Manila Standard - 2021 May 12 - Wednesday

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DUTERTE DECLARES NATIONWIDE STATE OF CALAMITY DUE TO HOG EPIDEMIC

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

swine fever (ASF) outbreak that has crippled the domestic hog industry, Malacanang said Tuesday.

At the same time, Duterte signed an executive order raising the minimum PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has access volume (MAV) for pork imports placed the entire nation under state of from 54,210 metric tons to 254,210 MT calamity for one year due to African to ensure adequate supply and afford-

able meat products in the country.

But the import volume for pork products approved by the President was lower than the Department of Agriculture’s original proposal of 404,210 metric tons following concerns raised by senators.

Presidential spokesperson Harry

Roque said the ASF epidemic had led to billions worth of losses to the local hog industry and increased prices of pork products.

Through Proclamation 1143 signed on Monday, Duterte said the year-long state of calamity could be lifted or extended as circumstances warrant.

Duterte said the ASF “is responsible for the significant reduction in the country’s swine population by around three million hogs, resulting in more than P100 billion in losses to the local hog sector and allied industries, and leading to increased retail prices of Next page pork products.”

India’s deadly variant here 'Double mutant ' virus has been detected in two returning OFWs

By Willie Casas and Maricel V. Cruz

Both cases were returning overseas Filipino workers: a 37-year-old male who came from Oman, and a 38-year-old male EALTH workers have detected at least two local who arrived from the United Arab Emirates, Vergeire said. cases of the COVID-19 variant (B.1.617) that has There were no close contacts listed, overwhelmed India’s health system, and that the World said Epidemiology Bureau Director Althea de Guzman, and the two were immeHealth Organization has classified as “a variant of concern.” diately placed under quarantine.

Authorities earlier imposed a travel ban “We wish to inform the public that we ant),” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosa- on people arriving from India until May 14, identified two cases with the [Indian] vari- rio Vergeire said in a briefing Tuesday. in a bid to prevent the variant's entry.

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The variant has been blamed for India's COVID-19 surge that has stretched its health care system to the breaking point.

Travel restrictions, meanwhile, were also imposed on passengers from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lankawhich all ring India.

The India variant is identified as a “double mutant” because of the presence of two notable mutations in the spike protein of the virus,which are said to allow

the virus to easily gain entry into the human body and multiply faster.

B.1.617 has several mutations, including the E484Q and L452R. The first notable mutation, E484Q, which is similar to E484K (called "Eek") has been dubbed an "escape mutation" as it helps the virus get past the body's immune system.

The other notable mutation, L452R, was found by a US study to be an efficient Next page spreader.

WHO tags Indian strain more infectious (or contagious), of ‘global concern‘ A COVID-19 variant spreading in India, which is facing an explosive outbreak, appears to be more contagious and has been classified as being "of global concern," the World Health Organization said.

The UN health agency said the B.1.617 variant of COVID-19 first found in India last October seemed to be transmitting more easily.

"There is some available information to suggest increased transmissibility of the B.1.617," Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's lead on COVID-19, told reporters.

"As such, we are classifying this as a variant of concern at the global level," she said.

She also pointed to early studies "suggesting that there is some reduced

VOL. XXXV • NO. 86• 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM MAY 11)

1,113,175 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

4,734 56,752 NEW

ACTIVE

18,620

59

1,038,175

7,837

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

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President Duterte inspects weapons recovered after a recentclash between government forces and the renegade members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Federation Front after a meeting with BARMM officials, several local government officials, military and police commanders in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao on May 11, 2021. He was with Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, his former presidential assistant, during the inspection trip.

Rody asks BARMM to deny terrorists sanctuary ‘Lapulapu hailed from Tausug tribe’ PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday claimed Lapulapu, chieftain of Mactan island in Cebu, was from the Tausug tribe of Mindanao.

"I raise Lapulapu to the level and dignity of a true warrior.

And he was Tausug," Duterte said in his speech before leaders of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in Maguindanao.

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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday asked local leaders in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to refuse terrorist armed groups seeking sanctuary in their communities.

Duterte said keeping the bandits out of the BARMM was necessary to prevent him from ordering an all-out military offensive against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in the area.

“This cannot go on. If they cannot be stopped and there will be an all-out offensive, that will be a problem. If I give the order, I will no longer withdraw it,” he pointed out.

“I'm begging you. Help me. Because otherwise, if I give the or-

der for an all-out offensive, it will be bloody and it will be sad,” the President added.

Duterte made the remarks after meeting with BARMM officials, police and military commanders of the 6th Infantry Division (6ID) at Camp Brigadier General Gonzalo Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

His visit came three days after a firefight erupted between state forces and at least 100 BIFF members in the municipality of Datu Paglas in Maguindanao last May 8.

“I don’t want to kill Muslims. I don’t want to kill Christians. I want a peaceful life for all of us in the world,” Duterte said.

Palace, IATF back ‘Nayon’ vaccine area THE National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 said Tuesday the planned mega vaccination site at the Nayong Pilipino and other large venues would help the Philippines meet its target of 500,000 daily COVID-19 inoculations.

Retired Gen. Restituto Padilla, NTF spokesman, said the Task Force was “working to increase the

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A vacant lot at the Nayong Pilipino Foundation will be turned into a free and temporary vaccination facility. DOT photo

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REMARKABLE MARKER. Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral George V. Ursabia Jr, inspects a bouy that the PCG will install along with nine other state-of-the-art lighted ocean buoys to mark the Philippine Rise, formerly known as the Benham Rise, as part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. PCG photo

China claims PH deal on sea issue

By Vito Barcelo, Maricel V. Cruz, Macon Ramos-Araneta CHINA on Tuesday bared a consensus has already been reached with the Philippines to “properly and peacefully handle” issues on maritime disputes in the South China Sea disputes through "dialogue and negotiation."

When asked for comment on Manila’s plan to set up a logistics hub in the West Philippine Sea, Chinese Foreign Ministry Hua Chunying said moves that "stir up trouble" should be stopped.

"Our two countries have reached the

consensus to properly and peacefully handle the issue through dialogue and negotiation... We hope certain individuals will refrain from stirring up trouble on this issue," Hua said in her May 10 regular press conference in Beijing.

She, however, did not give details as to when the consensus was reached, the nature of the agreement whether it was verbal or written, and who were involved in the discussions.

Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Tuesday contradicted Defense and Foreign Affairs officials by insisting that the Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Next page

Marcos seeks reversal of SC poll ruling

By Rey E. Requejo FORMER Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court, acting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, to reverse its earlier decision dismissing his election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo on ground that it committed grave error in violation of the protestant’s constitutional right to due process.

In his 95-page motion for reconsideration, Marcos said the 15-member PET committed grave error because it sacrificed his constitutional right to due process in exchange for expediency.

“Because of protestant’s constitutional right to be heard, it is well-settled that between this constitutional right and the rigid and inflexible adherence by this Court to the wordings of the Rules of Court (on the non-existence of procedural rules), the conclusion should have been to give greater accord to the constitutional intent to give the parties all possible avenues to prove their case,” Marcos stressed.

Marcos recalled that on October 15, 2019, the PET, voting 11-2, required Marcos and Robredo to submit their respective Memoranda on why Marcos’ third “Cause of Action” should be heard.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Drug queen dies of heart attack

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She was arrested in 1998 for selling three kilograms of shabu during a buy-bust operation.

In 2000, she was caught by operatives of the now-defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Bucor spokesman Gabriel Chaclag at the East Avenue Medical Center af- Force playing at a hotel-casino when she was supposed to be under said Yu had been confined for a week ter testing positive for COVID.

ONVICTED drug queen Yu Yuk Lai has died of heart attack days after contracting COVID-19, the Bureau of Corrections said Tuesday evening.

India’s...

From A1

So far, the following COVID-19 variants have been detected in the country: B.1.1.7 (first detected in the UK), B.1.351 (first detected in South Africa), and P.3 (first detected in the Philippines).

The P.3 variant is not yet identified as a variant of concern since current data is insufficient to determine whether it will have significant public health implications.

In an online briefing, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government is exerting all efforts to contain the spread of the Indian variant.

“We are being very careful,” he said in Filipino. “We are doing everything to stop the entry of this variant.”

He added that the country has not yet reported community transmission of the Indian variant.

Returning Filipinos from India and the Indian subcontinent where travel restrictions are currently implemented need to follow strict health and quarantine protocols, Roque said.

“For those who want to return home from India, just tell the embassy and necessary measures are being undertaken for your repatriation. But you must under-

stand that you will be subjected to very strict quarantine requirements,” he said.

All travelers who wish to enter the Philippines, including those who have already been inoculated against COVID-19, are required to undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine, based on Resolution 114 issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) on May 6.

All arriving travelers must stay in a quarantine facility for 10 days and observe home quarantine in the last four days, the IATF said.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday logged more cases of the coronavirus variants first discovered in the United Kingdom (B.1.1.7) and South Africa (B.1.351).

De Guzman said 46 samples were subjected to genome sequencing on May 8 to detect more variant cases.

The latest run yielded 23 new B.1.351 cases, four more B.1.1.7 cases, and two cases of the B.1.617.

De Guzman said the B.1.1.7 variant has already been detected in 12 regions, with 358 cases in pandemic epicenter Metro Manila and 145 cases in Calabarzon.

The B.1.351 variant has also been detected in 15 regions, with Metro Manila having 602 cases and Calabarzon having

neutralization," meaning that antibodies appeared to have less impact on the variant in small-sample lab studies.

The WHO insisted though that it was far too early to interpret this to mean that the variant might have more resistance to vaccine protections.

"Based on current data, the COVID-19 vaccines remain effective at preventing disease and death in people infected with this variant," it said in a statement.

More details would be provided about the variant in the WHO's weekly epidemiological update on Tuesday, Van Kerkhove said.

India, suffering from one of the worst outbreaks in the world, reported nearly 370,000 fresh infections and more than 3,700 new deaths on Monday.

The devastating wave has overwhelmed India's healthcare system, and experts have said the official figures for cases and fatalities are much lower than the actual numbers.

It has for some time been feared that B.1.617 – which counts several sub-lineages with slightly different mutations and characteristics – might be contributing to the alarming spread.

But until now, WHO has listed it merely as a "variant of interest."

Now it will be added to the list containing three other variants of COVID-19— those first detected in Britain, Brazil and South Africa—which the WHO has classified as being "of concern."

They are seen as more dangerous than the original version of the virus by either being more transmissible, deadly or able to get past some vaccine protections.

Even if vaccine efficacy may be diminished against some variants of COVID-19, the jabs can still provide protection against serious illness and death.

And Van Kerkhove stressed that when it comes to the B.1.617 variant, for the time being "we don't have anything to suggest that our diagnostics or therapeutics and our vaccines don't work."

The WHO's chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan agreed, urging a "balanced approach.” AFP

China...

Duterte...

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Reef was not even inside the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In an online briefing, Roque questioned why so much fuss was being made about the presence of Chinese ships—at one point more than 200 of them—in the reef, when the area wasn’t even in the country’s EEZ. Roque said administration critics were making a big deal over the presence of the ships merely to disparage President Duterte’s pivot to China.

“We're making a big thing out of the fact, when that area was never under our possession,” Roque said.

Roque’s pronouncements drew sharp rebuke from Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., who issued a “last warning” against those talk as if they are more knowledgeable than the DFA. “This is my last warning. When it comes to foreign affairs, the Department of Foreign Affairs has the exclusive remit. I don’t come from diplomacy; I come from a life that settled the hash of a lotta people who talked tough and ended up biting dirt. I don’t talk, I deal,” Locsin said in a Twitter post.

Earlier in the day, the Department of Foreign Affairs clarified it has not altered its position on the Julian Felipe Reef issue amid Roque’s pronouncements.

The DFA has lodged almost daily diplomatic protests against China to press for the withdrawal of its militia vessels at the Juliann Felipe Reef, which is part of the Kalayaan Island Group and is located 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza town in Palawan.

In one of its diplomatic notes, the DFA said the Chinese vessels scattered in in Julian Felipe Reef “blatantly infringe upon Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.”

Roque’s remarks also directly contradicted those of the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), which first raised the alarm over the Chinese ships.

The proclamation will give the national government and local government units (LGUs) ample latitude to utilize appropriate funds, including the Quick Response Fund, in their response efforts to contain the continuing spread of the ASF and restore normalcy in ASF-affected areas.

Duterte also ordered the MAV management committee to ensure allocation of the volume importation is “fair and open” to all qualified importers of pork meat.

“It is imperative to immediately address the current supply gap in pork meat, to provide consumers with adequate and affordable food, and to lower inflation,” the EO stated.

Last month, the President issued EO 128 lowering the import tariff for fresh, chilled, or frozen pork at 5 percent for the first three months under the minimum access volume quota, 10 percent for the 4th to 12th month. After 12 months, it will return to the 30 percent tariff rate.

The rates for pork imports beyond the quota will be reduced by 15 percent for the first three months, 20 percent for

WHO...

From A1

Palace,..

From A1

number of vaccination sites with as many facilities as we can put up in anticipation of the mass rollout once the vaccine supplies start coming in in big numbers.”

Malacañang on Monday urged officials of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) board not to block the construction of a “mega vaccination site” in Parañaque City to be built for the government by tycoon Enrique Razon's International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI)

121 cases.

De Guzman said areas with a spike or clustering of COVID-19 cases are prioritized for genome sequencing.

Infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvana said incoming international travelers are usually the ones found to be carrying coronavirus variants.

“When we see more variants being transmitted in the community it means some are slipping through our protocols and that’s why we have to tighten up,” he said.

The Philippines reported 4,734 additional COVID-19 infections on Tuesday bringing the total number of infections to 1,113,547.

The new infections reported was the lowest since March 18.

Twelve laboratories failed to submit their results on time.

Vergeire on Saturday said the lower number of cases being reported in recent weeks could be attributed to the lower number of samples being received by testing laboratories.

A total of 59 new fatalities were reported, bringing the death toll to 18,620.

The DOH also announced that 7,837 more patients have recovered from the illness, bringing the total recoveries to 1,038,175.

There were 56,752 active cases, of

hospital arrest.

In 2017, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency seized some P15 million worth of shabu inside her detention cell and at the condominium of her daughter in San Miguel, Manila, right outside Malacañang Palace. which 93.4 percent were mild, 2.2 percent of which were asymptomatic, 1.8 percent of which were severe, 1.4 percent of which were critical, and 1.17 percent of which were moderate.

Data also showed that 60 percent of the country’s intensive care unit beds were in use while 41 percent of the mechanical ventilators were occupied.

In the National Capital Region, 67 percent of the ICU beds were being used, while 49 percent of the mechanical ventilators were in use.

The OCTA Research group that has been tracking the pandemic said new daily cases in Metro Manila could drop to about 1,000 if the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) is extended until the end of May. Dr. Guido David said the current reproduction number was at 0.65 with an average of fewer than 2,000 cases per day.

Also on Tuesday, party-list Rep. Ronnie Ong urged the government to step up its information drive on COVID-19 which has now mutated into more contagious and deadly variants.

Ong said many Filipinos are still not taking the COVID-19 pandemic very seriously because most of them are still clueless of the pain and the anguish that patients experience aside from the massive cost of treatment.

Rody...

From A1

The military has since cleared Datu Paglas of BIFF members and identified the leader of the armed group as Mohiden Animbang, alias Karialan, who was reportedly involved in IED (improvised explosive device) attacks in Datu Saudi Ampatuan last March, which left two people dead and two others wounded.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday asked local leaders in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to refuse terrorist armed groups seeking sanctuary in their communities.

Duterte said keeping the bandits out of the BARMM was necessary to prevent him from ordering an all-out military offensive against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in the area.

“This cannot go on. If they cannot be stopped and there will be an all-out offensive, that will be a problem. If I give the order, I will no longer withdraw it,” he pointed out.

“I'm begging you. Help me. Because otherwise, if I give the order for an allout offensive, it will be bloody and it will be sad,” the President added.

Duterte made the remarks after meeting with BARMM officials, police and military commanders of the 6th Infantry Division (6ID) at Camp Brigadier General Gonzalo Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

His visit came three days after a firefight erupted between state forces and at least 100 BIFF members in the municipality of Datu Paglas in Maguindanao last May 8.

“I don’t want to kill Muslims. I don’t want to kill Christians. I want a peaceful life for all of us in the world,” Duterte said.

The military has since cleared Datu Paglas of BIFF members and identified the leader of the armed group as Mohiden Animbang, alias Karialan, who was reportedly involved in IED (improvised explosive device) attacks in Datu Saudi Ampatuan last March, which left two people dead and two others wounded.

Earlier, Duterte visited Cotabato to convince the BIFF to stop using violence, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

Marcos...

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the 4th to 12 months. The rate will be back to 40 percent after a year.

Meanwhile, pork producers welcomed Duterte's declaration, said ProPork president Edwin Chen, adding the new directive was long overdue and the group would like to see the calamity fund given to the affected pork producers in full transparency.

“ASF first hit us when Secretary William Dar assumed office. He should have asked the President to declare a state of calamity during that time. If there was an earlier declaration, then the DA and LGUs can utilize the calamity fund to indemnify affected pork producers,” he said.

Had the ASF outbreak been contained earlier, it could have averted the staggering loss of over P70 billion to the industry, Chen said.

From August 2019 to May 2021, about 25 percent of the industry’s hogs fell prey to ASF. ProPork already called for the creation and release of an indemnification fund to affected pork producers at P10,000 per head.

In a related development, the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) assured the government of its support to further reduce the rate of inflation during the second quarter de-

Foundation.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made this appeal after Razon said he was at a "loss for words to describe" the NPF board for opposing the project.

Roque reminded the NPF that it was a government-owned and –controlled corporation (GOCC) and still under the supervision of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Our call to the Board of Nayong Pilipino, all GOCCs are under the supervision of the President and we hope all their decisions do not go against the very important mission of protecting the lives of our citizens.”

spite sharp increases in the cost of producing processed meat products during the past 6 months.

“We are aware that the President’s declaration of a state of calamity due to ASF effectively freezes proposed adjustments in our selling prices in spite of a three-fold increase in the prices of imported raw material. Nevertheless, we will need to tighten our belts further until we can get relief by the middle of this year just to help ensure that inflation will not rise any further,” the group said in a statement.

For his part, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said extra funds might now be accessed to help hog raisers recover from the ASF. The former Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agriculture Modernization cited the case of the coconut infestation dubbed cocolisap in 2014 when the government was able to contain the infestation within six months of the State of Calamity declaration.

Senator Joel Villanueva said the Department of Agriculture should now focus on concrete measures to eradicate the disease that has severely crippled the local hog industry.

“Now the real work begins," said Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee.

After the parties submitted their briefs, the tribunal sought the opinion of both the Office of the Solicitor General and the Commission on Elections on whether it could hear evidence on the massive cheating that occurred in the provinces of Maguindanao, Basilan and Lanao del Sur. Both agencies replied in the affirmative.

Despite the pronouncements of both the OSG and the Comelec, the PET decided to dismiss Marcos’ protest, citing the absence of specific rules regarding annulment of elections -- which was Marcos’ third Cause of Action.

Marcos noted that this did not sit well with then presiding Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta who wrote that “the absence of a specific rule should not dissuade the tribunal from taking cognizance and giving due course to contests praying for the annulment of election results.”

The movant said Peralta’s opinion was shared by Justice Samuel Gaerlan who stated: “his Court has consistently recognized the existence of annulment of elections as a remedy available to a losing candidate if it be alleged that an election is tainted with irregularities and frauds so numerous and so undeniably characteristic of an intention to defraud and defeat the true expression of the will of the electorate.”

Last February 16, 2021, the PET voted on the Leonen ruling but released their decision more than a month later on 19 April 2021.

“What is at stake here is the second highest position in the country.

This is not something to be taken lightly. To dismiss such an important election protest because of the absence of procedural rules” is an affront to our Constitutional right of due process,” Marcos told the SC magistrates.

According to Marcos, technicalities should not be a bar to the determination of the people’s will.

‘Lapulapu..

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“He killed the first invader of our country. I am very proud of him,” he added.

Last month, Sen. Christopher Go, in his speech during the quincentennial year celebration of the “Battle of Mactan,” made the same claim that Lapulapu was from Mindanao.

Go eventually apologized for the revised version of history that he shared, adding that he is ready to listen and learn from historical experts.

The incident in Cebu prompted the National Historical Commission of the Philippines to issue a statement to protect the origins of the pre-colonial hero. “[It was Spanish expedition chronicler Antonio] Pigafetta who mentioned that during the Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521, Lapulapu was the chieftain of Mactan,” said NHCP chairman Rene Escalante.

“NHCP considers other popular accounts and stories outside of these historical sources as speculative and folkloric and should not be regarded as established facts of history,” he added.

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House retains ‘gender identity’ Proviso in new equality bill

By Maricel Cruz A COMMITTEE in the House of Representatives on Tuesday thumbed down the proposal of a lawmaker to take out “gender identity” from proposed the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Bill.

At a congressional hearing conducted by the House Committee on Human Rights chaired by Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay voted 13-1 in favor of retaining gender identity in the bill.

Deputy Speaker Benny Abante said gender identity should not be included in the proposed measure, saying “it would be redundant already considering that we have already gender and sexual orientation.”

The committee deliberated on Substitute Bill to HBs 136, 4216, 4587, 4647, 4684, 5356, 5969, 6024, 6098 & 7217 – or the Comprehensive AntiDiscrimination Bill-- of which Abante is one of the authors.

The billl provides that protected categories include sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics.

“Consequently, discrimination based on those grounds is prohibited.”

But Abante, a pastor, echoed his reservations about including gender identity in the bill.

“Perhaps, gender expression, I would somehow agree with that but gender identity, palagay ko is redundancy of term,” he added.

In response, Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, also the bill’s one author, disagreed with Abante, saying that gender identity and sexual orientation are two different terms.

Subic exports rise 48%, imports up 29% SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Subicbased companies and port users in this Freeport registered an increase of 48% in exports and 29% in imports in the first three months of this year despite less-thanideal business conditions brought about by the continuing Covid-19 pandemic.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said Subic’s export value in the first quarter of 2021 hit US$321.61 million, while imports reached US $462.5 million.

The Q1 2021 exports was higher by US$104.31 millionthan the US$217.3million record in Q1 2020. On the other hand, Q1 2021 imports was bigger by US$103.3 million, compared to US$359.2 million in Q1 2020.

“The growth in the first quarter of 2021 is very much significant when matched against last year’s records because we were not yet in a pandemic in the first two and a half months last year,” Eisma pointed out.

“This means there are more winners than there were losers in Subic despite Covid-19, and that the SBMA’s thrust to make Subic enterprises more adaptive to changes under the new normal is also paying off,” she added.

Export figures from the SBMA Trade Facilitation and Compliance Department (TFCD) indicated that Japanese manufacturer Sanyo Denki Philippines, Inc. emerged as the biggest winner among business locators in Subic that in the first quarter of 2021 The firm, which operates three factories at the Subic Techno Park to produce uninterrupted power supply units, cooling fans, servo amplifiers, and stepping motors, posted a freight-on-board (FOB) value of US$79.5 million.

ALL IN THE FAMILY.

A family of three in Rosario, Cavite makes a living producing smoked fish (tinapa) inside their house on May 11, 2021. The family has been making smoked fish for their livelihood almost a decade only to see their gains decimated by the virus pandemic.

JR Josue

WORKING WITH CARE. Female employees make garments at a tailoring shop in Sitio Taguisan, Antipolo, Rizal on Tuesday (May 11, 2021). The textile industry is among the sectors that are allowed to operate subject to health and safety protocols amid the coronavirus pandemic.Rico H. Borja

Immigration revamps 430 frontline officers at NAIA

By Vito Barcelo

M

ORE than 430 Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) were reshuffled and given new terminal assignments as part of the agency’s effort to prevent corruption among its personnel at the country’s premiere port.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said a total of 356 frontline immigration officers currently assigned at the NAIA were affected by the terminal rotation scheme which would be carried out today ( May 12).

Morente said that the BI reshuffle was part of the initiatives of the agency to cleanse and reorganize its ranks.

It was learned that aside from BI officers manning the NAIA’s immigration booths, the terminal assignments of

79 immigration supervisors were also changed as part of the reshuffle.

The objective of this rotation scheme is to avoid fraternization in the workplace, which studies have pinpointed as a possible source of corruption in government,” Morente said.

Lawyer Carlos Capulong, BI Port Operations Division (POD) chief, said the reshuffle also aims to ensure that sufficient manpower is available to serve the traveling

public based on the volume of flights and passengers in a particular terminal.

“We also want to create a positive work environment by seeing to it that the workload of our immigration officers and their duty supervisors are evenly distributed,” Capulong said.

He added that transferring the said personnel to a different workplace and setting would help enhance their knowledge and skills as border control officers of the country.

Capulong disclosed that Morente already approved his recommendation to rotate the terminal assignments of BINAIA personnel every 3 or 4 months.

“With more than half of our personnel already inoculated with the first dose, we have more confidence in performing our daily duties,” said Capulong.

STUDENTS’ GRANT. Tabaco city Mayor Krisel Lagman distributes educational assistance grants to 260 deserving college students courtesy of LGU-Tabaco and DSWD through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation project.

Norman Cruz

P15-m worth of party drugs seized in QC

By Joel Zurbano GOVERNMENT agents assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport intercepted smuggled shipments of ecstasy worth at least P15 million.

The composite team from the Bureau of Customs, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and NAIA InterAgency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG) also arrested the claimants of the three packages containing 9,243 party drug tablets.

The authorities arrested Rowena Canapi and Michael De Guzman after claiming the packages at Quezon City Postal Office around 1 p.m.

The packages, shipped by a certain “Agner Buzeta” and “Victor Martis” from the Netherlands, were misdeclared as “Hand Bag & Shoes”, “Baby Clothes” and “Clothes”.

The Customs - NAIA coordinated with officials of PDEA and IADITG to conduct a controlled delivery operation after confirming that the shipments contain a prohibited drug.

The bureau turned over the illegal drugs to the PDEA for further profiling and case build up against the importers and responsible persons for possible prosecution in violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 in relation to Section 1401 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero commended the Port of NAIA under the supervision of district collector Carmelita Talusan for their accomplishments in going after drug smuggling.

He also praised the men from PDEA and the Interdiction Task Force for successfully conducting the antidrugs controlled delivery operation.

Villar renews pitch for food ventures, urban gardening

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

FOOD-related ventures have been thriving and helping the sustenance of many Filipinos rendered jobless due to global health crisis, said Senator Cynthia A.Villar as Las Pinas celebrates its 7th Food Festival & Urban Gardening Competition.

Villar congratulated the winners in the twin competitions who got their corresponding cash prizes. Meanwhile, while on quarantine and lockdown, Villar said many Filipinos who lost their jobs especially those in the tourism and travel industry embarked on online business related to foods and urban gardening.

Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on Agriculture and Food, said many Filipinos have turned food sellers, using all forms of social media platforms to sell their products. She stressed many have learned to cook and bake while others have honed their cooking skills.

She said the so-called “quarantreats”

or foods oftentimes prepared by Filipinos became popular. “We have the Dalgona coffee and the ube-cheese pandesal, among others.

Another popular activity in this time of crisis, Villar said, is urban gardening or farming wherein people plant vegetables even in small spaces due to limited supply and access to food.

Taguig app only tool for list-up THE Taguig City government on Tuesday reminded residents it never uses Facebook and other social media platforms to make appointments and confirm schedules for COVID-19 vaccination.

The city, according to Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano, is using the Taguig Registry for Assessment and City Engagements (TRACE) Application as registration tool.

He said only those with a confirmed slot from the City Health Office can be vaccinated on-site.

Cayetano reminded residents to be wary of unscrupulous individuals offering vaccination slots online. He warned that individuals involved in these activi-

ties can face criminal charges.

The city chief executive said at the moment, they prioritize the medical and emergency frontliners, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities in their continuing vaccination rollout.

Taguig strictly follows the vaccine priority list set by Department of Health as they are the ones most vulnerable to the virus.

“The city continues to vaccinate those who are in categories A1, A2, at A3. We prioritize them because they are the most vulnerable sector.

These are the most vulnerable sectors that if infected, there are high chances that they will experience severe symptoms,” Cayetano said. Joel Zurbano

A4

18,000 arrested for face mask violations—Año

News

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021

AUTHORITIES have so far apprehended a total of 18,862 people from May 6 to 10 for not wearing face masks properly amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Monday.

In a televised meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, Año reported that of this number, 9,379 were given a warning, 8,027 were fined, 491 rendered community service, 904 were arrested, and 61 were subjected to inquest proceedings.

President Rodrigo Duterte last week ordered the arrest of people who are caught not properly wearing a face mask.

Año said he and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra are discussing guidelines on the implementation of rules on wearing face masks and the prohibition on mass gatherings.

PH 2nd most vaccinated in SEA

ALMOST FINISHED. This aerial photo shows two bridge segments of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), now only 152 meters apart, with 34 out of 56 cables already installed to complete the entire tollway bridge, as riders are treated to the scenic Mactan Channel. Construction activity has been nonstop to beat the deadline of substantial completion by yearend 2021 and set for full commercial operations within the first quarter of 2022.

Palace hopeful of economic bounceback

By Maricel V. Cruz MALACAÑANG on Tuesday expressed optimism that the Philippine economy would recover from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-induced slump.

This, after the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) posted a smaller contraction of 4.2 percent in the first three months of 2021, compared to an 8.3-percent decline in the fourth quarter of 2020 that led to the -9.5 percent growth last year.

While the Palace is saddened by the first-quarter GDP outturn, it is still expecting an economic rebound in the next quarters, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online press briefing.

“We are saddened that our GDP figures remain negative. But we are happy at the same time because from -8, the country’s negative growth is now -4.2. Meaning, we are recovering,” Roque said.

Roque said he is confident that the country will attain a positive economic growth through the government’s “Ingat Buhay para sa Hanapbuhay (Protect Life for Livelihood)” campaign.

“Our economic growth is improving. However, it is still not positive.

We’re about to take off so our appeal is to protect life for livelihood,” he said.

Roque said rebounding back to growth territory is achievable, with the cooperation of the public.

Comelec awards software deal to Smartmatic THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has awarded the contract for the procurement of software for the systems to be used in the May 9, 2022 polls worth P400 million to the joint venture of SMMT-TIM 2016 Inc. and Smartmatic USA Corp.

“On behalf of the Commission en banc, the undersigned hereby awards to Joint Venture of SMMT-TIM 2016, Inc. and Smartmatic USA Corp., the contract for the Procurement of Automated Election System (AES) Software for the Election Management System (EMS), Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) and Consolidation and Canvassing System (CCS) to be used in the 2022 National and Local Elections,” Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas said in the notice of award released on Tuesday.

The EMS compiles the number and profile of registered voters, their geographic locations, polling precinct information, among others.

These pieces of information are necessary for the design of official ballots for the polls.

The CCS conducts the automated tallying and monitoring of data received from polling precincts and lower levels of the board of canvassers.

Meanwhile, Comelec has resumed the conduct of satellite voter registration in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) or modified GCQ (MGCQ).

ARTA orders FDA to end permit delay

By Othel V. Campos

T

HE Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has issued a showcause order to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) office for sitting on over 600 drug applications despite full compliance with all documentary requirements.

ARTA Investigation Enforcement and Litigation director Jedrek Ng on Tuesday forwarded the order to FDA Center for Drug Regulation and Research (CDRR) director Jesusa Cirunay to allow the agency to explain the circumstance.

There are at least 23 affidavits of several pharmaceutical companies that complained of processing delays by FDA-CDRR on their applications filed as far back as 2014.

“If we look at these applications, these are not complicated applications.

Most of them are for automatic renewal for products na we use already and for products that need registration or approval. Some don’t even pose risk to people or end-users,” said ARTA Director General Jeremiah Belgica.

“We are at a loss why the agency has not acted on the applications. We heard this has been happening quite frequently, based on complaints from

applicants,” he added.

Cirunay was given seven working days from receipt of the Order to conduct an inventory of all pending permits, licenses, clearances, or applications and to immediately release all applications that have been pending beyond the prescribed processing time.

The agency is also expected to submit to ARTA a compliance report with a list of all permits, licenses, clearances, or applications issued pursuant to the Show Cause Order.

“This is plain and simple delay and bureaucracy issue. I want them to explain why they have to the process any difficult than it is. Don’t toy with bureaucracy when it’s the peoples’ lives at stake,” Belgica said.

BANCA RIDE.

Residents take a banca as the only mode of transportation on the Montalban River near Wawa Dam in Montalban, Rizal.

Boatmen charge a fare of 25 pesos per passenger.

Manny Palmero

THE Philippines is now second among Southeast Asian nations with the most number of COVID-19 vaccines administered.

In a report by National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., data show that as of May 10, the country has administered a total of 2,409,235 vaccine shots, more than two months after it started its vaccination campaign.

The seven-day average of doses administered is 65,879.

The Philippines is next to Indonesia with 21,993,299 doses administered since its rollout began on Jan. 13; Cambodia is at third with 2,284,788 since Feb. 28.

Worldwide, the Philippines ranked 41st out of 194 and 15th out of 47 countries in Asia. Rio N. Araja and Jun David

NTF-ELCAC hit as Non bares death threats

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz SENATOR Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday chided the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC) for its “arrogance” in keeping Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. as one of its spokesmen despite the lawmaker’s comments that a military officer should not occupy a civilian position in government.

Lacson also said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., as vice chairman of the task force, failed on their promise to the senator to remove Parlade as spokesperson of the government’s anti-insurgency agency despite his controversial statements red-tagging groups and personalities.

This developed as the woman who began the community pantry movement in the country to aid those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic revealed Tuesday that she has received death and rape threats.

Ana Patricia Non, who organized the first food bank at Maginhawa St. in Quezon City, also reported being harassed after her number was used in an online food delivery service.

On Facebook, she wrote, “I cried yesterday due to exhaustion. I’m overwhelmed.”

Non said she had missed several interviews and meetings and failed to visit the Maginhawa Community Pantry.

PCG getting ready to secure PH seas with marine aids to navigation

By Honor Blanco Cabie

THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), determined to staple security to the country’s eastern coastline, is getting everything ready to mitigate the risk of maritime incidents by eventually marking significant areas with marine Aids to Navigation (AtoN).

Admiral George Ursabia Jr, PCG Commandant, had announced the arrival of three of 10 modern Lighted Ocean Buoys that will enhance the PCG capability to safeguard, safely mark, and enforce activity restrictions on the Philippine Rise, formerly known as the Benham Rise.

Ursabia stressed the installation of

the three buoys on the Philippine Rise will allow the PCG to mark the area for safe navigation for shipping and to ensure that all observe the area as being a critical part of Philippine territory and designated as a food supply exclusive zone.

At the same time, the Philippine government will be able to effectively en-

force banning mining and exploration activities in the Rise Plateau, an extinct volcanic ridge in the Philippine Sea about 250 kilometers east of the northern coastline of Dinapigue, Isabela.

In May 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte designated the 13 million-hectare (80,000 square kms) Rise a protected food supply exclusive zone.

State lawyers reassure SC on ATA

By Rey E. Requejo

STATE lawyers on Tuesday assured the justices of the Supreme Court that the implementation of the AntiTerrorism Act of 2020 will not result in the violation of the people’s fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution.

As the oral arguments on the 37 petitions challenging the constitutionality of Republic Act 11479 continued, the Office of the Solicitor General through Assistant Solicitor General Marissa dela Cruz-Galandines made this assurance.

This was after Associate Justices Henri Jean Paul Inting and Amy Lazaro-Javier raised the apprehension of the

petitioners that the ATA would lead to rampant violations of human rights and the Bill of Rights.

Justice Inting interpellated Galandines and questioned the OSG lawyer on whether the President, his Cabinet officials, and leaders of law enforcement agencies have issued statements assuring full respect to human rights.

“I’m asking this question in order that the public will be assured that the ATA will be implemented in full respect with human rights and the Bill of Rights,” Inting told Galandines.

In response, Galandines guaranteed the SC justices that the government has line-up several measures and programs for the efficient implementation of the law.

PFIZER SHOTS. Government officials welcome the arrival of the first shipment of

193,050 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine donated through COVAX Facility at the NAIA Terminal 2 in Pasay City on Monday. To date, the COVAX Facility has delivered four shipments of vaccines to the Philippines as part of a global initiative to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines among rich and poor countries. Joey O. Razon

Opinion Opinion Opinion Opinion Opinion Opinion Opinion TLearningAnoth L curv Lea pinion Opinion TtheTO

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Meanwhile students are also adjusting to stay. ofhis that change in the he arrival of Europeans here their inve own unknown lands and recreate tive ofin the cybersecurity firmcorrect FireEye, has itseducation top officials resigning en masse. vare deThey he ch dde en hepresided eadto nenArmy ng ooour sea the mass murders inchange Samar during They here to e adversary a absence yonly o isSfor aClinton’s ebanks.

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Ombudsman’s field DUTERTE’S order for po mcene The organization mandated to protect the civilian of that is in the education or functioning equi ofSec State Hillary processes and undermine societies. reach out to their students and enable them to we should put on o a ors “ n he of c ear interfercredentials and good reputation from of that change is in the education alarm bells over the Russian hackers In of any this heist should asover In 2019, the Human Rights Watch regeography. marked theand beginGiven the debate over the environment the”It security president Tom Burt has been quoted ashesayraised alarm bells the Russian hackers Instability any event, this event, heist should as to ma the Fil-American war, toserve name a few,serve thedemands actors have targeted organizations associshort-sightedness Inover doing our best tofor the for regulators, government agencies arrival in theraised Philippines developed as each thestay. country’s fate during those years gn con ovecontinuing sy ove Russ nworld ealsoesystem. ce ha caper h s arres UCPB cape the much-changed of schoolwork purpose a ideal fact-fi ing to not make do with may beofing an p learn, notwithstanding the great challenges hose wMicrosoft hou face masks or controversy over the Russian interferUCPB has also spotted state-sponelections in favor of guandepaign.” nes wepa are concerned ha and population, stay. system noting thatsecurity while multiple cyber-espionage acall wake-up callfor not only for banks.

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SALN shall be allowed. and methods—where the stuWill general have awmakers who warned ha er e’s still be able to learn i Th ough a m o so ca ed synch onous Bu expe s say Moscow s he adve sa y numbe o US secu y expe s ns s ng yhackers ns de he p n as nitely nothing comfortable about doing tivists, environmentalists, community leadworld’s longest and strictest, the lockdown but the fi ght against their wor Th ough a m x o so ca ed synch onous But experts say Moscow is the adversary number of US security experts insisting lp. In fact, asthe story story teller has his or her own “construct” offor tive and aggressive cyber operations of all these two countries have been getting from financial or state gains or just plain their work.

Sure, they REALITY ependent on globalization; thereafter, the exchange a trove of accounts, written or otherwise, cou d be e eased he o c a o h s o ic process.. as this hacking group has been cratic challenger Joe Biden’s side given the After all, activities that seek to comprotheiras respective peoples. giving himgroup only six months to hoping serve and found wanting. is not the the only icly—to lengthy record.

In real world, however, and espeWe were thatcomfo Omb dents and present at the same process.. this hacking been cratic challenger Biden’s side given After activities that seek to comprorus mcases otherwise. ment.

Students will work in the same manner forhas many years, ha wodua es hem he all mos g all, ven Russ aasynch sthe ha track he Russ an hacke sina the e backthat he dcoronav have been and asynch onous me hods—whe e Joe he s u Ittime? order on“gotcha” arres nd vteacher sare no wear ng the worries them the most, given Russia’s that hackers are back ave cou been simtime.” the Trump administration. moments have become such luand onous me hods—whe e he s u ers, and journalists.” the comfort of their h many facets of our his-s the failed to contain the pandemic. enough of cultures, ideas, and technology was ofRussian that period in our history.

Forty eight corruption. each changing with every hemise ep esenas adevices, ve eques snarrative. asystems, coua fewstory “...One such example ofsome this is the An expert, John by Hultquist, execuresponsible for of the most imposed and high digital even entire toa tell.

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An expe John Hu qu s sen o execu UCPB wh ch has seen from our van age po n s o cons dererwise organizations in US soil c a y as he pub c schoo s open a ew Trump’s re-election, the reports coming out undertakings in the past few years.

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Unfortunate ing to make dohewith available to time.” the Trump administration. “gotcha” have become such luport in their children.

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Samar during COVID-19 over an entire transforThey are here to sweeks ua onsaying cou doperations be sbeg atonio knto ythese nect thelurking narrative surrounding Spanish rec ve “ersof s inreach oo crue sa dcybe ACT Teachident Marcos and those who presided noting that while multiple cyber-espionage even own espec ve y—educa o In shome yuseless ple the guidelines have be dents, whether personal orcorrupt historical rests Ombudsman s e nves ga on o ce come om p ospe ous am o force protected and faItalian scholar who even decades, anddeca the terly as these guys are they or functioning equipment.

The time to perfect his argument If these latest hacking attempts on othIn case of the Russian for out to their students and enable them to crative, even highly sought and developed for this, so complainin If latest hacking attempts on oththe case of the Russian operations for crative, even highly sought and developed and with connectivity, or they could also al inAt the planet, using as do may the no have itself ng is that Russian military beRussian no anMicrosoft aPhilippines sed over aHuman a can mdeveloped be sactivated oveas each heinRuss hacke smake hwar, s he sname shou d sethe chilling on the day it began.”

He wants Inhacking 2019 the Rights Watch reeto en Chthey d en adequa e the raised alarm bells the hackers ould TWO confirmed cases. this the opast make do w hechno ava ab e race echno ogy oindwriting, toserve few, heasa requ sve easover mass es ng aggress ve actors have targeted organizations associarrival in theoperations thestay country’s fate during those years e en Ch en may no have adequa e heavily on the story teller.

In the case of w h o may have o he bus ness n e es s o he pu pose o a ac nd ng p obe altogethe ng o do w h ava ab e ogy o ers Rep France Cas ro wh e Gabr e a kept a detailed journal of events of the would want everybody believe.

Like in mation program, or to begin prepamay not be an ideal place to focus and to altogether new waygov o ing of lifestyle checks for learn, notwithstanding the great challenges erwise secure organizations in US soil Trump’s re-election, the reports coming out undertakings in the few years.

Hackfollowed the first place. vored the powerful over the weak.

In finding our stri find it difficult to be effective at their jobs erwise secure organizations in US soil Trump’s re-election, the reports coming out undertakings in the past few years.

Hackmost sophisticated methods available, it is hackers have targeted 200 US organizations time at all.

Indeed, they have become part stay. no ng ha wh e mu p e cybe esp onage on y o banks Th s s noting that while cyber-espionage lla and This the death banks. isac of its ated add withgetthe upcoming election, the yexongsituations unc on ng equ pmen Theof banned home Iin HAVE country went onene tomultiple construct their own na-talked each ou oa sthe he senab uden s hem and enab eces hem oon could not over theso facta that and con rac ng ona onmorepar the Magellan subsequent Someone who eques sand copy obe an opandemic ounc ncome aestablishment hese a ecan nd death penalty, under the Constituported that “State security forces and govvoyage, wrote how Magellan wasnational beojust equ pmen The home all distress and conflict as the Philippines is the epicenter in the They each ou oexpedition he scorner uden and eanxosou learn new things.

Parents could “Wealth does not translat s Rep Ar Brosas s ammed posed by these untested methods.

IN A previous column I about PresiThey could have tc involve the most hotly contested electornot of the security but of ers are lurking just around corner and member that one cri rations for the elections using the only available medium of instrucnot farfetched to think that the same (political parties, think tanks, consultants of everyday life. involve the most hotly contested electornot just of the security establishment but of ers are lurking just around the and As a result, many Filipinos The war against illegal drugs, for ac o In s the have a geofednational o gan za oonsevents s well gove nmen agenc pertspoints are “most concerned with that of the ent’s corner. this es as asquaran the And eventual actors have targeted organizations associment agencies tional identities. practice more of view, of accounts may no be an dea p ace oomost ocus and othe while thereafter an article written by ea nand winactivated hs and ng he gbe ea enges c assoc aea snSALN mus pno esen afundraising no aMicrosoft zed ca ed cha nanywhere he SALN—assum ng we can ssieged by natives inin Cebu attemptcountry was at that time, there were misne and rea men facactuales sons for ious about where the next meal may come may no be an dea p ace o ocus and he said before lawmakers at The teachers themselves are having a difno w hs ng he g ea cha enges and with al race planet, using as they do the Microsoft itself is that Russian military and communities diff hacking operations can be in no done at any time and against and with connectivi and even the main Democratic What makes these activities dangerous he na ona governmen ’s fa ure o tion for crimes, to be reimposed for ernment-backed paramilitaries continue to tion.

11-nation ASEAN with a total of 265,888 casal race in the planet, using as they do the itself is that Russian military hacking operations can be activated no dent Duterte’s achievements.

Now, May next year. if Eleazar says aRodrigo edupcoming w h he upcom ngthe e ec he ex nessential es do ngand essen a andwhat Russian military intelligence unit..which are joined Chinese view the police with mistrust cluded in the shortlist Otherwise theBut Preshas emboldened some expedition’s remaining with the election, ex- on myth making, historical are petranspired during that period contra- ated Mabayo, Third Secretary eexample, eRaisa ofrom, ho yifour om he owne ohackers he have access oadversary. hem— hen we can y to n 200 new hsuch ngs Pa en sand coumost d be anx ing help Rajah Humabon, a methods recently takes and lownhave points but there posed by hese un es ed meof hods even they did not have toand worry Tuesday. fact, he empath said ficult time adjusting to the new demands of ea new hea ngs Pawere en shigh coudrug dve be anx as by we as acce era ed vacc na ons any perceived Given an platform) for cyber attacks.

Microsoft vice is these are arbitrarily doneevents such aarrest brazen posed by hese un es ed me hods find it be ditN improve our sophisticated it In hackers targeted US organizations time at au all.

Indeed, they have become part former Meanwhile, students are also adjusting to find itisright difficult to most sophisticated methods available, it available, isdoes provAnd derused, asshwhen sthreaten ance much-needed by F -atwthe have targeted 200 US organizations time all.

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It is No. 21 in the world.

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Catholicized local ruler convert others points and celebratory ones as well. ous abou whe e he nex mea may come a COVID-19 infection. erning lifestyle checks isDa illo The eache s hemse ves a e hav ng a d their work.

Sure, they may be teaching from environment, the tanks, security andtanks, stability of Tom Burts has beenves quoted as sayandng wayward manner ass what happened to ofpresident short-sightedness.

In ous abou whe e he nex mea may come the much-changed demands of schoolwork.

The eache hemse a e hav ng a d using the not farfetched to think that the same can (political parties, think consultants o ach eve herd mmun y as soon as everyday life. using the only availa not farfetched to think that the same can (political parties, think consultants of everyday life. chief p nos dur he hea h cr s ic process.. as this hacking group has been oe Biden’s side given the Russ an m athe y states, nunit..which e and gence un wh ch me a ound hey eifChinese o ned bysome Ch nese e o Juan s innSebassecu ng ommand, byUCPB storytellers, this casehomes, ing out.

Their narrative they insist Russian military intelligence timeworld around they are joined she indowns securing But the people the President for instances attack and kill political acmacy in the Philippine Embassy in Mao ing nspec ng o these ng pho os oGermany heheto new esThis ywould esocieties checks achief eof hethe etakes dislodged yesterday and is barely the Still even if even itdeaby was the Catholicism loyalty toof Spain.

MaBut that another story.

Back things intime his brief in Everybody isaktrying his or her best Theincan Philippines’ greatest depression and ashoweve well as integrity intends to office, ask to aa that the initial failed attempt on Biden’s which unhinge the banking systhe1. comfort of their but there ismakes defiom even hey dto noThey have oand woat ylove month, afundraising new the ber Board of Trustees PhilHealth cu me adheus ng osome demands obe Power and position led cope, butCongress wetion. should may have grown up with technology, om even hey d dthe no have ododone wo y be done anywhere at any timetime and against and even the main Democratic fundraising What activities dangerous POINT cu me ad us ng ohave new demands oL be anywhere any and against and evennations the main Democratic poss eandhe order o arres and nDemoWhat these activities dangerous some most provocaandand high profile tion.

Myanmar coup poses he geader ea hdemocratea o he democ amakes and anfor an hacke sthe pa y nposes Demo engendered in wake ms dev cesitsbbashing executive then told and retold—proselytized, realasresponsible non-debatable has of been scrutinized dridstill provides an interesting insight and aby the greatest threat toesthecommunity Iranian hackers presumably inesumab ces. a eason “L v ng beyond one s means” s SALN sha be a owed gellan believed that his display of force to Mabayo’s notes on the quincentennial and standing of companies and institutions campaign was “...specifically targeted tem.

Or, to companies providing essential be able to learn in this new environHe takes issue with the ph nitely nothing comfortable about doing your the “drugs war.”

In May 2019, two top tivists environmentalists leadabou a COV D 19 n ec on sons that will come 23,000 cases below No. 20, Italy, 288,761. then he would set a precedent that world’s longest and strictest the lockdown but mostly for recreation and socialization. he wo k Su e hey may be each ng om any perceived adversary.

Given such an platform) for cyber attacks.

Microsoft vice is when these are done in such a brazen In the second quarter of 2020, the Philipabou a COV D 19 n ec on rein of the PNP. Police Lt. General much more as president and CEO tive and aggressive cyber operations of all ss,have been getting from he wo k Su e hey may be each ng om police officials to feel entitled to any perceived adversary.

Given such an Meanw platform) for cyber attacks.

Microsoft vice is when these are done in such a brazen Meanwhile, studen ord nary c zens no wear ng masks written or otherwise, crespective pthis ocess as hgroup sthose hack ngbeen g oup has been a c Joe cha enge ItJoe Bgiven den s de gicven he esto ha seek o comp ly—to their peoples. and cfound wanting. is not thesthe only dece ved ASEAN fresh perspective on will how we shouldMa view We we e hop ng he ha Ombudsman es celebrations nonote ahecan anc uposted e be mineasily buEve s a emens oby ac hToday process.. hacking has cratic ochallenger Biden’s side ek comprowould be to oaccomplish those to yond Thea Diplomat: of indeed undermined the Russian hackers via olearn phishing attacks goods andas services such as in food Under ment.

Students lessons, one’s and ins work in the same manner for many years, sis isofmeans” finally over.

Th they have tothe use technology subyenvironment, ng o enough he bes com o totheir he homes bu e Eve sas de time.” stration. environment, the security and stability president Tom Burt been quoted as say-s answer and wayward manner as what happened ybody s hasyybody ng hmade s one o allies he itthe handily into the Senate elecers and journalists his will aspire to.much-changed If hethe security and stability of president Tom Burt has quoted as sayand wayward manner asolaws what happened he com homes busupposed he e to s de Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez says much failed contain the pandemic Guillermo Eleazar has Thus the tosuccessors question of the de pine economy slumped to its lowest ever in hesevery narrative. break the they nentopub c ems s ye ano her rary and “...One such example ofsome this the espons binof e”then ohe oprovocahe mos pand ovoca sanc ons mposed and hbashing gh p and oLas eresponsible bash ng even e sys story to tell.

Asarb some noted writers even teach in our and EMIL has had he me oohistory e he ec on h are sschools dec sbetter, on and ha says sbeen expenses spromises nbesmade a“...On click ofMarch a one finger Grabe. against the campaign’s communications manufacturing or and power andis utilities tasks.

That fateful decision and his misApr 24 eaders Assoc afor some of the most sanctions imposed and high profile ntire systems, 16, 2021, weexceed will comeducators will learn to teach and may only have “distorted v even decades, having to shift to an priceless.

(Univers stitute the interactions and experiences they If these latest hacking attempts on othe Russian operations for s be ab e o ea n n h s new env on n e y no h ng com o ab e abou do ng you nations and societies as well as the integrity ing that the initial failed attempt on Biden’s UCPB which can unhinge the banking sysnations and societies as well as the integrity ing that the initial failed attempt on Biden’s UCPB which can unhinge the banking syss be ab e o ea n n h s new env on n e y no h ng com o ab e abou do ng you They ma ure of the beast, as we They may have grow is lucky, the reforms he would have marked difference in the retelling of the academics have been saying lately, the tions which solidified Duterte’s power Duterte has vowed to continue his “war ve and agg ess ve cybe ope a ons o a hese wo coun es have been ge ng om a e ga ns o us p a n “the decisive (lockdown) helped us avert an the younger generations.

In this Mabayo wh ms ca exerc se of execu ve powTen days before Duterte imposed the lockwhether or organot the appointment ofLapu Gierran b parents a an y congoes aga how ns have he avowed come andtheacleansing o he anniversary evenue aken oge he about the ranks of the calculation of enemy forces, led by memorate 500th of the to implement.

They harmed or tiveSou and aggressive of16.5-percent all how these twoerwise countries haveorganizations been gettinginfrom orthejust plain the country’s history -a will learn best they canghsupties.”

This, he says, is none altogether new way ofoperations teaching. on soil of heas As ancyber Na ons (ASEsecure US n, reports coming out men S uden s w ea n he essons ommend and standing of companies and institutions campaign was “...specifically targeted by tem.

Or, to companies providing essential wo k n he same manne o many yea s and standing of companies and institutions campaign was “...specifically targeted by tem.

Or, to companies providing essential men S uden s w ea n he essons JURADO wo k n he same manne o many yea s counts of events or incibut most story of They Ferdinand death.

An-their tools law years were asa dark and ut- on but mostly recrea ” Magellan’s he2020 Tthe ump nnot s es on piece, the oft-repeated some have become such umartial Spec yinfections aappointing gove nmen omore c a base. sdeserving ab e Longtime anspa ency Un o una enote—history y he hasperceived usedisto h s 3.5 Lapu, resulted inaide, Magellan’s death. ofcaEuropeans in the Philippines. initiated would be too inforwealth time.” erluha March w y administration. open hemost fadm oodga oonly the such port their children.

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During this ing to researchers from our universities.

The TWO confirmed cases At this writing the a click of finger Grabe. campaign’s communications manufacturing power and utilities 0.7-percent in jobs a warrior click of using ahey finger Grabe. against the campaign’s communications manufacturing oroge power and pa en s ew ha ns s—o how can supascimitar. ry teller.

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2020, the -percent growth drop “...To the Philippines, that first They cou d pandemic, have oub ehave w hfamilies he ve he16.5 mos ho con es ed e ec no usand o conflict he secusituations y es ab shmen bu ter sthink acorner ound co not ne andall member that one crisis affects We know that non-ex-o many gove using the only available medium of GDP instrucnot farfetched to think that thebut same can tanks, consultants involve the most hotly contested of security establishment of he auhe hor ybysuch asthe barangay anods ported that “State security forces and ove govIn he mee ng he represen a ve ancan article written protector—that is, a protector of the sieged by natives in Cebu while attemptcountry was at that time, there were missons for my belief that the appointment of o h s so comp a n ng w no he p * * * he sa d be o e awmake s a a budge hea ng ha has no s gn can y nc eased he forcement agency.

He has also promand w h connec v y o hey cou d a so used the prescribed health protocol o h s so comp a n ng w no he p a ace n he p ane us ng as hey do he M c oso se s ha Russ an m a y and communities differently.

This should s be ac va ed n no war,” were elected to the Senate.

Dela Rosa be done anywhere at any time and against and w h connec v y o hey cou d a so Democratic fundraising tion for most crimes to be reimposed for tion. system and build up our capacity to do wide11-nation 265 888 casal racemeans in the planet, using asisthey do the Microsoftwith itselfa total is thatofRussian military ctivated in no ASEAN the country now in recession with This m ernment-backed paramilitaries continue Third Secretary and ing ons to help Rajah Humabon, a me recently and low points but there were high Myanmar Sensoph or M n it ava in the shortlist. hend saoflaunt dbe hae cu he gov yea as as nd ed agouan as was po nadminnred-tagging ngIn stoearlier denamed s bes o Ie suggested anyhacke perceived adversary.

Given such an r become attacks.

Microsoft vice dNational oawbe ehe ecour ve as hen he obs people andTO not only of powerful, our empathy and correct our mos sGenera ca ed hods abplay eimprove s dacformer s have aUS ge ed 200 USfrom o gan za dur hey have become paintakes Bureau of Investigation nanha ndsearbitrarily ngves de bes o ecolumn Meanwhile, students are also adjusting nd ngod cu ec ve apower, obs thatcommittee thethe cluded ised end toou of most sophisticated methods available, is Tuesday hackers have targeted 200 organizations part toto and their to head the Senate drug crimes spread testing in communities.

From just es It is No 21 the world The Philippines THE harass, threaten, arrest, and in first semester drop in economic output of 9 Duterte imposed one of the earliest lockarge of Cultural DiploArmy commanders. point Gie Army commanders.

Catholicized local ruler convert others points and celebratory ones as well. ident cannot legally ap nsame ng es yhee checks s he ogon ca and euc onowhe o ook mo e cc ose the tanks, security andanks stability of t has been quoted as say- environment, Aung H farfetched a ng agreed proposa ssame lockdowns will policy” make halfcorrupt. of short-sightedness.

In doing ourha best to president membe ha sam s Now, ahas screate am es the demands of for schoolwork. usy ng yGierran ava ab med um nseand uc no toa think e oched h nk hacanheeinstead can po ca pa es hconsultants nk consu an s much-changed membe hachief one spolitical s yaone ecacscthat esec the us ng on avaDante ab eupon med o ehe ns not thato the (political parties, think and certainly not the chief as President should a “jobs in VIRTUAL istration critics, a conpractice ofthe impressing peosome instances attack and kill downs in world.

Still, even if um itthe was the charged with investigating police matters But the people love the President for ber reof the Board of Tr ppine EmbassyoninBiden’s Maaround 1,282 actual PCR tests per day dislodged Germany yesterday and is barely In 2019, the Human Rights Watch to Catholicism and loyalty toworst Spain.

MaBut that would be another story.

Back In 2019, the Human Rights Watch rePOINT percent.

It is the recession in our hisnations and societies as well as the integrity n ends o ask Cong ess o amend How d cu s h s concep o g asp? failed attempt the people poor. cope, but we should also pick out the lesThey may have grown up with technology, he mmed a e cessa on of v o ence and commun es d e en y Th s shou d be done anywhe e a any me and aga ns and even he ma n Democ a c und a s ng ese ac v es dange ous on strictest, commun es community d ethe en wake yleadTh sofshou dmany jobless people as a retime and against world’s even the main Democratic fundraising be done anywhere at any es dangerous on longest tivists,and environmentalists, Itand only refl ects lockdown officer oflast PhilHealth isaghas illegalo hea sothat REALITY nteresting insight and aby believed that display force Mabayo’s on the quincentennial ported that “State security forces gov-more as presiden security forces and of govofothe companies and targeted akes ssueexecutive wand h he ph asethe vthe ng be amp eMarch, hese woported dsthe and war.” the war ”cehis In May 2019 top Remittances—a mainstay the andmuch sons will come handy when ducted of capacity 23a brazen 000 cases No Italy 288 but mostly for recreation socialization. any pe ved adve y Gantwo venHe such anthat tory. pstanding acyber o20mnotes cybe a 761 acksinstitutions Mhec oso vperceived ce especifically done n such aplatform) bbelow azentoand mp oveha empa hy and co“State ec ou s gellan ar“drugs of cons ruc ve d and aofsa ogue any adversary.

Given such Meanwh s“auden s us acrieweek a ers, soWe us ng oouour for attacks.

Microsoft vice uch ove empa hyou and co ec ou“drug and journalists.”

Meanwh eUnder s uden s ae ein so this ad ng o ad failed to contain the pandemic.

Thus, EMIL on should view would be enough to accomplish those celebrations as posted in The Diplomat: of note can indeed be easily undermined by rs how via we phishing attacks Section 1 of Republic Act 11223 ernment-backed paramilitaries continue to the answer ernment-backed paramilitaries continue to sult of the COVID-19 pandemic yond one s means” and ns s s ha a pe son a e be ng u e ed by he ve y o c a economy because is the one that insisy is over.

Thatchanged wisdom the be o Duterte Today they have toouse technology to subgovernment’s env onmen he secu ythe and s ab o finally pCarlos esBurt denhas Tom Buquoted has been quo ed asa say nne as whanational Failure contain communist allies made itthe handily into themisSenate elecenvironment, the security and stability ofeconomy president Tom been as saytaign’s happened tohappened has vowed to continue his “war sho s gh edness n4.bes do ngo ou to bes o thatthe Secretary Dominguez says he much demands schoo wo k edness among par es access human arTen days Duterte imposed lockwhether or not the app sho squarter gh n do ng ouperhe much changed demands o would schoo wowhose k the For whole of 2020, is before exstory inFinance our schools and o a“...On click ofMarch a finger Grabe. communications tasks.

That fateful decision and his 16, 2021, we will comin first of 2020, by 16.5 harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, and in may on y have “d s o ed va ues and p o ob s o champ on anspa ency harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, and in Duterte imposed one of the earliest lockDuterte imposed one of the earliest lockJURADO 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 Employna soc enasmen es asintegrity we nThey eg onymay ng blame hafailed he nattempt ausa avert ed Biden’s a emp on B sden sand and unh ngeIn he bank ng(lockdown) sys theto onhdrugs” which will be “as is legal depends on wh down March 15,g may 2020, there only nations societies as well the ing that initial on banking syscope bu we dpera he so pesckand ou the he es T They gwere up w echno ogy cope bu we d relentless a and sonmen pshou ck9and ou ance heand appo of as he have own up w hown echno ogy Muslim separatist movetions which solidified Duterte’s power “the decisive helped anan rations. this Mabayo propensity calculation of enemy forces, led10

by Lapu memorate the 500ththe anniversary of theass pected toons decline by percent.

BizNewsAsia cent in theinthe second quarter, by VIRTUAL es ” Th sconfirmed heVIRTUAL says s none o have ou bus ness and accoun ab yshou nbegan.” gove We instances attack kill ac- shortlist for the instances and kill political ac- political cent insome theattack first half.

That 4.2 percent downs the world. even ifsurgency itsome was the this downs in the world.

Still, even ifStill, it ment was the in that chilling on itcome wants TWO cases.

At this writing, the ommendation of the Board Trustees ofday Philand scompanies andMagellan’s ng o and compan es and ns u ons campa gn was “in spec ca aby y spec a ge edstanding by resulted an es essential pnote—history ov d ng essen aarrival will deny for sure but aand survey and ofenvoy institutions campaign was “...specifically targeted ding sons hahandy w He come handy when h s c bu mos y o ec ea on and soc a za on sons ha w when h s c bu mos y o ec ea on and soc a za on a ASEAN who wou d be eated is Lapu, in death. of Europeans the Philippines.

Without a vaccine cent in the first half.

We are having the We ag ee ha wea h does no neces a e much a a med ove M Ma es ment base Longtime aide Christopher Go and tivists,IisHAVE environmentalists, community leadtivists, community leadequivalent to losing billion of It’s estimated 1the 3n to 3 5its million infections world’s longest andlongest strictest, thestrictest, lockdown world’s and the lockdown been environmentalists, requested to$1.4 repeat my reapretty basic. estimates GDP contraction thebywhole death penalty, banned REALITY REALITY isHealth the pandemic epicenter in the IN Acan previous column I talked about public for missteps and o he noincoun ethe caneasily eas yPresiunde mPhilippines ned Russ s accordv aattacks phashto ngofaHe acks es such hose ood note indeed be undermined by for Russian hackers viahacke phishing those inasfood clear President the agens under s history. nathe ywConstituTha wdsons sdom wou d be showed thatand almost half of the the country sof hey have o ogy use oto s recession sthe shsub na ysove Tha sdom wou be ctors—which has been hey have use echno oechno the face by abeMactan It is ahe day that an means different things owed owas vRodrigo sstruck ryndeed worst in our yToday equa eASEAN o Today co upoathe on Ma esshall dcontain sappoint oogy nk ng Because sove ou for axes for myand belief that appointment your dollar income. ers, journalists.” ers, journalists.” ** failed tosub pandemic. failed contain the tion fored most crimes, to pandemic. be reimposed with totalM of 265,888 casThe killings of political activists and alDavao’s former police chief Ronaldo dela dent Duterte’s achievements.

Now,sa--11-nation ing togets researchers from our universities The a c ck o a nge G abe aga ns he campa gn s commun ca ons npeople, powe and u esdifferent could be as large as 30 percent assuming a a click of a finger Grabe. against the campaign’s communications utilities Army commanders. stand a better p ce ess s u e he n e ac ons and expe ences hey using a local scimitar.

After, the p ce ess countries and their peoples. The warrior for general use, the cy’s president and CEO from the Board’s s u e he n e ac ons and expe ences hey About 75 percent of the economy was adult labor force of 60 million are jobless former National Bureau of Investigation shou d no ake F p nos o s mp e ons and ou we be ng ha a e a s ake he e In an earlier column un a ch ef however gnored he Is there hope in that bleak scenario? incompetence in coping Duterte has vowed to continue his “war Duterte has vowed to continue his “war drug crimes.

Ten days before Duterte imposed the lockTen days before Duterte imposed the lockes. It is No. 21 in the world. The Philippines here are his failures: Ramon S. Ang, the president of San an bor ng mach nes n ac on he pro the l In 2019, the Human Rights Watch releged NPA leaders have failed to dent the Rosa who initially spearheaded the “drug lockdown enabled “...To us tothereinforce point as far as historical loss of retreated P1.5 forsoneach month lockfromcaCebu.

TONY LOPEZ Philippines,our thathealth first ca con- forSpanish TONY LOPEZ chief Dante Gierran as president and chief consumption, President We dislodged knowof ha many gove nmen o is down cbarely a s onsshut ve y down. much ouHousehold bus ness Well, Lift the lockdowns which But the people love the2020, President for non-ex-officio members on drugs” which will be “as relentless and onyes. drugs” which will be “as relentless and should creat Germany yesterday and he reships ease of potrillion pr Santa Banana they are the new poor!

March 15, 2020, there were only down on March 15, there were only 1. The Philippines’ greatest depression Miguel Corporation, the company that ec s 25 percen comp e ed ported that “State security forces and govwith the pandemic. executive officer of PhilHealth is illegal. the wake of so many jo recession could rage providing three-fourths of GDP, fell by 52-year old communist insurgency.

Muslim war ” were elected to the Senate Dela Rosa system and build upernment-backed our capacity to do widehave senseless and produced the He wants the TWO “drugscases. war.”At In this May 2019, two top 23,000 below No.means 20, Italy, that 288,761. down. lockdown –thethe longest andcases severchilling onproved the day it began.”

He wants chilling the day it Act began.” the second quarter 2020, PhilipTWO President confirmed writing, thewriting, confirmed cases.

Atexpressways this the ers nc ng heThis eader ofof he ous ed This cannot apThe newest of the “new are some paramilitaries continue to udIn has produced more and Afon er 19Republic years of de ay Ihe LRT 1I HAVE Under Section 1The ofpoor” 11223 of thebeen COVID-19 cluded inSecretary the shortlist.

Otherwise, thethe Pres- allies 15.5 percent in the Q2 for 7.8-percent made it handily into the aSenate elecopposite effect. lockdowns were Finance Carlos Dominguez says HAVE reques AS MARCOS hatep pine economy slumped to–its lowest ever in seven death penalty, banned under theupon Constituterrorists on the warpath marked bysult aThe named tomy head the Senate committee death penalty, banned under the ConstituPhilippines ismember the pandemic epicenter inepicenter the Philippines is pandemic in(Universal the are spread in our communities Fromarrest, just IN A previous column I point talked about PresiTO THE harass, threaten, arbitrarily inArmy IN A previous column I talked about Presiest in the world has run for months. c and v was an governmen Aung San Suu d one of the testing earliest lockDEPARTMENT of Transportation SecHealthcare Act), the recDepartment of A commande s Gierran unless he is a of the commanders. ident cannot legally appoint you as a mem119 000 to 140 000 retrenched teachers tollways than any other private combu by Ime da Marcos w be ex endwell into 2021.

Now, the history lockdowns will make half of PRESIDENT decline in H1 2020, according to MaDuterte has extended tions which solidified Duterte’s power “the decisive (lockdown) helped us avert an supposed to save 4,000 people from sons for my belief th dark days of Martial sons for the country’s -a 16.5-percent contion phenomenon—suicide for crimes, toBoard be reimposed Board tion forof most crimes, to beoffor reimposed 11-nation ASEAN with a total of 265,888 11-nation ASEAN with a totalcasof 265,888 cas-most instances killconpolitical ac- In This dent Rodrigo Duterte’s achievements.

Now, ld. Still, even 1 if 282 it wasactual the some dent Rodrigo Duterte’s achievements.

Now, base. ommendation the Trustees Phil- The mentforwill deny this,offom new bombers. with investigating police matters ber ofe the Board of Trustees ofyear PhilHealth, Ky charged around PCR testsattack perand day n 2019 he Human R gh s Wa ch retary Arturo P. Tugade Jr. spoke yester2019, the Human Rights Watch rePOINT means half of the economic production the people poor. nila-based Asian Development Bank. the state of calamity for one until Longtime aide, Christopher Go, and and staff out of the more than 700 private pany in the Philippines. ed by 11 7 kms from Bac aran o Baestimated 1.3 to 3.5 million infections accorddying, people who would die anyway, former National Bur traction in economic production. here On top of 21, they went on the former N drug crimes. tivists, environmentalists, community leaddrug crimes. es.

It is No. 21 in the world.

The Philippines nd strictest, Du the lockdown Health, the President shall appoint the agenes.

It is No. 21 in the world.

The Philippines showed that almost h are failures: much more asManagement president and That CEO. here are his failures: the Board er e’s order our ref capacity ec s po by ed ha aforces secu o his ces and gov ported that security and govMoreover he“State agreemen dcannot noyof day thein Association PNP has tripled anti-insurgency budget, and the “drug war ” “SThat police chief, Ronaldo dela Remittances—a mainstay the Unemployment more thanonly tripled, Sept, 21, 2021.

Please note: is upThe to Davao’s ingbefore to researchers from our universities. ducted in the last dracon week ofanjournalists.”

March the contraction inedthe first quarDante Gierran a lockdown orits no lockdown, is0.7-percent gone now. be recovered Informer 2016, there were 77 kms of coor Cav efrom Ilove wthebecause serv ce chief 500 000 oforce chief Dan portraying Marcos as schools which will remain closed These ers, and cy’s president and CEO Board’s But the people love the President for he pandemic. adult labor of 60 But the people the President for dislodged Germany yesterday and is barely Thus, the answer to the question of dislodged Germany yesterday and is barely 1.

The Philippines’ greatest depression 1.

The Philippines’ greatest depression EMIL he na ona governmen ’s propens e nmen backed pa am a es con nue o paramilitaries to ofeight the Presid initially the lockdown enabled usby to Zoom. reinforce our health economy because iscontinue the that from 5.1 average percent in April 2019 tothe 17.7 months justthe before the May 2022 fyernment-backed aterFailure me ne for end ngthat he cr s one s drop •who The Judicial Development Fund, basis the Philippines He made aRosa, 2020, the 16.5 -percent GDP growth executive ofare P most of them already had fatal discspearheaded uded n 20, he sho“drug shave OFor he w50 seincome he PIn es executive cluded in the shortlist.

Otherwise, the PresBut didofficer not Shakes a worrying sign.

4 to contain the communist innon-ex-officio members. railways in the Philippines.

750 000 passengers a day Duterte has vowed to continue spec his “war Santa Banana, they has grown to about 32,000 daily tests Duterte imposed the lockwhether orofnot appointment of Gierran the “drugs war.”

May 2019, two top four months.

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

In May 2019, two top schools lost because of lack of 23,000 cases below No. Italy, 288,761.

In the second quarter 2020, the PhilipIn the second quarter of 2020, the Philipin theDu first of 16.5 perTO THE war,” were to the Senate.

Dela Rosa TOhis THE ha ea arecession bbyaed a es and n depends harass, threaten, arbitrarily and in o were b ame heon pub c efor sof mthe ss2020, epsrelentless system and build upon our capacity to name do wideequarter mposed one o bylockhe eaand esmeans Duterte imposed one earliest JURADO fuels 4.2ywith perpercent inelected Aprilbenefits 2020 “when presidential elections when we choose ofyears the financial ofappoint the judiciary; the consumption—fell country ish now inarrest, Under Section 1 of Thus, Never heock ess heass mee ngen genera eases than COVID. But several den canno ega y as appo nsays you aof mem Under ident cannot legally you a Coddling mempresentation his achievements on the that do after This means that the President cannot apThe newest of the “ drugs” which will be “as iseconomy legal whether was 15, 2020, y there only The are before that, not alockdowns single meter ofother Tu uban ma n military s a on wmen belives allies made itas handily into thePNR Senate elecFinance Secretary Carlos Dominguez says allies made it handily into the Senate elec5. the police and the and the separatist moveSecretary Carlos Dominguez pine economy slumped toon itsour lowest inreasons this (August).” pine slumped toever its lowest ever in was Finance Carlos Dominguez named to head the Senate committee cent in the second quarter, by 9surgency perV RTUAL UAL spread in just nsMuslim ances a ack and kof ca actesting some instances attack and kill political ac-9po invsome the first half.

That 4.2 percent firstcent semester drop inSecretary economic output downs nthe heday wo dbegan.” even was he downs inchilling the world.

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

•Finance The Philippine Amusement and Gaming ncompe n on cop ng w (Universal Healthcare point Gierran unless he is a member of the 119,000 to 140,000 thousands more people are dying or will be o he Boa d o T us ees o Ph Hea h ber of the Board of Trustees of PhilHealth, (Universa interred with their bon in that shortlist forcommunities. the Board ofFrom Trustees. it h He wants cases. At and this writing, the ence hopes ha he o en suppress on of POINT POINT transportation front.

One ranking MAP President tions which solidified Duterte’s power “the decisive (lockdown) helped us avert an tions which solidified Duterte’s power railway was laid out by previous presnked o C ark Ma o os w h a 37 6“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 Without a vaccine cent in the first half.

We are having the around 1,282 actual PCR tests per day conDuterte has employed more generals, percent.

It isvbeen the recession hisenvironmentalists, community leads that s worst env onmen a insbillion sour commun yAnother Adds Dominguez: “Without the lockdown, equivalent tomovemen losing of much strict,” says ADB. Exports declined by and year of state of calamity out Corporation, which provides an additional The group representing these teachers longest strictest, the wopenalty, dand s onges and s lockdown c esConstituockdown andThis staff,brings outommenda of the Iissobed HAVE requested to$1.4 repeat my reaofme the m B It’sead pretty basic. “no matter how money much more as president and much mo eaccordas p CEO. es den CEO die becauseaide, of hunger, malnutrition, and ommendation death banned under the to pandem cin No we are he secLITY REAL TY world’s pandemic epicenter the wonder spelled in hehecment vtivists, dexplains ence by member described the presentation asand base.

Longtime Christopher and be first ap estimated 1.3 topercent 3.5 million base.

Longtime aide, andrave estimated 1.3 toinfections 3.5 million infections accordtraction in of economic production.

On top of the “drug war.” idents.

Tugade has built infrom fi ve years km ra Christopher nGo,ha w Go, cu ducted incontinuing the lastclearly week of our capacity traction economic On top of worst recession inn our history. tory. schools which will res sons for belief the your dollar income. and journalists.”

21.4 inthethe first half. means restrictions and regue my s and outhat nainto s s ”appointment source of revenue to fund the miscellaneous *production. * March, *rate Health, the President failed to contain the pandemic. afor ed ocoun con ary he pandem c forers, Thus, answer to the question tion most crimes, to be reimposed Thus he answe o the heofformer quesspawned on express oand Health, th diseases by the lockdowns. with a total of 265,888 casMarcos a heel or a her military 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 ond wors -perform ng n he countries pump their economies, their he Ta madaw or he Burmese m Davao’s police chief, Ronaldo dela mind-boggling. ing totheresearchers from our universities.

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

Failure contain theappointment communist ining to researchers from The inof theprime firstI suggested quarforSou general use, the About 75 percent the economy was For thethere whole of the economy is exthe contraction in the first ofcy’s Truste schools lost former National Bureau of the Investigation 1,209 kms of railways.

He has investfrom 90 m nu esSeco uscy’s 35 mhave ns In anPrices earlier column, thatquarIs hope that bleak scenario? lations. commodities, activities oftoor the government; has vowed to continue his “war and C Du e 2020, ein has vowed o 0.7-percent con nue h 0.7-percent scontraction “wa drug crimes.

Ten an days before lock- leged Ten days be oimposed eof Du e the e mposed heDuterte ock whether not the of Gierran whe he oour nouniversities. heto appo npresident men oacting Gme ebefore an pres the world.

The Philippines Economic Planning Itpresident depends.

Ifincom you the law. heas As reg on nDuterte soHousehold farlove as concated them isSaid not enough other him.

More 45 leaders have failed to dent the The reasons are been worse. latest data suggest that Rosa, who initially spearheaded the “drugthan surgency and the Muslim separatist movelockdown enabled us to reinforce our health Rosa, who initially spearheaded thepassengers “drug ary wou dNPA sytoop and usher nlockdowns aw reterbe urn JURADO GDP would have shrunk massively, anyway.

JURADO LOPEZ enrollees.

Tugade a -percent lawyer who made TONY LOPEZ lockdown enabled us to reinforce our chief Dante as president and chief decline by 10 percent.

BizNewsAsia 2020, 16.5 -percent GDP growth drop down. consumption, President should create a much “jobs policy” terespecially 2020, the is 16.5 GDP growth drop Well, yes.

Lift the which rice, corn, and fish, will bein aThe • The Export Processing Authority to at-health non-ex-officio membe But the15, people President ed in railways more than the combined for he benefi of 300 000 onpected which will be “as relentless and on d Gierran ugs” wh ch “as ethe en ess and ny yesterday and is down barely on shut is legal depends on whether his name was What i s ega depends on whe he h s name was non-ex-of March 2020, were only retary Karl Kendrick Chua: down on Ma ch there 15the2020 he efor we edrugs” on ble achievements and Without alittle vaccine ment ro 288,761. ng TWO he spread of hecases. coronav ruswriting, sAGDP, war,” were to the Senate.

Dela The means group represen executive officer of isthe illegal. build upand our capacity to do widethe wake of many jobless people aslogisawith re-and the GDP contraction for the whole could rage war,” were elected tohe the Senate.

Dela Rosa The policy President Duterte system build our capacity tojobs do wideproviding three-fourths of fell byestimates means the country is infact, recession occupy cabinet andmode civil52-year old communist insurgency Muslim ohthe cis processes over 1laws, percent of all COVID-19 cases fortune from hissystem means the country is anow inwith recession clearly spelled out in have proved senseless and produced the the “drugs war.”

In this May 2019, two topchilling controlled.

Inso under current This the tract foreign investments; w No.recession 20, Italy, not the sheer size of stimulus package inkillings that shortlist for the Board of Trustees. on the day it PhilHealth began.”

He wants nofup ha sho sgovernments ostar-rank he Boa dofficers Tathat usanticipated ees This m ch ng on heRepublic day began ”rags-to-riches He wan s now “No one that the COVID confirmed At investments previous inoelected day us ng aRosa es coachhe would be athat hero.

TWO con med cases sdemocra w ng It he Gierran c The of political activists and aland staff claim that th Under Section 1 of Act 11223 sult of the COVID-19 pandemic. was named to head the Senate committee could be as large as 30 percent -assuming a Mr. President, lift spread our communities. just was to headnot Senate committee 15.5 percent in Q2 for first semester drop economic output of 9output spread testing in From just allies it handily into the aSenate elecfor general use, the first drop inhaters economic of 9testing opposite effect.

The lockdowns were point unless h the price of anything, and its supply, can ry about Carlosaconcerned Dominguez says has to ian adopt right away should be anJapan’s Th sdeath dnthat no happen •in The Movie and Television and Iitsemester HAVE been requested to repeat my AS MARCOS remembered “the HAVE been eques ed oreaepea my ea It’s pretty basic. business before joining the adsour pOur ecommunities. yFrom bas creview point penalty, banned under the Constitupandemic will [strike] the global positions in the government. terrorists are the warpath marked by ais deaon h pena y but banned unde hetics Cons uin whoGierran envy ingenu Philippines is made the epicenter inep the in country are severe or critical. morPh pppandemic nes s he pandem c7.8-percent cen edloss ed Presithe past 50 years. esnamed ha rem ndthe one of bu ehis umn ked abou P es 2021. matters now also actualthe law. cated to them isBoard notGie en leged NPA leaders have failed to dent thecharged (Universal Healthcare Act), upon the recThe Department of the Labor and Employthe ofheP1.5 trillion for each month ofwhether lockwell into with investigating police matters around 1,282 actual PCR tests per day condecline in H1 2020, according to MaDuterte has extended charged with investigating police matters tions which solidified Duterte’s power percent.

It is the worst recession in our hisaround 1,282 actual PCR tests per day conJudg ng from he r mmed a e reackdown) helped us avert an supposed to save 4,000 people from be controlled by the government during sons for my belief that the appointment of Classification percent. is the worst recession our his-appo darkoItwill days of Martial Law,” on sons ooffor my beDuterte. e inSeptember ha he n men o unless * * They *emergency * *Despite * employment the lockdowns. economy.

In the first three months of the fac hesaving m on ary d–todthe rebombers urn tion for most crimes, be reimposed sight, who Board Trustees of PhilHealth and ministration of President oof mos cno mes o be eofmposed 11-nation ASEAN a total of For sure 11 na with on ASEAN w 265,888 h a o a casoIn265 888 cas recession could rage The jobsthose policy tha evements. e s for ach Now, evemen s until Now base. ommendation the Board Trustees offor Phil52-year old communist insurgency.

Muslim ment deny this, sure, but aducted survey the overwhelming new phenomenon—suicide The ra nsscheme The ndominance ne w beof fin and shed tality ratio, on the other hand, isBoard; at week 2.5 people down.

This lockdown longest and severly the productive parts the economy. “drug the last week of March, capacity nila-based Asian Development Bank. one Longtime aide, Christopher Go, and Section and the war.”rasaving 5mity million infections tory. ducted in the last of March, ouraand capacity dying, people who would die anyway, former aAt state of National calamity.

Inhas ausual major election, • The Philippine Coconut Authority tothe 21, they went on Bureau the spree, In anon earlier column, I esuggested that the oalmost me Na ona Bu eau ointerrorists nves ga tory. nto anour eamarked coby umn sugges edwar.” ha he onsyear oaccordDuIt is erNo. e’s order quarantine, we“drug prioritized lives has definitely drug crimes. dthe ughe c– has mes es.

21 in sthe Philippines to adopta heel. right aw barracks as coup eader had Health, President shall appoint the agenes Noaworld.

21eas nThe hewo wo d o Thehe Ph pp nes showed that half ofofbashing theInvestigation country's DoTr, Tugade achieved what are on the warpath s the Board recommended his appointment the ranks of the unemployed can only worsest in the world run for seven months. make no sense. h s year 2021 generals, Duterte administration has not PNP has tripled its anti-insurgency former police more chief, Ronaldo dela to the communist inwell into Unemployment than tripled, Please note: That is upThe to Davao’s from our universities. per aepresident hundred thousand.”

4.contain Failure toused contain the communist in- ance chief Gierran and chief For the whole ofsystemic 2020, economy exlockdown no lockdown, because is because the problem isPbudget not aportraying the price andthe supply of bellwether goods enhance coconut production President create a “jobs policy” inthe ch e2020, e an as p exes den and chand e should Marcos as the devil-incarnate.

P es den shou d cThe ea e4.a Failure “ obs cy” nof Act o For the whole of2021. the economy is against COVID. We thisand time to Board ofpo Trustees PhilHealth, unless emergency employmen cy’s president CEO the Board’s of h s subord es d no very But the people love the from for adult labor ofDan 60as million are jobless.

Buor he peop ePresident ove he es den oDante dislodged Germany yesterday and barely newdevelop phenomenon—suicide bombers. d sd odged Geseem many yesise2019 day and17.7 sThis baThis emeans yASEAN depression prom sed he eaders and nes grea es on na amounts to aforce miracle inisG the transporhalf ofand the economic production the President The Rosa, who initially spearheaded the “drug ensothe poverty problem of the country for For firs me M wof the reas If trains, planes and usbefore to reinforce our health from 5.1 percent indaily April to st thedepress May 2022 surgency and the Muslim separatist moveTs executive officer ofare PhilHealth is illegal. surgency andhe the Muslim separatist movemost of them already had fatal dislike rice, corn, fish, fuel, even school the wake of so many jobless people asess athe repected to decline by 10 percent.

BizNewsAsia efforts; execu ve o new ce opoor!

Ph Hea hPNP sand ega But did not Shakespeare say: “The evil Board recommended his appointment to ndanao he wake o many ob peop e as a e proven itself any more competent nor any a worrying sign the ranks unemp non-ex-officio members. pected to decline by 10 percent.

BizNewsAsia improve our health system capacity.”

Santa Banana, they the He notes that per 100,000, the EU member has grown to about 32 000 average tests the “drugs war.”

In May 2019, two top has tripled its anti-insurgency budget, contraction or a cyclical bust.

Simply, neces23,000 cases below No. 20, Italy, 288,761. he “d ugs wa ” n May 2019 wo op director eager o mmed a e y mp emen o 23 000 cases be ow No 20 a y 288 761 020, the Philipis gone by now.

That cannot be recovered in ua our e capacity owhen 2020we Ph p war,” s ead n ens f than ed hePresident r v oBut en tation industry.

In the past fiGierran ve years, wereinelected the Senate.

Rosa eveneases up to he do wideWithout a vaccine percent April to 2020 “whenDela lockdowns ctions choose ment have s own ra way 100 kms from Under Section 1 of Republic Act 11223 Thus before can be appointed as Without a vaccine the President. other COVID. several sult of the COVID-19 pandemic. supplies, medicines, and PPEs, are cruUnde Sec on 1 o Repub c Ac 11223 en the poverty problem many years to come • The Philippine Tourism Authority as one ment that men do lives after them.

The good is oft This means that the cannot apestimates the GDP contraction for the whole su o he COV D 19 pandem c The newest of the “new poor” are some “By the models of UP and Ateneo, estimates the GDP contraction for the whole a worrying sign. clearly spelle has grown to about 32,000 average daily tests allies made it handily into the Senate elecSecretary Dominguez says most a es esofers made hand y n othe hemilitary Sena e aggregate e ec lessEmploycorrupt than past administrations. months.

5four Coddling the police and clear boats are what itrevenue; takes to F widespread nance Sec ethe aand ySenate Caat oscommittee Dom nguez says states average 31 deaths, UK 70, Spain 61,men lowest in thisoever (August) ”Finance he h Fromeve mped s owes from a sh sary mobility restrictions hamper named toCarlos head ur communities. just n was crackdown on pro and crisare he has done aHealthcare lot, indeed. promiswere their sor.

Thus, before Gierran can beto appointed Thewe killings of may political and almany come.

(Universal Act), upon the point Gierran unless he a cs member ofwill the The of Labor 119,000 toPresident 140,000 teachers thousands more people dying or Un ve saretrenched Hea--He hca efor Ac upon ecDepartment especially in-battleground regions, ofCoddling thehe engines serve as Depa a source of and interred with their bones.”

The o the Labo and Emp oy The killings of political Tagum o activists Davao C activists y as o Dand gosal-years The could be large as 30 percent assuming aCEO averted some 59,000 171,000 and of recPhilHealth he 5. of to themust police and theWhile military be as large as 30 percent assuming ageneral President have signed into this (August).” which solidified Duterte’s power use, the Finance Secretary Dominguez IstoPresident he ala h “the decisive (lockdown) helped uspolice avert an ustions ons wh chCarlos so dAss ed sDu easecould scial, powe ““Without he dec s investigating ve ockdown he ped ave an rhas for general use, the o5-percent yofPCR a tests 16con5ofper pecalamity cen con charged with matters ual day conThe Depar men of In er or and LoWhen the chief of the national capital’s Duterte employed more generals President and CEO of PhilHealth, he must Sweden 57, and the US 52.

Adds Dominguez: the lockdown While the strict,” says ADB. Exports declined by state the law.

Commiss and staff, out of the more than 700 private The base. human gh s mon or ommendation of the Board Trustees of Philes to do more until the last day of the demand.” leged NPA leaders have failed to dent the ment will deny this, for sure, but a survey die because of hunger, malnutrition, and ommenda on o he Boa d T us ees o Ph the Hardest hit was Luzon island which and most especially, when the highest • Laws on socialized housing through a This brings me to ask, my gulay—Is men w deny h s o su e bu a su vey get the country moving leged NPA leaders have failed to dent the loss of P1.5 trillion for each month of lockdeaths.

Our death rates reduced Duterte has employed more generals, firs phase Tagum o from Carmen opens n 2, the bi Adds Dominguez: “Without the lockdown, of and P1.5 trillion for each month of lock“no matter how much Longtime aide, Christopher Go,money be first appointed as a member of the Board estimated 1.3 tod 3.5hey million base Long me a de Ch sand opheloss Go law Bayanihan 2 the billions allotted for his esthe ma ed 1war.”

3 the oinfections 3first 5 need m half. onaccordn ec ons explains accodiseases d that ion.

On top of “drug week March, our capacity m pof oduc on On op o and be first appointed as a member of the Board law Bayanihan schools which will remain closed.

These ca Governmen sa “may hero?

21.4 percent in g crestrictions and reguHealth, the President shall appoint the agenrecession could rage showed that almost half of the country's 52-year old communist insurgency.

Muslim Hea h he P es den sha appo n he agen spawned by the lockdowns. produces 70 percent ofpolice, total economic post of presidency the isorata–and stake. series legal issuances from funding, showed ha than athe mos ha aoforce he52-year yold s 2022 Marcos aland heel hero? ance Assoc on for Po ca Pr sonpolice was caught onThe social media from theaGovernment military and the police than any recession could rage Duterte on June 30, 2022.

3.deaths Unprecedented human rights violations from the of military and the any trolled Co the rate of infections ando from deaths could have communist Muslim down.

This lockdown –lockdown the longest and severhigh ofcoun 17 percent to just 1.6insurgency. percent the rate infections could have economists earlier projected countries pump into economies, their down.

This the longest and severMarch ne w cu rave former police chief, Ronaldo ing to researchers our universities.

The Davao s otheir me po ce ch edela Rona do de aof 4.ng to contain communist esea che s the om ou un veinsDavao’s es The of Trustees. first quarproject are only stop-g nthe ac on o ncommodities, he some s qua offor Trustees schools have lost income because of lack of other and project are stop-gap measures toaverted alleof prime cy’s and CEO from the Board’s labor force ofthe 60 million are do reca braFailure on and make he cy sIf pyou es den and CEO headult Boa dand s unify Said acting Economic Secproduction and isadu home to 50 percent ofjobless.

What isrun not controlled during aremarkastate terrorists are the warpath marked by amarked mortgage collection ofMore loans; abo onation, ce ohaving 60 monly on aterrorists eonob essbirthday Itpresident depends. look at his president before him. than 45 been much worse.

The latest data suggest that om oraWhat around 4,000 deaths.

We ers repor ed asinitially week ha heyPlanning dea hheaded are onTagum the warpath byCthe a y people’s est in the world –the has seven months.

GDP would have shrunk massively, anyway.

Tugade and were law classbreakfast party with more other president before him More than 45 esthe in world –Duterte has run for seven months.

Under The reasons are What has made Duterte a strong president, been much worse The latest data suggest that Rosa, who spearheaded the “drug well into 2021. surgency and the Muslim separatist moveis/are the legal requirements before me from C y o D gos by lockdown enabled us to reinforce our health viate needP Rosa who n a spea “d ug a recovery of 7 percent to 8 percent in GDP enrollees. ockdown enab ed us o e n o ce ou hea h DP growth drop well into 2021. pe cen GDP g ow h d op corn, and fish, will prepara be Board of Trustees members.

Santa Banana, they aredone theand new poor!

What is/are the legal requirements before non exthe oeconomic cCOVID-19 o membe sdisretary Karl Kendrick Chua:sThis the population. of calamity how viate the needs San ahospitals—the Banana hey anew epeople’s hephenomenon—suicide new poo Boardof of • All the specialty Philipstar-rank officers occupy cabinet civilble achievements and good performance, The a non-ex-officio little 1 is percent of allgovernment cases necessary onsupbecause f we some 1.3 to phenomenon—suicide 3.5appointed millionbombers. cases, of which It ishe notm theelected sheer size the package means half of the economic production new bombers.

The o y from ary crackdown nce Tugade has it. ut alittle vaccine atover San Beda.

The former was Gierran can be as alockdown member of proThis means half of the production ment What isrecommend essential an were to the Senate.

Rosa The group representing these teachers build ourbu capacity tocases do widewa ”anticipated we eofe2021. ec stimulus ed oDela he Sena e mates De athe Rosa pointed b woh rds from hree hours o us one sys em and d up ou capac owar,” do wgrowth de than 50 guests (despite strict recession star-rank officers occupy cabinet and civilthe vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also over 1 percent of all COVID-19 s anow nwith ecess system on w hand clearly spelled out in the Board act, under current laws, This means that the President cannot aprate in That is now overly optiThe newest of the “new poor” are some Th s means ha he P es den canno ap ian positions in the government.

“No one that the COVID The newes o he “new poo ” a e some the Board Investments contracted by 53.5 perpenses money.

The incumbent President pine Heart Center, Lunch Center, National he would be a hero.

For those, however, in country are severe or critical.

Our morPNP has tripled its anti-insurgency budget, that matters now but also whether it is actual68,000 would be severe and critical Gierran can be appointed as a member of Let me quote Justi do make arres s we a so need o preWhat is essential and urgent is a longis gone by now.

That cannot be recovered in PNP has tripled its anti-insurgency budget, the Board of Trustees? term jobs policy to pr The killings of political activists and aland staff claim that the P500 million allois gone by now.

That cannot be recovered in he beg nn ng of he coup had a ready ofmoney the class.

The latter named toin head the Senate committee Mr. President, spread our communities.

Fromlift justesian was named o head he Sena e valedictorian comm ee mic output of 9ou pu sp in ead es ng n ou commun Fwas om us the al the In 2016 he NAIA was ranked aspoverty. one the President. phing, nuse, econom csupply, o 9testing point Gierran unless he iswants a atmember ofahis the and its can Board of 119,000 to 119 140,000 retrenched Despite the overwhelming dominance ofa teachers po n G e an un ess he s membe o he hibiting gatherings of ten or more people in tality ratio, on the other hand, is 2.5 people pandemic will [strike] the global positions the government 000 o 140 000 e enched eache s the Presid cent in the second quarter and by 36.6 can get all the he to have Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine who envy his ingenuity, vision and foregiven him one of major failures—massive in thepare country are severe or critical Our morly saving productive parts of the 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 was the Section 13 of RA 10149 (GOCC Governthe law. lem of four months. a worrying sign. cated to them is not enough. leged NPA leaders have failed to dent the has grown to about 32,000 average dailypolicy tests to prevent a bigger probona ound ce s 1because the Board of Trustees? four months. term jobs with police matters 772 wcha hinvestigating near yh 3three 800 around actual PCR tests per day connot make it but has been ged wfirst nves ga ngofpothealmost cehis ma edid s and ion our his282 ac ua here PCR esreached s pe charged day con before Gierrabt thes in government wo ecess on our nduring oudehen s 1,282 and the staff, out of more 700 private Duterte administration has not per ahands hundred thousand.” of hepolice f Duterte no he aThus, rpor nifduring the lockdowns.

They and sthe ou othan he mo5. eCoddling hanAct pCoddling va ewors Thus, economy.

In the months percent in the first half. investon and deploy it rights to whoever Children’s Medical Center; sight, those who desire revenge, he isagenerals, This is because the problem is not acursystemic ance of5.

2011) mandates that anmilitary appointing included whelm our healthcare sector.” of the and the My gulay, there’s rate Counsel could rage this (August).”

The jobs policy that President Duterte 52-year old communist Muslimand one place at700 the same time), refused Despite the overwhelming dominance of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez of the police andwors the military human violations.

Critics say hea “Private killed ratio on hand ispeop at week 2insurgency. people this (August).” recession could rage into 2021.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez be a the arger number ofhe e5 dethe “drug war.” ducted inother the last week of March, our capacity Section 13 of RA 10149 (GOCC Governand he “dprioritized ug waenced ”well lem of poverty ren y de a ned or a ready sen by President and CEO o duc ed n as o Ma ch ou capac y great success in public service—nine proven itself any more competent nor any ity. tality In a may major election, schools which will remain closed.

These He notes that per 100,000, the EU member schoo s wh ch w ema n c osed These President quarantine, we 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 In 2016, the government operated he wor d Passengers were sub ec hasmatter to adopt right awaymoney should not be an Dominguez: “What we find in last six months, Duterte hasDuterte employed more generals, beneficiaries thelasti Fe terrorists warpath marked by a 4. Failure Adds “Without the“Without lockdown, explains that “no how much by ofthe make nothesense. hasthe employed more generals, Adds Dominguez: thetolockdown, explains “no much fire the general. generals the Duterte administration has not contain the communist in2021. more than 27,000 the guise of eliminating ned per aheisahundred thousand ” are on be appointed asGC 4restrictions Fa ohamper con athis n and he commun s asaverage nthat less corrupt than past administrations. economy ex- han When theure President came tostates power in schools have lost income of lack of pply of bellwether goods 31 matter deaths, UK 70, Spain 61, in m The arysary r buna s to from aerring short-list prepared by ba themissing Governance ance Act ofhow 2011) mandates that an appointing 2020 economy sbefore ex new”phenomenon—suicide mobility aggregate years prosecutor, 23 years as Davao schoo scould have because osand ncome because o edack o “the first ap tatalfirst Banana, Ibe foresee aa against COVID. We used time to Board of Trustees of PhilHealth, unless My gulay if there’s one element dustrial machinery and transport equipCombine those powers—control ofmoney the east Asia; emergency employment scheme.

For sure, is that the lower quarantine restriction bombers. event of time, pla from the military and police, than any only 62 railway stations 234 trains o ag ag a” (“drop he bu e ”) the rate of infections and deaths have countries pump into their economies, their from for theGovernment-owned military and the or-Conpolice, than any dent theenrollees. rate of infections and deaths could have The reasons are countries pump into their economies, theirare cann and the Muslim separatist moveThe reasons When the chief of lower the national capital’s of Trustees.

Sweden 57, and the US 52. surgency and he m separa sgreatest move Commission Wh eschool defend ng has Du er the e’s ordermember as even BizNewsAsia Philippines without ans the Board recommended hisMus appointment to demand.” itself any more competent nor any the ranks of the unemployed can only worsen o ees of Trustee y.fish, 10 pefuel, cennotes B zNewsAs a PNP improve our health system capacity.” the pervasive illegal drugs curse. ment 62.1 percent and for private price and supply of any commodity or conHe that per 100 000 • A geothermal power plant, one of the Wproven hsurgency heJuly Myanmar m ary now saymayor, and six years as president.

Dute2016, he stumbled into the and tripled its EU anti-insurgency budget, has actually opened more sectors of the director shall be appointed by the President have fashioned and it’s an urgent and lasting jobs policy Sanother president before him.

More than 45 been much worse.

Thewas latest data suggest that and dished out only nine contracts scam and forced openMore ng of hecan ugGDP wouldGDP have shrunk massively, anyway. other president before him. than 45r get been much worse.

The data suggest thatfor aofvaccine would have shrunk massively, anyway. force caught on social media mentGovernment What is/are the 3.clearly Unprecedented human rights Corporations ple employed Without a vaccine The representing these teachers thewou President. and PPEs, are en the poverty problem of the violations country for police economists projected men of lega the nnes, forstates the whole The glatest oup ep esen ngtrolled hese eache s (GCG).

What necessary o31s eWithout op he spread he d s“By models ofa earlier UP and Ateneo, construction 46.8 percent lower,” says sumer goods, redirecting taxpayers money first in thegroup world, as an alternative source acaverage onaverage o daily he cruwho a worrying sign. 70 spelled out in t con 32,000 tests economy and helped bring back jobs.” hey dthe agree o dadministrations ogue and barrage ofber adverse pui biznewsasia@gmail.com less corrupt than past rte has never lost an election. clearly spelled out in star-rank officers occupy cabinet and civilHuman Rights Watch says many of the deaths UK Spain 61ng ha apackage little over 1supply percent of all COVID-19 cases from aofshort-list prepared by the Governance longest economic expansion in the country’s Itappointed isca not the sheer size ofsheer the stimulus package ta Banana I foresee a bleak future for the and maintenance. gage ( o ook for drugs or con raband) star-rank officers occupy cabinet and civila 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!

It is not the size the stimulus What has made Duterte a strong president, Thus, before Gierran can be as Gierran can be appoic The killings of political activists and almany years to come. and staff claim that the P500 million alloa recovery of 7 percent to 8 percent in GDP battleground regions, The k ngs o po ac v s s and a tsn-assuming a and s a c a m ha he P500 m on a o Gierran we averted some 59,000 to 171,000 ADB. Public construction slipped by a to anyone or anywhere, and the restrictions of energy; 5. for Coddling of theopen police and thenego militarya ons w h pro es eaders on y af30 pe cen assum ng ageneral a PhilHea ease and o acce era e he fu ng Mr. President, lift the lockdowns. for use, the ident Marcos from Is he a heel or a ian positions in the government. general use the The achievements of Tugade in in the country are severe or critical.

Our morthat matters but whether itlaw ismay actualWhen theleaders chief ofof the capital’s pointed byany theaPresident asby agovernment. member of the positions in the * *th guests (despite strict lockdown President and CEO he must 27,000 areitsigned “vigilante-style killings perpetratin50 country severe orinat critical.

Our without morSweden 57hhighest and the US 52 has the vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also While the President have into than Today, orare by latest, theian as modus corrup NAIA the Commission for Government-owned or-Conthe emp Boardoyofthe Trustees? that matters now but also whether is actualPhilippines assurance that peogrowth rate in 2021.

That isPhilHealth, now overly history—70 consecutive quarters of growth. cated to them is not enough. leged NPA have failed to dent the the Hardest hit employed was Luzon island which ially, when the ca ed oQ2. hem s the noproenough Board eged NPA eade snational have aoptied onow den healso month ofof lockdeaths.

Our death rates reduced from Duterte more generals, marginal 0.9 percent in2022 on flow oflaw. goods and people under atality lock•the Exploration and drilling Malampaya; ez: the n o“Without each mon o ock Jus Theythe make no sense.

I think even They pursued what n helockdown, economy cecould Secre ary MeTake Despite overwhelming dominance of ratio, on the other hand, is at 2.5 people Board of Trustees of PhilHealth if he was er he s ua on has “s ab zed ” ha s I don’t know whoe be first appointed as a member of the Board transportation and those of Public ly saving the productive parts of the economy. hibiting gatherings of ten or more people in law Bayanihan 2, billions allotted for his given him one of his major failures—massive Despite the overwhelming dominance of hero? tality ratio, on the other hand, is at 2.5 people Section 13 of RA 1n mistic.

Without a vaccine for general use, the recession rage The jobs policy that President Duterte lydown saving the productive parts of the economy. state claim 1,209 ees The erm na scan were Ou - sharply 52-year old communist Muslim produces 70 percent ofpolice, total than economic s at–and stake. police ons1.6 social media recession could rage The obs cykms ha Pemployed esrail den in Du elist e prepared Section ed by police officers themselves or by killers 3deaths Unprecedented human rights the military andviolations the any trolled Corporations (GCG) 52 yeapercent ocaught dinsurgency. commun nsu gency Mus m gest and severa force high of was 17 to just percent plepo get when this you pandemic Duterte may not it can but he of of whatever form or acronym—and ons could •thousand.”

Lawscould on culture in know the life of the nation; Duterte himself added 14 quarters of growth wn he onges and have seve from without the lockdowns, wincrowded ard Maitland included the and submitted easing the one-meter so generals, the Duterte administration has not nardo Guevarra sa d au hor es shou d of Trustees. project are only stop-gap measures to alleper a hundred one place at the same time), Duterte refused human rights violations.

Critics say he killed This is because the problem is not a systemic clude you hey have comp e e y conso da ed powgenerals, the Duterte administration hassna not could well into 2021.

Act of 2011) mand Works Secretary Mark Villar infra- achieved per a hundred thousand.” has toCultural adopttrain right away not be an This isby because the problem is to not a in systemic production andbefore is home 50 percent ofrecession ontrolled during amon state are onorage the warpath marked by other president him.toMore thanhaving 45terrorists has oemployment adop gh1,381 away shou dGCG nos be an ance Act o lines, 168 stations, trains, de mu c ers But p nor ferers andance chers The latest data suggest thaths Duterte oraWhat around 4,000 We averted almost full durDuterte pick his successor—without • the The Center offinally theshould Philippines eis/are sthe s birthday alegal edeaths. onrequirements he wainpa h ama ked acanpeople’s seven months. an election. breakfast party with more has un o seven tial matter of history this law Gierran can only be apUnder ends! linked the authorities.”

What has made a strong president by the to the President. the Presiwell into 2021. tocol in public transp before viate the needs. before it went negative the first quarter of proven itself any more competent any to fire erring general. well into 2021 He notes that per 100,000, the EU member more than 27,000 in the guise of eliminating make arres s based on officers oca ord nances When President came power in structure orregard aBoard cyclical bust.

Simply, director be appo ofare Trustees PhilHealth, and unless any more competent nor any shall emergency employment scheme. sure, proven He notes that perInternational 100,000, theoymen EUFor member er—and scanashed away bastocontraction ons what jus- ing the population. ow disBoa dof oprobably T necesus eesisoiswill Ph Hea h and and un esscontracts. star-rank occupy cabinet and civil-newperhaps ment as sa contraction or awhether cyclical bust.

Simply, necesphenomenon—suicide bombers.

The eme gency emp scheme Fohad suitself eheyday director enthethe of allgovernment COVID-19 cases some the 1.3 to 3.5appointed million cases, ofdewhich his presidency, an unprecedented as to that guy a genithe Philippine Convenmic production new phenomenon—su c bombe s The and 34 The Duterte admina Robbers masqueraded as dent cannot legally appoint Gierran a membut what people wrote worsen the problem.

Gierran be a member of econom c p oduc on What is essential and urgent a longpointed by the President as atonthe member of the pervasive illegal drugs curse. less corrupt than past *y*corrupt * sadministrations. than 50 guests (despite strict lockdown prostates 31 deaths, UK 70,during Spain 61, 2016, hewould stumbled the greatest and tify admit 7,000 deaths the illegal drugs campaign hash alson prof from a short-list prepar sary mobility restrictions hamper aggregate the recommended his appointment to ranks the unemployed can only worsand observe due process mon 2020. less than pastmuch administrations. states average 31the deaths, UK 70,when Spain 61, ian positions inLas the government. he aBoa dAuthorities ecommended hsecsaverage appo men o of perherecovered incumbent President severe orvicious critical.

Our morhe anks oP1.669 hethat unemp oyed can on wo from a the sh sary mobility restrictions hamper aggregate PNP has tripled anti-insurgency budget, sJuly made by bus ness corpora ons voters in May 2022 toamany take aprob68,000 bepinto severe critical achievement.

Economists say us, a Board technocrat, nincompoop, or tion Center.

Let me quote Justice Manuel “Lolong” ber of Board of Trustees, more as be PNP has ed ins the anand nsu gency budge ofalso Philhe Mark my words, the Board ofits Trustees? biznewsasia@gmail.com term jobs policy to prevent bigger Lazaro said istration secured trillion inthe ax vers ha canno beinecove ed n Investments contracted by 53.5 biznewsasia@gmail.com Human Rights Watch says ofeven thePhilHealth When the chief ofdr the national capital’s longest economic expansion country’s Sweden 57, and the US 52.

Commission for Gover the President. demand.” en the poverty problem of the country for Board of Trustees of if he was I don’t know whoever had the idea of Despite the overwhelming dominance of When the chief of the national capital’s hibiting gatherings of ten or more people in other hand, is at 2.5 people he P es den in the second quarter and by 36.6 money hehe wants tohas have Sweden 57, and the US 52. urged hehiscent ask force ead ng he en he pove y p ob em o he coun y o the campaign.

Any numbers above that are Commissi given him one of major failures—massive demand.” a worrying sign. cases on the peak day, which will overa PhilHealth president/CEO, my gulay! unemployment hits 5 percent, practicala dog.

So today, the people must already grown to about 32,000 average daily tests Insofar as Martial law is concerned, it is Begun in 1999, the expansion meant a 4.2COVID-19 cases in th Lazaro, who was the Government CorpoSection 13 of RA 10149 (GOCC Governhey now con ro — hen he ke hood lem of poverty. ond look at Duterte’s presidency and y ng s gn ministrations have us has g own o abou 32 000 ave age da history—70 y es s a wo mine wh 27,000 are “vigilante-style killings perpetratfunding for these assets – P796.58 By 2018 NAIA was ra ed one of he consecutive quarters of growth. police force was caught on social media 3. human rights violations (G Thus, before Gierran appointed aslyappo many to come. generals, the Duterte administration hasinvestnot 5.

Government economists projected usand.”

Thus be oearlier e be G elist an can be nUnprecedented edyears asneeding force wasthe caught social media percent in the first half.

“Private it rights to ry’s whoever many yea s oits 3. human rights violations trolled Co Takepolice notesocial that before GCG on can in- trolled of thisCorporations nonsense. ance Act of mandates that anmilitary appointing included incan the prepared and submitted whelm our healthcare sector.” easing distancing proCoddling the police the My gulay, ifearlier there’s one element missing, Government economists projected coun pandem c sresponse no o areveryone awithout job has acome job.the It’sone-meter they want more of Duterte, orUnprecedented needless to say that proclamarate Counsel during the Marcos era.

“The this (August).” one place at the same time) Duterte refused sda deploy Dominguez 5of2011) Codd ng oand he po ce and hedecide—do mPresident ary classified as “homicides under investigation.” human violations Critics say he killed sought to destroy or ha hey wou d even ua y hand over h Augus ” say, “Let’s give his proxy candidate a ed by police officers themselves or by killers fold increase in the size of Philippine econoy Ca os Dom nguez Duterte himself added 14 quarters of growth billion Japan ODA (offi cial Top Mos Improved rpor s nsay he having adebreakfast birthday party with this law, Under and CEO of PhilHealth, he must office.

What has Duterte a strong While the President may have signed into proven itself “Without anyinmore norfor anyin-Duterte erwants 100,000, the EU member recovery 7 it’s percent to percent GDP clude your name in shortlist for more appointes den and CEO oaccidenPh Hea hmade he mus They the ideaGiw ment slumped Q2 competent with outlays tomoney send director shall be byaoyed the President Wh e president, he esbe den may have shaving gned o the anTen breakfast birthday partyawith more Under urgent and lasting policy.

SanWhat has made Duterte aPstrong president, “What we in the last six months, like having afrom factory running at 95 peror all? tion, the Philippines could now under has employed more generals, beneficiaries of the February 1986 aofless, recovery of 7at8Ppercent toin 8jobs percent inPresident GDP Adds Dominguez: the lockdown, res orit. demoney a61, n vin o the acorrupt ors bu make hem wma much by the GCG to the But the Presioblivion, notwithstand Du efind eappointed has emp mo echance gene aan snone NAKED tocol in public transport To me it would linked to the authorities.”

Adds Dom nguez “W hou hetoockdown power o a c v an governmen s nex o before it went negative in the first quarter of e how much at redemption.” fire the erring general Aside from the drugs war killings, the more than 27 000 guise of eliminating pointed by the Preside be first appointed as a member of the Board less than past administrations. than 50 guests (despite strict lockdown prolaw Bayanihan 2, the billions allotted for his my (from $72.2 billion in 1998 to $304.9 bildeaths, UK 70, Spain the vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also velopment assistance), P444.6 billion wor d Surpr s ng y he mm gra on ment as a member of the Board of Trustees and drivers of public from a short-list prepared by the Governance growth rategrowth in 2021.

That is now overly optibe sto appo n deaths ed as aduring membe ocommunist Boa d rule. ta Iadmit foresee a7,000 bleak future for the cent dustrial machinery and could transport equipeonomies, powers—control of the awThe Bayan han 2 hewere bhasons ed 50 o hguests s My gu pointed bu (despite strict lockdownedented pro- achievements thehe vicious drugs campaign, alsoa othan the quarantine restriction capacity.

Duterte has imposed longest and communists talBanana, event of time, place and personalities, from thethat military and any rate in 2021.

That isthe now overly optithe rate infections and deaths have Authorities their commun omnlower heGovernment-owned mthe apolice, y and than he or-Conpo ce That han any render ydrugs servathe nsn ec ead SO he eceochief onsnational and dea hs cou dehave nof he econom es he of dent cannot legally appoint Gierran aillegal memworsen the mposs b2020. ais hactually s po candidate could be the feisty Board ofLocal Trustees of When of lower the capital’s of Trustees. of Philhealth, the GCG first needs toymore deterproject are only stop-gap measures toproblem alleeoUS 52. rior and Govern hibiting gatherings of ten or more people in Commission for Philippines without any assurance that peogiven him one of his major failures—massive THOUGHT o T us ees Human Rights Watch has also noted the mistic.

Without a vaccine for general use, the from ADB, P307.04 billion from Chicus oms and secur peop e of NAIA the pervasive illegal curse p o ec a e on y s op gap measu es o a e ment 62.1 percent and for private any commodity or conBoard of hibiting gatherings of ten or people in lion in 2016), a dramatic reduction in poverty, has opened more sectors of the But in April 2020, more than 7.3 milmost strict lockdown in the world—for given him one of his major failures—massive already all over the country—in the parliahave fashioned and sustained a litany and otherBegun president him. be More 45 ident mistic.

Without aAny vaccine for general use,are the been much worse.

Thewas suggest that campaign. numbers above that nation and its that people. sively, o1999, hebefore pthe esexpansion den omeant e than h ma 4.2MoDavao ethehan 45 been much wocaught sedata The a-social es da a sugges ha inCorporations Far conv ncforce ng slatest he pos sh unk anyway. mass veviolations ymore anyway police on media mineatwhether youtime), are qualified to hold of this included ardo Año said ifpr th in listcan What is/are the legal requirements before ed human rights trolled (GCG). viate the people’s needs. ple can get employed when this pandemic one place thethere same Duterte refused ber ofwell the of Trustees much more Mayor Sara Duterte former Mark my words will be atime), surge human violations.

Critics say he killed Wha snow aBoard e investigation.” he ega equ emen s be o elost vof a as ehis he peop e seven needs construction percent says irecting taxpayers money included recession could rage well into 2021.

Iebreakfast SEE nese ODA, P107.76 billion from pub-one are now and po erefused hanks othe place at thehones same Duterte economy helped bring back jobs.” lion people their jobs—“largely in more six months from March ment, media, academe, labor and thekilled barrage of adverse publicity to or efface Pres-rights human rights violations.

Critics say he biznewsasia@gmail com classified aswith “homicides under star-rank officers occupy cabinet and civilpolitically motivated detention most Human Rights Watch says many ofalower,” the recession could rage into 2021. apackage littleby over 1 percent of46.8 all COVID-19 cases Imore could well repeat fold increase inand the size of Philippine econoand middle-income status for Filipinos, mulus package Health p s com athis ank o Gierran ce s occupy cab ne and c vthan a ove 1 pe cen o COV D 19 cases office. add jeepneys, bu having a birthday party with more law, can only be apUnder finally ends! ze o he s mu us Duterte a strong president, by the GCG to the Gierran can be appointed as a member of on aken he Comm ss on on What is essential and urgent is a longto fire the erring general.

G e an can be appo n ed as a membe o more than 27,000 in the guise of eliminating ernh @yahoo Wha stransport, essenprojects; aeliminating and u gen s fire athe ong ADB.arePublic construction slipped byianmy a positions where, and the restrictions CHARLIE V. by “good the Pre GC Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” MarWhen the President came to power in a PhilHealth president/CEO my gulay!

COVID-19 cases in country as a result Mr. President, lift the lockdowns. services—mainly trade, ac15, 2020.

And what do we get after clergy.

The Supreme Court recognized this to the erring general. ident Marcos from the tapestry of history.

Aside from the drugs war killings, the more than 27,000 in the guise of lic-private partnership and Du er e’s vow o k any reca c ran in the government. (from $72.2 billion in 1998 to $304.9 bilWhen the President came to power in eloquently that d in the country severe or critical.

Our morMy gulay, it’s a long process! The Pres- dent itsoiscampaign, actualof transportation—not pointedper by pos the President member of the the an onsincome n as heagove nmen * *d*o T us ees? guests (despite strict lockdown pro-Ou mo prominent critic, Senator Leila de Lima, the 000 are has “vigilante-style killings n50he coun y a e perpetratseve e o c ca drugs cannotmanent legally apC Board of he Trustees? uher a27 whe he acalso ua than term jobs policy to prevent a enterbigger their capita exceeding $3,000.

LITO Boa efavor m obs po cyinsofar ononsense pfund. even a bcannot ggeThe pjust ob the pervasive illegal drugs curse. dent cann marginal 0.9 percent inatQ2. and people under astality lockJuly 2016, he stumbled into the greatest and cos Jr..

Bongbong complained yesThey make noe of sense.

I MANALO think even commodation, restaurants, and giving up most ofwhoever our basic liberties? when itbillion ruled in ofthe Marcos as probThey pursued what notable poet Sir RichHuman Rights Watch has also noted the lion in 2016), a dramatic reduction in m poverty, the pervasive illegal drugs curse.

Take note that before the GCG can inDespite the overwhelming dominance of beneficial to the nation of this ident pick anybody to be PhilJuly 2016, he stumbled into the greatest and P13 from general governmen w no onger pr va ratio, on the other hand, is 2.5 people tancing protocol.

Board of Trustees PhilHealth if he was I don’t know had the idea of of the economy. hibiting gatherings of ten or more people in his major failures—massive Desp he ove whe ng dom nance o ber of the Board of Tr a y a o on he o he hand s a 2 5 peop e Section 13 of RA 10149 (GOCC Governlem of poverty. ve opolice he economy Sec on 13 oandof RA 10149 GOCC Gove n Rights removal in May 2018 of Chief Justice Maedpaby officers themselves killers biznewsasia@gmail.com em oin pove berexpunge of say the Duterte may or notbyknow it but generals, he without rc form or sacronym—and ex-officio Human Rights Watch says many ofy themany Today, Duterte presides over worst ecolongest economic in the country’s politically motivated detention his most thethe lockdowns, you can winthe tainment—but also industry, espeWell, nothing—but misery poverty. ardexpansion Maitland sharply observed: ‘The essenMartial Law was concerned.

BANAYO middle-income status for biznewsasia@gmail.com the Supreme Court denied him president CEO. The threehe perHealth experts Human Watch says of Health the at in submitted effaced or easing the one-meter social distancing prothegene Duterte administration has not longest economic expansion inthat the country’s per a hundred thousand.” place at the ed same time), Duterte refused and included ations.

Critics sayahesys killed Tugade isifkillings bent on inaugurating heand NAIA Ioperators has money and exnot asuccessor—without systemic clude your name in the shortlist for They the idea was to help a slist heprepared Du eFilipinos, eand adm nwith s a terday onprominent has no a be PhilHealth presiden ance Act of 2011) mandates an appointing My gulay, there’s one element missing, pe a hund housand ” phisob em s to no em c one ance Ac oisgrowth.

2011 manda es ha an“vigilante-style appo nrevocation ngappointMy gu ay he e perpetratssay one manent e emen mze ss ng athe PhilHea achieved almost full employment dur27,000 are perpetratcritic, Senator Leila de Lima, the an election. history—70 consecutive quarters of cially manufacturing.

Lowerincome The Philippines today is the epicenter tial matter of history not what happened I sincerely believe that in time, Marcos will their per capita income exceeding $3,000.

Commissions of GCG and the two (www.manilastandard.net) ria Lourdes Sereno, the of amWhat can happen here linked the authorities ” Carlos by the GCG to the President.

But the Presitocol in public transport.

To me it would (www.manilastandard.net) triumphs in end.

MD nomic performance of the Philippines ever.

27,000 are “vigilante-style killings proven itself any more competent nor any due process while seeking annulment to fire the erring general. history—70 consecutive of growth.

He notes that 100,000, EU000 member in ca the guise of eliminating Take note that director appointed the President p ovenpresides se any mo worst e compe en no anyinshall it’s and lasting jobs policy.

Sanleast a urgent portion 8and kms by April per se o(Secretary do he of obFinance by se feverything Heper no es ha pethean 100 he EU membe ment aquarters member Board of Trustees cSimply, busnecesS mp neces and drivers utility vehicles Inted be ecwrote oasof sha bebyJustice appo nof ed by and he P esan den s ana(about u gen as ng of obspublic po cy San Takebef ing his presidency, unprecedented ether that guy is ay geniremoval 2018 Chief Maedgrowth by police officers themselves or by killers ex-officio members we Marcos have ga Today, Duterte over the semi-skilled workers, most of them of COVID pandemic in the whole ofthe dent cannot legally appoint Gierran aecomembut what people or said about it.’”

Duterte himself added 14May quarters growth be vindicated.

He was visionary, born ahead worsen the problem. is secure.

The ed by police officers themselves or by killers al drugs curse. less corrupt than past administrations.

Budget Snl states average 31 deaths, UK 70, Spain 61, Duterte himself added 14 quarters of nesty given Senator (now retired) Antonio Authorities admit to 7 000 deaths during of the 2016 vice presidential results on clude your name in the from a short-list prepared by the Governance mper aggregate ta Banana, I foresee a bleak future for the The slump is also the worst in ASEAN. The ess co up han pas adm n s a ons s a es ave age 31 dea hssay UK 70when Spa nber 61biznewsasia@gmail.com 2022) of adeterMetro of NAIA Tugade sfitbu d ngare om athe sho ssucceeding pbeepa edand by heemployed nance ons hampe or aggeven ega e biznewsasia@gmail.com agargantuan Banana othe esee a bManila eak u u Dominguez e oOuhes deSecretary clude you achievement.

Economists that ac nincompoop, rianegative Lourdes Sereno, revocation amCarlos and Department of ** of thechief Board Trustees, much more as Asia, Philhealth the GCG needs to nomic performance of thenational Philippines ever.

Mark my words, there will a of surge oftofirst linked theGove authorities.” rior and Local Government Eduonly informally, were hit hard outside of India, Pakistan, Lazaro also said that adof his (www.manilastandard.net) time.

Generations free from blemish before it went inof the first quarter of us.

They embedd Watch says many Sweden of the 57, linked to the authorities.”

When the of the capital’s and the US 52. before it went negative in the first quarter of ment as a member of Commission for Government-owned or-ConSO Philippines without any assurance that peothe ground that the high court does notowned have to ch einalso omyhe naThe ona cap agiven sworst Sweden 57 above and Trillanes IV who led mutinies in 2002 and campaign Anyunemployment numbers that52arepractical-Theeconomic Comm ss oncountry o cases Gove nmen o few Con Ph pp nesardo w hou any assu anceSecretary Budget Avisado) will also comp ment as avt Thecontinue ban of going nesty Senator (now retired) aslump PhilHealth gulay! hitshe 5 US percent, thethe people mustperpetratalready collapse makes him the from Valenzuela City in the a this opeo a Wendel 237 a rpor s—143 e ed COVID-19 cases in the3,000 asAntonio aare result is When alsopresident/CEO, thehe worst ASEAN. Authorities admit to 7,000 deaths during because had the option to work from Bangladesh.

With over daily, ministrations have used laws even as they ofSubway, hate andhold revenge will look more kindly on 2020. mine whether you qualified to this nte-style killings and to govern Año said that ifha isoftrue we should Authorities to 7,000 deaths during police force was caught on the social media Philhealth, the GCG human rights violations trolled (GCG).

2020. ple can get employed when this pandemic arlier projected I SEE po cethat o ce was caugh on soc awe med aCorporations have vote whether to include you or not of “Undas” orinAll Saints’ 3 under Unpreceden eda human s vIt’s o economic a president ons know the rules such an invalidation ofor ed Co po a4.2ons GCG Takecollapse note before can inTrillanes IV who led mutinies in 2002 and padmit e above canSO ge empare oyed when h tos pandem c ongo of this nonsense. ofthe Philhea onom s s eaof or e as p “homicides o 3. ecorUnprecedented ed ly everyone needing job hasr”agh job. want more Duterte, sho also makes himGCG the worst north to NAIA, a distance of 34 kms. and 94 ng home,” notes ADB. are reaching 300,000 cases and will 2007, and the passage of a new Anti-Terror classified investigation sought to destroy or consign Marcos to the campaign.

Any numbers that him, and acknowledge his achievements and sough o des oy o cons gn Ma cos o Begun in 1999, the expansion meant a ers themselves by killers ever in terms of economic perforMarcos’ vision and fo thefinally campaign. above I numbers SEE youwhe are having a breakfast birthday party with more this law, Gierran can only be ap- on Under office ends! Any add moresixthat jeepneys buses and other means mine What has made Duterte a strong president, tinue to harangue us for ocBegun in say 1999, the expansion meant aan 4.2inare the shortlist. percent in8 GDP Day iswhether no problem for clude your name in“illegally the shortlist forperforappointThey the idea was tototal help operators hav ng a b eak as b hday pa y w h mo e 2007, and the passage of a new Anti-Terror THE FIFTH h s aw G e can y be ap Unde na y ends Wha has made Du e e a s ong p es den mine president ever in terms of economic like having a factory running at 95 perl? of electoral results. cen o pe cen n GDP Ironically, Duterte had rescued be No. 20 in number of COVID LITO oblivion, notwithstanding his solid unpreccontribution to the nation. ob v on no w hs and ng h s so d unp ec classified as “homicides under investigation.”

The G orities.”Aside from The subway will cut travel time from fold increase in the size of Philippine econofor governance are ric Act (ATA). the drugs war killings the office. pointed by the President as a member of the LITO classified as “homicides under investigation.” * * * than 50 guests (despite strict lockdown promance.

The GCG is akin to the Judicial and Bar For many years, we the vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also fold increase inof the of Philippine ment as han a member of sthedesp Board drivers public utility vehicles.

Inteow overly opticupying” the features.

Actand (ATA).

My it’s a econolong process!

The Prespo nsize edgulay by Phe es den asthe a membe ofrom he poverty—defined of mins., transportation—not ease the social dis- man 50 gues eAre sof Trustees c ockdown pmaybe, o ed mance. office. le v c ous ega d ugs campa gn has a so disputed mposed the longest 1 Tha s now ove during yand op centhecapacity.

BANAYO Or boxing champion Senas*the*aan*idea cases in the world 220 countries. edented achievements for the *BANAYO *whoever *to 35 eden ach evemen sPhilHealth ohe good oof he mit to 7,000 deaths Aside from the drugs war killings, thekillings, varied and numerous my (from $72.2 billion 1998 toamong $304.9 bilGOSPEL 70Aside by half, boon Fuoyouvers onappointed on www anCouncil.

Myas gulay, a gu lon Council. can be as cemeteries Board ofin Trustees of ifPh he wasmillion onit’s those t Imins don’t know had oftohe Before ofve Philhealth, the GCG first to mo deterfrom the drugs war the rior Local Government Secretary Eduhibiting gatherings ofga ten or more people insecond given him one ofin his (from $72.2 billion 1998 to $304.9 bilRecently, there been sensational Recently, there been sensational Human Rights Watch has also the general the CROSSROADS Boa dhave oein T us ees owhy Hea hhave he was And that allng due to the second don know whoeve had dea My he ngs oneeds enbiggest othe emy peop e and nwe And that is all due to biggest prepared toh isbface the challenges But mildown world—for g ven hApril mmajor one2020, ofailures—massive hnoted smore ma othan aweu7.3 es—mass ident cannot just pick anybody to be Philvacc neinuse, othegene athat usearehe tancing protocol y numbers above income of $2 a day.

He was going to In fact, will be in Top 15, dislodging nation its people.

Santa Banana, I cannot believe that this is na on and s peop Human Rights Watch has also noted the ator Manny Pacquiao.

Or, not If only to show an lion in 2016), a dramatic reduction in poverty, member ofdard thep Board to any GOCC, Phil- ident other cannot days.member What matte mineatwhether youtime), are qualified to hold this just pick ardo Año said that ifprepared this is true, we should included in the list and submitted easing the one-meter social distancing pro370,000 passengers daily.

With two gine Human Rights Watch has also 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 p epa ed and subm ed 2021. eas ng he one me e soc a d s anc ng o ident can one p ace a he same me Du e e e used peopleghlost their jobs—“largely in kfailure. onths now from motivated March lion human s vof o ahis ons C engendered cs say he ed by that possibility?

I don’t killings of known political activists, human icides under politically detention most Opportunities ge we n o investigation.”

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

Lungs and bubbles I could well repeat what Lazaro said so coming from the Philippine National Police JUDE politically motivated detention ofdetention his Health most Health president and CEO The three perHealth included, you must through the ber andand foresight of Marco say this is pass dangerous pray for our l and middle-income status for Filipinos, with add more jeepneys, buses, and means president and by the GCG to and the President.

But the Presitocol in public transport. me it experts would rights defenders, alleged People’s Opportunities the erring general. politically motivated of his most 2.office.

Pandemic mismanagement more 27,000 in the of eliminating and middle-income status forby Filipinos, with by he GCG oNew heother Ppercent es Bu he PHe es oco n pub cTo 2000s. anspo To me of wouGCG, d and you must be in- Health Health pr eewhat to power Health in services—mainly transport, acdowarwein after o must eit’s heavoid ngprocess! gene a an drugs killings, thethan mo e J.A. han 27guise 000trade, n he guthe se o e to mfire na ng percent by 2022, from 30s in the The economy collapsed 0.7 that deeds, especially those den came oget powe nSenator chief. said that National Capital Region oquen ymanent ha “good deeds espec aprominent yaden hose think so and we suchtheir wringer the gone ahead of us.apply My gulay, aelong The ofeeloquently transportation—not ease the social discritic, Senator Leila de Lima, thede suances that still a rights defenders, and alleged New People’s prominent critic Leila de Lima perPrescapita income exceeding $3,000. manent Commissions dent cannot legally appoint Gierran memworsen the problem.

2.

Pandemic mismanagement Commissions of GCG and the two ACIDRE What can happen here is that we could lose prominent critic, Senator Leila Lima, the the pervasive illegal drugs curse. den canno ega y appo n G e an a mem wo sen he p ob em their per capita income exceeding $3,000. manent C he greatest and commodation, restaurants, and enterof our basic liberties?

Watch has also noted the he pe vas ve ega d ugs cuoutcome se beneficial to nation the people, cannotasin Police Office chief, Major General Debold bene cprotocol. a Board o the he na on and ecohe peop e more canno cannot just pick anybody to be Philmb ed n o he g ea es and DELA tancing atident all costs.

CRUZ removal May 2018 of Chief Justice Maex-officio wringer members (o ber of the of Trustees, much Today, Duterte presides over the worst Mark my words, there will be a surge of removal in May 2018 of Chief Justice Mabiznewsasia@gmail.com removal in May 2018 of Chief Justice Mabe o he Boa d o T us ees much mo e as ex-officio members (Secretary of Finance Ma k my wo ds he e w be a su ge o Human Rights Watch says many of the ex-officio everything we have gained Today, Duterte presides over the worst econtedthe country’s detention his mosty s tainment—but also in ch industry, espe-o Health but misery znewsas a@gma com and CEO.noises The threeperformance perHealth experts say this ismy dangerous.

Human R gh s Wa says Secondly, many hethebpresident expunged, survives deserves a promotion because he has be eeffaced oorpresident/CEO, expunged Good su vria vesLourdes and Sinas, expans on and n of hepoverty. coun Sereno, theSereno, revocation of amDominguez a prepared PhilHealth gulay!

COVID-19 cases the country a coun result continuing are to pursue zero-sum China and “stand its “bullying.” nomic ofaced the Philippines ever.

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by Philippine Manila Standard Trillanes IV led V mutinies 2002n es andn 2002 and him the worst ard.net R.and Felipe Head—Ad Solutions Publishing at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo Ro “Undas” ando GCity Pub sher Joyce Pangco Pa SOInc. manilastandard.net Anita F.anes Grefal Treasury have odeS. vo eCity whe he o Editors nc ude you Jimbo o noOwen oEstab A SaonBaldwin s Day A Sou s MEMBER T who who Manager edin mu Anita Grefal Treasury Manager ONLINE a so makes h m he wo s Jimbo Owen Gulle Editor ChinF.Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors LITO Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions Gulle Editor Chin Wong/Ray Eñano Associate Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de I SEE Joy MEMBERDay isifno in theVillage, shortlist.

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Foof many yeaour s we have no The Ba National Association then-candidate Donald Trump lingers In fact it remains a key issue against Trump all over again in the run-up to the November elections with the Democrats and a number of US security experts insisting that the Russian hackers are back in the

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MORE MORE OPINION OPINION ONLINE ONLINE

MORE OPINION ONLINE

WPS or bust? MORE

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AdelleCirculation Chua Opinion Editor Ac ATA Circulation Manager of Philippine Newspapers EdgardM. Valmorida BANAYO Adelleyou Chuacan beOpinion Editor Valmorida Manager man asRecently, anda ne Council. Before appointed ceme eas es on hose WewoOwen on Gu AnEdgar ta FM.Grefa Treasury Manager BANAYO liking Philippine Newspapers NLINE have been sensational second Counc Be o eout you beasappo nofed J mbo C ty Ed tor ceme e should eswoondays hose We ego on Ch n Wong/Ray Scan Eñano Assoc ate Ed tors ple relations, which merely came with an harm’s way, they now putgodays this good fortune.

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departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila.

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Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandard.net manilastandard.net

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Em G.P Jurado Cha rman tusI Ed Rolando Estabillo Publisher Ro ando G no Es ab o Pub how he demonized all the S.forces we can muster to with all sorts of harangues and shamsure them matter In the first place, even if for Former some Chiefwith Justice Reynato Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser ManilaStandard accessed at: Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor view, Fo mesimply Ch e usmake ce Reyna o S Puno Membe & ing Ch e operations Lega Adv e against Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor the Chinese quite a big issueBoa of d“upDuterte anddan othhave been in Cab their S Chinese magical reasonM can thebe an belet a egoedand a Hono B anco e N gh Ed o Ramonch o L Tome Manag ng Ed o manilastandard.net Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager ONLINE Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors man a anda d ne An a F G e a T ea u y Manage ONLINE la Standard let us occupy all of the seven features holding our sovereignty” over an uneners who disagreed their Sposition. thea epublic countenance mbo Owen Gu e aCzero y Ed o Ch with n Wong/Ray Eñano A oc Ed o will not b hdepp n M n nd d Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions Paseo Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor MEMBER Bu d n 106 d They have also been inviting L nosolution.

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EVERYMAN

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By Robert Har and

Cha man Eme u Ed o a Boa d

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

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

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

Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

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

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

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World

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

HK scraps mandatory jabs for foreign domestic workers HONG Kong on Tuesday scrapped a plan to make coronavirus vaccines mandatory for foreign domestic workers after the proposal sparked an outcry and a diplomatic tussle with the Philippines.

Health officials planned to roll out mandatory inoculations for the 370,000 domestic workers in the city, mostly poorly paid women from the Philippines and Indonesia.

Those wanting to apply for work visas – or renew their current ones – would need to show they had received two doses.

But on Tuesday city leader Carrie Lam announced a U-turn.

“The government has decided not to request mandatory vaccination when helpers renew their contracts,” she said, adding the decision had been made after meetings with officials from the Philippines and Indonesia.

Philippine foreign affairs secretary

OPEN BURNING. Relatives bring the body of a COVID-19 victim for cremation in New Delhi on May 11, 2021. AFP

Teodoro Locsin had previously warned the initial proposal “smacked of discrimination.”

Hong Kong health officials announced the mandatory vaccination plan after two domestic workers were found to be infected with one of the more virulent strains of the coronavirus.

They said domestic workers were “high risk” because they often work with the elderly and meet in parks on Sundays – usually their one day off a week.

Labor groups representing domestic workers said they felt they were being singled out, noting that the families they worked for – as well as locals working in environments such as care homes – were not required to get vaccinated.

They also pointed out that wealthier foreign migrants such as the city’s white-collar financial workers were not forced to get vaccines when outbreaks of the coronavirus were traced to their well-heeled districts.AFP

US authorizes Pfizer vax for children Inoculating 12-15-year-olds a ‘critical step’—FDA

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HE United States has authorized the PfizerBioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 12 to 15 years old, while the devastating outbreak in India raged on.

The US Food and Drug Administration previously had granted an emergency use authorization for the jab to individuals aged 16 and older.

“This is a promising development in our fight against the virus,” said President Joe Biden.

“If you are a parent who wants to protect your child, or a teenager who is interested in getting vaccinated, today’s decision is a step closer to that goal.”

The FDA previously granted an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to individuals

aged 16 and older.

“Having a vaccine authorized for a younger population is a critical step in continuing to lessen the immense public health burden caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

The FDA said some 1.5 million COVID-19 cases in individuals aged 11 to 17 years old have been reported to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021.

The course of the disease is generally milder in children but they can pass it on to older, more vulnerable adults.

Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said in March that their two-dose vaccine regimen was shown to be safe and highly effective in a trial of 2,260 kids aged 12 to 15 years old.

Biden last week stressed the importance of expanding vaccinations to 12to 15-year-olds and said the authorities were “ready to move immediately” once the authorization came through. AFP

10 people, including one attacker, killed in Russia school shooting

AT LEAST 10 people were killed, including one of two attackers, after shooting broke out Tuesday at a high school in the central Russian city of Kazan, local news agencies reported.

Citing local sources, agencies reported that two people had opened fire at School No. 175 in Kazan, the capital of Russia’s republic of Tatarstan.

Interfax reported that one of the attackers, a 17-year-old, had been detained but that a second assailant was still inside the school building.

The second gunman was eventually killed, news agencies reported, citing official sources.

“According to preliminary information, the second attacker in the school in Kazan who remained in the building was killed,” the TASS state news agency reported, citing a law enforcement source.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday ordered a review of gun control legislation following a deadly shooting at a high school in the central city of Kazan, the Kremlin said.

“The president gave an order to urgently work out a new provision concerning the types of weapons that can be in civilian hands, taking into account the weapon” used in the attack, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Interfax said eight students and one teacher had been killed.

Russia has relatively few school shootings due to normally tight security in education facilities and the difficulty of buying firearms legally, although it is possible to register hunting rifles.

In November 2019, a 19-year-old student in the far eastern town of Blagoveshchensk opened fire in his college, killing one classmate and injuring three other people before shooting himself dead.

In October 2018, a teenage gunman killed 20 people at the Kerch technical college in Crimea, the peninsula Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

The 18-year-old attacker, who also set off explosives in one of the school’s buildings, shot himself dead at the site.

He was shown in camera footage wearing a similar T-shirt to Eric Harris, one of the killers in the 1999 Columbine High School shooting in the US, which left 13 people dead. AFP

IN BRIEF China: Slowest population growth

CHINA’S population has grown at its slowest pace in decades, reaching 1.41 billion, census results showed on Tuesday, highlighting fears of a looming crisis over an ageing society.

The growth of 5.4 percent was the slowest since the 1960s, due in part to falling birthrates and a sharp drop in the number of working-age people.

After decades of a controversial “onechild” policy, Beijing in 2016 allowed families to have two children as fears grew about China’s shrinking workforce.

But it is yet to produce the expected baby boom to help offset the country’s ageing population.

“The adjustment of China’s fertility policy has achieved positive results,” said Ning Jizhe, an official from the National Bureau of Statistics.

But he added that the “ageing of the population imposed continued pressure on the long-term balanced development of the population.”

The number of people aged between 15 and 59 dropped nearly seven percentage points, while those over 60 was up more than five percentage points. AFP

‘Humanitarian’ solution for Burmese journalists–Thailand

THAILAND said Tuesday it was seeking a “humanitarian” solution for three Myanmar journalists arrested after fleeing across the border to escape a junta crackdown.

The trio’s employer – the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) – and the Thai foreign correspondents’ club urged the authorities not to deport them, warning their lives could be in danger if they returned to the coup-hit country.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, triggering a mass uprising as large swathes of the population take to the streets to demand democracy.

The junta has responded with force – shooting protesters, arresting suspected dissidents in night raids, and targeting journalists and news outlets by shutting them down.

Thai authorities on Tuesday confirmed the arrests, while foreign ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat said they were seeking a way out of the case.AFP

REMEMBRANCE. A woman lights a candle to commemorate victims of the COVID-19 pandemic at the Prague Castle on May 10, 2021 in Prague. AFP

Japan starts 1st joint military drill with US, France JAPANESE, US and French troops kicked off their first-ever joint military drill Tuesday in southwestern Japan, as concerns rise over China’s growing assertiveness in the region.

An Australian naval ship is also taking part in the week-long air, land and sea exercises involving 300 ground troops from the three countries.

It comes as Tokyo looks to deepen defence ties beyond its key US ally and with eyes on Beijing’s moves in the East and South China seas.

“The drill is no doubt a deterrent to China’s increasingly aggressive behaviour in the region,” Takashi Kawakami, head of the Institute of World Studies at Takushoku University, told AFP. “In the long term, European commitment in the Indo-Pacific could lead to closer ties between Japan and NATO, something former prime minister Shinzo Abe advocated,” he added.

The drills, which include fighter jet and amphibious operation exercises, will be held in the Kyushu region and at sea with virus countermeasures.

A Japanese submarine and 10 surface ships -- six Japanese, two French, one American and one Australian -- will be used, a French naval official told AFP. China claims the majority of the South China Sea, invoking its so-called nine-dash line to justify what it says are historic rights to the key trade waterway.

Japan has long said it feels threatened by China’s vast military resources and territorial disputes.

It is particularly concerned by Chinese activity around the Japanese-administered Senkaku islands, which Beijing claims and calls the Diaoyus.

France has strategic interests in the IndoPacific including territories like Reunion in the Indian Ocean and French Polynesia in the South Pacific.

The nation unveiled its own Indo-Pacific strategy in 2018, describing Japan, Australia, India and the US as key strategic partners in the region. AFP

7 killed in landslide at Sumatra gold mine

AT LEAST seven people were killed and one reported missing after a landslide at an Indonesian gold mine, authorities said Tuesday.

Torrential rains triggered a landslide on Monday, inundating the mine with mud mixed with stones and debris in South Solok regency, West Sumatra, said the local emergency department head Fikri, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

In a statement, the department said “at least seven killed and one is missing.”

Rescuers managed to save nine survivors from the mud and were combing the area to find the missing miner, Fikri said.

“Initially, rescuers were having difficulties to evacuate victims to a rescue vehicle because the terrain at the site was challenging,” Fikri said, but in the end all survivors went to hospital for emergency treatment.

The disaster occurred just two weeks after another landslide hit the Chinesebacked Batang Toru hydropower project in North Sumatra, killing 10 people.

Three people were still missing when rescuers ended their search last week.

Fatal landslides and flash floods are common across the country during the rainy season. AFP

Business Taiwan offers to raise supply of high-tech chips to EU COPENHAGEN, Denmark—Taiwan’s president offered on Monday to work with the European Union to boost its supply of semiconductors in the face of a global shortage of chips, of which the island is a major producer.

“Taiwan will continue to engage with the EU and other democratic partners to establish a more resilient supply of critical goods such as semiconductors and medical supplies,” President Tsai Ing-wen said in a video message broadcast at a democracy conference in Copenhagen.

The Taiwanese president also renewed her call to negotiate a bilateral investment agreement between the European Union and Taiwan.

Taiwan’s high-tech chip manufacturing plants are among the largest and most advanced in the world, with the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) leading the market.

Last week, Washington announced that it was putting pressure on manufacturers to allocate part of their supply to American car manufacturers, in the face of a shortage which has affected multiple sectors and which industry sources expect to last for several more months.

Tsai spoke at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, organized by the Alliance of Democracies, an organization which was targeted by Beijing sanctions in March and was founded by former Nato boss Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

Taiwan, which has a population of 23 million, is seen by China as a rebel province that will one day be returned to its fold, by force if necessary.

“Our government is fully aware of the threats to regional security, and is actively enhancing our national defense capabilities to protect our democracy,” the president said on Monday.

Taiwan “is working with its global partners to ensure security and stability in the region,” she added.

US President Joe Biden is due to announce his strategy towards China in the near future and there are growing calls for him to make a clear public commitment to defend Taiwan militarily in the event of Chinese aggression. AFP

B3

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks up slightly; PLDT, AC Energy lead advances T HE stock market rose slightly in a tight trading range after investors ignored the expected GDP contraction in the first quarter of 2021.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added just 9.42 points, or 0.2 percent, to 6,326.83 on a value turnover of P4.6 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 122 to 82, with 43 issues unchanged.

The economy shrank in the first three months of the year as coronavirus restrictions suppressed activity, but a top official said there were signs the country was “on the mend.”

Gross domestic product contracted 4.2 percent from a year ago, the statistics authority said, marking the fifth straight quarter of decline as efforts to combat COVID-19 deepened the country’s economic pain.

PLDT Inc., the biggest telecommunications firm, advanced 2.4 percent to P1,264, while AC Energy Corp., a unit of Ayala Corp., climbed 2 percent to P7.32.

Aboitiz Power of the Aboitiz Group added 1.5 percent to P23.70, but Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is into toll roads, water and electricity distribution, hospitals and infrastructure, declined 3 percent to P3.81.

The rest of equity markets tumbled in Asia on Tuesday following steep losses on Wall Street as investors grow increasingly worried about a surge in inflation that could force central banks to wind back their ultra-loose monetary policies earlier than forecast.

Tokyo and Taipei each dropped more than three percent, while Hong Kong was off two percent.

Sydney and Seoul retreated more than one percent, and there were also losses in Singapore, Wellington, Mumbai, Bangkok and Jakarta. Shanghai edged up, however.

All eyes are on the release this week

of crucial data on US retail sales and consumer prices, with expectations for a sharp rise as the world’s top economy reopens and vaccines allow people to return to a sense of normality.

A massive miss on US jobs creation last week that indicated the recovery was not going to be as smooth as thought provided some relief from those fears, but a rally in commodities—particularly widely used copper and iron ore—has markets concerned that costs will spiral.

Signs that this is having an effect were seen in data from China that showed prices paid at the country’s factory gates rose last month at their fastest pace in almost four years.

Those worries continue to hover over trading floors, despite repeated assurances from the Federal Reserve that it will stick to its huge bond-buying and record-low interest rate position for as long as needed until it has unemployment tamed and inflation is running consistently hot. With AFP

PSEi May 11, 2021

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

MAHB OPM OPMB EVER SUN CAB MAH DWC ATI CIC

LAST PRICE 2.59 0.013 0.014 0.18 1.5 63.8 2.3 3.04 16.26 22.9

CHANGE 0.48 0.001 0.001 0.011 0.09 3.75 0.12 0.15 0.64 0.9

% CHANGE 22.75% 8.33% 7.69% 6.51% 6.38% 6.24% 5.50% 5.19% 4.10% 4.09%

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

MAB CEU JOH DFNN FFI ZHI LCB FPI MA NI

LAST PRICE 0.016 6.56 4.97 4.48 7.48 0.227 0.184 0.285 0.015 1.5

CHANGE -0.002 -0.74 -0.52 -0.41 -0.62 -0.018 -0.013 -0.02 -0.001 -0.1

% CHANGE -11.11% -10.14% -9.47% -8.38% -7.65% -7.35% -6.60% -6.56% -6.25% -6.25%

MOST ACTIVE

REOPENING. An employee cleans tables outside a cafe, on May 10, 2021 in Paris, as France is set to reopen its trademark sidewalk cafes and restaurants on May 19. Cafes, restaurants, museums, cinemas and other venues and businesses, that have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will reopen in several stages during May and June. A return to enjoying drinks with friends on a cafe terrace, so eagerly anticipated after seemingly interminable closures because of the COVID-19 pandemic, still poses a relatively small risk of contagion, experts warned on May 6, 2021, suggesting a variety of safeguards. AFP

Still

IT’S the middle of May and summer is clearly here. In the Philippines, days are growing longer and warmer. But with the second wave of the pandemic still upon us, vacations are off the table for most people. The prolonged crisis is taking its toll on many of us.

Closer to home, I just finished teaching a course on life planning to our entrepreneurship students and much of our discussion focused on happiness. It is a tough topic for discussion for everyone these days, especially so for entrepreneurs who are hard hit by the economic consequences of both the pandemic, and the lockdowns and limited mobility that are the primary means of controlling transmission.

In a very real sense, we are in an in-between phase. In March of 2020, the government hit the pause button in our lives. Many things have changed but we are still, in many ways, living in a state of suspension.

Process In the course on life planning, we always say that life planning is like corporate strategy.

This is an especially important thing to say to entrepreneurs, who are often immersed in the day-to-day, who find it hard enough to find to time strategize for their businesses, never mind their personal lives.

Like corporate strategy, life planning is essentially about figuring out how to attain goals. Individuals have many answers to the question of personal goals, but one thing is common. Virtually everyone wants to be happy. And much like corporate strategy, we begin with some basic questions. Who am I? Where do I want to be? Where am I now? How do I get from where I am now to where I want to be? How do I move forward?

We ask the who are you question because happiness means different things to different people. Even more importantly, we have personal situations and even traits that are tough to change, and which we may not want to change. We take these as givens. We then make a list of things that are important to us. In class, we recommend the creation of a personal mission, vision and values statement. This helps create focus and helps students move to the next question. Where do you want to be?

What are your personal goals?

Once we finish that question, then we move on to an analysis of the current reality so that we can move to the actual plan, how to move forward towards our goals.

Situation What most of us have in common is that we are all living in a pandemic.

In 2020, right after collectively hitting the pause button, we were consumed by finding ways to deal with the crisis. At that point, little was known about COVID-19 and there was still optimism that the crisis might end before the end of 2020. As the pandemic progressed and we learned more, we came to realize that the crisis would last longer. Vaccines, it was agreed, would be the answer. In the meantime, we would all need to hunker down to control transmission.

As lockdowns pushed down transmission and the vaccine rollout began, our spirits lifted.

Lower numbers encouraged governments to reduce restrictions on gathering and mobility.

These reductions were also aimed at addressing economic concerns. With reduced restrictions and lifted spirits, some individuals began to normalize their lives, which also meant riskier behavior. Across the world, second and third waves of transmission surged.

We can only make the correct choices if we truly understand the situation.

In Metro Manila, the situation is neither great nor terrible. While daily new cases are down to about 7,000 from a peak of over 10 ,000, they are still significantly higher than the peak of the first wave, when 7-day averages for daily new cases hovered in the 4,000 to 5,000 range. Even more worrisome, total active cases are still over 50,000. Thankfully, positivity ratios are now down to about 12 percent, which means that we are likely not missing too many cases. Vaccine rollout is slow but improving, and vaccine shipments are coming in.

News from the world is not any better.

New COVID-19 surges are being reported in many countries, but it is the crisis in India that consumes headlines worldwide. It is a human crisis of epic proportions in the second most populous country in the world. In India, over a million people test positive for COVID every four days and over 10,000 die every two days.

And this is only the official numbers. There are indications that both are significantly underestimated. The crisis in India is not just about COVID-19 prevalence and transmission, it is about a collapsing hospital sector. In India, home to the largest vaccine manufacturer in the world, the crisis has become less about vaccination and control, it has become about survival. Across India, people are dying because there is no oxygen available for

treatment. India is a stark reminder of how bad choices can result in disaster.

In the Seychelles, a country that has vaccinated over 60 percent of its population (with a combination of Sinopharm ad Covishield), making it the most vaccinated country in the world, daily new cases have doubled in a week and 37 percent of new cases are those that have had two doses. None of those fully vaccinated have died but the Seychelles experience shows that 60 percent vaccination is not enough to build herd immunity. Seychelles gives us information.

Some good news comes out of Serrana in Brail, a small town that has vaccinated over 95 percent of its adult population with Sinovac’s Coronavac. As a second wave consumes the rest of the country, deaths and new cases are plunging in Serrana. This town gives us hope.

Forward In class last week, we discussed the challenges of working to keep a business afloat during a pandemic. We discussed the challenges of balancing family, business, and self-care when business survival also means keeping the future safe for employees and their families. As the course ended, no one came to any grand insights concerning the pandemic nor business survival. What they did end with though was a renewed feeling of hope, peace and inspiration.

There is a calm that comes from identifying what is truly important and realizing that our happiness relies on much simpler things, time spent with family, the love of our children.

There is a sense of hope that comes with releasing the pressures we put on ourselves.

There is inspiration that can come from realizing that we can share this peace and hope with those around us.

What it all boils down to is choices. There are many things we can do and many things we can worry about. We cannot solve all the problems in the world. Let us choose what to work on and how to help. Let us make very conscious choices of how to spend our time and attention. Saying yes to anything means saying no to other things. It is important to give ourselves permission to say no. We must be able to give ourselves permission to be happy.

But choices cannot be made if we cannot find the time to first understand what it is we truly value. Good decisions cannot be made if we do not first find the time to truly understand what is happening This week, let us find some time to be still. Let us give ourselves a moment to find ourselves again, to focus on what is truly important.

Readers can email Maya at integrations_ manila@yahoo.com. Or visit her site at http:// integrations.tumblr.com.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

ICT ALI BDO ACEN SM DITO AP TEL AC MEG

VOLUME 3350740 9729100 2755960 31681700 178830 17213500 6736300 112690 188440 45234000

VALUE (PHP) 471374856 313032605 291853033 230466433 167352245 163124789 155463345 142634905 139087710 136063480

China’s factory gate prices jump as commodities rally BEIJING, China—China’s factory gate inflation rose at its fastest rate in nearly four years last month, data showed Tuesday, as a strong recovery in the world’s number two economy sees a surge in demand for key commodities such as iron ore and copper.

The forecast-beating jump in prices comes as global investors grow increasingly worried that the blast in economic activity expected to be caused by the easing of lockdowns and reopening of economies could force central banks to wind back their ultra-loose monetary policies.

Having largely contained the coronavirus crisis early last year, China has enjoyed months of improvement and was the only major economy to expand in 2020.

The recovery has helped the country’s manufacturing sector bounce back strongly and its voracious appetite for commodities return. That has pushed the price of iron ore and copper, which are used in a wide variety of goods, to record highs.

The producer price index (PPI), which measures the cost of goods at the factory gate, rose 6.8 percent on-year in April, the National Bureau of Statistics said, the highest since October 2017 and well up from the previous month’s 4.4 percent.

Analysts had predicted strong growth owing to the low corresponding figures for last year, when much of the country was closed to contain the coronavirus.

“In April, domestic industrial production recovered steadily, the prices of international commodities such as iron ore... rose, and Manila prices in the production sector continued to rise,” said senior NBS Standard statistician Dong Lijuan.

TODAY The key driver remains the rally in global commodity prices, said Capital Economics in a note, adding that supply shortages may persist for a while longer—keeping producer prices elevated in the near-term. AFP

NOTICE OF POSTPONEMENT OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING To All Stockholders: Please be informed that the annual meeting of stockholders of BRIGHT KINDLE RESOURCES & INVESTMENTS, INC. (the “Corporation”) for the year 2021 which is scheduled every last Thursday of May of each year has been postponed and reset to a later date to be determined by the Board of Directors, during a meeting to be called for such purpose.

The purpose of the postponement is to give the Company more time to prepare for additional matters that will be presented to the stockholders at the meeting.

A Notice of Meeting will be issued in relation to the new meeting date.

Makati City, 12 May, 2021.

MAILA G. DE CASTRO Corporate Secretary (MS-MAY 12 & 13, 2021)

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Tuesday, May 11, 2021

9.42 PTS. 6,326.83

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

9,947,735,079 85,469 4,638,560,064.82 82 122 43

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas •TUESDAY, MAY 11, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.8250

Japan

Yen

0.009188

0.4394

UK

Pound

1.412400

67.5480

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128776

6.1587

Switzerland

Franc

1.109632

53.0682

Canada

Dollar

0.826378

39.5215

Singapore

Dollar

0.754432

36.0807

Australia

Dollar

0.783000

37.4470

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655549

127.0016

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

12.7526

Brunei

Dollar

0.751597

35.9451

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.032185

1.5392

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.0214

Euro

Euro

1.213400

58.0309

Korea

Won

0.000896

0.0429

China

Yuan

0.155870

7.4545

India

Rupee

0.013615

0.6511

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.243605

11.6504

New Zealand

Dollar

0.726100

34.7257

Taiwan

Dollar

0.036041

1.7237 Source: BSP

Automotive sales climbed sharply in April—CAMPI

By Othel V. Campos VEHICLE sales jumped by over 130 times in April to 17,843 units from 133 units in the same month in 2020 when trade and economy was halted for nearly a month at the start of the pandemic.

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and Truck Manufacturers Association said both passenger car sales and commercial vehicle sales registered significant year-on-year increase in Apri CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez said the April output posted a record year-on-year sales increase because of the impact of the pandemic last year. The industry anticipated this recovery after auto sales was severely hit by the pandemic in the same month last year—the sharpest decline in the history of Philippine automotive, he said.

Data showed passenger car sales surged 21,323 percent to 5,570 units from 26, while commercial vehicle deliveries increased 11,370 percent to 12,273 units from 107 units in 2020.

Month-on-month sales, however, decreased across all segments by 13.8 percent. Passenger car sales dropped 26 percent from 6,661 units in April while commercial vehicle sales fell 12.6 percent from 14,041 units.

Gutierrez said the dull performance was due to the re-imposition of stricter quarantine restrictions following the increasing COVID-19 cases.

“Additionally, tighter bank lending continues to dampen the demand for consumer spending especially for big-ticket items like auto amid the pandemic. The additional deposit due to safeguard measure is burdensome in itself to consumers and industry alike,” he said.

The industry sold 88,155 vehicles in the first four months, or 36.6 percent higher than 64,675 units sold in the same period last year.

CAMPI and TMA saw this as an indication of recovery amid the pandemic.

Passenger cars showed a 54-percent improvement in sales in the four-month period to 27,425 from 17,812 units a year ago. Commercial vehicles also registered incremental sales of 29.6 percent to 60,730 from 45,863 units.

LARGEST BRANDY MAKER. Emperador Inc, the largest global brandy company which owns Emperador Brandy and Fundador Spanish Brandy de Jerez, posts a 43-percent growth in net income to P2.1 billion in the first quarter of 2021, as revenues rose 13 percent to P12.1 billion.

With Emperador’s global footprint across over 100 countries in six continents, iconic and well-diversified brandy and whisky portfolio and strong managements all over the world, the company has constantly navigated through the challenges brought about by the pandemic. Picture shows Bodegas Fundador production and bottling plant in Jerez de la Fontera, Spain owned by Emperador.

T

HE Philippine economy sank 4.2 percent in the first quarter from a year ago, but showed signs of gradual recovery from the 8.3-percent contraction in the fourth quarter, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show.

National statistician and civil registrar general Dennis Mapa said in an online briefing the first-quarter decline marked the second-longest recession the country experienced with five quarters of contraction since the 0.7-percent drop in the first quarter of 2020.

Mapa said the longest was during the latter part of the Marcos administration, from the fourth quarter of 1983 when GDP declined by 3.2 percent to fourth quarter of 1985 at -2.1 percent.

Data, however, showed the economy managed to grow by 0.3 percent compared to the fourth quarter on a seasonally-adjusted basis.

“Our economy may slow down in ear-

THE World Bank Group through International Finance Corp. committed to support the Philippine construction sector under the $50-billion global Building Resilience Index.

The program, which involves the mapping out of climate change initiatives and monitoring in 53 countries, will be launched in three phases, starting with phase 1 by June 2021, phase 2 by December 2021 and phase 3 by June 2022.

The Philippines, which ranked as fourth most vulnerable country to climate change, was included in the pilot locations together with Fiji and Pacific Islands, and the Caribbean.

“In 2019, the World Bank Group issued an action plan in climate change adaptation and resilience, namely managing risks for more resilience future action plan. We want to make sure that through our two funds for low income and middle income countries, we will boost adaptation financing to $50 billion over the fiscal year 2021 to 2025.

This is almost double achievement during the fiscal year 2015 to 2018,” IFC senior specialist on green buildings Ommid Saberi said during the BRI forum Tuesday.

Othel V. Campos

sumer confidence. As of May 9, 2021, more than 2.4 million doses have been administered to our health care workers, senior citizens and persons with comorbidities. We have also begun the inoculation of frontline workers in essential economic sectors,” they said.

Data showed that the main contributors to the first-quarter GDP decline were construction which weakened by 24.2 percent; other services, -38.0 percent; and real estate and ownership of dwellings, -13.2 percent.

Contributors to growth were led by financial and insurance activities which grew 5.2 percent; public administration and defense; compulsory social activities, 7.5 percent; and human health and social work activities, 11.7 percent.

Among the major economic sectors, agriculture, forestry and fishing declined by 1.2 percent in the first quarter while services and industry contracted by 4.4 percent and 4.7 percent, respectively during the period.

The PSA said that on the demand side, household final consumption expenditure declined by 4.8 percent, along with gross capital formation, -18.3 percent; exports, -9.0 percent; and imports, -8.3 percent.

Government final consumption expenditure grew by 16.1 percent in the first quarter.

OUTSTANDING loans of universal and commercial banks, net of reverse repurchase placements with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, decreased 4.5 percent year-onyear in March, following a 2.7-percent fall in February.

The BSP said on a month-on-month seasonally-adjusted basis, outstanding universal and commercial bank loans, net of RRPs, declined 0.12 percent. “Credit activity remained tepid on banks’ tighter lending standards as a resurgence in coronavirus cases dampened the domestic economic outlook,” it said.

Consumer loans to residents dropped by 9.9 percent in March after an 8.3-percent contraction in February mainly on lower credit card and motor vehicle loans.

Outstanding loans to major industries also decreased, particularly to wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (-9.7 percent), manufacturing (-5.5 percent) and financial and insurance activities (-5.1 percent).

Meanwhile, domestic liquidity grew by 8.3 percent year-on-year to about P14.2 trillion in March, slower than the 9.4-percent expansion in February. Julito G. Rada

DMCI’s net income surges 590% to P4.3b

DMCI Holdings Inc. said Tuesday net income surged by 590 percent in the first quarter to P4.3 billion from P616 million in the same period last year on exceptional performance by real estate and power generation businesses.

“We had a better-than-expected Q1 because of higher construction accomplishments and better coal sales. With the exception of Maynilad, all of our businesses also did very well” said DMCI Holdings chairman and president Isidro Consunji.

“Our performance in the next quarters will largely depend on how the prices of coal, nickel and electricity will hold up. We also expect some operational headwinds for SMPC [Semirara Mining and Power Corp.] given the abnormal water seepages at Molave North Block 7 and the forced plant outages,” he said.

Core net income contribution of DMCI Homes accelerated by 898 percent in the first quarter to P1.6 billion from a net loss of P197 million a year ago. This was largely due to construction accomplishments and recognition of down payment from new accounts.

Net income contributions of SMPC jumped 113 percent to P1.3 billion.

Jenniffer B. Austria

San Miguel taps Palafox to develop master plan for Bulacan airport city

By Darwin G. Amojelar

DIGITAL TRAINING. Pailig Development Foundation conducts training on digital tools for jobseekers in Barangay Dalama, Baroy, Lanao del Norte. Training sessions have since moved online to accommodate more Filipinos. Aiming to close the digital gap for 200,000 micro, small and medium business owners in Southeast Asia, The Asia Foundation, Pailig Development Foundation, Clevergrit Web Services and Yoveo Digital, with support from Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, team up to provide digital literacy training through the Go Digital ASEAN regional initiative.

DITO Telecom set to roll out mobile services in Metro Manila, other Luzon areas on May 17 DITO Telecommunity Corp. said Tuesday it will roll out mobile services in the National Capital Region and other parts of Luzon on May 17.

“After our official launch last March 8, we are excited to expand our services to NCR and continue our mission of elevating the industry as the country’s third major telco player,” DITO said in an advisory.

DITO earlier expanded its services in Plaridel in Bulacan; San Fernando City in Pampanga; Gapan City, San Leonardo and San Jose City in Nueva Ecija; Ibaan and Batangas City in Batangas; Kawit, Bacoor City and Imus City in Cavite.

DITO said that in the Visayas, it is already available in Toledo City, Balamban

ly 2021 given recent developments, but we will not backpedal. The country’s strong economic position before the pandemic and improving economic data in recent months point to an economy that is on the mend,” the government’s economic managers said in a joint statement.

In a joint statement, economic managers composed of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua and Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said the latest economic performance showed the limit of economic recovery without any major relaxation of the quarantine policy.

“Thus, once the present spike is over, we can implement quarantine relaxations in a phased approach to boost our recovery this year. For instance, we can move the NCR towards MGCQ, allow families and their children to participate in the economy, and restart face-to-face schooling,” they said.

“We will complement the safe reopening of the economy with the timely and full implementation of our recovery package. Some P2.76 trillion or 15.4 percent of GDP of fiscal, monetary, and financial resources have been allocated for this since last year,” they said.

“We will accelerate the vaccination program to help boost business and con-

PH included in WB’s building program

Bank loans dipped by 4.5% in March

Economy still fell 4.2% in Q1 amid restrictions

By Julito G. Rada

IN BRIEF

and Barili in Cebu. In Mindanao, it is available in Santo Tomas and Braulio E. Dujali in Davao del Norte.

“Subscribers from Central Luzon, South Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao can avail of DITO’s 25GB High Speed Data for P199 promo, which is valid for 30days,” DITO said.

“Aside from fast and reliable data services, they can also enjoy unlimited DITO-to-DITO calls and texts plus unlimited texts and 300 minutes of voice calls to other mobile networks. Features such as call waiting, call forwarding and video over LTE are also now available for DITO subscribers,” the company said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

SAN Miguel Corp. said Tuesday it tapped architect Felino “Jun” Palafox to develop the masterplan for its airport city in Bulacan province and other future infrastructure projects.

SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said Palafox would help master plan the airport city development and integrate sustainability features into the upcoming Pasig River Expressway and other infrastructure projects.

Palafox will also help find ways to sustainably retrofit the company’s road networks to further meet social, economic and environmental needs.

Palafox, founder and head of architectural firm Palafox Associates, is one of the country’s top urban planners known for advocating and incorporating sustainable features and environment planning into his projects.

“From the beginning, we made it very clear that for both the airport and airport city projects, we will make sure that that they are designed with sustainability in

mind, ensuring protection and enhancement of the environment, and positive social impacts,” Ang said.

“I am very glad that architect Jun Palafox has joined us on this mission to build the best and most sustainable airport, city and infrastructure network in our country,” he said.

Ang said that in building the airport city development, which is separate from the airport development itself, both SMC and Palafox were looking to correct some of the shortcomings in the development of other urban centers, including Makati and BGC. “What we hope to do is have even better urban planning for the airport city. First, access will not be a problem, we want to avoid traffic jams which is the result of poor transportation and limited road networks leading into and out of the airport city. Second, we want to improve on open spaces, to have more of them, perhaps make them interconnect. Parks, wider pedestrian areas, dedicated bicycle paths—these are just some of the things we want to include in the masterplan,” Ang said.

New Philip Morris CEO pleased over partnership with Tan THE new chief executive of Philip Morris International described the company’s partnership with Lucio Tan’s Fortune Tobacco Corp. as “very successful” and expressed resolve to accelerate the company’s smoke-free vision in the Philippines.

Jacek Olczak, who was appointed CEO following the company’s 2021 annual shareholders’ meeting on May 5, said “our business combination with [the] Tan family’s Fortune Tobacco has proven to be very successful.”

PMFTC Inc., the leading tobacco company in the Philippines, is a 50-50 business combination between PMI and FTC. “This is a case of one plus one is equal to more than two,” Olczak said in

a global virtual conference shortly after taking over as CEO. Olczak’s appointment to the top position of PMI came as the company is in the middle of its ambitious vision to deliver a smoke-free future by eliminating combustible cigarettes at the soonest possible time.

He acknowledged how this smokefree vision started in the Philippines as the company brought its noncombustible alternative product for adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke. “We start slowly but surely getting focused on bringing IQOS to the Philippines,” he said.

PMFTC commercialized IQOS in Metro Manila last year to legal age us-

ers 21 years old and above. The IQOS. COM website was launched on June 5, 2020 where the IQOS device and HEETS tobacco sticks and device accessories, were offered.

There are 15 IQOS stores within the National Capital Region offering IQOS to adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke or use nicotine-containing products.

Olczak committed to accelerating PMI’s smoke-free transformation, announced in 2016. The company is focused on developing, scientifically substantiating, and responsibly commercializing smoke-free products that are less harmful than smoking, with the aim of replacing cigarettes as soon as possible.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021

Westbrook joins all-time triple-double NBA greats

Russell Westbrook of the Washington Wizards celebrates after scoring to cut lead with under a minute left in the fourth quarter of a game between the Washington Wizards and the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. AFP

ABAP exec: Thailand is best training site for Marcial FILIPINO middleweight boxer Eumir Marcial can’t find a better place than Thailand as he enters the crucial stage of his preparations for the Tokyo Olympics in July.

“This is the best place for him,” said Don Abnett, the Australian consultant of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines, of the training camp in Thailand.

Close to a dozen Filipino boxers, including the three others bound for the Tokyo Olympics, have been training at the Thailand National Sports Center in Muaklek since March.

Marcial is training in Zamboanga.

Marcial, who trained for six months under a professional setup in Los Angeles, has yet to join the Philippine team in Thailand, but is committed to see action in the Asian Elite Championships in Dubai on May 21 to June 1.

Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, who are all Tokyobound, are skipping the Dubai meet because of strict quarantine protocols that may stymie their training.

“But I encourage him (Marcial) to join our training. The best thing for him is to be with us,” said Abnett, joined in Thailand by Pinoy coaches led by Boy Velasco and Ronald Chavez.

Abnett assured Marcial of quality sparring partners in Thailand, much better than what he has in his hometown in Zamboanga right now.

“They have good boys here, the training is second to none and it would be good for Marcial,” Abnett told Tuesday’s online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.

Joining the webcast presented by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation were ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson, Philippine Sports Commission board member Ramon Fernandez and Chavez.

Picson welcomed the assurance from Marcial, a strong bet to win a medal in Tokyo, that he would proceed to Thailand from Dubai to join the Philippine team.

Also vying in Dubai are Josie Gabuco, Maricel dela Torre, Mark Lester Durens, Marvin Tabamo, Junmilardo Ogayre, Jere Samuel dela Cruz and John Paul Panuayan.

Knott takes on big guns in Italian meet

By Peter Atencio

T

HE presence of reigning world women’s 200-meter champion Dina Asher-Smith at the International Meeting City of Savona-Memorial Giulio Ottolia will make the 10th edition of the tournament quite interesting.

And Filipino-American Olympic aspirant Kristina Knott will be there to soak up the world-class competition at the Fontanassa sports center in Savona, Italy on Thursday.

The second part of tournament will be held on May 19 in Castiglione, where Knott will also be around to seek qualification for the Tokyo Olympics.

While Asher-Smith is expected to put up a big show in Savona, world and Olympic medalist Marie Josée Ta Lou will also be around to make her presence felt as well.

“Savona and Castiglione have turned out to be huge international competitions with some great entries,

one being the reigning world champion at 200m in Dina Asher-Smith in Savona and world and Olympic medalist Marie Josée Ta Lou in both Savona and Castiglione,” said Knott’s coach Rohsaan Griffin.

Joining the fray is Ivet Lalova, a Bulgarian sprinter, who placed fifth in the 2004 Athens Games. She is seen as Asher-Smith’s main challenger.

Twenty-year-old Dalia Kaddari from Sardinia and the Italian junior record holder, will also be there with Scottish bet Beth Dobbin, along with Knott and Australian record holder Jacinta Beecher.

Since April, Knott has been getting into the groove again after she came

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up with one of her best showing in nine months.

Knott, who hopes to hit the Olympic qualification time of 22.8 seconds, took a bronze medal in the women’s 200-meter Olympic Development Race in 23.17 seconds at the 2021 Louisiana State University Alumni Gold Athletics meet in Baton Rouge.

This came an hour after she almost set a new national record in the 100-meter dash as the 5’6” Knott clocked 11.28 seconds.

Her time, which came close to a national record-breaking performance in August last year, was good for a fifth-place finish, behind Alelia Hobbs, who earned first place in 10.91 seconds.

This time, Knott hopes to get a better performance in the presence of Asher-Smith, known as the fastest British female sprinter.

At the 2019 World Championship in Doha, Asher-Smith ruled the women’s 200-meters with a British record of 21.88 seconds.

LOS ANGELES—Russell Westbrook wrote his way into NBA history on Monday, bagging the 182nd tripledouble of his career to break Oscar Robertson’s 47-year-old record.

Washington Wizards star Westbrook, who had equaled Robertson’s record of 181 triples on Saturday, sealed his record-breaking triple with 8min 33sec remaining in Monday’s 125-124 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks.

Westbrook’s 36th triple-double of the season included 28 points, 21 assists and 13 rebounds. He is already assured of averaging a triple-double per game this season.

A triple-double occurs when a player makes double-digit tallies in three of the five major statistical categories in a game—points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.

Westbrook has averaged a tripledouble per game in four of the last five seasons, an eye-popping statistic that ensured he rapidly caught and overtook Robertson’s historic benchmark, which had stood since 1974 and was once widely regarded as unbeatable.

“Normally I don’t like to pat myself on the back, but tonight I will,” Westbrook said afterwards. “I am just so grateful for those that came before me.”

The 32-year-old Westbrook now has several seasons left in his career to extend his record, with few of his contemporaries anywhere near his total.

Westbrook has nearly twice as many triple-doubles as his nearest rival among currently active players.

After Westbrook with 182, LeBron James is in second spot with 99 triples, while James Harden is third with 58.

Only two other players after Westbrook and Robertson have scored 100 or more triples on the all-time rankings, with Earvin “Magic” Johnson third with 138 and Jason Kidd fourth with 107.

“It’s just a blessing...You put so much into the game,” Westbrook said.

“Just to be mentioned with guys like Oscar, Magic, Jason Kidd, those guys.

It’s just something I would never have dreamt about.”

Wizards coach Scott Brooks described Westbrook’s achievement as “phenomenal.”

“It’s great for him,” Brooks said.

“You can’t take anything away from him.

“The guy’s a winner. He’s making the basketball and the non-basketball world a better place. Not a lot of guys can do that, not a lot of guys have the impact that he has, on and off the court.” AFP

Nievarez to get help from Uzbek coach TOKYO Olympics qualifier, rower Cris Nievarez is awaiting the return of Uzbekistan coach Shukrat Ganiev.

Ganiev’s arrival before the start of the Olympics will surely help Nievarez improve on his performance.

The 60-year-old Uzbek coach was around to help the national squad for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

With Ganiev’s guidance and the assistance he provided to Filipino rowing coach Ed Maerina, the national rowing team was able to win three golds and a bronze medal in the SEA Games.

Ganiev is expected to be back two months before the games officially begin.

“Nag-umpisa siya before the SEA Games. Naging continuous ang training namin. Dire-diretso siya.

Ngayon, madadagdan ang ensayo namin sa kanya,” said the 20-year-old Nievarez, who added that he was stunned when he learned that he was able to clinch qualification slot to the Olympics.

After finishing 5th in the semifinals of the Asia Oceania Continental Qualification Regatta in Japan on Friday, Nievarez placed ninth in the overall rankings, but still clinched a seat to the Olympics

as some rowers ahead of him were already qualified in the games.

Nievarez, who talked about his coming campaign in the Olympiad on Tuesday during the weekly online session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum, added that Ganiev’s guidance has helped the national team in its efforts to finish well in international meets.

Joining Nievarez at the forum was Philippine Rowing Association president Patrick Gregorio.

Nievarez is the third Filipino rower in history to earn an Olympic slot, next to coach Maerina and Benjie Tolentino With the Olympics just around the corner, Nievarez said Ganiev’s teachings will allow him to improve on his personal best time.

“Goal ko na ma-improve ang time ko hanggang sa makadikit ako sa mga medallist,” said Nievarez, who has shifted to the much tougher single sculls category after the SEA Games.

“Depende ito sa tubig at sa hangin. Ang best time ng mga medallist ay malapit sa seven minutes.

Nasa 7:10 po (malapit) ang (best) time ko,” added Nievarez. Peter Atencio

Cris Nievarez

Osaka unsure Olympics should happen as doubts grow TOKYO—Japanese superstar Naomi Osaka admitted she was “not really sure” the coronavirus-hit Tokyo Olympics should go ahead as doubts grew about the Games just weeks before the opening ceremony.

The four-time tennis Grand Slam winner joined fellow Japanese player Kei Nishikori in raising concerns, with Tokyo and other parts of Japan under a coronavirus state of emergency.

A top politician also warned that Japan still had to make a “careful decision” about whether to hold the Games, which have scant public sup-

port according to opinion polls.

Scrapping the 2020 Olympics, postponed last year as the pandemic advanced, is a concept that has never been gone away, despite repeated assertions from officials that they will proceed.

A survey by a leading Japanese daily released on Monday found 59 percent of respondents want the Olympics cancelled, underlining persistent public concerns over the risk of infections.

Osaka, Japan’s biggest sports star and a major gold-medal prospect, said “to be honest, I’m not really sure”,

when asked if the Olympics should take place as planned.

“I’m an athlete, and of course my immediate thought is that I want to play in the Olympics,” the four-time Grand Slam winner told the BBC. “But as a human, I would say we’re in a pandemic, and if people aren’t healthy, and if they’re not feeling safe, then it’s definitely a really big cause for concern.”

Nishikori said there “definitely should be a discussion” on whether Tokyo should plough ahead with the Olympics.

“I don’t know what they are think-

ing, and I don’t know how much they are thinking about how they are gonna make (a) bubble, because this is not like 100 people like these tournaments,” he said.

“It’s 10,000 people in the village and playing tournaments. So I don’t think it’s easy, especially (with) what’s happening right now in Japan.

It’s not doing good.”

‘So much to think about’ America’s Serena Williams, who has 23 Grand Slam titles—one off the all-time record—as well as four Olympic golds, said she was yet to commit to Tokyo. AFP

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Sports

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021

Reinvigorated Vera vows to turn back clock

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Sangalang lone male survivor in The Apprentice FILIPINO candidate Louie Sangalang continues to astound fellow candidates in The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition.

In Episode 8, the former MMA champion, international marathon finisher, triathlete and cancer survivor emerges as the “last man standing”. He has bested all his fellow male candidates on the show and is still going strong in his quest to be “The One”.

Victory was sweet for Sangalang in this episode because his Team Valor edged out Team Conquest in the most death-defying physical task given to the candidates yet. No other than MMA legend and multiple-time mixed martial arts World Champion Rich Franklin took charge in the physical task – a big treat for Sangalang who has been a big fan of Franklin since his fighting days.

The survival skills of the candidates were severely tested as they were made to disengage themselves from a sunken helicopter, locate the windows and swim through them, then go up for air and climb onto a raft.

Team Valor, with Sangalang, Monica Millington, Paulina Purnomowati, and new member Niraj Puran Rao, won the challenge and outlasted Team Conquest.

Sangalang was especially thrilled that he and his team performed well in this physical task. He and Franklin share many common experiences.

Franklin, one of the world renowned names in MMA won the UFC Middleweight Championship and had two successful defenses before retiring in November 2012 with a 29-7 (1 NC) record. Since then, the American grappler has dabbled in the world of business and is now a vice president in ONE Championship.

EIGNING ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera is still going strong at the tail end of a long and glorious career.

Despite nearly two decades of excellence spent competing in the upper echelon of professional martial arts, the 43-year-old says he’s still constantly improving on his skill set, now more than ever since he has a huge fight coming up.

Vera, along with wife Jessica Craven and son Atreyu Timothy, recently made the big decision to uproot their life in Asia and move to Florida parttime, where “The Truth” has joined fellow ONE athletes Aung La N Sang and Martin Nguyen in training at the renowned Sanford MMA under legendary coach Henri Hooft.

It’s a massive life change that Vera says has allowed him to turn back the clock and revolutionize his camp at this stage in his career.

“Out of all the techniques, out of the perfect training schedule at Sanford MMA, coach Henri Hooft, coach Greg [Jones], how they communicate, out of everything that I could tell you, the best part of me moving to Sanford is that I

got to become just a student again,” Vera said.

“I got to go into the gym, and just do what the coach says. I get to go play with the boys. I get to try new things. I get to go be a student of this beautiful game again.”

After a high profile stint in the UFC, Vera left the North American organization in 2013. He later joined ONE Championship in 2014, winning his first four fights for the promotion. Along the way, Vera captured the inaugural ONE Heavyweight World Title and has made multiple title defenses since.

During this period, Vera was largely self-trained, working closely with longtime strength and conditioning coach and friend George Castro in the Philippines. Moving to Sanford MMA, Vera now finds himself mixing it up with some of the world’s best fighters from different organizations.

Vera says it is a welcome upheaval, and believes it will spell the difference in his next world title defense.

“Even this far along in my career, I feel like a little kid again. I haven’t felt like this since I first started competing. I’m talking about back in 2005, I haven’t felt like this since. Everybody has been using the words reinvigorated.

I’m just really, really happy that I could be a kid again and go play,” Vera said.

“That’s exactly what it feels like. I haven’t been in this good of a shape or this ready for an event in a long time.

Even as a world champion, I haven’t been ready like this. I’m excited to go see what I can do.”

Vera counts himself among the lucky few who have been able to continue working and doing what he loves. But he hasn’t forgotten about those who haven’t been as fortunate. “The Truth” is always one to share feels for his fellow Filipino countrymen, and has this message for everyone who is going through some rough times.

“We are very fortunate. We’re lucky that we’ve been able to keep moving forward and doing things for our career, with ONE Championship, with entertainment in the Philippines, with our endorsement deals. I’ve been able to film still, so I’ve been busy. We’ve been doing movies. We’ve been in

AFP to detail 117 military athletes to PSC

Brandon Vera: “Even this far along in my career, I feel like a little kid again. I haven’t felt like this since I first started competing.

I’m just really, really happy that I could be a kid again and go play.”

Duremdes wants Subic to host MPBL bubble CHALLENGES have arisen for the start of the 2021 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Mumbaki Cup. Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes said that the league has yet to gain approval from the Inter-Agency Task Force to begin training, but stressed that they are looking at Subic to host their bubble.

“Gusto na nating mag-resume but we know we are facing so many challenges with regards to the application for resumption of the league sa IATF,” Duremdes said during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum.

“Sa ngayong, ang confirmed is 19 teams and we are still eyeing the Subic bubble dahil alam natin that the place is secured and safe,” he said.

Despite having a possible venue to host the member teams, the MPBL also needs to coordinate with numerous local government units and, as well as, the Department of Health as it is a semi-professional, regional league. “’Yung mga challenges din natin sa mga guidelines regarding sa status ng mga LGUs. So ‘yun ang nakikita natin na nahihirapan ang liga sa ngayon.

Unang-una, wala pa tayo sa stage na magkaroon ng clearance ‘yung mga LGUs na mag-hold ng kanikanilang practices,” he said.

“So sa ngayon, teams within NCR bubble, walang chance maka-practice unlike sa leagues na konti lang

THE LINK REY JOBLE

Turning 23 TODAY is my special day, not because I’m celebrating my birthday in advance, but because I’m turning another leaf in my sports writing career.

Newspapering is my first love and for some reason, there’s something about a newspaper that caught my fancy.

Let me start with the smell of an ink, newspaper ink as what my good friend and long-time, but more senior colleague Ignacio Dy describes.

I was a working student at Lyceum when I began my “newspaper” career.

After my afternoon classes, I would tread the Intramuros Golf Club at night all the

quarantine, getting PCR testing done everywhere we are around the world,” Vera said.

“I just want to send a shout out to everybody around the world. It hasn’t been easy, and I am very proud of all of you, for doing what you’ve been doing to continue your grind and continue pushing forward. There are no answers, and nobody is really trying to find the answers.

We’re just trying to make it to the next day. I am a fan of you for doing that. So keep doing you, keeping pushing towards your goals, even if there is no end in sight.

Let’s get through this together.”

Vera is scheduled to face Indian wrestling champion Arjan “Singh” Bhullar next, with his ONE Heavyweight World Title on the line. The two men square off in the headline bout at ONE: DANGAL, a tape delayed event from the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore that airs on Saturday, 15 May. ONE: DANGAL features a host of Indian martial arts stars, and aims to showcase the very best that India has to offer. Other Indian athletes scheduled for action include atomweight phenom Ritu “The Indian Tigress” Phogat, Gurdarshan “Saint Lion” Mangat, and Roshan Mainam.

‘yung teams. They can bring the teams sa province sa isang bubble.”

In addition, the league is not covered by the Joint Administrative Order on the Conduct of Health - Enhancing Physical Activities and Sports during the COVID-19 Pandemic as its protocols are solely based on the guidelines set by DOH and the host LGU. With these challenges, the Chooks-to-Go Mumbaki Cup’s June 12 opening will be moved. Independence Day has been the league’s traditional start date for both the Datu and Lakan seasons.

“Tinitignan natin if hindi tayo maka-start ng June 12, sana July or August. Mahirap mag-set ng timeline dahil depende talaga sa cases ng LGUs,” he said.

But when the league is around to resume under a bubble concept, Duremdes said that the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority will lend two game venues so that the Mumbaki Cup can finish in three months.

“Aabot kami ng 300-plus sa delegation so regarding sa format, again, gumagawa kami ng format ngayon na dalawang venue sa SBMA, simultaneous siya tapos Monday to Saturday. Three games sa first court, three games sa second para mapabilis yung league,” Duremdes said.

With regards to their TV partner, the league said that three networks have expressed interest to carry them.

way to the Port Area, where the Kagitingan Printing Press, the official printer of the Manila Standard, is located.

Before typewriters and later on desktop computers, I usually had a dipper in my hand to put ink on the offset press before the printing of the first edition of the Manila Standard. I did the dirty job, so to speak, working with the pressmen, printers, jugglers and those in charge of the print production of the newspaper.

It was like a gateway to heaven as I would sneak around the editorial section to see sports editor Mr. Tony Siddayao’s printed layout of the sports page and I would be so excited seeing the three-page sports section that will come out the next day.

For three years, I would work there. I must say the mental toughness and the resolve needed in the sportswriting business, was somewhat developed there. I’d like to thank Mr. Redentor Gancia for setting my path to my destination.

I had a brief stint with the Manila Standard’s sports section, then under Bert Cuevas, but got the biggest break of my career when I was recruited by People’s Tonight

Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes

Sports, headed by Ed Andaya.

And the rest was history.

After nine years in the Journal Group, I became a journeyman, having stints with Bandera Sports of Frederick Nasiad, Manila Standard of Riera Mallari, GMA News Online of Dominic Menor and Jon Perez, TV5 InterAksyon of Jaemark Tordecilla, Mikkel Bolante, Roby Alampay and Chuchay Fernandez, BusinessWorld of Okiks Baltazar, the Daily Tribune of Aldrin Cardona, who allowed me to use a pen name, FOX Sports Philippines of Jude Turcuato, James Meneses and Kapil Chetri and now, PBA Rush with Sienna Olaso, Miguel Vea and Mico Halili. I will be forever grateful to these people.

Since I’m celebrating 23 years in the business, allow me to list down the 23 sports personalities, who helped shape up my sportswriting career.

1. NBA star Grant Hill’s visit to Manila -- Unforgettable moment.

2. Four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio -- A hardcourt idol, covering him was a surreal feeling.

3. GM Rogelio Antonio -- My two-year coverage of chess won’t be complete without him.

4. Wang Zhi Zhi -- It was a tall order indeed, interviewing one of Chinese basketball’s all-time greats 5. Tim Cone -- When this outspoken mentor starts the conversation, you listen.

6. NBA star Damian Lillard -- We didn’t come to see him perform at the warmup line, but talking to him was food for thought.

7. Robert Jaworski -- I’m still having goosebumps each time I talk to him. By the way, I’m a Crispa fan.

8. Yeng Guiao -- Always such a joy to have him during interviews.

9. Jojo Lastimosa -- When Jolas speaks, make sure you’ll always take notes as you don’t want to miss a thing.

10. Eight-division World Boxing Champ Manny Pacquiao -- His presence is more than enough to warm your day.

11. Four-time MVP Mon Fernandez -Nice to share nostalgic moments with El Presidente 12. Tennis sensation Katharina Lehnert -- Who doesn’t want to get near her?

13. Rubilen Amit -- She’s somebody who knows how to play with cameras on.

14. 3-Time PBA champion Ryan Gregorio -- Talking about a coach who’s telege-

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines has released the list of approved personnel for detailed service to the Philippine Sports Commission as athletes and coaches prepare for the Tokyo Olympics and the 31st Southeast Asian Games.

“Nagpapasalamat kami kay Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana through the Office of the Chief of Special Service, AFP. Kasama namin ang POC at NSAs sa bagong detailed service na binigay,” said PSC chairman William Ramirez at the PSC Hour Program of Radyo Pilipinas Dos. Some 117 national athletes and coaches from 22 sports are enlisted namely athletics (13), badminton (2), baseball (6), basketball (4), boxing (8), cycling (9), judo (2), kurash (1), lawn bowls (5), muay (3), obstacle course (1), rowing (6), sailing (5), sambo (1), sepak takraw (10), softball (7), swimming (6), table tennis (2), triathlon (2), weightlifting (6), wrestling (12), and para sports (6).

There are 58 under the Philippine Air Force (PAF), 19 from the Philippine Army (PA) and 40 serving the Philippine Navy (PN).

The sports chief highlighted the importance of enlisted national team members complying with the agreement between the PSC, AFP, Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC).

“Ipinaubaya sila sa sports through the Philippine Sports Commission.

They don’t just go fly anywhere without consulting us. Dapat maintindihan ito ng atleta na kapag miyembro sila ng Armed Forces at pinirmahan ni Secretary Lorenzana at ng kanilang mga officers, ipinagkatiwala sila sa amin.

Karamihan sa kanila baka hindi alam na the Philippine Sports Commission takes responsibility para ma DS sila.

Nagpapasalamat kami sa partnership na ‘yan,” said Ramirez.

The PSC, POC, PPC, and the AFP will have a formal signing of the Memorandum of Agreement covering the “management, development, and training of identified and potential soldier-athletes” on May 20. nic, this man can also speak his mind.

15. Coach Tab Baldwin -- His rich knowledge in the game is worth emulating.

16. Many-time All-Defensive member Marc Pingris -- Never a dull moment.

17. Former PBA MVP Atoy Co -- Candid. Life of the party.

18. Rain or Shine team owner Raymond Yu -- Treating his team like family.

19. Former MVP Allan Caidic -- Talks with a lot of sense using his rich basketball experience.

20. Only PBA Rookie/MVP Benjie Paras -- Provides comic relief, but strikes a balance with serious topics.

21. Many-time All-Defensive member Jerry Codiñera -- I love his honesty more than I love his game.

22. 9-time PBA champion coach Jong Uichico -- Sometimes, you just need to pick his brain.

23. Chot Reyes -- Great coaches always find themselves back in the big big league.

He truly belongs in the PBA. To all those who have been a part of my 23-year journey, many thanks. And to those who have just joined me, please stay the course.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021

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Thai idols headline TNT music video with PH’s Sue Ramirez, Sarah G

TNT unveiled its latest campaign featuring Thai stars (from left) Nonkul Chanon, Mario Maurer, and Gulf Kanawut.

TNT, the biggest prepaid brand in the Philippines, has finally unveiled its latest campaign featuring three of Thailand’s Nonkul Chanon (Bad Genius), Gulf Kanawut (TharnType: The Series), and Mario Maurer (Love of Siam, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Pee Mak).

As TNT’s newest ambassadors, the trio headlined TNT’s “Kilig Saya” campaign in a three-minute music video sang by Sarah Geronimo. The campaign also co-starred actress Sue Ramirez.

The commercial was launched via livestream at the first-ever “TNTCON2021.”

TNT’s move comes as more Filipino youth have turned into big fans of Thai series and

films, giving in to the so-called Thai Invasion, a term used to describe the phenomenon of Thailand’s growing prominence in the international pop culture scene.

“Filipinos and Thais have always had a mutual appreciation for each other’s wealth of entertainment content, but we’ve seen this grow even bigger recently as more Filipinos enjoy easy access to streaming platforms and social media through TNT’s value-packed promos,” said Jane J. Basas, SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart.

“As TNT enables Filipinos to follow their favorite Thai superstars Mario Maurer, Gulf Kanawut, and Nonkul Chanon on their smartphone, we’re now bringing these Thai

Kapuso moms celebrate mother figures in their lives

EXTRA INTERNATIONAL

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Rapper DMX, seen performing in New York in 2019, was among hip-hop's darkest stars.

Posthumous DMX album set for release May 28 A POSTHUMOUS album from rapper DMX, who died last month, is set for release on May 28, its producer announced Monday.

EXODUS will feature all-new original material, according to a statement from producer Swizz Beatz, who said the album will be released with Def Jam Recordings.

"My brother X was one of the most pure and rare souls I've ever met. He lived his life dedicated to his family and music. Most of all, he was generous with his giving and loved his fans beyond measure," the producer said.

"This album, X couldn't wait for his fans all around the world to hear and

actors even closer to them as the newest TNT KaTropas in our latest campaign,” she added.

Since 2007, Thai dramas and films have dominated the Southeast Asian scene almost to the same level as K-Pop and Japanese cultures.

There are even Thai idols now making waves as K-Pop performers globally.

“TNT’s passion is to bring the youth together through fun and happiness. We recognize their remarkable spirit and perseverance to overcome all odds, wo we’re very excited to showcase how they find joy even in the hardest of circumstances in our newest campaign featuring the Thai superstars they admire,” says Miriam Z. Choa, FVP and Head of Prepaid Marketing at Smart.

show just how much he valued each and every single person that has supported him unconditionally."

DMX, who reigned over the late 1990s and early 2000s and was among hip-hop's most vulnerable and endearing stars, died in April at age 50 after nearly a week on life support following a heart attack.

The artist born Earl Simmons in the New York suburb of Yonkers saw his first five albums debut at the top of the Billboard top US songs chart, starting with his 1998 debut "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot," which featured the smash "Ruff Ryders' Anthem." AFP

***

NBC drops next year's Golden Globes over diversity row The future of Johansson and the Golden Globes Mark Ruffalo was plunged into and powerful jeopardy Monday executives as NBC canceled lining up to its broadcast condemn the of next year's changes as too prestigious awards, slow, lacking while major in specifics Hollywood studios and failing and stars such to address as Tom Cruise some of the and Scarlett industry's most Johansson fundamental slammed the grievances. organizers' record Tom Cruise on diversity and on Monday transparency. returned his The Golden Globes is second in The Hollywood importance only to the Oscars in three Golden Foreign Press Globes to the Hollywood's film award season, but Association, HFPA in protest, comprised of some its future status has been called into according 90 journalists question by threats of a boycott over to multiple who vote for some of the HFPA's controversies.

Hollywood trade Tinseltown's outlets. second-biggest annual film and television "We continue to believe that the HFPA awards, has been under fire for months is committed to meaningful reform. following widespread allegations of However, change of this magnitude takes racism, sexism, bullying, and corruption time and work, and we feel strongly that among its ranks. the HFPA needs time to do it right," the Last week, the group approved a raft of awards' longstanding broadcaster NBC reforms to become "more inclusive and said in a statement. diverse" by an "overwhelming" margin, "As such, NBC will not air the 2022 hoping to draw a line under months of Golden Globes. Assuming the organization negative publicity. executes on its plan, we are hopeful we will be But the backlash from Hollywood in a position to air the show in January 2023." has been fierce, with A-listers such as AFP, read full story on manilastandard.net

OMs are honored by their families almost every day and we don’t actually need a special day just to make them feel that they are celebrated.

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

But apart from our moms, there are people in our lives who have played special, mother-like roles. Those mother figures can include a devoted aunt, a grandmother, or actually, she can also be a he.

Prior to Mother’s Day, Manila Standard Entertainment spoke to Kapuso moms Luane Dy, Maricris Garcia, Chynna Ortaleza, and LJ Reyes to talk about the struggles of being a mother this pandemic season. But one of the more interesting topics was when we talked about the people who have played mother-like figures in their lives apart from their own mothers.

Luane’s second parents

I’ve learned a lot from my teachers in grade school. It’s not that I had given them the authority to control my life back then, I didn’t even listen to everything they told me. But to be honest, I have learned so much from them that even up to this day, whenever I encounter any situation, I would always think about what would they do, what would they tell me if I asked for advice.

LJ’s Lola

I look up very much to my Lola, actually she’s not my biological grandmother but she’s the one who took care of me when I was young. She’s my mother’s yaya as well.

She’s in heaven now but the lessons I learned from her, the memories we had together, still live on. Whenever I see my daughter, I still remember her. I know she’d be happy to see Summer.

My mom was an OFW, so my Lola was the one who physically made me feel kung paano ba ang isang nanay.

The nurturing part of being a mom, that’s what I learned from her. I think a bunch of what I am as a nurturing mom came from her. She didn’t have children so she dedicated her life to taking care of us.

For Chynna, it’s her dad

My mother figure other than my mom is my dad. Papa is a really great dad. Looking at the lessons he imparted to me, I realized he was a very good “mom” because he was able to teach me to empower my womanhood. It’s the way he encouraged me to be myself and to know that being a woman is a great thing and that I should embrace my feminine side, the power of my body. He’s the one who always tells me that there’s so much power in being a woman and that I really have to be proud that I am one.

I became more confident as a woman because my dad believed in me. He kept on reminding me that there’s power in your softness, anak.

Mother-in-law also knows best for Maricris

My mother-in-law is the complete opposite of my mom.

They have different ways yet I kind of combined their ways and I think that’s how I'm going to raise my kid. My mom is very strict while my mother-in-law is very cool. In a way, they create a certain kind of balance. I’m grateful that I have them in my life because that’s the kind of balance that I need right now.

New anthology highlights eye-opening pros and cons of social media use THE Gold Squad composed of Francine Diaz, Kyle Echarri, Seth Fedelin, and Andrea Brillantes will highlight the need for responsible use of social media while exploring its dangerous consequences in the new anthology series Click, Like, Share.

It will premiere on June 5 with a new episode dropping every Saturday on KTX.ph and iWantTFC, and will soon be available on TFC IPTV and Upstream.

The digital series will underscore the role that social media plays in people’s lives,

especially teenagers, and how it can cause harm to users, such as bashing, cyberbullying, online harassment, and depression.

In the first episode “Reroute,” Brennan’s (Kyle) addiction to social media takes a turn for the worse when an app suddenly falls in love with him and attempts to control his life.

Meanwhile, in “Cancelledt,” Karen (Francine) gets caught off guard when her seemingly perfect life online unexpectedly becomes a reality.

In the third episode called “Trending,” Cocoy (Seth) manipulates the truth about

The Gold Squad will highlight the need for responsible use of social media while exploring its dangerous consequences in the new anthology series ‘Click, Like, Share.’

a viral story that makes him famous, only for it to come back and haunt him. Andrea will also face the consequences of her actions as Beth in “Poser,” where a face-morphing app produces a clone that takes over her life.

Click, Like, Share will also feature The Squad Plus members Danica Ontengco and Renshi de Guzman, as well as Jimuel Pacquiao and Nio Tria who will be making their acting debut with the series.

The first episode of Click, Like, Share premieres on June 5 at 6:00 p.m., with each

succeeding episode dropping on June 12, June 19, and June 26 at 6:00 p.m..

To watch the four episodes, viewers need to buy a season pass on KTX.ph (P299) or iWantTFC (P299 in the Philippines or US$ outside the Philippines). Ticket buyers on KTX.ph, meanwhile, will get bonus features and a chance to join the fan meet for each episode.

The series is directed by Emmanuel Q. Palo and produced by iWantTFC and ABS-CBN Entertainment in association with Dreamscape Entertainment and Kreativ Den.

Life

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

C4

FASHION AND BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021

Sustainable style Local clothing label promotes versatility, fair pay, sustainability in every piece

The Bamboo Tee is made with surplus bamboo cotton.

By Tet Defensor

G

ROWING up surrounded by clothes lovingly made by her grandmother, Samantha Dizon developed a fascination for the process of transforming a material into a finished, ready-to-wear product.

“I grew up with my lola, she was a garment worker in Rizal. She used to make gowns,” recalls Dizon. “I like clothes but I am not a fashionista; I am more interested in the construction of clothes, from fabric nagiging (it becomes a) gown. I find that exciting.”

Dizon studied Economics, thinking she would someday work for a bank.

Her plans took a turn as

she got involved in social development projects. “We learned about social enterprise, businesses that can help the poor. I said to myself, ‘Oh, my God this is the life that I want!’” she shares.

While working for an e-commerce company, she launched Candid Clothing in 2017 as a side business, offering apparel made with upcycled fabrics and made

Samantha Dizon launched Candid Clothing with a goal to offer sustainable apparel in classic styles and empower garment workers with fair pay, training, and flexible work arrangements.

Some of Candid Clothing’s bestsellers: (from left) Notched Buttondown, 4-way Puff Sleeves, and 4-way Puff Dress.

by local seamstresses.

Candid Clothing, available via its website, is known for versatile pieces in timeless silhouettes.

“Our designs are straightforward and functional. You can use it every day, hindi malalaos agad (it won’t go out in style),” she enthuses.

The label’s bestsellers include bamboo T-shirts in classic V-neck and crewneck styles, flattering button down made of cotton fabric, reversible tops, and dresses and blouses that can be worn in four ways.

Candid Clothing is priced competitively compared to other sustainable fashion brands, mainly because it utilizes upcycled fabrics. According to Dizon, the materials they source are sold at a lower price because of minor damage like small holes or discoloration in some areas. The fabrics are actually considered rejects or wastes because big manufacturers cannot work with damaged materials.

“Big manufacturers use automatic cutting machines, so the fabric has to be perfect. At Candid Clothing, everything is sewn by hand so we can just cut the hole or remove the damage. We get the fabric at a lower price, we pay our work-

ers well and pass on the savings to our buyers,” she explains.

Aside from sustainable style, the heart of Candid Clothing is Dizon’s commitment to empower workers through fair pay and flexible work arrangements.

“We do not have full-time workers.

Most of our seamstresses are mothers and they prefer to work at home so they can also look after their children,” she says.

Dizon adds, “They are paid based on output. If the design is more complicated, they are paid more because it will take a lot of time. Most garment factory workers in Rizal earn P350 day or P7,500 a month. We try to give our employees as much work as we can. If they work at home for eight hours straight, they can earn as much as P16,000 a month.”

When garment factories closed during the lockdown in 2020, displaced workers approached Dizon asking for work. “They were daily wage earners, and they weren’t earning because business stopped. Kabado ako (I was nervous), but I took a leap of faith. There was a demand for facial masks and PPEs, so we were able to provide work for them.”

The production of Candid Clothing’s

facial masks has not stopped since.

They continue to get orders, mostly from individuals who wish to give away masks in community pantries. All profits support the livelihood of displaced workers in Rizal.

As part of the brand’s ethical business practices, Dizon also imparts leadership training to her garment makers. In her five-part video series, entitled “Candid Conversations”, she sheds light on how her business operates—ensuring products are sustainable and accessible, and employees are paid fairly and equipped with skills and support to become more entrepreneurial.

“When a community is completely dependent on you, it is not empowering,” Dizon points out.

“It is important for our workers to be self-sufficient. We teach them how to compute actual costs, so they charge the right fee instead of saying the usual ‘bahala na po kayo’ (it’s up to you).

We emphasize the importance of work quality and meeting deadlines. We even allow them to sell their products on our site.”

Candid Clothing’s tops, dresses, bottoms, and accessories are available at www.candidclothing.ph.

Keeping up with Kathryn Bernardo

The Body Shop marks its 25th year here in the Philippines. (Inset) The British brand’s first PH store opened on May 16, 1996 at SM Southmall.

British beauty brand

marks 25 years in the Philippines A BRITISH skincare and bath and body brand is marking its 25th year here in the Philippines with a monthlong sale and special offers.

Since it first opened its doors on May 16, 1996 at SM Southmall, The Body Shop has been a favorite go-to for cruelty-free and nature-inspired products of many Filipinos. From one outlet, it now has over 60 standalone stores and is in 10 The SM Stores nationwide.

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, The Body Shop Philippines launches special offers and promos for the entire month of May. The Lip and Cheek Stain, which was first launched here in the country, will be sold for its old price of P395, while other beloved products from the Tea Tree range, Drops of Youth range, and White Musk fragrance collection will be offered at 25 percent off. There will also be weekly offers to watch out.

Check out the products at The Body

The Drops of Youth range

Shop stores or check-out anytime of the day at thebodyshop.com.ph. The products are also available via call and deliver service and on Shopee, Lazada, and ShopSM. In addition to bringing beauty that cares for communities and the environment, The Body Shop Philippines also participates in campaigns that promote change.

With the support of its customers, help was extended to The Philippine Eagle Foundation in 2018, Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation in 2019, and to SM Foundation for the typhoon victims in 2020.

AS ONE of today’s biggest stars, Kathryn Bernardo admits feeling the growing demands of life. “But I’m not complaining,” she says, “it’s part of it”.

The 25-year-old actress always tries to live a balanced life, one where she has time to enjoy the things she loves and take care of loved ones, and care for her well-being as she fulfills her responsibilities in her craft.

“I really want to balance out my life. Every time I feel pressured and kapag na-fe-feel ko na nagiging work, work na siya (and feel that all I’m doing is work), I just take time to relax and then okay na ulit (it’s okay again). I take the time to do the things I like, like badminton or any sport, in between.”

With her busy lifestyle, Bernardo acknowledges the need for a deodorant that can keep up with her.

Kathryn Bernardo looks for three things in a deodorant: good smell, ingredients that care for her underarm skin, and the effectiveness at keeping sweat at bay.

“Sobrang important ng underarms for us girls. I feel like, ‘pag sobrang ganda yung underarms mo, mas mataas yung confidence level mo (Underarms are important for us girls. I feel that smooth and fresh underarms boost confidence).”

As the newest endorser of Nivea Deo, she proudly bares her smooth underarms. Catering to her deo needs, the Nivea Extra Whitening Deodorant keeps sweat and odor at bay for 48 hours, while taking care of underarm skin. It is packed with licorice, vitamin C, and skin nutrients that help repair damaged underarm skin by lightening dark spots and smoothening rough and bumpy skin.

VANITY CORNER Skin-cooling essentials WITH this sweltering summer heat, not only our insides need hydration, our skin, too.

The Korean-made Ever Organics Ice Jeju Aloe range assists in keeping skin cool and hydrated.

The Ever Organics Ice Jeju Aloe Gel Lotion has a cooling effect that hydrates and refreshes skin, and aloe that boosts suppleness and evens out texture. The brand says it also has antioxidants and antimi-

crobial properties.

For quick hydration on the go, the Ever Organics Ice Jeju Aloe Face Mist provides soothing hydration courtesy of aloe leaf extract.

Both products are available on Lazada.

Ever Organics Ice Jeju Aloe Soothing Gel Lotion and Face Mist

Kathryn Bernardo bares her underarms as the new endorser of Nivea Deo.