of G rld.

Philippines depends. the law. cated them isSaid not enough other before him.are More 45 leged NPA leaders have failed to dent the The reasons been worse. latest data suggest that Rosa, who initially spearheaded the “drug surgency and the Muslim separatist movea down emen ha he adm n love s there a onwere hadonlyabou lockdown enabled us to reinforce our health Rosa, who initially spearheaded “drug JURADO would have shrunk massively, anyway.

EZ enrollees. oGDP beWell, mp emen ed n“as he Na NY LOPEZ lockdown enabled us to reinforce our chief Dante Gierran as president and chief to decline by 10 percent. ter 2020, 16.5 -percent GDP growth drop President should create a much “jobs policy” down.

Household consumption, ter 2020, the rice, 16.5 -percent GDP growth drop JoeLuna and Jun cban Thethan hthe eenon-ex-officio spoke yes.

Lift the lockdowns which especially corn, and fish, will bein The of the Roces family in 1971 when I JURADO joined • The Export Processing Authority to at-health m But the15, people President onpected drugs” which will be relentless and on drugs” wh ch wBizNewsAsia beona “as rethe en ess and erday ands is barely on shut is legal depends on whether his name was W s ega depends on whe her h s name was nonMarch 2020, retary Karl Kendrick Chua: down on March 15,the2020, therefor were only ble achievemen Without alittle vaccine ment war,” were elected to the Senate.

Rosa The group re officer of isthe illegal. done a ne ob“drugs n con a nAt ngthis hewriting, con a two build upand our capacity to do widethe wake of many jobless peoplesystem asofpercent awith re-and the GDP contraction for the whole ecession could rage war,” were elected toDela the Senate.

Rosa The policy that President Duterte Cap a Reg on system build capacity tojobs do wideproviding three-fourths of GDP, byestimates means the is infact, recession officers occupy cabinet and Dela civil52-year old communist insurgency Muslim over 1laws, of all COVID-19 cases means the country is anow recession aone common anguage Pampango Jun and clearly spelled out in have proved senseless and produced the the war.”

In May 2019, topchilling controlled.

Inso under current This means th tract foreign investments; the then largest daily (70inwith percent the 0, Italy, 288,761.

Itexecutive is not the sheer size of stimulus package inkillings that shortlist forour the Board of Trustees. on the day it PhilHealth began.”

He wants n up ha shor s and forstar-rank he Board of Trus ees Tt ch ng on heRepublic day began ” country He wan s now “No anticipated that the COVID TWO confirmed thefell he would be a TWO cases. confirmed cases.

At this writing, the Gierr The of political activists aland staff claim Under Section 1 of Act 11223 of COVID-19 pandemic. was named toaway head the Senate committee could be asng large ashea 30The percent --s first assuming a first Mr. President, lift spread our communities. just g on and eallies ngmade us pandemic cin zen yfor e 7.8-percent was named the 15.5 percent Q2 Adeath e inconsu hwarpath and hewere semester drop in economic output of 9output spread testing communities.

From just He will forever ithehandily into thenaSenate for general use, the semester drop inhaters economic of opposite effect. lockdowns Gierran uni JoLuna eto ghead oomnot ng Senate he boy sh point ook the price of anything, and its supply, can os Dominguez says has to ian adopt right should be ancommittee •in The Movie and Television and Iitsult HAVE been requested repeat my AS MARCOS remembered “the I HAVE been reques ed orearepea my reaIt’s pretty basic. inthe April that year.

Ito was visiting a9testing Iin ’sour pre yFrom bas creview poin penalty, banned under the Constitupandemic will [strike] the global positions in thewe government. terrorists are the marked by ais deaon hhepena yexpe banned under he market) Cons uwhong envy his Philippines is the epicenter inepicenter theelecin country are severe or critical.

Our morPhilippines is the pandemic theP1.5 ut Presitalked about Presithat matters now but also actualthe law. cated to them isB n leged NPA leaders have failed to dent thecharged (Universal Healthcare Act), upon the recThe Department of the Labor and Employthe loss of trillion forATF each month ofwhether lockwell into with investigating police matters around 1,282 actual PCRunless tests per day conecavert no o2021. wo ywhich buin be happy ns ead casdecline H1 2020,of according toMe Mahas usextended charged with investigating police matters tions solidified Duterte’s power o Man a mayo s he po cy mak percent.

It is the worst recession in our hisaround 1,282 actual PCR tests per day conhelped an supposed to save 4,000 people from be controlled by the government during sons for my belief that the appointment of Classification Board; percent.

It is the worst recession in our hisdark days of Martial Law,” on September N noy o p es den Howeve n Sep em sons for my be ef ha he appo n men of * * * * * * friend and schoolmate of mine at the Times the lockdowns.

They economy.

In the first three months of the tion for most crimes, to be reimposed for sight, and those Board of Trustees of PhilHealth and on for mos cr mes o be re mposed for 11-nation ASEAN with a total 265,888 emergency employment scheme For sure 11-nation ASEAN with a total of 265,888 cass. Now, recession rage achievements.

Now, ommendation of the Board Trustees of Phil52-year old communist insurgency.

Muslimand ment will deny could this, for sure, but on aducted survey remain as the symbol Despite the overwhelming dominance ofThe jobs poli new phenomenon—suicide bombers The tality ratio, theofinother hand, islast at In 2.5 people down.

This lockdown –mp the longest and severly saving the productive parts of the economy. the “drug war.” the last week of March, our capacity nila-based Asian Development Bank. or one yearBu until how can he c zen y no be wo base.

Longtime aide, Christopher Go, and Se and the “drug war.” n infections accordng body hands ove he emen a on o tory. ducted in the week of March, our capacity dying, people who would die anyway, former National Bureau of Investigation a state of calamity.

In a major election, • The Philippine Coconut Authority to 21, they went on the usual bashing spree, In an earlier column, I suggested that the former Na ona Bureau Inves ga on tory. be 1972 Fe d nand Ma cos dec a ed ma an ear er co umn I sugges ed ha he quarantine, we prioritized saving lives has Florentino Torres Street in when terrorists definitely drug crimes. drug cr mesrunshall es. It is No.es.

21 Itinisthe world. to adopta hee righ Health, the President the agen-on showed No. 21 inThe the Philippines world. The PNP Philippines that almost halfrecommended of Manila the country's are on thesense. warpath marked by a of the Board hismake appointment tocreate the ranks the unemployed can only worsin the world –its has for appoint seven months. noshould generals, Duterte administration has not has tripled anti-insurgency budget Davao’s former police chief, delac est to the communist inwell into Unemployment more than tripled, note: That ed is up to abou ur universities. per aepresident hundred thousand.” s The ck ca ch ng he dead y vRonaldo 4.contain Failure to contain the communist in- ance chief Dante Gierran as and chief For the whole ofsystemic 2020, the economy isG expo es o the he Nabecause ona Task Fo ce cons sBoard’s lockdown or no lockdown, because This is the problem isPres not aportraying the price and supply of bellwether goods enhance coconut production of the quintessential President a “jobs policy” inthe ch ef2020, erran as pres den and chand ef Marcos as the devil-incarnate.

Pres den shou d crea e4.a Failure “ obs cy” nof For the whole of2021. the economy is exaTrustees aw The T mes was pad ocked against COVID. We used thisand time to Board ofpo PhilHealth, unless emergency empl its business editor, the late Alfio Locsin, ofcy’s president and CEO from the But people love the for adult labor force ofDan 60 million are jobless.

Bu he peop ePresident ove he den for dislodged Germany yesterday and is us barely newdevelop phenomenon—suicide bombers.

The dislodged Germany yesterday and is barely sion atest depression This means half of the economic production the President The Rosa, who initially spearheaded the “drug en the poverty problem of the country for reinforce our health percent April 2019 17.7 regrown the May 2022 surgency and movewhen he ccases afrom m below o 5.1 anaverage exce enin ob 288,761. bytests he tong executive officer ofare PhilHealth isPh illegal. surgency and the separatist movemost of them fatal dislike rice, corn, fish, fuel, even school the wakethe of jobless people athe repected to decline by 10 BizNewsAsia efforts; execu ve off new cer of Hea sand ega o is he Depa ooralready Hea h”behad Ph pp netop But did not Shakespeare say: “The evil Board recommended his appointment to cban hemany wake of so budget, many obasess peop ethe as Muslim ahealth reproven itself any competent nor any a288,761. worrying the ranks the ru non-ex-officio members. pected to decline by 10 percent.

BizNewsAsia improve our capacity.”

The hmore ee system oseparatist usMuslim JoLuna Jun and ofdirec Santa Banana, they the poor!

He notes that perhPNP 100,000, EU member scapacity to23,000 about 32 000 daily fered me apercent. job.

“Would you like to join the the “drugs war.”

In May 2019, two has tripled itsso anti-insurgency contraction awar cyclical bust. necesNo. 20, Italy, hemen “drugs Inrecovered May 2019 wo op 23,000 cases below No. 20,Dela Italy,Rosa eof Philipgone by sign now.

That cannot inSimply, 2020, the Philipeditor. war,” wereinelected to the Senate. tona do wideWithout a vaccine percent April 2020 “when lockdowns when we choose ment Under Section 1 of Republic Act 11223 Thus before Gierran can be appointed as Without a vaccine the President. ona gove nmen n comba ng he eases other than COVID. But several sult of the COVID-19 pandemic. supplies, medicines, and PPEs, are cruUnder Sec on 1 of Repub c Ac 11223 en the poverty p many years to come • The Philippine Tourism Authority as one ment men lives after them.

The good is This that the President apthe GDP contraction for the whole su Spain of he COVID-19 pandem c me ona Po ce aitmeans Ahandily med Fointo ces o Senate heand Ph phemilitary newest ofcontraction the “new poor” are whole “By the models of UP andessAteneo, estimates the GDP fordaily the we e sudden y ob and powe clearly ess n from a worryingUK sign. 70, sp Manila Times,” he asked me.

“Sure,” Isome said has grown todo about 32,000 average tests allies made the elecSecretary Carlos Dominguez saysNa es hand yestimates ncannot othe Sena ethat eThe eclessEmploycorrupt than past administrations. months.

5four Coddling ofmade the police cl Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez says states average 31oft deaths, 61,men ever in From somunities.

(August) ”Finance its lowest ever sary mobility restrictions hamper aggregate named toace head the Senate committee justcin was were widespread and at he their most Thus, before Gierran can beto appointed asngeand The killings of political activists and almany years to co (Universal Healthcare Act), upon the recpoint Gierran unless he is a member of the The Department of Labor and 119,000 to 140,000 retrenched teachers thousands more people are dying or will (Un versa Hea hcare Ac ) upon he reccial, especially in battleground regions, pandem es n he o ac s o of the engines to serve as a source of revenue; interred with their bones.”

The Depar of Labor and Emp oyThe killings of political activists alcould be as large as 30 percent -assuming a p nes Bu eau o F e P o ec on Ph pp ne we averted some 59,000 171,000 President and CEO of PhilHealth he must 5.

Coddling of the police and the military could be as large as 30 percent -assuming a wo mon hs go a ob as a oca s o he While the President may have signed into this (August).” promptly, and asked “When?” “Today,” hegeneral which solidified Duterte’s for use, the Finance Secretary Dominguez IsPres h “the decisive (lockdown) helped uspolice avert an ustions ons wh chCarlos so d fmore ed power Dugenerals er e’s power “the decisive (lockdown) helped avert an has for general use, the ent conatate 16.5-percent conwith investigating RAdds tests day conWhen the of the national capital’s Duterte employed President and CEO ofrates PhilHealth, hethe must Sweden 57, and the Dominguez: “Without the lockdown While the strict,” says ADB. Exports by ofper calamity the law.

Com and staff, outommenda of the more than 700 ommendation of the Board Trustees of Phildemand.”

NPA have failed to dent ment will deny this, fordeny sure, but a survey die of hunger, malnutrition, andloss onlockof he Board TrusUS ees of Ph - employed th Hardest hit was island and especially, when the highest • 52.

Laws on socialized housing through asure This brings me to my gulay—Is menLuzon wmore hwhich s leged for buleaders achief survey exponen a charged se n3.5 COV D cases n accordadeclined e matters leged NPA leaders have failed to dent the loss ofsand P1.5 trillion for each month ofask, Coas Gua d because and ba“no angay anods deaths.

Our death from Duterte has generals, Adds Dominguez: “Without the lockdown, ofmost P1.5 trillion for each month ofprivate lockMa nbillions ch Japan s oreduced des newspape By Oc explains that matter how much snapped. base.

Longtime aide, Christopher Go,money be first appointed as a member of the Board estimated 1.3 topercent million base Long me a de Chr opher Go and law Bayanihan 2 the allotted for his estimated 1.3 toinfections 3.5 million infections accordnMarch, top of and the “drug war.” our capacity duction.

On top of be first appointed as a member of the Board law Bayanihan 2, schools which will remain closed.

These hero?

21.4 in the first half. ictions and reguHealth, the President shall appoint the agenrecession could rage showed that almost half of the country's 52-year old Muslim Hea he Pres den sha appo nseries he agendiseases spawned byeconomists the lockdowns. produces 70 percent ofpolice, total economic post of the isoratahon stake. of legal issuances from funding, showed ha than athe mos ha was f aof hecommunist coun ryold s insurgency.

Marcos aland heel hero? police force was caught on1.6 social media military the than any recession could rage ch to upresearchers o now?

Unprecedented human rights violations from the military and the any rate ofMainfections and deaths have 52-year communist insurgency.

Muslim This lockdown –lockdown the longest and severhigh of 17 1972 percent to just percent the rate infections deaths could have ADavao’s e the he po c es have been seeconomies, npolice sdown. one Government earlier projected countries pump intoand their their down.

This –and the longest and severobe a new pape The T mes Jou na aretrolle Ten meters from the Business Desk Right there, Ilost sat a3.chair and pounded former police chief, Ronaldo dela ing from our could universities.

The from Davao’s former po ce ch by ef Rona do de aof 4.ing Failure to contain the communist into researchers from our universities.

The of Trustees. rst in quarproject only on the first quarschools have income because of lack of other of Trustees project are only stop-gap measures to alleme commodities, cy’s president and CEO from the Board’s adult labor force of 60 million are jobless. cy’s pres den and CEO from he Board’s Said acting Economic Planning Secproduction and is home to 50 percent of What is not controlled during a state terrorists are on the warpath marked by a mortgage and collection of loans; adu abor force of 60 m on are ob ess It depends.

If you look at his remarkapresident before him.

More than 45 been much worse.

The latest data suggest that Tha eads us o ask Who s ea y ead ng or around 4,000 deaths.

We averted terrorists are on the warpath marked by a est in the world – has run for seven months. he 26GDP bu eauc aThe s hen he mp aanyway. on8 percent would have shrunk having aWhat breakfast birthday partya with other before him More than 45 est inenrollees. the world – hastorun for seven months. was sethe up w requirements h JoLuna he hemore m viate as edthe people’s Un reasons What made athe strong president, en much worse The latest suggest that the Central News Desk which produced an old Underwood deliver.

Ihas wrote three Duterte Rosa, who initially spearheaded the well into 2021. surgency and the Muslim moveis/are legal before lockdown enabled usdata to reinforce health Rosa who a emen y are spearheaded henon-ex-officio “drug apresident recovery of 7nmassively, percent to“drug in GDP lockdown enabled usseparatist toourreinforce our health wth drop well into 2021. nt GDP growth and fish, be Board of Trustee members.

Santa Banana, they are viate the new poor!

What is/are the legal before non-ex-off cCOVID-19 o members retary Karl Chua: the population. of calamity ispercent how the government dis- requirements the people’s needs San ahospitals—the Banana hey are hephenomenon—suicide new poor!

Boa • Allofficers specialty Philipstar-rank occupy cabinet and civilble achievements and good performance, new bombers.

The a little over 1afternoon. of all cases some 1.3 to 3.5 million cases, of which hewill chadrop ge and aga ns heupcoour onav us? to do wide-o hese It ispo notcthe sheer size ofethe stimulus package This means half of the economic production new phenomenon—suicide bombers.

The eselected such”Kendrick as oca zed ockdowns vaccine Gierran be appointed aso alockdown member This means half of the economic production ocan a(despite consu anstrict ned as aofpeprocoWhat umn isrecom ment essen the next day’s headlines and the Nation stories that All were published were to the Senate.

Dela Rosa The group representing these teachers system build capacity war were ec ed o he Sena e De a Rosa point system and build up ourcases capacity star-rank towar,” do widethan 50 guests ion officers occupy cabinet and civilthe vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also ittle over 1 percent of all COVID-19 w inwith recession with clearly spelled out in the Board der current laws, This means that the President cannot apgrowth rate is now overly optinewest of “new poor” are some sincumbent means ha he Pres den canno apianpine positions inCenter, thecontracted government.

“Noceone anticipated the COVID The of heper“new poor” are some the B Investments

by What 53.5 penses money.

The President Heart Lunch Center, National he would be aTh hero. those, however, in the country are severe orFor critical.

Our mor-in PNP has tripled anti-insurgency budget, that matters but also whether it is actual68,000 would be severe critical Gierran can be appointed as aThe member ofthenewes Let me policy quote We we don ea ycommunities. know We activists eFrom o dlift is essential and urgent isand longis gone bye now.

That cannot be recovered inrecovered PNP has tripled its the Board ofits Trustees? up o named he po and hein m2021. ythatThat term jobs The of political ands aland staff claim that the P500 million is gone by now.

That cannot be nch bus ness epoanti-insurgency ea Jun cbanbudget, mean stories.

It was manned by140 Jun000 Icban as gatherings was tonow head the Senate committee the next day, with the first made into a allobanMr. President, spread inkillings our just was named oahead he Sena comm ee put of 9output spread testing in our communities.

From just e, the the President. onomic 9testing point Gierran unless he is a atmember the nd its supply, can Boar 119,000 to 119 140,000 Despite the overwhelming dominance ofa teachers pois ningenuity, G erran un ess he sofahis member of he of ten or more people in tality ratio, on the other hand, is 2.5 people pandemic will [strike] the global ian positions in the government 000 oretrenched re renched eachers thewaP cent ingrown the second quarter and byhibiting 36.6 can get allthem the money heof wants toand have Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine who envy his vision foregiven him one of major failures—massive the country are severe or critical Our morly saving the productive parts of thefour economy. worrying sign. cases on the peak day, which will overhas grown to about 32,000 average daily tests mistic.

Without a vaccine for general use, the Lazaro, who Section 13 of RA 10149 (GOCC Governthe law. ha around sofnone o he han he n e Agency lem of poverty. months. a worrying sign. cated to not enough. leged NPA leaders have failed to dent the A as s a he g ound eve whe e has to about 32,000 average daily tests the Board Trustees? four months. wh e became ed o a consu an ac ua term jobs policy to prevent a bigger probwith investigating police matters news editor. of theand Times business section, withhe myis generals, 1,282 actual PCR actual tests per day con-per charged charged wfirst h three nves ga ngofpothecener ma ers our his- induring around 1,282 PCR tests day conThus, before overnment ecession ourFohisand the staff, out of the more than 700 private Duterte administration hasinvestnot per ahands hundred thousand.” the lockdowns.

They and s aff ou of he more han 700 pr va e T economy.

In the months percent in the first half.

“Private his on and deploy it to whoever Children’s Medical Center; sight, those who desire revenge, This is because the problem is not a systemic ance Act of 2011) mandates that an appointing inclu whelm our healthcare sector.”

5.

Coddling of the police and the military My gulay, ifdu thG rate Counsel d rage this (August).”

The jobs policy that President Duterte 52-year old communist insurgency.

Muslim Task ce on Eme g ng n ec ous D s one place at the same time), Duterte refused Despite the overwhelming dominance of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez Coddling thespolice the military human rights violations.

Critics saywill he killed ity ratioelection, on theinother hand islast at week 2 5 our people h ngs some mes go haywrage e ”as n into he 2021. this (August).” recession could well y 5. news ed o ofbu nce heand came om he and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and the “drug war.”

Barely 19, Jun finished English, magna first byline for the paper. ducted theducted last week of March, capacity Section 13 of RA 10149 (GOCC Governand he “drug war lem of poverty President C in the of March, our capacity proven itself any more competent nor any a major schools which remain closed.

These He notes that per 100,000, the EU member schoo s wh ch w rema n c osed These Pres quarantine, we prioritized saving lives contraction or a cyclical bust.

Simply, necesment slumped in Q2 with outlays for inand wherever he wants to send it.

• The first nuclear power plant in Southdirector shall be appointed by the President definitely a heel. it’s an urgent and has to adopt right away should not be an “What we find in the last six months, Duterte has employed generals, beneficiaries warpath marked by a 4. Failure Adds in Dominguez: “Without the“Without lockdown, eases thousand ATFterrorists E make C ” are on explains that “no how much money by ofth nothesense.

Duterte has employed generals, “generals ugaw” nc dento and eo con he sna ucame sinAdds Dominguez: the an FM T element mesmore no more a good me oappointed explains that those “no matter much money tolockdown, fire the general. the Duterte administration has not contain the communist 1. cum laude, at the University the PhilipMy boss at defunct The Manila more than 27,000 the guise of eliminating rbellwether a ishundred be first 4restrictions Fa ure athis n and he commun s matter ncorrupt than past administrations. my ex- goods When thewhe President tostates power in schools have lost income of lack average 31 the deaths, UK 70, Spain 61, less from aerring short-list prepared by was themissing Governance ance Act ofhow 2011) mandates that an appointing the economy is exsaryBoard mobility hamper aggregate schoo scould have because osof equipncome because of ack of fi tatal Banana, Ibe fore against We used time to ofCOVID. Trustees of PhilHealth, unless My gulay ifof there’s one dustrial machinery and transport Combine powers—control of the east Asia; emergency employment scheme.

For sure, is that the lower quarantine restriction event of tim from the military and the police, than any the rateare of infections and deaths have Fschool om whanewwephenomenon—suicide ve ga he ed he adbombers. hoc aThesurgency countries pump into 57, their economies, their from the military and the police, than any oo p a n o see the rate of infections and deaths could have NAKED The reasons are be ub qu ous Unde Jun a mo e seda e countries pump into their economies, their dent and the Muslim separatist movepines, in 1954.

He was the Collegian edChronicle was aghast to see my byline.

“We The reasons When the chief of the national capital’s of Trustees.

Sweden and the US 52. surgency and he Mus m separa s moveenrollees.

Commission for Government-owned or-Conuel, even ewsAsia Philippines witho the Board recommended his appointment to price demand.” proven itself any more competent nor any theand ranks ofdirector theof unemployed can only worsenro ees of T rcent.

BizNewsAsia improve our health system capacity.” the pervasive illegal drugs curse. ment 62.1 percent lower and for private supply any commodity or conHe notes that per 100 000 the EU member • A geothermal power plant, one of the July 2016, he stumbled into the greatest and PNP has tripled its anti-insurgency budget, has actually opened more sectors of the shall be appointed by the President have fashioned it’s an urgent and lasting jobs policy Sanother president before him.

More than 45 been much worse.

Thewas latest suggest that g are oupcruconsWithout s s o no ess 26 membe s GDP wouldGDP have shrunk massively, anyway. other before More than 45n get beenforce much worse.

Theon latest data suggest that SO ahan vaccine Bueachers e president n became he a him. ges newspape — would have shrunk massively, anyway. caught social media mentGovernment What is/are th itor from 1953 todata He also took up a hese had wanted you to help us produce the best 3.clearly Unprecedented human rights Corporations (GCG). ple can empl Without a vaccine The representing these teachers the“By President. nd PPEs, en the poverty problem of the violations country for police economists men o eaverage whole The group represen ngtrolled W the models of earlier UP andprojected Ateneo, construction 46.8 percent lower,” says sumer goods, redirecting taxpayers money first in thegroup world, as1954. anof alternative source action fordaily theby whole THOUGHT a hworrying spelled out in 0tes tests economy and helped bring back jobs.” barrage ofber adver biznewsasia@gmail.com corrupt than past administrations clearly spelled out in star-rank officers occupy cabinet and civilHuman Rights Watch says many the average 31 Spain 61 less apackage little over 1the percent of all COVID-19 cases from a short-list prepared by Governance longest economic expansion in the country’s ed Headeaths Sec e UK asign. y F70 anc sco Duque Itappointed isca not the sheer size ofsheer the stimulus package ta Banana I foresee a bleak future for the star-rank officers occupy cabinet and civilMore on Fr day Send commen s o a little over 1 percent of all COVID-19 cases having a breakfast birthday party with more this law, Gierran can only be apUnder finally ends! evenues and p o s It is not the size of the stimulus What has made Duterte a strong president, Thus, before Gierran can be as Gierran can be The killings of political activists and almany years to come.

Master of Arts in Journalism course at Syrpaper,” lamented Rod Reyes, the Chronicle and staff claim that the P500 million alloa recovery of 7 percent to 8 percent in GDP eground regions, The k ngs of po ac v s s and a uming a and s aff c a m ha he P500 m on a oGier we averted some 59,000 to 171,000 to anyone or anywhere, ADB. Public construction slipped by a and the or restrictions of energy; 5. for Coddling ofSEE the police and the the military I ercent -- as assuming a a Phi Mr. President, lift the lockdowns. for general use, the ident Marcos fr Is he a heel a ian positions in the government. general use, inactualthe country are severe orare critical.

Our morCha wHardest h52 Cab hit ne was Sec eLuzon a y Kaisland o ernh that matters but whether itlaw. ismay actualWhen theleaders chief ofof the national capital’s pointed byJun the President as agovernment. member of the ian positions ins the @yahoo com than guests (despite strict lockdown President and CEO must 27,000 areof “vigilante-style killings perpetratin50 country severe orincritical.

Our without morweden 57 and man the US the vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also While the President have into the Commission for Government-owned or-Conofthe TruB cban ayed w h peohe Bu the e nBoard 47pursued that matters now but also whether itsigned is Philippines any assurance that growth rate in 2021.

That isPhilHealth, now overly optihistory—70 consecutive quarters of growth. cated to them ised not enough. leged NPA have failed to dent the acuse University, New York State, USA in editor and himself an alumnus Mathe which when the highest ca hem s noproenough eged NPA eaders have fahe ed onow den healso of CHARLIE V. deaths.

Our death rates reduced from has employed more generals, marginal 0.9 percent inatoQ2. on flow oflaw. goods and people under athe lock•the Exploration and drilling Malampaya; thout the lockdown, achlockmonth of lock- Duterte They make no sense.

I think w Ta Despite the overwhelming dominance of tality ratio, on the other hand, is 2.5 people Board of Trustees of PhilHealth ifedheeven was a They I don’t know beforce first appointed asinsurgency. a for member ofMuslim the Board ly saving themedia productive parts the economy. hibiting gatherings of ten orkillers more people in law Bayanihan 2,he billions allotted for his given him one of of his major failures—massive Despite the overwhelming dominance of hero? tality ratio, on the other hand, is at 2.5 people Section 13 ofSe mistic.

Without a vaccine general use, the recession could rage The jobs policy that President Duterte yea s un he day he d When news ly saving the productive parts of the economy.

52-year old communist produces 70 percent of total economic LITO 1958 on Fulbright and Smith-Mundt grants. nila Times where won the equivalent of police was caught on social recession could rage The obs po cy ha Pres den Du er e ed by police officers themselves or by 3edeaths Unprecedented human rights violations from the military and the police, than any trolled Corporations (GCG) 52-year o d commun s nsurgency Mus m nd severa high of 17 percent to just 1.6 percent ple can get employed when this pandemic Duterte may not know it but he down of whatever form or acronym—and dake. could have •thousand.”

Laws on culture in the life of the nation; Duterte himself added 14 quarters of problem growth longest and severwithout thethelockdowns, you can win easing ardnot Maitland sha MANALO included in list prepared and submitted the one-m generals, thegenerals, Duterte administration has not of Trustees. project are violations. only stop-gap measures to alleper a hundred one place at the same time), Duterte refused human rights Critics say he killed This is because the is not a systemic clude the Duterte administration has recession could rage well into 2021. ance Act of 2011) per a hundred thousand.” has to adopt right away should not be an man d es he s supposed o w e “30” be This is because the problem is not a systemic production and is home to 50 percent of ed during a state terrorists are on the warpath marked by a Jun won thebe coveted Nieman aDuterte Pulitzer Prize forhis penetrating, as a Gierran police achieved other president before president him. More thanhaving 45 has oemployment adop ghFellowship away dGCG no be an President. But the Presi- tocol ance data suggest that Duterte oraWhat around 4,000 deaths.

We almost full dur- shou pick successor—without • the The Cultural Center of therPhilippines error sthe s birthday are onrequirements heparty warpa h marked by the acan months. anitself election. breakfast with more nest for seven months. tial matter of hit Under this law can only apfinally ends! linked to the authorities.”

What has made aBANAYO strong by the the well into 2021. in shall public is/are legal before viate people’s before itPresident went negative inaverted the quarter of any tosure more competent nor any ended toh fire erring general. well into 2021.

He notes that per 100,000, the EU member more thanofor 27,000 in needs. the guise of came tocontraction power in first or aBoard cyclical bust.

Simply, necesdirector be Trustees of PhilHealth, unless proven morenewsmen competent nor any emergency employment scheme.

For sure, He notes that per 100,000, theoymen EUproven the population. government dis- star-rank Board ofthat Trus eeseliminating of Ph Hea and un ess cause nitself heappoint oany d days he officers occupy cabinet and civil-new When ment contraction awhether cyclical bust.

Simply, necesphenomenon—suicide bombers.

The emergency emp scheme For direc all COVID-19 cases Harvard, 1965 to 1966.

He was amember jourreporter, den and busting was on some the 1.3 to phenomenon—su 3.5appointed million cases, ingat his presidency, an unprecedented regard asa drug to guy isit. aIand geniand the Philippine International Convenoduction new cofdewhich bombers The dent cannot legally Gierran a membut what people worsen the probl Gierran can be as a member of conomic production What is essential and urgent is a longpointed by the President as a member of the the pervasive illegal drugs curse. less corrupt than past administrations. * * * than 50 guests (despite strict lockdown prostates deaths, UK 70, 61, July2020.

2016, hewould stumbled into the greatest and sary Authorities admit tonthe31 7,000 deaths vicious illegal drugs campaign has also fromend a short-list sary mobility restrictions hamper aggregate the Board recommended hisChronicle appointment toachievement. ranks the can only worsless than administrations. states average 31 unemployed deaths, UK 70,when Spain 61, positions in thecontracted government. he aBoard hbesaverage appo men o of Investments by 53.5 perumbent President or critical.

Our mor-in ian he ranks of hethat unemp oyed can on ycorrupt worsfrom s oBoard es wofhTrustees, he past numbe 30—mean mobility restrictions hamper aggregate PNP has tripled anti-insurgency nalism blue blood, at during a Spain time when grizzled aus, per basis atrecommended the 68,000 be critical Economists say acolumn-inch technocrat, nincompoop, or tion Center.

Let me quote Justice Manuel “Lolong” ber of the much more as ngMark vered PNP has r p severe ed ins the anand -budget, nsurgency budge ofalso Ph my word the Board ofits Trustees? biznewsasia@gmail.com term jobs policy to prevent amany bigger probLazaro not beinrecovered biznewsasia@gmail.com Human Rights Watch says ofeven thePhilHealth When thecoun chief offor the national capital’s longest economic expansion country’s Sweden 57, and the 52.

Commission for the President. demand.” en theUS poverty problem ofIypracticalthe country for Board of Trustees of if he was don’t know whoever had the idea of Despite the overwhelming dominance ofa worrying When the chief of the national capital’s hibiting gatherings of ten or more people in and, is at 2.5 people he Pres den in the second quarter and by 36.6 he wants tohas have Sweden 57, and the US 52. en he pover prob em of he ry Com the campaign.

Any numbers above that are ven him one of hiscent major failures—massive o he s o y demand.” sign. cases on the peak day, which will overa PhilHealth president/CEO, my gulay! unemployment hits 5 percent, a dog.

So today, the people must already grown to about 32,000 average daily tests Insofar as Martial law is concerned, it is newsmen did not need to finish college to Begun in 1999, the expansion meant a 4.2cause I figured I could earn more than the COVID-19 cases Lazaro, who was the Government CorpoSection 13 of RA 10149 (GOCC Governlem of poverty. a worry ng s gn ministrations ha has grown to about 32,000 average daily tests mine 27,000 are “vigilante-style killings perpetrathistory—70 consecutive quarters of growth. police force was caught on social media 3. human rights violations Thus, before Gierran appointed aslyappo many to come. generals, the Duterte administration hasinvestnot 5.

Government economists projected Thus before GDuterte, erran can be nUnprecedented edyears asneeding was percent in the oy it rights to whoever many years oits 3. human rights violations trolle note that before can inof nonsense. ance Act of5of2011) mandates that anmilitary appointing included incan the prepared and submitted Junsocial sforce pass ng the scaught noGCG heon endsocial o htrolled smedia sthis o yCorporatio whelm our healthcare sector.” easing distancing proCoddling the police the My gulay, ifearlier there’s one element missing, Government earlier projected everyone awithout job has acome job.the It’sone-meter decide—do they want more ofbe orUnprecedented needless to say that proclamarate Counsel during the Marcos era.

“The thisviolations (August).” become professional journalists.

They in-Takepolice salary ateconomists the Lopez-owned Chronicle one place atincrease the same time) Duterte refused minguez Codd ng oand he po ce and hepitiful mPresident ary classified as “homicides under investigation.” man Critics he “Private killednor sought to destr h s (Augus )first ”sayhalf. ed by police officers themselves or list by killers fold in the size of Philippine econoCarlos Dominguez Duterte himself added 14 quarters of growth having a breakfast birthday party with more this law Under and CEO of PhilHealth, he must offic What has made Duterte a strong president, While the President may have signed into proven itself any more competent any 00, the EU member a recovery of 7 percent to 8 percent in GDP require a certificate of product registration clude your name in the shortlist for appointPres den and CEO of Ph Hea h he mus They say the ment slumped in Q2 with outlays for into send it. director shall be by oyed the President Wh eTatad, he den may havetransport shaving gned oo To birthday moreo notwit Ui it’s urgent and policy.

SanWhat has made Duterte aPres strong president, “What we find in the last six months, having a factory running at 95 perless, oran all?

He w an breakfast eve me emait nwould asparty he with symbo tion, theBlas Philippines could now be Duterte has employed more generals, beneficiaries of thelasting February 1986 accidenrecovery of by 7atpercent to 8jobs percent inPresident GDP Adds Dominguez: “Without the“W lockdown, cluded Ople, Kit Adrian Cristonear Intramuros.

Alfio Locsin me a like h how money the GCG tooffered the But the Presioblivion, Du er eappointed has emp more genera tocol inunder public linked tosnone the authorities.”

Adds Dom nguez hou hetoockdown before it(from went negative inbillion the first quarter of ato much fire the erring general THE FIFTH from the drugs war killings, the ore 27ofmoney 000 the guise of eliminating pointed by the P be first appointed as aAside member ofathe the Board less corrupt than past administrations. than 50 guests (despite strict lockdown prolaw Bayanihan 2, thecommunists billions allotted for his my $72.2 in 1998 $304.9 bilUKthan 70, Spain 61, in vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also ment as a member of the Board of Trustees and drivers of pu from a short-list prepared by the Governance growth rate in 2021.

That is now overly optibe f rs appo n ed as member of he Board ta Banana, I foresee a bleak future for the dustrial machinery and transport equiprs—control the (CPR); b) FDA will expedite the application aw Bayan han 2 he b ons a o ed for h s M poin than 50 guests (despite strict lockdown prothe vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also is that the lower quarantine restriction cent capacity.

Duterte has imposed the longest and communist rule.

The were tal event of time, place and personalities, he qu n essen a ed o —w h a ha d nose from the military and the police, than any growth rate in 2021.

That is now overly optirate of When infections and deaths could have Alfio Locsin, Jake Macasaet. business reporter position with three bal, edented achieve Authorities admit to 7,000 deaths during es, their the their from for heGovernment-owned m ary and he or-Conpo ce senior han any he rathe e of nfec onsnational and dea hs cou2020. d have irpervasive economies, dent cannot legally appoint Gierran a memworsen the problem Board of Truste chief of lower the capital’s of Trustees. of Philhealth, the GCG first needs to deterproject are only stop-gap measures to alle2. rior and Local G hibiting gatherings of ten or more people in Commission Philippines without any assurance that peogiven him one of his major failures—massive of Trus ees Human Rights Watch has also noted the mistic.

Without a vaccine for general use, the illegal drugs curse pro ec are on y s op-gap measures o a ement 62.1 percent and for private commodity or conBoa for CPR and/or compassionate use permit hibiting gatherings of ten orove moredpeople in andident lion in 2016), aden dramatic inhave poverty, GOSPEL has opened more sectors themistic.

But April more than 7.3parliamilmost strict lockdown infor the world—for given him one2020, of major failures—massive all command over thehis country—in the sustained a litany and otherBegun president him.

More than 45 o compe news anhold sense Without aAny vaccine general use, the already been much worse.

Thewas latest data suggest that the campaign. numbers above that Inintop at the Times was his times the salary forand junior reporters atare the nation its pel anyway. inCorporations the expansion meant 4.2o1999, herbefore pres before hreduction maof More han 45fashioned CROSSROADS beenforce much worse Theon asocial es da a sugges ha actually massively, anyway. police caught media mineatwhether youtime), areng qualified to this ng ardo Añoin said tha included the What is/are the legal requirements before an rights violations trolled (GCG). viate the people’s needs. ple can get employed when this pandemic one place the same Duterte refused ber of the Board of Trustees much more as Mark my words there will be a surge of human rights violations.

Critics say he killed Wha s are he ega requ remen s before v a e he peop e’s needs construction 46.8 percent lower,” says gHuman taxpayers money inclu recession could rage well into 2021.

(CUP) for ivermectin as an anti-parasitic one place at the same time), Duterte refused economy and helped bring back jobs.” lion people lost their jobs—“largely in more than six months now from March ment, media, academe, labor and even the barrage of adverse publicity to efface Preshuman rights violations.

Critics say he killed biznewsasia@gmail com classified as “homicides under investigation.” star-rank officers occupy cabinet and civilpolitically motivated detention of his most o a ness and ba ance and a pass on o Rights Watch says many of the recession could rage well into 2021. apackage little over all COVID-19 cases Imore could well Joe Luna Castro. and Chronicle which had just wonasthe Newspa- of brother-in-law, fold increase in the size of Philippine econoand middle-income status for Filipinos, with package Heal s ar-rank off cers occupy cab and c v - ends! a1 percent ebreakfast overof1construction percen of aslipped COVID-19 office. addthe jeepney having aPublic birthday party with more this law, Gierran can only bene apUnder finally ehe a stimulus strong president, by GCG to th Gierran can beerran appointed a member What is guise essential and urgenta JLC is afire longto the erring general.

JUDE G can be appo nafter ed as a 27,000 member of more in the of eliminating Wha stransport, essen and urgen s oduce athe ongADB. by my aforcases and the restrictions by When the 15, President came to power in aPresident PhilHealth president/CEO my gulay! drug use other illnesses long estabCOVID-19 cases result Mr.on President, the lockdowns. services—mainly trade, ac2020.

And what we get clergy.

The Supreme Court recognized this to fire thecountry general. ident Marcos tapestry of history.

Aside from thefrom drugs war killings, thethan more than 27,000 in the guise of eliminating in the government. pin o esprocess! heasoadThe ash oneddent way— (from $72.2 billion 1998 $304.9 bilWhen came to power inSenator eloquently that “th inactualthe severe critical.

Our Icban conveyed the competence, intellecof thethe Year Award Rod. My gulay, it’s aserring long Presscampaign, actualof transportation pointed by the President ato member of theper an pos onsinlift n as he governmen * under *the *do than guests (despite strict lockdown pro-ian prominent critic, Leila de Lima, the 000 areit has “vigilante-style killings perpetratn50are he coun ryorare severe or crmorca Ourpositions moralsocountry J.A. cannot lega the Board of Trustees? whether is term jobs policy to prevent a bigger probtheir per capita income exceeding $3,000. mane he Board of Trus ees? erm obs po cy o preven a b gger probthe pervasive illegal drugs curse. dent marginal 0.9 percent in Q2. ople under atality lockJuly 2016, he stumbled into the greatest and They make no sense.

I think even lished probably even long before Domingo commodation, restaurants, and entergiving up most of our basic liberties? when it ruled in favor of Marcos insofar as They pursued what notable poet Sir RichHuman Rights Watch has also noted the ACIDRE the pervasive illegal drugs curse. lion in 2016), a dramatic reduction in poverty, Take note that before the GCG can inDespite the overwhelming dominance of beneficial to the n h ough ha d and hones wo k of this nonsense ident cannot just pick anybody to be PhilJuly 2016, he stumbled into the greatest and ratio, on hand, is at more 2.5 people tancing protocol.

Board Trustees he dom was nance tual conceit, power andMaauthority of the Alfio won the Rotary Journalist I don’t know whoever had the idea of(GOCC conomy. hibiting of ten or people rorfailures—massive e of he PhilHealth overwhe mifover ng ofLocsin a the ygatherings raother omay on he obyher hand a in 2 he 5 peop e of Desp ber of the Board Section 13 of RA 10149 (GOCC Governlem of poverty. arts of the economy.

Sec on 13 of RA 10149 Governremoval in May 2018 of Chief Justice DELA CRUZ by police officers themselves or killers biznewsasia@gmail.com em of pover berexo Duterte not know it sbut acronym—and ex-of Human Rights Watch says many ofy themany Today, Duterte presides worst ecolongest economic in the country’s politically motivated detention of his most without themedical lockdowns, you can winthe tainment—but also in industry, espeWell, nothing—but misery and poverty. ardexpansion Maitland sharply observed: ‘The essenMartial Law was concerned. thought going to school; c) DoH andof middle-income status for Filipinos, with biznewsasia@gmail.com Health president and CEO. The three perHealth expert Human Rights Watch says of the included in the list prepared and submitted be effaced or easing the one-meter social distancing progenerals, the Duterte administration has not longest economic expansion in the country’s per a hundred thousand.” one place at the same time), Duterte refused Fourth Estate.

The duo decided the temof the Year Award a year after I joined his Critics say he killed systemic clude your name in the shortlist for appointThey say the idea was to help operators genera s he Du er e adm n s ra on has no a PhilHealth pre ance Act of 2011) mandates that an appointing My gulay, ifkillings there’s one felement missing, per a hundred housand ” em is to notthe a systemic ance Ac 2011) manda es an“vigilante-style appo nrevocation ng believe My ay here’s one manent e emen m ss ng athePhe achieved almost full employment uccessor—without are prominent critic, Senator Leila deme Lima, theha anper election. history—70 consecutive quarters ofof cially manufacturing. income The today is the epicenter tial Philippines matter of history isgrowth. not what I sincerely thatgu inperpetrattime, Marcos will their income exceeding $3,000.

Commissions of GCG and two What (www.manilastandard.net) ria Lourdes Sereno, the ofLoweramhappen anddurPSMID tocapita start trials and studies to inked authorities ”per Carlo by the GCG tomore the the Presitocol public transport.

To it27,000 would (www.manilastandard.net) triumphs in nomic performance ofBut the Philippines ever.

27,000 are “vigilante-style killings perpetratitself any competent nor any to fire the erring b znewsas a@gma comthe history—70 consecutive ofhappened growth.

He notes that 100,000, the100 EU000 member guise of eliminating po and fate of ’s the the careers of business section for the imy, necesTakecannote tha director shall appointed by the President proven sePresident. f any more compe en nor anyinin it’s an urgent and lasting jobs policy.

SanHe no es general. ha per he EUproven member ment aswriting aquarters member the Board of Trustees bust.

Simply, necesand drivers utility vehicles Inted be rec or sha beabout appo nof ed by and he Pres den ananation, urgen and as ng of obspublic po cy San- (Secretary Ta ing his presidency, an unprecedented hat guy is a geniremoval May 2018 of Chief Justice MaWE HAVE to count our blessings.

After ed by police officers themselves or by killers ex-officio members of Finance everything we ha Today, Duterte presides over the worst ecosemi-skilled workers, most of them of COVID pandemic in the whole of dent cannot legally appoint Gierran a membut what people wrote or said about it.’”

Duterte himself added 14 quarters growth be vindicated.

He was visionary, born ahead worsen the problem. clude ivermectin in the Treatment Protocol is secure.

M ed(now byBanana, police officers themselves or by for killers s curse. less ncorrupt than past Budg states average 31 deaths, UK 70,during Spain 61, himself added 14devaluation quarters of growth nesty given Senator retired) Antonio admit 7 average 000 deaths politicians, and fortunes offoresee businessmen. plications of the peso on the he Governance clude yourThe name from a short-list prepared by the Governance ggregate ta I aforesee a bleak future thefu ure The slump isofadministrations. also the worst ASEAN. The essBoard corrup hanPhilippines pas much adm more never. sin raasDuterte ons stoa es 31 dea hs UK 70when Spa 61biznewsasia@gmail.com from a shor s prepared by sAuthorities hamperweeks aggregate Banana I a b eak for he clud achievement.

Economists say that compoop, or even ria Lourdes Sereno, the revocation of amCarlos Dominguez and Department of (www.manilastandard.net) ber of the Trustees, of Philhealth the GCG first needs to deternomic performance the Mark my words, there will be a surge of of indecision and at times outright linked to the authorities.” rior and Local Government Secretary Eduemployed only informally, were hit hard Asia, outside of India, Pakistan, and Lazaro also said that succeeding adof his time.

Generations free from the blemish before it went negative in the first quarter of for COVID-19 which can hasten the admisbiznewsasia@gmail.com fit us.

They are e says many Sweden of the 57, linked to the authorities.”

When the chief of the national capital’s and the US 52. before it went negative in the first quarter of asban a memb Commission for Government-owned or-ConJoLuna was dapper inany pale suits, ties and economy.

In Senator early 1972, Alfio had a akidney SO Philippines without assurance that peo- Secretary have ch ef ofmyhe naThe onahim cap agiven ’sworst Sweden and Trillanes IV who led mutinies in 2002 and Comm ss on for cases Governmen -owned or-Concampaign Any numbers above thatit52aparepracticalPh pp nes w hou any assurance hathis peo-Wendel Budget Avisado) will also ment men Thecontinue of go nesty (now retired) aslump PhilHealth president/CEO, gulay! hitshe 5 US percent, ople must already economic collapse makes the COVID-19 cases in the3,000 country asAntonio result The is When also thehe worst inalso ASEAN. Authorities admit to 7,000 deaths during rejection on unemployment the matter 57 of ivermectin, because few had the option to work from Bangladesh.

With over daily, ministrations have used laws even as they of ple hate andhold revenge will look more kindly on 2020. mine whether you are qualified to this erojected killings perpetratsionpolice of ivermectin for Drug Emergency Use and to g ardo Año said that if is true we should Authorities admit to 7,000 deaths during force was caught on social media of Philhealth, th 3.

Unprecedented human rights violations trolled Corporations (GCG).

2020. can get employed when this pandemic SO I SEE po ce force was caugh on soc a med a haveh to vote whether orinAll 3and Unpreceden eda human s vIt’s o economic a president onsTakecollapse ro 300,000 ed Corpora ons (GCG) note ever that before the can in-1999, Trillanes IVto who led mutinies in 2002 and pAnti-Terror e above canhisge empare oyedand when s pandem c to include you or not “Undas” ofsough this nonsense. ofthe PSa ts earlier projected ly everyone needing job hasr”agh job. more of or Duterte, or Food also makes himGCG the worst notes ADB. we are reaching cases and 2007, and the passage of a new ssified as “homicides under investigation sought destroy consign Marcos to thewill campaign.

Any numbers that him, and acknowledge achievements ooffice des oy oor cons gn Ma cos o home,” pears that Drug Administration Begun in the expansion meant a 4.2mselves by killers in terms of economic perforMarcos’ vision (DEU) or as is advised for vaccines Emerthe campaign.

Any numbers above that are I SEE mine whether yo having a breakfast birthday party with more this law, Gierran can only be apUnder finally ends! add more jeepneys buses and other means What has made Duterte a strong president, Begun in 1999, the expansion meant a 4.2Day is no problem clude your in the forperforappointThey say the idea was toh help operators havname ngterms a breakfas b r hday par y wbe h ob more 2007, and thein passage of Anti-Terror hang snew aw G erran canason y be ap-toDuterte f na y had ends!rescued six in the shortlist.

Wha has made has Du er e a satrong pres den mine president ever in of shortlist economic like having a factory running 95 peroin8 GDP percent in GDP Ironically, No. number of COVID LITO oblivion, notwithstanding his solid unpreccontribution the nation. v 20 on no wUnder hsAct and s member so dclassified unp “homicides under investigation.”

Director General Eric drugs Domingo finally Th fold increase inpointed the size Philippine econoforForgovernance gency Use Authorization (EUA).

(ATA).

Aside from the drugs war killings thealso byof President astotal avehicles. ofecathe LITO classified as “homicides investigation.” * *under *of transportation—not 50 guests strict lockdown mance.

The GCG is ease akin tothe the Judicial and Bar office. many offic year theand vicious illegal campaign, fold increase inthe the of Philippine economent as han a (despite member of sthe Board and drivers of public utility InteoptiAct (ATA).

My it’s a long process!

The Prespo nsize edgulay by he Pres den as member offrom he social dis*to*an * 50 gues (desp e sofr Trustees cproockdown promance. hecapacity. v c ous ega drugs has campa gn than has a so cent drly longest isthe now overly optiBANAYO million poverty—defined as cases in the world among 220 countries. edented achievements for the of the the time of then President Marcos up Health * * * know somebody in that office. eden ed ach evemen s o he good o he ,000 deaths during Aside from the drugs war killings, the seengiven the light.

BANAYO varied and nume my (from $72.2 billion in 1998 to $304.9 bilCoun My gulay, it’s Council.

Before you can be appointed as Board of Trustees of PhilHealth if he was cemeteries on th I don’t know whoever had the idea of of Philhealth, the GCG first needs to deterAside from the drugs war killings, the rior and Local Government Secretary Eduhibiting gatherings of ten or more people in him one of his major failures—massive my (from $72.2 billion in 1998 to $304.9 bilRecently, there have been sensational Recently, there been Rights Watch has the use, the Board of Trus ees ofpick Ph Hea hhave f heWatch was thath isbOPEN allngdue to second IFlavier, don’ know whoever had he dea of M ga her ngs of to enbiggest or more peop nwe And that isare allthe due the second biggest But 2020, 7.3 mil- Andve nman thegeneral world—for gpresided venin hApril m also one ofby hnoted smore ma orthan fa ures—mass ident cannot just anybody to behas for use, the tancing protocol bers above that income of $2 a Philday.

Henoted was going tois the In fact, will be in Top 15, dislodging nation its people.

Santa Banana, Isensational cannot believe that this na on and s that peop eprepared Secretary Johnny the also FDA and So ifethis is the regimen do we have any Human Rights also the In a are hearing over Anti-Red If cannot only mem to sho lion in 2016), aincluded dramatic reduction poverty, member ofng theproBoard to any GOCC, Phil- ident other days.

What mineatwhether youtime), qualified to hold this jus ardo Año said ifin this is true, we should in the list and submitted easing the one-meter social distancing proHuman Rights Watch has noted the one place the same Duterte refused killings of known political activists, human human rights violations.

Critics say he killed lion in 2016), a dramatic reduction in poverty, failure. nc uded n he s prepared and subm ed eas ng he one-me er soc a d s anc iden one p ace a he same me) Du er e refused lion people their jobs—“largely in kfailure. now from March human r ghlost s vof o ahis ons Cr cs say he ed THOUGHTS killings of known political activists, human nder litically motivated detention most Opportunities into investigation.”

2021. down poverty to an unheard of 12 even Bangladesh.

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The economy 0.7 percent that deeds, especially those came toBelgica power inSenator chief.

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2.

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Rolando G.Carlos Estabillo Publisher athe Phend Hea pres den CEO myexperience gu ay!

COVID-19 cases n asinternal heof ry as*a(www.manilastandard.net) ria Lourdes revocation am-(www.manilastandard.net) Carl “vigilante-style Leila deepicenter Lima, the are nomic performance of the Philippines ever. growth. cially manufacturing.

Lowerincome yquarters is the Commissions of GCG and net) the two man astandard Lourdes Sereno the revocation of amWhat can happen here ishcos that we could lose Carlos Dominguez and Department of *resu * (www.manilastandard.net) man astandard net) triumphs in end.

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by Philippine Manila Standard While thisthe may be the case for now this does light ofThe the public demand for the and the passage of apassage new Anti-Terror have to whether to include you or not awho number of nked pharmaceutical companies, “Undas” or All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ IEditor SEE Legal president ever in terms economic perforllanes IV mutinies 2002 Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado) will also men as member of he Board of Trus ees ban of going to cemeteries during retired) Antonio and dr vers of pub c u y veh c es In eagainst COVID-19, if followed through in th Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Adviser Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions 2007, and of a new Anti-Terror Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de with Authorities admit to 7,000 deaths during Lino M. Santo because few had the option to work from 3,000 cases daily, Joyce Pangco Pañares News Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad president ever inManilaStandard of economic perforInc. at 6/Fnue Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de MEMBER Joyce Pang I SEE continue to govern guide nation. when heand had ahistorical mañanita birthday party? and con oterms gove n and gu de the he na on not MEMBER LITO Solutions Au hor es adm 000 dea hs Roxas, durhave ng Perea The GCG isR of Philhealth, the GCG first needs to deterrior Government Secretary Educan be accessed at: erase theLocal record of Ivermectin’s usePublishing of ivermectin.

Act SOo 7 for SEE corner St., Legaspi Village,vigor Makati City.

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Any that are Philippine Press Institute M. Valmorida Circulation BANAYO Adell mance. nt a 4.2Marcos’ vision foresight in lawmaking For PNP Chief Coscolan to say Ma cos v s on and o es gh n awmak ng Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all manilastandard.net Council. Before he campa gn Any above ha inare I numbers SEE mine whether you are qualified hold numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all to ardo Año said that ifsensational this is true, ansion meant a 4.2The National Association Anita F.rue Grefal Treasury BANAYO the shortlist.

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04.9 bilmanilastandard.net Council Before you can be appointed as Health included, MEMBER manilastandard.net My gulay, it’s a long process!

The Prescemeteries on those two days We go on Council.

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EDITORIAL B1

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EDITORIAL EDITORIAL EDITORIAL EDITORIAL EDITORIAL

Learning curves from Theblow real ‘pasaway’ LearningAnother curves Learning curves the Ombudsman T T T F T Duterte’s failures

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And now a bit of good news

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every h no. ng we haveof ga ned S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser s over theter worst eco-drug: a) compounding pharma- ident Duterte to get just the compassionate best to walk back on their promised actions to the public welfare.

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To think that compassionate use have to vote whether to include you or not “Undas” or All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Published Monday to Sunday by Manila Standard Trillanes IV who led mutinies in 2002 and he worst COVID-19 makes R.and Felipe Head—Ad Publishing at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo o de vo e whe Ro ando GCity Estab Pub sher Joyce Pang SOInc. manilastandard.net Anita F.anes Grefal Treasury Manager have her o us. nc udeselves you Jimbo or noOwen “Undas” or A SaonBaldwin s’whose Day A Sou s’ Solutions MEMBER Tr IV whovariation ed mu of n es n 2002 and Anita F.Wong/Ray Grefal Treasury Manager ONLINE makes him the patients. worst Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Chin S. Eñano Associate Editors to the skeptics and the naysayers “Promises nga eh” -as one participant Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions Gulle Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Publishing Inc. at 6/FMakati Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de toldEditors their This is a token I SEE J.A. MEMBER in the shortlist.

Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, City.

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Estabillo Publisher Em G.PEstabillo JuradoPublisher Cha rman Emer tus Rolando Ed tor aG. Board Rolando Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser ManilaStandard ManilaStandard can be accessed Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing can be accessed at: Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Editor Former Chief Justice Reynatoat: S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor ManilaStandard can be accessed at: Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor manilastandard.net Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager ONLINE Anitamanilastandard.net F. Grefal Treasury Manager ONLINE Chin Wong/Ray S. EñanoCityAssociate Jimbo Owen Gulle Editor Editors Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors manilastandard.net Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager ONLINE d Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors ne Manila Standard Baldwin R. Joyce Felipe Pangco Head—Ad Solutions Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer JoyceM.Pangco News Editor Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions Lino SantosPañaresChief Photographer MEMBER Pañares News Editor MEMBER Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions ng, Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone MEMBER ne 106 Paseo de Philippine Press Institute Adelle Chua Opinion Editor Philippine Press Institute Chua Manager Opinion Editor Edgar M. ValmoridaAdelle Circulation Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager akati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556,Philippine 832-5558 (connecting all The National Association Adelle Chua Opinion Editor The National Association Press Institute Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager 8 (connecting all

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B2

World

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021

‘Seroja’ flood death toll rises to 150 J

AKARTA—Rescuers were searching for dozens of people still missing after floods and landslides swept away villages in Indonesia and East Timor, killing more than 150 people and leaving thousands more homeless.

Furor in France over clandestine luxury dinners PARIS—A report by a French television channel alleging “clandestine” luxury dinners in Paris despite the pandemic has sparked an investigation and public furor over claims the nation’s political elite were brazenly ignoring rules they themselves had set.

The M6 private channel on Friday broadcast a reportage based on footage recorded with a hidden camera purportedly from a clandestine restaurant in a high-end area of Paris where neither the staff nor the diners were wearing masks.

All restaurants and cafes have been closed in France for eating in for the last five months. The country this week began a new limited nationwide lockdown to deal with surging Covid-19 infections.

The hashtag #OnVeutLesNoms (We Want the Names) went viral on Twitter, as speculation swirled over who may have attended such dinners.

Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz said Sunday that a criminal probe had been opened into putting the lives of others at risk.

The investigation would assess “if these evenings were organized in defiance of health rules and to determine who were the possible organisers and participants.”

The report showed staff at the venue proposing an evening menu from 160 euros ($189) per head but said that the most expensive option went for 490 euros ($578), including a bottle of champagne.

Removing the face mask was not just possible but obligatory, it said.

“We don’t wear a mask here. Once you pass through the doors, Covid no longer exists. We want people to feel at ease,” a staff member told the undercover team. AFP

SUNNY DAY. A man enjoys the warm weather in the Sheep Meadow in Central Park, New York on April 5. AFP

US joins talks to salvage Iran nuclear deal VIENNA—The United States will on Tuesday join talks in Austria’s capital Vienna aimed at salvaging an international agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme, which Washington withdrew from in 2018.

US President Joe Biden has said he is ready to reverse the decision of his predecessor Donald Trump and return to the 2015 agreement, which was supposed to ensure that Iran never developed a military nuclear programme.

But Iran is demanding an end to crippling sanctions imposed by Trump and has refused to meet US negotiators at the latest talks, meaning European players will act as intermediaries.

Iran confirmed in January it was en-

riching uranium to 20 percent purity, well beyond the threshold set by the 2015 deal.

Nevertheless, Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group, which monitors conflicts, tweeted that the talks represent “an important marker that both U.S. & Iran are serious about breaking the inertia”.

Since neither side appears willing to make the first step, experts such as Vaez have suggested the negotiators could make a “gesture-for-gesture” deal to break the deadlock.

‘Much-needed momentum’ The European Union will preside over talks between current members of the 2015 pact -- Iran, China, France, Germany, Russia, and Britain -- set to begin on Tuesday.

The US delegation will meet in a different place with EU negotiators acting as go-betweens.

Kelsey Davenport, director for Nonproliferation Policy at the Arms Control Association think-tank, said the format was not ideal but added the EU was well situated to break the stalemate.

She called for a “bold first step by both sides” which she hoped would inject “much-needed momentum” into the process.

Washington, for example, could unfreeze Iranian funds held in foreign banks to facilitate humanitarian trade, and Tehran could stop enriching uranium beyond the levels agreed in the 2015 accord, said Davenport. AFP

Police: Kneeling on Floyd’s neck violated policy

STEP-DOWN CALL. Demonstrators demand the resignation of Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benitez during a protest against

corruption and the country’s health system amid the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, outside the Congress in Asuncion, on April 5. AFP

Navalny continues hunger strike despite cough, fever MOSCOW—Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on Monday said he was suffering from a heavy cough and fever but would continue a hunger strike he launched last week demanding adequate medical treatment.

Navalny, 44, announced the hunger strike last Wednesday, complaining a prison doctor had only given him painkillers as treatment for severe back pain and numbness in his legs.

His team the next day said he had al-

ready lost eight kilograms (18 pounds) before going on hunger strike -- down from the 93 kilograms (205 pounds) he weighed when he arrived at his penal colony -- due to sleep deprivation.

In a post on his Instagram Monday, Navalny reported new ailments.

“I am quoting the official data from today’s temperature measurement: ‘Navalny A.A., strong cough, temperature 38.1’,” he wrote, referring to degrees Celsius, or 100.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

“P.S. I am continuing my hunger strike, of course,” Navalny said.

Later the pro-Kremlin Izvestia daily said that Navalny had been transferred to a medical unit for observation, with “signs of a respiratory problem, notably a high fever”.

All the necessary tests were carried out, including a coronavirus test, the paper said, citing prison services.

There was no confirmation of such a transfer from the Navalny camp. AFP

MINNEAPOLIS—Minneapolis police chief Medaria Arradondo testified on Monday that officer Derek Chauvin violated the department’s training policies and its “values” by kneeling on George Floyd’s neck after he had stopped resisting.

Arradondo, called as a prosecution witness at Chauvin’s murder trial, said the use of force against Floyd was reasonable during the “first few seconds” of his May 25, 2020 arrest but it should have ended quickly.

“It is contrary to our training to indefinitely place your knee on a prone, handcuffed individual for an indefinite length of time,” the police chief of the Minnesota city said.

“That in no way, shape or form is anything that is by policy,” he said. “It is not part of our training and it is certainly not part of our ethics or our values.

“Once Mr. Floyd had stopped resisting, and certainly once he was in distress and trying to verbalize that, that should have stopped,” Arradondo said.

The 45-year-old Chauvin, who is white, was seen in a video taken by a bystander kneeling on the neck of a handcuffed Floyd for more than nine minutes as the 46-year-old African-American man complained repeatedly that he “can’t breathe.” AFP

NZ, Australia to open travel bubble WELLINGTON—New Zealand has approved quarantine-free travel with Australia, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Tuesday, completing a two-way corridor for travel between the largely Covid-free neighbors.

“I can confirm that quarantine-free travel will begin in just under two weeks, at 11:59pm on April 18,” Ardern announced after the date was confirmed by her cabinet.

The travel bubble comes more than a year after New Zealand closed its doors in the face of the coronavirus pandemic and six months after Australia allowed Kiwis to fly into selected states without the need to quarantine.

Ardern described it as a world leading move between New Zealand, with just 26 Covid-19 deaths in a population of five million, and Australia with fewer than 1,000

deaths in a population of 25 million.

“I cannot see or point to any countries in the world that are maintaining a strategy of keeping their countries Covid-free whilst opening up international travel between each other,” she said.

“That means in a way we are world leading.”

“I very much appreciate the arrangement the New Zealand government has come to today,” Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison told a press conference.

“We welcome them back as indeed Kiwis will be welcoming Aussies.”

Last week, the tiny Pacific island nation of Palau, one of the few countries never to have had a Covid-19 case, opened a travel bubble with virus-free Taiwan, which President Surangel Whipps described as a “ray of light” showing the world was slowly emerging from the pandemic. AFP

VAX EVIDENCE. A woman records with her mobile phone before being inoculated with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19 in Bogota on April 5. Colombian President Ivan Duque on Sunday reinforced the curfews he recently imposed in the cities with the highest hospital occupancy to contain a new wave of COVID-19 infections and deaths. AFP

Torrential rains from Tropical Cyclone Seroja turned small communities into wastelands of mud, uprooted trees and sent around 10,000 people fleeing to shelters across the neighbouring Southeast Asian nations.

Indonesia’s disaster management agency said it had recorded 130 deaths in a cluster of remote islands near East Timor, where another 27 have been officially listed as dead.

Search and rescue teams in Indonesia were racing to find more than 70 people still missing and using diggers to clear mountains of debris.

The storm swept buildings in some villages down a mountainside and to the shore of the ocean on Lembata island.

Authorities there said they were scrambling to shelter evacuees while trying to prevent any spread of Covid-19.

“These evacuees fled here with just wet clothes on their backs and nothing else,” said the area’s deputy mayor, Thomas Ola Longaday.

“They need blankets, pillows, mattresses and tents.”

The region was bracing for its meagre health facilities to be overwhelmed as the number of injured soared.

“We don’t have enough anaesthesiologists and surgeons, but we’ve been promised that help will come,” Longaday said.

“Many survivors have broken bones because they were hit by rocks, logs and debris.”

‘Extreme weather’ Nearby in East Flores municipality, torrents of mud washed over homes, bridges and roads.

Earlier images from Indonesia’s search and rescue agency showed workers digging up mud-covered corpses before placing them in body bags.

Hospitals, bridges and thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed by the storm, which is now moving toward the west coast of Australia.

“We could still see extreme weather (from the cyclone) for the next few days,” said national disaster agency spokesman Raditya Jati. AFP

IN BRIEF

Jordan’s prince vows loyalty, mediation set AMMAN—Jordan’s Prince Hamzah pledged loyalty to the king on Monday as the monarch accepted mediation over a rift within the royal family that saw the prince placed under house arrest, the palace said.

The government has accused Hamzah, an ex-crown prince and half-brother of King Abdullah II, of a “wicked” plot and involvement in a seditious conspiracy to “destabilize the kingdom’s security”.

Hamzah, detained along with at least 16 others, had earlier struck a defiant tone saying he had been placed under house arrest inside his Amman palace, but insisting he would not obey orders restricting his movement.

But in an apparent easing of the palace turmoil, the 41-year-old prince pledged his backing to King Abdullah.

“I will remain... faithful to the legacy of my ancestors, walking on their path, loyal to their path and their message and to His Majesty,” he said in a signed letter, quoted by the palace.

“I will always be ready to help and support His Majesty the King and his Crown Prince,” he is quoted as writing. AFP

‘Significant concerns’ over Russian activity LONDON—British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday said the UK has “significant concerns” over Russian activity in the Crimea and on the Ukrainian border.

In a phone call to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, Johnson “reaffirmed his unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” his office said in a statement.

He expressed his solidarity with President Zelensky’s government “in the face of this destabilizing activity and commended Ukraine’s approach to the situation,” it added, saying the UK would work to “ensure there is no further escalation.”

In a tweet after the call Zelensky thanked Johnson for his support and said the Ukraine was “not alone” and was “supported by the G7 nations,” referring to the elite club of advanced economies.

The call between the British and Ukrainian leaders follows messages of solidarity from the US and the European Union after Kiev last week accused Moscow of massing thousands of military personnel on its northern and eastern borders, as well as on the Crimean peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014. AFP

Business US services activity rose in March as prices grew NEW YORK—Activity in the US services sector hit an all-time high in March, but the sudden surge in business stretched supply chains and lifted prices, a report said Monday.

The Institute for Supply Management’s purchasing managers index hit 63.7, up from 55.3 the prior month, according to a statement. That reading tops the prior record in October 2018.

Both the business activity and new orders benchmarks hit records in March, while employment activity rose for the third straight month.

The report comes on the heels of last week’s blowout US jobs report for March, as well as an ISM survey in the manufacturing industry that also showed higher prices as activity rebounded.

“Optimism in higher education that Fall 2021 will be near normal with vaccinated students, employees and staff returning to their roles on campus,” an official in educational services told ISM. “Business is picking up as mandated restrictions seem to be easing and spring is right around the corner,” said an official in the real estate, rental & leasing industry.

But the report was not without some warning signs.

Some companies told the ISM they were experiencing increased logistical problems and labor shortfalls that could crimp the recovery.

The report also said prices “increased in March and at a faster rate.” All 18 sectors surveyed experienced higher prices.

A construction sector official said the industry was faced with building material shortages, shipping delays at West Coast ports and a lack of supplies due to the Texas electricity crisis that curtailed petrochemical plant output.

“We have encountered the ‘perfect storm’ for building material shortages and price increases,” the official said.

Anthony Nieves, chair of the ISM’s survey committee, said labor shortages were acute in the food services and hotel industries, especially in states which had imposed aggressive COVID-19 restrictions but are now opening up.

“There’s just not the onboarding of workers fast enough,” Nieves said.

Still, Nieves said overall the survey constitutes “a very strong report.” AFP

Italy reduces quarantine for UK travelers ROME—Italy will allow passengers from the United Kingdom, Austria and Israel to undergo a shorter, five-day quarantine on entering the country under new regulations that take effect on Tuesday.

From April 7-30, these travelers can forgo a two-week quarantine to enter Italy.

The three countries have been included in a list of over 30 countries, most in the European Union, in which the mandatory quarantine is shortened to five days from 14.

The new rules take effect Tuesday reflect, in part, the progress of vaccination campaigns in Israel and Britain.

In Austria, however, the two-week quarantine is still in effect for those from the Tyrol, where the South African coronavirus variant has been circulating.

People from countries on the list with fewer restrictions still have to submit a negative test taken within 48 hours of arrival in Italy, and take a second test following their five-day quarantine.

In January, Italy banned travelers who had stayed in, or passed through the UK as the new, more infectious British variant of coronavirus gained traction.

Arrivals from EU countries were still allowed, but on March 30, Rome initiated the five-day quarantine rule for these countries too.

Italians spent Easter under lockdown as all of the country was made a restricted “red” zone.

As of Tuesday, some regions will return to “orange,” with slightly loosened restrictions on movement, but bars and restaurants remain shut, with only take-away service allowed.

The first country in Europe to face the full force of the coronavirus pandemic, Italy has so far reported more than 111,000 COVID-19 related deaths.

Britain has set a tentative date of May 17 to relaunch foreign travel as it cautiously emerges from lockdown. AFP

B3

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks extend rally; URC, DITO lead market gainers T HE stock market extended its rally Tuesday following a second day of records on Wall Street as investors cheered strong US data showing the world’s top economy was well on the recovery track.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index jumped 94.96 points, or 1.5 percent, to 6,590.11 points on a value turnover of P5.8 billion. Gainers overwhelmed losers, 159 to 61, with 39 issues unchanged.

DITO CME Holdings Corp., the third major telecommunications firm, advanced 8 percent to P11.08, while Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, climbed 5.6 percent to P141.

International Container Terminal

Services Inc., the biggest port operator and owned by tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., rose 4.9 percent to P128, but Manila Water Co. Inc. fell 4.3 percent to P15.40.

The rest of equity markets in Asia mostly rose Tuesday. The S&P 500 and Dow scaled new heights, while the Nasdaq also saw big gains, after data Friday showed far more US jobs than expected were created last month.

And the good news kept coming on Monday with figures showing activity in the crucial services sector hit an all-time high in March, as orders surged thanks to a jolt of pent-up demand. That came after a gauge of manufacturing came in at a 37-year high last week.

Markets strategist Louis Navellier said the next few weeks could see more gains for equities.

“The primary reason that April is a seasonally strong month is due to new pension funding,” he said in a note. “The

other reason is that the better weather in April lifts investor sentiment, and this year buoyant sentiment is likely to be boosted by a strong earnings season against a weaker quarter a year ago.

“Second-quarter earnings growth is likely to be more pronounced, offering the prospect of a longer rally in stocks.”

Sydney, Seoul, Mumbai, Jakarta and Taipei.

But Tokyo sank more than one percent on profit-taking after recent gains, while Singapore and Wellington also fell.

Shanghai was weighed by reports that China’s central bank had called on lenders to ease back on loan growth for the rest of 2021, owing to worries about a possible bubble developing as well as rising debt.

That comes as the country’s leaders look to step back from the stimulus measures put in place last year to kickstart the economy, which is now well on the recovery track. With AFP

PSEi April 6, 2021

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

CIP EVER CDC PRIM ALHI CEU ORE FB BHI ARA

LAST PRICE 192.5 0.127 1.25 3.03 8.4 7.33 0.94 65 0.092 1.28

CHANGE 41.5 0.022 0.18 0.41 1.07 0.72 0.09 5.7 0.008 0.11

% CHANGE 27.48% 20.95% 16.82% 15.65% 14.60% 10.89% 10.59% 9.61% 9.52% 9.40%

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

LAND AB KEP PRC NI PRMX CAB MWC PRF3A MAH

LAST PRICE 2.5 9.4 2.71 6.02 1.76 2.59 59.9 15.4 1068 2.39

CHANGE -0.4 -0.8 -0.22 -0.48 -0.13 -0.16 -2.85 -0.7 -47 -0.1

% CHANGE -13.79% -7.84% -7.51% -7.38% -6.88% -5.82% -4.54% -4.35% -4.22% -4.02%

MOST ACTIVE

OUT OF THE BUBBLE. People walk down Athens main commercial street on the first day of the reopening of retail stores on April 5, 2021 amid the coronavirus pandemic. AFP

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

DITO URC BDO ALI PGOLD JFC ACEN DDMPR ICT MWC

VOLUME 51232200 2234210 2845770 8003500 5499200 1056660 21359300 70012000 1237970 10018900

VALUE (PHP) 555928468 312068743 289886283 276991125 208676070 195711865 158729442 158051150 155512440 153684312

Steering through Change and Uncertainty: Lessons from Nokia, Garena and Shopee

A KEY responsibility of any leader is to make sure that the organization is headed in the right direction. In the strategy classroom, we often talk about strategy versus tactics and formulation versus implementation.

We always say strategy establishes the business model, what becomes the essential infrastructure of the organization.

Hence, strategy establishes the context for operations and day-to-day managerial decisionmaking. In well-run organizations, tactics respond to local context but uses the lens of organization-wide strategy.

Effective strategy formulation is important. Efficient implementation of the wrong strategy simply accelerates failure. However, even if the core strategy is right, it can be implemented badly.

Framing Challenges Two important challenges confront organizational leaders in making strategic decisions, challenges that are particularly critical in this pandemic.

At the point of strategy formulation, leaders must create a strategy using what they know about their organization, the market, and what they believe will happen in the future.

Classic strategy formulation typically relies on presumptions concerning two industry characteristics—industry predictability, that the future of the industry can be predicted with a reasonable degree of certainty and industry malleability, that the industry basic structure cannot be controlled or molded by a single corporation.

Together, these two conditions mean that a company can rely on a predictable context for steering the organization’s future. To be entirely fair, in many industries, especially brown field industries, these conditions existed and continue to exist. There are uncertainties but there is a degree of

predictability and it is incredibly tough for a single company to change the rules of the industry.

However, these conditions do not always exist. Sometimes, the future is tough to predict and occasionally, conditions exist that allow a company to mold the structure and future of an industry. In these cases, companies can use other approaches to strategy. If the industry is neither predictable or more malleable, then strategy needs to be adaptive. If the industry is malleable, then a company can attempt to mold the structure or the future of the industry.

The key lies in knowing what is knowable and what is controllable.

Ability to change At the heart of every good strategy, however, is preserving the company’s ability to change.

The reality is that all industries are subject to uncertainty and change.

The strategy that works today may not work tomorrow and what works in one country may not work in another. Any strategy must be revisited when the conditions that led to its adoption have changed.

Once strategy has been set, focus shifts to implementation. Implementation is not merely a matter of ensuring that what is planned is executed, it is also about monitoring progress and change.

If a particular approach isn’t working, a company needs to understand why, and proceed to address the situation.

Sometimes this means trying a different approach. Sometimes, it means admitting its reading of the situation was wrong and the strategy must be changed. Sometimes, the situation has changed quickly and radically, and the strategy needs to be revisited. On the other end of the spectrum, sometimes an opportunity presents itself and the company must decide whether to refocus its resources.

Nokia Experience Nokia is an interesting example of a company that has reshaped itself multiple times. The company traces its origin to a single paper mill operation in 1865. It was acquired in 1898 by an entrepreneur who eventually merged

his original three businesses, pulp, rubber and cable works into a single firm under the Nokia name in 1967. By this time, Nokia had already invested in electronics and telecommunications and eventually became the largest mobile phone maker in the world, controlling about 40 percent of the world market in 2007. In 2014, Nokia sold off its legacy mobile phone business to Microsoft and purchased Alcatel-Lucent, becoming the second largest company in network telecommunications.

Microsoft eventually sold the Nokia brand back to Nokia in 2016 and Finnish company HMD Global brought the Nokia mobile phone back to market in 2017 via a long-term exclusive license.

In 2017. Today, Nokia continues to be an important player in network telecommunications.

At the heart of every good strategy is preserving the company’s ability to change

the future of ecommerce in Southeast Asia as the foundation for its own future.

Shopee was not the first mover in the ecommerce market in Southeast Asia, or even in Singapore. In 2012, the Lazada group, which includes Lazada Philippines, was founded with the backing of Rocket Internet. Lazada began by selling inventory from its own warehouses and shifted to allowing retailers to sell through the company’s platform a year later. Lazada quickly became Southeast Asia’s ecommerce powerhouse, attracting the interest of Alibaba, which acquired the company in 2016, a scant year after Garena entered the ecommerce market by founding Shopee. At the beginning of 2019, iPrice group reported that Lazada was the most visited ecommerce platform in the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Lazada had roots in online commerce. Shopee had roots in social and community building. As Lazada began to penetrate the market, Lazada relied on mother company Alibaba and its uniform approach to ecommerce.

Shopee focused on the user experience, focusing on making the interface for both seller and buyer easier to use.

Sea listed at a little over US$16 in 2017 and its share price had dipped to about US$11 in January of 2019.

By 2020, its share price had increased to over US$40. Fast forward to 2021.

Shopee now dominates the Southeast Asia ecommerce marketplace. Sea shares are trading at above US$230 as of the first week of April 2021, primarily on the back of the performance of Shopee.

For both Noikia and Sea (formerly Garena), strategy was not about keeping to a single direction or even a single identity. It was about knowing how to change. But even more importantly, it was about using what it had learned and earned in the past to create a better future.

Closer to home and one of the beneficiaries of the COVID-19 pandemic is Sea, owner of Shopee.

Sea traces its roots to founder Forrest Li’s first company, Garena, a name that was a mash up of the two words global and arena. Garena was founded in Singapore in 2009 as a game publisher using a simple idea, a platform that allowed people to discover, share and purchase games. By 2014, Garena was touted as the largest internet company in Singapore, with an estimated value of US$ 1 million.

In May 2017, Garena changed its name to Sea Limited, keeping Garena as one of its brands. Sea applied for an initial public listing (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Readers can email Maya at in October of that same year, aiming integrations_manila@yahoo.com. Or to raise US$1 billion. In its filing, Sea visit her site at http://integrations. pointed to the Shopee growth story and tumblr.com.

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Tuesday, April 6, 2021

94.96 PTS. 6,590.11

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

2,415,442,887 110,508 5,849,039,546.10 159 61 39

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas •TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.5560

Japan

Yen

0.009079

0.4408

UK

Pound

1.391100

67.5463

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128601

6.2444

Switzerland

Franc

1.068490

51.8816

Canada

Dollar

0.798531

38.7735

Singapore

Dollar

0.745490

36.1980

Australia

Dollar

0.764900

37.1405

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655267

128.9291

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266674

12.9486

Brunei

Dollar

0.742721

36.0636

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.031857

1.5468

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.2204

Euro

Euro

1.181600

57.3738

Korea

Won

0.000889

0.0432

China

Yuan

0.152265

7.3934

India

Rupee

0.013644

0.6625

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241546

11.7285

New Zealand

Dollar

0.705700

34.2660

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035227

1.7105 Source: BSP

March Inflation eased to 4.5% as food price hikes began to slow INFLATION rate eased to 4.5 percent in March from 4.7 percent in February after five consecutive months of acceleration, on lower annual increases in food and non-alcoholic beverages, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Tuesday.

Data showed despite the slight slowdown, the March inflation remained the second fastest in the last 27 months. It was also faster than 2.5 percent recorded a year ago.

Inflation in the first-quarter averaged 4.5 percent, above the government’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for 2021.

“The slowdown in inflation at the national level was primarily due to the lower annual increment registered in the heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages at 5.8 percent in March 2021, from 6.7 percent inflation in February 2021,” the PSA said in a statement.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said the March inflation was within the BSP’s forecast range of 4.2 percent to 5 percent for the month.

“The overall latest outturn is consistent with expectations that inflation could settle above the high end of the target in 2021, reflecting the impact of supply side constraints on domestic prices of key food commodities, such as meat, as well as the continuing rise in world oil prices,” Diokno told reporters in a message following the release of the March inflation data.

“Nevertheless, inflation is still seen to return to within target band in 2022 as supply side influences subside. At the same time, timely and effective implementation of direct measures by the national government could contribute to easing price pressures,” Diokno said.

He said the balance of risks to inflation outlook remained broadly balanced around the baseline path in 2021, while leaning toward the downside in 2022. He said the tighter domestic supply of meat products and improved global economic activity could lend upward pressures on inflation.

“However, [the] ongoing pandemic also continues to pose downside risks to the inflation outlook as the recent surge in virus infections and challenges over mass vaccination programs continue to temper prospects for domestic demand,” Diokno said. Julito G. Rada

PH-INDIA TRADE TIES. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (left) pushes for further strengthening of the Philippine-India trade and investment relationship during the virtual courtesy call of India Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Kumaran. Both countries discussed the necessary steps to create more market opportunities and improve their bilateral trade relations.

IMF raises 2021 growth forecast for PH to 6.9%

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE International Monetary Fund said Tuesday it raised its 2021 growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.9 percent from the 6.6-percent estimate it made in January, taking into account the expected recovery of the global economy.

It raised the growth forecast in its April 2021 World Economic Outlook report despite the imposition of tighter lockdown measures in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces for two weeks. The country’s gross domestic product contracted 9.5 percent in 2020, the worst since the end of World War 2.

Its growth projection for the Philippines is also the highest among ASEAN-5 economies. It expects Indonesia to grow 4.3 percent; Thailand, 2.6 percent; Vietnam, 6.5 percent; and Malaysia, 6.5 percent.

The IMF also retained the 2022 growth forecast of 6.5 percent for the Philippines, the second fastest behind

CAPITAL raised from the stock market jumped 116 percent in the first quarter to P41.63 billion from P19.24 billion in the same period last year, the Philippine Stock Exchange said Tuesday.

The PSE said capital-raising activities in the first three months included one initial public offering, a follow-on offering, two stock rights offerings and two private placements.

It posted higher capital raising activities even as the stock market ended the first quarter at 6,443.09, down 9.8 percent since the start of the year.

“The approval of our amended listing rules should help accelerate IPO listings at the exchange, especially in the SME

der control, including by strengthening containment measures and accelerating vaccinations.

The WEO report also provided an improved outlook globally. After an estimated contraction of 3.3 percent in 2020, the global economy is projected to grow 6 percent in 2021, before moderating to 4.4 percent in 2022.

The contraction for 2020 is 1.1-percentage-points smaller than projected in the October 2020 World Economic Outlook, reflecting the higher-thanexpected growth outturns in the second half of the year for most regions after lockdowns were eased and as economies adapted to new ways of working.

The projections for 2021 and 2022 are 0.8 percentage point and 0.2 percentage point stronger than in the October 2020 WEO, reflecting additional fiscal support in a few large economies and the anticipated vaccine-powered recovery in the second half of the year.

Global growth is expected to moderate to 3.3 percent over the medium term—reflecting projected damage to supply potential and forces that predate the pandemic, including aging-related slower labor force growth in advanced economies and some emerging market economies, it said.

PhilWeb reduces net loss to P60m

GAMING firm PhilWeb Corp. said Tuesday it narrowed its net loss in 2020 to P60 million from P85.5 million in 2019.

PhilWeb said in a filing with the Philippine Stock Exchange that revenues declined 51 percent to P264.8 million from P539.8 million in 2019 following the closure of eGames and eBingo outlets on March 16, 2020. These began to gradually re-open at reduced capacities on June 15, 2020.

“PhilWeb has been EBITDA-positive since October 2020 and net income since November 2020 despite gaming venues generally averaging 60 percent daily revenues from pre-quarantine levels,” said PhilWeb president Brian Ng. “Our fourth-quarter 2020 results came before PhilWeb’s acquisition of 16 eBingo venues and two accredited eBingo machine providers, as well as the revenue contribution of additional eGames sites incrementally converting back to our electronic gaming system at the start of 2021,” Ng said.

He said with the recent acquisition, the company was on stable ground and well positioned for the return to economic activity in the second half of the year.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Estrella-Pantaleon bridge to open June

THE Department of Public Works and Highways said Tuesday it is accelerating the construction of the P1.46-billion Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge project to meet the target completion by June this year.

“At 86 percent and with just a few more days to fully complete the new EstrellaPantaleon Bridge, we are mindful that a single case of COVID-19 in the project can lead to an interruption, if not total work stoppage,” Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said.

Villar said that while the bridge project was being rushed for completion in June, it was critical that construction firms be proactive rather than reactive in dealing with the increased risk of illness from COVID-19.

Villar issued revised guidelines contained in Department Order #30 for the implementation of infrastructure allowed projects, both public and private, during the public health crisis under ECQ, MECQ, GCQ and MGCQ. Darwin G. Amojelar

PhilCare wins big at PH Quill Awards

PHILCARE, one of the country’s most preferred health maintenance organizations, gained top recognition at the 18th Philippine Quill Awards.

Leading the list of Quill Awards for the company is the PhilCare Community Quarantine Wellness Index, which won the top prize for communications research category.

The PhilCare CQ Wellness Index looked into the actual state of well-being of Filipinos amid the imposition of the first enhanced community quarantine following the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

A total of 800 respondents from all walks of life nationwide were interviewed through mobile phones to get a big picture of how they responded to the effects of the lockdowns and the pandemic as a whole.

The study revealed that Filipinos prayed a lot more while greatly cutting down on vices during the first lockdown. Interestingly also, nearly all respondents back then were most concerned with a possible “second wave” of COVID-19.

The PhilCare CQ Wellness Index was also nominated to receive the top award for COVID communications, a special division in this year’s Quills dedicated to business communication efforts in response to the pandemic.

Cebu Pacific gets new A321NEO, proceeds with re-fleeting program

By Darwin G. Amojelar

FOOD ASSISTANCE. Frontliners from Metro Pacific hospitals and government hospitals receive daily meals from chairman Manny Pangilinan and Tulong Kapatid, the corporate social responsibility alliance of foundations and companies under the MVP Group of Companies, as a show of support for their tireless commitment to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Capital-raising activities in stock market climbed 116% to P41.63b in first quarter

By Jenniffer B. Austria

Vietnam’s 7.2 percent, but higher than Malaysia’s 6 percent, Indonesia’s 5.8 percent and Thailand’s 5.6 percent.

The ASEAN-5 economies are seen to grow by 4.9 percent this year, a turnaround from the 3.4-percent contraction in 2020. The group is also anticipated to grow by 6.1 percent in 2022.

IMF resident representative to the Philippines Yongzheng Yang said in an emailed message to Manila Standard that the Philippine economy ended 2020 with stronger-than-expected growth in the fourth quarter.

“This momentum signals a stronger recovery this year. The increased fiscal stimulus in the 2021 budget should also help boost economic activity.

Taking into account the unused Bayanihan II funds to be disbursed this year and carry-over funds from the 2020 budget, government spending in 2021 is likely to be higher than anticipated in our January WEO forecasts,” Yang said.

“Nevertheless, the growth forecasts are subject to substantial uncertainty. In particular, recent hikes in virus infections pose a significant downside risk, as tightening quarantine measures could dampen economic activity,” Yang said.

Yang said it would be critical to bring the current spikes of virus infections un-

IN BRIEF

board with the relaxed requirements and the adoption of a sponsor model for listing,” said PSE president and chief executive Ramon Monzon.

“When approved, our proposed rules on preferred shares only listing and proposed revisions to the backdoor listing rules should also encourage more listings at the PSE,” Monzon said.

Data showed that the average daily value turnover went up by 64.6 percent year-on-year to P10.99 billion from P6.68 billion in the first three months of 2020.

Foreign investors continued to exit the local equities market, resulting in a net foreign selling of P47.91 billion in the first quarter, a 55.1-percent increase from P30.89 billion net foreign selling a year ago.

CEBU Air Inc., the operator of Cebu Pacific, said Tuesday it is pushing through with the re-fleeting program despite the global pandemic that severely affected the airline industry.

The airline unit of the Gokongwei Group said it took delivery of a brandnew Airbus A321NEO (New Engine Option) aircraft on April 2, 2021.

It said the latest delivery was the eighth out of Cebu Pacific’s 47 narrow-body orders from Airbus in line with the carrier’s fleet expansion.

Cebu Pacific said it was also expecting delivery of seven more aircraft this year, including a mix of Airbus and ATR fleet.

Airbus A321NEO delivers 20-percent fuel cost savings while offering significant environmental benefits with nearly 50-percent reduction in carbon footprint compared to previous generation aircraft.

“Pre-pandemic, we have already start-

ed embarking on our long-term vision and fleet strategy, which includes an orderly exit of older aircraft,” said Cebu Pacific deputy chief finance officer Mark Cezar.

“We envision the total CEB fleet to be composed of new-generation aircraft in the next few years,” he said.

The newest aircraft is set to enter Cebu Pacific’s service on April 9 to serve various domestic routes the carrier flies direct to.

Cebu Pacific’s 74-strong fleet consists of eight A321NEO, 25 Airbus A320, seven Airbus A321CEO, five Airbus A320NEO, seven Airbus A330, six ATR 72-500 and 13 ATR 72-600 aircraft.

Its fleet also has two ATR freighters on top of one A330 freighter. The airline boasts of one of the youngest fleets in the world, with an average fleet age of about 5.7 years.

The airline recently raised P12.5 billion from shareholders and another P16 billion from local banks to strengthen its balance sheet and ensure it has sufficient runway to thrive in the new normal.

NEA forms task force to run Misamis Oriental cooperative

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE National Electrification Administration said Tuesday it intervened in the management of an electric cooperative in Misamis Oriental through the creation of a task force to improve the power distribution utility’s operational efficiency.

It passed Resolution No. 2021-44 approving the deactivation of the board of directors of the Misamis Oriental II Rural Service Electric Cooperative Inc. (Moresco II) and the creation of Task Force Sidlakang Misamis Dos Power.

NEA administrator Edgardo Masongsong, through Office Order No. 2021-36 dated March 30, 2021, said the creation

of the task force was in the exigency of the service and pursuant to Section 4 (e) and (j) and Section 4-A of Presidential Decree No. 269, as amended by Republic Act No. 10531.

“The immediate intervention of the NEA is necessary in order to avert further operational and financial losses to the detriment of the EC member-consumer-owners and other stakeholders,” Masongsong said.

A comprehensive assessment conducted by the NEA Management and Consultancy Services Office revealed that the operational performance of Moresco II declined to “B” rating from “AAA” rating, with three non-compliances in power accounts, collection ef-

ficiency and system loss.

The task force, chaired by Melchor Cubillo, will perform the duties and responsibilities of the Moresco II board prescribed in NEA Bulletin No. 35 and NEA Memorandum No. 2020-001 on Code of Governance for Electric Cooperatives.

Named as members of the task force are the general managers of neighboring top-performing electric cooperatives are Jovel Ubay-Ubay of Moresco I; Christopher Dulfo of Bukidnon Second Electric Cooperative Inc.; and Darwin Daymiel of Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative Inc. with Jovinita Calingin and a representative from the provincial government of Misamis Oriental.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021

Baylor Bears dominate Gonzaga to win NCAA title

The Baylor Bears gather at center court after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs, 86-70, in the National Championship game of the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. AFP

Tawi-Tawi, Ozamis join VisMin Super Cup NEW teams Ozamis and Tawi-Tawi have decided to join the Mindanao leg even before the Visayas leg of the VisMin Super Cup kicks off on April 9.

The Ozamis team is owned

by Ramoncito Talisayon while the Tawi-Tawi team is owned

by Wesley Allen Sun. This early, Talisayon and Sun are excited to find out how their teams will fare against other powerhouse squads from Mindanao.

Talisayon and Sun assured Rocky Chan, COO of VisMin Super Cup, they will be f ielding competitive teams for the tour nament slated to start after the Visayas leg set in Alcantara, Cebu ends.

According to Talisayon, Ozamis intends to bring honor and distinction to the city in Misamis Occidental through sports.

Sun said Tawi-Tawi, an island province in Southern Mindanao, aims to showcase the authenticity and beauty of the place.

The Ozamis and Tawi-Tawi teams will be pitted against the Pagadian Explorers, Roxas Vanguards, Cagayan de Oro Rafters, Sindanang Saints, Zamboanga City Los Valientes, and the Basilan Peace Riders.

The VisMin Super Cup, the Philippines’ first regional pro basketball league, aims to generate livelihood to players, coaches, and other personnel affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABAP wants Eumir to train in Thailand T

HE Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines wants Tokyo Olympics-bound Eumir Felix Marcial to join the training of his teammates in Thailand.

ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson is trying to convince Marcial to join the team in Thailand, assuring the latter that he will be provided with quality sparring partners as he trains with his countrymen.

“The training in Thailand will be an Olympic-style training and not a professional style. So, it might be better for Eumir to join the rest of the team in Thailand,” said Picson on Tuesday during the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.

Marcial is currently training as a professional fighter at the Wild Card Gym of coach Freddie Roach in Los Angeles, USA, while his three teammates in Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Irish Magno are in Thailand.

Aside from the three Tokyo-bound boxers, seven other members of the na-

tional team, plus five coaches, led by Nolito Velasco, are in Thailand as part of the team’s preparations for the Hanoi SEA Games in November.

“We have other boxers there (Thailand) helping our Olympians train, and at the same time raise their level heading to the SEA Games,” said Picson.

The boxing official also bared the possibility that Petecio, Paalam and Magno may no longer get the chance to come home to the Philippines before heading to the Tokyo Olympics, which is just 107 days away.

“Even before the three boxers left for Thailand last month, we presented them this scenario na baka tuluy-tuloy na sila sa Tokyo. There’s this possibility. And they understood,” said Picson.

Strict travel restrictions and the importance of pushing their training to the high-

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est level, according to Picson, may force the three Filipino boxers to head straight to Tokyo for the Games set July 23 to Aug. 8.

“We’ve talked about it that their overseas training might be extended all the way up to the Olympics. Wala nang uwian,” Picson told the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Milo, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

From Thailand, the Filipino boxers are scheduled to compete in the Asian Championships scheduled to start on May 21 in New Delhi. And if the COVID-19 situation allows, they might stay longer in the Indian capital to train.

“Then, they return to Thailand. Actually, we’re looking at other places or other countries where they can train but it depends which country is willing to let us in,” said Picson in the forum powered by Smart with Upstream Media as webcast partner.

LOS ANGELES—The Baylor Bears ended the Gonzaga Bulldogs’ quest for an unbeaten NCAA championship season on Monday, clinching the US college basketball title with a 86-70 victory.

The Waco, Texas-based Baylor University team sealed their first ever “March Madness” title with a dominant performance against the Bulldogs, who were aiming to crown an undefeated season with a championship.

Monday’s defeat at Indianapolis’s Lucas Oil Stadium came just two days after Gonzaga’s exhilarating semi-final victory over UCLA on Saturday, when Jalen Suggs’ buzzer-beater sealed a 93-90 win.

For long periods on Monday, it looked as if Gonzaga were still nursing a hangover from that win, with Baylor dominating in all departments to build a comfortable lead well before the end.

Jared Butler led the Baylor scoring with 22 points, seven assists and three rebounds, while MaCio Teague had 19 points with two rebounds.

Baylor laid the foundations for success with a blistering start, jumping into a 9-0 lead that they never relinquished.

The Bears had surged into a 19-point lead midway through the first half and also led by 20 points at one stage in the second.

Baylor Bears coach Scott Drew said the fast start reflected his team’s “culture of joy.”

“They came out and fed off of each other and got off to a great start, and defensively we’re pretty good,” Drew said.

“Our guys have been motivated all year.

It’s a player-led team. We’re so blessed to have unbelievable leadership. We play with a culture of joy.

“If you’re going to war and I’m coaching, then I’m taking these guys.”

Gonzaga, meanwhile, were left shattered in defeat, with Saturday’s hero Suggs—who led the Bulldogs’ scoring with 22 points— in tears.

“We just couldn’t get anything going, you have to give credit to Baylor,” said Gonzaga coach Mark Few. “They were just so aggressive defensively we couldn’t get anything going on the offensive end. Hats off to them. They dominated both ends of the ball all night.”

Few had words of solace for his players, who had won 31 straight games this season by an average of 22.4 points.

“You can’t go 31-0 and get to the last night and get beat and feel bad about it,” Few said. “It was an unbelievable run we’ve been on. I just said to them this will pass, and they’ve got to remember what an amazing accomplishment it was just getting to this point.” AFP

Loman tries to avenge Belingon’s loss

By Peter Atencio WHEN five-time mixed martial arts champion Stephen “The Sniper” Loman makes his ONE Championship debut against John Lineker, he wants to avenge the loss suffered by his Team Lakay teammate to the veteran fighter.

In his last fight in October last year, Lineker put away Loman’s stablemate Kevin Belingon via technical knockout in 1:16 of the second round.

With Belingon giving tons of advise during training, Loman believes that this will help get his confidence up during fight night.

“This will add to my motivation, kahit ganu’n.

Kahit talo si Kuya Kevin, gusto ko rin ibawi ang kanyang pagkatalo,” added Loman.

The Team Lakay fighter takes on “The Heart of Stone” Lineker in one of the undercards of “ONE on TNT III” on April 21 in Singapore.

Lineker is known for unleashing a dangerous

combination of body shots when a fighter gets close to him.

And this what the 29-year-old Loman needs to be wary of if he wants to get past Lineker.

If Loman hurdles the toughness of Lineker on his debut fight with the ONE Championship, he will get to know if he is at par with the best that the organization has in its stable.

“Talagang malakas at mabilis ang mga combinations niya sa head and body. Kailangang maiwasan,” said Loman.

Lineker has been in 42 fights, winning 33 and losing nine.

On the other hand, Loman has been undefeated in eight straight encounters and has won 13 and lost two.

Loman is coming off a 16-month layoff after disposing of Ilias Sanoudakis in Nov. 29, 2019, via unanimous decision during their Brave CF 30 showdown.

Stephen Loman

PBA legends’ collectible jerseys, anyone?

By Randy Caluag

Samboy Lim jerseys

PHILIPPINE basketball legends are joining hands by coming up with collectible jerseys aimed at raising funds and helping their fallen comrades during the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Get to own collectible replica jerseys of Toyota and San Miguel Beer’s Ramon Fernandez; Crispa’s Atoy Co, Philip Cezar and Bogs Adornado; SMB’s Allan Caidic and Samboy Lim; Purefoods’ Jerry Codinera and Alvin Patrimonio and Purefoods/Alaska’s Jojo Lastimosa.

The jerseys have a special box that can be signed by the former stars of the Philippine Basketball Basketball.

“We decided to come up with this project to help our former colleagues who are in need, especially during this time of the pandemic,” said Caidic, the brainchild of the project. “We

had fund-raising activities before the pandemic and it is not possible to hold events at this time, so this is a good alternative.”

Nicknamed “The Triggerman” for his long-range bombs, Caidic earlier came out with his own sets of commemorative replica jerseys, tracing his beginnings with the Northern Consolidated, Great Taste, Presto Tivoli, San Miguel up to his final team in Ginebra.

The jerseys were all sold out in no time.

Caidic said the “commemorative jersey” is a project of the PBA Legends Foundation to raise more funds for their projects. Their most recent beneficiary was former Ginebra player Terry Saldana, who sought the foundation’s help for his hospitalization.

Lim’s No. 9 jersey is the emotional favorite this time as the former San Miguel Beerman and many-time national athlete is currently recovering

from a near-fatal stroke he suffered during a Legends’ exhibition game in Pasig City in 2014.

Nicknamed “The Skywalker” for his f lamboyant, hang-time moves, Lim had nine championships with San Miguel Beer and was member of the Philippine Team from 1984 to 1990.

He was admired for his daring role in the Philippines’ overtime win over the United States in the 1985 William Jones Cup. Lim celebrated his 58th birthday last April 1.

The project was supposed to be officially launched this April during the PBA Season 2021 opening that was postponed as the government implemented enhance community quarantine restrictions amid the rising cases of the virus.

The commemorative jerseys are now open for online orders via the facebook page of the PBA Legends Foundation.

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Sports

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021

Asia-Pacific Predator League gets underway

By Peter Atencio HOSTING the Asia-Pacific Predator League 2020/21 Grand Final Pan Asia Pacific through online platforms will be a learning experience for organizers this year.

Andrew Hou, president of Acer Pan Asia Pacific Regional Operations, said this on Tuesday as the tournament got underway.

Hou explained that they plan to keep on doing the competitions online even if the COVID-19 pandemic continues until next year.

The pandemic, according to Hou, has opened their eyes to the growing interest among fans to have online gaming competitions be held.

There is huge interest on holding esports events, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, and the lockdowns and quarantine measures that have been put in place in many countries.

“A lot of countries host the games online, even if we can’t do it offline. So the challenge is to do it offline and online, depending on the situation. And this is also why we decided to do this in 2021. To learn and practice,” said Hou. Organizers feel that this will prepare them for the eventualities in case the events will be disrupted at any given time by situations involving by pandemic.

The Asia-Pacific Predator League 2020/21 Grand Final will have the best teams across 17 regions in both Dota 2 and PUBG competing for a total prize pool worth $400,000.

The coveted Predator League Shield will be handed down to four champions of the sub-tournaments of the league.

This includes two for PUBG and two for Dota 2.

The APAC Predator League 2020/21 will be broadcast live on Acer Predator’s channels, Facebook and Twitch.

There was no tournament last year due to the 2020 league’s postponement.

Despite the cancellation, organizers saw that interest was still there this year and so they gathered teams across the Asia Pacific region and have them fight it out in an online-only tournament.

Olympic test event cancelled; North Korea skipping games

T

OKYO—A Tokyo Olympics water polo test event has been cancelled because sport officials cannot enter Japan due to coronavirus restrictions, reports said Tuesday.

The event is only the latest victim of virus restrictions, which have forced the cancellation or postponement of a series of Olympic qualifiers and tests.

The two-day water polo event was supposed to open on Saturday, but has been scrapped because of Japan’s strict travel regulations, which bar virtually all foreign nationals from entering the country, local media reported.

The restrictions mean time-keepers and record-keepers who were due to travel to Japan cannot take part in the event, although Kyodo news agency said it may be rescheduled to a later date.

Tokyo Olympics organisers declined to comment.

Test events for the virus-delayed Games resumed last weekend for the first time since the pandemic began, with a wheelchair rugby event held at Tokyo’s Yoyogi National Stadium.

But there are doubts over whether the remaining 17 test events can be held as scheduled.

Last week, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) said it was considering moving its Olympic qualifiers from Japan.

Those events include the Diving World Cup scheduled for this month and the Artistic Swimming qualifier scheduled for May.

FINA’s competition calendar already lists both events, along with the May 29-30 Olympic marathon swim qualifier in Japan’s Fukuoka, as cancelled.

The governing body reportedly told member nations last week that it had received “worrying” information about the organizer’s proposed COVID-19 countermeasures.

On Monday, the Japan Triathlon Union also announced that a triathlon World Cup event due to be held in Osaka in May has been cancelled because of virus restrictions.

The competition was not an Olympic test event but helps decide which athletes will qualify for the Games, and was meant to feature 130 triathletes from 30 different countries.

Meanwhile, North Korea will not attend this year’s Tokyo Olympics because of the

Red Bull Campus Clutch: Largest VALORANT tilt for student gamers

People watch a television screen showing a news report about North Korea’s decision not to participate in the Tokyo Olympics due to the Covid-19 pandemic, at a railway station in Seoul. AFP

Inspired by Pacman, Adiwang wants to finish Brooks as quick as possible TOP ONE Championship strawweight Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang is gunning for a lightning-quick end to his next bout.

Adiwang is set to lock horns with American veteran, Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks at “ONE on TNT II,” the second of a four-part event series that broadcasts on Wed., April 14 (Thu., April 15 in Asia).

Taking inspiration from eight-division boxing world champion, Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, Adiwang wants to make quick work of Brooks and dispatch him in the early rounds.

“Ideally, I want to finish every opponent that I enter the Circle with,” said Adiwang.

“My childhood hero growing up was the legendary Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao in his prime had no hesitation. When he saw an opponent hurt, he would go after the finish until he got it. He is my idol. He motivated me to start this career.”

Brooks is a well-traveled veteran, having competed for promotions such as the UFC, Bellator, and Rizin. A winner of three of his last five, Brooks comes to ONE Championship with a lot of confidence.

Adiwang wants to spoil Brooks’ welcome party, and add another highlight-reel victory to his collection.

THE LINK REY JOBLE

Draft sleepers OUTSIDE of the marquee players selected in the annual PBA Rookie Draft, one of the much anticipated moments is seeing who among the newcomers will turn out to become as sleepers.

A sleeper is a moniker coined after players selected late in the draft become its biggest steals. And throughout the history of the 46-year-old league, there were players who performed above expectations.

Ato Agustin was the last player to be selected in the second round of the 1989 PBA Rookie Draft, considered as the deepest ever.

At a time when league participants were trimmed down to only six, Agustin was selected as 12th overall pick by the San Miguel Beermen.

Contented to play as reliever to the talent-laden guard rotation of San Miguel

coronavirus pandemic, Pyongyang’s sports ministry said, blowing the final whistle on Seoul’s hopes of using the Games to restart talks with its nuclear-armed neighbour.

The isolated North’s participation in the last Winter Games, hosted by the South in Pyeongchang, was a key catalyst in the diplomatic rapprochement of 2018.

Leader Kim Jong Un’s sister Kim Yo Jong attended as his envoy in a blaze of publicity, and the South’s President Moon Jaein seized the opportunity to broker talks between Pyongyang and Washington that led to a series of high-profile meetings between Kim and then US president Donald Trump.

But Pyongyang’s announcement puts an end to Seoul’s hopes of using the postponed Tokyo Games, due to begin in July, to kick off a reset in the now deadlocked talks process. AFP

“I really believe that I can finish him. Everytime I enter the Circle, that has always been my mindset. I want to finish my opponent in any way that I can, in the most decisive way that I can, as quick as I can. It’s in and then I’m out,” said Adiwang.

“That’s the ideal scenario. That’s what I’m working towards.”

“ONE on TNT II” features a main event showdown between ONE Lightweight World Champion Christian “The Warrior” Lee and #3-ranked lightweight contender, Timofey Nastyukhin. Also on the card is a showdown between #1-ranked featherweight and former two-division ONE World Champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen, and challenger, #5-ranked contender “The Fighting God” Kim Jae Woong.

Adiwang vows to make his Filipino fans proud, and derail the Brooks hype train before it gains any traction off the ground.

“All I have to do is stick to the game plan, and fight to the best of my abilities,” said Adiwang.

“I know what he’s about, his strengths and weaknesses. He’s a good fighter. But I don’t think he’s met a fighter quite like me in the cage.” that had Samboy Lim, Elmer Reyes, Hector Calma, Ricardo Brown and Franz Pumaren, Agustin spent more time on the bench than on the court, but he became a part of that successful squad, which won the grand slam that same year.

His role would change the next few seasons as injuries to key players allowed Agustin to shine. By 1992, the Atom Bomb emerged as the league’s MVP. Bal David was a third-round choice of the Sunkist Juicers in the 1995 PBA Rookie Draft, but he went back to the amateur ranks after being left unsigned.

He returned to the big league in 1996 as a free agent and made his mark as one of Ginebra San Miguel’s all-time greatest point guards, becoming a part of the franchise’s championship squad in the 1997 Commissioner’s Cup. Peter June Simon was another success story.

He was picked 43rd overall by the Sta. Lucia Realtors in 2001, but decided to play for the Davao Eagles in the MBA, where he had more opportunities to shine and was named Discovery Player of the Year.

The following season, he moved to the PBL and won a championship for Dazz Dishwashing Paste. It was in 2004

Fiserv Forum Center displays a graphic in memory of Elgin Baylor during the game between the Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. AFP Lito Adiwang (left) on the offensive

The “ONE on TNT” series will air every Wednesday in the United States from April 7 for four weeks. Each week will include a preliminary card digitally streamed exclusively on the Bleacher Rewhen Simon got a call from Purefoods to team up with James Yap and Kerby Raymundo, two of the franchise’s biggest stars back then.

While playing for the old Purefoods franchise, Simon won a total of eight championships, including a grand slam run in 2014.

There are a few more names selected late in the draft, but emerged to become stars later on.

Cyrus Baguio, Larry Fonacier and Jeff Chan were each selected in the second round by Yeng Guiao, who was then coach of the old Red Bull franchise of Photokina.

All these players emerged as multiple champions and each of them represented the national team one way or another.

In this year’s PBA Rookie Draft, which saw close to 100 applicants making it to the list, there are quite a few names being considered to become draft sleepers -- Brian Enriquez of Barangay Ginebra, Taylor Browne of Alaska, Franky Johnson of Rain or Shine, Nick Demusis of Phoenix Super LPG, David Murrell of NLEX, and even Andre Paras, as far as the third round.

Anyone among them can rise above the expectations, so when the PBA opens its new season, each of these guys can steal the spotlight from the marquee players.

port App and B/R Live from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET, followed by three main card fights televised exclusively on TNT in the U.S. at 10 p.m. ET. It will be available in Asia via the usual channels.

The PBA’s new season may have been pushed back, brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, but exciting times are

RED Bull Campus Clutch: VALORANT invites student gamers from universities across the Philippines to compete at the country’s biggest VALORANT tournament.

This groundbreaking event is the first of its kind in the Philippines. Students can team up, represent their campus and compete on a national level.

Qualifying rounds will take place throughout the entire month of April, with each team vying for a spot at the Regional Finals happening on June 2021.

What is Red Bull Campus Clutch: VALORANT? Red Bull Campus Clutch offers every student in the Philippines the chance to form their own teams and compete in one of the fastest-growing and most talked about games, VALORANT. The event is held in collaboration with multiple sponsors including AOC, SteelSeries, and Intel NUC. Each sponsor will serve as an event partner, providing cutting-edge hardware for the tournament.

College students in the Philippines ages 18 and above, with their own Steam and Discord accounts, can sign up to compete across several exciting phases.

The following are the qualifying rounds dates: April 10 – Qualifier 1; April 11 – Qualifier 2; April 17 – Qualifier 3; April 18 – Qualifier 4; April 23 – Qualifier 5; April 24 – Qualifier 6; April 25 – Last Chance Qualifier The best team from each round will move on to the National Finals on May 22, 2021. The winning team will represent the country in the Regional Finals set in June for a chance to compete in the World Finals in July.

YEP Partners with Red Bull: Campus Clutch Through various student support initiatives such as Red Bull: Campus Clutch, the Youth Esports Program; a collaboration between Mineski Philippines and the Philippine Collegiate Champions League, promotes esports as a healthy, responsible, and legitimate extra-curricular activity for today’s youth.

Currently, YEP has 80 accredited chapters that are building an inclusive student esports community for future esports talents in the country. ahead in the big league once it resumes.

Make way for the future stars of the PBA.

RIDERS’ LOUNGE. SM City Olongapo Central has set up a special Rider’s Lounge for delivery riders waiting for their orders. It also has a charging station where delivery partners could charge their mobile phones. The mall also have dedicated parking area for motorcycle and Food Panda bicycle delivery riders. Since the coronavirus outbreak, food delivery riders have become a key part of essential services, and the lounge is one way the mall, which is in a MGCQ area, has shown its appreciation for them.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021

Local Tinseltown’s

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Actor-turned-director/ producer David Chua

emerging ‘oppa’ D

ON’T let his K-Pop looks deceive you.

Despite being tagged as a dead ringer for Goblin stars Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook, actor-turned-director/ producer David Chua is very much Pinoy—and proud of it.

Blame it on his long disheveled hair, chinky eyes, glass complexion, and sassy fashion sense.

It’s a look that definitely spells capital ‘K,’ a shifting fashion paradigm that has become a pervasive trend among some of today’s pop superstars, including the globally renowned Korean superband, BTS. Like it or not, the oppa look is slowly overshadowing the much-clichéd “tall, dark and handsome» stereotype as the benchmark for male fashion, even in Manila›s temperate climes where most of these en vogue staples seem impractical for everyday wear.

Even before he earned the tag as local showbiz’s emerging oppa, David proudly clarifies that he had already defined his signature fashion statement even long before the K-Pop trend

David Chua side by side with K-Drama superstar Gong Yoo (right)

started, and even before Gong Yoo and his ilk became the rage.

He recalls, “When I first joined showbiz, I recall I was medyo too clean-cut, with side-parted hair and all. I was projecting Tom Cruise for a bit. But then I thought, I surely don’t look American.”

“And then, the Korean trend became the in thing. It found me! Haha! I must admit that I identify with it because I do have strong Asian features. I’m inspired by it, but not really taken over. I still prefer to be known as myself and not some look-alike.”

“I like clean, simple lines and colors for

clothing to balance off my rugged head of hair. I identify more with the fashion of K-Drama actors more than K-Pop performers. I wish I could wear more of those turtlenecks, jackets, and trenches.

Haha! Unfortunately, it’s hot here.”

It’s not surprising that David happens to be a self-confessed fan, not just of KPop and K-dramas, but also of most Korean art and cinematic forms.

He adds, “Just as the world has discovered and gotten hooked on them, I am an admirer of the originality of their

story plots and the unpredictability of their twists and outcomes. Think Goblin, Train to Busan, or Parasite. Even their romantic movies and series are fresh and memorable. Crash Landing On You, My Sassy Girl, World of Married Couples are just a few that viewers have gotten obsessed with.»

Despite his strong Korean references, David is wise enough not to ride on its coattails, and refuses to be seen as a mere copycat of a passing fad. Read full story on manilastandard.net.

Jayson Dedal shows acting chops in BL-themed music video

Searcher Ai dela Cruz with searchee model and host Jake Seneres

Do you need a Valentine this summer?

Watch ‘Myx and Match’

MUSIC channel Myx is launching a fun and fresh take on blind dates for the socially savvy generation via MYX and Match, a virtual dating game show premiering on April 9 at 8:00 p.m. on cable TV. “MYX and Match is a show to spread and bring love to the world,” said game host Dora. “We are progressive, we want to be inclusive, and we want to be forward. This show is for every gender and gender expression.”

VJ Ai dela Cruz took the hot seat on its pilot episode, which was livestreamed on kumu, to find her ideal match among three hidden searchees via compatibility games: “Yay Or Nay” that reveals fun facts about Ai; “Seen-O” that gives a sneak peek on the contestants’ features; and “Spit or Swallow” that helps identify if their

food preferences are alike or not.

Ai, who was looking for an honest man and a good conversationalist, chose Spartan Guy or Jake Seneres as the winning searchee—an events host, commercial model, and daily kumu streamer.

“I think I based my decision on who I want to get to know more,” Ai said.

“Feeling ko talaga ang pinaka-compatible with my personality is Jake.”

“Honestly I feel great. Nothing was forced. All my answers were sincere and I didn’t research anything. I’m surprised ako ang napili,” Jake revealed during his virtual, getting-toknow date with Ai, which happened immediately after the game.

Catch the first episode of MYX and Match on MYX, available on SKYcable channel 23 and GSAT channel 35.

THE official music video for public school teacher-turned-artist Jayson Dedal’s debut single “Bilyon-Bilyong Panalangin” is a moving piece of short film that takes a page from popular Asian boys’ love (BL) series.

The video showcases Dedal’s acting chops opposite his love interest played by top model Alfio Schmidt. We see Dedal go through the moments of unfeigned but unrequited intimacy, as he falls deeper and deeper into Schmidt’s charms.

Throughout these memorable moments like baking cakes or playing billiards, Schmidt gives Dedal every reason to believe in love. He acts as the partner his friend has wanted for a long time—someone who’s gentle, patient and, above all, present. And despite the singer’s fears of a lack of reciprocity and being out of his league, Dedal tries to muster up whatever courage he can to express his feelings.

But as many real love stories go, the story doesn’t end in ‘happily ever after.’

The crushing plot twist is something best left unspoiled to viewers, but what can be said is how evidently Dedal regrets missing his chance to accept the love in front of him. And it’s clear Dedal’s somber crooning draws not only from the singer’s pain but also from the earthshaking emotion often displayed in BL series.

“I wish them all the best if ever they are really together. Love is love. It’s a beautiful thing.”

Maris and Iñigo started as a love team in ABS-CBN. They’ve worked together on numerous projects including the potboilers I’m Ellenya L and Boyette: Not a Girl Yet. Continue reading on manilastandard.net Iñigo Pascual will support Maris RacalRico Blanco (inset) romance.

“For the video, we drew a lot of inspiration from BL shows” said Dedal. “Any fan of BL will tell you that it’s the one genre that really captures the essence of the selfless giving and painful pining often involved in loving someone.”

Dedal isn’t alone, as the BL genre has quickly become one of the fastest-rising television genres out there. And for good reason, as it’s a genre made exclusively to tell the stories of gay men, and by extension, the entire LGBT community.

This advocacy involving LGBT issues is something that Insight Music President and Chief Creative Head Chris Cahilig feels very strongly about, and it’s what he and the “Bilyon-Bilyong Panalangin” crew really wanted to express in the music video.

“This is perhaps the first time that an openly gay Filipino balladeer will have a music video as unapologetic as this,” says

Cahilig. “We hope that with the music video of ‘Bilyon-Bilyong Panalangin,’ we can provide an opening for greater LGBT representation in OPM, and spawn discussions about what it means to tell stories from that perspective.”

“The song and the video make it clear that people of any gender identity or sexual orientation experience the exact same feelings cisgender and heterosexual people do,” adds Cahilig. “The LGBT community is just as—if not more—capable of telling stories of love, loss, and grief.

That’s what we wanted to put on display with this song and music video.”

The music video for “Bilyon-Bilyong Panalangin” was written and directed

by Ken Laviste of Arkos Digital. It is available to stream on YouTube via Insight Music’s official page. The song is also widely available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, and all other streaming platforms.

Call her ‘Thandiwe’

Iñigo Pascual reacts to Maris Racal’s rumored romance with Rico Blanco ASKED about the hot rumor that Maris Racal and seasoned singer Rico Blanco are playing beautiful music together, Iñigo Pascual has nothing but good words to say.

“If ever it’s true, let’s be happy for them.

The rumor has already reached me and I can’t say anything about it since no confirmation came from them yet,” Iñigo said about the rumor linking his former flame to the OPM rock star.

It’s public knowledge that he and Maris were a love team before and were romantically linked. During those times, Iñigo remembers that Maris already idolizes Rico.

“When Maris and I were still a love team, I knew that she admired Rico so much. She even requested me to sing Rico’s classic ditties then. So as I’ve said, if ever they are really an item, I’ll be happy for them. When they had a musical collaboration two years ago via the song ‘Abot Langit’, I even congratulated Maris.

I was happy for her because she was able to work and had the chance to know her idol better through that project.”

For Iñigo, he just wants to be supportive of the two even if they haven’t made any confirmation yet.

Jayson Dedal and Alfio Schmidt are an odd couple with incredible chemistry on the BLthemed video for ‘Bilyon-Bilyong Panalangin.’

British actress Thandiwe Newton has long been an activist for women and survivors of sexual violence.

BRITISH actress Thandie Newton says she is reverting to the original Zimbabwean spelling of her name, Thandiwe, after decades in Hollywood.

Newton, the daughter of a British lab technician and a Zimbabwean princess, told Vogue magazine the spelling—which means “beloved” in the African country›s Shona language and is pronounced «tanDEE-way”—was changed in the credits for her first acting role, in 1991’s Flirting, when she was just 16.

Now, the 48-year-old Westworld star said, she is changing it back.

“That’s my name. It’s always been my name. I’m taking back what’s mine,” she was quoted as telling the British magazine

in her May 2021 cover interview.

Newton, who has long been an advocate for women who have been sexually assaulted, has been outspoken about racist and sexual abuse in Hollywood.

In the Vogue interview Newton said Flirting director John Duigan asked her to “be a bit darker” for the role, and repeated allegations that the then-39-year-old embarked on what she has previously described as a “coerced” sexual relationship with her.

She recalled other derogatory incidents of racism and sexual abuse, including a director who abused her, and then showed footage of the incident to others.

“I was traumatized,” she told the magazine. AFP

GMA Network to provide free COVID-19 vaccines for employees, talents IN LINE with the government’s vaccination program and its efforts to fight the pandemic in the country, broadcast giant GMA Network, Inc. (GMA) has announced that it is providing free COVID-19 vaccines for its employees and talents. The network is purchasing doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines.

GMA’s vaccination program covers regular and probationary employees, project employees, and exclusive talents on a voluntary basis.

Additional details on the program will be announced by the company internally.

“Ensuring the health and well-being of

our Kapuso is our utmost priority as we truly value our people as our best assets. As a result, this vaccination coverage will enable us to continue delivering Serbisyong Totoo to the public as we all strive to win against this pandemic,” GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon assured.

Meanwhile, GMA Network through GMA Kapuso Foundation continues to extend aid to frontliners and Filipinos in need as ‘NCR Plus’ is once again placed under enhanced community quarantine following another surge of COVID-19 cases in the country.

In the spirit of Serbisyong Totoo especially when it comes to the health and safety of its workforce, the GMA is purchasing doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines.

Life

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

C4

FASHION AND BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021

Beauty triumphs over violence

By Tet Defensor

T

HE “new normal” has kept us glued at home making social media shopping the most exciting pastime in this pandemic.

And while we enjoy the delightful convenience of clicking our choices away and waiting for the items to be delivered to our doorstep, why not take it a notch higher by purchasing products that encourage women to speak out against domestic violence.

#SpeakOut Art Collective is Avon’s crusade against domestic violence. The international brand is strongly committed to breaking down the walls of silence on the said issue. This year, to further support the advocacy, Avon offers limited edition #SpeakOut fundraising products.

Every purchase of an the Avon #SpeakOut lipstick, the Evita watch, the Avon Love Yourself jewelry set, and the women’s empowerment umbrella, is a direct donation to local institutions that provide assistance to abused women and children.

The campaign supports the Luna Legal Resource, Gender Watch Against Violence and Exploitation, Women’s Care Center, Inc., and Ing Makababaying Aksyon (IMA) Foundation.

The Women’s Crisis Center provides immediate intervention and service to victims of domestic violence. Luna Legal Resource Center for Women and Children in Davao offers legal, psychosocial, and other support to marginalized women and children who are victims of abuse, exploi exploitation, neglect, and violence.

Dumaguete City-based Gender Watch Against Violence and Exploitation likewise offers legal assistance to abused women. IMA Foundation in Angeles, Pampanga gives shelter to women and children who are victims of abuse and the prostitution trade.

Domestic violence is also the subject of the #SpeakOut Art Collective, a collaboration between Filipina artists and Avon Philippines. The exhibit features 14 contemporary works from the allfemale lineup of artists, namely, Denise Heredia, Nicole Concepcion, Ciane Xavier, Gabby Prado, Cru Camara, Tyang Karyel, Mara Fabella, Tammy De Roca, Bea Policarpio, and Bree Jonson. The works deliver each artist’s commentary on the realities of domestic violence.

Art lovers interested in owning any of the beautiful pieces can send their bids via the company website.

“Through this effort, we are hoping to spark more conversations and increase

For every purchase of Evita watch, #SpeakOut lipstick, or Avon Love Yourself jewelry set, a donation will go to local institutions that provide assistance to abused women and children.

RISE UP. The #SpeakOut Art Collective features 14 contemporary artwork by female artists illustrating their take on the realities of domestic violence. In photos are the works of Cru Camara (top) and Ciane Xavier (bottom). more awareness of the realities of domestic abuse caused by the isolation,” explained Avon Philippines general manager Razvan Diratian. “We want to let survivors know that they are never alone.”

For 135 years, Avon has been providing quality products for women sold by women. It has empowered millions of female entrepreneurs around the world by giving them a chance to be their own boss and build their own beauty business through their own social network.

Like any industry, the last couple of months have been most challenging to Avon’s hardworking representatives. But thanks to female empowerment, their very own front liners are able to forge ahead

“They continue to represent what the power of beauty can do for the world, despite the pandemic,” Avon PR head Marion Limlengco proudly said.

At a time when face-to-face transaction is not possible, the company extended all kinds of support so representatives can continue doing business. “We have shopping and ordering alternatives for the safety and convenience of our representatives. They can order online at Avon.ph, or call or send an SMS to their branch for order pick-up or delivery.”

Shoppers can view the latest brochure via www.avon.ph. It is interesting to note that the brand’s latest brochure captures women in all sizes.

PAOLO VALENCIANO OPENS UP ABOUT PARENTHOOD BEING a parent for the first time can be daunting. It is common for new parents to experience a wide array of emotions from excitement to worry and fear as this new phase in life comes with many changes and unexpected encounters.

When Paolo Valenciano first found out he was going to be a dad to a baby girl, he cried out of overwhelming joy.

“I’ve always wanted a daughter first. For some reason, I felt like I would connect with her more. So, when Sam told me [that we were having a girl] I broke down,” he recalls.

The couple welcomed Nataleia Martine Valenciano in November 2016 and in the last four years, have experienced many changes in their lives as first-time parents. “I felt like I was floating,” shares Paolo. “Before Leia was born, Sam and I would always sleep in when we had no work.

That was all gone after. We barely slept!” The first-time dad also confessed he would sometimes watch Leia’s breathing, afraid it would suddenly stop.

Like most parents, Paolo and Sam also have their fair share of worries and fears when it comes to their small family. For Sam, two of her biggest fears as a mother are her daughter being pressured to live up to their celebrity family. “My other greatest fear is her dying before us. I can’t really do anything to address this because I think it’s something most parents fear.”

The years raising Leia have been rewarding and enjoyable for Paolo and his wife, Sam Valenciano because of her bright personality. “She is such a wacky character so being her parent is a lot of fun. Leia always makes us laugh,” he shares.

The years raising Leia have been rewarding and enjoyable because of her bright personality. “She is such a wacky character so being her parent is a lot of fun. Leia always makes us laugh.” Paolo hopes he can be like his dad who was a listener and always made him and his siblings feel secure. “My dad always made us feel we can run to h i m when we need help. I want to be like that for Leia.

I want her to always come to me anytime she needs help.”

BEING PROTECTED FOR THE FUTURE Paolo is no stranger to living with uncertainty, coming from a family that has dealt with health concerns since he was a child. “You’re always thinking a Sunday lunch or dinner could be the last meal together. You look at life from a completely different perspective.” He said when you’re related to someone with a condition, one thing you are aware of is the cost of living. “It’s not cheap and on a bad day, things can really spiral out of control.”

As a live events director, Paolo said the industry collapsed during the pandemic and it was hard to keep things afloat for their family. “We need to protect our family. These days, I do whatever I can to make sure they have what they need,” adds Paolo.

Thankfully, AIA Philam Life has a full suite of products which can help Paolo and other Filipino families protect their family from the unexpected.

PROTECTION FOR ALL As a company committed to its mission of racing against risk to protect more Filipinos, AIA Philam Life completed its Protection Trinity of innovative products designed to address the most basic protection needs: life with AIA All-in-One, critical illness with AIA Critical Protect 100, and medical with AIA Med-Assist.

Launched in 2019, AIA Critical Protect 100 provides When Paolo comprehensive protection from 100 critical illnesses, from Valenciano first age 0 to 100. Shortly after, AIA All-in-One was introduced found out he was which provides protection against the four major risks in life: going to be a dad total and permanent disability, personal accident, critical to a baby girl, illness, and death. To help manage the financial burden he cried out of of Filipinos on hospitalization expenses, the Company overwhelming joy.

“I’ve always wanted developed AIA Med-Assist. a daughter first. For To further strengthen its Protection Trinity portfolio, AIA some reason, I felt Philam Life recently launched AIA Health Cover, a peso- like I would connect dominated variable life insurance plan which gives allwith her more.” around health and critical illness protection. It provides a full range of health benefits and coverage for concerns anyone may have now or in the future.

With the Covid-19 pandemic bringing much uncertainty in the lives of Filipinos, Paolo emphasized the importance of being secure and protected.

“We need to protect our family. These days, I do whatever I can to make sure they have what they need.”

To know more about AIA Health Cover and other AIA Philam Life’s protection products, visit www.philamlife.com.