Manila Standard - 2021 May 19 - Wednesday

Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net

VACCINES NOT FOR SALE, PALACE SAYS AS RED CROSS BACKTRACKS DBCC REDUCES GROWTH TARGET FOR ‘21, CITES NEW LOCKDOWNS

Story on A3

Story on B4

VOL. XXXV • NO. 93 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Duterte warns of ECQ anew If cases surge again, people still violate protocols, more variants attack

By Vito Barcelo and Willie Casas

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte warned he might impose a stricter lockdown should COVID-19 infections surge again, and if people continue to violate health protocols, adding that the country must prepare for the worst.

In a taped speech aired Tuesday morning, the President said a contagious coronavirus variant is more dangerous and would bring more hardship to the people and economy.

“Our only hope is really obedience, like a boy scout. You want to end the danger of COVID-19 engulfing this country,” the President said, adding “if not, I will be forced to impose lockdowns and everything.”

He lauded the National Task Force on COVID-19 and its leader, Secretary Carlito Galvez, for its preparations even with an excess of caution “because there is no way of knowing whether or not a new variant of the COVID-19 will come up.”

“We continue to prepare, and we calibrate our preparedness in accordance with each propagation, if at all, and with the advent of new variants, it is good to prepare for a more serious attack,” Duterte said.

The President also said that although the government has already spent close to a trillion pesos to combat the coronavirus, he was prepared to sell government assets and spend even more to fight the new virus variants.

“We have spent maybe on the final counting, almost a trillion, and there’s no, I said, an end in sight, that this will Next page

PFIZER SHOT. A resident

of Manila under the A1-A3 priority groups gets a first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the Manila Prince Hotel in Ermita on Tuesday.

About 900 doses of the Pfizer vaccine were deployed at the vaccination site, part of over 15,000 jabs dispensed in Manila in one day (see related story on A4). Norman Cruz

PH protests China’s fishing ban, says move violates sea sovereignty

By Rey E. Requejo, Vito Barcelo ing the unilateral policy infringes on the 16 this year, as it covers waters in areas maritime entitlements under UNCLOS country’s sovereignty over its waters. where the Philippines exercises” sover- and is without basis under international and Macon Ramos-Araneta

The Department of Foreign Affairs said eignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.” law. China cannot legally impose nor le“China’s annual fishing moratorium gally enforce such a moratorium in the THE Philippines has protested China’s Manila does not recognize China’s fishfishing ban in the South China Sea, say- ing moratorium from May 1 to August extends far beyond China’s legitimate Next page

Essential workers, indigents up for vaccination beginning June

By Vito Barcelo, Joel E. Zurbano, Willie Casas, and Maricel V. Cruz THE government will begin to inoculate essential workers and indigent Filipinos against the coronavirus once the COVID-19 vaccine supply in the country steadies sometime in June, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. said Tuesday.

This developed as the government is proposing to make COVID-19 vaccination a requirement for poor Filipinos before getting financial aid from

the government, especially under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said.

In a “24 Oras” report, Galvez said the Cabinet has approved the expansion of the COVID-19 vaccination program to persons belonging to the A4 and A5 priority groups.

“What we are planning is from warehouse, it will go directly to the warehouse of the LGU. That’s why we are asking the LGUs for them to have proNext page

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM MAY 18)

1,154,388 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

4,487 52,291 NEW

ACTIVE

19,372

110

1,082,725

6,383

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

New water deal with Maynilad scraps onerous terms HANDLE WITH CARE. Airport workers of Cebu Pacific load boxes of COVID-19

vaccines onto a conveyor belt into their aircraft for delivery to the provinces on Tuesday.

CEB has carried over 1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to 12 key domestic destinations to date since March. The transported vaccines were subject to strict handling guidelines, which entail storing them in temperature-specific refrigerated containers to maintain potency and efficacy up until arrival at their designated stations.

By Rey E. Requejo THE government and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. have finally agreed to sign a new concession agreement after both parties threshed out contentious issues, including a waiver by the water

Electric cutoff on, water on hold House justice panel gets rap against Leonen NOW that Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces are no longer under a Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ), consumers expressed fears electricity and water providers will begin disconnecting their lines again.

company to its P7.4 billion indemnification award rendered by the Singapore Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2019.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday said the government, through the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, has signed the

new concession agreement that has been transmitted to Maynilad for signature.

“The revised concession agreement between the MWSS and Maynilad contains essentially the same terms Next page

However, Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has assured it will be “very considerate” and “compassionate,” as it resumed disconnection activities with the shift to the general community Next page

More eyes on Gates after Microsoft affair

WASHINGTON—Bill Gates’s tenure at Microsoft has come under fresh scrutiny amid revelations that the tech giant probed the billionaire founder’s intimate relationship with a staffer before he left the board of directors.

The latest news, days after Next page

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rey E. Requejo THE House of Representatives performed its constitutional duty when it referred to the House Committee on Justice the impeachment complaint filed against Supreme Court Justice Marvic Leonen, Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said Tuesday.

“Before the referral of the impeachment complaint to the Justice Committee, I presided the House Committee Next page

RULES MEETING. House Majority Leader and Committee on Rules Chairman Martin Romualdez presides over the first Zoom meeting of the group on Tuesday as lawmakers returned to work this week. They discussed vital measures on the agenda to pass before Congress adjourns in three weeks. Ver Noveno

A2

News

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Binay: Add vendors, riders to jab list

By Joel E. Zurbano

F

ORMER Vice President Jejomar Binay on Tuesday appealed to the government to include vendors, delivery riders and other workers in the community in its COVID-19 vaccination list of priorities.

Some observers said public utility vehicle drivers, market vendors, service riders and other workers in the community were vulnerable and most exposed to other people and possibly the coronavirus disease.

On May 1, local government units in Metro Manila vaccinated thousands of overseas Filipino workers and minimum wage earners as a Labor Day tribute to workers.

The Labor department, which initiated the program, stated earlier that 3,000 OFWs and 2,000 minimum wage earners, both part of the Priority Group A4 or the frontline personnel in essential sectors, would be vaccinated from a list submitted by labor groups and those provided by OFW organizations.

The government is targeting to vac-

cinate 120,000 people per day beginning next month in Metro Manila.

The country has so far received 7,764,050 total vaccine doses from various suppliers including the COVAX facility as of May 11 and 83 percent of this has been distributed to 3,688 vaccination sites across the country.

Following the center of gravity principle, more vaccines will be allocated to the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Pampanga, Cebu, Davao, and other areas with high numbers of active cases to contain the spread of COVID. Interior and Local Government undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said LGUs must ensure a sufficient vaccination workforce in their localities to support the increase in vaccination.

“If the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) reclassifies local (government) officials to be vaccinated immediately, they should also include vendors, grocery workers, delivery riders, and other economic frontliners in the A4 category,” said Binay in a statement.

“What they are doing is also important. They hold the solution to jumpstarting the economy,” he added.

The government stated earlier that the

A4 priority group -- media men, those working in commuter transport, medical products, hotel employees, government employees, religious leaders and security personnel -- was expected to be inoculated between May and July.

“The reason, according to the government, was that COVAX Facility would not allow it. Was the reclassification of local executives to be vaccinated first approved by COVAX? Just asking,” said Binay.

Essential...

From A1

Malaysian police kill 5 suspected Abu Sayyaf men

fessional third-party provider,” Galvez said.

“There must be cold chain, especially Pfizer, because it’s difficult to handle. With just a small mistake, there will be wastage. That’s why we need professional handler,” he added.

Government also plans to appoint vaccine security and safety officers after reports of accidents involving COVID-19 vaccines, the Department of Health said.

“What we discussed with the vaccine czar is we will have vaccine security and safety officers at different levels to see what else needs to be done,” Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said in an interview on Balitanghali.

Last week, a Department of Agriculture service boat carrying COVID-19 vaccines capsized in Quezon after hitting a concrete post. Despite the accident, the vaccines remained in good condition as they were wrapped in two layers of plastic.

Roque said many Filipinos, especially 4Ps beneficiaries, would benefit from the vaccination program because they would be protected from the virus and avail cash aid without difficulty.

Earlier, the Department of Social Welfare and Development had urged the public, especially 4Ps beneficiaries, to comply with the government’s on-going vaccination program against COVID 19.

Roque said this could also be applied to future pandemic cash aid the government may distribute under the proposed Bayanihan 3 law.

The spokesman clarified that vaccination would still remain voluntary, but it would become a condition if they wanted to get cash aid.

“If there is future cash aid to be distributed, maybe beneficiaries can also be asked to be vaccinated before getting their aid so that many more people will get COVID-19 shots,” he said.

Roque reiterated that vaccination would remain voluntary, adding “we’re just making vaccination as a condition if they want to receive their aid.”

‘Monitor vaccines’

The Chief Executive said the DILG could also ask the assistance of the Philippine National Police to ensure the proper handling of COVID-19 vaccines. “(Interior) Secretary (Eduardo) Ano can use the police. There’s always a third person or a second guy to see to it that itong chain of events must be followed and there’s no faltering as it would affect the integrity of the vaccines,” he said.

Electric...

From A1 quarantine (GCQ) with “heightened restrictions” in the NCR-Plus bubble that started last May 15.

The power giant advised customers who are unable to pay their overdue bills in full to get in touch with them so they can arrange a lighter payment schedule. Otherwise, the standard dis-

More eyes...

From A1 Gates and his wife Melinda announced their divorce, could have major repercussions for the tech founder who has cultivated an image as one of the world’s most dedicated philanthropists.

Recent reports suggested a streak of questionable behavior by the 65-year-old Gates, one of the most prominent members of the US business elite who has been the target of conspiracy theorists over his funding of the development of Covid-19 vaccines.

Microsoft confirmed reports over the

Duterte renews Dito franchise for 25 more years PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law renewing the franchise of DITO Telecommunity Corp., the country’s third telco, for another 25 years.

Republic Act No. (RA) 11537, signed by Duterte on Tuesday, extends DITO’s franchise for another 25 years from its expiration on April 24, 2023 unless sooner revoked or canceled.

The franchise shall be deemed ipso facto (by the fact itself) revoked in the event the grantee fails to operate continuously for two years.

DITO shall apply for the renewal or extension of its franchise three years before its expiration which shall be reckoned from 15 days after the publication of the franchise in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Under RA 11537, DITO shall secure from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) a certificate of public convenience and necessity or the appropriate permits and licenses for the construction, installation, and operation of its telecommunications systems or facilities.

In issuing the certificate, the NTC shall have the power to regulate and impose such conditions relative to the construction, operation, maintenance, or service level of the telecommunications systems or facilities. Such certificate shall state the areas covered and the date DITO shall commence the service, it added.

DITO, the law said, shall not use any frequency in the radio spectrum without authorization from the NTC. The NTC, however, shall not unreasonably withhold or delay the grant of such authority, permit, or license.

“In case of any violation of the provisions of this franchise, the NTC shall have the authority to revoke or suspend, after due process, the permits or licenses it issued pursuant to the franchise. The assignment of frequencies to the franchisee shall be subject to review at regular intervals,” the law said.

KUALA Lumpur—Five suspected members of Philippine militant group Abu Sayyaf have been shot dead in a firefight with police on the Malaysian part of Borneo island, authorities said Tuesday.

Police were attacked by men armed with guns and machetes Monday when they raided a settlement near the town of Beaufort in Sabah state, and returned fire.

“Five male suspects were successful-

ly defeated,” said Sabah police commissioner Hazani Ghazali in a statement.

They were believed to be from the Abu Sayyaf group, police said, self-proclaimed Islamic militants whose stronghold is in the Muslim-majority southern Philippines, not far from Sabah.

One of them has been identified as Mabar Binda, a militant leader on the Philippine police’s wanted list, Malay-

sian newspaper The Star reported.

Abu Sayyaf, which has distant links to the Islamic State group, has been responsible for some of the Philippines’ worst terror attacks in recent years.

They have carried out bombings as well as kidnappings of Western tourists and missionaries since the 1990s, often operating in poorly policed sea areas bordering Malaysia and Indonesia. AFP

Duterte...

From A1

4,487 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest announced in more than two months, bringing the total number of cases to 1,154,388, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

Tuesday’s newly reported cases is the lowest since March 17 this year, when the DOH announced 4,387 new cases.

All laboratories were operational on May 16, 2021 but eight were unable to submit their data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS) on time.

Based on data in the last 14 days, the eight non-reporting labs contribute, on average, 2.5 percent of samples tested and 2.7 percent of positive individuals.

Only 26,672 people underwent testing on Sunday, where 13 percent were found positive for the virus.

The DOH reported 110 new fatalities, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 19,372, which is 1.68 percent of the total.

The DOH also reported 6,383 recoveries, bringing the total recoveries to 1,082,725, which is 93.8 percent of the total.

This left 52,291 active cases, which is 4.5 percent of the total number of cases.

Of the active cases, 93.1 percent were mild, 2.2 percent were asymptomatic, 1.5 percent were critical, 2 percent were severe, and 1.29 percent were moderate.

The DOH also reported that nationwide, 57 percent of the ICU beds, 44 percent of the isolation beds, 48 percent of the ward beds, and 39 percent of the ventilators were in use.

In Metro Manila, 56 percent of the ICU beds, 41 percent of the isolation beds, 44 percent of the ward beds, and 43 percent of the ventilators were in use.

On Monday evening, President Rodrigo Duterte called on the public to get their COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible or else risk getting sick or infecting others.

As of mid-May, more than3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered.

The DOH noted a “marked decline” in infections and hospital occupancy in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces—also called NCR Plus— but flagged a rising COVID-19 trend in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Ten regions posted a positive case growth rate and increased average daily attack rate (ADAR) in the past two weeks: Regions 4B, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro, said DOH Epidemiology Bureau director Dr. Alethea De Guzman, in a forum.

The rise in cases in these areas was caused in part by relaxed adherence to health protocols and the spread of new coronavirus variants, she said.

Despite the case increase, De Guzman said there was no need to escalate the lockdown classification in the 10 regions since their health care systems can still cope.

DOH data showed that the occupancy rate of intensive care unit (ICU), isolation, and ward beds in Region 9 has breached the high-risk category at 75 percent.

In the Bangsamoro, 83 percent of ICU beds were in use as of May 15.

All other areas were in the safe zone.

De Guzman urged local government units (LGUs) to strengthen border screening for COVID-19 symptoms and exposure to cut the transmission of the coronavirus.

as those in the recently signed revised concession agreement between the MWSS and Manila Water Company, Inc.,” Guevarra said.

As with Manila Water, the concession agreement with Maynilad is devoid of onerous and grossly disadvantageous provisions that existed in the

previous water deal, the Justice secretary said.

“The onerous provisions (e.g., noninterference clause, charging corporate income tax to consumers, etc.) have been removed, contingent liabilities of the government have been substantially reduced, and a framework for better service to the public has been put in place,” Guevarra said, With the issuance of the waiver, Guevarra said the arbitral award is-

sued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in Singapore “cannot be enforced by execution or by any judicial process anywhere.”

Manila Water Company, Inc. (MWCI) already signed its revised concession deal with the government on March 31.

Maynilad Water and Manila Water are the two water firms that have concessions in Metro Manila and the nearby provinces.

connection will proceed.

“Given the heightened restrictions still being implemented during the GCQ, we continue to take into consideration the challenges our customers are facing amid these difficult times.

We hope our continued consideration will ease the burden of our customers, providing additional time for them to settle their bills,” Meralco First Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Ferdinand Geluz said in a statement.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS RO), meanwhile, had directed water concessionaires to extend their suspension of all water disconnection activities until the stricter COVID-19 lockdown was lifted.

MWSS RO ordered Manila Water and Maynilad Water Services not to cut services and provide 24-hour water supply in their service areas until the end of the MECQ.

The regulator also asked local government units to assist Maynilad and Manila Water as they conduct meter reading and billing activities during MECQ. The Power for People Coalition (P4P) welcomed the Meralco announcement but called for regulators’ intervention to keep the power distributor “in check, and resume thorough investigations on complaints from consumers, which continue to emerge today.” Rio N. Araja and Willie Casas

West Philippines Sea,” a DFA statement said.

China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said the ban covers “waters north of 12 degrees north latitude in the South China Sea,” areas that include Philippine waters.

In another development, a group of former police and military officers said President Rodrigo Duterte should withdraw his statements on the West Philippine Sea issue that do not conform with the national interest.

Retired Lieutenant General Edilberto Adan, head of the Advocates for National Interest, said the officers’ group called on the President to “have a firm stand” in defending Philippine sovereignty in its territorial waters.

“We would like to appeal to the President, together with the many other groups, various alumni groups requesting the President to retract some of his statements which do not conform with our national interest,” Adan said in an ANC interview.

Adan also disagreed with Duterte that going to war with China was the “only option” to assert the Philippines’ claims in the disputed waters.

“And what we’re saying is war is not the only option, there are other instruments of national power that can be used,” he said.

Earlier, a group of graduates of San Beda College, where Duterte also studied, urged the President to make a clear stand on China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea. They also said the 76-year-old President must retract his defeatist statements on continued illegal activities of China within the country’s territorial waters.

gress should not be joining the political fray between former Senator Ferdinand Marcos and Vice President Leni Robredo, who were locked in an electoral protest that was allegedly intentionally delayed by Leonen.

“We could not jump to the motive of filing or deciding whether or not it is political. We are going to look at the allegations in the complaints -- whether there are sufficient grounds and evidence for that,” said Rodriguez, himself a legal luminary, when asked to comment on allegations dragging the impeachment complaint as purely political in nature.

Romualdez cited Section 3, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution, which pro-

vides that “the House of Representatives shall have the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment.”

“The same section of the constitutional provision mandates the House to act on a verified complaint for impeachment filed by any Member of the House of Representatives or by any citizen upon a resolution of endorsement by any Member thereof,” added Romualdez, a lawyer and chairman of the House committee on rules.

On December 7, 2020, Edwin Cordevilla, secretary general of Filipino League of Advocates for Good Government, filed the impeachment complaint against Leonen. Ilocos Norte Rep. Angelo Barba endorsed the complaint.

end, or the new variants will take over,” he said.

The chief executive also said that those who would refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19 should just “stay home.”

Duterte, who already received a China-made vaccine to bolster public confidence in the jabs, reiterated his call for people to get vaccinated.

The President said the country must prepare for the worst should a “more serious” COVID-19 variant hit the country.

“I would be happy if you continue to build the infrastructure of our COVID-19 fight system because for as long as COVID-19 is here, it would take a lot of time before it would finally disappear,” he said.

He said people should not fear the effect of vaccines because no one has died from the jabs.

Duterte said the government cannot force people to get the vaccine but added: “I hope that if you don’t want to get vaccinated, don’t leave your house so that you won’t infect others.”

He said people not vaccinated might spread the virus and he doesn’t want that to happen.

“Once you have difficulty in breathing, you will be brought to the hospital, no one can get near you except doctors who are in PPE to avoid being infected. When you die, you will be brought straight to the morgue. You will not be able to kiss your loved ones goodbye,” he said.

The Philippines logged on Tuesday

New water...

From A1

weekend that its board began an investigation with an outside law firm of an affair with an employee.

“Microsoft received a concern in the latter half of 2019 that Bill Gates sought to initiate an intimate relationship with a company employee in the year 2000,” a company spokesperson said.

But Gates has denied that the relationship prompted him to leave the Microsoft board last year.

A spokeswoman for Gates told the Wall Street Journal: “There was an affair almost 20 years ago which ended amicably.”

She added that Gates’s decision to “transition off the board was in no way related to this matter.” AFP

House...

From A1 on Rules’ regular meeting this afternoon where members overwhelmingly adopted the motion of Iloilo City Rep. Julienne Baronda to include the matter in the Calendar of Business,” Romualdez, representative of Leyte’s first district, said.

Meanwhile, a lawmaker underscored the need for the House of Representatives to give premium on the merits of the impeachment case filed against Leonen and not on suspicion for which the case was filed.

Interviewed over ANC, House Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez said Con-

PH...

From A1

News

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Palace insists: Vaccines not for sale

M

ALACAÑANG has rebuffed the Philippine Red Cross by saying that COVID-19 vaccines given to all Filipinos are for free, contrary to the PRC chief’s position that certain vaccines may be offered for sale.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made this statement to clarify a remark made by Philippine Red Cross Chairman and Senator Richard Gordon that the humanitarian organization will offer vaccines developed

by Moderna of US at P3,500 for every two doses when its orders arrive.

PRC Governor Ma. Carissa Coscolluela later clarified that the procured Moderna vaccines would be offered only to members and donors,

“who are willing to bear the cost of the vaccines.”

Roque said that nobody will be required to pay to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

The President’s promise is that he will give vaccines for free because the vaccines are being procured and paid for by the government,” Roque said in a Palace press briefing.

The vaccines procured by the private sector are for the use of their

employees but no one should sell vaccines because no vaccines have been cleared for general use,” he said.

In his regular pre-recorded Talk to the People televised on Tuesday morning, President Duterte ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to supervise the transport and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines after he expressed misgivings about the supposed failure of some local governments to ensure the proper administration of vaccines.

Duterte, in previous speeches, said he wanted COVID-19 vaccines to be given to all Filipinos, with priority given to frontline healthcare workers, elderly, those with comorbidities, frontline economic workers, and the

poor Filipinos.

The country now has four brands of COVID-19 vaccines in its inventory— Sinovac’s CoronaVac (China), AstraZeneca (UK), Sputnik V (Russia), and Pfizer.

Since the Philippines launched its vaccination drive on March 1, some 2,282,273 individuals have already been inoculated against COVID-19, including around 719,602 who have already been fully vaccinated.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said that the Philippines can achieve herd immunity by November this year once it reaches its target of 500,000 jabs a day or three million jabs a week.

The Philippines aims to vaccinate around 50 to 70 million Filipinos this year to attain herd immunity.

Comelec project marred by failure of bidding, says joint venture

By Rey E. Requejo THE joint venture between Pivot International Inc. and Power Service Inc. Joint Venture has asked the Commission on Elections to declare “failure of bidding” for the procurement of the Vote Counting Machines Refurbishment with Consumables intended for use in the May 2022 elections.

The PSI Joint Venture made the call after the Comelec’s Special Bids and Awards Committee disqualified the Joint Venture from the bidding held on March 5, despite being declared by the SBAC Technical Working Group as the one who passed for offering the lowest calculated bid.

Apart from the lowest bid compared to the joint venture of Smartmatic USA Corporation and SMMT-TIM 2016, Inc., the PSI Joint Venture also passed the Comelec’s requirement for automated election system (AES) requirements in the May, 2022 elections.

PSI Joint Venture’s request for the Comelec-SBAC to declare a failure of bidding as it reiterate its plea for the Comelec leadership to give due course to their administrative complaint against the end user, chairman and members of the SBAC and TWG of the poll body for the arising from the alleged irregularity involving the second bidding of the VCMs Refurbishment with Consumables.

In its manifestation and verified complaint, the PSI Joint Venture urged the Comelec to declare a failure of bidding and investigate its “administrative complaint for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service” against Jeannie Flororita (end user), Allen Francis Abaya (SBAC chairman) , John Rex Laudiangco (SBAC vice-chairman), SBAC members Jovencio Balinguit, Divina Blas Perez and Abigail Claire Carbero Llacuna for their alleged violation of Section 7 of Republic Act 8436 as amended

by RA 9369 or the law regarding AES that began on May 11, 1998 until subsequent elections.

Although TWG members were included in the case, their names were not revealed.

PSI Joint Venture stressed in its complaint that it wanted to stop corruption and irregularities in the Comelec’s bidding system, thus, it filed a complaint against with some Comelec officials who handled the bidding.

Records showed that SBAC-AES and TWG of the Comelec declared PSI Joint Venture as the winning bid for tendering the lowest competitive bid against Smartmatic-led joint venture.

BUMPER TO BUMPER. Motorists experience bumper-to-bumper morning traffic along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa)-Balintawak in Quezon City on Tuesday (May 18, 2021). President Duterte downgraded the quarantine classification in the National Capital Region Plus (NCR Plus) and other areas to a more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ) with “heightened restrictions.” Joey O. Razon

PAO assails high court ruling on career officer

By Rio N. Araja OVER 4,000 Career Service Executives (CSEs) stand to lose their jobs if a Supreme Court dismissal decision is not reversed, according to the Public Attorney’s Office.

PAO chief Persida Acosta, at a media briefing, raised alarm over a decision of Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa of the First Division affirming the dismissal of a career officer of the Dangerous Drugs Board— Maria Belen Angelita Matibag— or failure to comply with some eligibility procedures.

“There are more than 4,000 CSEs in the government who would lose their security of tenure should the decision of Caguiao becomes final and executory,” she told reporters.

The Supreme Court ruling would set a bad precedent, she stressed.

“PAO filed a second motion to challenge the SC ruling,” Acosta said.

She appealed to the high court to sit en banc to resolve the matter, saying over 4,000 CSEs from different government agencies could be asked to resign en masse.

On Jan. 22, 2020, the First Division affirmed Matibag’s dismissal as DDB executive director for operations on March 11, 2011.

Caguioa maintained that Matibag only possessed the Civil Service Executive Eligibility, and that she failed to prove she completed the last two stages of the examination process—written exam and board interview—under a resolution of the Career Executive Service Board (CESB).

He said Matibag’s position was only temporary.

But the PAO chief said Matibag was Civil Service eligible, and that qualified her under the 1987 Constitution based on “merit and fitness.”

“With due respect, contrary to the ruling, the CESB cannot, in any way, overrule and divest the Civil Service Commission of its constitutional and legal mandate. It is worthy to reiterate that the CESB is merely a body created by law to govern the Career Executive Service,” she said.

Misamis O council calls on DPWH to probe bidding mess OROQUIETA, MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL—The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provicial Council) of Misamis Occidental has asked the Department of Public Works and Highways to investigate alleged irregularities or violation of laws in the conduct of public biddings for infrastructure projects in District 1, Misamis Occidental province.

The SP, in particular, asked DPWH to look into the case of a District Engineer regarding the “suspicious circumstances” of the award of infrastructure projects by the DPWH, Misamis Occidental

First District Engineering Office (known as DPWH-I).

In an official complaint , one of the bidders, Grace Construction, alleged that contractors for local infrastructure projects—oftentimes representing the lowest or the second-lowest bids— were disqualified over seemingly minor grounds, including having “one dump truck that is not in good condition”, and “being unavailable for verification of capability inspection.”

Moreover, notices of disqualification were sent to ineligible bidders on a non-

working day (Saturday), whereupon they were instructed to reply within three (3) calendar days.

At least one company (Grace Construction) complied to this timeframe, but they never received any further advice from the DPWH District 1 Bids and Awards Committee.

These alleged irregularities prompted the SP of Misamis Occidental to file two Resolutions (249-21 and 250-21), requesting DPWH Secretary Mark Villar and Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Greco Belgica to inves-

tigate the members of the District 1 Bids and Awards Committee.

The SP also expressed concern over reports that certain “insiders” at the DPWH District-I Engineering Office have become agents of surety bonds offered to contractors while others encourage contractors to state in their progress billings or statement of work accomplished that the work progress status is at 75% already when in fact it is still at 50%, thereby making the progress payment not based on actual work done, in effect, an overpayment.

Edsa Busway breaks ground

By Joel E. Zurbano

MAKATI JABS. Proud Makati citizens receive their second dose of free vaccine at the Makati Coliseum on Tuesday on May 18, 2021, thus completing their protection against COVID-19. #BakunaMakati

Amid the pandemic, PhilPlans rolls out P6-b for plan holders ANSWERING the call of its plan holders for much-needed cash due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused massive sickness, unemployment, pay cuts, and business closure, one of the country’s leading pre-need firms has paid a total benefit of P6.55 billion to 51,951 beneficiaries nationwide as of end-March 2021.

Of the amount, Philplans said P4.93 billion was distributed to at least 23,000 beneficiaries through PhilPlans’ Special Cash Programs, which were made available during the first lockdowns in the summer of 2020.

PhilPlans rolled out the programs to provide continued liquidity to its plan holders, so they may continue to provide for their families’ needs and have spare money to address any emergency that may occur during the pandemic.

A3

With classes continuing amid the pandemic, PhilPlans still disbursed P919 million for its 19,281 educational plan holders for the above mentioned period.

It also gave a total of P696 million to 9,670 pension and life plan holders.

As yet another lockdown has been imposed due to the exponential growth of COVID-19 cases in the country, PhilPlans has extended its Special Cash Programs to June 30. PhilPlans will get in touch with all planholders qualified for the said offers.

“The pandemic has already been hard on individuals, families, and businesses. In spite of these challenges, we remain committed to serving our planholdersby immediately responding to their needs. Our Special Cash Programs form part of our commitment to help them not just survive, but even

thrive in this crisis,” said PhilPlans President and CEO Monico V. Jacob.

“We are thankful for the appreciation many of our planholders have given us for the continued support of their children’s education. But what really moves us is the fact that the programs have also helped fund a much-needed cataract operation and a loved one’s funeral among others. These just validate the way we have decided to serve our customers amid the pandemic,” Jacob continued.

“As PhilPlans continues to aid its planholders, we are in the process of digitizing our products and services, so they can become more responsive to the needs of the market, especially in the new normal. This way, we can give better customer experiences in the days to come,” said PhilPlans Chairman Eusebio H. Tanco.

THE government on Tuesday broke ground for the Edsa Busway Concourse Project, a public-private partnership venture that would benefit both the commuters and pedestrians.

Following the successful signing of agreement in November, the event marked the commencement of the civil works for three concourses to be built at the SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall and SM North EDSA in spaces donated by the SM Group.

The Edsa Busway system—a joint project of the Department of Transportation with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and the Department of Public Works and Highways—started its interim operations in June last year and is designed to allow faster travel time for commuters, provide a comfortable commute for the Filipinos amid the pandemic

and improve mobility along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.

The busway bridges will have a concierge, ticketing booths, turnstiles for the automatic fare collection system as well as ramps and elevators to provide accessibility.

In a virtual groundbreaking ceremony of the project, Pasay City Mayor Imelda Rubiano stressed the importance of strong cooperation between private and public sectors to attain their goal of providing the highest level of service to the people.

“This busway concourse is part of our plan, our dream, to make Metro Manila a more livable city, especially for the commuting public and for pedestrians,” she said.

Under the agreement, the private partners will shoulder the construction of the busway bridges with concourses at the SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, President D. Macapagal Avenue in Aseana City, and at Edsa near the corner of PDMA.

FISH TALE.

For over a decade now, Aling Claire has been making a living wrapping smoked fish in Rosario, Cavite,but because of the virus pandemic and the rising prices of fish, sales of smoked fish has dwindled and she says she finds it doubly hard to make ends meet.

JR Josue

A4

News

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021

Groups seek SC temporary protection rules

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has been asked to promulgate rules, including the mandatory issuance of temporary protection orders and writ of amparo, to stop state security forces from engaging in red-tagging and terrorist designation.

In a nine-page letter sent to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, several progressive groups urged the high court to implement new rules that provide urgent and practical reliefs to human rights victims, including those red-tagged and designated as terrorists.

Among those who sent the letter to the SC are officials of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno, and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers.

The appeal came amid continuing allegations of red-tagging and the Anti-Terrorism Council’s designation of 29 people as suspected terrorists.

The groups cited a report of the National Union of People’s Lawyers to the SC on April 23 which said that 57 percent or about 84 of the 147 attacks on lawyers and judges during the past decade were committed against those who were engaged in human rights and public interest litigation.

The groups urged the SC to consider measures to protect lawyers and judges, such as a review of existing rules on the writ of amparo, the writ of habeas corpus, and other pre-detention and pre-trial remedies, with an assessment of their efficacy in safeguarding fundamental rights.

According to them, the high court should also include the groups or associations of persons sharing a common advocacy or cause as aggrieved parties who may file a petition for the writ of amparo or habeas data.

They asked the SC to establish a central repository of criminal charges by which the people can be informed of cases filed against them.

“The promulgation of uniform rules for pre-trial remedies uphold the accused’s constitutional right to due process, including the mandatory furnishing of records on the application for a search warrant to the accused from the point of arrest,” the groups said.

5,986 staycation rooms open for NCR Plus guests

WAITING GAME.

A vendor scrolls through her mobile phone while waiting for customers in a market in Valenzuela City.

The NCR Plus area, composed of Metro Manila and neighboring provinces Laguna, Rizal, Cavite and Bulacan, has been placed under General Community Quarantine with heightened restrictions in a bid to jumpstart the economy while preventing the transmission of COVID-19 cases.

Boy Bautista

PGH repair may take 4 months as donations pour in

63 BFP firefighter-nurses deployed to NCR hospitals

T

HE Bureau of Fire Protection has deployed some 63 of its firefighter-nurses to COVID-19 facilities and hospitals across Metro Manila following the fire that hit the Philippine General Hospital.

“They are not ordinary nurses from the BFP. They have special training on paramedics, handling of hazardous materials – they are members of our emergency medical services and, most importantly, they are also firefighters,” BFP chief Jose Embang Jr. said during Tuesday’s send-off ceremony.

“Their deployment is not only dedicated to responding and augmenting hospitals that are in need of nurses, they can also respond to other emergencies like what happened in the PGH. A PGH official said it may take up to four months to repair the facility af-

ter Sunday dawn’s fire that led to the evacuation of hundreds of patients, including those from COVID-19 wards and dozens of babies.

The fire destroyed five sterilization units and might have caused structural damage, according to hospital director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi.

“Our estimate is that it will take about 3 to 4 months for the resumption of normal operations at the operating room supply area where the fire broke out, considering the construction that needs to be done. But we will not wait for that long to resume operations

Customs seizes P3.1m party drugs from Malaysia

EARLY BIRD.

Reygalicano Nepomuceno, 64, receives the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine administered at the Navotas City Hospital.

He is among the 152 Navoteños who signed up at http://covax. navotas.gov.ph for the lifesaving jab.

Andrew Rabulan

By Vito Barcelo and Joel Zurbano GOVERNMENT authorities arrested the claimant of a package containing over 622 grams of Ketamine or “party drugs” worth more than P3.1 million in a controlled delivery operation in Caloocan City.

In a statement, the Bureau of Customs Port of NAIA said a certain Kristopher Segumbang claimed the parcel at around noon and was immediately apprehended.

He was the authorized representative of the consignee, a certain “Nick Dimagiba,” to claim the package.

Records showed the package arrived on May 10, 2021 from Malaysia and was declared as “snacks.”

The seized illegal drugs were discovered when the package was subjected to non-intrusive x-ray scanning K-9 sweeping.

Upon physical examination, a customs examiner found 15 sachets of white coffee containing a total of 622 grams of Ketamine, which is classified as dangerous drugs under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Ketamine, also known as “Special K” or “K,” was originally created as an anesthetic but is commonly abused as a party drug for its tranquilizing effects.

Last week, Customs operatives and PDEA agents also intercepted smuggled shipments of ecstasy worth more than P15 million, and arrested its claimants in Quezon City.

again,” he added.

“The fire damaged only a small area of the hospital but it was a very vital space, the operating room. Activities to deliver surgical service were delayed but we are in the process of restoring that,” he added.

PGH, which is the country’s largest COVID-19 referral facility, is working with other hospitals as it moves to restart operations on a regular basis.

He said the cost of damage to equipment alone is already at “P50 million upwards.”

Help from the private and public sectors, including P100 million from the Presidential Social Fund, have poured for PGH. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque also visited the PGH on Tuesday and brought stand fans to help ward off the smell of smoke.

Manila logs record-high 15,763 vaccinees in one day

By Willie Casas MANILA City logged a record-high number of residents vaccinated in a single day on Monday, Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said.

Domagoso said the Manila Health Department, headed by Acting City Health Officer Dr. Arnold Pangan, broke its own daily record of vaccinees.

The mayor said he expects the city’s vaccination record to reach greater heights as more vaccines are expected

to be received by the Manila COVID-19 Vaccine Storage Facility at the Sta. Ana Hospital.

He said “deployment of vaccines should be faster than the spread of COVID-19 infection.”

“We should ensure that vaccination is faster than the spread of infection. If we want to achieve herd immunity, that should be done as soon as possible,” he said in an interview with dzRH. As of Monday, a total of 194,665 AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Sinovac, and

Sputnik V vaccines have been deployed in Manila, including 57,198 for second dose jabs.

Meanwhile, more than 700,000 families will receive free food boxes from the Manila City government for the fourth consecutive month.

Domagoso said as of Sunday, about 500,000 food boxes have been distributed to Districts 1 to 4 by members of the Department of Public Services, Department of Engineering and Public Works, and Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau.

THE Department of Tourism said some 5,986 rooms from 13 staycation hotels in the National Capital Region (NCR) remain open to welcome guests while NCR Plus is under a General Community Quarantine with heightened restrictions.

Subject to the observance of minimum public health standards, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases allowed specialized markets of the DOT which include staycation programs.

“While the IATF allowed our request to permit leisure travel under the current quarantine condition, we would like to remind everyone that the health and safety of our guests and tourism workers remain the utmost priority,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

“These staycation hotels, all of which are star-rated, have the capacity and have been inspected and oriented on the new normal protocols to ensure this,” she added.

The hotels are located within NCR Plus, which is composed of Metro Manila and the nearby provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.

Staycation guests must only come from within the NCR Plus area, and must not be below 18 or above 65 years old.

Solon: Tax cuts for firms hiring ‘mature’ workers

By Maricel V. Cruz THE chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means has backed the enactment of a measure that would encourage businesses to hire “mature workers” or those aged 40 and above by granting them tax cuts.

“The productivity gains to hiring workers with life experience will be immense. Under the current culture, most employers hire only fresh graduates. They are less enthusiastic about taking older applicants in. This is of course a problem, especially because many older applicants have families to support,” committee chairperson Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said.

He said the ageist culture “wastes the valuable accumulation of skills that only older employees can deliver for a firm.”

“I see the productivity gains this will unlock, as an economist. And as people are living longer and our pension systems are taking a toll, opening opportunities for more mature employees, especially the elderly, to work will pad our pension systems,” Salceda added.

He, however, warned principal authors that the Executive branch may push for a veto of the tax provision if the case for it is not “well-argued and well-established.”

“This is not a revenue measure, so if a provision can be vetoed, the whole bill will not be approved. That is why I hope to propose some revisions to the proposal so that we can push it through enactment,” Salceda said.

Salceda assigned lawmakers Estrellita Suansing of Nueva Ecija, the committee’s senior vice chair; Sharon Garin of the AAMBIS-OWA party-list, the committee vice chair; and Jericho Nograles of the PBA party-list, to recommend to him an alternative formulation of the tax provision.

Under the current proposal, firms that hire “mature employees” will be “entitled to an additional deduction from their gross income, equivalent to fifteen percent of the total amount paid as salaries and wages.”

Immigration rescues human trafficking victims bound for UAE

JAB AT THE CINEMA. As the vaccine rollout reaches provincial areas, SM Supermalls continue to partner with local government units by providing a safe, convenient and readily-accessible venue for vaccination. In Southern Luzon, SM City Calamba, in coordination with the LGU, opened a vaccination site at the mall’s cinema lobby with a capacity of inoculating 300 persons per day. Photo shows Calamba City Mayor Justin Marc Chipeco (2nd from left) with SM Supermalls SAVP John Jason Terrenal, AVP Angel Toreja and Mall Manager Rae Anne Maranan.

IMMIGRATION officers intercepted several trafficking victims bound for the United Arab Emirates who were given fake itineraries by their recruiters.

Commissioner Jaime Morente said they discovered an emerging modus wherein Filipino female workers present work documents bound for Maldives but are actually bound for the UAE. He said this would fall under thirdcountry recruitment, wherein overseas Filipino workers are being sent to work in one country before they are illegally transported to another.

“The same modus was usually seen in victims rescued from war-torn countries such as Syria,” he said.

BI-Travel Control and Enforcement Unit officers from NAIA Terminal 3 reported the interception of two female

OFWs victims aged 26 and 33, who presented valid overseas employment certificates, work visas, employment contracts, and itineraries bound for Maldives.

However, upon verification with online systems, it was discovered that both victims were also in possession of valid tourist visas for the UAE. The two OFWs admitted they received their documents only prior to departure, and one of the victims said she was instructed by their recruiter to conceal her UAE visa.

She admitted that they applied to work as domestic helpers, but were given documents to work as sales assistants in Maldives.

TCEU Officers from Clark International Airport, on the other hand, intercepted two other female victims.

Both presented documents to work in Maldives – one as an attendant and the other as a receptionist – but were also found to be in possession of visas for the UAE. One of the victims admitted that she was promised work as a cleaner in UAE, and that she paid P37,000 to her recruiter for the processing of her travel documents.

Her companion, who was repatriated from the UAE last year, admitted she is heading back to work in the Middle East country as a household service worker.

“This scheme victimizes our kababayan and tricks them into accepting offers below standard rates. When they get to the third country, many end up being abused but do not report for fear of being deported,” Morente said.

Vito Barcelo

Opinion Opinion Opinion Opinion Opinion Opinion Opinion L LearningAnoth curv Lea pinion Opinion T TtheTO

tive of the cybersecurity firm FireEye, has its top officials en masse.

Microsoft has also resigning spotted state-sponThey are here to their ow raised alarm bellsfrom over the Russian hackers In any serve as sored hackers in event, China this and heist Iran should targeting Lessons ing to mA stay. school are set to reopen on Octonoting that while multiple cyber-espionage a wake-up call in notboth only presidential for banks. This is Public individuals involved reachmst.d out this episode will be ber 5 but many private learning instituactors have targeted organizations associalso but for more regulators, government agencies campaigns intensely against the learn, no SEPTEMBER tions have already started the school year ated with the upcoming election, WEDNESDAY, the exother companies doing essential and Trumpand organization priceless. posed by Through a mix president’s of so-calledcorner. synchronous incumbent And this perts are “most concerned with that of the sensitivesayservices. reminds But experts Moscow The is theincident adversary The te Russian military intelligence unit..which time around they are joined by them them to double theirgiven efforts in securing that worries the most Russia’s and asynchronous methods—where theChinese stuficult tim the world greatesthowever threat toand theespedemocratpresumably Demo- Inposes lengthytheir trackdigital recordsystems and devices. the real dentsand andIranian teacherhackers are present all at theinsame their wor process.. as this hacking has been challenger Joe Biden’s side given AfterJohn all, Hultquist activities that seek to comproAn expert senior executhe public schools opengroup in a few time cratic and where they perform other tasks on theciallyicas the comf Ade e Chua Ed tor responsible for some most difprovocaimposed and high profile digital devices, entirehas systems, tive of mise the cybersecurity firmeven FireEye They are here to weeks theEditor situation couldofbethe starkly Chua, their sanctions own respectively—educators are bashing try- Adelle nitely no WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021 mst daydesk@gma com and aggressive cyber of all these two countries have been gettingmst.daydesk@gmail.com fromferent for financial or the state gainshackers or just plain raised alarm bells over Russian Adelle Chua, Editor Adelle Chua,tive Editor Children may not haveoperations adequate ing to make do with available technology to advisors, SKDKnickerbocker...”

THAT news about the P167 million lost by stay. work in tact meant an introduction mst.daydesk@gmail.com to the Western accounts are concerned to make thingstime.” advisors, SKDKnickerbocker...”

THAT news about the P167 million lost by administration. advisors, SKDKnickerbocker...”

THAT about the P167 million lost by the Trump “gotcha” moments have become such lunoting thatnews while multiple cyber-espionage mst.daydesk@gmail.com equipment The home reach out to theirsyndicate students and enable them to orthatfunctioning The giant US tech giant advised that this even dec UCPB reportedly tomst.daydesk@gmail.com asyndicate hacking world, the impetus in the eventual formamore sober, objective and believable.

The US tech advised that this UCPB reportedly to a hacking The US tech giant advised this UCPB reportedly to a hacking syndicate WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 16 2020 Iftion these latest hacking attempts on othInalready the case of the Russian operations for crative, even highly sought and developed actors have targeted organizations associCROSSROADS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 particular Russian hacking group called againanshocked an exhausted may not be an place to focus and to learnCROSSROADS notwithstanding the great challenges of itsideal territorial identity—often particular Russian hacking group called has again shocked an already exhausted CROSSROADS particular Russian hacking group called has again has shocked already exhausted WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 Strontium is widely known as Fancy Bear altogethe erwise secure organizations in US soil public six months cooped out under a naTrump’s re-election, the reports coming out undertakings in the past few years.

Hackated public with the upcoming election the exa common consequence of empire is widely known as Fancy Bear six months cooped out under a naStrontium is widely knowncould as Fancy Bear public six months cooped out under a na- untestedStrontium learn new things Parents be anxposed by these methods ormost APT28 and to is contested believed to operate out of otherwise tionwide They or APT28 and is words believedbut toby operate out of lockdown. building—and the beginning of its jourJ.A. involve the hotly electornotteachers just security establishment of ers“most are lurking just around the corner and The are concerned with that of the lockdown. incumbent president’s corner And this pertstionwide J.A.of the or APT28 and is believed operate out of tionwide lockdown. would have These J.A. O SAY that the iousGRU. about where the next meal may GRU. come Oand SAY th themselves aremilitary having a dif- agency, Russia’s military intelligence agency, GRU. At a time when almost goveveryone, gov- Russia’s intelligence At a time when almost everyone, govney toward nation-building.

In an ideal world Russia’s military intelligence agency, At a activated time when almost everyone, with al race in the planet, using as they do the Microsoft itself is that Russian military DELA CRUZ hacking operations can be in no military intelligence unit which time around they are joined by Chinese Russian DELA CRUZ Raisa Mabayo should COVID-19 pandemic has DELA CRUZ Apparently, these continuing attacks mimernment included, is grasping ernment at straws included, Apparently, these continuing attacks mimernment isincluded, is grasping at straws “...To Spain, whose monarch commisif they did not have to worry ficult time adjusting to the new demands of from even COVID-1 set-up w Apparently, these continuing attacks mimgrasping at straws find it d most sophisticated available, it from-home is hackers have targeted 200 US organizations timegreatest ataround all. Indeed, they become part the threat democratand Iranian hackers presumably in Demo- posesscrounging the “sustained hacking and information for fundsto justthe tohave stay the “sustained and information the ic voyage thatmethods set sailhacking in people’s 1519, around for funds just to stay icmake greatly altered the storytellers to pay closer attentio icsioned the “sustained hacking and information scroungingscrounging around for funds just to stay about a COVID-19 infection their work Sure they may be teaching from greatly al warfare carried out in the 2016 presidenwhich can immobilize entire communities. in place, this heist hacking is truly disheartening.

NEXT year, on March 16, 2021 to be exthis means a celebration of its role in the warfare carried out in the 2016 presidenwhich can immobilize entire communities. in place, this heist is truly disheartening. using the not farfetched to think that the same can (political parties, think tanks, consultants of everyday life. as this group has been cratic challenger Joe Biden’s side given the ic process work Thisofis tr would be anor understatement. warfarelives carried out in the 2016 presidenwhich can immobilize entire communities. heist is truly disheartening. pause. w HEhabits.

Offilives ce th tial race in there favor ofisthen candidate Trump Still, and most insidious hackThe culprits have to be brought in to place, justice this Everybody is trying his her best to the comfort of homes but defilives would be act, we the willworst be commemorating thetheir 500th technological development of nautical tial race in favor of then candidate Trump Still, the worst and most insidious hackThe culprits have to be brought to justice fortunate tion. enough toa tial race in favor of clearest then candidate Still, the worsthisand most insidious done anywhere at any timeTrump and against culprits have to be brought toto justice and even the main Democratic fundraising activities dangerous foratmakes some ofthese theisThe most sanctions imposed and high profile bashing responsible One of the manifestations against Democratic rival, hackformerbe US ing operations are quincentennial done subvertas political and theWhat cash, least whatever left of provocait, and anniversary—the histocorruption in g One of science the willin of itsDemocratic leaders reach against histhis rival, former UStheir operations donepolitical to still subvert political the cash, at leastisnothing whatever left of it, ing beagainst able toandlearn newto environabout doing your vide children the One of the cleare Democratic rival, former US ing operations are done to are subvert and the atall whatever left of it,iscomfortable Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s camprocesses andnitely undermine societies.

The returned.

Having saidcyber that, should any perceived adversary.

Given such an platform) for cyber attacks.

Microsoft vice is aggressive when these arewedone inputcash, such aleast brazen operations of these two countries have been getting from tive and Meanw ofhis that change in education rians call it—of the arrival of Europeans previously unknown lands andthe recreate Secretary ofisState Hillary Clinton’s camprocesses and years undermine societies.

The returned.

Having said that, we should put paign.” fithat ght change against co of that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s camprocesses and undermine societies.

The returned.

Having said that, we should put adv so s SKDKn cke bocke ” he P167 m on os by ment Students will learn their lessons controversy over the Russian interfereverybody on notice that this UCPB caper work in the same manner for many of is tact” meant an introduction to the Western accounts concerned to make thingstime advisors, million lost by administration in the Philippines. advisors,are SKDKnickerbocker...” worldsystem. geography. marked theand begin-stability of Given the continuing debate over theenvironment, theIt security president Tom Burt has been quoted as andSKDKnickerbocker...” wayward manner asadv what happened tonotice the hack Trump paign.” controversy over spotted thesayRussian interferon that this UCPB caper the much paign.” controversy over the interfereverybody on that thisUS UCPB caper Microsoft has Russian also state-sponence inh the 2016 elections in favor of will probably notgiant be theeventual last. g an The US ech sed everybody hanotice spopularly o asyndicate ng synd ca emoreThe system world, the impetus in the formasober, objective and believable.

More known as the landing The US tech advised that this educators will learn to teach better and ing US tech giant advised that this ning of one of the most powerful empires even decades and then having to shift to an martial law years, Mabayo’s notes should system.

Just last week we ma lea Microsoft also state-sponence inUS thein 2016 favor of will probably not being theTrump last. nations and societies ashaswell asspotted the integrity that the initial attempt on US Biden’s UCPB which can unhinge the banking sysIftionthese latest attempts othIna the of ed theparticular Russian operations for sored hackers China and Iran, then-candidate Donald Inin failed No how condemnable this ng inciLessons Microsoft has also spotted state-sponence the 2016 elections inelections favortargeting of in will probably not beed the last.

CROSSROADS They paterritorial cu hacking ahacking Russ angroup hack gon oup ca d CROSSROADS an eadycase exhaus of matter itsRussian identity—often Russian hacking group called of thematter expeditionary flotilla ledlingers. bythis Por-inciCROSSROADS particular called dy exhausted in history, defined bybest its maritime force make the storytellers pause, take a deeplingers. budsman Samuel Martires sored hackers inthey China and Iran, targeting then-candidate Donald Trump Inlearn No how condemnable Public school are set to reopen on Octoparents will how can supaltogether new way of teaching individuals involved in both presidential fact, it remains a key issue against Trump dent is, some groups are saying: We told sored hackers in China and Iran, targeting then-candidate Donald Trump lingers.

In No matter how condemnable this inciand standing of companies and institutions campaign was “...specifically targeted by S on um s w de y known as Fancy Bea tem.

Or, to companies providing essential erwise secure organizations in US soil cooped ou unde a na Trump’s re-election the reports coming out a common consequence of empireBear tuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan breath and widen their horizons. There and Catholicism, and one that was to last Strontium is widely known as Fancy Bear this but most Strontium is widely known as to Fancy t under a naaccessepisode to the Stat Public ber 5,individuals but many learning instituinvolved in both presidential fact,with remains key issue against Trump dent is, osome groups are saying: We told campaigns buttheir moreaagainst intensely against the over again in the run-up totold the have Novemyou so. Others arebeginning even the extent Public school are individuals involved inprivate bothprepared presidential fact, it is remains aitthe key issue dent is, are saying: We o most APT28 andgoing be eved oasope aall egroups ou port their Nothing uspublic’s n not just They could trouble tools or APT28 and is words believedbut toby operate out of the of its jour(Fernando do Magallanes) inthe Homonhon, of note can indeed be easily undermined by the Russian hackers via phishing attacks goods and services such those inOthers food involve the hotly contested electorestablishment ofJ.A. wou drun-up o Trump hethe wtohe se have nchildren he c campaigns ass oom four centuries.

J.A.of the security more to events than meets eye. orbuilding—and APT28 and is believed tospu operate out ofsome would otherwise haveDemocrats in classroom.

These and Liabilities of governme O SAY that the ber 5, b J.A. O SAY that the tions have already started the school year.

V e nam se s a ve y ow p ces ng o wou d o he w se have n c ass oom Today th Trump organization. ber elections, with the and a of insinuating that this could not have hapbut more intensely against the all over again in the the Novemyou so. are even going to the extent priceless. ber 5, but many pr O SAY that the campaigns but against the all workoverAs again in the run-up to nthe Novemso. Others are even going to the extent Russ a s m a y agency, n e you gence agency GRU n a mos goveve yone gov Russia’s military intelligence agency, GRU. ney toward nation-building. the story ofUS this voyage has been punctu“...To the restamore of the was Father Rannie Aquino wrote in his In ofan ideal world, the present Russia’s intelligence GRU. for this complaining will notthis help veryone, an dea wo dso he pa esen wo kintensely A memorandum on hav Se and with connectivity or they could also a click of finger Grabe. against the campaign’s communications manufacturing or in power and utilities al race inmilitary the planet using as they do the Microsoft itself isApparently, that Russian military DELA CRUZ Through mix ofworld, so-called synchronous But experts say Democrats Moscow isdthe adversary number security experts insisting pened without any insider help.

In fact, ashas DELA tions caCRUZ a me s“...To ke Gu e mo V a ea and o he s Trump organization. ber elections, with the Democrats and a of insinuating that this could not have hapn an dea wo he p esen wo k Raisa Mabayo should COVID-19 pandemic tions have already s COVID-19 pandemic has DELA CRUZ Trump organization. ber elections, with the and a of insinuating that this could not have hapthese continuing attacks mimstitute th Appa en y hese con nu ng a acks m m s g asp ng a s aws Spain, whose monarch commisatedfrom-home by aRussian number of conflicting, slanted COVID-19 pandemic arguably a ow keybut milestone history theHis column on the martial law years, every set-up would allow parents Apparently, these continuing attacks mimthe three conditions in w ng at straws om wou pa en that worries these most, given Russia’s that the hackers are back infact, the goes, itage could have been sim- pened stualls methods—where were released.” claims were Through HE President’s decision to trot out former Senate But experts say Moscow the adversary number of US security experts insisting Inaupfinding stride it in isthe best tois rewithout any insider help.

Into kemost hm athe a cnarrative ea dvoyage sadvan om home uphome wou dse ow pa dand enaour sasynchronous find itIndifficult beashas effective atthem their jobs sophisticated methods available it is hackers have targeted 200 US organizations icmake the “sustained hacking and information Through a mix of But experts say Moscow is the adversary number of US security experts insisting pened without any insider help. fact, as c he “sus a ned hack ng and n o ma on sioned the that set sail in 1519, d o unds us o s ay greatly altered people’s accounts often dependent on the story the storytellers of globalization; thereafter, the exchange story teller has his or her own “construct” greatly altered people’s to pay closer attention to their children’s could be released: If the o icRTL the hacking and s just to stay lengthy record. plya“sustained an job considering the internal the narrative greatly In thesurreal oahackers pay con ose ahe enthat on odents chquickly d the en smost, and teacher are present at those the same altered people’s disputed by who that worries them the all most, given Russia’s that otrack the Russian are back inthat goes, it could have been andworld, asyn The so inside emoved egu athat oinformation y the unc pay cour ose en Forty othe ch dthe enhe sone warfare carried out in the worries them given Russia’s that the hackers are back inmember narrative goes, itpresident could have been simarch 16,u 2021 toparties bewhich exandhad asynchronous me this means arocking celebration of role the crisis affects families wa ato e he ca editswhich ou nin he 2016 pteller. eswork den wh ch can entire mmob ze 2016 en epresidencommun eslives slize s entire y communities. d shea en ngcan using the only available medium of instrucnotwarfare farfetched think the same can (political think tanks consultants Much like many facets ofsome our his-simofue cultures, ideas, and technology was tasks ofRussian that period in history. eight and former defense minister Juan Ponce Enrile habits.

This is true for families her representative reques would be an understatement.

An expert, John Hultquist, senior execuproblems UCPB, has seen carried out in the 2016 presidenimmobilize communities. disheartening. cially as the public sc time, and where they perform other on wo k hab s Th s s o some am es pause. lives would be an understatement HE Offi ce of the Ombudsman dealt nototosome lengthy track record. during martialdents inside job considering the internal has after, tial race favor of sthen Trump and most insidious vived detention law. dents and o technological he top Naofficials onaa development Food Auavo ho NFA wo those kanother hab who s Thblow, sfirm s harangued ue am track es lives would be understatement mmemorating the 500th lengthy record. plyTrump an inside job considering the internal nautical andtheteacher arec ace nat oytime hen cand daply etory Tan ump S inand hemost wo andcandidate mos nsons dbe ous hack oand be ough ohackus cethe such as the assassination of Antonio spurred to unprecedented heights. fortunate enough toan keep a job and pro-years orders its release in relati tive of the cybersecurity FireEye, has its resigning enofmasse. and communities differently This should tial race in favor of clearest then candidate Still, worst insidious done anywhere any and against ght totobjustice even the main Democratic fundraising They are here to weeks, situation tion their own, respectively—educators are try- execuOne of the manifestations o have una ekeep enough keepexpert, ob and pHultquist, oone John against his Democratic rival, hackformer done subvertas political An expert, Hultquist, senior problems rocking UCPB, which has which seen on national TV was clearly aimed shoring up time,they and quincentennial histoove US cescience mpo a aga on and sof eam ned he pcserve o vaas rocking At point, in a clear case of preaching to corruption in government would have been good, but to o tons una eatenough othen aan obothe and p ao surprisingly, An John senior execuproblems UCPB, which has seen One of the clearest manifestations and the will its leaders to reach Luna, the death of the Bonifacio brothers ns h s Democ a o me US ng ope a ons a e done o subve po ca time, and where as wha eve s e o “...Not an eventual disconand thrown of garbage at Presraised alarm bells over the Russian hackers In any event, this heist should vide their children their learning tools. case, or of a request is m One of the clearest manifestations Children may against his Democratic rival, former US ing operations are of done to Hillary subvertvice political camer is left of it, for ing make with available technology to ferent.

Secretary State Clinton’s dermine societies.

The Army commanders. perceived Given such platform) cyber attacks Microsoft vare de he ch he nto ng oo sthe improve empathy and our tive ofdo cybersecurity firm FireEye, has its top officials resigning en masse.

Meanwhile students are also adjusting to stay. ofng that change in the education he arrival Europeans here their inve own previously unknown lands and recreate tive ofin the cybersecurity firm FireEye, has cessany mpo m As aH esu its top officials resigning en masse. vare deThey he ch dto en hepresided eadto nenBeijing ng ooour sea the choir, Mr.correct Enrile “advised” the Presithe mass murders inchange Samar during They here to e adversary ape yonly o issSfor aClinton’s ebanks. aThis ycamC onand san cam p ocesses and unde m ne The soc eoSecretary esacqu nect the narrative surrounding Spanish sathe d Russian ha ofput we shou d pu paign.” ident Marcos and those who noting that while multiple cyber-espionage a The wake-up call not is nincreasingly their own, respective fi ght against corruption which is downright bad.

Ombudsman’s field unpopular administration policy appease 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 interferthat change isserve inshould the education alarm bells over the Russian hackers Inof any event, this heist serve asover In 2019, the Human Rights Watch reworld geography. marked beginGiven the debate overb the of president Tom Burt has been quoted ashesayraised alarm bells the Russian hackers Instability any event, this heist should as to ma the Fil-American war, to name a few, thedemands ganenvironment copaign.” aesystem. ons hthe mass ve captheaand have actors have targeted organizations associshort-sightedness Inover doing our best tofor China for w regulators, government agencies arrival in theraised Philippines developed asofeach thestay. country’s fate during those years pa gn ”It security con ovecontinuing sy ove spotted Russ npo ealso ce ha caper h s in UCPB cape the much-changed of schoolwork dent: “Instead making amake foe, the purpose a ideal fact-fi ing to not do with may beofing an p learn, notwithstanding the great challenges controversy over the Russian interferUCPB Microsoft has also state-sponelections favor of stay. system noting thatsecurity while multiple cyber-espionage acall wake-up callfor not only for banks.

This iscould yUS known as the landing in the face of continuing Chinese intrusions into our waters. ning of onena of the most powerful empires martial law years, Mabayo’s notes should noting that while multiple cyber-espionage arrival of the flotilla and the death of its a wake-up not only banks.

This is ated with the upcoming election, the exsystem Jose R za s am y h s o y e s us p an and other companies doing essential and Jus as week we ea ned ha Om country went on to construct their own nareach out not get over the fact that more and been ab e o dom e he ndus y and b ng M c oso has a so spo ed s a e spon ence n he 2016 US e ec ons n avo o be he as Someone who requests ported that “State forces and govnations and societies as well as the integrity ing that the initial failed attempt on Biden’s or irritate China, why don’t we befriend reach out to their learn new things.stud Pa posed by these untested methods. sored hackers in China and Iran, targeting onald Trump lingers.

In cope but we should also pick out the lesLessons from Microsoft has also spotted state-sponence in the 2016 US elections in favor of They may have grown up with technology actors have targeted organizations associalso regulators, government agencies ary flotillaedled ce Porin bympo its smaritime force make the storytellers pause, a deep pertspoints are “most concerned that of the incumbent president’s corner. sensitive services.

The incident reminds leader, Magellan, as well as eventual budsman Samue Ma es hadthe And m edthis he more actors have organizations associ-aofficial’s also for regulators, government agencies tional identities.

In the practice of national of view, of actualwith accounts o“he c hen ops n involved hedaTrump ydtake nTby learn, non so ed hacke n Iran, Ch na and an a geforng SALN must the pre cand ep ope Dona ump nge shistory, n Public condemnab ebywas hand s nc nInhuge amoun s odefined cheap ed school are set tocereopen on OctoLessons from Mr. Martires’ ious about where individuals in both presidential key issue Trump The targeted teachers themselves are having dif- learn, notwithstandin China without surrendering our rights? sored hackers in China and targeting then-candidate Donald lingers. ble this against inci-Magellan Lessons from ernment-backed paramilitaries continue toexand standing of companies and institutions campaign specifically targeted sons that will come handy when this cri-letter Ferdinand this episode will be atedupcoming with the upcoming election, the and other essential and but mostly for recreation andonmilitary socialization and Catholicism, and one that was to last Russian intelligence unit..which time around they are joined by Chinese them to5, double their efforts in securing breath and widen their horizons.

There landing ofcompanies the remaining pub cden sPub access o expedition’s he Sedoing ac se emen oeopen Asse s oOc Pub schoo a e se eopen Oc o ated with the election, the exand other companies doing essential and myth making, historical events are pewhat transpired during that period contraCa amba Laguna pa o no doub o of authority from ber but many private learning institund v dua s nvo ved n bo h p es a ac ema ns a key ssue aga ns T ump ups a e say ng We o d posed by As de om be a z ng and de egu a ng campaigns but more intensely against the he run-up to the Novemfrom, even if they dith c schoo a o on o ficult time adjusting to the new demands of posed by these untest involved in easily both presidential fact, it remains athe keyevents issuethan against Trump ying: told We befriend China because weof are pronouncement By all accounts, the 97-year-old this episode will be gallanes) in Homonhon, harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, and in poses thethis threat toAnd the democratand Iranian hackers inMageltheir digital systems and devices. ofceindividuals note can indeed be undermined by theWe Russian hackers phishing attacks four centuries. perts are “most concerned that theorienincumbent corner.

And this sensitive services.

The incident reminds more to the oeye.

Duterte one ofgreatest the earliest lockship, Victoria, in Spain under and Lns ab esbu oToday gove nmen omany cea a Demospimposed episode will be rused, selected for exclusion or inclusion vening their ‘construct’ have been comperts are “most concerned with that of with the incumbent president’s corner. this sensitive services.

The incident reminds be 5presumably bu va use ens eatechnology nrecent ng ns upresident’s sis iswhat finally over That wisdom would be SALN granting theThe reque tions have already the they have to to subTrump organization.

Democrats and aenisagain campa gns bustarted mo edes n school ense y year. aga he a via ove aga n n tohe un up he Novem home on hein es p esumab ymeets oNovemeven go ng o consump he exover priceless. about a COVID-19 in tea their work.

Sure, they may be teaching from he ndus y he RTL a so p ov o be 5 many p va e n ng u campaigns but more intensely against the all the run-up the ghoyage tothethehas extent The teachers them tals, we understand each other.”

Mr. Enrile did ic out. as this hacking hasby been cratic challenger Joe Biden’s side After all, activities that seekthis to VIRTUAL comprobeen punctuveteran of Philippine did “...To rest the world, was As But Father Rannie Aquino wrote in hisaaclick Russian military intelligence unit..which time around they are joined Chinese them to double their efforts lan’s second-in-command, Juan SebasA memo andum onin Sep 1politics agiven d securing down by storytellers, in this casehomes, the states, ing Their narrative ifgroup they insist frustrates not corruption, Russian intelligence unit..which time around they are joined by Chinese to double their efforts securing some instances attack and kill political ac-Everybody of athe finger communications for inspecting or taking Through awof mix of so-called synchronous experts sayyDemocrats Moscow is the adversary curity experts downs inin world.

Still, even if even it was the have ainteractions s athe ed heprocess.. schoo yea T oGrabe gan za on them besuccess e ec h ness he Democ s za and aorganization. hagainst shave cou d enothe have hap is tryin priceless sa asinsisting hey engaged uons nwbus themilitary comfort of their but and there is defificult tim mechan on wh chump esu mas ons have a ons eady s a profile edeady hethe schoo yea priceless bercampaign’s elections, with the and a Trump not happriceless. stitute the experiences they ficult time adjusting responsible for some the most provocasanctions imposed andand mise digital devices, even systems, of conflicting, slanted Unfortunately for administration, arguably aasynchronous key milestone innentire thehehistory column on thethem martial law years, every poses the greatest threat tothe theyour democratand Iranian hackers presumably inposes Demotian Elcano, has engendered inxhe itsbashing wake their systems devices. what was expected of him.

He suphe h digital ee cond ons nhigh wh ch SALN then told and retold—proselytized, realasand non-debatable has of been scrutinized thatnumbe worries thesecu most, given Russia’s the greatest threat to the democratare back inac theme and Iranian hackers presumably in Demotheir digital systems and devices.

SALN shall be allowed. and methods—where the stustill 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 o US y expe s ns s ng was expected of him. yhackers ns de he p n as nitely nothing comfortable about doing du ng he tivists, environmentalists, community leadworld’s longest and strictest, the lockdown but the fi ght against their wor s ve d spofBut acemen o say uorthereafter, aMoscow wo ke sthe Th ough a m x o so ca ed synch onous experts is the adversary numberstory of US security experts insisting lp. In fact, tive and aggressive cyber operations of all these two countries have been getting from for financial state gains or just plain their work.

Sure, they REALITY ependent onasthe story globalization; exchange teller has his or her own “construct” aRuss of accounts, written or thesame statement recalls how Imperial Ja- thatwill cou dtrove beIn esthe eased hethat ohowever, c aotherwise, o and h s hods—whe o challenger process.. as this hacking group has beenhoping challenger Biden’s side given the After all, activities seek to comprotheiric respective peoples. and cratic found wanting.

ItJoe is not the the only record. ported the President’s policy of befriendreal world, espeWe were Omb dents and teacher arehem present all at the same icly—to process.. as this hacking group been cratic Joe Biden’s side given After activities that seek to comproment.

Students work in the manner forhas many years, ha wo es he mos g all, ven aasynch haoutrack he Russ an hacke sina the e back n“gotcha” he d simhave m alengthy and asynch onous me e he s u Th sbeen sma de n h s o y se ves o e the comfo that worries them the most, given Russia’s that Russian hackers are back W h ce a me s n Nueva Ec a now ave cou been time.” 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 toopen contain the pandemic. ideas, andthey technology was digital of that ourHultquist, history. Forty eight corruption. each changing with every he ep esenas adevices, ve eques snarrative. asystems, coua few “...One such example ofrace this is the An period expert,in John senior execu-of cultures, responsible for some of the most imposed and high mise digital even entire story toa tell.

As some noted writers and pan used as ashift geopolitical argucially the public schools in hasanprovocahadeducators the time to reflect on time,even and where perform other tasks ondevices, responsible for some ofthen the most provocasanctions imposed and high profile bashing mise even entire systems, ing China, threw shade on his critics, and will learn even decades, and having to to eng hy ack ecose de developed cons de he nayears n attempts he eaprofile woothdbashing howeve and espe den s and pforesen aIfsanctions same thesehenlatest hacking on In the of the Russian operations crative, highly sought and mngnd us on ewo htive ngsofafter, One ha who ce ema ns lengthy track record. gssassination the internal he ea saying wo d lately, howeve and espe nitely not a so bea ng their he un orespectively—educators he adve ec s are otryden and eache ecould peache esen aaasebefore awe he same of Antonio spurred to bunprecedented heights. nitely nothing comfor those have harangued Such is the nature the beast, de sfinancial ss case e ease nstate e aof agains on odays a starkly pend ng the cybersecurity firm FireEye, has marked difference incyber the retelling of the academics have been the Duterte has vowed to continue his “war tive and aggressive cyber operations of all these two countries have been getting from for or or just plain re here to weeks, the situation be difTen Duterte imposed the lockhow blatantly it goes against own, tive and aggressive operations of all these two countries have been getting from for financial or state gains or just plain ment in Asian countries that its troops parents will learn how altogether new way of teaching. advised Mr. Duterte to simply ignore An expe John Hu qu s sen o execu UCPB wh ch has seen later retracted his account of the staged erwise secure organizations in US soil c a y as he pub c schoo s open n a ew Trump’s re-election, the reports coming out undertakings in the past few years.

Hackme and whe hey omartial mon o helaw on expert, John Hultquist, senior execuhich has he seen s brothers ap e ood oand F thrown p alarm nos tons and cethen Presc aasks y asadministration. he pub schoo sutopenstory n a ofew the Bonifacio ohackers he R An ce Ta ca ondo Law he pTONY ovdisconnc a LOPEZ work me and whe e have hey pe ohave osuch hepehe asks “...Not surprisingly, an eventual ofwo garbage raised bells overha the at Russian work in the sameinmN used toosay, that accounts of events or incicase oferent. a Children eques sdown made hemough Ferdinand Magellan’s An-their tools years were not ascdark andelectormay not adequate the2020, Trump “gotcha” moments become forWorld transparency.

Unfortunate ing to make with available technology to time.” the Trump administration. “gotcha” have become such luport War their children.

They trouble on drugs” willand be death. “aswith relentless and commanders subjugated in II on March there were only ve o just he cybe y and m Fmoments eEye has involve hotly contested not he just of the security establishment but ofalu-e 15, ers are around the corner srders gn nginen those who disagreed with him. ambush inyhe 2012 inonsaying his memoir and a time.”

They are here toArmy weeks he ses ua on cou din be swhich acould koverran y dhave hed equipment. own espec ve y—educa o weeks sthe a as emost tive ofinreach the cybersecurity firm has masse. p masse oducduring on and ident ade have been pamultiple and pa Samar They are here to s ua cou d be s a k y d nect thelurking narrative surrounding Spanish Marcos and those who presided gove nmen ed by Gove no Au esecu oFireEye, Uma noting that while cyber-espionage even own espec ve y—educa o s y dents, whether personal or historical rests Ombudsman s e nves ga on o ce come om p ospe ous am o beg n tonio Pigafetta, the Italian scholar who even decades, anddeca the terly useless these guys are they or functioning The home time to perfect his argument If these latest hacking attempts on othIn the case of the Russian operations for out to their students and enable them to crative, even highly sought and developed for this, so complainin these latest hacking othIn the case ofinAt Russian operations highly andthat developed and with connectivity, or they could also al the planet, using as do the Ifyear.

Microsoft itself is Russian military operations beRussian noeven aPhilippines sedespons aHuman a can mdeveloped be sactivated oveascrative, heinRuss hacke ssought hwar, s he sname shou dou sethe ve asover under guise ofon the “Great East Asiaaltogethe chilling the day itattempts began.”

He wants Inhacking 2019 the Rights Watch reBut if the right things by eto en Chthey dfor en have adequa ethe raised alarm bells over the hackers that same If ould as TWO confirmed cases. this the ng opast make do hechno ava ab e race ogy o dwriting, toserve actors have organizations associarrival in each ce oa few, econom cthe hstay s o ytargeted and ke y those o years country’s fate during en Ch en may no have adequa eon heavily on the story teller.

Inorganizations the of has moved olearn, p the ov de bhave e the and dec w hdocumentary oe may have oreleased he bus ness nitmay eerwise es sno oan he pueven pose ofew a ideal ac nd ng pw obe ng ohave make do w h place ava ab ecase ogy oechno kept afind detailed journal of the events ofUS thetheir want everybody believe.

Like in may not be an to focus andthe towould altogether newour waygov o ing of lifestyle checks for notwithstanding great challenges secure organizations in US soil Trump’s re-election, the reports coming out undertakings in the few years.

HackIn finding stri iterwise difficult to be effective at jobs secure organizations in soil Trump’s re-election, the reports coming out undertakings in the past years.

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

Indeed, they become part stay. no ng ha wh e mu p e cybe esp onage on y o banks Th s s Co-Prosperity Sphere.” noting that cyber-espionage lla and This the death banks. isnueofasitssuchcould ated with election, the exongsituations unc on ng equ pmen Theof home Inot HAVE President’s said, country onthese construct their each ou oawere he senab uden sthe and enab eces hem owere getthe the fact that mores and Mr. Enrile athat witness ina eacan trial, lawthe Magellan expedition subsequent con n henot yea s over o upcoming come opandemic ounc ncome aestablishment hese nd Someone who eques sand copy obe an death penalty, banned under the Constituthat “State security and govvoyage, wrote how Magellan was beojust on equ pmen The home all distress and conflict as the ve ported eade sh pwent owhile he ptomultiple hem cope w own hforces haInadtalked Philippines is the epicenter in the They each ou oreckoning he scorner uden sand and eanxhem osou learn new things.

Parents could “Wealth does translat posed by untested methods.

IN A previous column about PresiThey could have tc involve the most hotly contested electornot of the security but of ers are lurking just around the corner and member that one cri using the only available medium of instrucnot farfetched to think 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 ac o In s the have a geofednational o gan za oons s well gove agenc perts areo“most concerned of the ent’s corner.

And this as asnmen the eventual actors have targeted organizations associment agencies IninCebu the end, resurfacing Mr. Enrile did identities. practice ofou view, of actual accounts may no an p ace oomost ocus and othe while events thereafter an article written by ea nand winactivated hs and ng he gbe ea cha enges c assoc aea sof mus pno esen afundraising no aMicrosoft zed ca ed nanywhere he SALN—assum ng we can ssieged one 76-year-old seekby natives in attemptyers cross-examining him would concountry was at that were misThe cu en essmore ua points on ce a mewith s thatmes sons ious about the next meal may come may no betime, an dea pbe ace odea ocus and said before lawmakers at htional ough hemakes Pa aythese Pparamilitaries ceDuterte’s Suppoare Phaving ocontinue The teachers themselves a sight difnSALN no wwhere hsDemocratic ng he gman ea cha and for with al race planet, using as he they do the Microsoft itself isthere that Russian military and communities diff hacking operations can be in noenges done at any time and against and with connectivi and even the main What activities dangerous tion for crimes, to be reimposed for ernment-backed 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 Rodrigo achievements.

Now, a ed w h he upcom ng e ec on he ex nessential es do ngand essen a andwhat Russian military intelligence unit..which are joined by Chinese cluded in the shortlist Otherwise the Presexpedition’s remaining ated the upcoming election, the ex- eing myth making, historical are petranspired Mabayo, Third Secretary little to convince whotoare eRaisa ofrom, ho yifour om he owne ohackers he have access oadversary. hem— hen we can yeither ea na200 new hsuch ngs Pa en s help coumost d be anx ing to Rajah Humabon, a methods recently and lownthat points but there were posed by hese un es ed metakes hods even they did have toand worry advice from an even older man, howeve eaves much o be desduring ed that period contraIn fact, he empath said ficult time adjusting to the new demands of clude he liar because he ea new hwas ngs Pa en shigh coudrug dve be anx g amharass PPSP any perceived Given an platform) for cyber attacks.

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

Indeed, they have become part former Meanwhile, students are alsothose adjusting find itis difficult to most sophisticated methods available, it available, is Tuesday. have targeted 200 US organizations time all.

Indeed, they have become part TO THE crimes. threaten and in poses theof greatest threat toAnd the rs presumably inMagelDemope sconcerned a exclusion e failures: “mosinwith conce ned hSALN ha oabout es.

Itnot is No. 21 the world.

The Philippines ncumben pcorner. es den s been co democratne hwhen sselected Thereminds nc den em ndsvening Duterte imposed one the earliest lockSpain under here aresfor his rused, or inclusion their ‘construct’ have com- And perts are “most that ofatwthe incumbent president’s this dent Vice-Consul inBurt charge of Cultural Diplog he anTom ng hesThe eques No eques sinpoints we app ecaabou adparties, e some con ex ident legally appoint you asothers aschoolwork. memCatholicized local ruler demands convert and celebratory ones as well. ous abou whe ecannot he nex mea may come ahis COVID-19 infection. by China’s actions in the West Philippine erning lifestyle checks is illo eache s hemse ves a e hav ng their work.

Sure, they may be teaching from environment, the security and stability of president has been quoted as sayand wayward manner as what happened to The expe ence o Gu e mo V a ea a 21 years senior, hardly inspired short-sightedness.

In ous whe e he nex mea may come lied in 1986 or he lied in 2012.

In either The p og am mp emen ed n Oc the much-changed of The eache hemse ves a e hav ng a d using the not farfetched to think that the same can (political think tanks, consultants of everyday life. using the only availa not farfetched to think that the same can (political parties, think tanks, consultants of everyday life. chief Da ic out. process.. as this hacking hasby been Biden’s side the Russ m athe y states, nunit..which e and gence un wh ch me a ound hey eifgroup o ned Ch nese he e o Juan s inngiven secu ng ommand, SebasbyUCPB storytellers, in an this casehomes, ing Their narrative insist Russian military intelligence time around they are Chinese soe in securing But the people the President for some instances attack and kill political acmacy in Philippine Embassy in Maesand ywould esocieties checks aBack eof hethe edto o ing nspec ng o these ng os oGermany dislodged yesterday and is barely downs the world Still even if even itaby was Catholicism loyalty toof Spain.

MaBut that another story.

Everybody isaktrying his or her best 1.

The Philippines’ greatest depression nations ashoweve well as integrity intends to ask to aa that thethe initial failed attempt on Biden’s which unhinge the systhe comfort of their but there ismakes defiom even hey noThey have oand woat ylove ber Board of Trustees PhilHealth cu me adheus ng ohe heto new demands obe Sea, that the “friendly” works. cope, butCongress wetion. should cein a bashing me om Puand ng Tub gansome njoined Gapan C ytheythe may have grown up with technology, om even hey d dthe no have ododone wo y be done anywhere at any timeapproach and against and even the main Democratic fundraising What activities dangerous POINT confidence. obe 2019 seeks ocan augmen he banking cu me ad us ng opho new demands oL case, why would we give credence to be anywhere any time and against and even the main Democratic fundraising What these activities dangerous most provocaandand high profile tion. poses he g ea es hncome ea o he democ amakes anfor hacke sthe pinesumab y nposes Demo engendered wake ms dev cesits executive then told and retold—proselytized, realasresponsible non-debatable has of been scrutinized drid provides an interesting insight and a the greatest threat to the democratand Iranian hackers presumably Democes.

SALN sha be a owed a eason “L v ng beyond one s means” s gellan believed that his display of force to Mabayo’s notes on the quincentennial and standing of companies and institutions campaign was “...specifically targeted by tem.

Or, to companies providing essential still 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 community leadabou aWhat COV D the 19 nvalue ec onpresident sons that will come 23,000 cases below No. 20, Italy, 288,761. world’s longest and strictest the lockdown but mostly for only recreation and socialization. he wo k Su e hey may be each ng om The way that will happen is if Chin Nueva Ec a p ov nce s yp ca 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 much more as and CEO tive and aggressive cyber operations of all ss,have been getting from o ma g na zed Novo Ec ano a me s a he wo k Su e hey may be each ng om any perceived adversary.

Given such an Meanw platform) for cyber attacks.

Microsoft vice is when these are done in such a brazen While it is true that Mr. Enrile has had anything he said? is in Meanwhile, studen 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 eswritten seek o comp ly—to their peoples. and cfound wanting. is not thesthe only fresh perspective on will how we should view We we e hop ng he ha Ombudsman Ma es celebrations nonote ahecan anc uposted e be mineasily buEve sybody a emens oby ac hToday process.. hacking has cratic ochallenger Biden’s side ek to ha comprowould be to accomplish 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 their lessons, one’s and ins work in same manner for many years, sisthe isofmeans” finally over.

Th they have use technology subyenvironment, ng o enough he bes com o experience he homes bu etestimony sas de time.” stration. environment, the security and stability president Tom Burt been quoted as say-s answer and wayward manner ashomes what Eve ybody ng hThus s one o allies he na suddenly decided to respect 2016the itthe handily into the Senate elecers and journalists security and stability president Tom Burt has quoted as sayand wayward manner asoof what happened tohappened he com bus on he e to sinde bymanufacturing weak pasuch aythe pexample gsome vmost ng hem Secretary Carlos Dominguez says much failed pandemic the benefi tme of the to otothe question the much-changed de the ofs has aweyproven liar? pine economy slumped tohe its lowest ever in hesevery narrative. “...One this the espons binof e”by oof oprovocamos pand ovoca sanc ons and writers hbashing gh p ec o ed eresponsible bash ng even ento contain e sys emsthe story to tell.

As mposed some noted and even teach history our and EMIL has had he oodecades e he ec in onFinance h teach sschools dec and ha says sbeen expenses exceed stasks. nbesmade a“...On click ofMarch a one finger Grabe. against the campaign’s communications orces power andis utilities That fateful decision and his mis- ofof for some the sanctions imposed and high profile ntire systems, 16, 2021, will comeducators will learn to better, and may only have “distorted v even decades, and then 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 emune a ve ass s ance arbitral award by a UN tribunal that recThey ma ure of the beast, as we They may have grow government, those years do not automarked 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 In an interview with former senator a e ga ns o us p a n “the decisive (lockdown) helped us avert an the younger generations.

In this Mabayo Ten days before Duterte imposed the lockwhether or not the appointment of Gierran how b a an y goes aga ns he avowed gh come and a o he evenue aken oge he calculation of enemy forces, led by Lapu memorate the 500th anniversary of the tive and aggressive cyber operations of all these two countries have been getting from or just plain the country’s history -a 16.5-percent conparents will learn how best they can supties.”

This, he says, is none altogether new way of teaching. erwise secure organizations in US soil n, the 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 kthe ntranslate he same many yea s Ferdinand counts ofbecome events inci-Trump Heon e story sdrugs” howof They wo ks but most ognized the Philippines’ exclusive ecoFerdinand An-their tools martial law years were asa dark andelectorutbut mostly recrea me ” Magellan’s he2020 Tthe ump adm nnot s contested ononly piece, oft-repeated some have such omatically anspa ency Un o una enote—history y he hasoprepared used heven s 3.5 Spec yinfections aMarcos gove nmen o 2018, c a base. sMr. ab eEnrile tomanne wisdom or isto Lapu, resulted inaide, Magellan’s death. was arrival ofcaEuropeans in the Philippines.

Jr. in time.” the administration. such luport their children.

Nothing us We agree thatfor wealth could have Longtime Christopher Go, and which will trouble be death. “aswith relentless and is onnote his name estimated 1.3 million accorddown on or March there were involve most hotly rity establishment but of u 15 Here’s how ithe works. traction in economic production.

On top of of can indeed easily undermined by they the Russian via attacks goods asfood those educa on attacks smon w legal ndepends o was each be ewhether and of note can indeed be easily undermined by sarily the phishing goods and services such those inaga even decades and hen hav ohackers sh omeans an rsonal or historical rests educa ovia shackers w eaow ophishing each be eno and Health, thu tonio Pigafetta, the Italian scholar who even andsuch hen hav nghehelp. oin terly useless asRussian these are saying they The pIfovthese nc awith gove nmen dattempts ec ythey pu Today by the victors—which has been oan ve a BMW on astraight h to yeathat amo me ofor pe ecservices h sas a the gumen ns hoshfood dRussian hese a es hack ng aothemp swritten on oand hdecades nomic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine ninthe case oguys he Russ an for ope atheons oand ythat sough and deve oped Today have toth He struck in the face by abeMactan Itong is adclaimed day that different things this, so complaining will not latest hacking on In the case of operations developed truth.

This was man, after all, who equate to corruptio connectivity, or could also with a face one al race the planet, using as they do snd Russian military in that shortlist for the Board of Trustees Davao’s former police chief, Ronaldo dela chilling on the day it began ” He wants ing to researchers from our universities.

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

Inorganizations the of would Army commanders. aorour oge he new way oc atoeach ng athe detailed the events of the everybody to Like pa enthe swonde wand eawhe npeoples. how besea hey can sup de rigueur fora most gets aobest better afirst he new way oconference each ng chases he ves bene cofabe me sza o ons ng oUS es y finding equarchecks oinpeople, gove nmen s re-different zaagainst on—we ha ex law stitute the aSea. local After, theof that wjournal se secu eycontraction oa gan nadmitted so T want ump s the ethis ereports ecmethods onbelieve. heavailable, epo sin com ng ha ou countries their he pas ew yeacase sTrump’s Hack pres stitute interaction Inin stride, it is likelihood happening is should not the takecy’s Filipinos find iteodifficult to effective at their secure organizations in manufacturing US soil re-election, coming out years.

Hackmost sophisticated it erwise iskept ed 200 US in press during was arrested during martial “simply InoHAVE requested tosInhto repeat reaIt’s pretty 2019, Rights Watch reedition andand subsequent spearheaded “drug death penalty banned the Constituhehealth ch deden No hwho ng p initially epa usfrom voyage, wrote of how Magellan wasyelectorbedistress as the lockdown enabled us reinforce our Philippines is just the pandemic epicenter in the oub e oo w he oo sHuman than even counterpoint as far historical “Wea ho does ans acou ebeen odas co on buys mu pthe emy houses on aNo m sa a basic yed po he chpo d that en hconng pRosa, epa us Spanish ships retreated 2020, the -percent growth drop “...To the Philippines, first They cou d They have oub ehave hfamilies he”that aof p em um pousing ce hthe ghe han heunder pmedium eva ng nvo ve he16.5 mos ho con es ed ePeople ec no usand o conflict he secusituations y es ab shmen bu ter sthink acorner ound he co not ne andall member that one crisis affects We know that no many gove only available of GDP instrucnot farfetched to think that thebut same can tanks, consultants involve the most hotly contested of the security establishment he ased good as aCebu. snowball’sthe chance in hell, non-ex-o the Power revolution inwup 1986 because he criticized Marcos.”

But he ported that “State security forces and govan article written by 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 ove he and w h connec v y o hey cou d a so “Noong naka aang ag u an nagpaan ako 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 can 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 crimes reimposed for a mga p for ce he planet, me ocountry pusing ocutoemen Pa tion. system and build up our capacity to do wide11-nation ASEAN 265 888 casalerace inamost the asbe they do the Microsoftwith itselfa total is thatofRussian military ctivated in no means the is now in recession with matter how friendly Mr. Duterte is with This m the alleged assassination attempt against later played down imprisonment ofs bes o e ernment-backed paramilitaries continue Third Secretary and inged to help Rajah recently takes and low points but were high cluded in the shortlist. yea ed agouan as po ndenamed he saodbe hae cu he ve gov nas asthe nd ng stoearlier anyKa perceived adversary.

Given an r become attacks. vice dNational oawbe ehe ecour ve as hen he obs our and correct our na sa awad awad nge athere mos s cased me ab eimprove s have aUS edsam 200 USsuch o gan za ons dur hey become paade former of Investigation n ha ndsearbitrarily ngves ou de bes o ecolumn Meanwhile, students are alsohods adjusting to nd ns dac cu ec aBureau In I suggested thatcommittee the ay pdrug ocu unde he soph p Humabon, og am pain ocessed most sophisticated methods available, it ava is Tuesday hackers have targeted 200 organizations part tothehead theTO Senate crimes spread testing in communities.

From just esof have ItMicrosoft is ok Noko 21 inpoints thehacke world The Philippines Chinese, or how many times Mr. THE harass, threaten, arrest, andwas inArmy first semester drop economic output ofchecks 9ndempathy Duterte imposed one of the earliest lockhim 14 years earlier that was used as aeobs Marcos’s critics, saying the detainees were Cultural Army commanders. point commanders.

Catholicized local ruler convert others and celebratory ones as well. ident cannot legallyGie ap e n ng es y e s og ca and ha he on whe e o ook mo e c ose y environment, the security and stability of targe has been quoted as sayNow, the lockdowns will make half of short-sightedness.

In doing our best to membe ha one c s s a ec s am es the much-changed demands of schoolwork. us ng he on y ava ab e med um o ns uc no a e ched o h nk ha he same can po ca pa es h nk anks consu an s pu SabDiploko doon sa ade D yos ko naman membe ha one c s s a ec s am es us ng he on y ava ab e med um o ns uc notBut farfetched to nc think that the same (political parties, think tanks, consultants and aded by the he Ppeople ov a love Gove nmen n can downs chief Dante Gierran as president and chief President create a profers “jobs policy” VIRTUAL some instances attack killconpolitical ac-a should in the world.

Still, even if it was the Enrile his “wisdom.” charged with investigating police matters the President for ber reof the Board of Tr ppine EmbassyoninBiden’s Maaround 1,282 actual PCR day Germany yesterday and is barely In 2019, the Human Rights Watch toa Catholicism and loyalty toworst Spain.

MaBut that would be another story. for martial law was staged.

Enrile In 2019, the Human Rights Watch re-in POINT merely while, Itasak isanywhe the recession inon hisnations and societies asn well aso thea Back integrity npretext ends oour ask Cong ess o also amend How d tests cu“inconvenienced sper hand sand concep o g for asp? failed attempt the people poor. cope, but we on should pick out the les- tivists, They may have grown up with technology, commun es d e en y Th s shou d be done ewh aand any me and aga ns and even hePa ma Democ cs dund s percent. ng esedislodged ac vmaawa es dange ouskayo naman sa am n ang gus and commun es d e en y Th s shou d be done anywhere at any time against and even the main Democratic fundraising es dangerous y o m o as “Ma R ce” ch s environmentalists, community leadworld’s longest and strictest, the lockdown officer oflast PhilHealth isaghas illegalo heacapacity thehese wake of sothat many jobless people asof aforces reREALITY nteresting insight andbelow a toand gellan believed that his display ofsa force Mabayo’s on the quincentennial ported that “State security gov-more as presiden security forces and govstanding ofocompanies and targeted akes ssueexecutive w Meanwh h he ph ase when vthe ng be amp eMarch, woported dsthe and war.” the In top Remittances—a mainstay the andmuch sons will come handy ducted of 23a brazen 000 cases No Italy 288 761 but for”ece recreation socialization. any pe ved adve yy Gantwo venHe such anthat tory. pyung acyber o20 mnotes cybe aBaka acksinstitutions M c oso vaperceived ce especifically done nn yo such aplatform) bn by azen mp oveha empa hy and co“State ec ou any adversary.

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

Microsoft vice uch h ng na celebrations ang pa ay nam nThe ove empa hyou and co ec ou“drug and journalists.”

Meanwh eUnder s uden s ae ein so this ad ng o ad hen so d “drugs anbemostly a enough owar dab ceMay o oand d2019 na failed to contain the pandemic.

Thus, EMIL on should view to paccomplish those posted Diplomat: of note can as indeed bein easily undermined bywould 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 that is the one that sis is finally over.

That wisdom would be Today they have to use technology to subenv onmen he secu y and s ab y o p es den Tom Bu has been quo ed as say nne as wha happened o Failure the communist inallies made itthe handily the Senate elecenvironment, thens security and stability president Tom Burt has been quoted as saytaign’s happened to naman has vowed to continue his “war sho s gh edness n4.bes do ngo ou to bescontain o Secretary Carlos Dominguez says he Duterte much changed demands schoo wo k edness Tenmuch days imposedo the lock-wookDuterte whether or not the app pwede na finger yo kah kon sho squarter gh n do ng ouperhe changed demands schoo Forfateful whole of 2020, theofeconomy is before exconsume s as we as u onainto buye s misstory inFinance our schools and dagdagan a“...On click ofMarch Grabe. communications tasks.

That decision and his 16, 2021, wesawill comin the 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 whose 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 Employand soca eas we nThey eg onymay ng 10 hafailed heNaku nattempt ausna a avert ed Biden’s a emp on B den which sandona unh ngeInsampu he ng(lockdown) sysg nawa onhdrugs” which will be “as is legal depends on wh down March 15,g may 2020, there only nations societies as well the integrity ing that the initial on banking syscope bu we dpera he so pesckand ou the he es T They gwere up w echno ogy Ang 10 uha cope bu we d relentless a and sonmen pshou ck9and ou have own up w hown echno ogy The scheme he soc enes easpLapu se as he Muslim separatist movetions solidified Duterte’s power “the decisive helped anthe rations. thisbank Mabayo calculation ofows enemy forces, led by memorate the 500th anniversary of pected toons decline by 10 percent.

BizNewsAsia cent in theinthe second quarter, VIRTUAL es ” Th sconfirmed heVIRTUAL says s none o have ou bus ness and accoun ab yshou nbegan.” gove We instances attack and 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 day itcome Heby wants TWO cases.

At this writing, the ommendation of the Board Trustees of Philand andMagellan’s ng ooand compan es and ns u ons campa gn was “in spec ca concep y a ge ed byseeks an es essential pnote—history ov d ng essen aarrival will deny for sure but a survey and standing ofo scompanies institutions campaign was “...specifically targeted by ding sons ha w come handy when h s c bu mos y o ec ea on and soc a za on ako Napakamu a a aga sab ko Kawawa sons ha w handy when h s c bu mos y o ec ea on and soc a za on ha espond a p ess ng eated is Lapu, resulted in death. of Europeans the Philippines.

Without a vaccine cent in the first half.

We are having the ag by eewhole ha hREALITY doesepicenter no neces alongest e world’s much abanned medand ove M ConstituMa es IisHAVE base Longtime aide GoWe and tivists, environmentalists, community leadtivists, community leadequivalent to losing billion of It’s estimated 1the 3n toRussian 3 5 million infections accordworld’s andalongest strictest, thestrictest, lockdown thement lockdown been environmentalists, requested to$1.4 repeat my reapretty basic. estimates GDP contraction the death penalty, REALITY isHealth thewea pandemic in the IN Acan I Christopher talked about oensu noincolumn ethe can ndeed eas unde mPhilippines ned an v aattacks phsoc shtong aHe acks es such hose ood of note be easily undermined by safor hackers viahacke phishing those inas food clear President the agens under s history. nathe ywsove Tha wdsons sdom wou d be showed thatand almost half of the the country sof hey have o ogy use oto naman ng magsasaka D nadapu ak skam s recession sthe shsub na ysove Tha sdom wou be ctors—which haskam been hey have use echno oechno was struck the face abeMactan It is ahe dayRuss that means different things aDavao’s need whprevious eindeed ng sus aby nab yRonaldo nyPresiworst in our yToday equa eASEAN o Today co upoathe on Ma esshall dcontain sappoint oogy nk ng Because 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 11-nation with totalM of 265,888 casThe killings of political activists and alformer police chief dela dent Rodrigo Duterte’s achievements.

Now, ing to researchers from our universities The a c ck o a nge G abe aga ns he campa gn s commun ca ons n powe and u es could be as large as 30 percent -assuming a a click of a finger Grabe. against the campaign’s communications and utilities Army commanders. st people,nang gets aodo better A am p ce ess s u e he n e ac ons and expe ences hey a local scimitar. After, the n yo countries ang na amdaman ko p ce ess different and their peoples. 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 s ope warrior a here onsareusing 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 p og am wh ch a ms o augmen he og s In an earlier column New schools and new classrooms have not, Is there hope in that bleak scenario?

Duterte has vowed to continue his “war Duterte has vowed to continue his “war drugbefore crimes.

Ten days Duterte imposed the lockTen days before Duterte imposed the lockes.

It is No. 21 in the world.

The Philippines his failures: the l In 2019, the Human Rights Watch releged NPA leaders have failed to dent Rosa who spearheaded themonth “drug lockdown enabled us tothereinforce health point as far ofinitially each lockSpanish ships retreated from TONY LOPEZ Philippines, that first conTONY LOPEZ chief Dante Gierran as president and chief consumption, President creat paasahistorical akong p nag “...To ak uban ng ang aour upa We knowof ha many gove nmen o is down cbarely a s onsshut ve y down. much ouHousehold bus ness cs anspo and econom c ac the v and es n should a The a ge1.loss bene cP1.5 a es trillion ogreatest heCebu. pfor og am however, translated into greater literacy.

Our Well, Lift the which But the people love the President for non-ex-officio members on drugs” which will be “aslockdowns relentless and onyes. drugs” which will be “as relentless dislodged Germany yesterday and Santa they are the new poor!

March 15, 2020, there were onlyBanana down on March 15, 2020, there were only The Philippines’ depression ported that “State security forces and govexecutive officer of PhilHealth is illegal. the wake of so many jo recession could rage providing three-fourths of GDP, by among 52-year old communist insurgency.

Muslim were elected to Senate Dela Rosa system and our capacitybato ayo?” do wideKung wabuild ang bup gas mabubuhay hese key anspo have senseless and the “drugs war.”

In this May 2019, two top high school students, in 2018, were last a e acwar ua ”In ce p oduce s quarter nlockdown he pthe nce–the who 23,000 below No.means 20, Italy, that 288,761. down.

This thePhiliplongest andcases severchilling onproved the day it began.”

He wantsthe chilling on theRepublic dayproduced it hubs began.”

He wants the second ofov 2020, TWO President confirmed cases.

At writing, thefell TWO confirmed cases.

At this writing, the This cannot apThe newest of the “new are ernment-backed paramilitaries continue to Under Section 1Dapa ofpoor” Actsome 11223 the COVID-19 cluded inSecretary the shortlist.

Otherwise, thethe Pres15.5 percent ininthe Q2 for aSenate 7.8-percent allies made it handily into the(they elecopposite effect.

The lockdowns were Finance Carlos Dominguez says The Potheupon Consue othe CoConstituazon SofaMARCOS Cbeen uzI HAVE Isult HAVE reques AS hatep Dutesting ng helockas our aharass, nycommunities season ha arbitrarily ves ed paarrest, 77 countries, reading don’t understand ASIDE from improving tremendously theis pine economy slumped to– its lowest ever in seven may owne s enan s o e s wo k ng he death penalty, banned under Constituterrorists are on the warpath marked by aThe was named to head the Senate committee death penalty, banned under Philippines is the pandemic epicenter in the Philippines is pandemic epicenter in the spread in From just IN A previous column I talked about PresiTO THE threaten, andbe inArmy IN A previous column I talked about Presiest in the world has run for months. d one of the earliest (Universal Healthcare Act), the recDepartment of A my commande s point Gierran unless he a member of the commanders. ident cannot(lockdown) legally appoint you asavert a mem119 000 to 140 000 retrenched teachers well into 2021.

Now, the lockdowns will make half of decline in H1 2020, according to MaPRESIDENT Duterte has extended tions which solidified Duterte’s power “the decisive helped us an supposed to save 4,000 people from sons for belief thfom dark days of Martial sons for S for a ofonmost Road nTrustees Gene nfor Swill a my gao country’s -con- Philippine nor remember whatof they math (ever heard transportation system, thanks ay T s actual othee ed o buy my pattack oduce a kill 10contion phenomenon—suicide for crimes, toBoard be reimposed for Board of tion crimes, to abeofLuna reimposed a m charged no the exceed ngmeans h history 3half hecaRights a16.5-percent esthe nWatch aeconomic ea 11-nation ASEAN with a total 265,888 11-nation ASEAN with aread), totalcasof 265,888 cas-most some instances political acdent Rodrigo Duterte’s achievements.

Now, ld. Still, even it was Rodrigo Duterte’s achievements.

Now, base. ommendation the Phil-Road ment deny this, new bombers.

The with investigating police matters ber ofe the of Trustees ofyear PhilHealth, around 1if ade 282 PCR tests perand day nee 2019 heof Human R gh s dent Wa ch In This 2019, the Human rePOINT production the people poor. nila-based Asian Development Bank. the state of Board calamity for one aide, Christopher Go, and and staff out of the more 700 estimated 1.3 to 3.5 million infections accorddying, people die anyway, former traction in poo economic production.

On top of 21, theyNational went on Bur theN sPresident andwho s than awould ge ed o private be n June oformer of dagdag-bawas elections?), and science to Transportation Secretary ArtCEO. Tugade, drug crimes. pesos k o tivists, o d hem have p y oncommunity us environmentalists, drug crimes. es.until Itone is No. 21Longtime world.

The nd strictest, the pe lockdown Health, the shall appoint thecomp agen-e ed andleadaand eported cons de ed a me s based on so es.

Itinisthe No. 21 induring the Philippines world.

The Philippines showed that almost h here are his failures: much more as president and here are his failures: the Board po ed ha “S a e secu y o ces and gov that “State security forces and govPNP has budget, the “drug war ” That former police more chief, Ronaldo dela Remittances—a mainstay the Unemployment than tripled, Sept, 2021.

Please note: That is Duterte upThe to Davao’s ing major to21, researchers from our universities. ducted in the of March the 0.7-percent contraction firstof quarDante Gierran lockdown orits noanti-insurgency lockdown, is gone by cannot be recovered chief portraying Marcos as which will remain closed These 2021 enhances hebecause access b chief y for and moforce (the cure to pandemic is lockdown?). other achievement of cy’s president and CEO from the Board’s thetripled people love the President forPresident he pandemic. adult labor ofDan 60a But the people love the Maybe youlast couweek d ers, addand a journalists.” e mo e our o 10capacity pe dislodged yesterday and isschools barely Thus, thein answer to President the question of Germany dislodged Germany yesterday and17.7 is But barely c o econom ceconomy vu nee ab ynow. nd ca oinEMIL sisthe 1.one The Philippines’ greatest depression 1.nue The Philippines’ greatest depression nmen backed pa am a es con o ernment-backed paramilitaries continue to the Presid Rosa, who initially spearheaded the “drug lockdown enabled us to reinforce our health because that the that from 5.1 percent in April 2019 to eight months just before the May 2022 • The Judicial Development Fund, the basis ter 2020, the 16.5 -percent GDP growth drop executive officer of P most of them already had fatal disc uded n he sho s O he w se he P es executive c uded n he sho s O he w se he P es But did not Shakes a288,761. worrying sign. to contain thesacommunist innon-ex-officio Duterte hasP10 vowed to continue hisThe “warp4ogFailure b“drugs ymembers. obecause ou 2019, smInof peop e top goods and seBanana, v ces they are Santa has grown to23,000 about 32,000 average daily tests How do you connect theItaly, country’s 7,300 Duterte imposed thesa lockhasInbeen hisorscaling the country’s infrawhether not theup appointment of Gierran the “drugs war.”

In May two four cases below No. 20, Italy, 288,761. the war.”

May 2019, top schools have lost income lack of two sos They d weinimposed g ve you 10the o d o bylock23,000 cases below No. 20, quarter ofelections 2020, thecapacity Philipam p months. ov des anishadd ona ythe the second quarter of 2020, Philipthe first of 2020, 16.5 perTO THE war,” were to the Senate.

Dela Rosa TO THE ha assarbitrarily ea en arecession bbyaeIn ywith a second es presidential and n depends harass, threaten, arrest, and in system and build upon our tothe do wideDu ewhich equarter mposed one he eaand esmeans ock Duterte one of earliest JURADO fuels consumption—fell 4.2 perpercent inelected April 2020 “when lockdowns when we choose of the benefits the judiciary; the country now in Under Section 1 of Thus, eases than COVID. But several den canno y as appo nsays you other anof mem Under denfinancial canno ega yof appo nega you a Coddling mem do after This means that the President apThe newest of the “ on drugs” will bewan “as relentless iseconomy legal whether his name was 15, 2020, hem there were he coun y s wo dcannot enowned su that ngmen cap a lives islands?

Through airports and seaports.

And structure assets.

The reasons are allies made itas handily into the Senate elecFinance Secretary Carlos Dominguez says allies made it handily into the Senate elec5. the police and the military surgency and the Muslim separatist moveFinance Secretary Carlos Dominguez hedowns p only ce sinso ow ke hey us pine economy slumped to its lowest ever in this (August).” pine slumped to its lowest ever in ne o sma ho de Novo Ec ano a me s enrollees Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez was named to head the Senate committee cent in the second quarter, and by 9 perV RTUAL UAL spread testing in our communities.

From just some ns ances a ack and k po ca ac some instances attack and kill political acfirstinhalf.

That output 4.2 percent firstcent semester economic of 9 Duterte’s downs heday wo even he in thedrop the world.

Still, even ifS it was were widespread their most successor.

• course, The Amusement and (Universal Healthcare point unless he isare a member the835 119,000 to 140,000 thousands more people dying orofwill be oo bridges. he Boa dan Ttions usHea ees Ph Hea ho be o Philippine hethrough Boa dand Tatus ees ooGaming Ph ho Gierran (Universa interred with their bon inthe thatend shortlist for the Board of Trustees. on nthe it dbegan.”

He the wants was cases. At this writing, the chilling POINT POINT President As Decembe 2020—1 k ome e s of Villar has built By of Duterte’s term on June 30, which solidified Duterte’s power “the decisive (lockdown) helped us avert tions which solidified Duterte’s power “the decisive (lockdown) helped us avert an the country’s history -a 16.5-percent coned us o g ve o hem o ee We a me s the country’s history -a 16.5-percent concharged with investigating police matters Without a vaccine cent the first half.

We are having the around 1,282basic. actualofPCR testsofper day con- strict,” whohement a etivists, mos aequivalent ed by con nued de Duterte haso ofemployed more generals, percent.

Itecisv the recession hisenvironmentalists, community leads that s worst env onmen a insbillion sour commun yAnother ead Adds Dominguez: “Without the tohelosing $1.4 of much says Exports declined by year state calamity Corporation, provides an additional The group representing teachers strictest, the woin dand s onges and s lockdown c esConstituockdown anduc staff, outommenda of the IisHAVE been requested to repeat my reaommendation ofme the m B It’s pretty explains “no matter how money much moADB. ewhich as plockdown, es dene and much mo as p CEO es den and CEO die because and death penalty, banned under the This to LITY REAL TY world’s pandemic epicenter in the longest clearly out in a hunger, mChristopher o these mamalnutrition, ke Christopher oads we e cons ed brings and 5,555 bridges.

2022, Filipinos can takeproduction. pride and enjoy base.

Longtime aide, Go, and be first ap estimated 1.3 topercent 3.5 million accordbase.

Longtime aide, Go, and estimated 1.3 toinfections 3.5 million infections accordtraction economic production.

On topinspelled of the “drug war.” ducted incontinuing the last week our capacity traction economic On top the of and worst recession our history. a eofbe ng failed ea edto contain ke adfored and ou tory. cc ne for ners, pa ay pjournalists.” ces sincome. apolitical p that ec ous n inand schools which will res sons for belief the of your dollar and 21.4 inhethe first half. means restrictions and regue my s and ou nainto s s sho ”appointment source of revenue to fund the *of * March, *rate Health, the President the o pandemic. con ainnves he pandem Thus answe omiscellaneous hestaff ques on o tion most crimes, to have be reimposed Thus he answe o he ques on o Health, th diseases spawned by the lockdowns. with a total 265,888 casMarcos a heel or a her from the military and the police, than any The killings of activists aland claim that the P500 million allothe of infections and deaths could have EMIL EMIL countries pump their economies, their mp oved The n e s and L nkage Mega marvelous infra projects he has done, thanks Davao’s former police chief,police Ronaldo delaRonaldo ing totheresearchers from our universities.

The inDavao’s former chief, dela 4.

Failure contain theappo communist ing to researchers from The inof theprime firstI suggested quarforuThened general use, 75 percent of economy For thethere whole of 2020, the economy is exthe contraction in the first ofcy’s Truste schools have lost former National Bureau ofa the Investigation In anPrices earlier column, thatquarea yTen m se abAbout ecrimes.

R cedays sthe abe v oimposed a epa oe the Is hope that scenario? lations. commodities, activities oftoothe government; he a mwas oDuterte mpove shed cebleak me s“war has vowed to continue his cy’s and C Du e sma ein has vowed o 0.7-percent con nue h 0.7-percent scontraction “wa drug days before Duterte lockTen Duthe e mposed he ock whe he no he nuniversities. men othem G nepresident an whe he oour no heto appo men oacting G ebefore an pres the world.

Philippines Said Economic SecItpresident depends.

Ifincom you the law.

B dge Pinitially oghim. amPlanning wthe p ov de thenkages cated is not enough other More than 45 leged NPA leaders have failed to dent the The reasons are to his Wharton-educated Public Works and been worse. latest data suggest that Rosa, who initially spearheaded “drug surgency and the Muslim separatist movelockdown enabled us to reinforce our health Rosa, who spearheaded “drug a ongnon-ex-of JURADO GDP would have shrunk massively, anyway.

JURADO LOPEZ enrollees.

TONY lockdown enabled us to reinforce our chief Dante Gierran president and chief decline by 10 percent. ter 16.5 -percent GDP growth drop down.

Household consumption, President should create a much “jobs policy” in The terespecially 2020, the rice, 16.5 -percent GDP growth drop Well, yes.

Lift the lockdowns which corn, and fish, will be •sThe Export Processing Authority to at-health ouLOPEZ ve ishood hou ce15, wou d ch we s the2020 be non-ex-officio membe But the people love President onpected which will be “as relentless and on ugs” wh ch wBizNewsAsia be2020, “as ethe en ess and ny yesterday and barelyW ega depends on whe he h s name was What i as ves hem cden ma gas na ncome s ega depends on whe he h s name was down on shut March 2020, there were only retary Karl Kendrick Chua: down on Ma 15 he egfor we edrugs” on ytosu ble achievements and Without a vaccine w h he va ous s ands o he coun y h ough ment Highways secretary Mark Villar, 42. war,” were elected to the Senate.

Dela Rosa The group represen executive officer of PhilHealth is illegal. system and build up our capacity to do widethe wake of so many jobless people as a reestimates the GDP contraction for the whole could rage were elected to the the Senate.

Rosa The jobs policy President Duterte system build capacity do wideproviding three-fourths of byng It means the iss now recession occupy cabinet and Dela civil52-year old communist insurgency Muslim little over 1laws, percent ofn foreign all COVID-19 cases means the country is anow inwith recession with tract The secretary claims clearly spelled out in have proved senseless and the the “drugscases. war.”

In this May 2019, two top controlled.

In infact, under current This means that the investments; w No.recession 20, ab Italy, is the sheer size of stimulus package haand sho he Boa dostar-rank oto T us ees chilling onnot the day it began.”

He e o288,761. ve? ns up hao our sho s and he Boa dofficers o war,” T that usanticipated ees This m ch ng on heRepublic day began ” country He wan “No one that COVID TWO confirmed At writing, he would be a hero.

TWO con med cases AGDP, hthe sfell w he and educes he dependence on adeproduced s the nwants Gierran c The killings of political activists aland staff claim that th he cons uc on o sho and ong b dges Under Section 1 of Act 11223 To cope with theHAVE pandemic, Villar has built of the COVID-19 pandemic. was named toaway head the Senate committee could be as large as 30The percent -- first assuming a first Mr. lift spread our communities. just was named to headnot the Senate 15.5 percent Q2 for semester drop economic output of 9output spread From just it handily into the elecfor general use, the semester drop inhaters economic of 9testing opposite effect. were point Gierran unless h the price of anything, and its supply, can ry about Carlosa PresiDominguez says has to ian adopt right should be ancommittee •in The Movie and Television and Iitsult HAVE been requested to repeat my AS MARCOS remembered “the been eques ed oreaepea my ea sor p testing eleaders y President, basin csour pOur ecommunities. yFrom bas creview point death penalty, banned under the pandemic will [strike] the global positions in the government. terrorists are the warpath marked by ais deaon h pena y but banned unde he Cons uin who envy his ingenu Theabou p Philippines ovP nce oallies Nueva Ec ain cons d aSenate is made the epicenter ineep the in the country are severe critical. morPh pppandemic nes s she pandem c7.8-percent cen heP1.5 med ae loss esnthat and he vu ne ab ylockdowns oalso pConstituce ed umn ked es 2021. matters now whether actualthe law. cated to them isBoard notGie en leged NPA have failed to dent thecharged (Universal Healthcare Act), upon the recThe Department of Labor and Employsomething incredible. the Among he p o ec s unde h s p og am s of trillion for each month of lock653 COVID-19 facilities (hospitals and well 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 conkdown) helped an y sASEAN supposed to people from be controlled by theoof government during sons belief that the of Classification percent.

Itwill ismy the worst recession our his-appo darkofor days of Martial Law,” on sons my be appointment e inSeptember ha he n men o unless * * They *emergency * *Despite * employment the lockdowns. economy.

In the scheme first three months of the tion for most crimes, toBoard be reimposed sight, who Board Trustees of PhilHealth and on oumps mos cus mes o be eofmposed 11-nation with 265,888 cassure on ASEAN wmes h a o aman o 265 cas ed us heavert coun “11cenabow ”a total someof recession could rage The jobs policy tha pu a888 on and p lockdown ce sthe P4,000 makes evements. e s for acheNow, evemen s Now ommendation ofsave the Trustees offor Phil52-year old communist insurgency.

Muslim ment deny this, for sure, but aducted survey the overwhelming dominance new phenomenon—suicide bombers The tality ratio, on the other hand, isBoard; at 2.5 people down.

This – the longest and severhe 3 he 17 k war.” ome e For Pangu B dgeof 3 98and k othose ly saving productive parts the economy. clinics) with total bed capacity 24,117. and the “drug the last of March, our capacity nila-based Asian Development Bank. one yearaccordbase.

Longtime aide, Christopher Go, and Section and the 5mity million infections tory. ducted in the last week of March, our capacity dying, people who would die anyway, ofof Investigation a former state of National calamity.

In ausual major election, • The Philippine Coconut Authority toha 21, they went on Bureau the bashing spree, nweek anon ea e warpath co umn ed he oalmost me Na ona Bu eau ointerrorists nves ga tory. nto an eamarked esugges coby umn sugges edwar.” ha quarantine, we“drug prioritized saving lives has definitely a heel. drug crimes. dthe ugPresident c–ab mes es.until Itana is No. 21 in sthe to adopt right aw Health, shall appoint the agenes Noworld.

21 nThe he Philippines wo d aThe Ph pp nes showed that half of the country's as s “ ce g y ” s nce s he ead ng are on the a s the Board recommended his appointment o dab e oca ce ava e o consume s the ranks of the unemployed can only worsest in the world has run for seven months. make no sense. me e Sama s and Davao C y B dge he As of April 2021, the national government generals, the Duterte administration has not PNP has tripled its anti-insurgency budget former police more chief, Ronaldo dela 4.

Failure to contain the communist inwell into 2021.

Unemployment than tripled, Please note: That is upThe to Davao’s from our universities. per a hundred thousand.”

4.

Failure to contain the communist inchief Dante Gierran as president and chief For the whole of 2020, the economy is exlockdown or no lockdown, because This is because the problem is not a systemic the price and supply of bellwether goods develop and enhance coconut production P es den shou d c ea e a “ obs po cy” n ch e Dan e G e an as p es den and ch e portraying Marcos as the devil-incarnate.

P es den shou d c ea e a “ obs po cy” n ance Act For the whole of 2020, the economy is exagainstofCOVID. We used thisand time to emergency employmeno Board Trustees of PhilHealth, unless CEO from the Board’s But the people love the forP es den adultolabor force of 60 million are jobless. new phenomenon—suicide bombers. The Bu he peop ePresident ove he dislodged Germany yesterday barely d s who odged Ge and many yes day and17.7 sno bacy’s emeans y president depression pthe oduce ohealth Cen a Luzon nand heise2019 es grea es depress on ce nRosa, This ofand the economic production Uma shalf pthem og am s me ypected and the President 32 25 kandome eMuslim Ba aan Cav B dge The and Notable completed bridge projects include initially spearheaded the Gove “drug enso the poverty problem of the country for in partnership with the private sector andHea the usbefore to reinforce our from 5.1 percent indaily April to st May 2022 surgency and the Muslim separatist moveexecutive officer ofare PhilHealth isPh illegal. surgency the separatist movemost of already had fatal dislike rice, corn, fish, fuel, even school he wake o so many ob ess peop e as a e to decline by 10 percent.

BizNewsAsia and efforts; execu ve o ce o h s ega But did not Shakespeare say: “The evil the Board recommended his appointment to e any he wake o many ob ess peop e as a e proven itself any more competent nor a worrying sign the ranks ofdirector the reas unempT non-ex-officio members. pected to decline by 10 percent.

BizNewsAsia improve our health system capacity.”

Santa Banana, they the new poor!

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 PNP 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 s 23 000 cases be ow No 20 a y 288 761 020, Philipgone he by now. cannot be recovered in local government units, 653 COVID-19 facilua our ethecapacity owhen 2020we Ph p war,” en etoahe chwidepe ago ooks us iswha doc oThat o de edPresident espec acannot yseveral wereinelected the Senate.

Rosa up do hen he 3 of 3 kUPome eAteneo, Cebu Macenanthe B poverty dge the Pigalo Bridge in Isabela, Angat River Without a vaccine percent April to 2020 “whenDela lockdowns ctions choose ment Under Section 1 of Republic Act 11223 Thus before Gierran can be appointed as Without a vaccine the President. eases other than COVID. But su o he COV D 19 pandem c supplies, medicines, and PPEs, are cruUnde Sec on 1 o Repub c Ac 11223 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 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 and estimates the GDP contraction for the whole a worrying sign. clearly spelle hase aggregate grown to about 32,000 average daily tests allies made it handily into the Senate elecFinance Secretary Carlos Dominguez says a es made hand y n o he Sena e ec less corrupt than past administrations. four months.

5 Coddling of the police and the military clear F nance Sec e a y Ca os Dom nguez says states average 31 deaths, UK 70, Spain 61, lowest ever in this (August) ” mped o s owes eve n from a sh sary mobility restrictions hamper The Ph pp nes eco ded s h ghes ce was named to head the Senate committee ur communities.

From just n ghmost o hepoint COVGierran D 19 pandem cis a member comp e political on o and heactivists Pangu Bayal-B dgeto come.

Bridge inDepa inwe La were widespread and at their sor. ities (from crudest to the best)--aCEO with comThus, before Gierran can beto appointed as and The killings of The political activists almany years (Universal Healthcare Act), upon the recunless he ofwill the The men oa source Labo and Emp oy 119,000 toPresident 140,000 retrenched teachers thousands more people or Un ve sa Hea hca eafor Ac upon ec especially in-battleground regions, of thehe engines to serve asAnduyan of Bridge revenue; interred with their bones.”

The Depa men o the Labo and Emp oy The killings of could be large as 30 percent assuming averted some 59,000 171,000 and of PhilHealth he 5.

Coddling ofBulacan, themust police and theWhile military be asthe large as 30 percent assuming ageneral President may have signed into this (August).” which solidified Duterte’s power use, the Finance Secretary Dominguez IsPresident he ala h “the decisive (lockdown) helped uspolice avert an ustions ons whAnge chCarlos soaare dVadying ed Du easecould scial, powe he dec vethe ockdown he ped ave for general the o5-percent yofPCR a tests 16 5ofper pecalamity cen con with investigating matters ual day conWhen ofleaders the national capital’s Duterte has employed more generals p conoduc on eve acharged 19““Without 44 m me c ons and CEO ofrates PhilHealth, he must Sweden 57, and the Adds Dominguez: lockdown While the strict,” saysson ADB. Exports declined state the wsuNPA educe ave mefailed bethe ween Tubod nlaw.

La Bu eby us aanbecause ow a“no me e money oof Commiss Union, Kalibo Bridge in Aklan, and staff, out of the more than 700 capacity of 24,117 beds.

That isprivate more ommendation of the Board Trustees of demand.” leged NPA have failed to dent men w deny hw suse, odeny sugenerals, ethrough bu ao asusuPresident vey die of hunger, malnutrition, andbined ommenda onlockothe he Boa dPhilT usUS ees oLaws Ph the Hardest hit was Luzon island and most especially, when the highest • 52. onemployed socialized housing This brings me to ask, my gulay—Is men hwhich sPinguiaman e the buleaders achief vey leged have to dent the loss P1.5 trillion for each month of deaths.

Our death reduced from Duterte has more Adds Dominguez: “Without lockdown, loss of P1.5 trillion for each month of lockexplains that matter how much base.

Longtime aide, Christopher Go, and be first appointed as a member of the Board estimated 1.3 to 3.5 million infections accordbase Long me a de Ch s ophe Go and law Bayanihan 2 the billions allotted for his es ma edhe 1war.”

3Depa o 3first 5 men m half. on no ec ons acco d ion.

On top of and theng “drug week March, our capacity m pof oduc on On op oacco be first appointed as a member of the Board law Bayanihan 2, the bi schools which will remain closed.

These hero?

21.4 percent in the g crestrictions and reguMT n 2020 d o nao de No e and Tangub n M sam s Occ Health, the President shall appoint the agenBridge in Sultan Kudarat, Governor Miranda recession could rage hospital than beds Kafrom kDavao’s dcountries Suthe Cabana uan C y economists othe say wha s their showed ha aviolations mos ha oeconomic he counaoforce yhigh s hecommunist 52-year old Muslim Hea he P eshospital den sha appo nseries he agen diseases spawned by lockdowns. produces 70 percent ofpolice, total post ofbeds the isorcombined atah–and stake. of legal issuances from funding, showed ha than athe mos ha yold s insurgency.

Marcos aland heel hero? police was caught on1.6 social military and the police than any recession could rage 3.deaths Unprecedented human rights from the military and the any the rate of infections and deaths have 52-year communist insurgency.

Muslim trolled Co down.

This lockdown –lockdown the longest and severofcoun 17 percent to just percentmedia the rate infections could have Government earlier projected pump into down.

This the longest and severformer police chief, Ronaldo researchers our universities.

The Davao s otheir me economies, po ce ch edela Rona do de aof Failure contain communist oe from checould shanthe om ou on un veinsm es The ofess Trustees. first stop-g nthe ac onoquarncommodities, he cuing su qua of Trustees schools have lost income because of lack of other project are stop-gap measures to of prime cy’s and CEO from Board’s a birthday om 2 5the hou s averted oalleus 7more m project nubyesa are only adu o home ce o abo 60 mopercent a45 eofob Ag eto Th s 4.ng gu sesea htoghe he Bridge del Norte. built in–the the last quarter century. cy sIf pyou es den and CEO he Boaain dabo sDavao Said acting Economic Planning Secproduction and isadu to 50 What is not controlled during aremarkastate terrorists are the warpath marked by amarked mortgage and collection ofMore loans; ceonohaving 60 monly on aterrorists eonden ob ess he nd president on h sinitially ssuebefore “Sang ayon ako sa Itpresident depends. look at histhe president before him. than been much worse.

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

We are onrequirements warpath est in the world has run for seven months.

GDP would have shrunk massively, anyway. breakfast party with other him More than 45 est in world – has run for seven months.

Under The reasons are What has made Duterte 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 before lockdown enabled us to reinforce our health viate the people’s need Rosa who n a y spea headed he “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 cenand GDP gmow h dbeMT op p oduced n 2019 and he gan ong pIt is corn, fish, willon Board of Trustees of non-ex-officio members.

San a Banana hey a e he new poo What is/are the legal requirements before Ac oss he Pas g R ve h ee b dges w non ex o c o membe s Secretary Villar claims something incredretary Karl Kendrick Chua: the population. of calamity is how the government disviate the people’s needs Duterte’s incessant cursing, sleep videos, San a Banana hey a e he new poo Board ofP 18 81 • All the specialty hospitals—the Philipstar-rank officers occupy cabinet and civilble achievements and good performance, new phenomenon—suicide bombers.

The a little over 1 percent of all COVID-19 cases oyek o elected na nab btogyan pans noDela kam some 1.3 to phenomenon—suicide 3.5appointed million cases, of which not the sheer size ofethe stimulus package This means halfa means of thegroup economic production new bombers.

The ispointed ut alittle vaccine Gierran can be as alockdown member of proThis half ofrepresenting the economic production ment What essential an war,” were the Senate.

Rosa The these teachers system and build upand ourbu capacity tocases do widewa ” we e ec ed he Sena e De Rosa b sys em d up ou capac y o do w de than 50 guests (despite strict recession with star-rank officers occupy cabinet and civilthe vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also over 1 percent of all COVID-19 s anow n ecess on w h clearly spelled out in the Board recommend act, under current laws, This means that the President cannot apgrowth rate in 2021.

That is now overly optiThe newes o he “new poo ” a e some Th s means ha he P es den canno ap ianpine positions in thecontracted government.

“No one anticipated thatuman the COVID be comp e ed –B nondo n amu os Rock The newes o he “new poo ” a e some the Board Investments by 53.5 perpenses money.

The incumbent President ible.

He has built 26,500 kms of roads—alHeart Center, Lunch Center, National he would be a hero.

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

Our morabsences from public notice, pandemic misPNP has tripled its anti-insurgency budget, 19 07 m spread on MT eco ded n 2018 The n 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 ng mga ma na magsasaka Kung What 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 by staff claim thatcannot the P500 million allois gone now.

That be recovered inthe 119 000 o 140 000 e enched eache s named toin head the Senate committee Mr. President, our communities.

Fromlift justesian was named o head he Sena e management, comm ee mic output of 9ou pu can sp in ead es ng n ou commun Fwas om us the al the the President. phing, nuse, econom csupply, oou9testing point Gierran unless he is a member of and Board of Despite the overwhelming dominance of po n G e an un ess he s a membe o he hibiting gatherings of ten or more people in tality ratio, on the other hand, is at 2.5 people pandemic will [strike] the global positions the government 119 000 o 140 000 e enched eache s the Presid cent in the second quarter and by 36.6 can get all the money he wants to have Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine we Es e a Pan a eon and BGC o O gas who envy his ingenuity, vision and foremost our entire inventory of roads. given him one of his major failures—massive in thec its country severe or critical Our morand lying on the West Philiply saving productive parts of the economy. a 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 eased paaround ayare pu was ach eved desp e he Lazaro, who was the Section 13 of RA 10149 (GOCC Governthe law. lem of poverty. four months. man ng ganon am wo hganon kaun sign. cated them isBoard not enough. leged NPA 1leaders have failed toes dent thecharged has grown to about 32,000 average dailypolicy tests atoworrying the ofit Trustees? four months. term jobs prevent a bbigger probwith investigating police matters actual PCR tests day conchaka ged nves ga ng cehis ma e sto ion our hisathe ound 282 ac ua per PCR s pekam day Thus, before Gierrabt thes in government during wo ecess on ouyphoons h s 1,282 and s athe ou oadministration he mo 700 peCoddling va eAct the Duterte has not per ahands hundred thousand.” lockdowns.

They and she a “Private oue ohan he mo5. han pCoddling vapolice e time), Thus, economy.

In firstKah three months ofpothepine percent in first half. investon and deploy to whoever Children’s Center; sight, and those who desire revenge, he is generals, Thiscon iso because thethe problem is not adominance systemic CBD Those dges shou drefused deconges “One ofMedical the notable completed projects of ance of5.

2011) mandates that anmilitary appointing Sea detract from his administration’s included whelm our healthcare sector.” of the and the MyEDSA gulay, ifduring there’s rate Counsel could rage this (August).”

The jobs policy that President Duterte 52-year communist des uc nve ha hold seve one place at700 the same Duterte Despite overwhelming of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez of the police and the military human rights violations.

Critics say killed ratio on the hand isaMarch, atp ov 2insurgency.

5nces people hMuslim nd ou naand kuku pathe sawar.” puhunan this (August).” recession could rage well into 2021.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez the “drug ducted inother theduc last week of our capacity Section 13 of RA 10149 (GOCC Governand he “dprioritized ugbust. wa Simply, ”papano lem of poverty President and CEO o ed n he as week o Ma ch capac y proven itself any more competent nor any ity. tality In a major election, schoo s wh ch w ema n c osed 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 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 Up no h he comp e on h s yea o he DPWH is the Laguna Lake Highway which has has to adopt right away should not be an solid achievements on infra.

“What we find in the last six months, Duterte has employed more generals, beneficiaries of thelasti Fe terrorists are on the warpath marked by a Adds Dominguez: “Without the lockdown, explains that “no matter how much money by the and he COV D 19 pandem c make no sense.

Duterte has employed more generals, Adds Dominguez: “Without the lockdown, may generals oon sary kam ng k to aDuterte na masasab Yun acame explains “no matter how much money to ofire the general. the administration has not 4. Failure contain the communist in2021. more than 27,000 the guise of eliminating per aheishundred thousand ” be first appointed asGC 4restrictions Fa ure ohamper con athis n and he commun s average nthat less corrupt than past administrations. economy ex- goods When the President to power in schoo s have os ncome because ack othat pply of bellwether states 31previous deaths, UK 70, Spain 61, in from aerring short-list prepared by the Governance ance Act of 2011) mandates that an appointing 2020 economy s ex new phenomenon—suicide mobility aggregate schoo s have os ncome because o ack o first ap taeduce Banana, Ibe foresee aa against We used time to Board ofCOVID. Trustees of PhilHealth, unless My gulay if there’s one element missing dustrial machinery and transport equipCombine those powers—control of the east Asia; emergency employment scheme.

For sure, Abusag B dge n Cagayan w av is the lower quarantine restriction a protected bike lane to promote active transport bombers.

The Before Duterte, governments since tal event of time, pla from the military and the police, than any the rate of infections and deaths could have countries pump into 57, their economies, their from for theGovernment-owned military and the or-Conpolice, than any dent Bu heschool h gh ce p oduc on eve n ecen theenrate of infections and deaths could have The reasons are aga ang ka bahan na meMuslim onmore kam ng Gov na countries pump into their economies, theirare cann surgency and the separatist moveThe reasons When the chief of lower the national capital’s of Trustees.

Sweden and the US 52. surgency and he m separa s move o ees Commission even BizNewsAsia Philippines without an the Board recommended hisMus appointment to demand.” proven itself any 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 the EU member • A geothermal power plant, one of the July 2016, he stumbled into the greatest and has tripled its anti-insurgency budget, has actually opened more sectors of the e me be ween Tuguega ao C y Cagayan director shall be appointed by the President and zero carbon footprint,” he points out. have fashioned and s spent only anshrunk averageanyway. of 2 percent of much the worse. it’s an urgent and lasting jobs policy other that president before him. before More than 45 been Thewas latest data suggest that GDP would1986 have shrunk massively, other president him.SanMore than 45 get beenforce much worse.

The suggest yea sohas edeWithout o a co espond nc ease angvaccine GDP would have massively, anyway. maaasahan sathepanahon ng an han Maand ak ng caught on social media mentGovernment What is/are the 3.clearly Unprecedented human rights ple can employed Without a vaccine The gworld, oup ep esen ngdata hese eache s Corporations President. and PPEs, are en the poverty problem of theonviolations country for police economists projected men ber of lega the nnes, forstates the whole The glatest oup ep esen ngtrolled hese eache s (GCG).

What i “By the models of earlier UP Ateneo, construction 46.8 percent lower,” says sumer goods, redirecting taxpayers money first in thecompleted as an alternative source acaverage onaverage henocruwho a worryingUK sign. 70 Spain spelled out in t con 32,000 daily tests economy helped bring back jobs.” barrage of adverse pu and Baggao Cagayan om 150 m nu es o biznewsasia@gmail.com Other road projects include the less corrupt than past administrations value of economic output (GDP) infrastrucclearly spelled out in star-rank officers occupy cabinet and civilHuman Rights Watch says many of the 31 deaths 61 a little over 1 percent of all COVID-19 cases from a short-list prepared by the Governance longest economic expansion in the country’s It is not the sheer size of the stimulus package ta Banana I foresee a bleak future for the cabinet civil- ends! a little percent all COVID-19 cases aPublic breakfast party with more n hea assum ves o ngcea a 5.me s this alaw, Gierranoccupy can only be ap-and finally Its to not the sheer size of the package having What Duterte a stimulus strong president, Thus, Gierran can be Gierran can be appoic killings political activists and many years come. ong pa aThe arecovery sawe am n ofbefore oThe ” percent hpercent spo p to oappointed ec and sover a c1construction abirthday m ha he mbyheon a Under oMr. 7of to 8o in GDP battleground regions, ksuppo ngs ca acal-vas sisand a has tsn-assuming and s a of cRoad aP500 m ha m star-rank oofficers averted some 59,000 171,000 ADB. slipped a P500 anyone ormade anywhere, and the or restrictions of energy; Coddling of the police and the uthe military 30 pe cen a Gierran PhilHea President, the lockdowns. for general use, the ident Marcos from* *th IstoPresident he aitlaw a us President 90 mlift nuthe esagovernment.

Urdaneta City By-Pass in Pangasinan, ture.

Mark Villar more than doubled that—to 5 than ian inon the government. inactualthe country are severe orare critical.

Our morthat matters now but also whether isheel actualWhen the ofaof the capital’s pointed by the as member of the the ian positions in 50 guests strict lockdown proPresident and CEO he must 27,000 areitsigned “vigilante-style killings perpetratin the severe orincritical.

Ourpositions morSweden 57 and the US 52 the vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also While the may have into the law.

Commission for Government-owned or-ConBoard ofthe Trustees?

Pa ohhighest eason sfor he Rgeneral ce employed Ta ca use on that matters now but also whether is Philippines without any assurance that peogrowth in 2021.

That isPhilHealth, now overly consecutive of growth. ca edcountry o (despite hem sed no enough leged NPA have failed to dent the the Hardest hit was Luzon island which ially, when the as g ves ahistory—70 en rate onleaders ochief sma me ssnational ke usquarters ca o hem s no enough Board eged NPA eade have aoptied o den he month of lockdeaths.

Our death rates reduced from Duterte has more generals, marginal 0.9 percent in Q2. on flow of goods and people under a lock• Exploration and drilling Malampaya; ez: the lockdown, n o“Without each mon oheock They make no sense.

I think even They pursued what n The Tagum C y F yove a ong w h Agu the Pulilan-Baliuag Diversion Road, Bulacan, percent, which in real numbers translate into P1 Take Despite the overwhelming dominance of tality ratio, on the other hand, is at 2.5 people Board of Trustees of PhilHealth if he was I don’t know whoe be first appointed as a member of the Board 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 use, the media could rage The on obs po cyknow ha Ppo den eeseden the lydown saving the productive parts of the economy. old communist insurgency.

Muslim Law RTL o Repub Ac RA 11203 produces 70 percent ofpolice, total Whe economic s at–and stake. police force on social recession could rage The obs cy ha Du eDavao e prepared Section he52-year weDuterte n enough ocaught yto general e s1.6 does ed by police officers themselves or by killers 3deaths Unprecedented human rights from thec military andviolations the than any trolled Corporations (GCG) 52 yea dve commun nsu gency Mus m gest and severaea high of was 17 percent just percent ple can get when this pandemic Duterte may not it es but heDuPemployed of whatever form orper acronym—and ons could have •thousand.”

Laws culture in the life of the nation; himself added 14 quarters of growth wn he onges andrecession seve without lockdowns, you can win ard Maitland sharply san Road n Davao de No e s 87 pe the Lucena City Underpass in Quezon, the trillion (that’s P1,000 billion) year. included in the list and submitted easing the one-meter so generals, the Duterte administration has not 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 the problem is not asuccessor—without systemic you generals, the Duterte administration ance has not rage well into 2021.

Act ofclude 2011) mand perhas a hundred oCultural adop thousand.” ghoemployment away shou no be an isby because the problem is to not a systemic production and is home toMore 50 no percent ontrolled during state are on the warpath marked by amaThis other president him. thanma 45terrorists has adop gh dends! away dGCG nocen be an ance Act o passed byamon Cong n 2019 s before aw ep aced The latest suggest thathsess orwe around 4,000 We achieved almost full durDuterte pick his • the The Center offinally the Philippines eis/are owent sthe senough alegal edeaths. onrequirements he wa pa hbecause ked acanpeople’s seven months. eofrecession asbefore scould have ncome oaverted anVaelection. having aWhat breakfast birthday party with more has un odata seven tial matter of history this law Gierran can only be apUnder linked the authorities.”

NAKED What has made Duterte aThstrong president by the tomore the President.

Butnor theany Presi- nor well into 2021. tocol in shall public transp before comp e e more viate the needs.

Palo West By-Pass Road, Leyte; and theshou it negative in the first quarter of In six years, the administration would have proven itself any competent toh fire erring general. well into 2021 He notes that per 100,000, the EU member more than 27,000 in the guise of eliminating When the President came to power in contraction or a cyclical bust.

Simply, necesdirector be appo Board of Trustees of PhilHealth, and unless proven itself any competent any eme gency emp oymen scheme Fo su e He notes that per 100,000, the EU member the population. ow the government disBoa d o T us ees o Ph Hea and un ess star-rank officers occupy cabinet and civilment as contraction or a cyclical bust.

Simply, necesnew phenomenon—suicide bombers.

The emeInternational gency emp oymen scheme Fo legally su e appoint Gierran a mem- worsen director sa entheof all quan COVID-19 some 1.3 toephenomenon—su 3.5 million cases, ofdewhich ing his presidency, an unprecedented regard as to whether that guy is a geniap oduc vecases esonc ons on SO ce mpo s w h a speakthan and the Philippine Convenmic production new c bombe s The o We e o una o have a Gove no dent cannot but what people wrote the problem.

Gierran can be appointed as a member of econom c What is essential and urgent is a longn* he cen past a Phadministrations. pp nes hefrom Me ao short-list Cebu prepar By-Pass Road Bukidnon. an astronomical P6.3 trillion on infra— pointed by the President as alencia ofUK the the pervasive illegal drugs curse. less corrupt than past administrations. *y*corrupt 50 guests (despite strict lockdown prostates 31 deaths, 70,in Spain 61, July 2016, hewould stumbled into the greatest and spent admit tonmember 7,000 deaths during the illegal drugs campaign has also53.5 persary mobility restrictions hamper aggregate the recommended his appointment to he anks he unemp oyed can on yoyed wo sof the 2020. less than states average 31 deaths, UK 70,when Spain 61, positions in thecontracted THOUGHT he aBoa dAuthorities ecommended h saverage appo men o oEconomists Investments herecovered incumbent President severe orvicious critical.

Our morhe anks osay hethat unemp can on wo sof from a the sh sary mobility restrictions hamper aggregate has tripled anti-insurgency budget, 68,000 beme and critical achievement. us, a Board technocrat, nincompoop, or tion Center.

Let me quote Justice Manuel “Lolong” ber Board much more as be ween be inecove 35 pe cen aed noianASEAN mpo sgovernment. and a 50 by we has p severe ed” ins the an nsu gency budge ofalso Philhe Mark my words, the Board Trustees? biznewsasia@gmail.com term jobs policy to prevent amany bigger probLazaro said can PNP depend on aPNP haofits ves ha canno be biznewsasia@gmail.com Human Rights Watch says ofeven thePhilHealth Exp w the educe ave Naga The DPWH chief has likewise built roads more than the combined infra spending of all57, When thecoun chief ofessway theTrustees, national capital’s longest economic expansion country’s Sweden and the US 52.

Commission for Gover the President. demand.” en he pove y p ob em o he coun y o Board of Trustees of if he was I don’t know whoever had idea of Despite the overwhelming dominance ofa worrying 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 cent in the second quarter and by 36.6 money he awants to have Sweden 57, and the US 52. en he pove y p ob em o he y o the campaign.

Any numbers above that are Commissi given him one of his major failures—massive I SEE demand.” 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 has 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 Governlem of poverty. y ng s gn o non ASEAN ven 32 hese ministrations have us has mpo g owns oGabou 000 ave age da history—70 y es s a wo mine wh 27,000 are “vigilante-style killings perpetratC y and Danao C y om 3 hou s o 1 hou consecutive quarters of growth. linking tourists spots to travellers, highways presidents before Duterte.

Of course, not all ofbe police force wassocial caught on the social media 3.

Unprecedented human rights violations (G Thus, before Gierran can appointed aslyappo many s many othat come generals, the Duterte administration hasinvestnot 5.

Government economists earlier projected usand.”

Thus be oearlier e be GDuterte, elist an can nUnprecedented edyea asneeding force was caught on social media percent inom the first half.

“Private itesrights to whoever CHARLIE V. yea s oits come 3. human rights violations trolled Co Takepolice note that before GCG can in- trolled of thisCorporations nonsense. ance Act of5of2011) mandates that anmilitary appointing included in the prepared and submitted whelm our healthcare sector.” easing the one-meter distancing proCoddling the police and the My gulay, if there’s one element missing, Government economists projected everyone a job has a job.

It’s decide—do they want more of or needless to say without proclamarate Counsel during the Marcos era.

“The this (August).” one place at the same time) Duterte refused sda deploy Dominguez Codd ng o he po ce and he m ary classified as “homicides under investigation.” human violations Critics say he killed sought to destroy or h s Augus ” a ce mpo ed ma n y Tha and and ed by police officers themselves or by killers fold increase in the size of Philippine econoy Ca os Dom nguez Ema ernh @yahoo com Duterte himself added 14 quartersa of growth that and 10 nushortlist es birthday linking major sites industrial isit’s government money. having birthday party with this law, Under and CEO of PhilHealth, he must office.

What has Duterte strong Wh ea he Pa factory es den may have sunder gned na obreakfast proven itself anyinmore nor anyinerwants 100,000, the EU recovery ofrecovery 7President percent percent GDP LITO your name in for more appointes den and CEO oaccidenPh Hea hmade he mus They say the ideaGiw mentAdds slumped Q2 competent with outlays for tomoney send it.member director shall be byMANALO the President Wh e president, he esand den mayclude have shaving gned omthe an breakfast party with oblivion, more Under urgent and lasting policy.

SanWhat has made Duterte aPstrong president, “What we in the last six months, like having factory running at 95 peror all? tion, the Philippines could now be Duterte has employed more generals, beneficiaries of the February 1986 ofto 7at8Ppercent toin 8jobs percent inPresident GDP Adds Dominguez: “Without the“W lockdown, wma much by the GCG to the But the Presinotwithstand Du efind eappointed has emp oyed mo eatoless, gene aan tocol in public transport To me it would linked tosnone the authorities.”

Dom nguez hou he ockdown before it went negative in the first quarter of e how much money to fire the erring general Aside from the drugs war killings, the more than 27 000 in the guise of eliminating The bu d ng o he coun y s onges hubs, and linking farms to markets. pointed by the Preside be first appointed as a member of the Board Easily a third of the amount comes from less corrupt than past administrations. than 50 guests (despite strict lockdown proaw Bayan han 2 he b ons a o ed o h s my (from $72.2 billion in 1998 $304.9 bildeaths, UK 70, Spain 61, vicious illegal drugs campaign, has ment aedmember Board strict of Trustees andprodrivers 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 athe membe ocommunist he 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 hanalso 2 hewere bhasons othan o hguests s of the My gu pointed bu 50 (despite lockdown the vicious drugs campaign, alsoa as is 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 edented achievements Authorities during their es om lower heGovernment-owned mthe apolice, y and than he or-Conpo ce han any 2020. heBANAYO athe e ochief n ec onsnational and dea hs cou d have nof he econom he of dent legally appoint Gierran aeillegal memthe Trustees of When of lower the capital’s of Trustees. n orunne sneeds has s amore n Board Davao The of 2020—2,192 kilometers of GCG first to deterpAs ec aDecember on smore op measu es a ePhilhealth, eoUS 52. companies through so-called PPP— rior and Local Govern hibiting gatherings ofgatherings more people ined people Commission for Philippines without any assurance that peogiven him one ofoin his failures—massive oaAny T cannot us ees Human Rights Watch has also noted the mistic.

Without ahave vaccine for general use, the the pervasive illegal drugs curse pof oyhis ec a gap eworsen on ythe s op gapoproblem measu es moun o athe eaten ment 62.1 percent and for private any commodity or conBoard of hibiting of ten or inofand lion in 2016), a dramatic reduction in poverty, has actually opened more sectors of theprivate But April 2020, than 7.3 milmost strict lockdown inthe the world—for given him one major failures—massive already allmajor over the country—in parliafashioned and sustained a litany and other president before him.

More than 45 ident can mistic.

Without vaccine for general use, the been much worse.

The latest data suggest that the campaign. numbers above that are nation its people. sively, anyway.

Begun in 1999, the expansion meant a 4.2o he p es den be o e h m Mo e han 45 been much wo se The a es da a sugges ha sh unk mass veviolations y money anyway police force was caught on social media mine youtime), are qualified to holda of this ardo said that th included in the listifpr What is/are the legal requirements before ed human rights trolled Corporations (GCG). abe emedia, peop needs 18 km Davao Coas Roadrefused w Año educe ple can get employed when this pandemic ofvviolations. roads been Theatwhether public-private partnership.

Government awards one place thethere same refused ber ofwell the of Trustees much more Mark my words will beC aytime), surge human Critics say he killed Wha snow aBoard e investigation.” he ega equ emen stourism, oheelost vof ae as eshave he peop ecompleted. seven needs construction 46.8 percent says irecting taxpayers included recession could rage well into 2021. one place at the Duterte same Duterte economy helped bring back jobs.” lion people their jobs—“largely in more six months from March ment, academe, labor and thekilled barrage of adverse publicity to efface Pres-rights human rights violations.

Critics say he biznewsasia@gmail com classified aswith “homicides under star-rank officers occupy cabinet civilpolitically motivated detention his most Human Rights Watch says many ofalower,” the recession could rage into 2021. apackage little over all cases could repeat fold increase inand the size of Philippine econoand middle-income status for Filipinos, mulus package Health p s athis ank o Gierran ce s occupy cab and c vthan a1 percent ebreakfast oveof1construction peCOVID-19 cen oparty COV D 19 cases office. addthe bu having aPublic birthday with more law, canand only bene apUnder finally ends! ze o and he us Duterte a sstrong president, by GCG to the Pre Gierran can bee appointed asinappo a member ofa 27,000 Wha s guise essen a eliminating and u gena to sthis afire ong ave me om To a result o Pob ac on oImore 45 mjeepneys, nwell 9.8kilometer Sabangan-Sagada Road inerring a highway concession, for, say, 30 year or the general.

G an can be n ed as membe o more than in the of Wha s essen and u gen s a ong ADB. slipped by a where, themu restrictions by the GC When the President came to power a PhilHealth president/CEO my gulay!

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

And what do we get after clergy.

The Supreme Court recognized to fire 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 eliminating ian positions in the government. mymo (from $72.2 billion 1998 $304.9 bilWhen the of President to power inSenator “good d inacthe severe My gulay, it’soa15 long nu process! itsoiscampaign, actualofeloquently pointed by pos the President member of the an onsinincome n as heato gove nmen * *dcame *obuilds than guests (despite strict lockdown pro-Ou prominent critic, de Lima, the 000 are has “vigilante-style killings n50are he coun yora critical. e perpetratseve eOur o cmorca drugs also dent cannot legally apC the Board Trustees? uher a27 whe he uacountry e mitLeila obs po cy oof a enterbo gge ob their per capita exceeding $3,000. es A The a gePressec on o transportation—not h s p manent othat Mountain Province ispMarcos toeven be completed next longer, the private company the highway he Boa T us ees? efavor m po cy p even a bcannot ggeu es pjust obpickmanybody the pervasive illegal drugs curse. cann marginal 0.9 percent inatQ2. and people under astality lockhe stumbled the greatest and They make noe of sense.

I July think commodation, restaurants, and giving most ofwhoever our basic liberties? when ruled in insofar as pident They pursued what notable poet Sir RichHuman Rights Watch has also noted the in 2016), a dramatic in m poverty, the pervasive illegal drugs curse.

Take note that before the GCG can in-obs Despite overwhelming dominance of beneficial todent the nation of this nonsense to be Phil- ber July 2016, heinto stumbled into the greatest and ratio, on other hand, is 2.5 people tancing protocol.

Board of Trustees PhilHealth if2016, heeven was I don’t know had the idea ofGOCC of the hibiting of ten orkillers more people his major Desp hereduction ove whe ng dom nance oup of the Board of Tr a the ygatherings a omay on he obyhe hand sbut a in 2 he 5lion peop e the Section 13 o RA 10149 GOCC Gove n em o pove y ve paby sacronym—and opolice he economy ec s o be comp e ed h s yea year, providing easy and safe access to faSec on 13 o RA 10149 Gove n removal in May 2018 of Chief Justice Maedeconomy. officers themselves or and charges toll to recover its money. biznewsasia@gmail.com em o pove y ber of the Duterte not know it rc form orfailures—massive ex-officio Human Rights Watch says many of the Today, Duterte presides over the worst ecolongest economic in the country’s politically motivated detention ofpoverty. his most without thethelockdowns, you can win Well, tainment—but also in industry, espenothing—but misery and ardexpansion Maitland sharply observed: ‘The essenMartial Law was concerned. middle-income status for biznewsasia@gmail.com president and CEO. The three per- a be Health say Human Rights Watch says many of Health the idea included in list submitted effacedexperts orpresiden expunge easing the one-meter social distancing prothegene Duterte administration has not economic expansion in the country’s per a hundred thousand.” place at the ed same time), Duterte refused twogenerals, ofand the more recognizable ones. ations.

Critics sayahesys killed not asuccessor—without systemic clude your name in the for They the helpng operators a sTHE heprepared Du eFilipinos, eand adm nwith s a longest onInfra has no PhilHealth ance Ac ocritic, 2011 manda es ha an appo nshortlist ngan“vigilante-style My gu ayspots he e sperpetratone e emen m pe hund housand ” just phisob em s to no em c one FIFTH ance Ac 2011 manda es appo nrevocation ngappointGame pand o ec o he What gove nmen mous tourist such as the Hanging CofMy gu he e perpetratssay onessmanent eng emen m was ss ng tochang is ports, and similar athePhilHea achieved almost full employment durare killings prominent Senator Leila deme Lima, theha an election. history—70 consecutive quarters ofoairports growth. cially manufacturing.

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

Commissions of GCG thestwo (www.manilastandard.net) ria Lourdes Sereno, the of amcan happen here linked the authorities ”aper Carlos by the GCG tomore the President.

But theany Presitocol inroads, public transport.

To it27,000 would (www.manilastandard.net) triumphs in end.

MD nomic performance of the Philippines ever.

27,000 are “vigilante-style killings proven itself any competent nor to fire the erring general. history—70 consecutive quarters of growth.

He notes that 100,000, the EU member in the guise of eliminating If we are after sealing a deal with China Simply, necesTake note that bef d ec o sha be appo n ed by he P es den p oven se any mo e compe en no any s an u gen and as ng obs po cy San He no es ha pe 100 000 he EU membe ment ainor member the Board of Trustees c ca that bus guy S mp neces ing his presidency, an unprecedented Today, and drivers vehicles Inted 2018 ecwrote oas sha beDigital appo nof ed by and he P es den s ana or u gen and as ng of obspublic po cy San s utility he 1 100 km Luzon Sp ne everything Exp essway Takeganl fins and the Sumaguing Cave (Sagada). ether is ay genivertical and horizontal projects. isMaalso removal inthe of Chief Justice edgrowth by police officers themselves by killers ex-officio members (Secretary of Finance we Marcos have Duterte presides over the worstaecosemi-skilled workers, most ofor them of COVID pandemic the whole of dent cannot legally appoint Gierran membut what people said about it.’”

Duterte himself added 14May quarters growth be vindicated.

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

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

Budget S 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 and the other claimant countries in the WPS/ clude your name in the om a sho s p epa ed by he Gove nance mper aggregate a Banana o esee a b eak u u e o he The slump is also the worst in ASEAN. The essBoard co up hanPhilippines pas much adm more never. s aas ons s a es ave age 31 dea hssay UK 70when Spa nber 61biznewsasia@gmail.com CROSSROADS om athe sho ssucceeding pbeisepa edand by heemployed nance ons hampe or aggeven ega e biznewsasia@gmail.com a Banana oroad esee a breduce eak u u Dominguez eNe o wo hek LSEN clude you P og Eduam ofom fit ocos n heare achievement.

Economists that ac nincompoop, rianegative Lourdes Sereno, revocation of amA (www.manilastandard.net) 22-km. circumferential will Carlos and Department counted as infra, but then, that ** of the Trustees, of Philhealth the GCG needs to authorities.” deternomic performance the Mark my words, there will aDuterte’s surge oftofirst linked theGove authorities.” rior and Local Government Secretary informally, were hit hard Asia, outside of India, Pakistan, Lazaro also said that adof his time.

Generations free from the blemish before it went in the first quarter of us.asThey embedd Watch says many Sweden of the 57, linked toonly the When the chief of ofthe national capital’s and the US 52. before it went negative in the first quarter of ment a member of Comm ss on o Gove nmen owned o Con SCS to keep the peace, ensure stability and SO Ph pp nes w hou any assu ance ha peo have to When he ch e o he na ona cap a s Sweden 57 and he US 52 Trillanes IV who led mutinies in 2002 and the campaign Any numbers above that are Comm ss on o Gove nmen owned o Con Ph pp nes w hou any assu ance ha peo Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado) will also ment as avt The ban of going nesty given Senator (now retired) Antonio a PhilHealth president/CEO, my gulay! the people mustperpetratalready unemployment hits 5 percent, practical-Theeconomic makes him the Our worst COVID-19 cases in the3,000 country as daily, aare h oisBtrue co nwe soushould h Luzon cuandngcontinue ave to govern travel time from Cagban Port (Boracay) to ifnothis slump is alsocollapse the worst inalso ASEAN. The Waterloo. digital is still Age— Authorities admit to 7,000 deaths during because few had the option to work from Bangladesh.

With over cases used lawsStone even asresult they of and revenge will look more kindly on 2020.

JUDE mine whether you qualified to hold this nte-style killings ardo Año said that Authorities admit to 7,000 deaths during police force was caught on the social media Philhealth, the GCG 3.

Unprecedented human rights violations oministrations edaCo po aohave ons GCG 2020. phate e can ge emp oyed when h s15 pandem implement mutually beneficial arrangements arlier projected SO I SEEs oyou po cethat o ce was caugh on soc awe med havech to voteme whether to include or not of “Undas” orinAll Saints’ 3 Unpreceden ed human r gh s v o a ons ed Co po a ons GCG Take note before GCG can inTrillanes IV who led mutinies in 2002 and p e can ge emp oyed when s pandem c of this nonsense. of Philhea onom s s ea e p o ec ed ly everyone needing a job has a job.

It’s want more of Duterte, or the sho economic collapse also makes him the worst om 20 hou n ne J.A. Ilig-Iligan Beach from 1 hour and minutes primitive and obsolete, although we are the home,” notes ADB. are reaching 300,000 cases and will 2007, and the passage of a new Anti-Terror classified as “homicides under investigation ” sought to destroy or consign Marcos to the campaign.

Any numbers above that are him, and acknowledge his achievements and sough o des oy o cons gn Ma cos o Begun in 1999, the expansion meant a 4.2ers themselves or by killers president ever in terms of economic perforMarcos’ andfor fo theyna campaign. above SEE you are a breakfast party with more hoffice spassage aw Gof eha an can on yaan be ap on Unde yapends Any add moresixthat jeepneys buses and other means mine made a strong ACIDRE Begun in say 1999, the expansion meant 4.2harness whatever resources which be inare the shortlist. percent Day iswhether no vision problem clude your name the for appointThey the idea was toh help operators hav ngbirthday a bin eak as bcan hday pa ytext wbe h ob mo 2007, and the Anti-Terror snew aw G eunp can be30 Unde yI numbers ends WhaDuterte has made Du epresident, e a to sat ong phaving es den mine president ever in terms of shortlist economic perforlike having a factory running 95 perl?cen oin8 GDP pe cen nWhat GDP has to just minutes. capital of the world.

Ironically, had rescued No. in number of COVID LITO oblivion, notwithstanding his solid unprectoDuterte thena nation. ve20 on no w and ng s membe so dclassified ascontribution “homicides under investigation.”

The G orities.” fold increase inpo the size Philippine econoforForgovernance arewhe ric DELA CRUZ Act (ATA).

Aside from the drugs war killings the n drivers ed byof he Pnhs es den astotal avehicles. oeca he LITO classified as “homicides under investigation.” * * * than 50 guests (despite strict lockdown promance.

The GCG is ease akin tothe the Judicial and Bar office. many years, we the vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also fold increase in the size of Philippine economent as a member of the Board of Trustees shared with them in the disputed area, we will and of public utility Inteow overly optiAct (ATA).

My gulay it’s a long process!

The Prespo ed by he P es den as membe o he of transportation—not social dis* * * han 50 gues s desp e s c ockdown p o mance. office. he v c ous ega d ugs campa gn has a so cent capacity. mposed the longest and 1 Tha s now ove during y op b znewsasBANAYO a@gma com By December 2020—606 kilometers ofCouncil. acfrom poverty—defined asheandea cases in the countries.

Infra means building city from scratch, edented achievements for the the *BANAYO *whoeve * eden ed ach evemen sPh o220 he good oof he mit to 7,000 deaths Aside fromAside thedon drugs war killings, thekillings, varied andCouncil. numerous le my (from $72.2 billion 1998 toamong $304.9 bilMy gulay, a gu lon Boa dbiggest o in Tworld us ees ooinaRecently, Hea he wasmillion onit’s those t had o he Before ofve Philhealth, the GCG first to mo deterfrom the drugs war the rior and Local Government Secretary Eduhibiting gatherings ofga ten or more people insecond given him one ofin his (from $72.2 billion 1998 to $304.9 bilbetter served heeding his advice.

Recently, there been sensational there been Human Rights Watch has also the general the Boa dhave T us ees oh pick Ph Hea hhave he was And thath isbthat allng due to the second know whoeve had dea oyou can be appointed as cemeteries My he ngs oneeds enbiggest othe emy peop e$2 nwe And is all due to But mildown world—for g ven hApril mmajor one2020, ofailures—massive hnoted smore ma othan abeu7.3 es—mass ident cannot just anybody to beknow vacc neinuse, othegene athat usearehe tancing protocol y numbers above income of $2 a Philday.

He was going tong In fact, will be in 15, dislodging nation its people. cess roads leading todon industries and trade Santa Banana, Isensational cannot believe that this iscenters na on and s that peop epTop like the billion New Clark City.

Its new Human Rights Watch has also noted the If cannot only member to show an lion in 2016), a dramatic reduction in poverty, member of the Board to any GOCC, Philother days.

What matte mine whether you are qualified to hold this ident just pick ardo Año said if this is true, we should nc uded n he s epa ed and subm ed eas ng he one me e soc a d s anc p o BE diplomatic and friendly to China.

Do not Human Rights Watch has also noted the one place at the same time), Duterte refused killings of known political activists, human human rights violations.

Critics say he killed lion in 2016), a dramatic reduction in poverty, “...Our approach toward China,” JPE innc uded n he s p epa ed and subm ed 2021. eas ng he one me e soc a d s anc ng p o ident can one p ace a he same me Du e e e used peopleghlost their jobs—“largely infailure. onths now from motivated March lion human s vof o ahis ons C cs say he kfailure. ed 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 were completed.

One of the priority ROLL-IT terminal will be inaugurated this June. politically ofdetention his Health most Health president and 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 other means president and by he GCG o and he P esfor den BuPPeople’s PCEO es Bumotivated ocoP es n detention pub c anspo me wou rights defenders, alleged Opportunities depend on the United States of America.

Mind to the general. politically motivated of hisexperts most 2.office.

Pandemic more than 27,000 in the of eliminating and middle-income status Filipinos, with toned, beerring friendly, note hard, assertive, by he GCG oNew he eshe he oco n pub cTo 2000s. anspo Todme of wouGCG, d and you must be in- Health Health pr eewhat to power Health in services—mainly transport, acdowar wein after o mismanagement eit’s he ngprocess! gene a The drugs killings, the mo e Leila han 27guise 000trade, n he guthe se o e “should mfire na ng percent by 2022, from 30s in the The economy collapsed by 0.7 percent that deeds, especially those den came oget powe nSenator chief.

He that National Capital Region oquen ymanent ha “good deeds espec aprominent yaden hose wringer the projects issaid the Poro Point Freeport Zone Road gone ahead of us.apply Infra also means flood control structures ofand My gulay, a long ofeeloquently transportation—not ease the social discritic, Senator Leila de Lima, thede suances that still a defenders, alleged New People’s prominent critic de Lima their perPrescapita income exceeding $3,000. manent Commissions den canno ega yrights appo nega G e$3,000. an mem wo sen he p ob em 2.

Pandemic mismanagement Commissions of GCG and the two What can happen here is that we could lose not your critics. prominent critic, Senator Leila Lima, the the pervasive illegal drugs curse. den canno y appo n G e an a mem wo sen he p ob em their per capita income exceeding not aggressive...” a stance which President manent C he greatest and andse enter- ident cannot just pick anybody to be Philofedour Watch has also noted he pe vas ve restaurants, ega d ugs cu beneficial to nation the people, cannot Office chief, Major General Debold bene che a have o the hedbeen na on and he peop e mo canno mb n obasic he gliberties? ea es the and commodation, wringer o tancing protocol. in LaMa Union, completed last December of ge 2020. which 10,376 built by Villar, along removal in Police May 2018 of Chief Justice Maex-officio members ( be o Boa o T us ees much e as Today, Duterte presides over the worst ecok my wo ds he e w be a su o removal in May 2018 of Chief Justice MaComing from a wise and wizened man, biznewsasia@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 weand have gained Duterte embraced day one when he adToday, Duterte presides the worst econtedthe country’s detention his mosty s tainment—but also in ch industry, espebut misery bpresident znewsas a@gma com and CEO. The threeperformance perHealth experts say over this ismy dangerous.

Human R gh s Wa says many o Health he from expunged, survives deserves a promotion because heashas be eeffaced aced oorpPhilippines expunged Good su vria ves and Sinas, expans on and n of hepoverty. coun Linkages towards seaports, airports, with 317 evacuation centers (187 completed, Lourdes Sereno, the revocation of amCarlos Dominguez a Ph Hea h es den CEO gu ay COV D 19 cases n he coun y a esu (www.manilastandard.net) nomic of the ever.

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Phend Hea hthat p es den gu ay it not a surprise that President Duiterte COV Dthe 19recruits. cases n heofcoun ria Lourdes Sereno, revocation am- y as*a* esu Carlos D “vigilante-style Senator Leila Lima, thehare that on the country “ anet nomic performance of the Philippines ever. ters of qua growth. cially manufacturing. income es is was the Commissions ofwill GCGbeand the two www man astandard ria Lourdes the revocation amWhat can happen here we could lose Carlos Dominguez Department ofnew * (www.manilastandard.net) (www man astandard net) triumphs end.

Marcos’ in in training umphs neathe he pplace ace n CEO hhistory s and ogiven ymyexperience 27 000 a e “v gkillings an eof sLoweryperpetrate kvised ngs pe from pemanent a then cu today ve edes epicenter o 27,000 gSereno ow railway stations are also constructed under 130 being Budget Secretary Wen Take noin ha beMa ois ecos he GCG nesty Senator retired) o can s nonsense The is also thebuilt). worst in ASEAN. The Former Justice S.hPuno Board Member &Antonio Chief Legal MemberManaging & Chief Legal Adviser Former ChiefAdviser Justice Reynato S. Puno L.Board Take no e in haASEAN. beChief o ecan he nReynato GCG n(now oSinas h s openly nonsense Budget Se easily accepted these words of oadvice onbymost 2018 of Chief Justice Manesty given Senator (now retired) Antonio ManilaStandard by officers themselves or killers ex-officio members (Secretary of slump Finance everything we have gained. friend tobyall, towards none.”

The slump also the worst The semi-skilled workers, ofothem demic the ofpolice rters growth ManilaStandard canis beThe accessed at: Honor Blanco Cabie Ramonchito Tomeldan Editor can be accessed at: is secure.

Marcos laws beneWhat, when violated that s secu e Ma cos aws abound and bene Ramonchito L. Tome ed(now by po retired) ce ce sAntonio hemse ves k enemy e s OPEN Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado) will also SO dednesty 14in qua e whole s o edgSenator ow h and The ban of going to cemeteries during given the KAlsada Tungo sa Paliparan, Riles at have to vote whether Infra is schools.

The DPWH built c ude you name n he sho s o appo n They say he dea was o he p ope a o s Trillanes IV who led mutinies in 2002 and economic collapse also makes him the worst manilastandard.net SO c ude you name n he sho s o appo n manilastandard.net Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager They say he dea was o he p ope a o s no, the revocation of amhave toS. vE Carlos Dominguez and Department of ONLINE * * * how to handle the country’s spat with China (www.manilastandard.net) Trillanes Community IV who ledQuarantine mutinies protocols in 2002 and Anita F.Wong/Ray Grefal Treasury Manager linked to the authorities.” employed only informally, were hit hard fafirst India, Pakistan, and ONLINE economic collapse also makes him the worst Jimbo Owen Gulle Chin S. Eñano Associate Editors quarter of fit us. are in our legal system Chin Wong/Ray Enhanced us They a e embedded n ou ega sys em I SEE nked o he au ho es ” Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard ve n he s IV qua e o led mutinies in 2002 and in the shortlist. men asban atoof membe he Boa d o2007, T us ees DaungAN or Program; and dyou veFormer sor oand pub c u“Undas” ypub veh es All ny406 eveh Published Monday Sunday

by Philippine Manila Standard 144,925 classrooms in school buildSOpresident of aKATUPARAN new Anti-Terror have to vote whether toand include not Saints’ and All IEditor SEE Legal ever in The terms economic perforTrillanes who Budget Secretary Wendel will also men aso a2,036 he Boa dthe o2007, Tpassage ees of going cemeteries during (now retired) Antonio dChief ve cc uor esPangco nDay e Pañares in the sho on the West Philippine Sea oroption more Reynato S. Puno Board Member &Souls’ Chief Adviser R.us Felipe Solutions and the passage ofsJustice ao new Anti-Terror at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106Avisado) Paseo de Authorities admit tohad deaths M. Santos because few the toduring work fromPublishing htorover 3,000 cases daily, Joyce News R.cFelipe Head—Ad president ever of economic perforPublishing at 6/Fnue Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de MEMBER Joyce Pangco THOUGHTS continue to govern guide nation. when aHead—Ad mañanita birthday party? and con oterms gove ntomembe and deothe he na oneBaldwin ManilaStandard MEMBER LITO Solutions Au ho(WPS) es7,000 adm duhave ngInc.to TheLino GCG isRamo akinPañ to o“Undas” PhInc. hea hin he GCG sgu needs o (ATA). de o he and Loca Gove nmen Sec eunder a problem y Baldwin Edu can be accessed at: kms. ofhad road were completed this ings nationwide.

Act SOo 7 000 dea hs Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.SEE Telephone vote whether to include you or not All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ mance. led mutinies in 2002 and LITO Roxas, corner Perea or St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone o Ph hea h he GCG s needs o de e o and Loca Gove nmen Sec e a y Edu The GC in the shortlist Day is no for me and my wife Philippine Press Institute commonly known internationally as the Adelle Chua Opinion Editor home,” notes ADB. 300,000 cases and will 2007 and the passage of a new Anti-Terror Act (ATA). the campaign.

Any numbers above that are Philippine Press Institute Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager BANAYO Adelle Chua mance. on meant a 4.2Marcos’ vision foresight in lawmaking For PNP Chief Camilo Coscolan to say Ma cos v s on and o es gh n awmak ng Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all manilastandard.net Council.

Before you he campa gn Any numbe s above ha a e I SEE m ne whe he you a e qua ed o ho d h s numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all a do Año sa d ha h s s ue we shou d Need we wonder why he expans on mean a 4 2 The National Association Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager BANAYO in the (Editorial) shortlist.

Day is no problem for me and my wife.

ONLINE Recently, there have been sensational The National Association sage of a new Anti-Terror And that is all due to the second biggest m ne whe he you a e qua ed o ho d h s a do Año sa d ha h s s ue we shou d Council.

Chin departments), 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550.

P.O. South Sea (SCS). hadunde rescued umber of(ATA) total China COVID LPhilippine TO Recently, there been sensational departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, 832-5550. classified asIronically, under investigation.”

The GCG isus akin tothe the Judicial Bar Philippine Newspapers For years we have not gone to the member of the BoardW And that isnance all due to the second biggest for governance richly the is amo bigeand insult to ushave all. Even President oofFor gove aaree(Advertising) ch y illustrated a P.O. ed by he of Philippine Newspapers Published Monday to Sunday by Manila Standard Act o2933, ce add eepneys buses and omany he means c“homicides ass ed asDuterte “hom c LITO des nvessix ga onORLANDO ” GCG The is Office, akin to the Judicial many years, we have not gone to eilippine ze o econoPh pp ne econo Box 2933, Manila Central Post Manila.

Website: www. and Bar Box killings of this known political activists, human Manila Centralo Post Offi ce, Manila.

Website: www. ceous failure.

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Boardo add mo e eepneys buses and o he means member BANAYO million from poverty—defined as an dstoamong 220 countries. he advised Duterte to That advice from former Senate president Baldwin Felipe Head—Ad Solutions killings of known political activists, human Aside from the drugs war killings, the Opportunities BANAYO Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de (www man net)included, Joy varied numerous legal issuances.”

Duterte did not even reprimand Sinas. va ed and nume ega ssuances ” failure.

8 $304.9 bilmanilastandard.net Council Before you can as you MEMBER My gu ay s a gu ong pdays. ocess The es be cemeteries those two days Weastandard go on Health Before you can be appointed as manilastandard.net o appointed anspo ao on—no ease he socease aon dR.she cemeteries on those two We gopP on As debeen om sensational he d ugs wa k ngs Council. heOXALES Opportunities nRecently 1998 osensational $304there 9 b income e on have been have rights defenders, and alleged New People’s My ay s a ong ocess The P es anspo a on—no soc a d s Health in 2.

Pandemic mismanagement ture has been shown to outweigh the risks. from all the things which have been underof $2 a day.

He was going to be in Top 15, dislodging Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Telephone Juan Ponce Enrile (JPE) carries the weight of Human Rights Watch has also noted the rights defenders, and alleged New People’s If only to show an example of the vision I won’t be surprised if one day Sinas tion in poverty, 2.

Pandemic mismanagement member of the Board to any GOCC, Philother days.

What matters is that we rememwringer of the GCG, den canno us p ck anybody o be Ph anc ng p o oco Philippine Press Institute Human R gh s Wa ch has a so no ed he mind not the critics and political activists, human member ofit the to any GOCC Philc educ on nknown pove y bring days What matters is that we rememEdgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager den canno usare pBoard ckChinese anybody o be Ph anc himself. ng p oother oco wringer o 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting allber killings of political activists human Opportunities down poverty to of an unheard of 12 numbers h.ma Lungs and bubb es Whether the critics accept or not, taken by the administration to establish our years of experience and loads of studies not politically motivated detention his most Health included, you must pass through the foresight of Marcos, here his legal isbecomes PNP chief A promotion, and o es gh o Ma cos he e a e h s ega s and pray for our loved ones who have The National Association Filipinos, with Hea h p es den and CEO The h ee pe Hea h expe s say h s s dange ous and People’s po ca y2022, mo from va ed30s de in en the on 2000s. o h s mos ecollapsed s aalleged us obyNew F0.7p percent w h percent Hea h included p in, esofden and CEO Thepass h eethrough pe presence Hea expe s say h sfordangeloved ous ones who have (Editorial) 832-5550.

P.O.ahead Health you must the ber and pray fors our SO by Philippine focus ondepartments), theofOpportunities country’s investments have poured have rights and in hthe areas, wringer the GCG,832-5554, and you(Advertising) must be ingone of us. only on nos the WPS/SCS issue the that apply being used: huh?

What’s next, I wonder. prominent critic, Senator Leila de oLima, suances ha sstill app y and aare e sstillflows be ngNewspapers used People’s ingrights $3,000. ss ons o trade GCG and wo and Wha can happen he e happen sdisputed ha we om nenbut cNew c overall Sena Le the a de L ma Boxhe2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website:manen ome exceeddefenders ng $3 000 andp alleged www. Comm manen Comm ss GCG ons o heGCG he woSecretary Wha can he cou e s dof haose we cou d ose wringer of the and you must be inbeen increasing, exchanges among our people mer DFA Albert del Rosario could gone ahead us impact of such disputes on the country’s naremoval in May 2018 of Chief Justice Maex o c o membe s Sec e a y o F nance eve y h ng we have ga ned r the worst ecoI SEE best interests? manilastandard.net emova n May 2018 o Ch e Jus ce Ma ex o c o membe s Sec e a y o F nance eve Former y h ngChief we have ned S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser es des ove he wo s eco Justicega Reynato ence in the 2016 US elections in favor of 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

Hacking and hackers hackers 1521: Theand quincentennial Hacking andHacking hackers

Hacking and hackers hackers 1521: The quincentennial andHacking hackers Aand shot in the arm

B1

B1

B1 B1

B1

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL EDITORIAL EDITORIAL EDITORIAL EDITORIAL

T

Learning curves blowcurves from for Nueva Ecija farmers LearningAnother curves Learning T

Confidence man the Ombudsman T T T T

Gie

Duterte’s failures

Gierran’s appointment is illegal

s failures

Gierran’s appointment is Ma Gie Gierran

Duterte’s failures Duterte’s failures Calamity elections Duterte’s failures

Mark Villar, Mr. Infra

Gierran’s appointment is illegal Marcos’ place in history Gierran’s appointment is illegal Gierran’s appointment is illegal

res Duterte’s failures alamity elections erte’s failures

MORE OPINION ONLINE

JPE on WPS

MORE MORE OPINION OPINION ONLINE ONLINE

MORE OPINION ONLINE

MORE MOREPPI OPINION OPINION ONLINE ONLINE

MORE MORE OPINION OPINION ONLINE ONLINE

MORE MORE OPINION OPINION ONLINE ONLINE MORE

OPINION ONLINE

PPI

PPI

have been the rise and and grantsDepa and Chinese only mumble the need out with a Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal tional security and ourSereno, with the rest ria Lourdes the revocation am- on o am(www.manilastandard.net) Rolando ManilaStandard os onPublisher Dom men ocan * * to * “come hilippines ever.pp be accessed Former Adviser Ramonchito L. Tome G.Ca Estabillo arelations Lou des Se eno he ofevoca Canguez os Dom nguez Depa men oat: be accessed at: *Chief * Justice Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher www man as andardassistance ne ManilaStandard e o he Ph nes eve Ramon manilastandard.net relief and otherand comprehensive detere*China’s agLITO of The the world.

Having served exceedingly well F. Treasury Manager Budge for Secdisaster eBudge a y Wende Av sado wsocial a so Thea can ban o strategy go ngbanotooceme esAnita du ngGrefal nesty given Senator (now retired) Antonio ONLINE n he ASEAN. Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Chin Wong/Ray S. E manilastandard.net Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Sec e a y Wende Av sado w so The go ng o ceme e es du ng nes y g ven Sena o now e ed An on o Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager ONLINE Published Monday to Sunday byRamonchito Philippine ManilaL.Standard ManilaStandard sed at:wo s n ASEAN The Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor can be accessed at: Chin W Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Tomeldan Managing Editor SO concerns have been continuing.

Even our engressive actions.”

What and how are we to have oBuilding, vo e106 whe he oManila nc ude you o no “Undas” o A Sa n s Day and A Sou s inworst variousTrillanes government institutions for more Published Monday to Sunday

by Philippine Standard IV who led mutinies in 2002 and In announcing that pivot from a US centric him the BANAYO ard.net Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Paseo de Ro ando G Estab o Pub sher Joyce Pangco Pa SO manilastandard.net Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager have o vo e whe he o nc ude you o no “Undas” o Editor A Sa n s Day andBaldwin A Sou s MEMBER Editors T anes V who ed mu n es n 2002 and Anita Grefal Treasury Manager a so makes hfive m he woONLINE s not Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor ChinF.Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions Jimbo Owen Gulle City Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Publishing Inc. at 6/FMakati Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de 19 panI SEE Joy MEMBER n he sho hanced ability tosnCity. confront the Covid undertake this remains unanswered even by Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Telephone Day s no p ob em o me and my w e

by Philippine Manila thanStandard decades, the least with the dis2007, and the passage of a new Anti-Terror foreign policy, Duterte came under fire from SEE onomic perforPhilippine Press Institute Adelle Chua he sho s Day s no p ob em o me and my w e Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone Former Ch ef Just ce Reynato S Puno Board Member & Ch ef Lega Adv ser Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions 2007 and he passage o a new An Te o Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions e ms o econom c pe o al Re Building, 106 Paseo de numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor Philippine Press Institute n aS andatinction d MEMBER LITO National Association The sRamonch ak nGCG oP.O. hesto ao and Ba Edgar M. Valmorida FoEven many yea s many we for have gone he demic has GCG been supported to aJud considerable their usno to callhave on the canof be accessed a Honor Boanco Cab eo heN ght Circulation Ed tor Manager being the country’s longest-serving the usual; suspects claiming LallncTome Manag ng Ed tor Act (ATA). numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting that he was unL TO pistitute Village, Makati City. Telephone The ak heThedan Jud c them. a Newspapers and departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550.

Focalls yea s we no gone The Ba National Association AdelleCirculation Chua Opinion Editor Ac ATAPressCirculation Philippine Philippine Institute Manager EdgardM. Valmorida BANAYO Adelle Chua Opinion Valmorida Manager man asRecently, anda ne departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) P.O. Editor Counc Be oWebsite: e you cano 832-5550. be appo n ofedbe asappo ceme eas es on hose wo days We go on Gu 6, 832-5558 (connecting all ourManila. friendly relations with China.

United States to activate the MDT had fallen ciation AnEdgar tathe FM.Grefa Treasury Manager ofed Philippine Newspapers BoxBANAYO 2933, Maniladegree Central Postby Office, www.

Secretary of National Defense, JPE knows there have been sensational The National Association duly risking country’s security and abansecond biggest Counc Be e you can n J mbo Owen e C ty Ed tor ceme e es on hose wo days We go on Ch n Wong/Ray S Eñano Assoc ate Ed tors Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. he e have been sensa ona 5554, (Advertising) spapers due o he 832-5550. secondP.O. b speaks. gges manilastandard.net ofRecen PhilippineyNewspapers membe he only Boa d o he anyBoa GOCC Ph GOCC o deaf hePhdays Wha ma sWha scommitment, hamawee emem The one oEditorial and on ears.

No official belongs to that select killings of He known political activists, human t Office, Manila.whereof Website: www.he doning ourhuman decades-old alliance with the US manilastandard.net Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Boardofly-in-the-ointment membe d Pañares oChairman any o Board he dayseUS s Santos s not ha we ememCh ef Photographer EmilPangco P. Jurado Emeritus, Editorial Ba dw n R Fe pe Head—Ad So ut ons k ngs o known po ca ac v s s Opportunities L no M Joyce News Ed tor Heacomes h nc uded mus hmus ough he to EMBER group of people andhep action aybeo and ou p oved who Opportunities which every has the mention save for sail-by ofhave the who have whose knowledge of matters rights defenders, alleged Newa People’s andNew its network Hea you hsoncoften udedpass youbeen pass h be ough nt ay the oones ou oved ones s and de ende s and eged Peop e sof friends in and around the smanagemen w nge o w he GCGoimages” and you n mus gone ogone us Ph state pp ne ess ns u gh e national Ade emus Chua Op tor release of “new satellite of Chinese US carriers, has been forthcoming.

Edgar By M Va mor daa friendly C rcu athand on Manager of bePthese the law, security, for- world. nge he GCG andbeyou benahead non Ed extending to our ahead o us

NLINE

PPI

PPI PPI

PPI

Talk

EVERYMAN

boats pouring into the disputed seas as if in an So, given these developments, should we neighbors, especially China, he was accused Caring, CROSSROADS sharing invasion mode. So the country gets subjected surprised that cautioned Exbeyond equal. of opening the doors to a “creeping invasion” Em G.be PEstabillo Jurado ChaJPE rman Emer the tusChief Ed tor a Board Rolando Publisher Ro ando G Es ab o Pub he and daring JinAthe to another round of Sinophobic stunts from ecutive “not to depend on the US as they have His world view and his grasp of statecraft byJustice that emerging hegemon.

Former Chief Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser ManilaStandard can be accessed at: Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Fo me Ch e us ce Reyna o S Puno Boa d Membe & the Ch e usual Lega Adv e Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor their own quarters who refuseo LtoTome accept the problems and interests.”

M S compares well with those of known an be a einternaed a He forged ahead anyway, taking full measHono B anco Cab e N gh Ed o Ramonch dan Manag ng Ed o manilastandard.net CRUZ Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager ONLINE like former Malaysian time ofDELA COVID Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Wong/Rayof S. our Eñano Editors Even man a andaPrime d ne An a F G e a of T easuch u y Manage fact thatChin enforcement rightsAssociate and claims pointedly, need la Standard tional statesmenONLINE ure of the possible consequences a mbo Owen Guwe e wonder C y Ed o Ch n Wong/Ray S Eñano A oc a e Ed more o 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 not any other is the issue. to mind critics Minister Mohamad and former US bold action. Well,Ba n R now Fe peat this Head—Ad wedware stageSo u on Bu d n 106 d Mahathir L no M San osnot the Ch e Pho og aphe By Me andrew T Ve asco oyce Pangco Paña es Newwhy Ed he o advised Duterte MEMBER ty.RTelephone Philippine Press Institute Chua to beOpinion Editor and focus on the country’s best interests?

Edgar M.benefits Valmoridaof Circulation ManagergesV all M Secretary C ph n of State Asked what Adelle else needs done aside Henry Kissinger, cting Ph pp ne P e to n name ue where the such a friendly Ade e Chua Op n on Ed o The National Association Edga M Va mo da C cu a on Manage 6 832 5558 nn n The Na ona Assoc a on eign relatedsconcerns is probably o Ph policy pp ne and Newspape

PPI PPI

832-5550. P.O. 5554 www.

Ad n 832 5550 O ebsite: Ofi M n W b www

The Na ona A o a on of Philippine Newspapers o Ph pp ne New pape

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board Em P u ado Cha man Eme u Ed o a Boa d 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

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Jimbo Owen Gulle Lino M. Santos

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Night Editor City Editor Chief Photographer

B2

World

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

HK ‘suspends’Taiwan office; Bishop says religious freedoms must remain

SMOKING PROTEST.

A Palestinian demonstrator stands amidst smoke from burn tires during a protest against the tension in Jerusalem and the Israeli-Gaza fighting on May 17 in the occupied West Bank, near the settlement of Beit El next to Ramallah. AFP

HONG KONG—Hong Kong is temporarily shutting its representative office in Taiwan, officials said Tuesday in the latest indication of strained ties.

“The Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office (Taiwan) has temporarily suspended operations with effect from today,” Hong Kong’s government said in a brief statement, which did not give a reason for the closure.

A government spokesperson told AFP that the decision “has nothing to do with the coronavirus situation” in Taiwan where cases have recently spiked and prompted the reimposition of some social distancing measures.

Asked whether the closure was tied to politics, the spokesperson declined to comment.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, which handles relations with China, said it was working on a response.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s newly appointed Catholic bishop on Tuesday

said he would need to tread carefully with Beijing as it cracks down on dissent—but vowed to plead with authorities to defend religious freedoms.

The Vatican announced Monday that Stephen Chow, 62, would be the southern Chinese city’s new bishop, filling a role that had remained vacant at a tumultuous time for religious congregations.

Chow, the head of the Vatican’s Jesuit order in the China region, was peppered with questions about how he plans to handle relations with local and mainland authorities at his first press appearance since his appointment.

“Religious freedom is a basic right.

We hope in our talks to the government to remind it that it doesn’t forget that,” he told reporters.

But he also trod carefully on questions about China’s treatment of religions and the destruction of churches in the mainland. AFP

UN, diplomats try to end Gaza strikes

G

AZA CITY—The UN Security Council was due to hold an emergency meeting Tuesday amid a flurry of urgent diplomacy aimed at stemming hostilities between Israel and armed Palestinian groups that have left over 200 dead.

Amid calls for an end to the fighting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Monday Israel would “continue striking at the terrorist targets”.

Israel launched its air campaign on the Gaza Strip on May 10 after the enclave’s rulers, the Islamist group

Hamas, fired rockets towards the Jewish state, an escalation sparked by unrest in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.

In total 212 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including at least 61 children, and more than 1,400 wounded—whilst in Israel, ten people have

died, including one child, with hundreds injured, according to officials on both sides.

Tuesday’s emergency UNSC session —the fourth since the conflict escalated —was called after the United States, a key Israel ally, blocked the adoption of a joint statement calling for a halt to the violence for the third time in a week on Monday.

US President Joe Biden, having resisted joining other world leaders and much of his own Democratic party in calling for an immediate end to hostilities, told Netanyahu Monday night he backs a

Cyclone ‘Tauktae’ leaves 21 dead, 96 missing amid COVID-hit India MAHUVA—At least 21 people were dead and 96 were missing on Tuesday after a monster cyclone slammed into western India, compounding the misery for millions of others who are enduring a devastating coronavirus surge.

Hundreds of thousands of people were without power after Cyclone Tauktae, one of a growing number of increasingly severe storms in the Arabian Sea blamed on climate change, hammered the Gujarat coast on Monday evening.

The cyclone packed gusts of up to 185 kilometres (115 miles) per hour, uprooting trees and knocking down power lines and mobile phone towers as it barreled inland while weakening slightly.

One support vessel serving oil rigs that were hit by immense waves off the coast of Mumbai sank and 96 of the 273 people who had been on board were missing, the Indian Navy said Tuesday.

The defense ministry said 177 people were rescued from the vessel, with operations expected to continue throughout the day in “extremely challenging sea conditions”.

Elsewhere one fresh casualty was reported on Tuesday, taking the confirmed death toll to at least 21 as savage winds swept through flimsy homes and turned streets into rivers.

Although the cyclone was one of the fiercest to hit the area in decades, better forecasting than in recent years allowed for strong preparations, and more than 200,000 people in danger zones were evacuated from their homes.

Mumbai authorities on Monday closed the airport for several hours and urged people to stay indoors as huge waves battered the city’s seafront.

- Covid catastrophe The deadly weather system has hindered India’s embattled response to a coronavirus surge that is killing at least 4,000 people daily and pushing the health system to breaking point.

Mumbai shifted on Sunday about 600 Covid-19 patients in field hospitals “to safer locations”, while sea levels swelled as high as three meters (10 feet) near the seaside town of Diu. In Gujarat, where all Covid-19 patients in hospitals within five kilometres of the coast were also moved.

But one Covid patient died in the town of Mahuva after he could not be moved in time before the storm hit, doctors said. AFP

ceasefire, but stopped short of demanding a truce.

Israel continued its barrage of Gaza overnight, setting the dark sky ablaze over the crowded, coastal enclave as multiple strikes crashed into buildings in Gaza City shortly after midnight, AFP journalists said.

Hours before, strikes had knocked out the only Covid-19 testing laboratory in the strip and damaged the office of Qatar’s Red Crescent.

The rate of positive coronavirus tests in Gaza has been among the highest in the world, at 28 percent. AFP

PLASTIC PROTECTION. A man

covers himself with plastics as he walks along a street in Amreli on May 18 after Cyclone Tautae hit the west coast of India with powerful winds and driving rain, leaving at least 20 people dead. AFP

IN BRIEF Meet on Myanmar arms ban shelved

UNITED NATIONS—A UN General Assembly meeting set for Tuesday to discuss a non-binding resolution on halting arms transfers to Myanmar was postponed indefinitely because there was not enough support to pass the text, diplomatic sources said Monday.

The authors “did not have the support they expected” in order to pass the motion with a large majority of the Assembly’s 193 member countries, one diplomat said on condition of anonymity.

And they “wanted more time for negotiations,” especially with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, another source told AFP. The text was drafted at the request of Liechtenstein, with the support of 48 countries, including Britain, the European Union and the United States—but with South Korea as the only Asian country signed on.

South Korea’s support came after several weeks of negotiations in an effort to gain the backing of at least one ASEAN country.

The resolution, which would have been non-binding but politically powerful, called for the “immediate suspension of the direct and indirect supply, sale, or transfer of all weapons, munitions, and other military-related equipment to Myanmar.” AFP

RSF launches ‘trust’ certificate for media

Migrants enter Spanish African enclave in record numbers FNIDEQ, Morocco—A stream of migrants crossed the border from Morocco to Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta unimpeded early Tuesday, adding to what Spanish officials say is an unprecedented influx at a time of high tension between Madrid and Rabat.

At least 5,000 migrants, about a thousand of them minors, slipped into Ceuta on Monday, a record for a single day, Spanish authorities said.

The migrants reached the enclave by swimming or by walking at low tide from beaches a few kilometres to the south. Some used inflatable swimming rings and rubber dinghies.

In the early hours of Tuesday, hun-

dreds more men and women of all ages flocked to the Fnideq border post to try their luck at the crossing.

They walked down a path to the beach in their dozens, before running towards Ceuta along the coastline, as a handful of Moroccan policemen watched on without intervening.

“I saw on Facebook that it was possible to cross the border, so I took a taxi here with my friend as I can’t feed my family anymore,” 26-year-old Ouarda, from the neighbouring town of Tetouan, told AFP. “I’m not scared -- I’ll either die or I’ll cross,” the unemployed, divorced mother-of-two said.

One man drowned trying to swim

across, Spanish officials said on Monday.

Videos posted on social media showed dozens of migrants -- some wearing just beachwear but others clad in normal outdoor clothes -- setting off from rocky beachheads.

Some people also tried to go over the mountain that overhangs the beach.

“They stopped me from getting through, but I’m going to try again,” said one 26-year-old jobseeker.

In the small town of Assilah, 160 kilometres (100 miles away), AFP saw groups of young people walking north towards the border on the side of the motorway, with some hanging off the backs of trucks. AFP

PARIS—France-based NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) launched its “Journalism Trust Initiative” on Tuesday, a platform aimed at battling disinformation by identifying and promoting “trustworthy” news sources.

The online tool allows media organizations to apply for certification as a trustworthy source through a three-step process that includes self-assessment and an external audit.

RSF hopes it will encourage third parties, including internet search engines and social media companies, to differentiate more clearly between sources of information.

In a statement, the organisation described it as a “game-changing transparency tool... with the aim of building a healthier news ecosystem, identifying and rewarding reliable reporting and restoring audiences’ confidence in journalism at large.”

The project was first announced in 2018 and has been co-funded by the European Commission and Craig Newmark Philanthropies.

“In the current information chaos, falsehoods, propaganda and hate speech have a competitive advantage over journalism,” said Christophe Deloire, secretary general of RSF. AFP

S. Carolina inmates told to choose: Firing squad or electric chair death WASHINGTON—The US state of South Carolina has introduced a law requiring death row prisoners to choose between firing squad and electric chair after a lack of lethal injection drugs halted executions for a decade.

“This weekend, I signed legislation into law that will allow the state to carry out a death sentence. The families and loved ones of victims are owed closure and justice by law. Now, we can provide it,” Governor Henry McMaster said on Twitter.

The pro-death penalty Republican wants to resume executions after a 10year hiatus caused by a shortage of drugs used in lethal injections.

Before the pause, death row inmates would choose between the chair and injection, with the injection being administered if no choice was made.

The new law, signed Friday, makes the electric chair the default option if lethal injection is unavailable, and creates the alternative option of a firing squad.

Local prisoner advocacy group the Incarcerated Outreach Network called the move “appalling, shocking, abhorrent” while the South Carolina branch of the American Civil Liberties Union it was “about finding a new way to restart executions within a racist, arbitrary, and errorprone system.”

“South Carolina’s criminal justice system makes mistakes,” executive director Frank Knaack, said in a statement.

“Yet, capital punishment is irreversible... Black people make up more than half of South Carolina’s death row despite being only 27 percent of the state’s population.” AFP

PUB’S OPEN. Drinks are served by a member of staff inside the Harehills Labour

Club in Leeds in northern England on May 17 as COVID-19 lockdown restrictions ease.

AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Business

Standard

TODAY

Japan’s GDP shrank by 1.3% in first quarter on virus curbs TOKYO—Japan’s economy contracted 1.3 percent in the three months to March after the government reimposed coronavirus restrictions in major cities as infections surged, data showed Tuesday.

The quarter-on-quarter fall came after the world’s third-largest economy grew for two quarters to December, but the expansion was stopped in its tracks by a winter increase in coronavirus cases.

The government imposed new virus states of emergency in January in response, urging people to stay at home and calling for restaurants to close earlier.

The contraction was largely in line with economists’ expectations.

“Personal consumption has been particularly hard-hit by the COVID-19 emergency measures,” Naoya Oshikubo, senior economist at SuMi TRUST, said in an analysis issued ahead of the official data.

The figures released by the cabinet office shortly before markets opened showed private consumption fell 1.4 percent, following two quarters of expansion, reflecting slower spending in the services sector.

Capital expenditure, including manufacturing, was down 1.4 percent, but economists said that was only relative to a sharp increase in the previous quarter and the overall recovery trend was on track.

The drop in private consumption was not as bad as some had feared, said Marcel Thieliant, senior Japan economist at Capital Economics.

The two “big disappointments,” he wrote in a note, came from drops in non-residential investment and public demand. Meanwhile, housing investment rose 1.1 percent.

And while exports were up 2.3 percent, imports rose by a larger 4.0 percent, “so net trade knocked 0.2%-points off GDP growth,” Thieliant added.

Economists warn that the slowdown is likely to continue, with the government forced to impose a third state of emergency in several parts of the country—including economic engines Tokyo and Osaka—earlier this month. AFP

B3

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Profit taking pulls down stock market; DITO falls T HE stock market retreated Tuesday on profit taking and renewed concerns of investors about the economic rebound due to the slow vaccine rollout.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 38.84 points, or 0.6 percent, to 6,244.74 on a value turnover of P6.2 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 139 to 70, with 50 issues unchanged.

DITO CME Holdings Corp., the third major mobile phone company, dropped 5.7 percent to P7.64, while AC Energy Corp., a unit of Ayala Corp., shed 3.5 percent to P6.86.

BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets, declined 3.2 percent to P102.50, but Puregold Price Club Inc. of retail tycoon Lucio Co rose 3.8 percent to P34.60.

The rest of Asian markets rallied in Asia

as investors looked past rising coronavirus infections in the region and bet on global recovery, with Tokyo brushing off data showing the Japanese economy shrank more than expected in the first quarter.

Tokyo led gains, piling on more than two percent in the face of data showing the Japanese economy contracted more than expected in the first three months of the year, breaking a run of two straight periods of growth, as it was hit by new containment measures.

Major parts of the country, including Tokyo, have been under states of emergency, with people urged to stay at home and restaurants told to close earlier.

The outbreak has raised concerns that the already delayed summer Olympics could be called off again.

Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Mumbai and Bangkok rose more than one percent, while there were also gains in Wellington, Sydney and Shanghai.

Taipei soared more than five percent

PSEi May 18, 2021

TOP GAINERS

as tech firms enjoyed some bargainbuying, having been battered in recent weeks by inflation fears—tech firms are more susceptible to higher interest rates.

The index has also been suffering as Taiwan is hit by a surge in virus cases.

Singapore was also well up on bargainbuying but traders there are also taking fright at a jump in infections. Shanghai and Wellington were in the red.

Traders built on a broadly positive previous day, despite a retreat on Wall Street, bringing some much-needed stability after last week’s topsy-turvy performance as Federal Reserve officials continue to reassure that fears of longterm, red-hot inflation were misplaced.

The key event this week is the release of minutes from the US central bank’s April policy meeting, which will be scanned for clues about board members’ views on price rises as the world’s top economy bursts back to life as vaccines allow further re-openings. With AFP

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

BLOOM LBC PMPC HOME GMAP RFM NRCP FNI GMA7 MEG

LAST PRICE 6.4 16.9 5.8 7.35 8.6 4.76 0.7 2.6 9.09 2.83

CHANGE 0.39 0.86 0.29 0.36 0.4 0.22 0.03 0.11 0.36 0.11

% CHANGE 6.49% 5.36% 5.26% 5.15% 4.88% 4.85% 4.48% 4.42% 4.12% 4.04%

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

BMM MAHB BKR IPM OV BCB MAB MA LRW TBGI

LAST PRICE 58 2.25 1.25 4.53 0.011 2.9 0.013 0.013 1.35 0.355

CHANGE -21.9 -0.34 -0.17 -0.42 -0.001 -0.24 -0.001 -0.001 -0.1 -0.025

% CHANGE -27.41% -13.13% -11.97% -8.48% -8.33% -7.64% -7.14% -7.14% -6.90% -6.58%

MOST ACTIVE

24-HOUR SERVICE BACK. People commute in Manhattan as the subway returns to twenty-four hour service on May 17,

2021 in New York City. AFP

How Apple, Google, Facebook and Alibaba used their power I’VE BEEN thinking about power, how it’s gained, how it’s used. In the pandemic, powerful countries have been accused of everything from vaccine hoarding to vaccine politics.

Individuals have been accused of using their personal power to jump vaccine priority lines.

The use and misuse of power is not limited to politics or personal interaction. It extends to business activities and management decisionmaking.

Power and the New Economy In business news, Facebook is fuming over an Apple iOS update that threatens its over US$86 billion in ad sales. Tile CEO CJ Prober has alleged that following Apple’s introduction of Air Tags, a product that essentially competes with Tile’s object trackers, Apple made changes to its iOS that made it more difficult for Apple’s Find My app to enable Tile.

Horacio Gutierrez, Spotify head of global affairs, calls Apples App Store fees an “Apple Tax.” The “Apple Tax” also exists for customers. Many mobile apps that are free to download on Google’s Google Play come with a fee to download on Apple’s App Store. Both companies have been accused of using their dominance to charge exorbitant fees, as much as 30 percent commissions for paid downloads.

In business, strategy is focused on gaining competitive advantage. Essentially, competitive advantage allows a company to dominate its market. Of course, when a company becomes too big, then it gains the power to behave in a manner that is inimical to customers.

This happens when a company is so big that no competitor is strong enough to challenge its dominance. To guard against this, most countries have anti-trust laws meant to prevent monopolies and ensure that a certain degree of healthy competition exists. These laws are meant to curb corporate power.

In the United States, senators are investigating Apple and Google over claims that cooperation between Apple’s App store and Google’s Google Play constitute a violation of anti-trust law. Representatives from Spotify, Tile and Match have accused the two firms of charging

exorbitant fees, including mandatory fee sharing arrangements. Epic games, makers of the popular mobile game Fortnite, is suing Apple over what it calls exorbitant charges.

Apple has come under fire for copying the ideas of developers and creating an unfair playing field like using its control over the platform to hurt the usability of competitor products.

Recoil Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) chairman Rod Sims has declared that Google and Apple not only dominate the app store space but also compete with developers. He expressed concerns about the two companies forcing developers to use Apple and Google’s own payment systems for any in-app purchases. Spotify, a direct competitor of Apple Music, has said that Apple’s rules make it impossible for Spotify to inform customers that the service is cheaper if bought away from the App Store.

Power grows and is abused when the victims have no recourse.

regulatory system. A few days after, the Ant Group’s $37-billion initial public offering was suspended and the Ant Group scrambled to distance itself from its founder. It seems difficult to imagine that the industry-wide clampdown was caused simply by Jack Ma’s speech. After all, Ma’s speech was a reaction to planned regulations that would require FinTech companies to be regulated like other financial institutions, including requiring better capitalization. Other investigations involve data tracking activities and potential regulations to put such activities under government regulation.

Fallen Whatever role Jack Ma’s harangue of government regulators played in current regulatory scrutiny, two things are clear. China is bent on reining in the power of some of its largest businesses. And Jack Ma has certainly fallen from grace.

In the United States, the announcement that Bill and Melinda Gates have agreed to divorce has opened a flood of unflattering news about Bill Gates. Gates, long portrayed as likable nerd and global philanthropist, is now having to deal with news about office affairs, preying on female employees, and generally creating an uncomfortable work environment for women, one in which sexual predation by men became acceptable.

While there may be comfort in knowing that neither Jack Ma nor Bill Gates got away with teasing fate, the reality is that both individuals managed to accumulate so much personal power that they felt they could do whatever they wanted and get away with it.

The reality is that power can be abused.

Some say power corrupts. Some people say power attracts those who will abuse it. Both are probably true. Most importantly, power grows and is abused when there is no sufficient balance and those who are abused have no recourse. It is the job of government to rein in power. Antitrust regulations are one of them.

Is it enough? What do we do in a world where, more and more, businesses are growing more powerful than countries?

The ACCC has suggested the two companies give developers and users more control over purchases, including allowing users to remove and replace Apple and Google preinstalled apps from their phones. Developers are not the only companies hurt by platform dominance. While Google forces developers to share income, it routinely uses content from newspapers and other publishers without payment. The ACCC’s warnings follow the passage of an Australian law that forces Google and Facebook to pay for news content on their platforms.

Meanwhile, in China, regulators have mounted antitrust investigations on its tech sector. Pundits trace the recent clampdown to an investigation of the Ant group and AliReaders can email Maya at integrababa on antitrust issues following Jack Ma’s tions_manila@yahoo.com. Or visit her site at 24 October speech when he criticized China’s http://integrations.tumblr.com.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

DITO ALI BDO ACEN TEL SM MBT CNVRG ICT AC

VOLUME 84316300 16567400 4887930 55790700 176050 226990 4505000 10640200 1260100 218720

VALUE (PHP) 640737428 533603020 503810450 387575137 225602510 208113210 205512575 204322794 176149564 155873670

Argentina suspends foreign sales of beef BUENO AIRES—Argentina, one of the world’s biggest beef exporters, has suspended foreign sales of the meat for 30 days to combat price increases at home, the government said Monday.

Argentines ate 38 kilograms (84 pounds) of beef and veal per head in 2019, according to figures from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development—about 12 kilograms per head more than the secondplaced United States.

But they also face one of the most elevated consumer price indexes in the world. Inflation hit 4.1 percent in April, according to state statistics agency Indec, and the cost of living has increased 46.3 percent in the last 12 months.

“As a consequence of the sustained increase of the price of beef on the domestic market, the government decided to implement a set of measures aimed at regulating the sector,” a statement from center-left President Alberto Fernandez said.

“During the implementation of these measures, beef exports are limited for 30 days.”

Manila Exceptions will be allowed for foreign exStandard ports already in progress.

TODAY In an interview Sunday evening, Fernandez said he was concerned about the increase in prices, especially of food.

“It worries me a lot, because it is inexplicable, there is really no reason, other than the increase in consumption, to explain the increases that we saw in March and April,” he told news channel C5N. AFP (MS-MAY 19, 26 & JUNE 2, 2021)

WAREHOUSE FOR RENT LOMA DE GATO, MARILAO, BULACAN Area: 500 sq.m to 20,000 sq.m For more details please contact Mr. Ric 09173290549

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT HENRY’S Building, No. 80 Ortigas Ave. , Greenhills, San Juan City, MM Area: 50 sq.m to 300 sq.m For more details please contact Mr. Ric 09173290549

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that the estate of ROQUE L. BARRANDA, who died intestate on May 14, 2020, in the City of Manila; leaving among others a parcel of land covered by TCT No. 254472; also shares of stock in Rockwell Land Corporation (766 shares); Manila Electric Company (272 shares); and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (360 shares) were settled via Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate with Waiver and Renunciation of Rights/Shares were executed by the legal heirs before Notary Public Atty. Janrurik Padiernos and recorded into his Notarial Registry as Doc. No. 90; Page No. 19; Book No. 7; Series of 2021.

(MStandard-May 19, 26 & Jun. 2, 2021)

2 COLX. X 4 CMS.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021

Business

Sales of imported vehicles rose 40% to 20,353 units in first four months

By Othel V. Campos SALES of imported vehicles rose 40 percent in the first four months to 20,353 units from 14,572 units in the same period last year, the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors Inc. said in a report Tuesday.

AVID said passenger car sales from January to April increased 16 percent to 5,328 units from 4,574 vehicles in the same period last year.

Sales of light commercial vehicles also rose 44 percent to 14,314 units from 9,906 units.

The industry group said that on a month-on-month basis, April sales dipped by 13 percent to 4,496 units from 5,193 units in March. Passenger car sales slid from 1,372 units sold in March to 1,087 units in April. Suzuki remained the best seller in this segment with a total of 2,658 units, followed by Hyundai with 1,798 units.

Meanwhile, LCVs sold in April slowed 15 percent to 3,116 units from the 3676 units in March. Ford took the lead with 6,023 units sold, followed by Suzuki with 3,732 units and Hyundai with 2,069 units.

AVID said the April sales climbed 24,848 percent to 4,496 units from just 18 vehicles sold in the same month in 2020 when the country was on lockdown.

Sales of passenger cars reached 1,087 units, 15,429 percent higher than the 7 units sold in April 2020, while sales of LCVs increased to 4,203 from 18 units last year, representing an increase of 23,250-percent.

Hyundai led the commercial vehicle segment with 673-percent growth, from last year’s 92 units to 711 units sold this year.

“They say you cannot emerge from challenging times untransformed.

With these encouraging figures, I say we at AVID have boldly transformed ourselves and have become even better at what we do, which is to provide our customers an end-to-end mobility experience that best suits the needs of the times,” said AVID president Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo.

GLOBE Telecom Inc. said Tuesday it borrowed $100 million from Bank of China (Hong Kong) Ltd. to partly finance 2021 capital expenditures.

The telecom unit of Ayala Group budgeted a record P70 billion for capital expenditures this year, higher than last year’s P50 billion.

Globe already spent P19.1 billion in capex as of end-March, exceeding last year’s spending by 79 percent.

The company said around 91 percent of the investment went to datarelated requirements to support the fast-growing data usage and provide superior data customer experience.

Globe’s network roll-out strategy includes aggressive cell site builds, upgrade of all sites to fourth-generation/ long-term evolution technology and fast-tracking the fiberization of Filipino homes nationwide.

The record-breaking capital expenditure supports Globe’s continuous modernization of its network to make 5G and fiber technology available to customers in more areas in the country.

Globe reported a net income of P7.3 billon in the first three months, up by 11 percent from P6.5 billion in the same period last year.

Core net income, which excludes the impact of non-recurring charges, and foreign exchange and mark-to-market charges, increased 13 percent to P7.4 billion from a year ago.

Consolidated service revenues reached P37.8 billion, up 3 percent from P36.9 billion last year, on robust data revenue contribution mostly from the broadband segment.

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

-38.84 PTS. 6,244.74

Total Volume Total Trades Total Value

2,625,534,529 103,553 6,194,621,708.26

Advances

70

Declines Unchanged

139 50

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.8220

Japan

Yen

0.009158

0.4380

UK

Pound

1.414200

67.6299

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128758

6.1575

Switzerland

Franc

1.107665

52.9708

Canada

Dollar

0.828569

39.6238

Singapore

Dollar

0.748839

35.8110

Australia

Dollar

0.776800

37.1481

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655549

126.9937

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

12.7518

Brunei

Dollar

0.746046

35.6774

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.031817

1.5216

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.0206

Euro

Euro

1.215600

58.1324

Korea

Won

0.000879

0.0420

China

Yuan

0.155294

7.4265

India

Rupee

0.013637

0.6521

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.242189

11.5820

New Zealand

Dollar

0.721300

34.4940

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035672

1.7059 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

GMA Network’s profit jumps 246%

CLARK WASTE DISPOSAL. Midori Hotel and Casino turns over 96 sets of trash bins to Clark Development Corp. to help the state-owned corporation achieve its goal of keeping Clark clean and green. Through the initiative, CDC and Midori hope to educate the general public on waste management and proper waste segregation. CDC president and chief executive Manuel Gaerlan (third from right) receives the donations from Midori Hotel general manager Vincent Tang (right) and Midori Casino manager Emmanuel Aure (second from right).

DBCC reduces 2021 growth target, cites new lockdowns

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE inter-agency Development Budget Coordinating Committee on Tuesday reduced the 2021 growth forecast to a range of 6 percent to 7 percent from the previous estimate of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent, taking into account the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the imposition of the latest rounds of community quarantines.

The DBCC is composed of the Department of Finance, Department of Budget and Management and the National Economic and Development Authority.

Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said in an online press briefing the DBCC reviewed the macroeconomic assumptions and targets in light of the recent domestic and global developments, particularly the effect of the pandemic.

“For 2021, the emerging gross domestic product growth projection is slightly adjusted to 6.0 to 7.0 percent from 6.5 to 7.5 percent in view of the emergence of

new COVID-19 variants and the reimposition of Enhanced Community Quarantine in the ‘National Capital Region Plus’ area during the second quarter of the year,” Avisado said.

“Further, GDP is projected to return to pre-COVID-19 levels by growing at 7.0 to 9.0 percent in 2022, and will continue to grow by 6.0 to 7.0 percent in 2023 and 2024. Our growth prospects and economic recovery will be underpinned by three interventions to arrest the spread of the virus and help the poor cope with the impact of the quarantines,” Avisado said.

He said the first intervention would be the intensified implementation of the prevent, detect, isolate, treat, and recover strategy and the full vaccination of the residents in areas with the highest risk such as the NCR Plus, Pampanga, Cebu City and Davao City.

Avisado said that by targeting these areas, COVID-19 transmission could be dramatically reduced throughout the country.

The second intervention is the reduction of the gap from detection to isolation of COVID-19 positive cases from 7 to 5 days, such as the use of digitally-assisted contact tracing. This could potentially reduce cases by around 51 percent, according to epidemiological models.

He said that under the third intervention, around P170 billion would be needed to fund supplemental social support for those hardest hit by the pandemic and support improved health protocols.

A version of this proposal is being deliberated in the House of Representatives, and is contingent on raising additional savings and revenues to remain deficit neutral, he said.

Petron to resume operations of Bataan oil refinery in June Globe Telecom reasons starting February. everyone,” he said. obtains $100-m loan By Alena Mae S. Flores Ang expressed optimism about PeAng earlier said Petron was doing the PETRON Corp. plans to restart its tron’s financial performance after post- best it could to create a safe and healthy from Bank of China 180,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Bataan ing a net income of P1.73 billion in the work environment while ensuring that

By Darwin G. Amojelar

PSE INDEX CLOSING

province next month amid optimism of a stronger financial performance this year.

“Unlike Shell, Petron is a modern refinery which we have upgraded only about five years ago. And the refinery is very competitive, and we see no reason for us to shut down the refinery,” Petron president and chief executive Ramon Ang said during the annual stockholders’ meeting held virtually.

“In fact we are set to restart the refinery this coming June. Unless there is a hard lockdown and the volume drops down tremendously, the refinery is a very viable business,” Ang said.

Petron owns the country’s lone oil refinery after rival Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. shut down its 110,000-barrel-per-day facility in Batangas province last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Petron also temporarily closed its refinery for economic and maintenance

first quarter, a reversal of its P4.9-billion net loss in the same period last year.

Petron attributed the recovery to the recent improvement in international oil prices and the implementation of costcutting measures.

“We certainly believe it will continue to deliver good performance unless there is a strict lockdown again,” Ang said.

Ang said the COVID-19 pandemic brought down the sales volume of Petron.

“Revenue-wise we are down practically 44 percent. And the volume drops by 27 percent. With that kind of number, no company can survive that. Luckily, Petron’s balance sheet is very strong, and we have prepared the company to be able to weather that kind of storm.

So rest assured that the company will survive and will make good return for

recovery stays on track.

“Petron is constantly evolving, and we will continue to work towards our goal of emerging stronger from this pandemic,” said Ang. Data showed that Petron’s sales performance in the first three months continued to improve from the last three quarters of 2020, which reflected the demand destruction from the pandemic.

First-quarter volumes reached 19.38 million barrels, or 21 percent lower than 24.66 million barrels sold in the same quarter last year, while consolidated revenues declined 20 percent to P83.3 billion from P104.62 billion.

The company said that despite the lower revenues, it delivered a turnaround in the first quarter with a P3.7 billion operating income from the P4.4billion operating loss in the same period last year.

GMA Network Inc. said Tuesday net income jumped 246 percent in the first quarter from a year ago, on the back of higher advertising revenues.

The leading broadcast network said net income amounted to P2.01 billion from January to March, up from P583 million in the same period last year. First-quarter consolidated revenues grew 55 percent to P5.45 billion.

“Despite the protracted community quarantine brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the operations of the company, particularly its core business in media, remained unhampered,” GMA said.

The company said that in the first three months, consolidated advertising revenues soared to P5.09 billion, overtaking last year’s figure by 57 percent. “All airtimerevenue generating platforms yielded upbeat sales results versus same period last year.

Sale of goods also contributed to the healthy top line of the company, owing to the successful launch of GMA Affordabox in the middle of last year and GMA Now towards year-end,” the network said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Japan firms invest P1.8b in ecozones JAPANESE companies invested P1.8 billion in economic zones in the first fourth months, according to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

PEZA deputy director-general Tereso Panga said about 16 Japanese companies invested in the Philippines from January to April. These included seven in export manufacturing, four IT companies, two in facilities operations and three logistics providers.

Data from the agency showed that Japanese investments accounted for 27 percent of total investments in economic zones since 1995.

“When it comes to ecozone foreign direct investments, the Japanese has always been the number 1 investor of PEZA. Since 1995 up to April 2021, 974 Japanese locators have poured P716.22 billion into the country’s ecozones out of total P2.63 trillion in ecozone investments approved by PEZA. We remain bullish that the Japanese will continue to be our number 1 investor in PEZA not only this year but for many years to come,” said Panga. Othel V. Campos

MyTown wins gold at Coliving Awards

MYTOWN received the international Coliving Award in the category “Impact & Sustainability” during an award ceremony held Friday in Paris, France.

MyTown was the only Philippine representative during the Coliving Awards. MyTown, Episode (Korea) and Hmlet (Singapore) were the only winners from the Asian continent. It was also a finalist in the “Community & User Experience” category.

The first international Coliving Awards were the highlight of the Co-liv Summit, which attracted more than 500 companies related to coliving from around the world.

As the coliving industry is shaping up and becoming a solid specialist asset class, the Coliving Awards focus on defining coliving as an institutionalised, scalable and thriving real estate model.

The Coliving Awards help winners not only gain well-deserved recognition, but also to contribute to the growth and development of coliving, a niche real estate asset class that has the potential to truly transform the future of living. “We aim to give visibility to the brightest minds and inspire the next generation of real estate market players by identifying disruptive solutions and state-ofthe-art concepts,” said the Coliving Awards organization.

Italian research says switch to HTPs rejuvenates health of COPD patients PATIENTS with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who abstained from smoking or substantially reduced their cigarette consumption by switching to heated tobacco products showed consistent improvements in respiratory symptoms, exercise tolerance, quality of life, and rate of disease exacerbations.

This was the key finding of a groundbreaking study by a team of Italian researchers published in March 2021 in the scientific journal Internal and Emergency Medicine. It is the first-ever study to describe the long-term health effects of HTP use in COPD patients.

COPD refers to a group of diseases that include emphysema and chronic bronchitis, which causes airflow blockage and

difficulty in breathing. It is the third leading cause of death globally.

The most popular HTP brand in the world and in the Philippines is IQOS, an electronic device that heats tobaccofilled sticks wrapped in paper to generate a nicotine-containing aerosol. Because the tobacco is not burned, the levels of harmful chemicals produced by IQOS are significantly lower compared to combustible cigarette smoke.

“It is well-known that cigarette smoking is a significant risk factor for COPD and abstaining from smoking is the only evidence-based intervention that improves the prognosis for COPD,” according to lead study author Prof. Riccardo Polosa, full professor of internal medicine at the University of Catania.

BDO’S AWARDS. BDO Unibank is named Best in Treasury and Working CapitalLimited Liability Company and Best Service Provider-Cash Management in the Philippines during the Asset Triple A Treasury, Trade, Sustainable Supply Chain and Risk Management Awards 2021. The awards underscore the bank’s indispensable support to multinationals, large corporate clients and small and medium-sized enterprises during the pandemic’s challenging conditions.

KIAWAH ISLAND—Blustery winds, marshland waste areas and even alligators welcomed the world’s best golfers to formidable Kiawah Island on Monday for the first official practice round of the 103rd PGA Championship.

The resort’s Ocean Course will be the longest venue in major golf history at 7,876 yards, 135 more than the mark set by Erin Hills when it hosted the 2017 US Open.

It’s a par-72 layout Golf Digest has called the most difficult US course, with oceanside beauty and peril lurking on every hole.

“There aren’t a lot of bailout areas,” said 2003 PGA winner Shaun Micheel.

“There are a lot of things out there that are lying in wait for you.”

Alligators are typically kept at a distance by security and course workers but there’s nothing to stop the biting winds that swap direction.

“When the wind gets going out here, there’s nothing to stop it,” said Rickie Fowler, who received a special exemption into the field of 156.

“It can blow pretty good. There are no trees to stop it. When the wind gets up it can blow pretty hard out here. A lot of it is determined by weather and wind.”

The forecast is sunny throughout the tournament but with winds shifting from out of the East to out of the West between the first two rounds and the weekend.

Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth, who snapped a four-year win drought last month in Texas, can complete a career Grand Slam with a victory along the South Carolina coastline.

“I feel like iron shots in the wind and controlling distances is a strength of mine, and hopefully that’s what it comes down to,” Spieth said.

Spieth could become the first player to complete a career Grand Slam at a PGA Championship.

Seventh-ranked Rory McIlroy, coming off a victory two weeks ago at Quail Hollow, won the 2012 PGA at Kiawah by eight strokes and seeks his first major title since taking the fourth of his career at the 2014 PGA. The 32-year-old Northern Ireland star was out in shorts on Monday, joining other contenders in testing the greens and chipping areas around the holes.

Consistency, patience and shotmaking precision will be tested with draws and fades needed for everchanging challenges. Organizers will swap tee distances as well as pin placements to alter every hole, with sandy waste areas waiting to punish errant shots severely.

Thomas could take No. 1 The longest-ever major course could play into the hands of long hitters like top-ranked Dustin Johnson, a home-state hero who won last year’s Masters, and fifth-ranked Bryson DeChambeau, who overpowered Winged Foot last year to win the US Open by blasting drives for maximum distance regardless of landing area.

DeChambeau’s lofty power hitting, however, could leave high shots open to the wayward winds off the water and sand or tall grass to swallow up off-target balls. AFP

Sports Golf’s best chase PGA crown as threats loom

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021

C1

Jordan Spieth hits from the fairway on the 5th hole during the final round of the AT&T Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. AFP

Kouame now cleared to join Gilas PH after naturalization

By Peter Atencio

I

N the coming days, Angelo Kouame will take an oath of allegiance to the Philippine flag and country This is because President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law on Tuesday the naturalization bill making the 23-year-old Ivorian cager Kouame a Filipino citizen.

The process to make Kouame a Filipino began after Sen. Sonny Angara, who is also the chairman of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, sponsored Senate Bill 1892 on Kouame’s naturalization two years ago.

“I’m super hyped right now. I’m screaming everywhere around the house right now. I’m proud, just proud to be a kababayan!” said Kouame in a twitter message.

After he takes his oath of allegiance before the Bureau of Immigration, Kouame will then be able to apply for a

Philippine passport.

The 6’10” Kouame is then expected to be able to suit up, train and play for the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team.

“We thank President Duterte for signing into law the naturalization bill for Ange Kouame. I, together with the rest of the SBP are excited for Kouame to officially join our Gilas Pilipinas as they prepare for the Tokyo Olympics qualifiers, the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers and other tournaments,” said Angara in a statement.

Philippines next month.

After that, Kouame will also play for the national team in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Serbia.

“Although Kouame’s presence is crucial for these two tournaments, having him as an official member of the squad in the upcoming games is an early investment as we build towards the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. It’s a great day for Philippine basketball and we’re thankful for the full support of our basketball community,” said SBP president Alfredo Panlilio.

The House of Representatives unanimously approved its version of the bill naturalizing Kouame last Feb. 16, while the Senate followed suit a month later.

Angelo Kouame Kouame is the latest foreign national Kouame is suiting up for Gilas when naturalized following Marcus Douthit they see action in the FIBA Asia Cup and Andray Blatche, who were once Qualifiers, which will be hosted by the anchors of the Gilas Pilipinas team.

PH Sports Training Center to rise in Bataan A FACILITY to train national athletes will be built inside a 25-hectare lot in Barangay Ibis in the seaside town of Bagac, Bataan.

Construction is expected to start before the year ends in a donated land overlooking the West Philippine Sea, where the Philippine Sports Commission plans to put up the Philippine Sports Training Center.

“Bago matapos ang taon at ang Duterte administration, mayroon na tayong sports facility dito. You can inspire the out of school youth and the children who are in school,” said Ramirez on Tuesday via Facebook Live.

Ramirez, who celebrated his 71st birthday, talked about the construction of the Philippine Sports Training Center, when he signed a memorandum of agreement with Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia at the Oriental Bataan Hotel in Mariveles.

Bataan is set to put up the sports facility in Bagac town with a budget of P3.3 billion.

Garcia stressed the importance of the PSTC in the Province of Bataan, as it will

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor

PSC chairman William Ramirez and Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia sign an agreement for the construction of the Philippine Sports Training Center in Bagac town. They are joined by Commissioners Ramon Fernandez, Celia Kiram and Engr. Arnold Agustin, PSC national training director Marc Velasco and Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, the principal author of Republic Act 11214, known as the “Philippine Sports Training Center Act.”

allow athletes training for international “Ang pagtatayo ng training center ay meets to have an alternate venue. napakaimportante sa aming lalawigan.

Not only will it help national athletes, but also the people of Bataan in the development a long life and having a healthy lifestyle,” said Garcia.

For now, national athletes have three venues that can be used for training, namely the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Vito Cruz, Manila, the Philsports Complex in Pasig and at the Teachers’ Camp in Baguio City.

However, the RMSC and Philsports are not available as they are being used as quarantine facilities for COVID-19 patients.

Joining chairman Ramirez in Mariveles were Commissioners Ramon Fernandez, Celia Kiram and Engr. Arnold Agustin and PSC national training director Marc Velasco.

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, the principa l a ut hor of Re pu bl ic Ac t 11214, ot he r w i s e known as the “Philippine Sports Training Center Act,” also witnessed the signing ceremony. Peter Atencio

Newest Maroons help man community pantry in UP Diliman

Sama-Sama Tulong-Tulong is a group composed of nowheretogobutUP Foundation, the UP Resilience Institute, the UP College of Human Kinetics, and the UP Auxiliary Corps that joined hands with the team in this community effort.

THE newest members of the UP Fighting Maroons Men’s Basketball Team got the chance to live up to their Iskolar ng Bayan identity on May 5 and 12 as they manned a Community Pantry in Diliman at the Quirino Avenue Gate near the UP Integrated School and the College of Home Economics.

Organized by the University of the Philippines Transport Group, the community service activity appealed heartily to former UST Growling Tigers CJ Cansino and Bismarck Lina, and former Centro Escolar University Scorpion Malick Diouf, who volunteered alongside UPMBT coaches Mo Gingerich and Poch Juinio to distribute essential goods to the people who lined up at the community pantry Cansino and Lina both expressed their happiness and gratitude for being able to help in community outreach ef-

forts even in their own little way.

“I’m really excited to meet the entire community ever since I transferred to UP, but sadly, safe opportunities for that are super limited in the current situation.

There might not be any live games right now, but we can still help boost school spirit by supporting the community even in this simple way. My fellow recruits and I are proud to be Iskolars ng Bayan and part of this Diliman community,” CJ Cansino said.

“This is their first official outing in UP after the first lockdown in 2020, and I am proud that even in such a short time, even if they have not yet been able to play with the team, they have already imbibed the spirit of service and concern for others that is the hallmark of our Iskolars ng Bayan,” said nowheretogobutUP Foundation founder Renan Dalisay who together with Atty. Gaby Concepcion of

Sama-Sama Tulong-Tulong non-profit organization accompanied the boys on their mission.

Sama-Sama Tulong-Tulong is a group composed of nowheretogobutUP Foundation, the UP Resilience Institute, the UP College of Human Kinetics, and the UP Auxiliary Corps that joined hands with the team in this community effort.

The coalition group donated goods and fresh produce directly sourced from farmers in San Ildefonso, Bulacan, in order to help the agriculture sector during this pandemic, pursuant to the Sagip Saka Act of 2019. Founded in January 2020 to initially give assistance to those affected by the Taal Volcano. Sama-Sama TulongTulong tapped another important group in the UP community, the UP Transport Group, to transport the goods from Bulacan to Diliman to provide them with alternative source of income.

De Leon: Horseracing will grow even bigger DESPITE all the challenges caused by the deadly pandemic, the Philippine Racing Commission has taken all steps to make sure the horseracing industry remains on the right track.

“We (industry) were able to survive,” Philracom chairman Reli de Leon told the online version of the Philippine Sportswriting Association Forum on Tuesday.

In fact, the man who carries the difficult task of charting the future of Philippine horseracing, said this year would be a fruitful year for everybody, including the betting public.

“We will grow even bigger than what we expect,” said De Leon, who was joined in the forum by Philracom executive director Dr. Andrew Buencamino and his deputy Ronald Corpuz.

De Leon said the COVID-19 outbreak last year led to the cancellation of races for six months. But somehow, things found some sense of normalcy through big races toward the end of 2020.

“So far this year, we’ve had sales of around P500 million. And we expect the sales to reach P3 billion by December,” De Leon told the forum presented by San Miguel Corp., MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

Races are held from Thursday to Sunday with the schedule evenly divided among the country’s three race clubs -- Manila Jockey Club, Inc. in Carmona, Cavite; Philippine Racing Club, Inc. in Naic, Cavite; and Metro Manila Turf Club, Inc. in Malvar, Batangas.

De Leon said the off-track betting stations are fully operational and that Philracom has also gained headway with its online or digital betting where even Filipino racing aficionados known as “Bayang Karerista” based abroad can bet on the races.

C2

Sports

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021

BRAVE CF pioneer lauds expansion in Europe SEEF DISTRICT—BRAVE Combat Federation has come a long way since its inception in 2016, and Carl “The Bomber” Booth is a witness to the company’s rise from a startup mixed martial arts promotion to a global sports juggernaut.

The 31-year-old native of Nottingham, England made his first appearance under the organization’s banner at BRAVE CF 2: Dynasty in December 2016, when he took on Russian mauler Gadzhimusa “Deadshot” Gadzhiev.

Booth left a lasting impression in his promotional debut, dropping Gadzhiev to the canvas with a right straight to the chin and then following it up with one solid ground strike to compel the referee to call a halt to the contest in the second round.

The impressive victory over the Russian was some sort of a coming-out party for Booth, who went on to establish himself as a regular staple inside the BRAVE CF cage, competing in seven more bouts and engaging in memorable battles with his division’s best such as Abdoul Abdouraguimov, Hayder Hassan, Dino Bagattin and Jarrah Hussein Al-Silawi.

In his most recent outing, it only took the Englishman 72 seconds to get the job done, shutting the lights out on Carlos Belloso with a barrage of punches at BRAVE CF 50 this past April.

Now heralded as a pioneer on the Bahrain-based outfit’s active roster, Booth went down memory lane and reminisced about the time he was scouted by BRAVE CF. “It wasn’t new to me fighting overseas because I have done it before a few times,” he admitted. “I wasn’t aware of how big it was. I showed up at its second event, and I’ve seen how much investment has gone into it and the team that was working behind the scenes. I was like, ‘These guys are professionals. These guys know what they’re doing.’”

“I was super happy to be part of it, and I was 100 percent in from the very beginning,” Booth added.

COURTESY CALL. PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial (center) on Tuesday paid a courtesy call on MMDA Chairman Benjamin ‘BenHur’ Abalos. The two officials are joined by MMDA general manager usec. Jose Arturo S. Garcia Jr.

PBA seeks MMDA help for possible reopening

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Philippine Basketball Association on Tuesday sought the opinion of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benjamin Abalos in connection with the league’s possible reopening without compromising the government’s health and safety protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

PBA Commissioner Willy Marcial visited Abalos in his office at the agency’s headquarters in Makati City, where they discussed ways to forge stronger coordination particularly during this time of crisis.

Marcial sought clarification and guidance from the MMDA chief regarding existing rules and regulations of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases

(IATF-EID) on contact sports such as basketball.

Abalos said they will work on some actions to be undertaken which will be acceptable by the IATF, ensuring that the minimum health protocols being implemented by the government shall be strictly observed and adhered to.

“We have to ensure the safety of everyone, not only the players, but the

general viewing public. We cannot compromise the health and well-being of all,” he said.

The shutdown of the PBA affected the livelihood of families employed by the sports organization and its member teams.

“Basketball is the Filipinos’ national pasttime. But there is no denying that the PBA is struggling now because of the pandemic,” said Abalos, who promised to help the PBA and the basketball industry as a whole.

The association is also eyeing training in Metro Manila as its quarantine status eases to general community quarantine with heightened restrictions.

Meanwhile, Marcial has pledged strict compliance to minimum health standards, keeping the players and officials safe once given a green light to proceed.

Sangalang’s team wins physical, boardroom tests LOUIE Sangalang wildest dreams never included he’d ever cross paths with MMA superstar Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, let alone face off against him.

Jiu-jitsu purple belt Sangalang was just a fan who witnessed Johnson’s ascent as one of the best fighters the world has ever seen.

But in Episode 9 of The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition, the 43-year-old procurement consultant from the Philippines got the chance to face the MMA legend – not in the Circle, but in a trampoline arena where the seven remaining candidates played trampoline dodgeball with DJ. Lucky for Louie, he had played dodgeball growing up and was confident of his game. Sangalang’s shining moment came when he eliminated Johnson in the clincher which led to his teammate Monica Millington delivering Team Valor’s game-winning hit on Irina Chadsey.

“Getting to hit a world champion, that’s going to be something for the books in my life,” Sangalang commented as he flashed a winning smile and did backflips on the trampoline.

Staying with the youthful vibe of the

Louie Sangalang takes a selfie.

episode, the candidates next created a campaign promoting Alpha Bravo esports Pro, TUMI’s first gaming bag collection, in the boardroom challenge.

Still riding high from the physical task victory, Sangalang was quick to vouch for Millington to take the lead for Team Valor -- a strategic move as

Growing up with Gilas THE LINK REY JOBLE SO Angelo Kouame is now a naturalized player. That’s good news for Philippine basketball.

The bill was passed into law when President Rodrigo Duterte signed the document that made the two-time UAAP champion a Filipino.

Now, Kouame, a big man who has

a similar mobility of two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, can start serving the Philippine men’s basketball team and playing for the national team for a long stretch.

It was a similar process players like Chip Engelland, Jeff Moore and Dennis Still, players who were members of the Northern Consolidated Cement, the chief backer of the national team during the 1980s, went through.

When the program was established by then Ambassador Danding Cojuangco in 1981, these three became

he wanted to see the 30-year-old fashion entrepreneur from the United States rise to the occasion. “I have a very high regard for Monica’s capabilities when it comes to competencies in these fields.

Team Valor came up with its “Journey of a Champion” campaign, a tournament of champions that would launch

naturalized players and went on to play and serve the country until 1986, before the program was scrapped right after the ESDSA Revolution.

Only 23, Kouame has a chance to grow -- figuratively and literally -with the national team program. And if 7’3” Kai Sotto can play constantly in Gilas Pilipinas’ major international campaigns, we’re going to have a chance seeing a bigger, taller and younger Philippine men’s basketball team.

More than the things he could bring to the table -- defense, rebounding, inside and out game and versatility -- it’s the years of service he could provide to the Philippine men’s basketball team that was given more consideration.

the ultimate sling bag for e-sports athletes, which was praised by ONE Championship chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong, with a few tweaks here and here.

“I thought your execution plan was believable, but you just chose everyday heroes. I think that’s an almost impossible concept,” the executive pointed out. “But if you choose someone who’s on the cusp of being professional, it’ll get a lot of credibility in the gaming community. A little bit of a tweak and this concept can be explosive,” said Chatri.

It wasn’t long before Chatri gave Team Valor the victory, a testament to the cohesiveness Louie, Monica, and Paulina have fostered. Germany’s Kexin Ye and Nazee Sajedi of the United States were eliminated in this episode.

Now only five candidates remain – with just Sangalang and Indonesia’s Paulina Purnomowati at the only Asians in the competition for the prize of a US$250,000 job offer as Sityodtong’s protégé, chief of staff, and head of a business development unit at the ONE Championship Global Headquarters in Singapore.

Unlike the previous naturalized players -- Marcus Douthit and Andray Blatche, two former NBA players -who were only good for three to five years, Kouame can be utilized for a long period of time.

Kouame and Sotto together?

Sky is the limit for Philippine basketball and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas will just have to make arrangements at how they can get these two players work together for a long stretch.

It’s been proven that sending the best players won’t guarantee good results, but having the best trained players working together will give the Philippines a good fighting chance of winning.

The NCC program has benefited

Fury-Joshua in jeopardy over Wilder rematch order LOS ANGELES—Tyson Fury’s heavyweight unification fight with Anthony Joshua could be put on hold after an independent arbitrator ruled that the WBC heavyweight champion must face former champion Deontay Wilder in a rematch, US reports said Monday.

ESPN and The Athletic website said retired judge Daniel Weinstein upheld a claim lodged by Wilder that Fury must face him in a third fight by September 15 following their February 2020 title battle.

While the arbitrator’s ruling is not a formal court order, it would be deemed enforceable by courts if Wilder and Fury are unable to reach agreement, reports said.

Monday’s ruling comes just a day after Fury announced he had agreed to fight Joshua in Saudi Arabia on August 14 where the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight belts will be up for grabs.

“Massive announcement FURY VS JOSHUA IS ON AUGUST 14 in The kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The worlds (sic) biggest sporting event all eyes on us,” Fury wrote on Twitter, describing the bout as “100 percent on.”

Monday’s ruling does not necessarily torpedo the money-spinning all-British Joshua-Fury fight in the Middle East.

Wilder could yet agree to waive his right to a third meeting with Fury—for a lucrative step-aside fee—r seek to obtain a commitment from the Fury and Joshua camps that he will fight the winner of the Saudi Arabia showdown.

Weinstein’s ruling on Monday did not grant Wilder any monetary damages and also said an extension to the September 15 deadline was permissible if both the Wilder and Fury camps could reach agreement.

Neither Fury nor Wilder have fought since clashing in Las Vegas in February last year, where Fury outclassed the previously unbeaten American to win via a seventh-round technical knockout.

The two fighters had previously clashed at the Staples Center in Los Angeles in 2018, battling to an epic draw after Fury survived a 12th round knockdown. AFP

from that.

Built for the long term, that program wasn’t composed of the best of the best of Philippine basketball, but the team was the best-prepared squad, beefed up by the right players playing special roles like Allan Caidic and Engelland taking care of the shooting, Samboy Lim driving his way to the hoop, Hector Calma setting the direction inside the court and Moore and Still doing the dirty job.

Kouame and Sotto had been identified as gems and what Philippine basketball needs is to surround them with people playing certain roles, complementing their game and growing up with them.

The SBP should continue planting the seeds.

Entertainment Iñigo Pascual’s newly dropped single hits the US airwaves via music radio station 1027 KIIS FM.

nickie.standard@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021

Iñigo Pascual’s new single premieres on top US radio station FILIPINO pop star Iñigo Pascual’s newly dropped single “Danger,” a collaboration with Fil-Am Grammy-nominated producer DJ Flict and island reggae legends Common Kings, is being heard on America’s music radio station 1027 KIIS FM. “First time hearing myself on @1027kiisfm. I used to dream about this moment. I still can’t believe I heard our song on LA Radio,” he said. “This is for OPM!”

The Tarsier Records’ single premiered on KIIS FM, which is under the US’ top radio streaming service iHeartRadio, last May 14. The track is a summer anthem about an undeniable attraction to a feisty female.

Meanwhile, Iñigo introduced a “Danger Dance Challenge” on TikTok, inviting creators from around the world to bop to the infectious island pop track.

C3

Music fans can also look forward to the release of “Danger” music video on Tarsier Records YouTube channel this Friday (May 21).

X “Danger” is part of Iñigo’s first international album “Options” that is set to finally drop in June 25. For updates, follow Tarsier Records on various social media accounts @tarsierrecords.

Lessons ANDREA TORRES wants to carry in her future married life A

CTRESS Andrea Torres is a self-admitted familyoriented individual. She is extremely proud of her parents who recently celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary.

“It was definitely a momentous occasion and I’m thankful that I was with them during that time,” she says.

“It’s really something to celebrate, a huge feat for any married couple.

Imagine, 40 years.”

The Kapuso actress happily reveals that in that span of time, she has never witnessed her folks quarreling. In fact, they get sweeter as time passes by.

“My dad doesn’t want to eat without my mom on his side. He also prepares her medicines. On her part, my mom is very caring and always does extra. It’s as if they’re still in the courtship stage,” she shares.

Clearly, this is one value that Andrea learned from her parents which she hopes to carry in her future married life.

“My parents tell me the importance

‘Thank U, Next’ singer Ariana Grande has married luxury real estate agent Dalton Gomez in an intimate ceremony on Sunday.

No more ‘Thank U, Next’ for Ariana Grande

Andrea proudly shares the photo of her parents who are celebrating their 41st wedding anniversary.

of give and take between husband and wife. Like when they have a misunderstanding, one should be calmer than the other. Mutual respect is also essential. In my 31 years, I’ve never heard them scream at each other,” she explains.

“My mom didn’t experience even a single pinch from my dad. I can say that all these times, the atmosphere they’ve given us their children is ideal. Our house really feels like a home,” the sexy actress adds.

On the professional side, the sultry star is playing a major part in the upcoming GMA cultural drama Legal Wives, which also top-bills Dennis Trillo, Bianca Umali, and Alice Dixson. She avers that as they approach the third cycle of their lockin taping, she feels more confident even if the safety and health protocols

AMERICAN pop star Ariana Grande married her luxury real estate agent fiance Dalton Gomez at her home in Los Angeles on Sunday, US media reported Monday.

“It was tiny and intimate - less than 20 people. The room was so happy and full of love. The couple and both families couldn’t be happier,” a representative for 27-year-old Grande told People magazine, which confirmed a report from TMZ.

being implemented are stricter.

“I commend our production team for being very organized. They see to it that all guidelines being discussed with the cast are met. Out taping days go on

smoothly and we are able to focus on our job. We also get to have enough rest since the team wants that our immune system is always high,” ends Andrea. Read full story on manilastandard.net

GMA Pinoy TV triumphs at Communicator Awards The winning episode is about Carolyn Fe, who defied cultural barriers as she pursued what her heart truly desires. She is a Filipino actress in Canada who landed major roles in different arts - dance, music, theater, and now TV acting. In her early days in the industry, she realized that she had to do something to stand up for diversity when she was compelled to adjust her physical appearance in performances in order to blend in. This prodded Carolyn to establish an employment agency with multiracial personnel ready to be deployed in GMA’s integrated campaign generated on-air and online content such as ‘Stories from different companies just to push diversity and the Frontlines,’ ‘Stories of Survival,’ ‘In Memoriam,’ and ‘Tribute to Frontliners.’ inclusion. She accepted roles on TV and film based on her ethnicity and received numerous GMA Network’s flagship international awareness on the pandemic and honor the acting awards for them. channel GMA Pinoy TV was recognized by selfless contributions of Filipino frontliners Carolyn is now fondly called ‘Lola’ as she the New York-based Communicator Awards all over the world. is seen by the world on Blue’s Clues & You! 2021 for its initiatives that have exhibited The integrated campaign generated on- by Nick Jr. promoting Filipino culture both on creative excellence for marketing and air and online content such as ‘Stories from TV and on social media. communications.

“It’s only been in the past 10 years that the Frontlines,’ ‘Stories of Survival,’ ‘In GMA Pinoy TV received two Awards Memoriam,’ and ‘Tribute to Frontliners’. There we’re seeing and recognizing more and more of Distinction for its campaign “One in were also information drives, advisories, and Filipinos up front and center. Game changing Heart with Pinoys abroad vs. COVID-19” tribute e-mails, an online fund-raising event to shows like Nickelodeon’s ‘Blue’s Clues & under the Integrated Campaign: Social support Filipino nurses, and free entertainment You!’ and GMA Pinoy TV’s ‘Becoming Responsibility Category as well as its to audiences abroad to help alleviate stress Pinoy’ make this happen. When I viewed the “Becoming Pinoy: Carolyn Fe” episode brought about by the pandemic. episodes of Becoming Pinoy, it was clear that under the Video-Branded Entertainment Meanwhile, the multi-awarded GMA the show was a platform for Filipinos to be (Diversity and Inclusion) Category.

Pinoy TV original series “Becoming Pinoy” seen and heard by cultures other than my own.

At the onset of the COVID pandemic a gained another recognition for its episode What an honor it is to have been interviewed year ago, GMA Pinoy TV wanted to assure featuring Filipino-Canadian actress Carolyn by the team. A heart-felt congratulations to its key stakeholder – Filipinos all over the Fe of “Blue’s Clues & You!” Becoming all at GMA Pinoy TV and the Becoming world and their families – that it remains one Pinoy profiles successful and influential Pinoy show. Sige na! Tuloy na tayo, marami pa in heart with them no matter the adversity. personalities of Filipino descent where they tayong gagawin!,” Carolyn urged her fellow Whether on-air, online, and through public share their stories of coming to terms with Filipinos. relations and partnerships, the “One in their uniqueness and overcoming hurdles “We are grateful to the Academy of Heart with Pinoys abroad vs. COVID-19” which can be a source of inspiration to other Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA) for giving campaign launched a slew of tactics to spread Filipinos of mixed culture and ancestry.

GMA Pinoy TV this welcome recognition at

Ballet film highlights Iloilo’s role in PH revolution DISCOVER the significant role of the Ilonggos in the Philippine Revolution and the remarkable symbolism of the historic Plaza Libertad in a contemporary ballet film entitled La Libertad de Iloilo.

The two-part showcase brings the audience to the onset of the Tagalog War in 1896. It serves as a reminder of the crucial participation of Iloilo City and its Battalion de Voluntarios (Volunteer Battalion), a unit of 500 soldiers shipped to Manila in 1897, which led to the momentous signing of Pacto de Biacnabato (Pact of Biak-na-Bato).

It narrates how the voluntarios demanded reform from the Spanish government and revisits the raising of the Philippine flag at the plaza, formerly known as Plaza Alfonso XII, after Spain surrendered Iloilo, its last capital in the country.

A still from the ballet film ‘La Libertad de Iloilo.’

Plaza Libertad, which was built in 1869 during the incumbency of Spanish Governor Manuel Iznart, stood witness

to several notable events including the rising of Iloilo into an internationally known cosmopolitan city in the 1980s.

Hosted by the Dance Program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, the film was directed by Dance Major Joanne Therese Sartorio under the guidance of dramaturg and former Virgin Labfest director Armando “Tuxqs” Rutaquio Jr., the Chairperson of Benilde Production Design.

“Plaza Libertad remains to be the center of Iloilo City,” Sartorio noted.

“However, its glory has waned and it needs to be reignited and one way to do this is through arts and dance.”

La Libertad de Iloilo will be livestreamed on May 21, 5:00 p.m., on the official Facebook page of Benilde Arts and Culture Cluster (https://www. facebook.com/benildearts).

this year’s Communicator Awards. We, at GMA Pinoy TV, share this victory with our Kapuso abroad as their inspiring stories truly serve as our driving force to create meaningful content that would likewise empower Filipinos all over the world as we are indeed #StrongerTogether no matter the adversity,” said GMA Network First Vice President and Head of International Operations Joseph T. Francia.

GMA Pinoy TV joins a stellar roster of agencies from around the world that have been lauded by the Communicator Awards. Some of the notable organizations include Univision, Tencent TIMI Audio Center, Google (for Accenture), Museum of the City of NY, State of Arizona, HCL, NFL, American Bankers Association, PwC, Comcast Advertising, IBM, and HK Trade Development Council.

Widely recognized as one of the largest awards of its kind in the world, the Communicator Awards is the leading international creative awards program honoring creative excellence for communication professionals. It is organized by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, the 27th Annual Communicator Awards received over 5,000 entries from ad agencies, interactive agencies, production firms, in-house creative professionals, graphic designers, design firms, and public relations firms.

The “Thank U, Next” singer announced her engagement to Gomez in a December Instagram post that included photos of the pair and her diamond and pearl ring with the caption “forever n then some.”

The couple was seen for the first time together in public in a music video for “Stuck with U,” a charity song she recorded with Justin Bieber during the coronavirus lockdown in California and released earlier this month.

The lyrics of the song refer to the couple spending the lockdown together.

The song tells a story familiar to many young couples in the pandemic era -- forced to settle down together quickly or be kept apart thanks to virus mitigation restrictions.

Grammy-award winning Grande was also engaged to comedic actor Pete Davidson in 2018.

And Ariana Grande made headlines outside of the US in 2017 when a stadium concert of hers was the target of a suicide bombing terrorist attack in Manchester, England, leaving 22 people

dead and hundreds injured. AFP

K-Pop’s Oh My Girl returns with another springtime music

FOLLOWING the smash hit “Nonstop” and the infectious B-side track “Dolphin” last spring, Oh My Girl brings yet another irresistible music through their 6-track EP, titled Dear OHMYGIRL, via Sony Music Entertainment Korea.

Known for its compelling choreography formation and colorful storytelling, Oh My Girl once again unravels its lyrical sensibility as they paint each of their stories Consisting of seven members, Oh My Girl in the new EP fronted by their lead track is recognized as one of the biggest K-Pop girl groups in South Korea.

“Dun Dun Dance.”

Delivering a sweet Nu-disco sound with addictive the melody and lyrics, “Dun Dun Dance” showcases Oh My Girl’s signature dance-pop as its members continue to color their music with melodious harmony.

The track is then followed by “Dear you,” “My doll,” “Quest,” “Who comes who knows,” and lastly “Swan,” which all layer into creating the perfect warm, cozy springtime sound.

The septet made their debut in 2015 and steadily climbed their way to become one of the biggest K-Pop girl groups. Six years into their career, Oh My Girl charted #1 for the first time on Billboard K-Pop 100 with their previous EP release NONSTOP. Last year, “Dolphin” has proven a greater success by ranking within the Top 10 for 21 weeks, surpassing BTS’s “Dynamite” 17-week record for Billboard K-Pop 100 by four weeks. Even to this day, both “Nonstop” and “Dolphin” have been consistently charting on Billboard’s K-Pop 100 for 54 weeks.

Life

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

C4

FASHION AND BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021

BY FILIPINO, FOR THE WORLD. BYS Philippines takes the lead in developing the Australian makeup brand’s skincare line, Skin by BYS. The 10-piece range, which covers steps from cleansing to protecting, is formulated with natural ingredients that target skin concerns such as dryness, irritation, and aging.

Filipino-developed skincare line to be distributed globally

By Bernadette Lunas

T

HE local distributor of Australian makeup brand BYS has realized a dream for the Philippine beauty industry—to develop a skincare line for global distribution.

“The iFace team has always had big dreams,” general manager Angie Goyena enthused during the virtual launch of Skin by BYS, a 10-piece skincare line conceptualized by BYS Philippines and developed in collaboration with the brand’s Australian team.

Skin by BYS was launched in the Philippines and Australia on April 30, and will be followed by a global launch in the coming months.

“Our dream of making the Philippines lead when it comes to skincare innova-

tions on the world stage has become a reality,” said Goyena.

The complete-step skincare line consists of Extra Gentle Micellar Water (removes makeup and has anti-inflammatory and skin whitening properties) Extra Gentle Milk Jelly Cleanser (removes oil and unclogs pores), Extra Hydrating Balancing Toner (restores skin elasticity and reduces fine lines while keeping moisture locked in), Extra Glow Brightening Serum (lightweight and rich in vitamin C and skin boosters

Summer style

By Monica Sanchez

for brighter and plumper skin), Extra Firming Youth Serum (helps reduce appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, and has anti-allergy, antibacterial, and UV protection properties).

Also part of the range: Extra Glow Face Cream (brightening cream with antioxidant properties), Extra Brightening Eye Cream (brightens skin and helps diminish puffiness with anti-inflammatory properties), Extra Effortless Pore Perfecting Sunblock (has broad spectrum SPF50 PA+++ and pore-blurring and sebum-controlling properties), Extra Glow Sheet Mask (improves skin texture), and Extra Firming Sheet Mask (helps refine skin).

Like the brand’s makeup, Skin by BYS is reasonably priced, ranging from P399 to P899, while both sheet masks

new elasticated details.

The men’s line offers a mix between leisurewear and uniform separates. While part of the women’s line are pieces of layering such as the Crop Cuts Tank cotton bra, Wide Poplin Shorts, and Poplin Kilt Skirt.

Shop the aforementioned pieces at harlanholden.ph.

retail at P89 each.

The Filipino-made line highlights natural ingredients, doing away with 10 components which dermatologist Dr. Maika Slatensek, who vetted the products, says, are harmful to the skin, such as petroleum, animal derivatives, phthalates, triclosan, silicone, parabens, artificial colors, propylene glycol, MEA/DEA/TEA, and sulphates that can cause skin irritation and/or allergy, among others.

“Skin by BYS has created a range of products that is cruelty-free, vegan friendly, and hypoallergenic, and they function to cleanse, treat, moisturize, and protect,” stated Dr. Slatensek.

Taking the place of the aforementioned harmful ingredients on the list are 10 powerful natural ingredients,

dubbed Botaniceutical Plus, that target skin concerns such as dryness, irritation, free radicals linked to aging, and more.

While recommended for those with oily or dry skin, the line focuses on brightening, which Goyena said was currently the most in-demand in skincare.

“We want to come up with a skincare line that’s also on-trend,” she said.

Amanda Aitken, managing director of GFA Australia, whose brands include BYS, added, “We wanted to make a skincare line that would appeal to younger audiences. Having that brightening formula appeals to the younger person.”

Skin by BYS is exclusively available at Watsons, The SM Store, and on Watsons.com.ph and ShopSM.com.

Jeon Yeo-been’s luxury bags in ‘Vincenzo’ HONG Cha-Young (played by Jeon Yeo-been) in Korean drama Vincenzo sure knows how to punctuate a power suit ready for courtroom battle or a chic outfit for the streets or the red carpet. Here are some of the elegant and stylish luxury handbags and purses she toted throughout the series:

WHERE you are and what you do are major factors in the clothes we wear. Regardless of the two, when it’s hot and humid, light, airy, comfortable outfits are the best.

The Tall Story from Alexander McQueen (P136,500), trunc.ph

The new collection from harlan + holden, dubbed Therapy, includes jackets, tank tops, skirts, shirts, shorts, pants, and sneakers in muted colors.

Work from home

Casual Fridays have truly turned into Casual Everyday, with the style being preferred in the current remote work set-up.

Made for “work-from-home hustlers”, harlan + holden’s latest capsule collection focuses on comfort, versatility, and one-step dressing – as in taking the stress out of picking and mixing and matching of clothes.

“This collection represents a new era of the way we live and what we are looking for in our clothes in how they serve us,” shares Alessandra Facchinetti, creative director of the Manila-founded, Seoul-based label.

Dubbed the Therapy collection, it consists of the Therapy sneaker in four colorways for men and women, leisurewear (T-shirts, dresses, shorts, pants, jackets), and sporty bras and tanks in light tones of baby blue, dusty pink, soft yellow, mint green, and cappuccino.

“The silver lining of the last year, if there is one, is that we have refocused our energy and time towards doing the things that make us most happy and fulfilled, and I hope the Therapy collection in some small way will help us on that journey,” says Facchinetti.

The sneaker’s insole is made of double-layer Therapy Lite memory foam for comfortable wear. Comfort and less effort are extended to harlan + holden’s “elevated basics” featuring

Medium Antigona Bag in black grained leather from Givenchy (P137,000), Greenbelt 4/Shangri-La Plaza/Solaire Clockwise: Linen shirt, tank top and palazzo pants, linen top, and sundress from Kultura’s summer collection.

The Pouch from Bottega Veneta (P159,500), trunc.ph

Vacation at home

They say summer is a state of mind. And if wearing loungewear that spells summer can unleash that sunny disposition while we’re counting down the days until we can finally take a trip again, we say, go for it!

Kultura’s new collection captures the spirit of summer in smock sundresses and breezy umbrella dresses in exotic tropical prints and refreshing colors. Add a bit of sunshine to a homebound summer wardrobe with ethnic-inspired wrap pants, printed palazzo pants, tank tops, and linen tops in graphic prints and Aztec designs.

Shop these pieces at www.kulturafilipino.com or through call to deliver (0917-517-4096).

Gancini Top Handle from Salvatore Ferragamo (P145,000), Alabang Town Center/Greenbelt 4/Rustan’s

SoHo Small Quilted Leather Shoulder Bag from Michael Kors (P23,850), 158 Designer’s Boulevard/ Rustan’s/Greenbelt 5/Power Plant Mall