Manila Standard - 2021 May 25 - Tuesday

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Throng swarm Bulacan resort Picnickers flaunt health protocols; Infections in QC pool party up to 54

By Rio N. Araja, Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta

A

UTHORITIES scrambled to deal with another potential coronavirus superspreader event over the weekend as thousands descended on a popular river resort in Norzagaray, Bulacan without wearing face masks and without observing minimum health protocols.

VOL. XXXV • NO. 99 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Police said Monday they investigated more than 2,000 people who went to the Bakas River in Barangay Matictic and issued citation tickets to 75 persons for swimming despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, three more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in a pool party and drinking session on May 11 in Novaliches, Quezon City, the city government said Monday.

Dr. Rolando Cruz, chief of the City Next page

Jardeleza says SC justices not the law Palace, mayors tell people vax free, Byabove Rey E. Requejo

THEY NEVER LEARN. Tourists teem at the Bakas River in Norzagaray, Bulacan on Sunday, unmindful of minimum health protocols, forcing police to disperse them. Inset shows a screen grab of a video of dancing partygoers at the pool party in Nagkaisang Nayon, Novaliches, Quezon City, where 54 attendees have now tested positive for COVID-19.

top cop tags suspect in jab slot sale

By Joel E. Zurbano and Rey E. Requejo THE Palace on Monday said no one had the right to sell COVID-19 vaccines after reports alleged that slots in the government’s inoculation drive were being sold for at least P10,000 in Mandaluyong City.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not authorized the sale of any COVID-19 vaccines

Moody’s rates PH as economic laggard in Asia MOODY'S Analytics, a subsidiary of Moody's Corporation, said Monday the Philippines had become the regional laggard as the country continued to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and roll out its vaccination program.

The country's gross domestic product is forecast to grow just 5.3 percent this year, down from an earlier forecast of 6.5 to 7 percent made in February.

Economic output isn’t forecast to return to pre-pandemic levels, defined as the December quarter of 2019, until the final quarter of 2022, Moody’s Analytics said.

“In contrast, China, Taiwan, South Korea and Vietnam have returned to previous output levels, while Indonesia and Thailand are on track to return this year,” the analytics firm said in a paper published Monday.

“This makes the Philippines the clear laggard in Asia,” the firm added.

Moody’s Analytics said the country’s decentralized healthcare system made responding to the COVID-19 outbreak inconsistent across local government units.

“As a result, there were not consistent policies and rigorousness around contact Next page

COVID-19 PH

Manila bans sale of COVID-19 vaccines through ordinance yet and anyone found selling them could be prosecuted for violating the law that created the Next page

Roque assures Marawi's complete rehab by 2022

By Nash Maulana and Vito Barcelo COTABATO CITY—Four years after the Marawi City siege, Maranao residents remain hopeful President Duterte would make good his promise to “correct historical injustice” from their massive land Next page dispossession since the US colonial administration.

A SUPREME Court justice should always adhere to the Rule of Law and should not act, in any way, above the law, according to retired SC Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza.

"Why should a Supreme Court justice be above the law?" Jardeleza said, in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

Jardeleza made this observation as the Committee on Justice in the House of Representatives is set to commence this week its deliberation on the impeachment complaint filed against Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen for alleged culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution, particularly for failure to file his statement of assets, liabilities and Next page net worth (SALN).

PH 'GRAND DAME' BARREDO DIES, 80 NEWS /A2

63% OF PINOYS WANT U.S. VAX NEWS /A8

FOUR YEARS LATER. Soldiers look over workers constructing a building which was a main battleground in 2017 when Islamic State-inspired Muslim militants laid siege to the southern Philippine city of Marawi, resulting in a five-month campaign that claimed more than 1,000 lives until government troops re-took control. AFP

Romualdez asks Senate to pass Bayanihan 3 measure

By Maricel V. Cruz

pealed to senators to give due considerRomualdez, chairman of the House ation to the immediate passage of the pro- committee on rules, urged SenatePresiHOUSE leaders led by Majority Leader posed P405.6-billion Bayanihan to Arise dent Vicente Sotto III, Senate Majority Next page Martin G. Romualdez on Monday ap- As One or Bayanihan 3.

Duterte may drop proposed meeting with ex-presidents

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta MALACAÑANG said there was no urgency for the proposed meeting of President Rodrigo Duterte with former presidents to tackle issues pertaining to the West Philippine Sea issue or the National Security Council (NSC).

Next page

AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM MAY 24)

1,184,706 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

4,973 48,917 NEW

ACTIVE

19,983

39

1,115,806

6,666

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

SMOKE RISING. Taal Volcano emits thick smoke as seen from the shores of Cavite on Monday morning, while Kanlaon Volcano in Negros also shows a plume of fumes. Taal is on Alert Level 2 while Kanlaon is still on Alert Level 1, Phivolcs said Monday. JR Josue

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News

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021

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Sara bans non-essential gov’t events

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AVAO CITY—Amid the continued rise in coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases here, Mayor Sara Z. Duterte has stopped the conduct of inperson non-essential events among the barangay, local and national government offices, including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCC) based in this city.

Under the Mayor's Executive Order 31 (EO 31), government-organized activities such as inauguration, anniversary, thanksgiving, ribbon-cutting, blessing, turnover, launching programs, oath-taking, photo opportunity, retire-

ment honors, welcome honors testimonial programs, summer outing, and team building would be banned starting May 26 until August 31.

In a radio interview Monday, Duterte said the order was based on re-

verse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results showing many of those who contracted the virus had attended government events.

“All face-to-face non-essential events are hereby prohibited until the lifting of the state of calamity. So it is absolutely prohibited,” she said.

She added: “Even if it is less than 25 persons it is still prohibited or even if there is only one person in that event it is still prohibited. If it is done online we do not have problems about it because there is no risk of Covid-19 transmission."

However, the mayor's order does not cover non-emergency activities,

Throng...

Jhorolar Andres, municipal legal officer of Norzagaray, called on the public to follow the 30-percent rule if and when the river — a popular spot for Bulakenos to escape the withering summer heat — would be opened to the public again.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte slammed the village chief and directed the city legal officer to look into any culpability of the local officials in Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon.

On May 11, hundreds of people attended a pool party, drinking spree and videoke session at a covered court. Video footage showed those who attended the event were not wearing face masks or face shields while standing near one another.

The city government is still awaiting for the swab test of 20 others.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, in an online briefing, lamented how a public pool party and drinking session in Quezon City had led to more than 50 COVID-19 infections.

“It’s shocking and saddening how, even after repeated reminders that while cases are decreasing, specifically in NCR, we are not out of the woods yet,” Vergeire said in Filipino.

“The virus is still here and cases may increase again,” she said.

The DOH was coordinating with local governments units (LGUs) to ensure the strict enforcement of health protocols against COVID-19.

Vergeire also called on the public to remain vigilant and avoid parties for now.

“We know everyone is excited to have fun but let’s all continue to be cautious,” Vergeire said.

The Philippines logged 4,973 new

COVID-19 cases Monday, bringing the total number of infections to 1,184,706, as six laboratories failed to submit their data on time, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

The DOH reported 39 new fatalities, bringing the death toll from COVID-19 to 19,983.

The DOH also reported 6,666 patients who recently recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 1,115,806.

This left 48,917 active cases, of which 92.9 percent were mild, 2 percent of which were asymptomatic, 1.6 percent of which were critical, 2.1 percent of which were severe, and 1.4 percent of which were moderate.

The DOH also reported that, nationwide, 60 percent of ICU beds, 45 percent of isolation beds, 47 percent of ward beds, and 40 percent of ventilators were in use.

In Metro Manila, 61 percent of ICU beds, 39 percent of isolation beds, 41 percent of ward beds, and 39 percent of ventilators were in use.

The OCTA Research Group which has been tracking the pandemic said cases in Metro Manila are going down, but have yet to return to pre-surge levels.

OCTA has urged a "gradual and calibrated" easing of restrictions as the capital region recorded a seven-day average of 1,100 cases from the previous week.

“We have yet to return to pre-surge levels so it means there's still danger. We still need to follow minimum health protocols,” OCTA’s Guido David said in Filipino in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

“The virus is still here. Let's be careful of superspreader events.

The trend can reverse and cases might

rise again in NCR,” he added.

David said the number of virus cases in Metro Manila is generally decreasing but is unstable in some parts like Laguna.

The NCR Plus bubble, composed of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal and Laguna were placed under strict lockdown in late March due to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

It was gradually eased into a general community quarantine with heightened restrictions on May 15.

Outside the capital region, virus infections are increasing in Puerto Princesa City, Bacolod City, Davao City, Iloilo City, and Zamboanga City, he added.

The weekly growth rate of virus cases in Iloilo City is slowing down while Zamboanga City has the second most number of virus infections nationwide after Quezon City, David said.

In other developments: • Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri yesterday called for stricter COVID-19 measures in Northern Mindanao due to the alarming increase in the number of cases and called on Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to help control the situation.

He said the region might benefit from a change in its quarantine classification, as well as localized lockdowns in areas with particularly alarming surges.

• Mayor Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City said hospitals in his city are full and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. has yet to reimburse their claims. The mayor said he was set to meet with PhilHealth president and chief executive Dante Gierran on Tuesday. He added that he has already met with the state insurer and hospitals three times.

tify those behind the scheme.

“Based on the initial result of the investigation, we have already identified at least one person who offered his high school friend two brands of vaccines for a price ranging from P12,000 to P15,500 through a social media messaging app,” Eleazar said in a statement.

He said the same person has been claiming that he has contacts in the cities of San Juan and Mandaluyong, which is why he could easily get vaccines and even guarantee slots for the vaccination and even presented deposit slips as proof of his previous transactions.

“Our CIDG and ACG investigators are now zeroing in on this person, although he has already deactivated all his social media accounts, and we assure the public that he will face the full force of the law for this kind of illegal activity,” Eleazar

said.

Eleazar reminded the public that the government's COVID-19 vaccination program is free and that any attempt to engage in selling vaccines or vaccination slots or being the beneficiaries of these illegal Eleazar added the public can report illegal activities through the E-Sumbong platform that includes the PNP's official hotlines (0919-160-1752 and 0917-8475757), social media accounts, and e-mail address e-sumbong@pnp.govph.

“We assure you of our quick response.

Let us work together to put a stop to these criminal practices which are plainly and simply evil and despicable, especially in this time of the pandemic,” he said.

Abalos said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cybercrime Division will form a 50-man team to probe the incident.The PNP CIDG will also help in the investigation.

“We are doing this to show the public that we are serious about these things.

They are taking advantage of the pandemic. I hope that the culprit will be captured [in] the soonest possible time. If the modus operandi is true, the PNP and NBI would be filing charges against individuals behind the Bakuna for Sale. They could be slapped with estafa or bribery,” Abalos said.

He said those who bought the vaccine slots would also be charged for violating the Bayanihan Act. On Monday, Abalos visited the NBI office in Quezon City and met Director Eric Distor to ask for the Abalos was accompanied by his wife, the mayor of Mandaluyong City, who earlier revealed the illegal scheme in her city and denied that the city government was selling COVID-19 vaccines or vaccination slots to anyone.

the government will reintroduce strict lockdowns to contain further infections.”

Moody’s Analytics said the Philippines has had difficulty containing new local COVID-19 infections despite imposing one of the strictest lockdowns in the world.

“The Philippines has one of the most stringent social restrictions, according to the government stringency index. Late in 2020, the government-mandated lockdown closed approximately 75 percent of the economy.”

The financial services firm said measures that included closing mass transportation and banning minors and the elderly from being in public places, make it among the world’s strictest lockdowns.

Earlier, Moody’s Analytics said “risks to recovery have not been mitigated.”

Roque...

the rightful owners.

More than two-thirds of that city’s around 9,000 hectare land area have been classified military reservation from a core territory of what used to be District and later, Municipality of Dansalan.

Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. said he himself belongs to the category of house-based among internally displaced people in Marawi City, as many of the Alontos had left ancestral homes in the Most Affected Area.

“Residents of Marawi City have strongly appealed to the national government to reclassify these lands and to be redistributed to the rightful owners,” he said.

Officials said the President would have corrected such historical injustices against the Maranao people as he assured in public pronouncements that his administration will redistribute lands in the city to the rightful owners.

SALNs would apply to a sitting justice.

Jardeleza was referring to the Supreme Court's decision in 2018 that set the 8-year prescriptive period for Republic Act 6731 or Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which governs the filing of SALNs. The former SC justice also said that it was a "question of facts" whether Leonen violated the Constitution in failing to resolve cases within 24 months.

"Under the Constitution, the courts are supposed to render their decisions within 5 years I believe from the time final pleadings are filed. Those are the questions of facts involved whether indeed a justice has complied with these requirements of the Constitution,” he said.

"That's for Congress to determine first on the facts, then they will apply the law," he added.

Romualdez...

From A1

Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, said this brought total infections from the event alone to 54.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday also reminded the public that the fight against COVID-19 has not yet been won despite the decrease in cases, after dozens of party attendees in QC and an earlier event in Caloocan City tested positive for COVID-19.

Police Col. Lawrence Cajipe, director of the Bulacan Police Provincial Office, said they also sent home hundreds more after barangay officials were overwhelmed with the crowds that came to Bakas River. The picnic grounds beside the river were closed to the public on Monday.

"We also learned that instead of keeping the people from entering, some barangay officials charged entrance fees to the river area," Cajipe told ABS-CBN in an interview.

A TV report on GMA-7 said some of the tourists were not wearing face masks or face shields, and minors were present in the area.

The province of Bulacan is currently under a General Community Quarantine with heightened restrictions, as authorities have allowed outdoor tourist attractions to operate at up to 30 percent capacity.

The provincial government has yet to issue a statement on the issue.

It also could not be established at presstime if any of the tourists at Bakas River were tested for the coronavirus.

Palace,...

From A1

FDA, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos, whose wife Menchie is the mayor of Mandaluyong, warned that those found guilty of selling their slots would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

“The vaccine is free,” he said in Filipino. “Let’s not muddle this further.”

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it has now a "person of interest" in the sale of vaccine brands and vaccination slots.

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said the directors of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) immediately conducted an investigation to iden-

Moody’s...

From A1

tracing, funding, and quarantine measures for those infected and their close contacts.”

The financial services firm also pointed to the slow pace of the country’s vaccination rollout.

ABS-CBN’s vaccine tracker shows that as of May 20, only 949,939 have been fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus, representing just 1.64 percent of the government’s target of vaccinating 58 million Filipinos before the end of the year.

“This is problematic, because it means the Philippines remains vulnerable to continued local infection spikes, inhibiting the economic recovery as it is assumed

Jardeleza...

From A1

"It is so simple. If you are a Supreme Court justice, before you become a justice, then you file your SALN. What is so difficult about that?" Jardeleza stressed.

The retired SC magistrate pointed out that government employees, including justices of the Supreme Court, are required to submit their SALNs because it is a constitutional requirement.

"If you don't want SALNs, it's simple, don't go into government," said Jardeleza who also served as Solicitor General before being appointed as justice of the 15-member bench.

Nonetheless, he admitted that it remained an "open question" whether the prescriptive period for failure to file

From A1

In Manila, Malacanang expressed confidence the rehabilitation of Marawi City would be completed by the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term next year.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque issued the statement as the country marked the fourth year of the start of the Marawi Siege on May 23.

He gave assurances the Duterte administration would fulfill its promise to completely rehabilitate Marawi despite delays.

Marawi residents recall the President’s public statement to correct historic injustices upon the Moro people, and that the case of land dispossession in Marawi City would call for a land reclassification and distribution to Maranao families being

From A1

Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and senators to speed up the approval of Bayanihan 3, saying it was critical to the country’s survival during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We need Bayanihan 3 to help ensure that the economy recovers quickly from the coronavirus disease-19-induced crisis in a strong, sustainable, and resilient manner,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez's appeal came after the House committees on economic affairs and on social services chaired by Reps.

Sharon Garin of AAMBIS-OWA and Alfred Vargas of Quezon City, respectively, approved the Bayanihan 3.

“This measure will help our fellow Filipinos who are all affected by the pandemic, and we are confident that before

training, and seminars conducted exclusively online.

The exemption also applies to all disaster and emergency activities including the distribution of financial, food, and non-food items.

However, she said the distribution of food and non-food items that are not related to a disaster or emergency event should be done "house to house in the form of contactless delivery by the organizer, or in a distribution system where no mass gathering is conducted."

“Contactless delivery means you have to put the food packs at their gates and leave,” Duterte added.

we adjourn, we will be able to pass the measure,” said Romualdez, representative of Leyte's first district.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco made a similar appeal to senators as well as to the executive branch.

He said the enactment of Bayaninan 3 will help address the Covid-19 crisis, which he described as "the worst public health crisis of our generation."

Bayanihan 3 provides P216 billion in financial assistance to all Filipinos, who will receive P2,000 each.

The release of funds under the Bayanihan 3 is expected to be done in three phases.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, meanwhile, called for the extension of the effectivity of Bayanihan 2.

In Senate Bill 2218, Pangilinan seeks an extension to Dec. 31, 2021, saying this should strengthen and fast-track the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘Grand Dame’ Barredo passes away at 80

By Nickie Wang CARMEN “Baby” Barredo, known as the Grand Dame of Philippine Theater, died on Sunday at a hospital in Taguig.

She was 80.

The cause was multi-organ failure brought about by sepsis, her daughter Charlie confirmed in a Facebook post.

“It is with great sadness that Etienne and I announce the passing of our dearest Mama, beloved Tita Baby to so many of you all. She died peacefully at 7:37 p.m. at St Luke’s Hospital in Taguig,” she began.

“I was by her side and her family and theatre children were with her in spirit and song. We will announce additional details in due course.

Thank you for all your loving words and prayers,” the post ended.

Known in the theater community as “Tita Baby,” Barredo co-founded Repertory Philippines (REP) along with the late Zenaida Amador and other theater luminaries. The company has served as a training ground for numerous enduring showbiz talents since its inception in 1967.

Among the biggest names that trained under REP were Monique Wilson, Cocoy Laurel, Cris Villonco, Pinky Amador, cofounder Leo Martinez, and Lea Salonga, among others.

DOJ, PNP forge pact on EJKs, drug deaths THE Department of Justice and the Philippine National Police have agreed to work closely in the investigation of alleged extra-judicial killings, illegal drug operations that resulted to deaths of suspects and other related cases.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday revealed that he had “a very important and crucial meeting” with PNP Chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar last Friday at the DOJ. They “discussed two areas of immediate concern, namely: active collaboration in the review of illegal drug operations where deaths occurred, and in the investigation of alleged EJK and related cases,” he said.

Guevarra said the PNP is set to sign an agreement for closer cooperation in the investigation of these two areas of concern.

“General Eleazar expressed his sincere intention to cooperate with the DOJ in order to remove or discipline wrongdoers among the ranks of the police and thereby uplift the image of the PNP as protectors of the people,” the DOJ chief added.

The Justice department and the PNP will execute a formal memorandum to embody this agreement, he said.

Guevarra said he was told the PNP’s Internal Affairs Service (IAS) has been scrutinizing policemen involved in antiillegal drugs operations. Rey E. Requejo

Duterte...

From A1

In his regular press briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the proposed meeting cropped up after former senate president and defense minister Juan Ponce Enrile shared his views on the maritime dispute with Duterte.

Enrile attended a meeting with the President and other Cabinet members at the Palace last week and voiced his concern that the country would “lose more” if it antagonized China over the maritime row.

“It seems that there is no urgency to talk about this matter either with the National Security Council or with former presidents,” Roque said.

“So this is not a done deal, it was something that the President was speculating on before JPE fully concurred with his policy on the WPS,” he added.

At the same time, Malacanang said Monday the Philippines had not lost territory to China since President Duterte opted to use a bilateral approach to settle the West Philippine Sea dispute five years ago.

Roque made this comment after Vice President Leni Robredo urged the government to employ a multilateral approach, claiming bilateral talks with China were not enough to protect the country’s interest in the WPS. He also said the President was still considering whether the Visiting Forces of the Philippines would be of any good to the country if the situation with China in the West Philippine Sea deteriorated.

Roque made the remarks even as he said Duterte had yet to decide whether to follow through with his order in February 2020 to terminate the VFA, which provides for the presence of US forces in the Philippines.

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A3

PH, China set June 2 talks on Filipino boat sinking in WPS

Cops rescue two kidnap victims in Angeles

By Jess Malabanan

By Rey E. Requejo

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga— Two Chinese believed to be victims of a kidnap-forransom gang were rescued by police during a lightning raid at Star Hotel in Barangay Anunas, Angeles City over the weekend.

Police Colonel Rommel Batangan, Director of the Angeles City Police Office, identified the victims as Le Ding Hu and Apple Ong, both tourists and temporary staying in that hotel situated along Friendship Highway here.

Batangan said Ong sent SOS messages to her older brother Sam Carlo Ong who quickly sought the help of the ACPO. Ong told police investigators that she was detained in one room of the hotel with another Chinese man by a group of Chinese whom she said were asking ransom money in exchange of their release.

Batangan said a rescue team assaulted the Star Hotel Friday that led to the arrest of suspect and freed the victims without firing a single bullet.

“The victims were rescued and the suspects arrested after the rescue operations at Star Hotel,” said Batangan.

He identified the suspects as Tangz Heing, Li Hai Zheng, and Xiao Na, all Chinese nationals, and currently residing at Star Hotel.

When interviewed by police investigators, the victims said that they were being held by the suspects after they failed to pay the ransom, according to Batangan.

Charges are now being prepared for filing in court against the suspects who remained in a detention cell as of press time.

THE Philippines and China will start on June 2 talks on the compensation sought by the owner and crew members of the fishing vessel Gem-Vir 1, which was destroyed after being rammed by a Chinese fishing vessel in Reed Bank in 2019.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the government has already created a team tasked to talk with its counterpart in the Chinese government.

Guevarra stressed that the Philippine team will be led by the DOJ with representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Agriculture, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) as members.

Gem-Vir 1 sunk on June 9, 2019 after being rammed by a Chinese fishing vessel in Reed Bank, also known as the Recto Bank, in the West Philippine Sea. The Chinese fishing vessel fled and left the crew of GemVir 1 stranded until they got rescued and returned to Philippine shores.

The owner and crew members of the Filipino fishing vessel have been seeking over P12-million in compensation over the incident.

The DOJ chief stressed the meetings set June 2 and June 7 were agreed upon during the sixth consultative meeting between the Philippines and China held last Friday, May 21.

“As far as the Filipino fishermen are concerned, it is important that they recover fully their expenses for the boat repair and the income they lost while the boat was under repair,” he said.

NATIONAL ID. An employee of Manila City hall peeks into the Irish scanner during an application for the Philippine Statistics Authority’s National Identification System on Monday, May 24, 2021, at the Universidad de Manila. The law (Republic Act No. 11055) known as the Philippine Identification System Act aims to create a single national identification system for all citizens and residentaliens of the Philippines. Danny Pata

Hazard pay for school teachers, heads raised

T

HE Department of Education said Monday teachers and school heads would now get a higher monthly special hardship allowance to compensate them for the difficulties and risks they face in carrying out their tasks.

Under a joint circular made by the DepEd and the Department of Budget and Management, the amount of the allowance was increased from 15 percent to 25 percent of the personnel’s monthly basic salary.

Requirement for the allowance have also been reduced, DepEd Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla said.

Under the new guidelines, qualified teachers only need to submit their Daily Time Record or DTR to avail of the allowance, she said.

In another development, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday said increasing teaching supplies allowance would give teachers relief on expenses related to distance learning.

Gatchalian is co-author and co-sponsor

of Senate Bill Number 1092 or the ‘Teaching Supplies Allowance Act of 2020.’

Under the proposed measure, teachers will receive a teaching supplies allowance worth P10,000 starting SY 2024-2025.

For SY 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, each teacher will receive a teaching supplies allowance worth P5,000. For SY 20232024, teachers will receive P7,500.

DepEd Undersecretary Alain Del Pascua said that the agency has started the procurement process to provide public school teachers with 30 to 35 GB data allocation per month.

As this developed, Commission on Higher Education Chairman Prospero De Vera was urged to assess the situations of students and teachers in higher education institutions

HAPPY FACE. Happiness radiates even behind the mask of a resident of Barangay Santiago in General Trias, Cavite on Sunday, May 23, 2021 after claiming her P4,000 cash aid from the national government. All areas placed under enhanced community quarantine between March tand April, 2021 received financial assistance worth from P1,000 to as much as P4,000. Avito C. Dalan

‘Terror group not welcome in many LGUs’ EIGHTY four percent (84%) of the 1,715 Local Government Units (LGUs) in the country have condemned the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) for their atrocities through resolutions that declared the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTG) as ‘persona non grata’ in their respective areas.

In the weekly press briefing of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflicts (NTF-ELCAC), Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, the Task Force spokesperson for Barangay Development Program and LGU Concerns, said this means that almost all of the LGUs have formally expressed their condemnation of the CPPNPA through duly approved resolutions by their Sangguniang Bayan or councils composed of elected officials and approved by their local chief executives such as provincial governors and mayors.

“This declaration of an unwelcome, unacceptable organization in their localities is an assurance and manifestation that we have allies in this war against communist

terrorism on the ground, because they are the ones working with the people,” said Malaya , the Task Force spokesperson for Barangay Development Program and LGU Concerns.

He added that unlike in the past where addressing the CTG problem was “purely police and military focused”, the present strategy is an all sectoral or a “whole of country approach” to end the local communist insurgency.

Malaya said the remaining 279 LGUs are also in various stages of deliberations to denounce the terrorist groups in their respective provincial, city, and municipal councils.

This is the first ‘persona non grata’ declaration that the 1,436 LGUs have passed against CPP-NPA since the beginning of the 53-year old insurgency, according to Malaya.

He likened the problem to decades of having a “pandemic”, and as a whole of nation approach, the NTF-ELCAC will use “the truth as a vaccination” to once and for all end the CTG “virus”.

under blended distance learning before saying flexible distance learning would be the norm for the next school year.

“What is the plan of the Commission on higher Education to support teachers and students struggling in blended distance learning? Has the CHED conducted assessments on the situation of teachers and students?

Assistant Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro said.

Before making a pronouncement that ‘flexible learning’ would be the ‘new normal’ for higher education institutions, Castro said the CHED should have an assessment about teachers and students amid the 1 year of flexible distance learning.

In an earlier interview, DepEd Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said he believes home-based learning will still be an option for learners who would prefer to continue schooling at home and report to school on a limited number of days.

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TODAY

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TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021

News

63% of Pinoys want US vaccine brands M

By Vito Barcelo and Willie Casas

ORE than half or 63 percent of Filipinos preferred to receive COVID-19 vaccines manufactured in the United States, the latest Social Weather Stations survey showed.

In the survey conducted from April 28 to May 2, SWS found that the US dominated the list for preferred sources of vaccines, followed by China at 19 percent; Japan, Australia and United Kingdom at 13 percent each; and Canada and Russia at 12 percent each.

The survey also found Sinovac Biotech and Pfizer-BioNTech topping the list of preferred brands at 39 percent and 33 percent, respectively.

At the time of the survey, over 7 million COVID-19 vaccines from Sinovac, AstraZeneca, and Gamaleya have been delivered to the Philippines. The first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech jabs arrived a week after the survey on May 10.

Malacañang on Monday said the Rody-Leni proposed infomercial that will fea- informercial ture President Rodrigo Duterte and a no-go Vice President Leni Robredo will no longer push through.

“The most effective campaign against COVID-19 is the ‘Mask, Hugas, Iwas’ that features the President at the end of the video,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

Roque said Robredo should first clarify her position on vaccines, claiming she was initially hesitant about Chinese brands.

The Department of Health has Vaccines to rejected a proposal by independent be spread OCTA Research Group to allocate to hotspots 60 percent of vaccines to the Nation- outside NCR al Capital Region, Calabarzon and Central Luzon.

“We think this is not possible because we also have to give attention to other regions,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

Vergeire said the department is monitoring surges in Zamboanga, Baguio, and General Santos even as Metro Manila remains the epicenter of the pandemic in the country.

Vaccines effective against severe illness, death–PHAP PHARMACEUTICAL groups affirmed the efficacy of available COVID-19 vaccines against severe illness amid persistent hesitation among the population.

“All of these vaccines are generating near 100 percent or 100 percent efficacy against hospitalization and/or death,” said Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association of the Philippines president Dr. Beaver Tamesis during a virtual town hall discussion on “Enabling Health Solutions & Innovations to Improve the Philippine Public Health System” hosted by the Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute (ADRi).

“All the vaccines are now showing themselves to be truly efficacious against preventing severe illness. Some are now more efficacious even in preventing infection to begin with. So, we’re seeing more and more of that kind of data. That’s what we are seeing in Israel where severe hospitalization and admissions are in marked decline and in the UK, after they rolled out the AstraZeneca vaccine, death has plunged to 0.”

“Side effect profile is pretty much the same throughout all of the different vaccines. Mostly mild to moderate. Some people would have 2-3 days of symptoms, others just 24 hours or even less,” Dr. Tamesis added.

Stratbase ADRi president Prof. Dindo Manhit said achieving herd immunity will depend on a well-coordinated and collaborative partnership between national government agencies, local government units, and the private sector to ensure that the COVID-19 vaccine is made accessible to every Filipino at the shortest timeline and with utmost transparency.

“By bringing different stakeholders from the public, private, and civil society sector together, it is our hope to raise awareness for the potential of current and future innovative solutions in the health sector, the challenges these solutions can address, and the strategies needed to enable them to make an impact,” Manhit said.

In the same forum, pro-universal health care (UHC) patient and health advocacy groups joined under UHC Watch said: “The devastating effects of this global health crisis has exposed the vulnerabilities of our public health system which the Universal Health Care law is envisioned to solve.”

“Crucial to achieving a truly responsive healthcare system is the government’s investments in the public health facilities and the integration of the best health technologies. The fast response of the pharmaceutical industry to develop vaccines and medicines to fight COVID-19 has been unprecedented, which further highlights how innovative health technologies have been critical in fighting the pandemic,” UHC Watch added.

MODULAR COVID-19 FACILITY. Workers rush the

conversion of container vans into hospital facilities for the Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital in Luneta Park on May 24, 2021. The field hospital will have a 336-bed capacity and will be completed in two months. Norman Cruz

QC police chief orders crackdown on illegal jueteng QUEZON City Police District director Brig. Gen. Antonio Yarra ordered a massive crackdown against illegal gambling operations in the city, including “loteng”—a portmanteau and literally a combination game of lotto and jueteng.

Yarra said the police will show zero tolerance for operators of the illegal numbers game in the city as he ordered the arrest and filing of appropriate charges against anyone using his name to protect “loteng” activities.

Based on reports, two individuals— identified only as “Pinong” and “Daniel”—were behind the illegal numbers game in Quezon City. The two were repotedly dropping the name of Yarra.

Yarra vowed to punish police personnel who will not take action on illegal gambling operations within their jurisdiction.

He said the crackdown will include not just the arrest of the two operators but also their bet collectors.

HAUL. Two drug

suspects were killed in a joint operation by the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Sunday evening in Katarungan Village 1 in Muntinlupa City.

The raid led to the seizure of 10 kilos of shabu with a street value of P68 million.

Shown in photo is PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar pointing to the shabu stash recovered from the suspects.

Gasoline price up by P0.15/li, diesel by P0.25/li

By Alena Mae S. Flores

(MS-MAY 24, 2021)

THE country’s oil firms implemented a mixed oil price movement effective 6 a.m. today (Tuesday) to reflect the movement of world oil prices.

Most of the country’s oil firms raised the pump price of gasoline by P0.15 per liter and diesel by P0.25 per liter.

Seaoil Philippines and Chevron Philippines raised gasoline prices by P0.15 per liter and diesel by P0.25

per liter but cut the price of kerosene by P0.15 per liter.

Petro Gazz adjusted its prices at the same level while rival Cleanfuel raised diesel by P0.25 per liter but did not move gasoline prices.

On May 18, the oil companies rolled back gasoline prices by P0.20 to P0.35 per liter but increased the price of diesel by P0.20 per liter.

These resulted in year-to-date adjustments to stand at a total net increase of P8.35 per liter for gasoline and P6.95 per liter for diesel.

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Suu Kyi defiant in first comments since coup, vows party will live on

GROUNDED. A Belarusian dog handler checks luggages off a Ryanair Boeing 737-8AS (flight number FR4978) parked on Minsk International Airport’s apron in Minsk, on May 23. Belarusian opposition Telegram channel Nexta said Sunday that Roman Protasevich, its former editor and exiled opposition activist, had been detained at Minsk airport after his Lithuania-bound flight made an emergency landing. AFP

YANGON—Detained Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday voiced defiance in her first public comments since being held in a coup, vowing her ousted political party would “exist as long as the people exist.”

Myanmar has been in uproar since the February 1 putsch, with near-daily protests and a nationwide civil disobedience movement. More than 800 people have been killed by the military, according to a local monitoring group.

In her first in-person court appearance, Suu Kyi told her lawyer her National League for Democracy would “exist as long as the people exist,” even as the junta threatens to dissolve the party -- which swept elections in 2020 -- over alleged voter fraud.

The Nobel laureate -- who had not been seen in public since the coup -sounded “healthy and fully confident” during the 30-minute meeting, her law-

yer Min Min Soe told AFP. “She wishes her people to stay healthy as well as affirmed the NLD will exist as long as people exist because it was founded for people,” she added.

Suu Kyi has been hit with a string of criminal charges including flouting coronavirus restrictions during last year’s election campaign and possessing unlicensed walkie-talkies.

There was a heavy security presence in the capital Naypyidaw, an AFP correspondent said, with the road to the specially-constructed courthouse blocked off by police trucks.

Suu Kyi had faced weeks of delays to her legal case and her lawyers had struggled to gain access to their client.

The next hearing was set for June 7, Min Min Soe said, adding she had also met with former president Win Myint, who was ousted and detained along with Suu Kyi. AFP

Belarus diverts flight to arrest activist

M

INSK -- Belarus forced a passenger plane carrying a wanted opposition activist to divert and land in its capital, provoking a furious outcry from world leaders who described it as an “act of state terrorism” ahead of a European Union summit Monday expected to toughen sanctions on Minsk.

Dissident journalist Roman Protasevich was detained on Sunday after Ryanair flight FR4978 was pulled from its Athens-to-Vilnius route and—accompanied by a Belarusian fighter jet—diverted to the capital city, state television

reported.

Passengers described seeing the 26-year-old, who had been living in Poland, looking nervous as the flight was diverted to Minsk.

“He just turned to people and said he was facing the death penalty,” Monika Simkiene, a 40-year-old Lithuanian, told AFP in Vilnius after landing—without Protasevich—several hours later.

Edvinas Dimsa, 37, said: “He was not screaming, but it was clear that he was very much afraid. It looked like if the window had been open, he would have jumped out of it.”

The incident comes as the European Union is set to discuss toughening its existing sanctions against Belarus, imposed over the crackdown by the regime of President Alexander Lukashenko on

opposition protesters, at a pre-planned summit on Monday.

“The outrageous and illegal behaviour of the regime in Belarus will have consequences,” EU chief Ursula von der Leyen tweeted, calling for Protasevich’s release, and adding those responsible “must be sanctioned”.

Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki denounced Belarus’s actions as “an act of state terrorism”, while French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called for a “strong and united response” from the EU.AFP

Taiwan blames China for latest meeting snub TAIPEI―Taiwan hit out at China on Monday over its continued exclusion from a crucial annual gathering of World Health Organization members which starts this week and is focused on averting the next pandemic catastrophe.

The 74th World Health Assembly, which kicks off Monday, will arguably be one of the most important in the WHO’s history, amid calls to revamp the organisation and the entire global approach to health in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

But Taiwan -- which had one of the world’s best pandemic responses -- remains locked out for the fifth consecutive year, despite growing international support for its inclusion.

That is because China, which views the self-ruled democracy as its own territory and has vowed to one day seize it, has waged an increasingly assertive campaign to keep Taipei isolated on the world stage.

On Monday foreign minister Joseph Wu urged the WHO to “maintain a professional and neutral stance, reject China’s political interference” and allow Taiwan’s participation in its meetings and activities.

“China has continued to falsely claim that appropriate arrangements have been made for Taiwan’s participation in WHO. This wholly deviates from reality,” said Wu. Beijing’s block on Taipei from attending the WHA as an observer began after the 2016 election of Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, who has refused to acknowledge the island is part of “one China”.

But the coronavirus pandemic crystallised support for Taiwan’s 23 million inhabitants, especially in the early days of the crisis when it defeated its own outbreak and then began supplying protection equipment around the world.

Taiwan has been hailed as an example in combating the pandemic although clusters in recent weeks have seen infections more than triple to 4,917 cases.

The island has recorded 29 deaths so far.

Health minister Chen Shih-chung said the recent “escalation” of cases showed Taiwan “cannot remain on the sidelines and there should not be a gap in global disease prevention”.

“The WHO should serve the health and welfare of all humanity and not capitulate to the political interests of a certain member,” Chen said in a statement.

International support for Taiwan has been stronger this year, including a communique issued by G7 foreign ministers that backed Taiwan’s “meaningful participation in WHO and the WHA”. AFP

READ THE SIGN. An arch reading: “Taiwan can help” is seen next to the building of the United Nations Offices in Geneva on the opening day of the WHO’s World Health Assembly on May 24, 2021 in Geneva. Taiwan hit out at China over its continued exclusion from a crucial annual gathering of World Health Organization members. AFP

US’ Blinken says unclear Iran ready for nuclear pact return WASHINGTON―US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said it remains unclear whether Iran is “ready and willing” to take the necessary steps to return to compliance with the multination nuclear agreement.

Speaking ahead of a fifth round of talks in Vienna on rescuing that deal, Blinken was asked Sunday about Iranian reports that Washington had already agreed to lift some of the sanctions that have crippled the Iranian economy.

“We know what sanctions would need to be lifted if they’re inconsistent with the nuclear agreement,” he said on ABC’s “This Week”.

He added that more importantly, “Iran, I think, knows what it needs to do to come back into compliance on the

nuclear side, and what we haven’t yet seen is whether Iran is ready and willing to make a decision.

“That’s the test and we don’t yet have an answer.”

Donald Trump in 2018 walked away from the deal, saying Tehran had violated its “spirit” and remained a regional threat.

His successor Joe Biden wants to revive the plan, and Blinken has been working with the other parties to the 2015 accord, to that end.

For that to happen, Washington would need to lift the sanctions reinstated by Trump while Tehran would have to recommit to the terms of the deal, from which it progressively withdrew after Trump’s 2018 move.

“The lifting of Trump’s sanctions ... is a legal & moral obligation. NOT negotiating leverage,” Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reacted to Blinken to twitter.

“Didn’t work for Trump -- won’t work for you.”

Also addressing Biden, Zarif said: “Trump’s legacy is past its expiration date. Drop it”.

Almost a year after Trump walked away from the agreement, the Islamic republic started to gradually abandon most of the essential commitments in the accord.

The Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, Blinken said, “clearly did not get the result that we all seek.” AFP

Coronavirus hangs over WHO annual health meet GENEVA―Calls for World Health Organization reform and steps to avert future pandemics feature high on the agenda as the UN agency kicks off its annual member state meeting on Monday.

With the Covid-19 crisis still raging and wealthy nations continuing to hoard most doses of life-saving vaccines, the WHO’s main decisionmaking body will have plenty to discuss.

The 74th World Health Assembly (WHA) will begin Monday with statements from national leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, health ministers and other high-level representatives of the WHO’s 194 member states.

The discussions run until June 1 focussing heavily on efforts to rein in the pandemic and on calls to revamp the entire global health approach to help prevent future Covid-like catastrophes.

There is much at stake, but it remains unclear whether countries will step up to the plate.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who will also address the opening of the virtual gathering, said last week that this year’s WHA was “arguably one of the most important” ever.

Pushed to the brink On the agenda is discussion of major proposed reforms of the UN health agency, pushed to the brink by Covid.

“The past year has been the most testing in our organisation’s history,” Tedros acknowledged.

A highlight of this year’s WHA will come on Tuesday when ministers and diplomats discuss the findings of three separate independent panels that have assessed different aspects of the global pandemic response.

Finding that countries and institutions had been woefully unprepared to deal with the crisis, the experts argued for a total overhaul of the global alarm system.

They also urged reform of the WHO to boost its independence, transparency and funding.

A draft resolution to strengthen the organisation is under discussion. AFP

Family, supporters march in US ahead of Floyd death anniversary MINNEAPOLIS―Supporters and relatives of George Floyd marched Sunday ahead of the first anniversary of his murder by a white policeman, a killing that prompted a reckoning on racial injustice in the United States.

About 1,500 marchers in Minneapolis listened to speeches and joined members of the Floyd family and relatives of other Black people who died in encounters with the police.

Floyd, 46, was killed on May 25, 2020 by city police officer Derek Chauvin who knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes.

Chauvin, convicted by a jury of murder and manslaughter, is to be sentenced on June 25.

The rally opened with speeches outside the Hennepin County Government Center in central Minneapolis, where

Chauvin stood trial.

“It has been a long year. It has been a painful year. It has been very frustrating for me and my family,” Floyd’s sister Bridgett Floyd told the gathering.

Floyd said her life changed “within a blink of an eye” when her brother died.

“I will stand and be the voice for him,” she said. “I will stand and be the change for him.”

Floyd’s death sparked protests against racial injustice across the United States and around the world.

Veteran campaigner Reverend Al Sharpton told the crowd that Floyd’s killing was “one of the greatest disgraces in American history.”

“What happened to George Floyd, as well as so many others, is driving change not only across America but the world,” he said. AFP

GAZA HAUL. A Palestinian fisherman displays the day’s catch before it’s auctioned off at Gaza City’s main port, on May 24, after Israeli security forces allowed a limited number of Palestinian fishing boats to return to sea following a ceasefire in the recent conflict. AFP

Business Saudi hikes pressure on anti-vaxxers RIYADH—Saudi Arabia is tightening the screws on vaccine skeptics, barring them from pilgrimages and overseas travel and blocking access to universities, malls and offices in a contentious effort to boost inoculations.

So-called anti-vaxxers threaten to jeopardize global efforts to beat the coronavirus pandemic, health experts say, but Gulf autocracies, including Saudi Arabia, are cranking up the pressure on those refusing to get vaccinated.

Riyadh is accelerating a nationwide vaccination drive as it moves to revive tourism and host sports and entertainment extravaganzas, all pandemic-hit sectors that are a bedrock of the “Vision 2030” program to diversify the oil-reliant economy.

Sparking rumblings of discontent, the kingdom has allowed only vaccinated pilgrims or those who have recovered from COVID-19 within the previous six months to perform the year-round umrah pilgrimage.

A similar move is expected for the upcoming annual hajj, a key rite of passage for Muslims, sources close to the government say.

This month, only vaccinated or immunized citizens were allowed to travel abroad, after the kingdom lifted a ban on overseas trips introduced last year at the start of the pandemic.

Further riling public sentiment, the kingdom has said that from August 1, vaccinations will be mandatory to enter government and private establishments, including education institutions and entertainment venues, as well as to use public transport.

The sweeping announcement came just days after authorities said only vaccinated public and private sector workers would be allowed to return to the workplace.

The decisions have sparked pushback on social media from vaccine skeptics, with hashtags such as “No to compulsory vaccination” and “My body, my choice” gaining traction.

“You won’t be able to do any of the following,” wrote one Twitter user.

“Can’t travel! Can’t work! Can’t go to public places! Can’t even buy food!

Can’t study!” AFP

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TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks fall; Megaworld declines T TOP GAINERS HE stock market declined in thin trading Monday, with virus spiking in parts of Asia keeping investors on their toes.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 34.36 points, or 0.6 percent, to 6,164.89 on a value turnover of P4.5 billion. Losers beat gainers, 127 to 79, with 40 issues unchanged.

Megaworld, Corp., the biggest lessor of office spaces, slumped 5.6 percent to P2.70, while DITO CME Holdings Corp., the third major mobile phone company, also dropped 5.6 percent to P8.70.

Aboitiz Power Corp. of the Aboitiz Group was down 3 percent to P21.40,

while Converge ICT Solutions Inc., a fiber internet service provider, fell 2.4 percent to P19.90.

The rest of Asian equity markets were mixed Monday as inflation concerns played off against optimism over the global economic recovery.

Wall Street provided a tepid lead at the end of last week, though European equities were given a boost by upbeat eurozone economic data and progress in the bloc’s vaccination drive after a slow start.

Hong Kong, Seoul, Wellington, Bangkok and Jakarta were all in negative territory but Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Taipei and Mumbai rose.

With expectations that the global recovery will pick up pace this year, the main focus is now on the impact

that will have on prices, with observers warning a long period of high inflation will force central banks to wind back the ultra-loose monetary policies that have helped fire a long-running market rally.

Adding to the upward pressure on inflation is US President Joe Biden’s massive stimulus package passed earlier this year, while he also has others worth trillions more on infrastructure and help for families.

The Federal Reserve has repeatedly said it will not scale back on its largesse, which includes vast bond-buying and record low interest rates, until unemployment is tamed and inflation is running hot consistently.

But investors continue to worry that it might be forced to act sooner than expected. With AFP

One of Lifvs’ unmanned supermarket stores is pictured on May 6, 2021 in Veckholm, a village of a few hundred people, about 80 kilometers from Stockholm, near the city of Enkoping.

One after another, grocery stores are shutting down in rural Sweden, leaving villagers to log miles to buy food. But a new type of shop has sprung up in their wake: unmanned supermarkets in mobile containers.

AFP

supermarket.

But in July 2020, an automated, unmanned grocery store came to town.

In a container dropped in the middle of a field, open 24 hours a day, the 20-square-meter (215-square-foot) supermarket sells hundreds of items—and there’s no cashier in sight.

“Since a while back, there has been nothing in this area and I think most of us living here have really missed that,” said Giulia Ray, a beekeeper in Veckholm.

“It’s so convenient to have this in the area,” she told AFP, doing her own shopping and restocking the shop’s

shelves with her honey at the same time.

Shoppers unlock the supermarket’s door with an app on their smartphone.

“We come here three times a week and buy stuff we need,” Lucas Edman, a technician working in the region for a few weeks, told AFP. “It’s a little bit more expensive but it’s fine. It’s a price I can pay to not go to another store.”

He scanned his pizzas and soda on the app on his phone, which is linked to his bank account and a national identification system—an added anti-theft security, according to the store. AFP

By celine castella

A photograph taken on May 5, 2021 shows the Saint-Genest L’Enfant’s fishing farm owned by Edouard de Feligonde, in Malazaut.

Edouard de Feligonde is on trial against the French mineral water company Volvic that he accuses of pumping too much water in the region. Around Volvic (Puy-de-Dome), the water is scarce and the discontent rises against Danone, owner of the famous mineral water, accused of emptying the resources at the expense of the environment. AFP

Water shortages are already impacting the region’s biodiversity by reducing the natural humidity of the forested hills.

“It can be described as the beginning of a desertification,” said Christian Amblard, an expert with France’s CNRS research institute in Clermont-Ferrand, the historic capital of Auvergne.

He cited declines in black alder trees and the siskin songbirds that nest in them, and in ash trees and golden orioles.

“Only the hand of man and Volvic are responsible,” he said.

Laurent Campos-Hugueney, a farmer and member of the Water is a Public Good collective, said streams around Volvic no longer flow strongly enough to support irrigation.

“There hasn’t been any plant or vegetable operations in the area for several years,” he said.

But Jerome Gros, director at the Volvic bottling site, disputed the claim that his

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operations were sucking the waterbed dry and said Danone was investing heavily in protecting the source.

“We have saved 380 million liters between 2017 and 2020 even as sales remained stable,” Gros told AFP. In 2014, for example, Volvic needed to pump out two liters to fill a one-liter bottle, with the excess used for sterilizing and rinsing equipment.

“Today we’re down to just 1.4 liter for every liter bottled,” he said.

‘Shooting itself in the foot’ Critics are not convinced, noting that Volvic pumps up water from up to 100 meters deep, and that stream depletions cannot be ascribed to the weather since rainfall has remained steady over the past years.

“It’s like you’re emptying a bathtub from the bottom,” said Francois-Dominique de Larouziere, a geologist who is member of the local Preva environmental

preservation group.

Authorities have also allowed Volvic to spread its volume allotment over the entire year, meaning it can pump more in summer when demand spikes, leaving everyone else high and dry.

The government’s top official for the region, Philippe Chopin, told a parliamentary commission in April that “environmental conditions, in particular drought, caused a drop in the aquifer that we do not believe can be blamed” on Volvic’s extractions.

His assertions were rejected by many in Volvic, where the issuance of building permits was suspended last August because of the risk of drinking water shortages—though the mayor denied any proof that Volvic’s operations were the cause.

“How can you tell people they can’t water three tomato plants in the middle of summer, when they see full trucks leaving this factory?” De Larouziere said. AFP

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Unmanned supermarkets open in Sweden’s rural areas

ENKOPING, Sweden—One after another, grocery stores are shutting down in rural Sweden, leaving villagers to travel miles to buy food. But a new type of shop has sprung up in their wake: unmanned supermarkets in mobile containers.

In Veckholm, a village of a few hundred people 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Stockholm, the last grocery store closed more than a decade ago. Then, a year-and-a-half ago, even the little convenience store at the only petrol station locked its doors.

Villagers were left with no choice but to travel a half-hour by car to the closest

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Too thirsty? France’s Volvic blamed as streams run dry VOLVIC, France—The lush volcanic hills surrounding Volvic in central France have long been a source of mineral water prized worldwide, but locals and geologists warn that too much is now being pumped out, putting the entire region at risk.

“We used to have water up to our knees and the stream could turn two mills,” said Pierre Grodecoeur, 69, pointing out the flow outside the house where he was born in Les Moulins Blancs.

The mills are long gone, Grodecoeur said, and these days the stream bed is often dry.

His village in the Auvergne region is just down the road from the hulking Volvic bottling plant owned by French food and beverage giant Danone.

Since 2014, the government has allowed Danone to bottle up to 2.8 million cubic meters a year—or 2.8 billion oneliter bottles.

That translates into an extraction of nearly 89 liters per second from the Volvic water table, compared with just 15.6 liters when bottling operations first began in 1965.

But at the nearby fish hatchery of Saint-Genest-l’Enfant, a registered landmark dating from the 17th century where the Volvic source naturally emerges, there are now some months when no water flows at all.

The owner, Edouard de Feligonde, had to shut down the fishery a few years ago after duckweed formed slick green films over basins that became stagnant for lack of current.

“Danone is destroying a historical monument so that it can send its bits of plastic to the other side of the world,” said Feligonde, who is waging a legal battle against the multinational with the lawyer and former environment minister Corinne Lepage.

‘Desertification’ Robert Durand, a geologist, told AFP that the average flow rate at the Volvic source had fallen to 50 litres per second, far below the 470 liters per second measured in 1927.

PSEi May 24, 2021

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Jack Ma to resign as president of his business school BEIJING, China—Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, founder of ecommerce giant Aibaba, is going to step down as president of the elite business school he founded after having been caught in a Beijing clampdown on tech titans, the Financial Times reported Monday.

Ma, formerly one of China’s most flamboyant entrepreneurs, has largely disappeared from public view since Alibaba’s fintech arm was investigated and fined by regulators for alleged monopolistic practices.

The Financial Times report cited sources saying that Hupan University—an elite academy for Chinese business executives established in Ma’s hometown of Hangzhou in 2015—has changed its name and will restructure its curriculum.

Ma will not hold any high-level title at the restructured organization, the report said, as Beijing seeks to limit his influence.

“Hupan is like an elite community, it’s one of (the authorities’) main targets,” one person who worked with Ma was quoted as saying by the FT. Viral videos circulating on Chinese social media earlier this month showed construction workers using a blow torch to remove characters on a large “Hupan University” sign.

The FT also reported last month that Hupan University was forced to suspend new student enrollments after sustained pressure from Beijing to dismantle Ma’s fintech empire.

In a series of blows for the group, Alibaba was fined a record 18.2 billion yuan ($2.8 billion) by antitrust authorities last month, and its fintech arm Ant Financial has been ordered to restructure its business after a planned listing was scuppered.

Alibaba’s reprimand is widely believed to be triggered by an October speech by Ma where he criticized state financial institutions for being outdated. AFP

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

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PSE INDEX CLOSING Monday, May 24, 2021

-34.36 PTS. 6,164.89

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

1,091,148,685 79,905 4,477,810,258.95 79 127 40

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, MAY 24, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.8970

Japan

Yen

0.009183

0.4398

UK

Pound

1.415900

67.8174

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128798

6.1690

Switzerland

Franc

1.114082

53.3612

Canada

Dollar

0.829187

39.7156

Singapore

Dollar

0.750863

35.9641

Australia

Dollar

0.772500

37.0004

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655478

127.1894

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

12.7722

Brunei

Dollar

0.748055

35.8296

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.031878

1.5269

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.0417

Euro

Euro

1.218100

58.3433

Korea

Won

0.000888

0.0425

China

Yuan

0.155412

7.4438

India

Rupee

0.013717

0.6570

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241604

11.5721

New Zealand

Dollar

0.717000

34.3421

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035767

1.7131 Source: BSP

SMC unit opens Quirino gate of Skyway Stage 3

Business Local investors supporting equities and bond markets L

By Juito G. Rada

OCAL investors are keeping the equities and fixed-income markets afloat as foreign fund managers fled amid the adverse impact of the pandemic on the economy, according to a capital market report.

The Philippine Stock Exchange said in a first-quarter report to the Capital Market Development Council chaired by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III it is the local investors who propped up the equities and fixed-income markets this year.

It said trading in the equities and fixed-income markets remained robust in the first three months, with local retail investors accounting for 74.3 percent of stock market transactions as of end-March, up from less than 50 percent prior to the onset of the pandemic in 2019.

The PSE said retail investors accounted for 43.3 percent of the volume traded by local investors compared to just 18.2 percent in 2019 and 26.9 percent in 2020.

It also saw investor-related trading making up 59 percent of the total traded volume in the fixed-income market in the same period.

Dominguez said the increase in retail investor participation in both markets pointed to the trust and confidence of the public in the regulatory bodies that are tasked to keep their capital and investment returns safe.

“Let’s keep that in mind—the environment of confidence in the system. Regulators are so important to provide guarantees to investors and ensure them that they are not going to be cheated,” Dominguez told his fellow CMDC members during a recent meeting of the council.

PSE president Ramon Monzon said that despite the significant decline of foreign participation in the stock market to just 25.7 percent in the first quarter of 2021 from 55.5 percent in 2019 and 45.4 percent in 2020, the average trading volume still rose by 49.6 percent from 2020 up to the first quarter of 2021, “indicating that local investors have stepped up.”

The year-to-date average daily value turnover in the PSE as of end-March 2021 was P11 billion, higher than the average of P7.35 billion in 2020 and the P7.29 billion in 2019.

The month of January 2021 saw a daily value turnover of P11.04 billion, then went up to P12.35 billion in February and eased to P9.88 billion in March.

“Market liquidity is off to a good start. Trading in the first quarter remains robust. We have almost a 50-percent increase in value turnover. Retail investors are very active in the stock market at least in the first quarter of 2021,” Monzon said during the meeting.

By Darwin G. Amojelar SAN Miguel Corp., through SMC Infrastructure, on Monday announced the opening of the southbound Quirino exit of the Skyway Stage 3 elevated expressway to Class-1 vehicles.

“The opening of the Quirino southbound exit will greatly improve accessibility from Quezon City and Manila. With more private vehicles diverted to Skyway Stage 3 on their way back from NLEX, or coming from Quezon Ave., to Manila, traffic on our major public roads as well as on streets usually utilized as ‘short cuts’ or ‘alternate routes’, will be a thing of the past,” SMC president Ramon Ang said in a statement.

“This will redound to relief from congestion and faster and easier commutes for many of our countrymen on our major thoroughfares,” he said.

The opening allows Class 1 vehicles (cars, taxis, jeepneys, vans, SUVs, and pickups—below 7ft) coming from Balintawak and Quezon Ave. to directly reach Manila within less than 20 minutes from 1.5 hours without traffic.

SMC said it would continue to deliver on its commitment to bring motorists quality infrastructure that addresses congestion and lack of accessibility.

“We remain dedicated to providing convenient and seamless travel for motorists to help decongest Metro Manila and enable growth in all areas that we reach,” he said.

SMC, which fully-funded and built 100 percent of Skyway Stage 3, said the expressway now has 15 operational ramps.

These include northbound entry/ on-ramps at Buendia (Zobel) and Quezon Ave.; southbound entry/onramps at Balintawak, Quezon Ave. and Plaza Dilao; northbound exit/ off-ramps at Quirino Ave., Nagtahan, Quezon Ave., A. Bonifacio and Balintawak; and southbound exit/ off-ramps at Quezon Ave., E. Rodriguez, Nagtahan, Quirino and Buendia (Zobel).

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the full completion of Skyway Stage 3 would divert at least 75,000 vehicles away from EDSA or C5.

SOLAR-POWERED FACTORY. Coca-Cola

Beverages Philippines Inc., the bottling arm of CocaCola in the country, achieves another sustainability milestone in the first quarter after completing the installation of almost 14,000 solar panels in its Davao del Sur, Misamis Oriental and Bacolod plants. A multiphased solar panel project is underway that covers four more sites—Canlubang, Sta. Rosa, Zamboanga and Cebu—with 2022 as a target deadline. CCBPI is pursuing a 24,000 solar-panel project, with a otal capacity of 9.4 megawatts. More projects are in the pipeline— two plants in North Luzon and Visayas are being assessed for renewable energy integration.

Vista Land allots P27b for ‘21 capital expenditures

By Jenniffer B. Austria VISTA Land & Lifescapes Inc., one of the country’s leading integrated property developers and the largest homebuilder, said Monday it earmarked P27 billion for 2021 capital expenditures mainly for construction and land development Vista Land said in a statement with land acquisition activities still muted, it was planning to maximize and focus on developing existing land bank.

The company had 2,968 hectares of property in its land bank as of endMarch 2021.

“We remain optimistic with the industry especially with current growth in overseas Filipino remittances for two consecutive months that is poised to hit the full-year target growth of 4 percent, according to the BSP [Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas]. Over 50 percent of our sales come from overseas Filipinos and the demand from the sector remains resilient amid the current challenging time,” Vista Land chairman Manuel Villar said.

“We are also looking forward to the vaccination rollout of the country in relation to the further opening of the economy which will benefit not just our industry but the country as a whole,” he said.

The company recently completed a $170-million dollar note offering as part of its liability management exercise. Proceeds from the offering would be used to fully refinance dollar debt maturing in June 2022.

Vista Land said net income declined 14 percent in the first quarter to P2.1 billion. The company, however, saw continued quarterly improvement as reservation sales for the period hit P16 billion, up 4 percent from the same period last year and 14 percent higher than in the fourth quarter 2020.

The company booked real estate revenues of P6.3 billion, down 13 percent from a year ago, while leasing income declined 9 percent to P2 billion.

IN BRIEF

PLDT Global ties up with Hasty Market

San Miguel Corp. president Ramon Ang (left) and Public Works Secretary Mark Villar lead the opening of the southbound Quirino exit of the Skyway Stage 3 elevated expressway to Class-1 vehicles, allowing motorists coming from Balintawak and Quezon Ave. to directly reach Manila within less than 20 minutes from 1.5 hours without traffic.

Megawide booked P2.9-m profit in Q1 EDC to continue to end 3 successive quarters of losses geothermal plant projects abroad

MEGAWIDE Construction Corp. said Monday it managed to return to profitability after three consecutive quarters of losses with a net income of P2.9 million in the first quarter on aggressive cost rationalization and overhead management.

Megawide said in a filing with the stock exchange first-quarter revenues fell 25 percent to P3.72 billion from P4.96 billion a year ago, as airport, construction and land port businesses continued to struggle from the impact of the pandemic.

The company said construction revenues, which accounted for 92 percent of total sales, reached P3.4 billion in the first quarter, down 10 percent from a year earlier.

It said prospects for the coming quarters remained positive as it aimed to recognize revenues from big ticket contracts, such as the Suncity Westside City and its share from Malolos-Clark Railway Project.

Revenues from airport business plummeted 86 percent to P114 million from P808.6 million a year ago as domestic and international travel remained restricted.

Operations at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport remained practically grounded, with passenger volumes only a fraction of pre-pandemic levels.

It expects airport operations to undergo a recovery period from 2021 to 2023.

Megawide said it would continue to focus on public infrastructure projects as it anticipates a dearth in private sector launches because of the pandemic.

“We are very excited to participate in the upcoming bidding for the Metro Manila Subway System and NorthSouth Commuter Railway-South Line projects this year, where we can further expand our scope and leverage our advantages,” Megawide chairman and chief executive Edgar Saavedra said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

By Alena Mae S. Flores ENERGY Development Corp. said Monday it will continue to develop geothermal projects in Indonesia, Peru, Taiwan and Chile as part of its expansion.

“Although the COVID situation and the accompanying travel restrictions have caused some delays in EDC’s activities in Indonesia and Taiwan, the company continues to be keen on those markets,” EDC said.

EDC said it would continue pre-development activities in its geothermal concessions in Indonesia, Chile and Peru. The company intends to develop the Graho Nyabu project in Indonesia.

EDC said Peru and Chile could be key markets for the expansion program as their governments started to see the value of true base-load renewable energy such as geothermal.

The company said it was also looking at Taiwan for potential expansion because of favorable feed-in-tariff for geothermal energy.

EDC plans to allocate $280 million in capital expenditures this year for drilling and investments as the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the postponement of key activities last year.

The capex would cover the development of binary growth projects—specifically the 3.6-megawatt Mindanao 3 and the 29-MW Palayan Bayan projects.

The company operates in the four geothermal service contract areas where it is principally involved in the generation and sale of electricity through company-owned geothermal power plants to National Power Corp., electric cooperatives, privately-owned distribution utilities, large industrial clients and the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, pursuant to power purchase agreements, Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, ancillary services procurement agreements and feed-in-tariff.

PLDT Global Corp. said Monday it teamed up with Hasty Market to offer Smart Communications Inc.’s electronic load to overseas Filipinos in Canada.

Under the agreement, customers will be able to conveniently purchase Smart and TNT e-load products for themselves or to send to their family members in the Philippines in over 200 Hasty Market locations across Ontario, Canada.

A homegrown company recognized for variety, quality and convenience, the Canadian food store chain have been serving local communities since 1981. As of 2016, Ontario, Canada is home to over 53,000 Filipinos, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs website.

“This partnership enables us to bring our services closer to our kababayans abroad so that they can strengthen their connections with their loved ones back home,” said Albert Villa-Real, senior vice president and chief commercial officer at PGC. “With our customers as our true north, we want to make technology easy and accessible to every Filipino, as we fuel their passions and help them realize their purpose wherever they are in the world,” Villa-Real said. Darwin G. Amojelar

AC Energy signs deal with Pacific Synergy

AC ENERGY Corp. said Monday it signed an agreement with Pacific Synergy Food and Beverage Corp., a fast moving consumer goods company, to provide its Laguna plant facility with 100-percent renewable energy during peak hours.

The agreement will eliminate an estimated 1,500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions for the duration of the deal, or the equivalent of taking about 324 cars off the road annually.

Pacific Synergy’s power needs during peak operational hours will be energized by renewable energy from AC Energy’s portfolio of operating wind, solar and geothermal power plants for the next two years, or around 28,913 MWh of renewable energy.

This is the first renewable energy power purchase of the company for the electricity supply of its plant operations.

“The switch to renewable energy through our partnership with AC Energy is a major milestone for us, not only in reducing the carbon footprint of our expanding operations, but also in supporting the sustainable development and low-carbon future of the country,” said Charles Stewart Lee, president of Pacific Synergy. Alena Mae S. Flores

Sky Fiber levels up speed for learning

SKY Fiber said its leveled-up super speed plans enable parents to ensure they can create a multifaceted learning environment at home for their children when they access high-quality online learning resources.

“The new normal has opened up opportunities for children to experience education beyond school. If your child wants to acquire a new skill or develop a new hobby, they can easily do so since our current homestay lifestyle enables more time flexibility and quick access to digital platforms,” said Alan Supnet, Sky’s head for consumer broadband products.

A lot of learning materials are available online like animated videos, interactive quizzes, informative podcasts, educational games, expert blogs, and free-to-stream documentaries, but they can only be maximized with a stable internet connection.

“Parents must invest in a broadband plan that will level up their children’s studies, which we believe can be delivered by our upgraded Super Speed plans,” Supnet said.

Booker stars as Suns sink Lakers; Sixers clip Wizards LOS ANGELES—Devin Booker scored 34 points as the second-seeded Phoenix Suns outplayed the Los Angeles Lakers in their Western Conference playoff series opener with a hardfought 99-90 victory on Sunday.

Booker—playing in the first NBA playoff game of his career— spearheaded a deser ved wi n over the reig n i ng NBA champions, rallying his team after an injury to Chris Paul restricted the Phoenix veteran’s inf luence.

Booker was backed by Deandre Ayton, who contributed 21 points and 16 rebounds, while Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson added 10 points apiece for Phoenix.

A physical encounter saw the Suns’ Cameron Payne ejected in the fourth quarter after a shoving match which saw players and backroom staff stream onto the court as tempers flared.

The Lakers, meanwhile, struggled to hit their stride throughout, with LeBron James finishing with 18 points and Anthony Davis restricted to 13 points after making only five-of-16 from the field.

Barring an early spell in the first quarter when the Lakers led by five points, the Suns led throughout, maintaining a double-digit cushion for much of the second half and leading by 16 points early in the fourth.

“It was a big win for us,” Booker said, revealing that the early injury to Paul had galvanised the Suns.

“Chris went down early and I think that got our team locked in and understanding that every possession matters. We huddled up and said we’ve all got to give a little bit more.”

Bracing for backlash Booker said the Suns would be bracing for a Lakers backlash in game two in Phoenix on Tuesday.

“They’re the defending champs. We know they’re going to come out and be ready to go -- and I think we will be too,” Booker said.

Lakers star Davis meanwhile took responsibility for the defeat following a below-par performance.

“There’s no way we’re winning a game, let alone a series, with me playing the way I played,” Davis said.

“This was on me. I take full responsibility. I’ll be better in game two.”

James however defended his team-mate.

“It’s never just one guy,” James said.

“I love it when AD puts that pressure on himself though. We’re a better team when he demands the ball—but we’ve all gotta do a lot better.” AFP

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021

C1

Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers fights for a rebound with Devin Booker and Mikal Bridges of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of Game One of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Phoenix Suns Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Lakers, 99-90. AFP

PH archers seek Olympic berths

By Peter Atencio

F

ILIPINO-AMERICAN standout Riley Silos will lead members of the national team joining the last stage of the Olympic qualifying tournament for archery in Paris, France from the June 18 to 21.

Based in Pasadena, California, Silos is one of six who passed the tryouts during the 2nd World Archery Philippines Evaluation Virtual Tournament and 31st Southeast Asian Games Qualifier two weeks ago.

“He (Silos) is based in California and has passed the test. Riley will be in the qualifiers,” said WAP secretary-general Rosendo Sombrio in an interview with the Manila Standard.

A music student at the Los Ange-

Stephan Schrock

les College of Music, Silos topped the men’s recurve with a total of score of 1306, with Baguio’s Jason Felciano in second at 1284.

Gene Patrick Valencia of General Santos City was third at 1272.

The rest of the contingent is made up of Carson Hastie, Pia Elizabeth Bidaure, Phoebe Amistoso and Monica Bidaure.

Coaches Clint Sayo and Joy Marino are coming with the team to Paris.

“My team and I have been working hard. I train the whole day. And it’s a lot of mental training, visualizing,” said Silos in a recent radio interview.

Silos and his teammates were supposed to go to Chinese Taipei to train with their national squad that is bound for the Tokyo Olympics.

But a surge of coronavirus infections in Taiwan prevented the Philippine squad from going there.

Plans have since changed, but Sombrio said Silos has continued to prepare for Paris, while in the US. The rest of the members of the national team have since returned to Dumaguete to continue their preparations.

WAP president Clint Aranas said the national will be there until they leave for Paris next month.

13 Azkals now in Qatar for training camp THIRTEEN of 25 players called up for the Philippine Azkals’ national men’s football training camp are now in Doha, Qatar.

Team officials said veteran team members, led

by Stephan Schrock, are now doing their workouts with the team.

The Azkals, coached by Scott Cooper, will resume their search for a qualifying slot to the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the Asian Cup next month.

Fil-British goalie Neil Etheridge, who recently got married, is one of the 12 players still not around the team. He is among those expected to catch up with the rest of the team in the coming days.

Joining Schrock in Doha are Matt Baldissimo, Mark Hartmann, Niko De Vera, Mar Diano, Angel Guirado, Alvaro Silva, Mark Winhoffer, Luke Woodland, Bernd Schipmann, Jarvey Gayoso, Patrick Reichelt and Michael Kempter.

Newcomer Baldissimo is a Filipino-Canadian

professional, who plays as a midfielder for Pacific FC. The Azkals are scheduled for a two-week training bubble and a series of friendly matches from May 22 to 31.

After that, they will fly to China for matches against Guam (June 3), China (June 9) and the Maldives (June 15).

“This is going to be a big challenge for us, playing in China. We are looking forward to the competition,” said team manager Dan Palami.

New faces, led by Gerrit Holtmann, Jesper Nyholm, Raphael Obermair, and Lloyd Fagerlie will also join the camp, after getting an invitation from Cooper.

Naturalization candidate Bienve Marañon and Fil-Australian Jesse Curran won’t make the trip due to documentary issues.

But the two are still expected be part of the team in the future. Peter Atencio

PH Olympic rowing bet Nievarez gets boost TOKYO Olympics-bound rower Cris Nievarez received cash incentives from Quezon City’s 4th District Representative Angelina “Helen” Tan and GP Partylist Representative Jose Gay “GP” Padiernos on Monday at the Philippine Rowing Association Headquarters in La Mesa Dam, Quezon City.

“Sobrang nagpapasalamat ako sa tulong na binigay nina Congressman GP at Congresswoman Helen. Ngayon po mas lalo ko pa gagalingan para sa Olympics,” Nievarez said.

Rep. Tan has pledged to extend whatever assistance Nievarez needs to successfully prepare and compete in the men’s single sculls event of the Tokyo Olympics.

Tan said she didn’t think twice about providing Nievarez the needed incentive because the Filipino rower reminds her of her humble beginnings.

“Chris and I came from poor families. But through faith, hard work and commitment to excellence, we both overcame the odds and won. May the determination and resilience of our new Olympic idol despite the many setbacks serve as inspiration for the younger athletes to strive better and for all Filipinos to never give up,” she said.

“Galing sa Puso ang tulong na binibigay ko Kay Cris. Magandang sport itong rowing. Dapat suportahan natin,” said Rep. Padiernos.

Cris’ mother, Shirley Nievarez thanked the solons for their support to his son’s journey in the Olympics. “Sobrang napakalaking tulong nito sa aming pamilya lalo na ngayon na sobrang hirap kami sa buhay.”

The PRA also expressed its gratitude to Reps. GP and Tan for the support it extended to Cris and the sports organization.

“We hope that this much-needed financial boost will inspire our 20-year-old Filipino rower to stay focused on training and keep himself competition-ready for the Tokyo Olympics. With the help of the government and private individuals, we want to keep this momentum going and move a step closer in promoting the sport of rowing in the country,” PRA President Patrick Gregorio said.

Grab that authenticated, signed sports memorabilia without leaving home “HEROES come and go, but legends are forever.”

Late Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant said it in a commercial back in 2011.

Heroes and legends rise each year, enriching the world with their feats and incredible achievements.

Not just athletes but teams, games, leagues and seasons become immortal. Special ones are etched forever in the minds and hearts of sports fans.

How do you capture a moment and make it forever? How do you commemorate a shot that ends a half-century title drought? How do you honor an impressive first season for a generational talent? Or a player that gave his blood, sweat, and tears to all but one franchise and fanbase?

Enter the world of sports memorabilia—a treasure trove of items that make you own a moment, an icon, an event or a feeling. Seasoned collectors look for authentic signed jerseys, caps, jackets, shoes, posters, game balls, and what have you from sports memorabilia providers worldwide. In the Philippines, there is only one trustworthy online retailer of authenticated signed sports memorabilia: Hall of Fame Authentics or HOFA. HOFA is an online-based store that offers over 5,000 authentically signed items in various sports

on its website, hofa.ph. All memorabilia available are verified authentic as witnessed by licensed memorabilia companies such as Upper Deck, Panini, Steiner, and Fanatics to reassure fans they are getting something 100% legit. The memorabilia also come in a broad range of prices to fit different budgets.

HOFA caters to both expert collectors and those just starting to build their collections. “You don’t have to start big when you take up this hobby,” advises Ron Uy, who owns HOFA together with friends Stephen Songco and Elvis Gutierrez.” You don’t have to go for the big guns like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Tom Brady right away. If there’s someone—maybe a rookie—whom you think will eventually make it big, then you can start from there. If you feel you have a certain connection or attachment to a player, team, or a sporting moment, build your collection around that. Who knows? That player may make it to the Hall of Fame someday. Or that team may eventually win a string of championships? Only time will tell.” Ron himself owns a vast range of Laker memorabilia from the days of Jerry West to Kobe Bryant’s era.

Meanwhile Songco, a huge Michael Jordan fan, also

owns a game-worn pair of kicks from the greatest of all time.

It’s easy to start a collection thru HOFA. Just go to the website, add the chosen memorabilia to cart, and check out after indicating required details and providing the necessary information. HOFA makes it easy for fans to own memorabilia by making them available through credit card and PayPal or even via installment and layaway plans that fit their budgets better. Afterwards, customers receive a confirmation email containing further instructions. All items are already 12% VAT-inclusive so there are no additional taxes to pay.

As a special touch, HOFA will accommodate requests to have the memorabilia framed or encased for an additional fee so they can be readily showcased upon arrival. It takes just two to three weeks for the items to arrive. And the best thing is you didn’t even need to leave home to shop for the memorabilia you wanted.

A signed Stephen Curry jersey

C2

Sports

TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021

AFTER HISTORIC PGA WIN AT 50

Mickelson eyes elusive US Open

K

IAWAH ISLAND— Ageless wonder Phil Mickelson is taking aim at an elusive US Open title to complete a career Grand Slam after becoming golf’s oldest major winner by capturing the PGA Championship.

The 50-year-old US left-hander swiped an iconic victory for the ages—and the aged—on Sunday, grinding out a twostroke triumph at windy Kiawah Island for his sixth major title.

“I’ve believed for some time now without success that I could play at my best and compete in major championships still,” Mickelson said. “But until this week, I haven’t proven it to myself or anyone else.”

Transforming mind and body with work and discipline, Mickelson has new inspiration to challenge the US Open, the one major he has never won and an event where he owns a record six runner-up finishes, the most recent in 2013.

This year’s US Open is next month at Torrey Pines, near Mickelson’s San Diego home, and he turns 51 on June 16, the eve of the opening round.

“I do believe that if I stay sharp mentally I can play well at Torrey Pines,” Mickelson said. “I know I’m playing well and this could very well be my last really good opportunity to win a US Open, so I’m going to put everything I have into it.”

Mickelson needs the US Open to join Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan as the only golfers to win all four major titles in their careers.

“I’ll take two weeks off before that and go out to Torrey and spend time on the greens and really try to be sharp for that week,” Mickelson said.

“Lefty” had not won a major title since the 2013 British Open but has taken the long road back to surpass the prior age mark of 48 set by American Julius Boros at the 1968 PGA Championship.

“Certainly takes more energy out of me, but if I work a little harder, spend a little more time in the gym, eat well, practice hard, there’s no reason why I

Mickelson

can’t put it all out there for 18 holes,” Mickelson said.

“There’s no reason why you can’t accomplish your goals at an older age. It’s just going to take more effort. If you put in the work, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish.”

For Mickelson, that has meant clearing his mind through meditation in order to stay calm under pressure.

“Just the ability to kind of quiet my mind and get rid of all the exterior noise,” he said. “I don’t want to get all spiritual but that has kind of been the biggest thing for me.

“I’ve tried to shut my mind to a lot of stuff going around. I wasn’t watching TV. I wasn’t getting on my phone. I was just trying to quiet things down.”

It also means Mickelson, who fasts 36 hours each week, watches what he eats far more than when he was younger, in part to fight psoriatic arthritis.

“I’ve got to eat a lot less and I’ve got to eat better. I just can’t eat as much and I have to let my body recover,” Mickelson said.

“It has been a blessing for me because I feel better and I don’t have inflammation and I wake up feeling good. It has been a sacrifice worth making.”

‘Was a lot of doubt’ Mickelson had 16 events without a top-20 finish over the past nine months, but delivered an all-time classic to defy Father Time.

“It’s very possible that this is the last tournament I ever win, if I’m

being realistic,” Mickelson said.

“But it’s also very possible that I may have had a little bit of a breakthrough in some of my focus and maybe I go on a little bit of a run.

“The point is that there’s no reason why I or anybody else can’t do it at a later age.

It just takes a little bit more work.”

Mickelson admitted it was tough going without seeing solid results until this week.

“It’s very exciting because I’ve had a few breakthroughs on being able to stay more present, more focused, and physically I’m striking it and playing as well as I ever have,” he said.

“Although I believed it, until I act u a l l y did it, there was a lot of doubt.” AFP

Verstappen: Actions speak louder than words MONTE CARLO—Max Verstappen won his maiden Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday and took a thinly-veiled swipe at world champion Lewis Hamilton, telling his title rival: “Actions speak louder than words”.

The Dutch Red Bull driver coasted to victory from the pole position he inherited from Charles Leclerc when the Ferrari driver was unable to start the race.

“First of all, I want to say that actions always speak louder than words. I think that’s a good lesson after this weekend,” said Verstappen who has now taken over the lead of the world championship from Hamilton.

The British star had said on the eve of the race that “perhaps Max feels he has a lot to prove.

“I’m not necessarily in the same boat there and I’m more long-term, ‘it’s a marathon not a sprint’ sort of mentality, which is ultimately why I have the stats that I have.”

Verstappen now has two wins to his name this season and leads the championship by four points from the Mercedes’ Hamilton.

It is the first time in his career he has led a world championship.

“You have to do your talking on the track, and that’s what I love,” he said.

“As a team we have made the fewest mistakes so far and that is why we are leading (one point ahead of Mercedes in the constructors).

“I hope we can continue like this for the rest of the season. And there is still a long way to go.”

His victory, however, was not one for the purists as the tight Monaco street circuit once again made overtaking impossible turning the eagerlyawaited event, which was shelved due to the pandemic in 2020, into a flat procession.

“Obviously it always seems under control, but staying focused for so many laps, it’s the most difficult,” said Verstappen.

“It’s easy to relax a bit and it’s easy to make a mistake, so you have to remember: stay focused, keep your thoughts fixed on the road.”

It was a weekend to forget for Hamilton and his Mercedes team.

Verstappen

The seven-time champion finished in a lowly seventh place and teammate Valtteri Bottas was forced to retire.

“This has definitely been a poor weekend overall in terms of our performance, but this team has shown time and time again, how we come back fighting,” said Hamilton.

“There’s no finger pointing, we win and we lose together—we just need to find our feet and stay cool, we have 18 races left and there’s a long way to go

in this fight.”

Bottas finds himself in fourth place in the standings, already 49 points behind Verstappen.

“I couldn’t believe it. It’s obviously hugely disappointing and we need to learn so it never happens again,” said the Finn of his race-ending botched pit stop.

Mercedes team chief Toto Wollf added: “We had a pretty terrible race day.” AFP

China probes deaths of 21 runners in ultramarathon BEIJING—An investigation was underway Monday into the deaths of 21 runners during a mountain ultramarathon in northwest China, as harrowing testimony emerged from survivors who battled to safety through freezing temperatures and bonechilling winds.

The extreme weather struck a high-altitude section of the 100-kilometre (62-mile) race held in the scenic Yellow River Stone Forest in Gansu province Saturday afternoon.

Provincial authorities have set up an investigation team to look into the cause of the incident, state media reported, as questions swirled over why organisers apparently ignored extreme weather warnings from the city’s Early Warning Information Centre in the lead up to the race, which attracted 172 runners.

China’s top sports body also vowed to tighten safety rules on holding events across the country.

Survivors gave shocking testimony of events on the rugged mountainside, where unconfirmed meteorological reports to local media said temperatures had plunged to as low as minus 24 degrees Celsius (minus 11 degrees Fahrenheit).

“The wind was too strong and I repeatedly fell over,”

wrote race participant Zhang Xiaotao in a Weibo post.

“My limbs were frozen stiff and I felt like I was slowly losing control of my body... I wrapped my insulation blanket around me, took out my GPS tracker, pressed the SOS button and lost consciousness.”

He said when he came round he discovered a shepherd had carried him to a cave, placed him by the fire and wrapped him in a duvet.

‘Foaming at their mouths’ Marathon survivor Luo Jing told state broadcaster CCTV she saw runners struggling back down the mountain wearing only T-shirts and shorts.

They “described to us people foaming at their mouths, and urged us to quit the race as soon as possible,” she said.

Other survivors said insulation blankets provided by organisers were blown to shreds by strong winds.

One told state media as he battled down the mountain he saw many people lying on the ground, some he believed to be dead.

Gansu province is often subject to extreme weather conditions including sandstorms and earthquakes.

The Gansu Meteorological Bureau had warned of “sudden heavy showers, hail, lightning, sudden gale-force winds” and other adverse weather con-

ditions across the province in a report dated Friday.

Victims included elite Chinese long-distance runners Liang Jing and Huang Guanjun, local media reported.

Liang had won multiple Chinese ultramarathons in recent years while Huang won the men’s hearing-impaired marathon at the 2019 National Paralympic Games.

Fury mounted on Chinese social media after the disaster, with many users blaming organisers for poor contingency planning.

More than 84 million viewed the hashtag “Is the Gansu marathon accident natural or man-made?”, while 130 million scoured a thread around safety concerns for marathons and cross-county races.

“This is purely a man-made disaster,” wrote one.

China’s top sports governing body has issued instructions to the country’s sports system to improve safety management in sports events.

The previous management model for safety in races “had some problems and deficiencies”, the sports administration said in a readout published Monday, and said all organisations would now have to set up detailed contingency plans and a mechanism to halt the event quickly if needed. AFP

Japan opens mass vaccination centers ahead of Olympic Games TOKYO—Japan opened its first mass vaccination centers on Monday in a bid to speed up a cautious COVID-19 inoculation programme with just two months until the viruspostponed Tokyo Olympics.

The two military-run centres in Tokyo and Osaka will administer thousands of shots daily, initially to elderly residents of the cities, as the country battles a fourth wave of virus cases.

Just two percent of Japan’s population of 125 million are fully vaccinated so far—compared to around 40 percent in the United States and 15 percent in France.

Criticism has been mounting over the relatively slow rollout, hindered by strict medical rules and complex bureaucracy, but the first people to get a jab at the Tokyo centre said they were excited to move on with their lives.

“It’s wonderful. I can rest easy now. For a long time, a year and a half, I was feeling rather anxious and tense,” Hideo Ishikawa, 73, told reporters.

Munemitsu Watanabe, a 71-yearold engineering lecturer, also expressed relief but said the rollout could have been quicker.

“Had they done it earlier and had 80 or 90 percent of people injected by the time of the Olympics, then the Games could be held more smoothly,” he said.

The Tokyo center aims to deliver up to 10,000 jabs a day, while the Osaka centre will give up to 5,000.

Both are using the two-shot Moderna vaccine, which was approved for use in Japan on Friday along with the AstraZeneca formula.

But the AstraZeneca vaccine will not be used immediately due to concern over very rare blood clots.

Japan began giving the Pfizer jab in February first to medical workers and then over-65s, who the government aims to finish inoculating by late July, when the Olympics begin.

But ministers insist the Games do not figure on their rollout schedule, and no date has been announced for other age groups.

Japan has seen a relatively small coronavirus outbreak, with around 12,000 deaths overall, but a recent surge in infections has put hospitals under strain.

Tokyo, Osaka and eight other regions are under a virus state of emergency curbing commercial activities until the end of May, with reports saying the measures could be extended for another three weeks.

Public opinion is largely opposed to holding the Olympics this summer but organizers insist the event can be held safely.

The majority of athletes and others staying in the Olympic village will be vaccinated before they enter Japan, but inoculation is not required to participate. AFP

POC president to grace forum PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino returns to the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum as the solo special guest of the webcast edition this Tuesday.

The Congressman from the 8th district of Cavite will discuss several topics, including the ‘No vaccine, No participation’ policy imposed by host Vietnam for the coming 31st Southeast Asian Games.

Tolentino, also head of the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines, will also talk about the other Filipino athletes expected to qualify in the Tokyo Olympics after another bet was recently added to the list of Team Philippines in taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa.

The public sports program starts at 10 a.m. and is presented by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

Powered by Smart and Upstream Media as the official webcast partner, the Forum is livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page f b.com/ PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and also shared by Radyo Pilipinas 2 Facebook page.

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

C4

TUESDAY, MAY MAY 25, 18, 2021 2021 TUESDAY,

Life

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

T

Google hosts online ‘Well-being Day’

WO companies, makers of beloved brands, bare their efforts and strides toward their environmental and sustainability goals.

For the forest

During its recent virtually held SusGOOGLE is holding an online “Welltainability Summit anchored on the being Day” on May 25 in a bid to theme #ItsOurHome, Procter and Gampromote mental and digital wellness ble (P&G) Philippines launched the as part of the ongoing Mental Health Awareness Month.

Philippines Forests for Good program.

The free event will happen Designed to support the company’s simultaneously via Google’s YouTube net zero emissions goal, Forests for channel and Facebook page at Good aims to actively protect nature, 3:00 p.m. Leading the talk about beginning with 12 pilot programs in 12 protecting mental well-being amid the months across its Asia Pacific, Middle pandemic is Dr. Ronald Del Castillo, East, and Africa (AMA) region, by a psychologist, consultant on social planting trees that help improve loand behavior change communication, cal ecosystems. The Philippines is associate professor The P&G Cabuyaoand plantformer has successfully cut more than 80of one of the pilot countries supporting mental health, public health, and Consumer goods company Procter and Gamble (P&G) Philippines launches the Forests for Good program to help in the percent of its manufacturing greenhouse gas emissions ahead this natural climate solution, helping policy. of the company’s social global target. forestation efforts in the Sierra Madre reforestation efforts in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.

Mountain Range.

It has entrusted each employee with trees, planted on their behalf by farmers in the Sierra Madre mountain range. Employees can name their tree, virtually travel to see it up close, check onexperts it and learn more Society about ofitHypertension encourage regular blood pressure monitoring at home.

Medical of the Philippine as it grows, and learn more about the cles wastewater inside the plant. Aside farmer who planted it. from initiatives within its manufacAccording to the company, there are turing plant, they are actively innocurrently 5,000 trees and counting in the vating on brands and products such as P&G Forest for Good in Sierra Madre. laundry brands Tide and Ariel to help P&G’s climate goal is to achieve car- reduce consumer in-home water use. bon neutrality by the end of the decade, Ronald Del Castillo, PsyD., MPH, will lead cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emisReducing waste the talk about mental well-being amid the sions at P&G sites globally by buying Efforts in reducing and managing pandemic.

100 percent renewable electricity and waste has been ongoing at P&G. Acincreasing energy efficiency. cording to Raffy Fajardo, president and “Taking care of our mental wellHere at home, the company’s Cabuyao general manager of P&G Philippines, being is as important as our physical plant is already using renewable elec- “We will reduce the use of virgin plashealth,” he emphasizes. tricity and has successfully cut more tic and start using alternative materials “As the pandemic continues to than 80 percent of its manufacturing in our Philippines’ product bundling actake a toll on us, we need to talk GHG emissions ahead of the company’s tivities as well as point-of-sale materials about mental health more so we can Coasters and napkin rings Experts made with plastic waste by design and production By Tettarget.

Defensor say recycled the first step in dealing with hypertension is to studio Plastics by Manila Automat. global found inside stores.” learn how to cope with stress in a regularly monitor blood pressure.

The company reported that the virpositive way. There is a pressing The snacks maker works with Plas- corporate and government Water conservationliken ARDIOLOGISTS gin plastic overwrap packaging on Breathing new life to plastics also need to further normalize affairs havingof supports the campaign.

by Manila Automat and Green Mondelez Philippines.

P&G, hypertension maker of severaltotoiletries Mondelez Philippines – whose tics conversations about it so people who a thief and Safeguard multi-packs had been reThe Builders campaign to is backed

by OMRON Antz help promote and need “Wehelp want to immediately contribute tobea circular household among others, also placed by 100 percent recycled paper brands include popular snack food blood can heard in brands the night. pressure monitors which strengthen the (BP) circular economy of economy where packaging material is announced the progress its making to carton material, reducing about 8,500 items Oreo cookies, Toblerone and are and seek support.” clinically validated and endorsed plastics in the Philippines. recycled or creators reused, while minimizing achieve its global water goals.

Its 2030 kilometers of plastic wasted every YouTube will be joining Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolates, Eden “It’s a silent killer,” warns Dr. DebobyPlastics PSH. OMRON hasAutomat been the isofficial

by Manila a col- food wasteto andshare the overall environmenthe event their perspective goal is to promote and support water year (one thousand times the length of cheese and sandwich spread, Tang rah Ona, president of the Philippine equipment partnerand of MMM sincestudio 2017. tal impact of packaging, including on laborative design production conservation and protection for people Society of Hypertension (PSH), add- Boracay shoreline). Its new Herbal Es- powdered beverage, and more – sup- The company has also pledged more about digital well-being. aimed at renewing the value of recycled climate change,” he shared.

Google will also discuss creating and nature. ing, “you do not know if you have it, sences bio:renew collection likewise ports recycling and reusing of pack- than 1,000 BP monitors to support the plastic waste by encouraging people to healthy Fabuldigital continued, helptheachieve habits “To through help The P&G Cabuyao plant tracks its uses post-consumer recycled material aging material in line with its goals because you don’t feel anything”. program. of its we products and initiatives as become recyclers. Green Antz creates this, are working to find such solutions overall water consumption and recyfor its bottle packaging. toward zero waste to nature by 2030.

Hypertension or high blood pressure Accordingand to construction experts, the first step to the the Digital Wellbeing app, using eco-bricks materials shared problem ofand packaging is a condition in which the force of blood in dealing hypertension Search– to get broken relevantprocesses, information made withwith recycled plastic. is to regu- waste fixing poliagainst the artery is so strong that it may larly monitor blood pressure, which can such as the National Center for include MenThe move to partner with organi- cies, and perception. These lead to health problems like heart disease. be conducted at homeplastic with the helpthat of making tal Healthall Crisis zations that recycle waste ourHotline. packaging recycleIn the Philippines, mortality related user-friendly gadgets.

“People’s well-being is imwould otherwise end up in landfills is ready and digital labelled with recycling to hypertension accounted for 2.38 perBefore switching on the BP monitor, portant to Google.

This is integrated also an innovative way to change the information for consumers by 2025. cent (14,488) of total deaths, according it wouldperception be helpfulthat to keep theisfollowat the heart of our products serpublic’s plastic a prob- We also committed to investand in waste May Measurement Month’s partner, OMRON offers blood pressure monitors that enable to the 2018 data of the World Health vices becauseprojects we believe technoling reminders in mind: (1) Rest for at lem.

“Think of the circular economy of management where we are Organization (WHO). Hypertension- individuals to check their BP at home. ogy should lives,byand not 5 least 15 minutes.

Do not take bath, present plastics and how(2) recycling can aindeed and improve ensure that 2025, The campaign is usually held on campaign, our volunteers, partners, and or drink alcohol, coffee, or tea 30 min- the other way around. We hope that related diabetes is also among the leadchange a problem into an opportunity,” percent of our plastic packaging is The virgin plastic overwrap packaging on Safeguard multi-packs has beenDay replaced by 100 percent recycled paper material worrying (left), more people will look after their menHypertension which happarticipants can carton join without ing causes of death in the country as World utes blood pressure. said before Joseph taking Fabul, your country manager for from recycled content.” while part of the Herbal Essences bio:renew collection’s packaging is made with post-consumer recycled material. per the data released by the Philippine pens every May 17. This year, the cam- about their safety and wellness,” says (3) Choose a quiet place. (4) Sit prop- tal well-being and will take the steps paign runs from May 1 until Nov. 30.

Dr. Alejandro F. Diaz, country lead of erly, legs flat on the floor, back leaning toward creating a healthier digital Statistics Authority (PSA).

Since the inception of MMM in 2017, MMM 2021.

Despite the alarming figures, hycomfortably on the chair. (5) Wear the lifestyle,” says Mervin Wenke, comThose who wish to take part in this cuff with your elbow resting on the ta- munications and public affairs head at pertension awareness in the country individuals have been invited to submit The sleek campaign can encode their blood ble. Make sure the cuff is in the same Google Philippines. is very low, hence PSH is putting the their blood pressure readings to the of- year’s and on the MMM website or through level as your heart. (6) Do not talk or focus on the annual May Measurement ficial website. There was no event in pressure stylish MMM Month (MMM) to encourage the public 2020 because of the pandemic, this year theFitbit Luxe mobile app. There are also listen to anything while your blood to keep their blood pressure in check the event highlights the convenience of screening boasts a sites in various locations in pressure is being taken. (7) If you wish Manila, and raise awareness of the dangers of monitoring blood pressure at home. jewelry-approved by the Department of to repeat the test, do so within a two“We made sure that throughout the Health.

The Manila City Mayor’s office minute interval. hypertension. like look ACTOR and COVID-19 survivor This is particularly important amid the and feel with Christopher de Leon experienced current pandemic, where many people features firsthand how the disease can test a struggle with feelings of isolation and that person’s resolve. When he battled the loneliness. support Preparation. The actor also points virus last year in March, he shares the the patients with mild to moderate to-face consultations, and assistance Paw parents can shop for premium dog ID-19 to keeping a three key factors wearer’s food at discounted prices during Maxime’s symptoms tele- and drive-thru con- or referral to a specialist doctor may healthy lifestyle that helped him health birthday sale on Shopee and Lazada. also be required depending on the pasultation services as well as COVID as the key to his cope with stress goals. tient’s current health situation. All teleHomeCare Packs. recovery. At 64 and uncertainty.

Patients may choose the Basic pack- rounds are scheduled at 8:00 a.m. to years old, De Prayers. age which comes with five TeleMD 5:00 p.m. from Mondays to Saturdays.

Leon believes While confined consultations for five days, a homecare Call (02) 8888-8999 local 2189 or 2832 in the basics of in the hospital, guide, and a COVID HomeCare health and wellhe said that he Pack.

Each pack contains a digiPILMICO Foods Corp.’s premium dog ness – a balanced prayed deeply SLEEK, stylish, and packed with relevant features, Fitbit’s tal thermometer, a pulse oximefood brand celebrates its first anniversary diet, regular and fervently, soon-to-be available fitness and wellness tracker is a fashionter, medicines, and vitamins. with a birthday sale on its official Shopee physical activdrawing strength able addition to its lineup wearables.

The Basic package is of availand Lazada stores. ity, and a posifrom Bible pasFitbit Luxe features a breakthrough design with soft, gentle During Shopee’s Groceries and Pet tive mindset. “As sages and from shape inspired by the human body and a jewelry-like look Care Fair, paw parents can get 15 percent we grow older, his family memand feel. According to Fitbit, a modern take on traditional Makati Medical Center’s drive-thru services include in-person medical consultations. off on all Maxime products. Discount keeping to these bers who were jewelry-making techniques was applied using an innovagoes up to 25 percent during Pilmico tients can leave ASCs relaTHE COVID-19 pandemic has led to basics becomes praying just as tive design process called metal injection molding to create Store Anniversary Brand Feature on May tively quicker after surgery. delays in vital healthcare and emergenCenturia Makati’ s ambulatory surgery center is more important intently at home.

Luxe’s stainless steel case, “providing the warmth expected 28.

Another key advantage of cy manned surgical specialists and well-trained than ever,” he Deprocedures, Leon,as patients avoid hospiof handcrafted jewelry, all while delivering a by level of preciThose shopping on Lazada, on the othsupport staff.

ASCs is greater efficiency tals to reduce their risk of exposure to said. along with his sion needed to enable its advanced sensor technology”. er hand, will get 15 percent off during the which allows surgeons to the virus.

In this climate wife Sandy AnThe company used a metal vaporizing technique on the soft or email MMCHealthHub@makaplatform’s Payday and Clearance Sale on To address this challenge, healthcare treat more patients in the of uncertainty, dolong, has altimed.net.ph. gold and platinum finishes to provide a truly premium look May 28-30.

Luxe features a sleek, buttonless design and Fitbit’s thinnest institutions are offering and strength- same amount of time it would MakatiMed’s services, ways believed and feel. It also partnered with Laguna Beach-based jewelrydrive-thru Maxime is a line of premium dog food touchscreen to date. typically take them many to do soFilipinos ening their outpatient services. on theinother are also learnin the power of brand gorjana for Fitbit Luxe Special Edition soft hand, gold offer face-to-face that contains essential ingredients such a hospital setting.

Surgery center Actor Christopher de Leon in shares the three Ps medical consultations and on-site re- sleep ing to care for prayer.

They beas pre and probiotics, DHA, and omega (SpO2).

Understand quality with Sleep Score. stainless steel and swim-proof silicone peony band.

Other “The Surgery Center proThe Surgery that Center at Centuria helped him cope with stress and anxiety The Surgery Center has nine operating room theaters ferral for a COVID-19 diagnostic test 3 and 6.

It is available in four variants: their financial lieve that prayer Additional health tools include food, hydration, and weight bands are available. vides alast more Makati is an ambulatory cent- COVID-19 during hissurgery battle against year. convenient alcomplete with medical equipment and supplies.a sleek, buttonless via RT-PCR swab, chest X-ray, and Maxime Standard Adult Prime Dog Diet, health to protect iser not only a logging, and menstrual health tracking.

The new blood gluThe stylish tracker also features design and ternative for both patients (ASC) facility that focuses on proPatients going Standard Diet, themselves from source com- surgical care, diag- and surgeons with its cose logging feature Maxime in the Fitbit appPuppy allowsPrime usersDog to track the brand’s thinnest touchscreen to date. Its other batterylaboratory lasts up totests. rigorous safety viding ofsame-day through thetools drive-thru purchase able P7,000 for adults and children access Maxime Elite Adult Dog Diet, and of huge medical expenses if fort, it isandalso a source of strength. theiralso blood glucose levels to see how theyPrime change throughout five for days, enabling users uninterrupted to its and can andburden security measures, as well as track nostic, preventive procedures.

The the COVID HomeCare Packs at the site. (newborn to 12 years old), and P6,800 Maxime Elite Puppy Prime Dog Diet. they get sick.

Praying has made their family closer, the day. other features a couple days before it needs recharging. record of positive patient outcomes.

It facility has nine operating room theatTheassessment drive-thru of is located at Converadolescents (13 to 18 years For allows De Leon, this iscomfortable an important and helpedwith them overcome the also for a more out- forIts In addition to health and fitness features, Luxe has key Stress Management Scoreold). provides daily ers,has complete medical equipment The Extended package comes with gys Open Parking on Dela Rosa corner patient procedure setting all proceof being prepared.

“Inas addition to most the body’s ability to handle stress based on activity levels, convenience and smart features like alarm, stopwatch, and and difficult supplies,of atimes. well-trained support part 10 TeleMD consultations for 14 days, Salcedo Street. Entrance is along Dela dures in anI received ambulatory support fromsurgery family centand Partner.

Having found thesurgical right the timer.

Stay connected and up-to-date with customizable call, sleep, and heart rate.aUsers withHomeFitbit Premium subscription staff, and an extensive list of Rosa Street Access Road 3 right after a homecare guide, COVID ers are scheduled ahead Pacific of time and are receive a detailed the assistance Cross partner in Sandy has helped him go friends, specialists. text, and smartphone notifications, and set bedtime remindbreakdown on their score including inforCare Pack, and a medical certificate. McDonald’s in Kroma Tower. It’s open thoroughly prepared facility According Theand Surgery Center, me allowed me to for,” focusthe on my rethrough life’s to ups downs.

“Dur-an gave ers or use do not disturb when it’s time to focus. mation on exertion balance, sleep patterns, responsiveness The Extended package is available for at 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Monsaid in I’m a statement. outpatient procedure in anweASC proud to call Pacific Cross ing these difficult times, are proves each covery.

Luxe will be available starting June at Fitbit.com and (fight or flight).

P10,500 for adults and children, and days to Saturdays. Call the MakatiMed to be more cost-efficient than hospital- family!” Telehealth, he shared. drive-thru other’s anchors,” said De Leon. major retailerslo-such as Digital Walker, Lazada, and Shopee Luxe users also get insights into their well-being the Fitbit P10,300 for adolescents.

COVID in Hotline at (02) 8888-8999 based procedures mosta cases.

The actor consultations joins medical and travel Staying connectedinwith loved With one at P8,490 app with the Health Metrics dashboard which tracks breathing TeleMD add-ons such as RT-PCR cal 7061 to book an appointment with or geta six-month Fitbit Premium trial valued at administrative and Makati Medical Center offers more COV- swab, Pacific Cross in urging – less whether a person or apaperwork beloved pet– he a insurer rate, heart rateextraction, variability (HRV), (RHR), skin P3,114. The gorjana for Fitbit Luxe Special Edition will be morerate details. blood X-ray, resting face- heart morewas convenient experience, pa- Filipinos to get insured. said, importantuser for mental health. temperature variation, and, coming soon, oxygen saturation retailed at P12,990.

Partners of the environment Experts say: Monitor blood pressure regularly C

Christopher de Leon powers through the pandemic with 3 Ps

OUTPATIENT CARE

Healthy dog Fitness meets style in new wellness tracker food on sale