Manila Standard - 2021 May 30 - Sunday

• PFIZER LESS EFFECTIVE VS. INDIA VARIANT • HYBRID STRAIN IN VIETNAM NEWS / A2

VOL. XXXV • NO. 104 • 2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES • P18 • SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

BATHED IN THE TRI-COLOR. The Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City is lit in the colors of the country’s flag from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the run-up to Independence Day on June 12, 2021. Norman Cruz

PH lifts Saudi deployment ban KSA employers will now shoulder COVID-19 costs for OFWs

By Vito Barcelo and Joel Zurbano

T

HE Philippines has lifted its temporary deployment ban to Saudi Arabia after the latter agreed to spare overseas Filipino workers from having to shoulder the costs of COVID-19 testing and quarantine.

The lifting of the ban, which lasted for all of 24 hours, cleared the way for over 400 OFWs stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 to finally leave for the Middle Eastern country.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said he received a call from Saudi Ambassador to Manila Abdullah-AlBussairy confirming the new COVID-19 arrangement for OFWs. Prior to the new arrangement, OFWs are required to shoulder their COVID-19 swab test and 10-day quarantine period which could cost up to $3,500.

“That is already equivalent to almost one year of wages of our OFW,” Bello said.

“We cannot put the OFWs at the mercy of their employers. There should be a written order that their employers will shoulder the quarantine expenses of our OFWs...I talked to the ambassador and I told him a

note verbale will suffice,” the Labor chief added.

The Saudi Embassy in Manila confirmed the deployment resumption over Twitter and assured OFWs they would no longer be burdened by the travel protocol costs upon their arrival in the kingdom.

Overseas Filipino workers bound for Saudi Arabia wait to board their flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. The Philippines lifted its temporary ban to Saudi following assurance from the host government that employers will shoulder COVID-19 expenses of OFWs. Norman Cruz

“The embassy would like to report on the resumption of sending Filipino workers after the temporary suspension, in agreement with the Filipino side, and to clarify the Kingdom’s government’s keenness to protect departing workers from the costs of precautionary protocols,” the embassy said in a statement.

For its part, flag carrier Philippine Airlines on Saturday resumed normal commercial flight operations to and from the Middle East.

“PAL is pleased to accept Overseas Filipino Workers on its f lights to Saudi Arabia (Dammam, Riyadh),” said PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna.

On Friday, two Philippine Airlines f lights departed Manila practically empty to the Middle East.

But PAL officials decided to continue the f lights so it can serve hundreds of OFWs and other Filipinos who urgently need to f ly home to the Philippines.

Villaluna said affected OFWs who were unable to board their flights to Dammam and Riyadh due to the earlier prohibition “may rebook their flights with rebooking service fees waived.”

“Affected passengers may call PAL Reservations at +63 8855 8888 for flight rebooking,” she said.

Duque: Shifting to MGCQ not an option yet for NCR Plus HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III on Saturday ruled out a possible shift to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) for areas within the NCR Plus bubble.

“We cannot ease back to MGCQ,” Duque said in an interview with Dobol B TV. “We will still discuss the final recommendation on Monday before we give it to the President,” the Health chief added.

NCR Plus – which covers Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna was placed under General Community Quarantine with heightened restrictions from May 15 to 31.

Duque said the daily attack rate in Metro Manila remains at seven to eight cases

per 100,000 population, higher than the ideal one to seven cases.

“Our daily attack rate is still at seven or eight, or sometimes even higher, which means there is continuous community transmission,” he said.

On Saturday, the country logged 7,443 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 1,216,582 as two laboratories failed to submit data on time, the Department of Health said.

This marked the second consecutive day wherein more than 7,000 cases were recorded.

The DOH also reported 156 new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 20,722, while some 7,533 more patients have recovered, bringing the total recoveries to

ADVENTURERS DEFY GRAVITY IN CHINA Walking tightropes, rappelling down a fourstorey-high rope tunnel, sitting in a dangling basket 58 floors high – tourists have been steeling their nerves for adrenaline-filled challenges in a new assault course at the top of China’s tallest TV tower.

1,142,246.

Populated areas with a high number of COVID-19 cases will likely get the next delivery of Sputnik V vaccines, the department said.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire confirmed 50,000 doses of the Russian-made vaccine will arrive today (Sunday).

“We will be giving these to areas with a high number of cases, high burden of disease, and highly populous. The arriving Sputnik V jabs are few so only two or three areas might get these,” Vergeire said.

Vergeire said the initial 30,000 shots earlier received by the country were administered to the residents of Manila, Makati, Taguig, Parañaque, and Muntin-

MANSON HIT WITH NEW RAPE LAWSUIT US goth rocker Marilyn Manson was hit with new allegations that he raped an exgirlfriend and forced her to watch a video of him abusing a young fan.

lupa -- five Metro Manila cities that have the capacity to store the Russian jabs.

Meanwhile, at least 35.5 million workers are targeted to be inoculated after the government simplified the A4 or essential workers group category.

“The first phase of vaccine deployment for the expanded A4 group will be focused on approximately 13 million additional workers in NCR+8 since these areas make up the majority of COVID-19 cases in the country,” the National Economic and Development Authority said in a statement.

Willie Casas

45 BEAUTIES VIE FOR MISS WORLD PH Following the return of the long-delayed 70th Miss World pageant in San Juan, Puerto Rico in December, some 45 ‘beauties with a purpose’ are vying for the title of Miss World Philippines 2021.

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COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM MAY 29)

1,216,582 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

7,443 53,614 NEW

ACTIVE

20,722

156

1,142,246

7,533

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

PH protests China ‘illegal acts’ in WPS THE Philippines fired off a fresh diplomatic protest against China, citing its “incessant deployment” of militia vessels and the “illegal activities” of these ships near Pagasa Island in the Kalayaan Island Group.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs lodged a diplomatic protest yesterday (Friday) against the incessant deployment, prolonged presence, and illegal activities of Chinese maritime assets and fishing vessels in the vicinity of the Pagasa islands, demanding that China withdraw these vessels,” the DFA said in a statement Saturday.

“The Pag-asa Islands is an integral part of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction,” it added.

Pag-asa Island, situated in the West Philippine Sea, is an island barangay and the capital of Kalayaan municipality in Palawan.

On May 17, the DFA also protested China’s unilateral fishing ban that covered areas on Philippine territory and exclusive eco economic zone (EEZ), including the Bajo de Masinloc.

Satellite images released by geo geospatial intelligence firm Simular Simularity on April 28 showed that ap approximately 11 vessels are in Julian Felipe Reef, 158 ships near McKennan (Hughes) Reef, and 87 ships near Burgos (Gaven) Reef. imBased on the satellite im ages on May 13, no ships Fewere detected at Julian Fe lipe Reef and McKennan Reef. However, around 234 Chinese vessels have been spotted on Burgos Reef as of May 18.

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• Pfizer less effective vs.

Indian strain • New variant in Vietnam MASK ON, MASK OFF.

A mural along Arnaldo Soriano Ave. in General Trias, Cavite reminds people to always wear a face mask amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A man on a bicycle appears oblivious to the health requirement as he wears his mask below his chin. JR Josue

P3m smuggled onions seized in North Harbor

By Joel E. Zurbano GOVERNMENT agents have intercepted in Manila North Harbor a shipment of smuggled red onions from China, Customs officials said Saturday.

Agents of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service assigned at the Manila International Container Port seized the shipment consigned to one Potanion Trading.

“The shipment was originally declared as yellow onions but was later discovered to contain 60 percent red onions estimated to have a value of P3 million,” said Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero.

On May 26, a warrant of seizure and detention was issued against the shipment for violation of Section 1113 and Section 1401 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. Guerrero said large-scale smuggling of agricultural produce was considered as economic sabotage, not to mention its adverse effect to the farmers and producers.

Agricultural produce requires import and phytosanitary permits from the Agriculture Department and its line agencies aside from filing import entries. Without the necessary clearances, the release of shipments is withheld, according to officials.

Local farmers claimed illegal importation of agricultural produce had been a bane to the local industry for years and they had discovered that it also posed a threat to consumers’ health.

MICP officials said the bureau remained vigilant in its drive against unscrupulous traders preying on the country’s ports, especially during this time of coronavirus pandemic.

“There is no let up in our anti-smuggling drive with our alert intelligence personnel,” said MICP-CIIS chief Alvin Enciso.

Pacquiao-led boycott call a ‘minority’—Cusi E NERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi on Saturday belittled calls to boycott PDP-Laban’s first national council assembly since the pandemic began on Monday, saying those opposed to the meeting were a “minority” within the ruling party.

He said the assembly was intended to support President Rodrigo Duterte and his programs in the last year of his sixyear term.

In a statement, Cusi, the party vicechairman, said the meeting in Cebu City was also intended to consult with members on “how to support the President’s agenda as he enters his last year in office.”

He released the statement after party president Sen. Manny Pacquiao issued a memorandum directing PDP-Laban members to “ignore” the call for an assembly.

Pacquiao’s spokesman said he would not be attending the meeting.

Pacquiao said calling for the party’s

national assembly must be approved by its chairman, President Rodrigo Duterte, and him as party president.

In an earlier statement Friday, Cusi said the Cebu meeting was important because that would help them examine what the party had accomplished and what still “needs to be done.”

“The composition of the PDP-Laban National Council shows that it is a body where fruitful and effective exchanges can be made. This is particularly important in the light of our collective effort in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Cusi had said.

Still, Cusi said the PDP-Laban re-

mained united, despite conflicting views between him and Pacquiao.

“We wish to reiterate that the assembly is part and parcel of the democratic process that every major political party should embrace. I would like to reassure the people that our party remains united and committed to serve and accomplish the President’s socio-economic agenda.”

In March, Pacquiao warned Cusi not to sow division within the ruling party after the energy chief and his allies allegedly pushed Duterte to run for vice president in the upcoming elections.

“I am not the kind of person you can toy with. This is simply a warning: I am not fighting with you. I want us to become friends,” Pacquiao said in a press conference two months ago.

“Do not go back on your word that we should set aside politics and help our people first. Do not divide the minds of our partymates just to further your own interest. If you are going around to help our people, I will applaud you.”

SMOLDERING STILL.

Firefighters battle an hour-long fire that razed five houses in Pandacan, Manila on May 29 2021.

Norman Cruz

Customs apprehends illegal preserved wildlife from Malaysia CUSTOMS agents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have seized a parcel shipment of preserved wildlife species smuggled from Malaysia, officials said Saturday.

The species include 20 sulcata tortoises, 10 razorback turtles, one red bearded dragon, two corn snakes and eight savanna lizards with a market value of more than P280,000.

The authorities also arrested the shipment’s claimant whose name was

temporarily withheld pending further investigation by the Customs’s NAIA legal department.

Port of NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan said alert Customs examiners intercepted the shipment at the Federal Express warehouse in Pasay City on Friday night.

She added the importer sent the species from Kuala Lumpur and declared the items as “lego toys,” a clear case of technical smuggling.

The shipment owner will be charged with Illegal importation of wildlife species under Section 1113 in relation to Sections 117 and 1401 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and Section 27 of the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. In full support of the anti-smuggling drive of Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, the Port of NAIA has been active in protecting the borders against illegal importation and

exportation of wildlife animals and species, aside from dangerous drugs and other contrabands as threats to national security, public health, ecology and environment.

“Customs NAIA fully supports Commissioner Guerrero’s directive on intensified border protection and is united with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to uphold the wildlife protection and its conservation,” said Talusan. Joel E. Zurbano

LGU, private firms hasten vaccine drive THE Pasay City government has partnered with private firms to hasten the city’s vaccination program and help the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte achieve its target herd immunity before the end of the year.

Mayor Imelda Rubiano said city officials were now coordinating with big Pasay-based private companies planning to implement their own vaccination programs for their employees.

“This is to fast track the vaccination program of the national government as well as raise the trust level of the majority of the population on the importance of being inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines,” said Rubiano.

Some of the big private firms interested in the program include the Resorts World Manila and LBC Courier Service,

and major local airlines such as Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air. Rubiano said other firms had manifested their intention of implementing their respective vaccination programs for their employees.

“I’m glad because it’s a big thing if these big companies vaccinate their employees because it will accelerate our desire to vaccinate more citizens and will increase the level of people’s confidence in vaccines at the same time,” the city chief executive said.

Based on the guidelines issued by the Department of Health, private companies that wish to inoculate their employees must comply with all the requirements and submit them to the local health office for verification and actual inspection.

Joel E. Zurbano

A TASTE OF SUMMER. A cantaloupe vendor on Zaragoza St. in Divisoria, Manila tends to his summer fruits that sell for about P60 each on May 29, 2021. Danny Pata

THE Pfizer vaccine is slightly less effective but appears to still protect against the more transmissible Indian strain of the virus that causes COVID-19, according to a study by France’s Pasteur Institute.

“Despite slightly diminished efficacy, the Pfizer vaccine probably protects” against the Indian variant, according to laboratory test results, said Olivier Schwartz, the institute’s director and co-author of the study that was published on the BioRxiv website ahead of peer review.

The study sampled 28 healthcare workers in the city of Orleans. Sixteen of them had received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, while 12 had received one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

People who had received two doses of Pfizer saw a three-fold reduction in their antibodies against the Indian variant, B.1.617, according to the study, but were still protected.

The variant first detected in India appears to be much more transmissible than earlier variations.

It has now been officially recorded in 53 territories, according to a World Health Organization report.

To try to curb its spread, France and Germany have re-introduced tighter rules on arrivals from affected countries, including the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Vietnam has discovered a new COVID-19 variant which spreads quickly by air and is a combination of the Indian and British strains, state media reported Saturday.

“We have discovered a new hybrid variant from the Indian and the UK strains,” Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long was quoted telling a national meeting on the pandemic Saturday.

“The characteristic of this strain is that it spreads quickly in the air. The concentration of virus in the throat fluid increases rapidly and spreads very strongly to the surrounding environment.” AFP

Solon seeks J&J vax for seafarers MARINO party-list Rep. Macnell Lusotan is calling for an immediate acquisition of Johnson and Johnson’s single-dose vaccines for the country’s seafarers and other land-based overseas Filipino workers to expedite their deployment.

He said out of the total number of distressed migrant workers repatriated by the Department of Foreign Affairs since 2020, 48 percent were willing to be redeployed, adding there should be a vaccine that would not require a second dose to ease their application process.

Lusotan said: “While the government agreed to change the prioritization status of our OFWs from B5 to A4, one of the conditions is that they must be deployed within two months upon completion of the vaccination.

“However, we are still waiting for the arrival of the second dose of vaccines from several brands which may affect the duration of our seafarer’s deployment schedule.”

He proposed an appropriation of the remaining funds from the Department of Labor and Employment’s AKAP program to the deployment needs of the OFWs “who are currently processing their documents to return abroad instead of solely disbursing it as a financial aid to our migrant workers.”

Lusotan said: “Assisting our OFWs through funding their pre-deployment activities has a multiplier effect. As soon as we can send them back to work, they can resume providing for their families, increase the country’s dollar remittances and improve the economy, and encourage local startup businesses for their relatives who are in the Philippines.”

According to Lusotan, as early as January, the Marino party-list had been calling for the prioritization of seafarers in the government vaccine program, and that it had been included in the technical working group to implement seafarer vaccination, along with the Maritime Industry Authority and the other government agencies. Rio N. Araja

World

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Overcrowded prisons see COVID surge A CORONAVIRUS surge sweeping through Thailand’s prisons has thrown the spotlight on the kingdom’s overcrowded penal system, where some inmates have less space to sleep than the inside of a coffin.

More than 22,000 people have tested positive inside jails, where inmates living cheek by jowl have been encouraged to keep wearing their masks even while they sleep.

Authorities have floated plans to give early releases to prisoners with underlying medical conditions and have announced funding for more testing and medical care in recent days.

But those behind bars say they have been kept in the dark about the seriousness of the outbreak.

“Prisoners don’t have the knowledge to protect themselves,” said Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, a high-profile activist facing charges under Thailand’s harsh royal defamation law.

Somyot was bailed last month and told AFP that he had not been tested for Covid-19 once during his 10-week stint in custody.

He was not worried about contracting the disease while in jail because he had no idea about the level of risk.

“But after this I’m so scared (for everyone still inside) ... if you are inside the prison you are at risk, it’s unavoidable,” he said.

Thailand’s prison outbreak has skyrocketed from just 10 publicly announced cases a month ago and sparked growing public concern after a handful of prominent activists contracted the illness.

Among them was student leader Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul, who helped lead a series of rallies last year demanding political reforms in the kingdom, and who tested positive after she was released on bail.

The Thai prison population stood at around 311,000 earlier this year, the International Federation for Human Rights said – more than two and a half times the system’s official capacity.

Four inmates in every five are serving time for drug charges because of harsh anti-narcotics laws that can see offenders jailed for a decade for possessing just a few methamphetamine pills.

Many cells are so packed with bodies that some inmates only have half a meter (less than two feet) of space.

AFP

Canadian MP caught naked during telework for second time A CANADIAN MP has stepped down from some of his duties and said he is seeking “assistance” after being caught on camera urinating during a video conference in Parliament, a month after appearing naked in another virtual session.

“Last night, while attending House of Commons proceedings virtually, in a non-public setting, I urinated without realizing I was on camera,” MP William Amos wrote on his Twitter account Thursday night.

“I am deeply embarrassed by my actions and the distress they may have caused anybody who witnessed them,” he added. “While accidental and not visible to the public, this was completely unacceptable, and I apologize unreservedly.”

In April, the MP was caught standing naked between the flags of Canada and Quebec, his private parts hidden by his phone, while connected by video to a Question Time session in Parliament.

Amos, a member of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party, also claimed that was an accident.

In the most recent episode, he was caught urinating into a coffee cup, the Conservative opposition said in a statement.

“This is the second time Mr. Amos has been caught exposing himself to his colleagues in the House, and the House of Commons, virtual or otherwise, must be free of this type of unacceptable behavior,” said Conservative MP Karen Vecchio.

“This is a pattern of behavior from Mr. Amos and it’s now clear that Trudeau’s Liberals failed in their duty to ensure a safe work environment following the first incident,” she hammered in a statement.

Amos, 46, announced he was “temporarily” stepping down from some of his parliamentary duties while continuing to represent his constituency. He added that he would seek “assistance” but did not specify what that would be. AFP

A NEW DAWN.

Palestinians gather at the beach in Gaza City on May 28, 2021, a week after a ceasefire brought an end to 11 days of hostilities between Israel and Hamas.

AFP

US targets Belarus with sanctions Marilyn Manson T hit with new HE United States announced punitive measures against Belarus targeting the regime of strongman President Alexander Lukashenko, who met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin amid a global outcry over the forced diversion of a European plane.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki called for “a credible international investigation into the events of May 23,” which she called “a direct affront to international norms.”

Belarus scrambled a military jet to divert a Ryanair plane and arrested 26-year-old opposition journalist and activist Roman Protasevich who was onboard, triggering a global outcry.

The White House announced it was working with the European Union on a list of targeted sanctions against key members of Lukashenko’s regime.

Meanwhile, economic sanctions against nine Belarusian state-owned enterprises, reimposed by Washington in April following a crackdown on prodemocracy protests, will come into effect on June 3.

Further US moves on Belarus could target “those that support corruption, the abuse of human rights, and attacks on democracy,” Psaki said.

The White House also issued a “Do Not Travel” warning for Belarus to US citizens, and warned American passenger planes to “exercise extreme caution” if considering flying over Belarusian airspace.

The European Union has also urged EUbased carriers to avoid Belarusian airspace.

However President Vladimir Putin celebrated Russia’s close ties with Belarus on Friday as he hosted Lukashenko in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

With observers closely watching the talks to see how far the Kremlin would go to support the regime, the Russian leader said he was “very glad” to see Lukashenko and agreed with him that the Western reaction was an “outburst of emotion.”

Lukashenko complained the West was seeking to stir unrest in Belarus.

“An attempt is underway to rock the boat to reach the level of last August,” he said, referring to anti-regime protests following a disputed election.

“It’s clear what these Western friends want from us.”

The Belarus strongman, who arrived with a briefcase, said he wanted to show Putin “some documents” related to the Ryanair incident and thanked him for his support in the latest standoff with the West.

The talks lasted for more than five hours but their results were not announced.

Over the past years Lukashenko has

had a volatile relationship with Moscow, playing it off against the West and ruling out outright unification with Russia.

But after the Ryanair plane incident his options appear to be limited.

Putin and the Belarus leader have met regularly since August, when historic protests broke out against Lukashenko’s nearly three-decade rule.

The 66-year-old waged a ruthless crackdown on his opponents and has leaned increasingly on the Russian president amid condemnation from the West.

Several people died during the unrest in Belarus, thousands were detained, and hundreds reported torture in prison.

Sunday’s plane diversion was a dramatic escalation, with EU leaders accusing Minsk of essentially hijacking a European flight to arrest Protasevich.

The overflight ban has led to several cancellations of air journeys between Russia and Europe, after Russian authorities rejected plans that would have skipped Belarusian airspace.

Russia insists the cancellations are purely “technical,” but they have raised concerns that Moscow could be systematically refusing to let European airlines land if they avoid Belarus.

The Kremlin criticized the flight ban as politically motivated and dangerous, with foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova calling it “completely irresponsible.” AFP

FACE-OFF. A riot police officer holds a burning shield during clashes with demonstrators during a protest against the government in Medellin, Colombia. Three people died on May 28 during anti-government protests in the Colombian city of Cali, authorities said, as the country marked a full month of social unrest that has claimed dozens of lives. AFP

rape, abuse allegations

MARILYN MANSON

US GOTH rocker Marilyn Manson was Friday hit with new allegations that he raped an ex-girlfriend and forced her to watch a video of him abusing a young fan.

The latest lawsuit against Manson – real name Brian Warner – on behalf of an anonymous woman comes after “Game of Thrones” actress Esme Bianco last month accused him of rape, sexual abuse and violence.

The new lawsuit alleges that Manson “raped and repeatedly sexually abused” Jane Doe. Manson allegedly showed the plaintiff a video in which he could be seen tying a young fan to a chair, where he “humiliated and berated her,” removed her T-shirt, forced her to drink a glass of urine, and threatened her with a gun.

A member of Manson’s team strongly denied the accusations Friday.

A source close to Manson said the video was a “scripted short film” featuring an adult actor that was never released.

Manson’s lawyer Howard King described the previous claims by Bianco as “provably false” and accused Bianco and her attorney of making “outrageous financial demands based on conduct that simply never occurred.”

Los Angeles police in February confirmed they were investigating domestic violence allegations against the singer between 2009 and 2011. AFP

California reviews infamous death row case

VAX DENIER. Police arrest an anti-vaccination and lockdown protester in Melbourne on May 29, 2021, as the city enters the second day of a seven-day lockdown after a spike in community transmission of COVID-19. AFP

CALIFORNIA will launch a new probe into the high-profile case of a death row inmate convicted of the murder of four people who has maintained for decades that he was framed by police, Governor Gavin Newsom said Friday.

Kevin Cooper was found guilty of the 1983 slayings in a suburb outside Los Angeles and was hours away from execution in 2004, when public figures from Reverend Jesse Jackson to Denzel Washington lobbied then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for clemency.

Schwarzenegger denied those calls but Cooper’s execution was called off at the last minute by an appeals court.

Subsequent governors have ordered new DNA testing of evidence using the

latest technologies.

On Friday, Newsom ordered a “full review” of Cooper’s trial and subsequent appeals, as well as the original case and evidence including the recently conducted DNA tests, in order to decide on the convict’s clemency petition.

Cooper had escaped from prison shortly before Douglas and Peggy Ryen, both 41, their 10-year-old daughter Jessica and her 11-year-old friend Christopher Hughes were found stabbed and slashed to death at the Ryens’ home in Chino Hills, California.

Multiple witnesses reported seeing three white men in bloodied clothes driving a car stolen from the Ryens’ home on the night of the murders. AFP

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Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor / Roderick dela Cruz, Issue Editor business@manilastandard.net

Finding success in cacao beans

Young agri-preneur Ella Yap

1Export co-founder and CEO Mel Nava

Caravan empowers Filipino MSMEs

A

N E-COMMERCE platform launched during the pandemic has helped more than 450 local micro, small and medium enterprises overcome export barriers and enter the world of international trade.

Caravan, developed by 1Export—one of the leading digital exporters in the Philippines—aims to serve the growing overseas Filipino population by bringing the best of the Philippines to anywhere in the

world at wholesale prices.

Its tech-enabled platform also provides the local suppliers access to the overseas market, especially the growing community of Filipinos abroad who are looking to start and grow their own reselling businesses.

Caravan now has 15 international markets and ships to 800 online and offline storefronts globally. With Caravan’s export-compliant products and robust export solutions, coupled with 100-percent port clearance rate, the initiative has facilitated efficient partnerships between local suppliers and overseas Filipino resellers and businesses.

“Many MSMEs in the country have lost their local demand during the pandemic,

and suffered from substantial losses.

Through Caravan, we provide these businesses opportunities to create new markets and to continue to grow, all the while creating and empowering more Filipino entrepreneurs overseas,” said 1Export cofounder and chief executive Mel Nava.

With a wide range of supplier partners from the Philippines, Caravan works with everything from social enterprises to legacy brands. Caravan provided $20,000 worth of export sales for small businesses in the first quarter of 2021 and contributed $400,000.00 or P20 million in MSME export sales since the pandemic began.

For many of Caravan’s supplier partners, the concept of export used to be a pipe dream.

“At the heart of it, Caravan aims to empower Filipino MSME through exporting.

It links MSMEs to the wide untapped and underserved market of Filipinos abroad.

The Filipino overseas population is one of the largest in the world. Yet in a world where you can get anything and everything online, it is still extremely difficult to get Filipino products abroad. Caravan brings the flavors of home to our kababayans abroad,” said 1Exports chief operating officer Daniel Remo.

The impressive traction of Caravan at its early stage allowed 1Export to successfully secure formal funding from Singaporebased startup accelerator Iterative Venture Capital to support the upward-growth of the business model.

Educators identify lessons from e-learning

By Alena Mae S. Flores

The future of PH retail

LOCKDOWNS brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic have forced retailers to consider options beyond the physical store. Department stores such as SM and Rustan’s offered online shopping with delivery or pick up in-store options. Meanwhile, FMCG companies and beauty brands started selling in ecommerce platforms like Shopee or Lazada.

Thriving amid the pandemic and in the immediate post-pandemic scenario means that retailers need to take advantage of digital technology and online solutions. It also presents opportunities for retailers to reach new customers through digital marketing and harness insights from data available and think of ways to build loyalty and minimize abandoned cart scenarios.

Pivoting to online selling has proven vital to the survival of retailers, but it is not the only item to consider in a postpandemic scenario.

“While the retail sector generally continues to feel the impact of the pandemic, retailers that are further along in their digital transformation journey have generally fared better. However, survival in the medium- to longer-term will also mean revisiting business models. The physical stores will remain crucial, and retailers can leverage smart technologies, data analytics, and the internet of things moving forward,” said Tony Kang, business vice president for secure power of Schneider Electric Philippines.

Despite prevailing uncertainties, restrictions will eventually ease—but this means that retailers will have more considerations, which would include regulations on maintaining a limited number of people in-store and protection of customers and staff, including environmental controls such as ventilation to create a safer environment.

“There are available technologies such as people-counting sensors, and the technology can also notify a retailer if there are too many people inside.

Apart from notifications, this is data that can be shared on a retailer’s website or an app, so customers can see how busy the store is and may opt to visit at a later time,” said Kang.

THE past year was quite a challenge for students and educators alike. With the world suddenly being locked down amid the pandemic, the shift to an online learning arrangement presented a number of hurdles that, fortunately, the most passionate educators were able to jump through.

Educators from Domuschola International School enumerate the lessons they have learned from the transition and how it has broadened the scope of modern education.

The stresses of the pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns created a new layer of uncertainty that affected not only the students but also their parents as well. Modern e-learning includes “well-being sessions” for the students and their families.

“It’s partly educational and partly therapeutic,” said Mark Francisco, head of Guidance at DIS. “Mental health is a huge part of learning.

Students and families with such struggles will have a much harder time to learn. Taking away some of those strains and struggles ensure that what we teach to the students are retained well,” Francisco said.

These well-being sessions are composed mostly of collaborative activities and events which involve check-ins and conversations that help gauge general feelings. They enable meaningful connections and find ways to make learning fun and engaging for all.

Less is more A whole school year’s worth of online classes revealed that students have a tougher time focusing on lessons in a remote education setting.

Apart from encouraging families to eliminate distractions, the teachers also adjusted their respective curricula to be more focused and concise.

“Through the past year we have adjusted our lessons to fill the gaps in learning to make sure that no student is left behind,” said Jour-

Domuschola International School’s DIStance learning program comes with the added benefit of care and compassion for the entire family, helping learners and parents alike navigate the pandemic-influenced landscape. dan Gan, head of school at DIS. “With more concise lessons, we can maximize the time in which the students are engaged and lessen opportunities for distraction.”

Beyond ‘Zoom’ The Zoom Meeting app has become the most popular video conferencing program enabling work- and learn-from-home arrangements during the pandemic. Despite its popularity, video conferencing platforms have their limitations. Educators identified many other applications that they can use to enhance the learning experience through extensive research of Information and Communications Technology and applying it into the real world.

Flip Grid, a social media education app, which has made doing school exercises and reports easier; Pinterest has become a good way to provide inspiration for creative activities; and Google Classroom allows for easier sharing of files between students and teachers.

It is this sort of diversified approach to learning that personifies and embodies the International Baccalaureate program, which is being taught to students as young

as the primary level—a milestone for international schools in the Philippines.

Power of learning The pre-pandemic notion of learning was always viewed as a service; schools were service providers and parents/students were the customers. According to Bambi Fernandez de Castro, head of administration of DIS, the paradigm has drastically shifted and education is now more partnership-oriented.

“The schools, families and students now have a deeper grasp of the challenges that each party faces,” de Castro said. “Inclusive and thoughtful education as in the Enhanced Learning program goes beyond the four walls of the classroom, and takes stock of what needs to be addressed before barrelling forward. This helps all three stakeholders— the schools, the families and the students— build a space for learning that is tailored to their needs and capabilities.”

All parties use this space to learn important lessons that help them navigate a pandemic-influenced landscape.

Being prepared If there is anything that educators learned from dealing with the pandemic, it’s to be prepared for any eventuality. “Preparation was key in making the transition to online learning relatively painless,” de Castro said.

“When the first lockdown was initiated, it was fortuitously close to the end of the school year, so we had time to anticipate how things may change in the coming year.”

She said that while there were no definite answers back then, they knew that they had to ensure that their ICT facilities were in good shape, especially in terms of data security and privacy. Another major consideration for DIS was the health and safety of the staff, teaching or otherwise, as well as their continued upskilling. It is this kind of readiness that makes DIS confident that they are ready for almost any eventuality.

Housing developer adapts to millennials’ demand REAL estate developer Bria Homes is offering superior-quality, affordable house and lot units and condominiums as homes of choice for the millennials—the new generation of property seekers.

Bria Homes said its residential units have features designed to suit millennials’ lifestyles including layouts that optimize living spaces and easy access to essential establishments such as hospitals, government agencies, offices and workplaces, transport centers and retail hubs.

It is also quick to respond to this market’s demands for optimized residential spaces that encourage flexible work arrangements. Because of the proximity of Bria projects to major roads and highways, these also perfectly serve young professionals or entrepreneurs whose work or business compel them to commute or drive every day.

All Bria communities are kept safe and secure by gated entrances and exits, 24/7 CCTV coverage, solar lighting at night

Bria Homes said its residential units have features designed to suit millennials’ lifestyles. and perimeter fences. A competent property management staff sees to residents’ property-related needs and ensures everyone’s adherence to the health and safety protocols.

To fulfill the millennials’ much-vaunted need for work-life balance, Bria communities across the country offer recreational facilities such as basketball courts, multipurpose halls and lush landscaped spaces for

casual strolls.

For residents’ and homeowners’ utmost productivity and remote learning needs, Bria Homes set up reliable Internet connections across all its 50-plus projects nationwide.

Bria homeowners are spurred to use digital options in processing local and international transactions through Bria’s partner banks.

To help keep themselves safe and stressfree, they can also do cashless payments for online shopping and food deliveries with All Easy, GCash and PayMaya.

To sustain the momentum, BRIA Homes has come up with more options to meet millennials’ growing demand for affordable housing.

Its newest condominium brand, Astra Vertical Villages, is ideal for hardworking and ambitious millennials who wish to invest in properties. Located in vibrant suburban cities such as General Trias in Cavite and Calamba in Laguna, Astra condominiums are bright alternatives to dreary residential tower blocks seen in big cities.

MALITA, Davao Occidental—A young agri-preneur from this town may have had a challenging journey, especially with the challenges the pandemic has brought to everyone. However, Ella Yap’s determination has paved the way for a cacao venture.

Agriculture is said to be the wisest pursuit that contributes to one’s wealth. It also teaches anyone who ventures into it good morals, while yielding genuine happiness.

This has been manifested in the entrepreneurial journey of Ella, who continuously inspires farmers and young people in her hometown to look at farming beyond the hard work it entails, but as a huge opportunity to tap.

Ella is the granddaughter of Celedenio Yap II, a cacao farmer who has been in cacao farming business since the early 2000s. He traded dried cacao beans, his main product, at the time he was just starting out. Being the first chairperson of the Provincial Cacao Council, he has invested so much love for the industry. In 2016, Celedenio, together with his son, discovered that tablea business is a treasure waiting for them to unleash.

During the pandemic, Ella took inspiration from her grandfather, who was an active participant and partner of various government programs and initiatives. She thought of venturing into tablea processing with her mother. Following the lockdown, Ella concentrated on her farm and tablea processing even more. She also took advantage of the interventions from the Department of Trade and Industry-Davao Occidental.

In August 2020, Ella registered her business with the DTI and the local government unit. She then began joining seminars given by the agency to equip her further in running her farm and business. Among those she attended were on business continuity planning, entrepreneurial mind setting, greening the business economy and the Brand Equity Development project.

Golden ABC Inc. chairman and CEO Bernie Liu

Penshoppe owner taps omnichannel solutions GOLDEN ABC Inc., one of the leading fashion retailers in the Philippines and home to brands Penshoppe, OXGN, Regatta, ForMe, Memo and BOCU, is expanding its partnership with Aptos, a market leader in retail technology solutions to cultivate advanced omnichannel growth.

The expanded partnership between the two international entities is set to carry out the most extensive, progressive and ambitious strategy for end-to-end retail operations and customer engagement, as Golden ABC continues to strive for customers’ seamless shopping experience across all brands.

“This partnership epitomizes what has always been our top priority: our customers’ experience. Our service to them is a steadfast commitment, and that entails constantly finding new and innovative ways to ensure that their needs are always met,” said Bernie Liu, chief executive of Golden ABC. With its latest technology investment, Golden ABC will manage with Aptos nearly every aspect of its retail operations—from merchandise planning across channels, to how orders are collected and fulfilled, to how shoppers are served and engaged.

“Golden ABC is a company that continues to reach new heights in operational excellence as it expands its domestic and international presence,” said Steve Towe, president and chief operating officer of Aptos.

“With Aptos’ modern retail solutions, this award-winning and inspiring retailer will provide its customers with the seamless omni channel experiences they are looking for and create a strong foundation for future growth,” said Towe.

The partnership expansion comes when consumers’ shopping behaviors have shifted to a more digital pattern, leading to changes in expectations pertaining to convenience, but Golden ABC is no stranger to trying times.

Youth & Culture B1

SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021

Bernadette Lunas, Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

@manilastandardlife

@MStandardLIFE

BTS pop-up store opens at SM

The photo area with a replica of the ‘disco’ sign from the band’s ‘Dynamite’ music video is perfect for socially distanced group photos.

Megamall

Hundreds of merchandise await Text and photos by Angelica Villanueva

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EADS up, Filipino ARMYs! The BTS pop-up store has finally opened in Manila on Saturday, May 29, at SM Megamall.

Named after the internationally acclaimed Korean group’s fourth full-length album, Map of the Soul: 7, the BTS Pop-Up: Map of the Soul showcases over 400 products, from stationery sets to accessories and apparel.

First introduced in 2019 as BTS Pop-Up: House of BTS in South Korea, the 190-square meter Manila store will be open until August 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., giving the legions of ARMYs three months to shop.

Before planning to visit the pop-up store, here are some tips from the Manila Standard to make the most of your trip.

1. Know your schedule. Guests are encouraged to register and book a slot at morningKall’s website (https://2021btspopupasia. ph.morningkall.com). The online registration for each weekly session is every Wednesday, the next date for registration is on June 2.

Only 30 pre-booked guests and five walk-ins will be accommodated per time slot, so be sure to know your schedule and be there 10-15 minutes before your slot.

Note: Physical tickets will NOT be issued for the event. Prebooked guests will be asked to present the confirmation message delivered through email upon entrance.

2. Be familiar with the store and the merchandise available.

Since each guest only has 30 minutes to shop (additional 15 minutes for payment and crowd clearing is allocated per time slot), make

Clockwise: TinyTAN acrylic keyrings (P570 each), TinyTAN sticker packs (P340510) and paper magnets (P400), ‘Black Swan’ T-shirts and jackets, ‘On’ denim jackets (P2,340) and ball caps (P3,140).

The BTS Pop-Up: Map of the Soul Manila showcase is located on the third floor of SM Megamall Fashion Hall.

sure to research about the pop-up store beforehand. Being familiar with it will help you prioritize your shopping goals.

3. Know the health and safety protocols. Following the government’s GCQ guidelines, guests below 18 years old are not allowed.

Face mask and face shield must be worn at all times, and physical distancing of one meter must be observed. Guests with temperature of 37.5 degree Celsius and up will be denied entry to the store.

4. Get your list and budget ready. After being familiar about the protocols, now it’s time to take notes of what you want to buy.

The Manila pop-up store features merchandise based on two singles from Map of the Soul: 7 album—“Black Swan” and “On”—such as bomber jackets, sweaters, and wallets. TinyTAN collection including badges, stickers, mini towels, cushion blankets, and 3D wall posters are also available.

Tip: Guests are allowed to buy as many items as they want/can, allowing those in Metro Manila to help their fellow ARMYs in the farther parts of the country or those restricted inside the store to get their hands on the pop-up store’s merch.

5. Go cash or cashless. Guests may pay in cash, by credit card, or through e-wallets like GCash and GrabPay. 6. Ask. Never hesitate to ask the staff if you need assistance in looking for a specific product. You may ask them questions if an item is or will be available in the coming weeks. According to the store management, inventory replenishment happens every 15th and 30th of the month.

7. Take home good memories. The good thing about the BTS Pop-Up: Map of the Soul Manila showcase is that there are many “Instagrammable” corners where you can take photos together with your fellow fans (with social distancing, of course) while holding your “budols”. ARMYs can pose with TinyTAN (the animated versions of the record-setting K-pop group), standees, and the pair of wings on the wall. The area inspired by the “Dynamite” music video is perfect for socially distanced group photos.

The BTS Pop-Up: Map of The Soul Manila is located on the third floor of Mega Fashion Hall in SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

National Artist Cirilo Bautista commemorated in zine set

The delegates to Bayer’s 2019 Youth Ag Summit in Brazil, a global forum for young leaders.

Applications for youth agri summit now open

YOUNG leaders are invited to a global fessionally, and academically interested forum to collaborate and develop sus- in agriculture, international developtainable solutions for food security and ment, environmental stewardship, food global agriculture. security, biotechnology, and/or farming.

This year’s theme of Bayer’s Youth Sharing her experience at the 2019 Ag Summit (YAS), “Feeding a Hun- YAS held in Brazil, Philippine delgry Planet”, is based on the egate Christine Jodloman United Nations’ prediction relates, “My YAS experithat the planet’s population ence has been amazing and will reach 9.7 billion people humbling, as I was able to by 2050, which could pose meet, connect, and get infood security challenges. spired by my fellow youth The UN Sustainable Deagriculture changemakers velopment Solutions Netaround the world.” work (SDSN) and technology Her work is focused on company Babele will prograssroots agripreneurship vide a virtual idea incubator, for rural farming communiChristine Jodloman YAS University, where the ties. Delegates from around represented the delegates will learn entrethe world were able to proPhilippines in the preneurship and leadership vide suggestions on her pro2019 YAS skills, receive coaching from jects which she integrated mentors, and improve their own “Thrive in her youth and women programs at for Change” project concepts in a 10-week AGREA Foundation. period following the November summit.

Jodloman also helps in the Move One hundred delegates will be se- Food Initiative as a facilitator to farmlected to participate in the first virtu- er groups. They were able to provide ally held YAS. 190,000 kilos of agriculture produce The application for the 2021 YAS is open and help 30,000 farmers in 2020. to individuals 18 to 25 years old. Potential “Agriculture is not just about growing delegates will be asked to share their mo- food, it also means growing the future,” tivation to join the summit, their previous opines Jodloman. “We need a future with advocacy experience, and a three-minute a thriving agricultural sector, where peovideo pitch explaining their project idea on ple and the planet are prioritized.” “how to feed a hungry planet”.

To apply for the Youth Ag Summit Applicants should be personally, pro- 2021, go to www.youthagsummit.com.

THE life and work of National Artist for Literature Cirilo Bautista is remembered and celebrated in a 21-piece visual art zine collection.

The zine set is inspired by the multi-awarded poet, writer, essayist, critic, and educator’s renowned epic poem “The Trilogy of Saint Lazarus”, composed of “The Archipelago” (1970), “Telex Moon” (1981), and “Sunlight on Broken Stones” (1999.)

Produced by the Center of Campus Art (CCA) at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, the zine set is curated by CCA director Architect Gerry Torres, with Architect Harvey Vasquez of Benilde Architecture.

The anthology was rendered by contemporary artists and architects including Nel Banaag, Gringo Benedicto, Blic, Gab Brioso, Tricia Castillo, Julius Clar, Mariah Concepcion, Jackie Cruz, Bayani Galera, Winna Go, Miguel Infante, Doktor Karayom, Charles Mañez, Stephen Matti, Regina Morales, Walther Ocampo, Levyn Purcil, Robin Ravago, Gabby Rosario, Isola Tong, and Thea Torres.

The zine collection is part of an exhibit on the life and work of Bautista, presented in book form. The first 40 sets will be gifted to the family and literary friends of the poet and to the artists who shared their talent for this homage.

Meanwhile, a digital installation, entitled “House of Words”, reimagines the Quezon City home of the late poet and his wife Architect Rose Marie, the former dean of DLSCSB School of Design and Arts.

Using the concept of Text as Image, architecture students Tracie Bejar, Bea Carague, Jackie Cruz, Janelle Gan, Kevin Nuñez, Emilio Tenorio, and Aaron Yu, together with multimedia arts students Marco Ajero, Gelo Fabian, Enrique Masias, and Raine Sanciangco meticulously selected phrases and stanzas from the epic poem and recreated the house using environmental graphics and architectonic volumes.

Bautista was a Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards hall of famer (given to those who have won more than five times),

National Artist for Literature Cirilo Bautista

a 2012 Cultural Center of the Philippines Gawad CCP Para sa Sining awardee, and a 2013 National Commission for Culture and the Arts Achievement awardee.

The literary giant served as an instrumental figure at the DLSU Bienvenido Santos Creative Writing Center and at the University of Santo Tomas Center for Creative Writing and Studies. He paved the way for the foundation of some of the most reputable writing organizations in the country such as the Baguio Writers Club, Philippine Literary Arts Council, and the Iligan National Writers Workshop.

The 21-piece Cirilo Bautista zine set, made by contemporary artists and architects, is inspired by the National Artist’s epic poem ’The Trilogy of Saint Lazarus’.

HEY, YOUTH!

SHARE your unpublished essays with the readers of Manila Send your essay (maximum of 800 words) with photo/s, Standard. Chosen essays will be published in the Young Life if available, to manilastandardlife@gmail.com with the subcorner that comes out every Sunday. ject: “Young Life - (title of your essay)” along with a brief This space is open for young writers, aged 13-29 years old. description of yourself.

B2

Home/Design

SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor E-mail: jdlacsamana@gmail.com

Lush sanctuary in Muntinlupa

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HINMA Properties recently developed Likha Residences, a unique townhomes project in Muntinlupa city.

Each 3-storey or 4-storey townhome was constructed to be a masterpiece in Filipino design and ingenuity.

Inspired by the traditional bahay kubo, all townhomes have awning windows, presentday versions a bangerahan which is a builtin dishwashing rack, and Señorita steps that makes going up and down every storey easy.

“Likha Residences was envisioned to provide homes customized to multiple lifestyles, taking into consideration the demands of the high-end market especially now that safety has become more important than ever before,” said Raphael Felix, president and CEO of Phinma Properties.

Likha’s ready-made units offer, among others, a modern kitchen that opens up to a big space that spans both the living and dining rooms, meant for families to enjoy quality bonding moments together.

Learn more about Likha Residences at https://phinmaproperties.com/likha/.

Co-living to new heights THE Crib, the new co-living brand by Filinvest, recently reached a significant milestone: a topping off ceremony that signifies the property developer’s commitment to meet the needs of the market today.

“The Crib’s topping off milestone reflects Filinvest’s vision to deliver modern and comfortable, yet budgetfriendly housing accommodations, to our customers,” said Daphne Sanchez, vice president of Filinvest Alabang Inc. The Crib, a three-tower development situated along Corporate Woods Avenue in Filinvest City, will cater to the needs of working millennials, as well as students.

The project is meant to be a coliving space that offers hotel-like amenities, suited for young urban

professionals who want to experience living on their own, or for university

students who want to reside near their schools in Metro Manila

From good guys to great moms SMDC, in partnership with Balloons and Blooms, turned its May 8 and 9 weekend markets at Trees Residences in Fairview, MPlace Residences in South Triangle, Grace Residences in Taguig and Field Residences in Sucat, into a special day for moms. What started out as a simple Mother’s Day tribute became heartwarming stories.

Comforting each other in trying times “Mom, you give me all the needs in my life – food, water and love. I love you!” That short letter from 9-year-old Harriet Goldfine to her mom Jessa, sums up the very definition of a mother.

The past year and a half had been a very challenging time for the sunny and playful Harriet, who has had to contend with a new-normal restrictive lifestyle and the absence of her dad, who could not come home due to flight restrictions. Now it is just her and mom doing everything together and providing comfort to each other in these times.

Nothing pains Jessa more than seeing the loneliness and longing of her daughter for her father and their pre-pandemic bonding moments. Harriet loves the outdoors and looks forward to her and her dad’s mall visits and play times. Jessa has had to play both father and mother to Harriet during the last year and a half, devoting all of her time to her daughter – helping her with her daily school assignments, arranging meet-ups with her friends from the other units, cooking her favorite sinigang and enjoying afternoon strolls together inside their Trees Residences community.

Mother figures A mother will give – and give up – everything for her children, to see them happy and healthy and to give them a sense of normalcy in the midst of a hard-to-grasp, life-altering situation. In their search for a good life for their children, some mothers have to endure being away from them. Other members of the family then become mother figures to them.

Such is the case with 5-year-old Angeline Supeña.

On Mother’s Day at Grace Residences, she wrote: “Happy

Mother’s Day to my lola. Thank you for taking care of me and Kuya Gelo. Promise ‘di na ako iihi sa bed. We love you. Stay healthy.”

Lola is 71-year-old Natalia Untalan who has taken on the task of being ‘the other mother’ to them. Angeline and her older brother Angelo stay in Cabanatauan with their parents, but it is Lola who looks after them as both parents are at work full-time.

Summer vacations are usually spent at uncle Michael Untalan’s Grace Residences home. Pre-pandemic, Michael and the children loved spending time swimming in the condo’s pool, which would be capped by a food binge at Grace Mall.

This year they spent more time at Grace Residences because their online classes enabled them to attend school remotely.

Some children are not as lucky as Angeline who has the company and love not only of her mother but also those of her grandmother.

Mother’s day in heaven Precious Ann Guevarra, 8, lost her mother three years ago.

The past five years had been most challenging for Precious Ann and her two siblings. At age 3, she had to witness her mother battling cancer. At 5, she lost her. Adjusting to a motherless life, with a grieving father, had been very difficult for her and her siblings. To help them cope, the children’s extended families welcomed them into their homes on the weekends and during school breaks. Precious Ann’s favorite was weekends at Field Residences with Aunt Ellen dela Cruz, her mom’s older sister (Showin in photo).

On Mother’s Day weekend, Precious Ann wrote her mom: “Happy Mother’s Day in heaven.

Don’t worry about me, Mimi and Dada are taking care of me. I wish you were here. I love you.”

Precious Ann may have lost her mother at such a young age, but she has found a mother in her ‘Mimi’, her term of endearment for Ellen, and ‘Dada’, Ellen’s husband Jimmy. True to her name, Precious Ann has been the precious gift Ellen and Jimmy had been praying for. They have been married for 15 years without a child of their own. Last year, they took Precious Ann permanently into their home.

Ellen is thankful that she is working from home as she gets to spend most of her time with Precious Ann, helping her with her homework, designing pancakes and reading the Bible together.

Ellen admits though that Precious Ann is more of a Dada’s girl.

They would oftentimes spend afternoons by the oval, the park at Field Residences, where he teaches her karate.

They can be the biological mothers, adoptive mothers, surrogate mothers or mother figures. Each one of them deserves as much appreciation as the love they give to their children. They never stop working at their full-time jobs, hoping to receive the best remuneration: a good life and a good upbringing to mold their children into the good guys, not only of their homes, but also of the rest of their communities.

CLEAN WATER ON TAP. PhilHome, a company that provides appliances to Philippine and Southeast Asian households such as solar panels and luxury kitchen appliances, recently launched an in-home, portable water purifier that can be installed anywhere in your home, on your desk, in your kitchen, or at your workplace. “The problem with traditional purifiers is that they are costly to install, maintain, and break very easily, resulting in a ‘call the guy’ business model,” said Cathal Donnellan, head of global corporate development at PhilHome. “Using InstaHeat(R) technology, which is the same filtration technology used by NASA, developed by MIT engineers, we can now give Philippine homes access to top-class water filtration systems.” The PhilHome purifier is a multi-stage filtration process that removes all harmful bacteria, chlorine through its PAC composite filtration system.

BREATHING EASY AT HOME. Many people are now using the home as an office, a restaurant, a gym, due to stay-at-home sensibilities still in place. But this “new normal” can affect the air quality inside the home in a bad way. LG’s ThinQ mobile app (Shown here) can be used to control and monitor air quality status in real-time. This is just one of the technological innovations that LG Philippines is pushing to tackle air quality issues brought about by socially-distanced lifestyles. A small LED display located on the indoor unit, which uses different colors to indicate the level of indoor particulate matter, provides a fast way for users to view air quality status. Log on to lg.com/ph for more information.

MORTGAGE SERVICES IN SOUTHERN LUZON. Online mortgage broker, Nook, recently forged a partnership with Calmar Land, to expand its digital solutions and services developer based in Quezon Province, Batangas, and Laguna, Nook is now eyeing the Southern Tagalog to offer convenient ways to get home loan approvals. Under the partnership, Calmar Land gains access to Nook’s partner banks, expanding their banking and loan options for their customers. Nook aims to address the slow balance payments of buyers who are not prepared with their home loans, in-house financing, and getting accreditation with major banks. At the contract signing were (from left to right) Arvin Chester Abreu - head of partnerships, Nook; Chris Elder, CEO; Mary Bel Calayan – president, Calmar Land; Francis Albert Florido, COO. For more details visit https://www.nook.com.ph/

Entertainment

B3

SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021 Nickie Wang, Editor; E-mail: nickie.standard@ gmail.com

The best of Hannah Precillas

By Nickie Wang

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NOWN as Kapuso OST Princess, Hannah Precillas is ready to take listeners on an emotional ride with the release of her EP under GMA Music.

Titled Hannah Precillas Sessions and was dropped on digital stores and streaming platforms on May 25, the “mini-album” was a product of the young singer’s dream to have a recording catalog she can call her own, “It’s been my dream to have an album. Having an EP or a mini-album is closer to my dream of having a full-length record that I can share with my fans and listeners. I just feel so fortunate that GMA gave me this opportunity to express my creativity as a singer and a music artist,” Hannah told Manila Standard Entertainment in a virtual interview.

Her fans are in for a musical treat through four songs she performed live -- “Munting Hiling,” which was composed by Vehnee Saturno and originally performed by Willie Revillame; Ella May Saison’s “Hiram na Sandali;” Carol Banawa’s “Awit Kay Inay;” and a new version of her recently launched single “Sabi Ko Na Nga Ba.” Hannah admitted she had little time to work on the EP because of the restrictions brought about by the pandemic. But she’s still proud that the network’s music arm allowed her to get involved with the EP’s creative process.

“It may not be perfect but I want to make sure na ‘yung mga taong makikinig nito ay hindi madidisappoint. Kasi from the audio recording to video shoot, lahat ay aking sariling sikap and diskarte because of the pandemic. But now, I am very happy and very excited

The cast of TV5’s ‘Gen Z’

Coming-of-age series finishes off with emotional, stirring finale

Champion singer and OST princess Hannah Precillas explores her musicality in an extended play released under GMA Music.

for everyone to finally hear it and also I feel so grateful that I’ve done another milestone in my life,” she mused.

Furthermore, she wants to uplift others through her music, “Gusto kong maiparating sa listeners that no matter what kind of challenges or hardships we face in our lives, if you’re passionate enough

to fulfill your dreams and this makes you truly happy, you can surely do something about it to make it happen.”

Hannah Precillas Sessions is now available for streaming on GMA Music’s YouTube channel, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and other digital stores worldwide.

GEN Z stars Jerome Ponce, Jane Oineza, Ricci Rivero, Melizza Jimenez, Chie Filomeno, Kent Gonzales, and Darwin Yu are bidding viewers farewell with an unforgettably intriguing finale airing tonight on TV5.

Born within 1997-2015, Generation Z has emerged as one of the more fascinating segments of the population, typically described as pragmatic digital natives who are politically progressive and money smart—and Gen Z, the family youth drama which made its debut last March on TV5, has successfully told this generation’s story of hopes, struggles, and heartaches.

Viewers witnessed the growing pains of Gen Z characters Matet (Oineza), brothers Jojo (Ponce) and Kiko/Koy (Gonzales), Michelle (Jimenez), Migo (Rivero), Gina (Filomeno), and Rico (Yu) as they stepped into young adulthood full of their dreams and ambition.

Yet as the story progresses, the characters learn that life is full of challenges and responsibilities that they were not necessarily prepared for.

In its 13-episode run, the youth-family drama tackled various social issues faced in today’s reality. As the show started, the characters made us feel that they could not wait to dive into life and make their

dreams come true. However, as they continue to take themselves through the realities of our world, they crumble in its weight, leading to dents on their mental health and struggles in their interpersonal relationships with their family and friends. The support among their peers and elders is in flux, giving viewers a glimpse of the dynamics among and between generations.

Viewers will surely be at the edge of their seats as they are treated to an explosive finale. With Matet dealing with mistress drama, Michelle battling depression as Migo continues to be an abusive on-and-off boyfriend, Jojo struggling to fight for his restricted relationship with Michelle, Kiko yet to reconcile with his father, Gina recovering from a miscarriage, and Rico dealing with unrequited love, viewers are left to wonder what is yet to come.

Will the fate of these young adults conclude on a positive note? Or will they meet a bittersweet end?

Catch the finale at 8:00 p.m. on TV5.

It can also be watched live and on-demand on Cignal Play App. Stream every episode for free when registering on www.cignalplay.com and download the app on Android and iOS.

45 ‘beauty with a purpose’ advocates vie for Miss World Philippines crown FOLLOWING the return of the longdelayed 70th Miss World pageant in San ETON Juan, Puerto Rico in CONCEPCION December, local organizer has announced that a total of 45 beautiful candidates are vying for the title of Miss World Philippines 2021 Arnold Vegafria, national director of Miss World Philippines Organization, said that the COVID19-postponed national search will crown its new winner on July 11. Other coveted titles at stake are Miss Supranational, Reina Hispanoamericana, Miss Eco International, Miss Eco Teen International, and Miss Tourism.

“This is a good batch with many coming from the provinces and dominated by morena beauties,” the pageant director said.

Pageant veterans and returning aspirants led the early favorites, which include television reporter Ganiel Krishnan, Miss Asia-Pacific International 2016 second runner-up; Kathleen Paton, Miss Manila 2018 and Miss Teen International 2017; Tracy Maureen Perez, Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Top 16 and Miss Photogenic; Riana Pangindian, Bb. Pilipinas 2016 Top 15 and Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Semifinalist; and Top 16, Binibining Pilipinas 2016 Dindi Pajares. Other standouts during the final screening were Asha Gutierrez, Trisha Martinez, Emmanuelle Vera, Shaila Roberta, Michelle Arceo, and Anna Caress de Mesa.

Michelle Marquez-Dee represented the country at the 69th Miss World pageant held in December 2019 where she finished among the Top 12 finalists.

The following are the rest of the candidates: Sade Nicha, Mary Rose Guiral, Ambriel Pascual, Tatyana Austria, Andrea Sulangi, Natasha Jung, Sherenade Gonzales, Ann Palmares, Ruffa Nava, Megan Campbell, Shannen Manzano, Donna Marie Balaoro, Divina Villanueva, Gwen Fourniol, , Danica Dilla, Ria Siozon, Danielle Mayo, Mikaela Leonardo, Mara Ruiz, Kimberly Cimafranca, Angelica Datu Famorcan, , Pauline Robles, Kyle Dorado, Dannah Joy Tempra, Lea Macapagal, Maricollin Ramirez, Julie Tarrayo, Jo-ann Flores, Kim Babao, Esel Pabillaran, Janelle Lewis, Rachel Valera, Joy Barcoma, and Samela Godin.

Depending on quarantine protocols, local organizers plan to stage the final either at the Araneta Coliseum or at the Mall of Asia Arena.

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(From left) Singer Emmanuelle Vera, TV reporter Ganiel Krishnan, and model Kathleen Paton are among the frontrunners in this year’s edition of Miss World Philippines beauty tilt.

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Features SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021

SEEKING A PILL TO CURE COVID:

Drugmakers eye alternative

to vaccines P

REVENTION is better than cure – but when it comes to COVID, what happens when people can't get the vaccine, don't want it, or they're immune suppressed and it fails to stop infection?

The hunt is on for a coronavirus treatment that can be taken as a pill soon after a confirmed positive, halting the disease in its tracks so that cases that might have been severe end up being nothing more than a bad cold.

Several companies are working on so-called oral antivirals, which would mimic what the drug Tamif lu does for inf luenza.

"It's great that we have vaccine rollout that has been significant, but it certainly will not be taken by everybody in our population, and not everybody who takes the vaccine will have a full response to it," David Hirschwerk, an infectious diseases physician at Northwell Health in New York told AFP. An easily storable and transportable pill would also offer practical advantages over existing treatments such as monoclonal antibodies, which are mainly injected by drips at hospital infusion centers.

One of the frontrunners in these efforts is a twice-a-day drug called Molnupiravir, which is being developed by Merck in partnership with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.

Early results from a Phase 2 trial showed that, among dozens of volunteers who tested positive at the start, none of those who received the drug had any detectable virus by day five, while a quarter of those who received a placebo did.

The numbers are promising but too small to draw firm conclusions from,

and the company is now enrolling for a Phase 3 trial involving 1,850 people with results expected by fall.

"Viruses are basically little machines and they need certain components to replicate themselves," Daria Hazuda, Merck's chief scientific officer of the company's exploratory science center, told AFP. Antivirals are designed to interfere with that process.

Molnupiravir belongs to a class of antiviral called "polymerase inhibitors," which work by targeting an enzyme that viruses need to copy their genetic material, and introducing mutations that leave them unable to replicate.

Because antibodies target a surface protein of the coronavirus that is continually evolving, antivirals are expected to be more variant-proof.

Currently, there's just one antiviral approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat COVID, which is Remdesivir by Gilead Sciences.

Like Molnupiravir, it is a polymerase inhibitor, though their precise actions differ.

Remdesivir's biggest disadvantage is that it was developed as an intravenous drug and targeted at hospitalized COVID patients, among whom it was shown to modestly reduce recovery time.

But by the time Covid has progressed to severe, much of the harm to patients' health comes from their own immune systems going into overdrive and damaging their organs, rather than viral replication.

A message is pictured on the National Covid Memorial Wall at the embankment on the south side of the River Thames in London, which features hearts and messages in memory of those who lost their lives to COVID-19. Organized by the group Covid-19 Bereaved Families For Justice UK, which has called for a public inquiry into the government’s handling of the pandemic, volunteers created a mural made up of roughly 150,000 hand-drawn red and pink hearts to remember the victims of the coronavirus crisis. AFP

That's why the focus now is on oral formulations that can be taken within days of infection, and apart from Merck, there are a few other notable entrants.

Roche and Atea have begun a 1,400 patient trial to study their own oral polymerase inhibitor, AT-527.

"This drug has so far been shown to be very potent in vitro," Jean-Pierre Sommadossi, founder and CEO of Atea told A FP. "I think that after the pandemic, you're going to have a phase which is going to be endemic," he predicted, with the company hoping to file for authorization by the end of the year and launch the drug by 2022.

Pfizer, which has developed one of pandemic's foremost vaccines, is also attracting significant attention for its oral drug PF-07321332, which has begun Phase 1 human trials in healthy patients.

Its timeline is a little behind the others, because the medicine, which belongs to a class called "protease inhibitors," was designed specifically against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with work beginning in March 2020.

Protease enzymes act as molecular scissors that cut long protein chains

into smaller pieces that are then re-assembled as part of viral replication.

"Our investigational orally-administered protease inhibitor was designed to 'fit into' the protease (i.e. stick into the scissors) and 'block it' (i.e. keep the scissors from working)," Charlotte Allerton, head of medicine design for Pfizer, told AFP. The company is hoping to expand to late stage studies by the middle of this year, she added.

All the drugmakers also plan to study their medicines for preventa-

tive use among close contacts of infected people.

The antivirals under development have demonstrated effectiveness in lab studies against other types of coronaviruses – some of which cause serious diseases like SARS and MERs, while others cause the cold.

"If it is proven to be very safe and proven to be effective, then it can be used broadly, irrespective of the diagnosis, to treat and prevent multiple respiratory infections," said Hazuda of Merck's product. AFP

Adventure-lovers defy gravity on tallest Chinese TV tower WALKING tightropes, rappelling down a four-storey-high rope tunnel, sitting in a dangling basket 58 floors high – tourists have been steeling their nerves for adrenaline-filled challenges in a new assault course at the top of China's tallest TV tower.

Thrill-seekers in Guangzhou are rewarded with a rare panoramic view of the cityscape along the Pearl River through the steel structure of the tower, with a sweeping night breeze to break the stifling heat of the southern city.

Wearing helmets and harnesses, tourists can scramble and climb between the distinctive twisting metal structure, accompanied by a coach who shouts instructions while demonstrating techniques to go through each challenge, pausing occasionally to find the best position to take photos for the challengers.

"I've never had a more exciting experience anywhere," a glowing Peng Xin told AFP, wiping sweat from his brow after finishing the challenge on the 33rd f loor, 198 meters off the ground.

"I came here mainly to challenge myself and get a taste of new things," he added.

Costing over $12.5 million and tak-

ing over a year to build, the "Landmark Alpha" adventure park opened in January this year on the 600-meter high Canton Tower.

It offers extreme sports enthusiasts three different courses at heights ranging from 198 meters to 298 meters.

Adventurers in Guangzhou spend up to $108 per person on a single course in the tower.

"The coaches gave very detailed and thorough instructions," one adrenaline junkie surnamed Li told AFP after jumping off a ladder on the 58th floor.

China's mega structures have come under scrutiny after a towering skyscraper in the nearby city of Shenzhen swayed without explanation and was evacuated earlier this month.

However, Li said: "The safety measures are good. It is only under this precondition that we can fully enjoy the challenge."

The adventure park typically welcomes two to three hundred tourists during public holidays – but not all have the courage to finish the full challenge.

"I thought I was brave enough to do it, but my legs just gave out," confessed one ashen-faced climber, retracing her steps along a rope tunnel. AFP

In this undated file picture, Saiga antelopes drink from a lake outside Almaty. The population of the critically endangered Saiga antelope has more than doubled since 2019, Kazakhstan said on May 28, 2021, citing the first aerial survey of the animals in two years. AFP

Rare antelope population more than doubles since 2019: Kazakhstan

THE population of the critically endangered Saiga antelope has more than doubled since 2019, Kazakhstan said, citing the first aerial survey of the animals in two years.

News that the Central Asian country's Saiga population has risen from 334,000 to 842,000 will hearten conservationists, who warned that the species was on the brink of extinction following a massive die-off in 2015.

In a statement, Kazakhstan's ecology ministry called the population boom "an indicator of the effectiveness of measures to conserve saiga populations and counteract poaching."

Kazakhstan's vast steppe is home to

the majority of the global Saiga antelope population with Russia's Kalmykia region and Mongolia hosting much smaller numbers.

In 2015, around 200,000 of the antelopes – well over half the total global population at the time – were wiped out by what scientists later determined was a nasal bacterium that spread in unusually warm and humid conditions.

The 2019 aerial survey confirmed that the Saiga was continuing to rebound from the cataclysm but there was no survey in 2020 as Kazakhstan wrestled with the outbreak of the coronavirus.

The International Union for Conser-

vation of Nature (IUCN), whose "Red List" is the scientific reference for threatened wildlife, lists the Saiga as among five critically endangered antelope species.

Poaching is a persistent threat to the Saiga, known for its distinctive bulbous nose, fueled by demand for horn in traditional Chinese medicine.

Kazakhstan's leaders pledged to crack down on poaching after two state rangers were killed by poachers in 2019.

Earlier this month the ecological ministry said that around 350 female saiga antelopes had been killed by lightning.

The discovery came during the Saiga calving season. AFP

Landmark Alpha offers extreme sports enthusiasts three different courses. The adventure park opened in January on the 600-meter high Canton Tower. AFP