Manila Standard - 2021 August 30 - Monday

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10 HOSPITAL UNIONS LEAD PROTEST OVER UNPAID BENEFITS

Frontliners threaten walkouts Military chief pays tribute to modern heroes

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja

H

EALTH workers who have yet to receive their overdue Special Risk Allowance (SRA) and other benefits in the fight against COVID-19 will kick off mass walkouts in at least 10 private hospitals today, a group representing them said Sunday.

Alliance Health Workers (AHW) president Robert Mendoza said the massive walkouts will be staged following the protest actions, which include rallies and noise barrages held last week at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Philippine General Hospital, Tondo Medical Center, and the National Center for Mental Health.

An AHW spokesman said medical frontliners from the St. Luke’s hospitals in Quezon City and Taguig, the University of Santo Tomas Hospital and Chinese General Hospital both in Manila would lead the private-sector protest.

Chinese General, in a statement, said Sunday it would distribute the SRA of its health workers "this week." The hospital received P21 million from the Department of Health last Friday, said its medical director Dr. Samuel Ang. "We would like to convey to the public that CGHMC management and its roster of health workers remain committed to its goals in maintaining quality service to its patients and a safe, healthy environment to its employees," Ang said in a statement.

The Chinese General Hospital Union also said that it has no orders for its

AS THE country observes National Heroes' Day on Monday, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-ofstaff Lt. Gen. Jose Faustino Jr. urged the public to continue honoring the sacrifices of the front-liners amid the prevailing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

"Those are the people who continue to persevere in saving lives in hospitals, in producing our food and other essential supplies, andin keeping our communities safe amid this pandemic," he said in a statement Sunday.

Faustino made this remark as the nation remembers the life and

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HEROES, TOO. On the eve of the National Heroes' Day celebration, health workers hold Philippine flag-lets as the local government of Manila gives recognition to all nurses and other medical front liners attending to the needs of COVID-19 patients at the Sta. Ana Hospital. Danny Pata

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PhilHealth defers circular on claims payments; PHA grateful Hospitals beset THE Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth) on Sunday it would defer a circular that temporarily suspended claims payments to hospitals, as the state insurer continues dialogues with them.

"In the meantime, we suspended the implementation of that circular.

Because we also need to have that circular. We have to address insurance fraud," said PhilHeath vice president for corporate affairs and spokesperson Dr. Shirley Domingo.

"We are not holding anything even as the investigation is ongoing. We can't just

put it on hold," added Domingo in an interview over Dobol B sa TV. Philippine Hospital Association President Dr. Jaime Almora welcomed the move, saying the announcement “is a happy culmination of a long negotiation where the voice of the people has finally

prevailed.”

“We express our gratitude for those in Congress that served as our voice," added Almora, whose group represents over 2,000 medical institutions.

Various hospital groups announced on Next page

DBM ‘buying arm’ sought to be stopped

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja SENATOR Joel Villanueva on Sunday said government agencies should temporarily stop using the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) as their buying arm for big-ticket projects until the agency h controversies.

He said there should be a “moratorium on the practice of agencies transferring large amounts of funds to the PS-DBM so the latter can conduct the bidding for goods and projects on their behalf.”

He said the goods will be bought promptly if agencies will do the bidding themselves because PS-DBM is another layer of red tape in the procurement process.

“There is practically no need for agencies to pay a commission to the Next page

IMMORTALIZED. Citizens walk by a life size mural featuring Philippine heroes, Dr. Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio, along the Manila City Hall underpass on August 29 2021, on the eve of National Heroes Day, a national holiday. Norman Cruz

Pimentel faction 'ousts' Duterte from ruling party Hospicio moves

By Macon Ramos-Araneta President Rodrigo Duterte

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte was “kicked out” Sunday as national chairman of the ruling PDP-Laban by the Pacquiao wing of the party, which held a National Council election yesterday.

Duterte, who is seeking the vice presidency in next year's election under the PDP-Laban banner, was replaced by Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III. But lawyer Melvin Matibag, secretary-general of the Cusi-led faction of the ruling party, stressed: Next page

Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III.

30 patients to isolation site

AT LEAST 30 COVID-19 patients at the Hospicio de San Jose orphanage in Manila were moved on Sunday to the newly-opened isolation facility of the Philippine Red Cross at Adamson University.

Sister Maria Socorro Pilar Evidente, Hospicio de San Jose President, said COVID-19 infections in the orphanage grew "rapidly" in August.

"We can't trace it. It's quite rapid.

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by overcapacity; PH logs record positivity rate

EMERGENCY rooms in some hospitals are operating at more than 100 percent capacity as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to soar, the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) said Sunday.

Speaking to Dobol B TV, Dr. Maricar Limpin, president of the group, said some hospitals were operating at 130 percent to 150 percent. She said they were not surprised by the number since hospital emergency rooms were already at full capacity.

Some hospitals are also running out of medical supplies and mechanical ventilators, Limpin said.

This developed as the Philippines logged 18,528 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the country’s total number of infections to 1,954,023, one day after marking a new record high.

The country also logged its highest positivity rate of 27.9 percent out of 66,225 tests conducted on Aug. 27.

This was way above the World Health Organization’s prescribed 5 percent positivity rate in which the outbreak is under control.

Limpin said some hospitals in Cebu City had to choose which patients would go on ventilators since there weren't enough to go around. The basis for this decision, she said, was which patient was more likely to survive.

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1,954,023 18,528

143,221

33,109

101

1,777,693 17,922 (As of 4 PM, AUGUST 29)

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News

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Task force aims at 5m jabs /week T NTF spokesperson Restituto Padilla said the government is seeking to keep its target number of vaccinations to reach herd immunity, amid complaints about the slow vaccination process in the country.

"If possible, we must inoculate 1 million every day. But our target for one week is at 5 million so that we can administer a month's supply of 20 to 25 million doses," Padilla said over Dobol B TV.

He admitted there is a lack of vaccinators in some centers as some health workers are shifting to COVID-19 response as cases surge in the country.

Padilla added that some vaccination centers in Metro Manila are slowing down due to the suspension of walk-in inoculations, which could possibly cause community transmission of the coronavirus.

"We have stopped walk-in inoculations

because of the threat of the highly contagious Delta variant—to avoid possible superspreader events,” he said.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday said that implementing the so-called "bakuna bubbles" to segregate those fully vaccinated against COVID-19 from those who are unvaccinated at this time may face possible legal challenges for being discriminatory.

“If this will be implemented at this time, most likely it can be challenged legally for being discriminatory,” Guevarra said, in an interview with Dobol B TV. He admitted that the proposal to have "bakuna bubbles" was intended to protect the vaccinated and unvaccinated, to en-

Frontliners...

Department of Health (DOH) to heed their call for the release of their benefits as mandated by law.

Interviewed over ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo, Mendoza said health workers from Chinese General, who have been waiting for their benefits since Friday, will also participate in the walkout.

"They're worrying. So, they will proceed with the mass walkout on National Heroes' Day, together with 10 other private hospitals," he said.

Mendoza also said the 10 private hospitals joining told him they were “allowed by their management to conduct a mass walkout," he said.

He further said walkouts will also be done on Tuesday at the government-run Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila, and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine on Tuesday in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

He said walkouts will be staged from 9 a.m. to noon, while protests such as noise barrages and red armband-wearing will be conducted by health workers in other parts of the country.

Mendoza said no patients would be neglected during these actions.

“Our patients also understand that this is a fight for the health and safety of health workers. It's not only for us, they are also included, so they can receive quality care,” Mendoza said.

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday maintained there is no excuse for the government’s delay in the release of benefits for the health care workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We waited for mass actions before we listened to them. We should have not waited

until they complained,” Robredo said.

Noting that the 2021 budget was drafted amid the pandemic, there was no excuse for the government's failure to attend to the overdue benefits, she said.

Nanette Jarino, KAMAGGFI secretary general, said they are hoping Duterte will acknowledge their contributions to the government and grant their appeal.

“We are hoping that the government will see our efforts and contributions as public workers,” she said.

Virginia Cabonce, vice chairwoman of the group, said GOCC and GFI workers are also considered front-liners.

In 2017, Duterte suspended the CPCS implementation through Executive Order No. 36.

The CPCS was initiated by the administration of late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino to streamline the compensation scale of GOCC and GFI officers and employees.

Health workers were dismayed by Health Secretary Francisco Duque's remarks before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee probe, which is looking mismanaged COVID-19 funds at the Department of Health. In the hearing, Duque said it would take two months to give health care workers their due benefits as they still have to validate the names of the beneficiaries.

"If they can't give us these benefits, we have plans to continue these protests until they do," said Mendoza.

At the same time, Mendoza said the DOH has yet to provide P38,000 in meal and transportation allowances to health workers from December 2020 to June 2021, as well as the P3,000 monthly active duty hazard pay.

Earlier, the Philippine Nurses Association said its members would quit their jobs if the government will not be able to pay the SRA and other benefits by Sept. 1, 2021.

In the Senate, Senator Francis Pangilinan said all 488,000 health care worker-claimants should be given their SRA and other benefits.

“They want to know how long (will they wait) because every day, they are risking their lives. Every day, they can be exposed to COVID. So at least, let us give them the courtesy, at the very least of telling them when they will get it. It is due them,” he said.

He said he wants to know when 95 percent of those entitled to the SRA will receive it.

Following Malacañang’s order to release the SRA, the DOH on Friday committed to validate the list of frontliners eligible to receive benefits within two months.

This would be on top of the initial 20,156 health workers that will receive their benefits within 10 days as ordered by Malacañang.

The Department of Budget and Management on Wednesday announced that it has released P311.79 million but only for the long overdue SRAs of health workers.

According to the DOH, they are only able to pay the benefits of frontliners included in validated lists.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire appealed to health workers not to proceed with their planned mass protests as these would put the health system at risk and endanger the welfare of patients.

She said the DOH is doing everything it can to give the benefits

“But some of our members suspected that the circular might have been used as an excuse to avoid paying the claims," Almora said.

The circular states that payment is suspended on claims that are subject of investigations pertaining to fraudulent, unethical acts, and/or abuse of authority.

On the other hand, Almora pointed out the huge "discrepancy" between the PhilHealth's payable amount and PHA members' claims.

“PhilHealth should solve its internal problem," Almora said.

Domingo said they first held a dialogue with Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega and hospitals regarding the delayed hospital payments, prompting them to suspend the circular.

Despite several hospitals lamenting delayed payments, Domingo said they are not holding any hospital claims since the

pandemic started.

During the House investigation on the issue last week, PhilHealth said it has yet to pay P21 billion claims filed by hospitals.

However, Domingo clarified that this amount is not only debts but payments that are under process.

"It's not all debts. We are given 60 days to process these claims," she added.

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go said concerned agencies can come up witha win-win solution that would not hamper or adversely affect servicesneeded by ordinary Filipinos during this public health emergency.

The senator, chair of the Senate health committee, reached out toPhilHealth President Dante Gierran, Executive Secretary SalvadorMedialdea and Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. to help resolve some issues raised by hospital associations and

protect the stability of the health system.

“Let us give them an extension because we are in a different situation now.

We are facing a pandemic and we need to help each other to cope up with this and protect the lives of our people," he said.

While he supports PhilHealth’s intention to reform their system to protect public funds against abuses, “let us also be considerate of the ordinary Filipinos who can go nowhere to ask for help," noted Go. As the country is still in a public health emergency, Go said that government agencies need to be more flexible so they can prioritize what Filipinos need at this time.

Go further asked hospitals to follow the proper procedures and be truthful in their claims, particularly in these exceptional circumstances due to the pandemic.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

active cases.

The number of cases infected with the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 rose to 1,789 with the discovery of 516 new cases.

Of these, 473 were local cases, while 31 were returning overseas Filipinos, and 12 were still under verification.

Some 114 of these cases were in Metro Manila.

Six cases remain active, five cases have died, while 505 cases have been tagged as recovered, the DOH said.

The country logged a record-high 19,441 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday.

In other developments: • The Ospital ng Sampaloc announced that it had reached full capacity for COVID-19 patients. In a statement, it said it could no longer

accommodate COVID-19 cases needing hospitalization.

• Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas on Sunday said she was alarmed over the country's new highest single day tally of 19,441 COVID-19 cases recorded on Aug. 28, saying the "Duterte variant" of criminal neglect must be contained.

“The so-called 'Delta tsunami' is getting worse because of the ‘Duterte variant’ of criminal negligence.

The President is always indulging [in] politics without even having a concrete support for the hospitals and their frontliners,” she said in a statement.

• The Commission on Human Rights is urging the government to equally give attention to prisoners and their need for vaccination, as well as the welfare of personnel managing jails and other detention facilities. Rio N. Araja

DBM...

HE National Task Force against COVID-19 needs to achieve five million inoculations per week to use up all its monthly vaccine supply, its spokesman said Sunday.

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members to join the health workers' mass action on Monday. The association is not a member of the AHW. Rank and file employees of government owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs) also joined the calls for protection and support for frontline workers amid the worsening health and economic crises in the country.

In a virtual press conference, officers of the Kapisanan ng mga Manggagawa sa GOCCs at GFIs (KAMAGGFI) asked President Rodrigo Duterte to shield them from the COVID pandemic and reiterated their call for his administration to carry out their salary hike that has been put on hold for several years.

The group reiterated their appeal to the President to implement the Compensation and Position Classification System (CPCS) that he suspended in 2017.

KAMAGGFI has 100,000 members from over 200 GOCCs and GFIs that are engaged in public utilities and commercial activities for profit, enabling the government to earn and deliver basic services.

On Saturday, members of the Filipino Nurses United also said they planned to join the protests and are even preparing criminal charges against officials of the DOH for “criminal neglect” in failing to release their benefits as they continue to lead the fight against COVID-19.

Monday's protest action, Mendoza said, will commence on National Heroes' Day to press the government and the

PhilHealth...

From A1

August 21 they were considering terminating their relationship with PhilHealth soon after the state insurer issued a circular about the Temporary Suspension of Claim Payments under investigation for fraud. They threatened to leave the state health insurer by October.

PhilHealth's Circular No. 2021-0013 provides the guidelines on the TSPC as a preventive measure against healthcare providers that are subject of investigation.

As to the supposed fraudulent claims, Dr. Almora said PhilHealth should pay the claims, except those that are found to be fraudulent.

He added that the identification of "fraudulent claims" is a continuing process.

Hospitals...

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Limpin said patients with COVID-19 symptoms should have themselves checked in health care facilities near them, instead of going to a hospital, to ensure they do not get worse.

The most common symptoms for COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness.

Health officials said there were 101 more deaths from COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the disease’s death toll in the Philippines to 33,109.

The Department of Health reported 17,922 new recoveries, bringing the total number of patients who recovered from the disease to 1,777,693.

This brought active cases to 143,221

Hospicio..

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Unlike in April to June whencases were slowly increasing," she said.

Last Sunday, the orphanage pleaded for cash donations as it reported 80 COVID-19 cases among children and its personnel.

Of the 80, Evidente related that two are severe cases that were already sent to the hospital, while the remaining 78 are already recovering.

Meanwhile, a dozen Filipino crewmen of the MV Olympic have been offloaded from the cargo ship and brought to a quarantine center in Manila.

The ship carrying carbon from Indonesia was denied entry at its destination in China when 15 of its

crew tested positive for COVID-19.

One of them, another Filipino, had died on board on August 19, a crewman named “Eric” told ABSCBN News.

“Eric” said he and 11 others were taken from the ship to the quarantine center in Manila, where they await a swab test from the local government.

PRC Chairman and CEO Senator Dick Gordon made the decision after Hospicio’s administrator Sr. Evidente on Saturday requested the PRC to open its isolation facility in Adamson University to cater to virus-positive individuals of the oldest welfare institution in the country.

Gordon immediately mobilized PRC to open the Adamson facility and cater to children and the elderly of Hospicio de San Jose.

“We need to immediately help the elderly and children of Hospicio de San Jose because they are the most vulnerable groups in our country,” Gordon said.

“Due to the increasing Covid-19 cases, I immediately ordered the opening of our isolation facility in Adamson to give medical attention to those affected by COVID-19,” he added.

The PRC isolation facility will provide a doctor and a nurse to ensure the wellbeing of the patients, the senator said.

PRC’s Bakuna Bus also recently conducted vaccination at Hospicio de San Jose, inoculating over 150 senior citizens, bed-ridden clients, persons with comorbidities, and health care workers.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

courage those not vaccinated to get inoculated, and to help boost the economy.

But the Cabinet secretary noted that vaccines are not yet made available in some areas.

“Many want to get vaccinated, but they have no access yet to the vaccines. It is not their fault that they are not yet vaccinated so it seems unfair if they will be deprived of access to certain places,” Guevarra stressed.

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Ma. “Joey” Concepcion III earlier raised the need to restrict individuals unvaccinated against COVID-19 and impose bubbles for those fully vaccinated.

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middleman, which is exactly what PSDBM’s role is. They can do the bidding of contracts themselves," Villanueva said.

Villanueva said one reason agencies dump their funds on PS-DBM is to extend the validity of their fund allotments.

“When expiring allotments are transferred to PS-DBM these are given a new lease of life," he said.

The transferred funds would now be deemed as obligations in the books of agencies and no longer unspent funds that must be reverted to the national treasury.

“I wonder why the DBM, which is a proponent of timely spending of funds, not only entertains but seems to encourage this kind of simulated spending," he said.

Villanueva said he is not calling for a “full stop to all PS-DBM’s operations, but only for new contracts. It can continue its business of being the bulk buyer of government’s common-use supplies, he said.

He said billions of pesos of unspent advances by agencies to PS-DBM “should either be returned to sender or the procurement, if it is on the last mile, be expedited.”

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate on Sunday hit Senator Christopher Go for urging Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to make the “supreme sacrifice” to resign, saying such a move could be just a ploy to divert public attention and accountability away from the questionable transactions of the PS-DBM. “Why only now? The call for Secretary Duque to resign has been a long time ago due to his failure to handle the COVID-19 pandemic and the corruption issues within the agency. Instead of addressing the matters, President Rodrigo Duterte is still covering up and defending him,” he said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Auditors flag BJMP over congestion rate THE Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) exceeded last year the ideal jail capacity nationwide by 403%, the Commission on Audit told the agency in an audit report.

The state auditors noted that BJMP held in detention a total of 115,336 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) as of Dec. 31, 2020—way beyond the ideal population of 34,893.

“The 403 percent congestion rate is still way beyond the accepted standards set by the United Nations,” COA said in its audit report.

“These conditions greatly affect the morale and disposition of PDLs considering that they are not yet convicted and are presumed innocent,” it added.

Calabarzon had the highest jail congestion rate at 619%, followed by Central Luzon at 609% and Metro Manila with 595%.

In response to the findings, the BJMP management said the high congestion rate does not imply that jail facilities nationwide are operating in “sub-normal conditions.”

Military...

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legacy of Philippine national heroes who have become cornerstones of the country's freedom, independence, and democratic ideals.

Despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, Faustino urged all Filipinos to continue to honor the heroes’ sacrifices and remember that “all be heroes in our own respective fields and in our own little ways.”

Every last Monday of August, the nation pays tribute to past heroes of the revolution, as well as unknown men and women who sacrificed their lives for freedom from colonial rule.

"Likewise, we recognize our modern day heroes who continue to defend and promote Filipino values, principles, and values that form our national identity," he added.

The celebration of National Heroes Day began during the American Colonial Period. The Philippine Legislature, then dominated by Filipino leaders who represented the national aspiration for independence, first enacted the holiday into law through Act No. 3827 on October 28, 1931.

The Act declared the last Sunday of August of every year an official national holiday.

However, as far as research has been able to determine, November 30, while already celebrated as Bonifacio Day by virtue of Act No. 2946 s. 1921, was also held to commemorate anonymous heroes of the nation in that same year.

In 1952, President Elpidio Quirino reverted the date of National Heroes Day back to the last Sunday of August.

Through Administrative Order No. 190, s. 1952, he appointed Secretary of Education Cecilio Puton as head of a committee to take charge of the National Heroes Day celebration, which took place on August 31, 1952. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Pimentel...

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"President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is the PDP Laban party Chairman. He remains to be so and will continue to be so."

Matibag branded as "comedy" the move of the rival wing led by Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Pimentel.

"It’s a ‘comedy,' said Matibag, stressing that Pimentel has “no position” in PDP-Laban.

Pimentel’s father, the late Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., founded the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan in 1982 in a merger with the party of the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. But Matibag insisted the younger Pimentel “is irrelevant, and he does not represent the party. His group are pretenders and are attention seekers."

Ron Munsayac, the National Executive Director and chairman of Public Information Committee of the Pacquiao wing, said the National Council was attended by their national and regional officers and national committee chairmen led by Pacquiao, who was flying home from the United States on Sunday.

Former Eastern Samar Gov. Lutgardo Barbo was elected Vice Chairman of the faction led by Pacquaio, who has manifested his intention to contest the presidency.

In his message after being elected chairman, Pimentel said although it is time to already hand the leadership to the next younger generation of leaders, he cited the need “for an old, experienced hand, knowledgeable about party matters, since the party is in crisis.”

"I thank you once again for this extended opportunity to serve the party I love, for which I have sacrificed my time, sweat, tears, and blood. The PDP Laban is the only political party I have ever joined," he said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

news

monday, august 30, 2021

SC upholds drug-dealing policeman’s life sentence

FOR A BETTER VIEW.

By Rey REquejo

Meralco lineman install hanging meter base along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City for consumers of a thickly populated residential areas. Manny Palmero

PNP chief orders immediate ouster of cop in rape of protocol violator NatioNal Police chief Guillermo Eleazar on Sunday ordered the immediate summary dismissal of a police officer who was accused of raping a quarantine violator in Mariveles, Bataan. this, after the Mariveles police said sexual assault and acts of lasciviousness complaints were filed against Pat. Elmer tuazon Jr., 25, and marshal team leader armando Dimaculangan, 53, before the office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Balanga City, Bataan.

Eleazar assured the public of immediate action against the erring cops in the PNP ranks. “So i also appeal not to think that all the police officers are like this because there are only a few of them and there are more policemen who are willing to help and do good in the name of police service.” the top cop apologized to the victim and her family, assuring them that they will get justice. investigation showed that the accused tuazon and Dimaculangan while on duty at the quarantine control point flagged the victim for being an unauthorized person outside residence (aPoR) and was subsequently brought to the boarding house of tuazon for supposed community service.

Brig. General Valeriano t. De leon, regional director of the Police Regional office 3 (PRo-3), said on Saturday the 19-year-old quarantine violator accused tuazon of rape.

De leon said apart from tuazon, Dimaculangan was also accused of molesting the victim.

Eleazar urged the public to immediately file complaints against police officers involved in illegal activities.

Military assured of P35b in modernization funds

t

HE armed Forces of the Philippines is getting another P35 billion in modernization funds under the proposed P5.024trillion national budget for 2022, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said on Sunday.

“the sum is P8 billion more than the program’s P27-billion allocation this year, and we expect the bulk of the fresh funding to be spent on new naval assets for heightened national security missions, considering our lingering territorial dispute with China in the West

Philippine Sea,” Pimentel said.

“We are counting on Camp aguinaldo to sign the contracts for the Philippine Navy’s acquisition of six 83-meter offshore patrols vessels (oPVs) from australia before the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term,” he added.

Defense Secretary Delfin lorenza earlier said the australian global shipbuilder and defense contractor austal ltd. is at the forefront of the Navy’s procurement program for the oPVs at an aggregate cost of P22 billion.

Pimentel, strategic intelligence committee chairperson, said “we expect the highly agile oPVs to serve as the Navy’s remote workhorses.”

“We want austal to build the oPVs in its shipyard in Balamban, Cebu because it will mean more jobs for Filipinos,” he said. Rio N. Araja

Gen. Guillermo Eleazar

Cayetano, allies seek discounts for athletes—Olympians or not

By Rio Araja FoRMER House Speaker Rep. alan Peter Cayetano and his allies have called on the national government and commercial establishments to provide discounts and benefits for athletes regardless of their sport and achievements.

During a dialogue with olympic gold

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medalist Hidilyn Diaz, Cayetano cited the struggle of award-winning athletes who received little to no support or recognition before their success in international sporting events.

“My only wish for the athletes is for them to have the support since they have not yet been recognized or known, and haven’t won yet,” he said.

Batangas Rep. Raneo abu reminded

commercial establishments that under Republic act No. 10699, their businesses are entitled to tax deductions if they extend discounts to national athletes.

He said Diaz was the first recipient of benefits under the law after securing a silver medal at the 2016 Summer olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Bulacan Rep. Jonathan Sy alvarado said an information dissemination is

DAR sets October land distribution in war-torn Marawi tHE Department of agrarian Reform will begin in october the distribution of public lands within Camp Keithley, a military reservation built in 1946, in Marawi City, lanao del Sur in october under the Comprehensive agrarian Reform Program. “they have waited long enough. this land is part of their ancestral domain. it should be returned to them. let us do our best to distribute these lands to them this october,” Secretary John Castriciones said.

He said the distribution of public lands in Marawi is a top priority under Executive order No. 75 of 2019 of President Rodrigo Duterte. “the President believes that there were historical injustices inflicted against the Bangsamoro people, jeopardizing their legitimate birthright over their ancestral lands,” he said.

“and it is just right to indemnify them by distributing all government-owned lands to the rightful claimant in order to correct the historical offenses,” he added.

Undersecretary for Field operations Elmer Distor said DaR has coordinated with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Department of agriculture for the inventory of idle government-owned lands.

“We are done with identifying the landholdings for distribution, perimeter surveying, procurement activities and validation, documentation and approval of subdivision plans,” Northern Mindanao regional director Zoraida Macadindang said.

“We are halfway in finishing all the necessary requirements before land distribution, but rest assured, we will speed everything up so we can award the lands to the Bangsamoro farmers by october,” Macadindang said. Rio N. Araja

necessary to raise public awareness about the different benefits that national athletes are entitled to under the law. apart from the discounts, Ra No. 10699 entitles national athletes and coaches to benefits for free medical consultations, health insurance, social security program and Philippine Health Corp. coverage.

tHE Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of a police officer who has been ordered in 2015 by a trial court to suffer life imprisonment and pay a fine of P10 million for each of the two illegal drug cases filed against him for selling and possessing cocaine in 2010. in a decision penned by associate Justice amy lazaro-Javier, the SC affirmed the conviction of Senior Police officer 1 alexander Estabillo who was then assigned at the Ninoy aquino international airport. the judgment rendered by the Pasig City Regional trial Court on December 7, 2015 was upheld by the Court of appeals, in a decision dated april 16, 2019. the SC denied Estabillo’s appeal for lack of merit. affirming both the trial court and the Ca’s rulings, the SC said: “Here, the arresting officers were not impelled by any improper motive to perform the buy-bust and arrest appellant (Estabillo) other than their genuine desire to properly perform their functions.” “in fact, they did not hastily act on the report from their confidential informant and conducted a test-buy to verify the information they received.

When it yielded positive results, they immediately hatched the buy-bust operation,” it added.

Estabillo was arrested by his fellow policemen during a buy-bust operation on June 14, 2010 at Barangay Ugong in Pasig City.

Records showed that the operation was conducted after P/SSupt. Eduardo P. acierto received from an informant of the illegal drugs activities of a certain “alex” of the Philippine National Policeat Naia. a “test buy” was conducted for the purchase of one gram of cocaine for P1,500. after laboratory test, the purchased drug tested positive for cocaine, “a powerfully addictive stimulant drug.”

835 drug dens, 18 shabu labs destroyed from 2016-2021 FoR the past five years, the government’s all-out war on illegal drugs has also resulted in the dismantling of 853 drug dens and shabu laboratories from June 2016 to July 2021. the Philippine Drug Enforcement agency on Sunday said 835 are drug dens and 18 are clandestine shabu laboratories while various types of illegal drugs worth P62.22 billion were seized the amount included 8,134.61 kilos of shabu with an estimated street value of P51.33 billion. from June 2016 to July 2021. a total of 12,849 high-value targets across the country were likewise arrested from July 1, 2016 to July 31, 2021. the figure included 5,443 HVts arrested from high impact operations, 3,634 target-listed suspects, 1,291 drug den maintainers, 784 drug group leaders/members, 494 government employees, 388 elected officials, 319 foreigners, 283 included on wanted lists, 119 uniformed personnel, 72 armed group members, and 22 prominent personalities. authorities also arrested 303,154 individuals involved in other illegal drug activities.

MOVING IN.

Philippine Red Cross health worker assists an elderly from the Hospicio de San Jose to get off from an ambulance to be transferred to an isolation facility at the nearby Adamson University in Manila, on August 29, 2021. At least 34 patients and staff of the Hospicio de San Jose orphanage test positive for COVID-19 and are transferred to the newly opened isolation facility of the Philippine Red Cross at Adamson.

Norman Cruz

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News

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021

IN RED. Bright colored dresses in store racks in Divisoria Market along Claro M. Recto in Manila as business establishments reopen while the capital remains under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine until Sept. 7. Danny Pata

Villars honored for Las Piñas vax assistance

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Cynthia Villar and daughter Rep. Camille Villar were honored by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) for their assistance in the vaccination of Filipino seafarers.

Through Sen. Villar and Rep. Villar, MARINA used the family-owned The Villar Tent in South Global City, Las Piñas, as vaccination site in giving jabs to their seafarers.

On every scheduled dates, an average of 1,000 seafarers per day were inoculated with Western vaccines like Pfizer, Moderna and Jansen at The Villar Tent.

Seafarers got their shots from June to August at the fully-airconditioned and spacious The Villar Tent wherein health protocols imposed by the Department Health and IATF were strictly observed.

In a simple ceremony last August 26, Sen. Villar and Rep. Villar were given Plaque of Recognition in acknowledging and appreciating their valuable support for the vaccination of Filipino seafarers.

The plaques were given by MARINA Administrator retired Vice Admiral Robert Empredad, who earlier sought the help of the Villars for the use of The Villar Tent.

Sen. Villar and Rep. Villar are thankful that in their small little way, they were of help to our seafarers and the country’s maritime industry.

A staunch advocate of Overseas Filipino Workers, Sen. Villar acknowledged the contributions of seamen to keep our economy afloat amid the pandemic.

Marcos urges gov’t: Vaccinate teachers

By Rey E. Requejo

F

ORMER Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Sunday urged the government to fast-track the vaccination of teachers by including them under the essential workers classification of the national vaccination program as the classes in public schools set to open on September 13.

“The class is about of Education, 80,792 to open but many of already received their our teachers have not first doses while only been vaccinated. What 53, 045 have received about those who hantheir second doses as of dle blended learning August 11. who regularly meet The former senator with parents to distribnoted that the teachute modules? So they ers’ grievances, such should be included as delayed release of in the priority list, ” benefits and reimburseMarcos said, in a statements on top of being ment. overfatigued due to beMarcos Marcos made the call ing overloaded with pafollowing reports that per works and reports, of the over 900,000 teaching and non- should be addressed immediately to teaching personnel of the Department enable them to cope with the stress

brought by the new learning systems amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Their benefits are already delayed, but they still cover the cost for their internet, as well as the reimbursements for printing the modules, are still delayed. They also have families that need to be supported and yet they are just depending on their meager income,” he lamented.

Based on a survey conducted by the Movement for Safe, Equitable, Quality and Relevant Education (SEQuRE Educ Movement), public school teachers are also confronted with same problems encountered by students on internet access and cost on top of their heavier workload.

He expressed concern that since the new learning systems, both full online and blended learning, would still be in place with the COVID-19 pandemic still raging, the quality of education in the country would suffer if the teachers are hindered from giving their best.

RIVER DRIVE.

Senator Cynthia Villar and Rep. Camille Villar lead the inauguration of the 425-meter River Drive that connects Casimiro Village and Alabang-Zapote Road in Pamplona 3, Las Piñas City. The River Drive helps ease traffic gridlock in the city’s major thorougfare, while offering comfort and convenience to the commuting public.

Caloocan dad sets challenge Malabon launches program for trike, pedicab drivers for teachers

By Jun David IN LINE with the recognition of teachers’ sacrifices and hard work during the COVID 19 pandemic, Caloocan City Councilor Orvince Howard Hernandez launched a Tiktok challenge for them.

This was after the success of Tiktok Challenges for mothers and fathers last May and June in time with the celebration of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Hernandez, knowns as the Milenyal na Konsehal, said this challenge dubbed as ‘Lodi kong Dancer sina Mam at Sir’ was a way to show importance to the contribution of teachers for the celebration of World Teachers’ Day on October.

The Tiktok Challenge is specifically for teachers of Caloocan City District 1 while they are still preparing other contest for Districts 2 and 3.

Submission of Tiktok entry started on August 25 and ends on September 10 and the winners will be announce during the celebration of World Teachers’ Day on October.

Prizes at stake are P30,000 for grand winner; P20,000 for 1st runner up and P10,000 for 2nd runner plus surprise prizes for other contestants.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

THROUGH the “Pantawid Pasada” program, the Malabon city government assured its tricycle and pedicab drivers means of living in the recent two-week Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

The program, led by Malabon City Councilor Jose Lorenzo Oreta prior-

itized Malabonians who lost income during the said period.

Around 1000 tricycle and pedicab drivers benefitted from the program where they received P2500 each.

They were also acknowledged for providing transport service and mobility to the community which was mainly used in delivering relief goods, bringing ayuda

and providing transportation for vaccinees dubbed as “Biyaheng Bakuna.”

“Amid the pandemic, the Bayanihang Malabonian is very much alive through these kinds of program. Apart from avoiding viral transmission, we are also able to give our tricycle and oedicab drivers a chance to earn decently and have a source of livelihood to support their families,” he said.

Lacson wants to reinvent bureaucracy

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Philippines needs to reinvent the bureaucracy to combat some of the biggest scourges facing the nation - namely the pandemic and corruption, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said.

He said the current bureaucracy must be reshaped to one that empowers the citizens and commits to doing more with less.

“As one nation, we must reinvent our bureaucracy – one that innovates and empowers its citizens, and commits to doing more with less. Make no mistake: our government is not just any family business, it is our nation’s business,” he said.

“The first agenda is addressing the pandemic. We cannot see it ending soon. The second is addressing corruption, which has been on the top of my list ever since I started my public service - when you address corruption, you are halfway to solving the nation’s problems,” he added.

Lacson reiterated the need to adopt the practices of successful business corporations such as the zero-based budget planning, instead of imposing the traditional and impractical practice of handing down a budget ceiling on the different departments to work on.

The current system “consistently results in so much unutilized appropriations in the country’s national budget brought about by poor, inefficient and even lack of planning,” he noted.

Lacson also said the bureaucracy must do away with overregulation, which presents temptations “to make money through intimidation and suppression.”

“I believe it is time we should depart from the ‘more of the same’ mentality. It is time for the government to treat the business sector as partners instead of competitors,” he stressed.

Robredo wants DU30 to show own SALN

By Rio N. Araja VICE President Leni Robredo on Sunday criticized President Rodrigo Duterte, asking him to show his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Work and come out clean if he was really serious to fight corruption.

“The mandate of the Vice President is succession only. But for me, Ka Ely, there is a lot of other ways to show that you are anticorruption. The SALN is a way to show you are open, every information (about you) is open. For me, that is a way to show there is no corruption,” she told her cohost Ely Saludar in her weekly radio program.

Robredo, a lawyer like Duterte, reacted to Duterte’s statement that he would audit all government agencies once he was elected as vice president in 2022.

“That is not in our mandate,” Robredo said.

The President has declined to show his SALNs since 2018.

The Office of the Ombudsman only allowed to show the President’s SALN in 2017 with a net worth of P28.5 million.

The Vice President came to the defense of the Commission on Audit after Duterte slammed the state auditors over an audit report on the Department of Health’s non-compliance with the laws and regulations in the management of P67.323 billion in COVID-19 response funds.

Castelo bats for fines removal

By Rio N. Araja

BEACH WALK. Unidentified family members take a leisure weekend stroll on the beach in Cavite for a whiff of fresh air wafted from the sea – despite warnings from the Task Force and local government officials not to take out children and those not authorized to leave their residences. JR Josue

DISTRICT 2 Councilor Winston Castelo of Quezon City is batting for the removal of fines and a jail term in an approved ordinance penalizing anyone caught not wearing a face shield in the former country’s capital.

He said he, along with two other councilors, filed a proposed measure to scrap the penalties under Ordinance 2965 of 2020.

“We do not oppose the wearing of a face shield, but there should be no P300 to P1,000 fines and/or imprisonment for not wearing it because people are already suffering from the

pandemic,” he said.

“It’s not a crime to be poor and the imposition of these forms of punishment is anti-poor,” he stressed.

Ordinance 2965 imposes a P300 fine for a first-time offender, a P500 fine for a second-time offender, and a P1,000 fine or imprisonment of up to one month, or both at the discretion of the court, for a third-time offender.

“If we continue to insist on the wearing-of-a-face-shield requirement, the government should provide the face shields for free, otherwise, we should remove the penalties. Community work as punishment would suffice,” Castelo said.

Opinion 22 million strong

Will young Filipino voters settle for how things are, or will they choose to steer this nation’s present toward a better future?

There is one more thing that each of the 22 million must remember—that their individual political choices will affect the lives of 110 million Filipinos.

Simply put, in deciding to participate or not, our young voters must stop thinking about what is in it for them. Rather, they should think about what is in it for the Filipino nation as a whole.

True, the young generation has a myriad of concerns that one could say is unique to their time—such as education, nutrition, and recreation. But it is important for them to realize, these concerns alone do not completely define our present situation – the state of our economy, public order and safety, the environment and delivery of social services.

Finally, the youth must understand that voting comes with its own obvious benefits – or sad consequences. In failing to choose a good leader, or choosing not to vote at all, allows the bad, the ineffective and the corrupt to be elected to office.

In the end, if we are not part of the solution, then we become part of the problem.

Generations of Filipinos have known exactly what to do, what they wanted and what they deserved. In the past, many fought hard and gave up their lives to earn the freedom and democracy that we enjoy today. But too often than not, we easily forgot, or decided to take lightly what has been paid by the blood of lost heroes – and blindly fell prey to the abuses of those in power, and those with privilege.

As a result, we keep on missing a good opportunity—and resigning our fate to people, who have no deep grasp or appreciation of the quandaries, predicaments, and plight of the ordinary Filipino.

We cannot keep on beating our chests and flagellating our backs by electing the same old politicians—and expect a time of redemption to come.

Twenty-two million Filipinos have the power to change the future for the better.

If they choose to make it happen.

To know more information about our #AmbagKo campaign or support our voter education initiatives, please visit our website https://ambagko.ph.

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

T

Heroes and humans

ODAY is National Heroes Day -- a day when we commemorate the heroes who made possible the things we enjoy and take for granted today, and gave up their lives for something bigger than themselves.

In the context of a nation struggling to contain a raging, lingering pandemic, we have always thought of our medical frontliners as modern-day heroes.

Since early last year, we have uttered plenty of praises and given tributes to health workers who risk their lives every time they come to work to attend to their patients. The virus has also claimed the lives of many doctors, nurses and other hospital workers.

Alas, it appears that the only service that the government has been paying to our health workers is lip service.

At the barest minimum, they should be compensated fairly and in a timely fashion. For all that they do for the nation in these perilous times, their safety and well-being should take top priority. They should not have to stage protests to assert their rights.

That they would be compensated

May we do right by every genuine hero and unmask those masquerading as one. well should be a given.

What we see now, a year and a half into the crisis, are worn and weary health workers, most of them unable to get their due for the work that they do and the invaluable commitment they show despite the odds. If this is not sacrifice, we don’t know what is.

Certainly, it is not the kind that opportunists utter with facility, or the kind that is used to disguise a sense of entitlement or selfish designs. Heroes know that they are part of the solution and not the solution to any one problem.

THE approach is filled with danger. The conditions on the ground are chaotic, but precise organization and timing are needed.

And the passengers are exhausted and tense.

For pilots in charge of the planes evacuating foreign nationals and Afghans from Taliban-controlled Kabul, the flights in and out of the Afghanistan capital have been a journey like no other.

Pilots must deal with the already complex location of the airport at high altitude and surrounded by mountains, with intense air traffic like that of a major travel hub with military planes and evacuation flights, relying on their on board Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) to avert crashes.

As Western nations prepare to wind down one of the most complex evacuations of civilians since World War II, several pilots shared with AFP their experiences of landing and then taking off from Kabul airport as chaos gripped the country.

US forces, who have 5,800 personnel deployed at the airport, “are carrying out all air traffic control, ground control, tower control and approach control,” according to Commander Stephen, the captain of a French

A400M military transport plane.

“With a plane like this, we are helped very much by our systems, but we end up landing by sight,” he told AFP at French base 104 of Al-Dhafra in the United Arab Emirates, the transit point used by France, on condition that his surname was not published.

“The fact that the system helps us a lot allows us to focus on the outside and monitor the threat,” he added.

To ward off possible missile fire, the A400M can drop infrared decoys that emit intense heat to deceive the projectile. On approaching the runway, the plane veers sharply towards the ground in order to “avoid the threat during our approach”, he said.

The incoming and outgoing air traffic is “regulated like sheet music,” said Stephen.

“There is so much traffic from all the nations that if it was not organised it would not be possible,” he said.

The pilots must “absolutely” respect their slots with only “half an hour between landing and takeoff.” There are a mass of planes on the ground, but it is “well-organized,” he said.

‘We are going to take off’ The fall of Kabul to the Taliban on August 15, at a speed that was not anticipated by the international community, prompted thousands to head to the city’s airport, the only way to fly out of the country.

When he landed a passenger airliner that morning, everything seemed normal,

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Heroes would know when their time is up, when they have botched the job even with their best efforts. They would have the grace and humility to step aside and let a more competent successor take over.

A “sacrifice” like stepping down from office, as demanded of the current health secretary with the legendary staying power and theatrical skills, is a euphemism. If he does step down— and why won’t the President sack him if he won’t step down?—it would not be a sacrifice. It would be the right, if overdue, thing to do.

Heroes are not ethereal creatures.

They are human. They live among us, suffer alongside us, and have material needs that have to be met. They get exhausted, angry, and frustrated.

But they carry on and fight another day. Heroes simply know that they have a job to do; they do not entertain notions of eternal greatness, power, or invincibility.

May we do right by our real heroes and unmask those masquerading as one.

Build back education TODAY is National Heroes Day, a holiday to honor the bravery and sacrifice of all our heroes who have fought for our nation’s freedom. In the current pandemic context, heroism has evolved from the model of revolutionary freedom fighters who honorably fought to the death to a spectrum of frontliners who are now fighting an unprecedented existential threat because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Seventeen months since the first ECQ, we’ve seen how this crisis has shocked all industries and all sectors of our society. Among the hardest hit is the private education sector which now suffers from very low enrollment, forcing many schools to shut down operations and displacing not just school employees but the whole ecosystem of small businesses that rely on school operations.

As of this writing the latest data of the Department of Education as of August 27, 2021 counts only a total of 313,958 enrollees in private schools even as some have already started classes. Compare this with last year’s two million enrollees which was already a 50-percent drop from a pre-pandemic level of 4.4 million students. DepEd data also show that the low enrollment and the lack of capacity to conduct distance learning will cause the closure of at least 865 small private schools all over the country.

COVID-19 has created a global education crisis. According to a recent article published in the Global Education Monitoring Report of UNESCO entitled Mission: Recovering Education: “The COVID-19 pandemic has been the worst shock to education systems in a century, with the longest school closures combined with the worst recessions in decades. More than 1.6 billion children have lost instructional time for many months at a time, if not for much of the last year, and many children are still not back in school.

School closures and the resulting disruptions to school participation and learning are projected to amount to losses valued at $10

trillion in terms of affected children’s future earnings.”

Assistant Director-General for Education of UNESCO Stefania Giannini earlier this year said, “At least 24 million children and youth are expected not to return to school because of the economic impact of the crisis alone. Without making education a pillar of recovery plans alongside health, jobs and climate, societies will fuel rather than reverse rising inequality, poverty and social divides.”

The government and the private sector must join forces.

Giannini points out:“The most vulnerable have been hardest hit. The pandemic widened inequalities, amplifying a preexisting learning crisis.”

“The first imperative is to reopen schools safely and inclusively, taking every measure to protect the health and well-being of learners, teachers and educators. For this, the world’s 100 million teachers and educators must be considered a priority group in vaccination campaigns. They are frontline workers and the most important actors in the educational recovery,” Giannini said.

Here in the Philippines, the situation is made worse by a policy crisis that is causing even more burden to our private schools who are already in dire straits. This is the controversial revenue regulation (BIR RR 5-2020) that if implemented would have jacked up income taxes of private schools by 150 percent. Instead of focusing resources and energies to getting schools safe and ready for the academic year, the sector had

Kabul evacuations: Flights like no other

By Mathieu Rabechault with Valérie Leroux in Al-Dhafra and Zain Zaman Janjua in Islamabad

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EDITORIAL

JCI Philippines has recently launched the #AmbagKo campaign which underscores the power and key role that every Filipino youth plays in bringing about change to the country. With the upcoming 2022 national elections, the Philippines is at a crossroads and the power to effect positive change is in hands of Filipino voters. The campaign aims to educate and empower eligible voters with the knowledge that voting is a valuable “ambag” or contribution to nationbuilding and securing a better future for the Philippines.

It is important for our young generation to realize that voting is as much a responsibility as it is a right.

While voting in the elections is our right, choosing the right kind of leaders is our responsibility. While we are entitled by right to a ballot, it is our duty to know more about the candidates and know who can deliver the best service to the people— without being persuaded or dissuaded by fame, fear, or favor.

NOW, more than ever, the country’s youth is set to play a crucial role in the upcoming polls. The Philippines today has the largest generation of young people in its history, with more than 40 million Filipinos from ages 18 to 39 eligible to vote in the 2022 elections. In fact, in the 2019 elections, the youth voter turnout reached 22 million, or 35 percent of the total number of actual voters.

Putting these numbers into context, in the 2016 presidential elections, President Rodrigo Duterte won by 16 million votes, while Vice President Leni Robredo garnered 14 million votes. In the last 2019 midterm elections, the last three Senate seats were clinched by only 14 million votes.

These statistics prove that 22 million young Filipinos can effectively direct the course of this nation’s politics.

However, the more important question to ask is: “Will they?”

It has long been said that the youth is the future of the country. But this familiar adage is no longer true. By their numbers alone, it can be said that the young generation is already our nation’s present.

Thus, it is very important for the youth to realize how crucial their participation in politics and civic life is. They must learn to value their right to choose their political leaders, and to uphold their responsibility in helping build this nation. They must understand that for us to be a democracy in the truest sense of the word, a third of our population cannot be apathetic or left unheard.

Therefore, it is disconcerting to know that many of our young voters miss exercising their right to vote. Worse, although today’s youth are willing to voice out their thoughts more actively on many issues and concerns – many have disengaged themselves from politics.

Twenty-two million strong can change a nation, whether for better or for worse. In time, the 22 million will replace the leaders and workers in government, business and in the economy. Before they even realize it, they would be the ones running the schools, farms, and factories. The kind of leaders they choose will dictate the course of our national policies in agriculture and trade and ensure the delivery of basic services such as education, healthcare, and livelihood.

Will the 22 million young voters settle for how things are, or will they choose to steer this nation’s present toward a better future?

Will they consign their fate, and that of their future families to those who have the opportunity and propensity to exploit their power, until it is simply too late before they decide to have a say in the workings of government?

Many of our Filipinos complain about the state of things in our country, and many of these ills have long been rooted in our society. The simple truth is that during their days, their generation never had the voice nor the number to shape the course of their future.

Today’s generation of young Filipinos cannot claim the same. In 2016, 16 million votes made a president. In 2019, 14 million votes propelled three senators to office.

Think about what 22 million can do.

The 22 million strong young Filipinos have the power to make decisions that could change our country. If you believe our country deserves better—but you choose not to vote in the elections, or make your opinions heard, then you—not the government is at fault.

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021

The passengers were ready to get out of Afghanistan at any cost, said one pilot. said Maqsoud Barajni, a pilot of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

Waiting on the tarmac to begin the return flight, “I started noticing that there was panic outside, and the situation was not normal. More people were rushing inside the airport and gunshots were also heard.”

Barjani started to push back ahead of take-off, but was then told by control that passenger flights had been suspended and he did not have authorization to take off.

He then made the biggest call of his flying career.

“I had a conversation with my second officer that we are going to take off even if they don’t authorize it. It was not a normal situation.”

“After observing the situation for an hour, I finally took off. The visibility was good which enabled me to avoid the military traffic. There were some Chinooks, Gunship helicopter and some other cargoes.”

“Had we delayed for a few more minutes

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

we wouldn’t have made it. It was the last commercial flight of that day.”

His PIA colleague Uzair Khan had taken off from Kabul airport a little while before on the same day. He remembered having to himself impose calm on the plane with passengers in a state of panic.

“Most of the passengers were either in the cabinet of president (Ashraf) Ghani or somehow part of the government. They were fleeing the country with their families and were pushing us to take off as soon as possible.”

“There was no communication and I was on my own when it came to the technical clearance. I was told to manage the situation by myself.”

The passengers were “ready to fly and get out of Afghanistan at any cost” and experienced a wave of relief when the plane finally arrived in Islamabad, he said.

‘Do our job’ The chaos only increased in the subsequent days. Photos of the hold of a British C-17 released by the Royal Air Force show people sitting crosslegged on the floor in rows of seven or eight, a single strap crossing the cabin to hang on.

For the French colonel Yannick Desbois, commander of base 104, “you have to stay rational, analyze the performance of the aircraft and only accept the maximum number you can take, so as not to go too far.”

A French A400M normally has 110 seats, “but here we are loading up to 235. People

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Who will take the driver’s seat? are seated on the ground—but in safe conditions,” he said.

The American C-17s are designed to carry up to 400 passengers seated on the ground, but one of them in the early hours of the airlift took on 829.

Desbois said “it is above all a question of weight” and while the passenger numbers are high, they include many children.

After take-off, the job is easier. “People are tired. The pressure relents. In general, they sleep and we do our job,” said Commander Stephen. AFP

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to mount a strong protest against this illconceived tax measure that legislators and civil society have pointed out as illegal and downright heartless.

In a laudable demonstration of responsiveness, the House of Representatives has quickly passed on Third Reading with 203 votes and no objections House Bill 9913 to define with finality the tax rates for proprietary schools consistent with the 10-percent preferential tax rate mandated in the constitution.

In a recent published statement, Chairman of the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations and President of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Anthony Jose M. Tamayo Ph.D. said, “This legislative policy intervention, once enacted into law, will provide the needed stability to education not only in this time of pandemic but also for generations to come, as it aligns with all existing and future initiatives to revive our battered economy.”

The ball is now in the court of the Senate that has likewise acted on its version (Senate Bill 2272) even during the Congressional break and is anticipated to likewise see fast approval with the majority of its members already supporting the bill.

Private educational institutions are indispensable in our education system. Public and private schools must be strengthened to perform their complementary roles in delivering quality education that will build a morally strong, prosperous, and resilient society with the competitiveness to excel in the emerging digital economy. Like the economy, our education system needs both policy and investment stimuli to recover.

The government and the private sector must join forces to empower our teachers and schools to build back from this crisis.

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

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor

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

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160,000 protest across France vs. COVID health pass system

FRENCH TREAT. A handout picture released by Iraq’s Prime Minister’s Media Office on August 29 shows Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi and French President Emmanuel Macron visiting the shrine of Imam Musa Al-Kadhim in the northern district of Kadhimiya of Iraq’s capital Baghdad. AFP

Evacuations, fear as ‘Ida’ nears US Gulf NEW ORLEANS—Owners were boarding up their shops and evacuations were underway Saturday as Hurricane Ida was on a path to hit New Orleans 16 years to the day the southern US city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

A handful of people were still on New Orleans streets, but many businesses had closed up ahead of what the National Weather Service called an “an extremely dangerous major hurricane.”

“Everybody is scared because it’s the anniversary of Katrina and people didn’t take it seriously at the time,” said Austin Suriano, who was helping board up the windows of his father’s watch repair shop.

Sunday, when Ida is due to make landfall, marks 16 years since Katrina, the devastating hurricane that flooded 80 percent of New Orleans, left 1,800 people dead and caused billions of dollars in damage.

President Joe Biden warned Saturday that “Ida is turning into a very, very dangerous storm” as it built to a Category 2 hurricane, packing 100 mile (160 kilometer) per hour sustained winds and heavy rain.

Earlier in the day, people evacuating from New Orleans and other cities clogged roads heading north as officials warned locals to leave immediately or hunker down to ride out the storm. AFP

K

ABUL—Suicide bomb threats hung over the final phase of the US military’s airlift operation from Kabul Sunday, with President Joe Biden warning another attack was highly likely before the evacuations end.

More than 112,000 people have fled Afghanistan via the massive US-led airlift since the Taliban movement swept back into power a fortnight ago, and the operation is winding down despite Western powers saying thousands may be left behind.

What had already been a chaotic and desperate evacuation turned bloody on Thursday when a suicide bomber from the local chapter of the Islamic

State group targeted US troops stopping huge crowds of people from entering the airport.

More than 100 people died in the attack, including 13 US service personnel, slowing down the airlifts ahead of Biden’s deadline for evacuations to end by Tuesday.

The Pentagon said Saturday retaliation drone strikes had killed two “high-level” IS jihadists in eastern Afghanistan, but Biden warned of more attacks from the group.

“The situation on the ground continues to be extremely dangerous, and the threat of terrorist attacks on the airport remains high,” Biden said.

“Our commanders informed me that an attack is highly likely in the next 24-36 hours.”

The US embassy in Kabul later released an alert warning of credible threats at specific areas of the airport, including access gates.

In recent years, the Islamic State’s Afghanistan-

rtc1qzn217@judiciary.gov.ph

EVELYN G. BON, Petitioner, -versus-

CIVIL CASE NO. R-QZN-19-18520-CV

TOSHINAO MIYAZAKI, PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY and CITY CIVIL REGISTRY OF QUEZON CITY, Respondents. x-----------------------------------------------------x

SECOND AMENDED ORDER This is a verified petition filed by Evelyn G. Bon praying for the judicial recognition of foreign judgment of divorce obtained in Japan and cancellation of the report of marriage from the records of Philippine Statistics Authority and City Civil Registry of Quezon City.

Petitioner alleges that she got married to Toshinao Miyazaki on December 17, 1999 in Koshigaya-shi, Saitama, Japan; that petitioner and Miyazaki met in Japan where they became friends and eventually sweethearts; that petitioner and Miyazaki were not blessed with an offspring during their marriage; that after more than two years of marriage, Miyazaki lost his job and he forcefully asked petitioner to leave his house which petitioner did; that Miyazaki was able to obtain a divorce decree in the City Government of Koshigaya City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan on August 29, 2002; that petitioner is now seeking that the foreign divorce decree obtained by Toshinao Miyazaki in Japan be judicially recognized.

Finding the petition to be sufficient in form ad substance, notice is hereby given that said petition is hereby set for hearing on October 6, 2021 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning before this Court located at Room 604, Sixth Floor, Hall of Justice – Annex, Diliman, Quezon City at which place and on which date and time, any person who has objections to the petition may appear and file his opposition thereto.

Let a copy of this Second Amended Order be published at the expense of the petitioner, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks a newspaper of general circulation throughout the Philippines. Likewise, let a copy of the petition with its annexes and this Second Amended Order be furnished to the Office of the Solicitor General, Office of the City Prosecutor of Quezon City, Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City, Philippine Statistics Authority, Quezon City and be posted in the Bulletin Board of the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Quezon City.

SO ORDERED. Quezon City, Philippines, June 3, 2021.

(Sgd.) DOLLY ROSE R.BOLANTE-PRADO Acting Presiding Judge Cc: Atty. Donnarence M. Masilungan-Jalmasco Counsel for the Petitioner The Cabanas Mall, Northwing 3 Space C, McArthur Highway, Longos, Malolos, Bulacan attydmmasilungan@gmail.com Office of the Solicitor General Makati City Office of the City Prosecutor Quezon City Office of the Local Civil Registrar Quezon City Philippine Statistics Authority Quezon City Toshinao Miyazaki 1-65-42- Iwana, Noda City Chiba Prefecture, Japan

(MStandard-Aug. 16, 23 & 30, 2021)

Pakistan chapter has been responsible for some of the deadliest attacks in those countries.

They have massacred civilians at mosques, public squares, schools, and even hospitals.

While both IS and the Taliban are hardline Sunni Islamists, they are bitter foes -- with each claiming to be the true flag-bearers of jihad.

The IS attack has forced the US military and the Taliban into a form of cooperation to ensure security at the airport that was unthinkable a fortnight ago.

On Saturday Taliban fighters escorted a steady stream of Afghans from buses to the main passenger terminal, handing them over to US troops for evacuation.

The troops were seen throughout the civilian side of the airport grounds and annexe buildings, while US Marines peered at them from the passenger terminal roof. AFP

ESCAPING ‘IDA’. People

stand in line to get through the TSA security checkpoint at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on August 28 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Residents were evacuating the area as Hurricane Ida worked its way toward the Louisiana coastline with an expected landfall on Sunday afternoon. AFP

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN DECREE OF DIVORCE UNDER RULE 108

the new school year.

“We aren’t laboratory rats,” said one 11-year-old boy who was marching with his father.

“We live in a free country, there are no figures that justify mass vaccinations,” his father said, likening the increased pressure to vaccinate to rape.

Under the Covid pass system, introduced progressively since mid-July, anyone wishing to enter a restaurant, theatre, cinema, long-distance train, or large shopping centre must show proof of vaccination or a negative test.

The government insists the pass is necessary to encourage vaccination uptake and avoid a fourth national lockdown, with the unvaccinated accounting for most of the Covid-19 patients admitted to hospital.

Saturday’s overall figure was slightly down on the 175,000 protesters who turned out the previous weekend. AFP

More attacks at Kabul airport seen

NOTICE is hereby given that the estate of the late SANTIAGO MICHAEL VALERO ROTEA consisting of Two (2) Condominium Units 105 & 106 situated in Quezon City covered by CCT No. 004-2018094437 and CCT No. 004-2018094438 and real properties with improvements covered

by TCT No. 004-2016011015 located in Quezon City, TCT No. 0102018000101 located in Paranaque City, TCT No. 163-2019001607 located in Antipolo City and TCT No. M-154108 located in Tanay, Rizal has been extra-judicially settled among the heirs before the Notary Public JOSHUA LAPUZ as per Doc. No. 418; Page No. 85; Book No. 228; Series of 2021.

(MStandard-Aug. 30, Sep. 6 & 13, 2021)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 217- QUEZON CITY

PARIS—A total of 160,000 people protested across France on Saturday, the interior ministry said, angered at the country’s Covid health pass system which they say unfairly restricts the unvaccinated.

By early evening the authorities had logged 222 separate protest actions, including 14,500 people who turned out in Paris.

Sixteen people were arrested and three police officers slightly injured in what was the seventh consecutive weekend of Covid protests.

“The vaccine isn’t the solution,” said retiree Helene Vierondeels, who attended a right-wing protest in Paris.

“We should rather be stopping the closures of hospital beds and continuing the barrier measures,” she added.

In Bordeaux, several protesters said they were refusing to get their children vaccinated, just days before the start of

Thousands protest curbs on minority voting rights in US WASHINGTON—Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Washington, Houston, Atlanta and other US cities to protest against laws in several Republican-led states that critics say will make it harder for minorities to vote.

The date selected for the rallies was not picked at random: It was on August 28, 1963 that a quarter-million people descended on Washington for a massive civil rights rally highlighted by the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I have a dream” speech.

Addressing a much smaller crowd on Saturday, his son Martin Luther King III spoke of the need to safeguard

American democracy and to guarantee voting rights for everyone.

“You are the dream, and this is our moment to make it true,” he said.

Since January, at least 18 states have adopted a total of 30 restrictive election laws, with dozens of others under consideration, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonprofit public policy institute.

Those laws range from a requirement to have a fixed address in order to register to vote to a ban on the drive-through voting that was popular in some states last year amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Carrying signs that read “Voting rights for all” and “Your vote matters,” the protesters marched in Washington’s humid heat from the White House to the Capitol, the seat of the US Congress. About 20,000 people were in attendance, according to organizers.

“I just feel like we just kind of went backwards,” said Rikkea Harris, 25, an African American university student who had traveled from Colorado.

Her father, Rickey Harris, 65, said that protesting was key to “trying to knock down all these voting suppression laws that they’re putting in across the country.” AFP

Israel strikes Gaza after fire balloons, clashes

JERUSALEM—The Israeli air force attacked two sites in Gaza early Sunday morning, the army said, after Gazans clashed with forces on the border and launched incendiary balloons at southern Israel.

“IDF fighter jets struck a Hamas military compound used for manufacturing weapons and training as well as an entrance to a terror tunnel adjacent to Jabalia,” a statement from the Israeli army said.

“The strikes were in response to Hamas launching incendiary balloons into Israeli territory and the violent riots that took place yesterday,” it added.

According to the army, both incidents were “examples of how Hamas continues to employ terror tactics and target civilians.”

There were no reports from Gaza of casualties caused by the Israeli strikes.

On Saturday evening, two wildfires broke out in the Eshkol region near the Palestinian enclave, Israeli firefighters said.

Protests erupted later in the day, with the Israeli army firing tear gas and stun grenades as Palestinians burned tyres on the border between Gaza and Israel, an AFP reporter said.

The health ministry in Gaza said 11 Palestinians had been hurt in the clashes, three of them by live fire. AFP

Pistol that killed Billy the Kid fetches $6m at auction, world record for gun LOS ANGELES—The pistol used to kill the notorious outlaw Billy the Kid in the days of the American Wild West has been auctioned for $6.03 million, a world record for a firearm.

The Colt single-action revolver owned by sheriff Pat Garrett had been estimated at $2-3 million and saw “lively bidding” on the phone, online and in the room in Friday’s sale, the auction house Bonhams said.

“It stands as a relic of one of the most important and well-known stories of the Wild West,” Bonhams said.

It said the gun was in “very good” condition with “well-worn grips.”

Garrett used the .44-caliber gun to shoot Billy the Kid -- who was born Henry McCarty but also went by William Bonney -- in the chest on July 14, 1881 in New Mexico. The gunfighter died at the age of 21.

The previous record for a firearm was $1.98 million, set by Christie’s in 2002 for a pair of flintlock saddle pistols carried by George Washington during the Revolutionary War, Bonhams said. They were gifts from his friend and ally the Marquis de Lafayette.

The sale Friday was the highlight of an auction of Old West firearms, manuscripts, photos and other memorabilia amassed by Texas-based collectors and college professors Jim and Theresa Earle.

Also sold was a Whitney double-barrel hammer shotgun that Billy the Kid took from a sheriff’s deputy and used to kill him as he escaped from jail in April 1881. AFP

MONKS’ JABS. Buddhist monks register to receive the Sinovac Covid-19

coronavirus vaccine at a health centre in Phnom Penh on August 29, as Cambodia began vaccinating adolescents between the ages of 12 to 17. AFP

Business PSEi August 27, 2021

TOP GAINERS LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2

PTC LMG

110 4.6

30 0.48

37.50% 11.65%

3 4

PRMX I

2.18 1.35

0.22 0.12

11.22% 9.76%

5 6

LR MWP2A

1.6 107.3

0.12 7.5

8.11% 7.52%

7 8 9

LRW DIZ OM

0.5 6.38 0.4

0.03 0.37 0.02

6.38% 6.16% 5.26%

10

IPO

7.47

0.37

5.21%

TOP LOSERS LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2

MA APL

0.01 0.114

-0.001 -0.011

-9.09% -8.80%

3 4

CEU NRCP

6.98 0.66

-0.48 -0.04

-6.43% -5.71%

5 6

IMP V

1.41 0.9

-0.08 -0.05

-5.37% -5.26%

7 8 9

TECHW ATN KPPI

1.66 0.57 4.18

-0.09 -0.03 -0.22

-5.14% -5.00% -5.00%

10

PSE

205

-10

-4.65%

B3

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market traders wary over rising COVID-19 cases

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

HARE prices are expected to continue their sideways movement this week amid surging COVID-19 cases in the Philippines.

Analysts said the rising COVID-19 cases will be one the main concerns of investors as it can trigger stricter quarantine measures once again.

The government on Saturday registered a record high of 19, 441 COVID-19 cases and the highest positivity rate of 27.5 percent.

The government announced Metro Manila will remain under modified enhanced community quarantine until September 7 but investors are worried

over the authorities’ next move if cases continue to increase.

“While there is low likelihood of reverting to stricter ECQ status, that are all encompassing, targeted lockdowns at the barangay level may continue to hurt sentiment for recovery (and lead to) wider downside risk in the medium term,” online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia.com said.

“The wildcard will be improvement in vaccine rollout which are improving outside of Metro Manila, which have to move in almost parabolic to counter arguments of a return to ECQ by the fourth quarter of 2021,” it added.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 2.3 percent to 6,786.62, while the broader All Shares Index climbed 2 percent to 4,204.11.

Four of the six sectoral indices posted week-on-week gains, with service gaining 7.4 percent, holdings firms by 2.29 percent, industrial by 2.06 percent and

financial by 0.56 percent.

The property index declined by 0.8 percent while the mining and oil index slipped 0.3 percent.

Foreign investors were net buyers for the week by P2.03 billion, while average daily value traded was slightly higher at P6.8 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were Globe Telecom Inc., surging 32 percent to P2,848, while PLDT Inc. jumped 17.4 percent to P1,467.

Weekly top losers were EEI Corp., which dropped 5.6 percent to P8.12, Alliance Global Group Inc., which dipped 3.6 percent to P10.22, and Ayala Land Inc., which fell 3.5 percent to P33.50.

Global stock markets, meanwhile, jumped Friday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell took a cautious stance on a potential withdrawal of the central bank’s huge economic stimulus measures later this year. With AFP

MOST ACTIVE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

GLO TEL AC DITO GTCAP CNVRG SMPH JGS ACEN ALI

VOLUME 388615 632930 825340 26269100 410780 7020700 5043700 2515620 16521200 4368000

VALUE (PHP) 1103409720 916543460 649476615 229733998 226490040 218792370 171833705 163797441 151551883 147454705

NO TO BITCOIN. Salvadoran veterans of the army and the guerrilla, march to protest against the economic measures adopted by the government, in San Salvador, on August 27, 2021. The march participants protested against the implementation of Bitcoin in El Salvador and demanded the repeal of the law that will give legal effect to cryptocurrency in the country from September. AFP

Do small companies need an Employee Management System? priority. A company would have THE Pasig City government to spend hundreds of thousands will implement an Employment in implementing EMS in their Management System (EMS) in ARJOHN C. business. The additional cost its human resource department.

LASCANO could be burdensome for small Mayor Vico Sotto (who should be companies, particularly during our next president) spearheaded reen iGht this pandemic. Despite all the this project to automate clerical human resource transactions and ensure that the benefits that an EMS can bring, investing in EMS HR of Pasig can focus on the development of its software is a costly endeavor, especially for a small employees. The Pasig City Government has almost company.

Moreover, commitment is also an issue for small ten thousand employees, and an EMS would greatly help organize its HRM. However, what if your companies when it comes to investing in EMS company is considered a small company? Is it software. Implementing EMS is not just a shortpractical to invest in an HR system if you have less term solution wherein a company can easily back than 100 employees? How about if you have less out. You will have to migrate your files, invest in than 50 employees? Before I answer these questions, IT infrastructure and train employees using the EMS software. Applying EMS is a long-term commitment, let me first assess what an EMS can do. and companies who would want to use EMS should Benefits of EMS An Employee Management System is a software expect to use it for an extended period.

Is EMS beneficial for small companies? tool that helps manage the human resource functions Using cost-benefit analysis, you have to measure of a company. An EMS performs functions such as automating payroll, performance management and the benefit of your decision and deduct the cost monitoring employees’ work. As a result, having involved in that decision. In other words, you know an employment management system can improve you will make the right choice if the benefits would workforce management, enhance productivity outweigh the cost. For example, having an EMS in the workplace, better monitor employees and has many advantages that a company can utilize. automates HR transactions. In addition, having an However, investing in an EMS would entail an EMS solution eliminates the burden of manual HR additional fee for a company. This huge investment procedures, and companies can focus more on HR’s is the reason that careful planning is needed before critical functions, which is to manage and develop making a decision. In addition, a company should take into account the readiness of the firm. Hence, a their workforce.

I see these benefits of having an EMS, especially to company must consider the financial and operational small companies. The majority of small companies capabilities of a firm before acquiring EMS software.

So, do small companies need an EMS? The have a limited number of employees who perform multiple jobs. In most cases, small businesses have answer is it depends. Having an EMS for a small no dedicated HR employees and assign numerous company relies on a company’s readiness. Yes, it has responsibilities to the HR staff. They would juggle many benefits that a company can utilize. However, accomplishing payroll processes, attendance solving the HR problem of your company is not just monitoring, hiring, training and employee about implementing an EMS and automating your administration. Due to these multiple roles, there are transactions.

A company should carefully plan its strategy before times that accuracy would suffer.

Moreover, because of this practice of multi- implementing these improvements. Especially for tasking, strategic functions of HR such as recruitment small companies, an investment such as this is a strategies and performance management are not significant capital expense. Therefore, implementing appropriately accomplished. Therefore, by having an Employee Management System should precede an Employee Management System, a business thorough planning congruent to the goals of the can perform HR functions effectively. In addition, company.

Employee Management System would eliminate the The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. majority of the manual HR tasks, making it a helpful del Rosario College of Business, DLSU. He can be tool for small businesses. reached at arjohn_lascano@dlsu.edu.ph.

Hindrance to having an EMS The main reason why small companies are The views expressed above are the author’s and do hesitant to invest in EMS software is due to financial constraints. Due to the limited budget of not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, small firms, investing in EMS would be their lower its faculty and its administrators.

G

L

UAE resumes visa issuance to vaccinated holidaymakers DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—The United Arab Emirates announced it will resume issuing visas to all tourists fully vaccinated against COVID-19 from Monday, a month before Dubai hosts the delayed Expo 2020 trade fair.

The move comes amid a drop in coronavirus infections in the oil-rich Gulf country, after it reported less than 1,000 cases per day last week for the first time in months.

The UAE’s decision to reopen its doors to tourists from all countries was taken in order “to achieve sustainable recovery and economic growth,” the official WAM news agency reported on Saturday.

Those eligible would have to be fully inoculated with one of the COVID-19 vaccines approved by the World Health Organization, which include AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech, Sinopharm and Sinovac.

“The decision applies to citizens of all countries, including those arriving from previously banned countries,” WAM said.

“Passengers arriving on tourist visas must take a mandatory PCR test at the airport,” it added.

The UAE is made up of seven emirates including the capital Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

While life in the country has largely returned to normal amid the COVID pandemic, it continues to enforce strict rules on wearing masks and social distancing.

Dubai was last year counting on the six-month Dubai Expo 2020—delayed a year by the health crisis and now set to open in October—to attract millions of visitors and boost the economy.

Heavily reliant on tourism, the emirate was one of the first destinations to open its doors to travelers, accepting tourists in July last year, just a few months after the pandemic took hold.

Abu Dhabi, meanwhile, has been more cautious, opening up to some visitors only in December.

The UAE as so far recorded more than 715,000 cases of COVID-19 infection, including 2,036 deaths. AFP

Japanese giant Kikkoman wants soy sauce the ‘ketchup of India’

By Ammu Kannampilly MUMBAI, India—Every dish tastes better with a dash of soy sauce, even dessert: that’s the ambitious pitch of Japanese food giant Kikkoman, hoping to persuade Indians to use it in curries, sweets and everything in between.

Convincing 1.3 billion people to add a staple of East Asian cuisine to their butter chicken and samosas is no cakewalk but it will likely be easier than the brand’s 1960s push into the United States.

“When we entered the US, people thought we were selling bug juice because of its dark color,” Harry Hakuei Kosato, Kikkoman’s India representative, told AFP. Today the brand’s funnel-shaped dispenser is a ubiquitous presence in US households, accounting for half of the firm’s $4.4-billion revenues, and Kikkoman now hopes to replicate that success in India.

Sales were boosted by the West’s growing craze for Japanese cuisine since the 1980s, but the company is taking a different approach to India, which is home to a significant vegetarian population.

“It is not about getting everyone to eat sushi. We want our soy sauce to become the ketchup of India,” said Kosato.

He hopes that the move to market the sauce as an endlessly adaptable condiment will strike a chord in a country where culinary innovation is part of street food culture.

For instance, Mumbai’s grilled Bombay Sandwich—a hawker staple—is a buttered British-style toastie, but with a filling that includes boiled potato, onion,

tomato, beetroot, and coriander chutney, topped with a sprinkling of “sev,” a crunchy deep-fried Indian snack.

So it is perhaps unsurprising that some Indian chefs began using soy sauce in their dishes long before Kikkoman launched in the country earlier this year.

‘Chef’s secret’ Restaurateur Prashant Issar first deployed it in a biryani six years ago, while running Mirchi and Mime, a Mumbai restaurant showcasing modern Indian cuisine.

Since then he has added a dash of soy sauce to a range of local dishes, from samosas to lamb keema.

“When I tried it with keema pao, it was just like ‘oh my god’. It was an explosion of flavors,” Issar told AFP. “It has this indefinable umami flavor, this tart, sharp quality you can’t find anywhere else,” he explained, describing it as “a bit of a chef’s secret.”

Kikkoman is now trying to get the word out to ordinary Indians and counting on social media influencers like Shalini Kapoor to drum up an appetite for its product.

For Kapoor, a home chef who never liked the “synthetic” taste of locallyavailable soy sauces and couldn’t imagine using the condiment in Indian food, the results have been revelatory.

She has even used it to make jalebis—a deep-fried pretzel soaked in sugar syrup.

“I think it’s amazing in Indian desserts,” she told AFP. But it might take the rest of India more time to catch up to the idea, she acknowledged. AFP

In this picture taken on July 16, 2021 a chef prepares a samosa filling with mince meat with Kikkoman Soy Sauce at the Ishaara restaurant in Mumbai. AFP

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

B4

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Friday, August 27, 2021

-33.91 PTS. 6,786.62

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

1,617,505,017 85,522 6,864,662,140.80 84 100 64

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.9030

Japan

Yen

0.009088

0.4535

UK

Pound

1.370300

68.3821

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128406

6.4078

Switzerland

Franc

1.089799

54.3842

Canada

Dollar

0.788581

39.3526

Singapore

Dollar

0.738498

36.8533

Australia

Dollar

0.723400

36.0998

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652590

132.3722

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266638

13.3060

Brunei

Dollar

0.735781

36.7177

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.030563

1.5252

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.5872

Euro

Euro

1.175700

58.6710

Korea

Won

0.000854

0.0426

China

Yuan

0.154285

7.6993

India

Rupee

0.013486

0.6730

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.238493

11.9015

New Zealand

Dollar

0.695200

34.6926

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035827

1.7879 Source: BSP

8990 Holdings eyes double-digit growth in sales

By Jenniffer B. Austria MASS housing developer 8990 Holdings Inc. said over the weekend it expects to register double-digit sales growth this year as it remains aggressive with project launches amid the pandemic.

8990 Holdings acting president Alexander Ace Sotto said during the annual stockholders’ meeting the company launched two projects in the first six months and would unveil two new ones before the end of the year.

“By next year, we should see revenue growth normalizing to pre-pandemic growth levels,” Sotto said.

He said while there were default payments and cancellations in 2020 at the start of the pandemic, the situation significantly improved this year as home buyers realized the importance of maintaining their houses during the pandemic.

Sotto said most buyers are firsttime home owners and millennials who are gainfully employed.

8990 Holdings registered a net income of P3.46 billion in the first half, up 122 percent from the same period last year.

First-half revenues also rose 104 percent to P10.1 billion from P4.91 billion a year ago.

The P10.01-billion first-half revenues were P500 million shy of its P10.5-billion sales revenue in the pre-pandemic January-September period in 2019.

Sotto said the company remained cautious as conditions were unpredictable because of the pandemic.

“By 2022, when all the vaccinations have already been done and, in fact, I’m very proud to say that our vaccinations in the company would probably be finished by September or early October, then we can finally see some semblance of normality in our sales and revenues,” 8990 Holdings deputy chief executive Anthony Vincent Sotto said.

The company earmarked P8 billion in capital expenditures this year primarily for project completion and land banking. The company has 670.91 hectares in its land bank with potential sales of P201 billion.

Most of these properties are in the Visayas even as the company looks for additional properties in Luzon.

MITSUBISHI Motors Philippines Corp. is banking on the locally-manufactured new Mirage G4 to boost sales this year as the industry slowly recovers from the crisis.

The subcompact sedan updated its style, features and amenities with cleaner lines and sportier curves. It retains the MIVEC 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine mated to the INVECS-III CVT, or a five-speed manual transmission.

Group asks DOTR to enforce PMVIC

LABAN Konsyumer Inc. asked the Department of Transportation to implement the long-delayed private mandatory inspection of motor vehicles to comply with the mandate of the Clean Air Act and ensure the safety of motorists.

“Laban Konsyumer Inc. supports the advocacy of AGHAM [Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya Para sa Mamamayan] for the transport agencies to implement now the PMVIC, which has been a much-delayed project for the past three to four administrations,” Laban Konsyumer president Victorio Dimagiba said.

“Millions in foreign aid as well as local appropriations has been spent and this is a project that complies with the specific mandate of the Clean Air Act,” he said.

Dimagiba said that as a compromise, PETCs may still operate in areas where there are no PMVICs, provided that they are competent and truly fulfill their role in checking out vehicle.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Waste-to-energy policy to be issued

LOW-PRICED PRODUCTS. The Trade and Agriculture departments, in cooperation with Puregold Price Club Inc., launch the Presyong Risonable Dapat Program-Frozen Meat Edition at Puregold QI Central, G. Araneta Ave., corner E. Rodriguez in Quezon City, where consumers can purchase low cost and high-quality frozen meat products. Leading the launching of the program at Puregold QI are (from left) Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service director Dennis Arpia, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Federico Laciste, Trade Undersecretary Ruth Castelo, Agriculture Secretary William Dar, DTI Consumer Policy and Advocacy Bureau director Marcus Valez II, Atkins chief executive Gabriel Ang and Puregold vice president Antonio delos Santos.

Oil market share of Petron, Shell and Chevron declines

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T

HE market share of the biggest three oil companies in the Philippines—Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and Chevron Philippines—eroded over the past two years to less than 40 percent in the first half from more than 50 percent in 2019.

Data from the Department of Energy showed the three oil majors’ market share for all petroleum products fell 16.1 percentage points to 38.96 percent in the first six months from 46.40 percent in the same period in 2020 and 50.11 percent in the first six months of 2019. Their combined share accounted for more than 77 percent in 2010.

Petron Corp. captured the biggest market share at 18.6 percent in the six-

month period this year, followed by Pilipinas Shell at 15.5 percent and Chevron, which markets the Caltex brand, with 4.86 percent.

Petron, the biggest player, reported a 7-percent decline in total sales in the first half from a year ago as the market continued to reel from the impact of the pandemic. Pilipinas Shell recorded a flat growth in the same period.

The share of small oil players contin-

flect the movement of prices in the world oil market, according to the weekly forecast of Unioil Petroleum Philippines.

The expected oil price hike on Tuesday ended three weeks of rollbacks. The oil price increase was triggered by anticipation of the increased production from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, which are set to meet Sept. 1.

The last oil price adjustment was made on Aug. 24 when the companies implemented a price cut in domestic oil products of P0.80 to P1 per liter for gasoline, P0.75 per liter for diesel and P0.90 per liter for kerosene.

The adjustments resulted in total increase of P12.45 per liter for gasoline, P9.35 per liter for diesel and P7.40 per liter for kerosene since the start of the year.

SOLAR-POWERED PLANT. Coca-Cola

Beverages Philippines Inc., the bottling arm of CocaCola in the country, teams up with TeaM Philippines Energy Corp., a subsidiary of TeaM Energy Corp., for a solar panel installation in Coca-Cola’s Davao del Sur plant. CCBPI president and chief executive Gareth McGeown says the collaboration with TeaM Energy allowed the company to reach another sustainability milestone.

More than 65 percent of Coca-Cola’s total energy consumption is being sourced from renewable and clean sources—including geothermal and solar.

DOF official pushes for more tax reforms to sustain fiscal gains

By Julito G. Rada

THE Philippines should continue to adopt tax reforms, including those pending in Congress, to sustain fiscal gains amid the lingering global health crisis, Finance Undersecretary and chief economist Gil Beltran said over the weekend.

“Due to fiscal reforms, the country was able to fund the unprecedented fiscal requirements imposed by the pandemic and, at the same time, protect its strong macroeconomic fundamentals,” Beltran said in an economic bulletin.

Beltran issued the statement following latest data showing fiscal reforms

MMPC incoming president Takao Kato said the new Mitsubishi Mirage, with excellent features for the price of a small sedan, is the best yet the company has to offer since the pandemic started in 2020.

“By introducing the new Mirage G4, Mitsubishi Motors will enhance its local production and commit to the Philippine market furthermore,” he said during the official launch of the new Mirage G4 over the weekend.

He confirmed that the company con-

THE Department of Energy came out with a draft circular prescribing the policies and programs to promote and enhance the development of waste-to-energy facilities.

“The DOE deems the necessity to issue a policy to further support as well as address issues and concerns in the development of WTE projects in the Philippines,” the draft circular, which is still under public consultations, said.

WTE refers to an energy system with a process of converting WTE feedstock with various technologies, usually the conversion of non-recyclable waste materials into usable heat, electricity or fuel through a variety of processes.

WTE will be classified as another kind of renewable energy source.

The DOE said it recognizes that WTE facility projects simultaneously achieve the twin socio-economic benefits of local government units’ solid waste management and provision of additional source of power supply. Alena Mae S. Flores

Globe launches GoLearn platform

GLOBE Telecom Inc. launched GoLearn―a unified, company-wide platform aimed at helping the country achieve 21st Century Learning.

GoLearn is a valuable platform for everyone who aspires to further enrich their education as it opens up doors for a brighter future.

It promotes continuous learning and further bridges the digital gaps in the education landscape in the country via access to connectivity solutions, learning platforms and solutions.

“It is our commitment in Globe to work with the whole education sector to bring forth everyone’s aspiration for better education, ensuring that learning never stops for all, wherever they are, regardless of their status,” said KD Dizon, Globe head of small, medium business group.

“This is the heart of GoLearn - Globe’s unified initiative to bring together products, programs, services, and solutions that will empower the whole learning ecosystem,” she said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Metrobank marks 59th year, commits to help in recovery

boosted the tax effort this year by 0.55 percentage point to 14.77 percent, moving close to the 2019 first semester level of 14.86 percent.

The tax effort peaked to 14.49 percent in 2019, the highest in 22 years.

Total revenue slightly dipped from 16.94 percent in the first semester last year to 16.35 percent this year.

Non-recurrent tax revenues last year were boosted by the governmentowned and controlled corporations’ dividends under the Bayanihan 1 Act to help combat the effects of the pandemic.

Tax effort rose by 0.55 percentage point to 14.74 percent from 14.19 per-

cent last year on higher collections from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs and other offices.

BIR tax effort rose from 11.15 percent to 11.32 percent, up by 0.17 percentage point. BOC tax effort rose from 2.95 percent to 3.31 percent, up by 0.36 percentage point.

Beltran said tax collections improved partly because of tax reforms which include legislative measures and digitalization of revenue collections’ operations.

Expenditure effort rose to 24.21 percent, the highest in history and 0.74 percentage point higher than the 23.47 percent in 2019.

Mitsubishi Motors PH banks on launching of new Mirage G4 to lift sales this year

By Othel V. Campos

IN BRIEF

tinued to struggle with lean sales, reflecting the predicament of the whole Philippine automotive industry.

The Mirage is one of the two models enrolled under the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy together with the Toyota Vios.

Kato said despite the slower sales, MMPC kept its workforce and would continue to create new job opportunities for automotive workers.

“We cannot disclose our current situation, unfortunately, during this pandem-

ic. This also has an effect on our performance. However, we are continuously committed to reviving our auto industry and contributing to the revitalization of the economy,” he said.

The company is optimistic that the new Mirage G4 would help the company turn around and make up for the slower sales of the other segments.

MMPC started to locally manufacture the Mirage in 2017 and committed to deliver at least 200,000 units until 2022, as part of the the CARS program.

METROPOLITAN Bank and Trust Co. is eager and willing to make meaningful contributions towards the economic recovery of the Philippines.

Metrobank president Fabian Dee said the bank is in a strong position for both longer drawn lockdowns or a sudden surge in economic activity as it celebrates its 59th anniversary, and is looking forward to helping build back the country’s economy.

Dee attributed the success to the bank’s “institutional wisdom,” gained from past experiences in dealing with crises.

“We’ve been through good times and bad times with our Metrobankers, investors, and our customers. And in those times, we learned a great many lessons.

We endured and we learned how we can move forward,” he said.

One of the key decisions that helped Metrobank meet the challenges of the pandemic was its decision to increase its loan loss provisions by P40.8 billion in 2020. They did this to cover the anticipated non-performing loans that usually come in the event of an economic slowdown. It proved to be an astute decision over time, translating into a 163-percent loan loss cover, despite the bank’s NPL ratio being one of the lowest in the industry at 2.4 percent.

Metrobank is in peak maturity at its relatively young institutional age of 59 years, possessing what is known in the industry as a “fortress balance sheet” with its capital adequacy ratio at 20.4 percent and liquidity coverage ratio at 262 percent as of June 30, 2021.

This further ensures that its clients and investors are well-secured, and the bank poised for more growth.

With a culture founded on malasakit, the bank takes seriously its role as a strong contributor to nation building.

The Metrobank Foundation Inc., the bank’s philanthropic arm, continues to help support its drive towards economic recovery. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than P346 million has been released towards various pandemic aid programs.

Sports

Olsim on par with best atomweight ONE warriors FOR Jenelyn Olsim, finding ways to beat Bi “Killer Bee” Nguyen on Friday evening was a big moment of truth for her.

The no.

5 ranked strawweight contender learned that she is on par with a lot of experienced fighters in the atomweight division.

And this is what gave Olsim a lot of confidence after she scored a unanimous decision triumph during their showdown at ONE: BATTLEGROUND III at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

“Veteran si Bi. Thankful ako at naka-match ko siya.

Kasi ka-match din niya ang mga high-level fighters sa atomweight division.

Pakiramdam ko, malapit ako sa level ng kanyang mga nakalaban,” said Olsim.

Olsim, now has a 3-1 win-loss record in the ONE Championship, including her first outing in the atomweight category.

And her victory with Nguyen gave her an idea on how far she could go.

Olsim believes that she can go up against the likes of more experienced atomweight fighters like Meng Bo, Ritu Phogat, Stamp Fairtex and Alyse Anderson.

“Na-compare ko ang fight ko sa fight niya sa ibang atomweight fighters, puwede na,” said Olsim after she made a review with her coach Mark Sangiao.

Olsim learned a lot about how she has prepared against the “Killer Bee” when the latter tried to force the match to the canvas in the third round.

The Filipina, who found ways to counter “Killer Bee’s aggressive moves, took control as time wound down in the third round.

When the VietnameseAmerican executed a beautiful hip toss, and mounted Olsim, the Filipina managed to slide out.

After that, Olsim held her ground when Nguyen threw a few more punches before the final bell sounded.

In the first round, Nguyen tried to take the initiative going for takedowns. But Olsim was able to counter them in her favor.

Peter Atencio

THE pandemic had deprived students of connecting with their schoolmates and the only link remaining is the internet.

With their innovativeness, students are now connecting through online games and even find solitude through them.

Luigi Echiverri, a 4th-year college student at the Ateneo de Manila University, said that “I really enjoy playing games with my friends especially with the pandemic as it allows me to bond and connect with them even though we are in our houses.”

Leon Escarez, also a 4th-year college

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Obiena finds confidence, rips PH pole vault record Obiena eclipsed his previous national record of 5.87 meters he established in July at the World Athletics Continental Tour in Poland. He was comfortable clearing the 5.7 to 5.8 range early this year, but was having trouble going higher, including at the Tokyo games.

His Paris campaign, however, showed that Obiena is back.

“Thank you to those who keep on supporting and believing, despite the ups and downs. Getting there,” said Obiena in a Facebook message to his well-wishers.

Obiena tried to reach the height of 5.96 meters. But he decided to pass up after making two tries.

This left Duplantis in a lone quest for the gold, which he eventually did with a leap of 5.96 meters and a last one at 6.01 meters.

Duplantis’ performance was one me-

By Peter Atencio

T

OKYO Olympics’ finalist Ernest John Obiena is now finding the confidence to go higher.

With a big crowd 14,000 spectators firing up a star-studded field, the 25-year-old Obiena did just that in a reunion of sorts in the IAAF Diamond League athletics meet at the Charléty stadium in Paris with the world-class field he competed against in the Tokyo Olympics.

Obiena did something he has never done before as he sailed past the bar at 5.91 meters on his first attempt to eventually snare the silver medal.

He even went toe-to-toe with world record holder, Sweden’s Armand Duplantis, who eventually took the gold medal. But

the Filipino was able to beat Tokyo Olympics’ silver medallist and Lausanne leg winner, American Chris Nilsen, who settled for third place at 5.81 meters.

“He was just able to do the necessary adjustments during his attempts at the previous heights before 5.91m,” said Obiena’s dad Emerson, adding EJ was struggling to clear this range in the past months while he was preparing for the Tokyo Games.

“That 5.90 + m clearance potential was there already during the early outdoor season competition. Now, it’s official,” said Emerson.

Due to the heightened quarantine in Luzon, head trainer Aldin Ayo has been limited to training the team online for the past month.

“With regards to conditioning, there will be no problem as we made sure that the players figured in high-intensity workouts,” said the decorated tactician. “The chemistry will also be there since the team has been together for three months already.

“But the tournament itself is a different beast. With the limitations that we have, we studied a lot of films on our possible opponents and we are hoping that the preparations translate to winning games,” he continued.

This maximum level tournament has $110,000 in its prize pool -- including US$40,000 for the champion.

World no. 2 Riga of Latvia headlines the field along with no. 4 Ub of Serbia, no. 7 Amsterdam of the Netherlands, no. 8 Antwerp of Belgium, and no. 10 Edmonton of Canada.

Completing the field are USA’s

Members of the Manila Chooks 3x3 team are shown.

Princeton, Switzerland’s Lausanne, Lithuania’s Raudondvaris, Canada’s Old Montreal, USA’s Omaha, and one more team that will qualify through a Quest event.

The pools will be determined during the technical meeting on September 3.

Manila Chooks TM will have their RT-PCR tests on Tuesday and will leave the country the following day.

De-stress in between online classes thru virtual playgrounds

By Thea Andrea Magueriano

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021

The Philippines’ Ernest John Obiena, who came second, competes in the men’s pole vault event during the IAAF Diamond League athletics meet at the Charlety Stadium in Paris. AFP

Manila Chooks TM joins FIBA 3x3 meet in Montreal THE Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas’ 3x3 squad will compete in the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Montreal Masters on September 4 and 5.

This will be Manila Chooks TM’s second tournament this year since the Doha Masters last March 26.

In Montreal, Manila Chooks TM is seeded 11th among the 12 teams.

“The team is hungry to redeem themselves,” said Chooks-to-Go president Ronald Mascariñas. “They have been ready since May but unfortunately, their Croatian visas did not make it in time for the FIBA 3×3 Lipik Challenger.

“There have been a lot of challenges faced by the team brought about by the current pandemic but we are confident that frequent participation in the FIBA 3x3 pro circuit will only make the team stronger,” he added.

Composing the squad are Mac Tallo, Zach Huang, Dennis Santos, and newcomer Mark Yee. Chico Lanete will serve as the alternate.

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

student at ADMU adds, “Online gaming is a way for us to interact during this pandemic and it is something that we will continue to use in order to stay connected.”

While Echiverri and Escarez had been playing online games since childhood, they also have non-gamer friends.

For their friends who are not much into online games, Echiverri suggests games that are straightforward.

“I believe games that are simple and not complex can be played with nongamers such as skribbl.io and among us where the focus is mostly bonding and having fun,” said Echiverri.

Escarez also resonates the same idea, saying, “Games that I would have my non-gamer friends try are games like among-us, skribbl.io, online boardgames/card games.”

These types of games, according to Escarez, are also engaging for non-gamer friends.

“All of these games require more than two players and I think it is necessary to include bigger groups of people in a gaming session if the goal is to get someone into gaming,” said Escarez.

Browser games for the next game night Skribbl.io is a game comparative to pictionary made by @ticedev on

Twitter. The players would take turns drawing their chosen word, while the remaining players would guess the word. Skribbl.io is a simple game that can easily be played through mobile or computer browsers with a simple click of an invitation link.

For those who are tired of doing tasks and just want the social deduction part of the multiplayer game, Among Us and Mafia.gg are possible text-based alternatives.

Those who want a little bit of brain exercise can try Lichess.org, an online chess game. For those who do not really play chess, the game suggests possible moves for different chess pieces.

ter below his gold medal performance in Tokyo.

The Swede, who was six centimeters short of the course record he set last year, then tried to go for a world record again, but failed to clear 6.19 meters thrice.

Philippine Athletics Track and Field president Philip Ella Juico commended Obiena for his great feat and in standing his ground with the elite athletes in pole vault.

“We are extremely happy with EJ Obiena’s latest record-breaking performance achieved in Paris. This new Philippine record achieved our goal for our athletes of constantly striving to improve,” said Juico.

American Sam Kendricks, who missed action in the Tokyo Olympics when he was infected with COVID-19, was back and took fourth at 5.73 meters.

Super League rebels planning next coup attempt - report BERLIN—The three remaining Super League rebel clubs - Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus - are planning another next attempt to replace UEFA’s elite Champions League competition, according to German magazine Spiegel.

Last April, a breakaway group of 12 clubs briefly sent shock waves through European football with their short-lived attempt to set up a new elite competition.

It was designed to wrestle power away from European football’s governing body UEFA. The coup folded within 48 hours when nine clubs - Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, backed down in the face of fierce opposition from fans, players, politicians and organisations.

However, Spiegel reports the remaining rebel clubs - Real, Barcelona and Juventus - are working with two consultancy agencies on their next attempt at launching a “Super League 2.0”.

Spiegel says it has seen a 10-page document titled “Paving the way for the Super League: the strategy for reconstruction, reset - and victory”.

It lays out a campaign designed to win over other top clubs and key figures, such as politicians, stakeholders and journalists.

The strategy outlines different scenarios for a new competition, such as a Super League 1, involving 20 clubs to replace the Champions League and a Super League 2, also containing 20 clubs, instead of the Europa League.

There would be promotion and relegation between the two leagues. AFP

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Sports

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021

Marseille rebounds; Messi set for French bow

NBA requires COVID-19 vaccine for referees NEW YORK—The NBA said Saturday it will require Covid-19 vaccinations for all referees working games in the 2021-22 season.

The league said in a statement that the requirement was agreed with the National Basketball Referees Association. It allows some exemptions for religious or medical reasons.

“The referees have also agreed to take any recommended boosters,” the league said. “Any referee who does not get vaccinated and is not exempt will be ineligible to work games.”

The announcement comes a day after several US media outlets reported the NBA had informed teams that all personnel who work in physical proximity to players or referees during games must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

ESPN, citing a memo sent by the NBA to teams on Friday, said the directive specifically includes coaches, front-office members and trainers but stops short of requiring all players to be vaccinated.”

League-wide vaccination of players is subject to negotiations with the National Basketball Players Association.

According to ESPN, the league set an October 1 deadline for team personnel to be fully vaccinated.

Broadcasters, photographers and security personnel who operate near the court are included in the directive, along with locker-room attendants, medical staff, equipment managers, and food and beverage handlers and providers.

The regular season tips off on October 19, when the reigning champion Milwaukee Bucks host the Brooklyn Nets and the Golden State Warriors will take on the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster opening-night double-header. AFP

Bryson DeChambeau of the United States plays a shot on the 16th hole during the third round of the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland. AFP

DeChambeau, Cantlay share 3-shot lead at BMW tourney W ASHINGTON—Bryson DeChambeau’s bid to run away with the BMW Championship came undone on the back nine on Saturday, leaving the big-hitting American tied with Patrick Cantlay heading into the final round.

The leading pair had a three-shot lead over South Korean Im Sung-jae in the second of three events in the US PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs.

DeChambeau started the day with a onestroke lead after a scintillating 60 on Friday, and pushed his lead to as many as four strokes after another sizzling front nine that included two birdies and back-to-back eagles at the fourth and fifth.

But after spinning his approach to two feet for a birdie at 11, DeChambeau found himself paying the price for errant shots, finding the water with his second shot on the way to a bogey at the par-five 12th and dunking his tee shot at 13 on the way to a double bogey.

He clawed back a shot at the 14th, but gave it back with a bogey at 15.

In deep rough off the tee at the par-five

16th, DeChambeau managed to pick up a birdie after hitting his second shot from the right rough to within a foot.

He finished with a five-under par 67 for 195, and that was enough for a share of the lead after Cantlay made his first bogey of the day at the 18th to cap a 66.

“Front nine I played really good,” said DeChambeau, who said his driver “just didn’t feel right” from the seventh hole onward.

“But that’s OK. I scraped it around,” he said, “got to clean up the driver from today.”

Cantlay had made early inroads on DeChambeau’s lead with a 16-foot eagle at the second hole. He added a birdie at the third, but after back-to-back birdies at 11 and 12—a 13-footer and a tap-in —he was still two adrift.

But as DeChambeau gave up two strokes at the 13th playing partner Cantlay rolled in a 35-foot birdie putt, following it up with a four-foot birdie at 16 that had kept his nose in front until his closing miscue.

Good spot “It was another day on an easy, soft golf course, so you needed to make a bunch of birdies,” Cantlay said. “I thought I played really well, all in all.

“I didn’t make too many mistakes.

Played solid, didn’t putt as well as I did the first couple days but probably hit it a little better, and I thought it was a good day and I’m in a good spot for tomorrow.”

Cantlay said it was “not difficult” to stay patient as DeChambeau built his early lead and electrified spectators with his bid to overpower the Caves Valley Golf Club course in suburban Baltimore, Maryland. After watching his 25-foot eagle putt drop in the back of the cup at the par-five fourth DeChambeau reached the green with a 307-yard tee shot at the short par-four fifth then drained a 53-foot eagle putt. AFP

Afghan Paralympians emotional after Tokyo arrival TOKYO—Afghanistan’s two athletes made an “extremely emotional” arrival at the Tokyo Paralympic Village, Games chiefs said Sunday, after a top-secret flight from Paris following their evacuation from Kabul.

Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli arrived in Japan ready to compete at the Games, after leaving Taliban-controlled Afghanistan last weekend in a “major global operation”.

“Both athletes are here in Tokyo to fulfil their dreams, sending out a very strong message of hope to many others around the world,” said International Paralympic Committee spokesman Craig Spence.

Khudadadi and Rasouli were welcomed to the athletes’ village on Saturday night by IPC chief Andrew Parsons and IPC Athletes’ Council chairperson Chelsey Gotell, as well as the Afghan team’s chef de mission Arian Sadiqi.

“As you can imagine, the meeting was extremely emotional,” said Spence.

“There were lots of tears from everyone in the room. It really was a remarkable meeting.”

The pair spent a week in Paris at a

The flag of Afghanistan is carried out at the opening ceremony for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on August 24, 2021. Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP

French sports ministry training centre following their evacuation from Kabul.

Sprinter Rasouli was scheduled to compete in the men’s T47 100m but arrived too late for Saturday’s heats.

Instead, he will enter the T47 long jump final on Tuesday, while Khudadadi will compete in the women’s taekwondo K44 -49kg category On Thursday.

Spence said the athletes’ mental

health and wellbeing was the IPC’s “top priority”.

“Every day we’ve checked in on primarily their mental health, because as you can imagine, the situation they’ve gone through in the last few days is a serious one,” he said.

Their arrival comes after Afghanistan’s swift fall to the Taliban earlier this month left them among the tens of thousands trapped and unable to leave the country.

At Tuesday’s opening ceremony, the Afghan flag featured in a symbolic fashion, carried by a volunteer.

Spence said the two athletes would not speak to reporters while they were at the Games.

He said organisers wanted to avoid “a selfie-fest” with other athletes taking pictures in the village, but stressed that the pair would be allowed to mingle.

“We’re not saying ‘you shouldn’t just stay in your apartments and not go out’,” he said.

“We’re saying, once you’ve gone through your three-day quarantine, you need to fulfil this experience of being at the athletes’ village’.” AFP

PARIS—Marseille bounced back from the violent mayhem of their last Ligue 1 encounter to defeat Saint-Etienne 3-1 on Saturday as Lionel Messi prepared to make his Paris Saint-Germain debut.

On loan from Arsenal, Matteo Guendouzi, in the 23rd minute, and former Flamengo player Gerson, after 51 minutes, scored their first goals for Marseille.

Turkish star Cengiz Under, another summer recruit on loan from Roma, added a third in the 68th minute.

Timothee Kolodziejczak had earlier given Saint-Etienne hope with a 32nd-minute equaliser from a corner.

Last weekend, Marseille’s game at southern neighbours Nice was abandoned after a pitch invasion involving home fans incensed that Dimitri Payet had a thrown a bottle lobbed at him back into the crowd.

After scuffles involving players, staff and spectators, Marseille refused to continue the game, claiming their safety could not be guaranteed.

Payet was instrumental in Saturday’s opening goal at the Stade Velodrome as his telling pass opened up space for Under.

His cross found Konrad de la Fuente whose strike was blocked, but Guendouzi was on hand to follow up and score.

Justin Kluivert scored his first Nice goal and set up another in a 4-0 thrashing of Bordeaux.

The match at the Allianz Riviera was played behind closed doors after last week’s horror show with Marseille.

“It was a good birthday present even if the week was very difficult,” Nice coach Christophe Galtier told Prime Video after turning 55 on Monday, less than 24 hours after the match with Marseille was abandoned.

“We opened the scoring quickly, even if I wasn’t happy with our play straight away afterwards. We’ve started the season very well.”

Galtier was without Kasper Dolberg, who had scored in the Marseille match, after the Denmark forward suffered a knee injury in training.

Kluivert, 22, who is on loan from Roma, scored in the seventh minute, highlighting his quality barely half an hour after Nice announced the signing of Algeria striker Andy Delort from Montpellier.

“I thank the club’s owner who worked on the transfer,” Galtier said.

“He’s happy to be joining us. He’s going to be an additional striker who we need in the way we play.”

Delort’s international team-mate Hicham Boudaoui broke down the right before crossing for Kluivert, who side-footed home.

Kluivert turned provider just after the half-hour mark.

He led a counter-attack, charging towards the Bordeaux box before feeding Amine Gouiri to finish easily.

Following his early heroics, Kluivert’s game was over due to a thigh injury as he was replaced by debutant Calvin Stengs, who joined from AZ Alkmaar in July.

Gouiri then took his tally for the season to three goals, converting a penalty four minutes before the break.

In the empty stadium, the second half meandered until substitute Khephren Thuram, a son of former French World Cup-winner Lilian Thuram, scored with his first touch on 85 minutes for his maiden goal of the season.

On Sunday, Messi is expected to make his debut for the PSG in the trip to Reims.

Coach Pochettino said the Argentina attacker, along with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, will “certainly” be in the squad heading to the Champagne region. AFP

Life goes on for Juventus after losing superstar Ronaldo MILAN—Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to Manchester United undoubtedly leaves Juventus a weaker proposition on the field but his departure is unlikely to cause too many tears in Turin as an expensive experiment comes to an early end.

Coach Massimiliano Allegri almost shrugged his shoulders on Friday when he told the world the five-time Ballon d’Or winner wanted to leave after three seasons in Italy, simply saying that “life goes on” with the air of someone who had made his peace with the separation.

It came in great contrast to the fanfare that greeted the most expensive transfer in the history of Italian football in the summer of 2018, the shock signing of one of the game’s greatest ever players pitched as the missing link between domestic dominance and European glory.

Juve are Italy’s biggest-supported club, but although they have won by far

the most Serie A titles they lag behind the Milan giants in continental success.

Last crowned European champions in 1996, The ‘Old Lady’ reached Champions League finals in 2015 and 2017, and once Ronaldo arrived hopes in Turin were that they could go one better with the competition’s all-time highest scorer in their attack.

However they have failed to get any further than the quarter-finals since Ronaldo arrived and in the past two seasons were dumped out by Lyon and Porto in the last 16.

In his time there Juve also somewhat lost their way domestically, last season finishing 13 points behind league winners Inter Milan under novice coach Andrea Pirlo and only qualifying for the Champions League on the final day of the campaign because Napoli failed to beat Verona at home.

Ronaldo was left out of the 4-1 win at Bologna which enabled Juve to jump into fourth place and despite official denials of a definitive breakdown between club and player he has been subject to heavy speculation all summer.

- Financial troubles He won two Serie A titles and one Italian Cup and reached 100 Juve goals quicker than any other player in the club’s history -- topping the league’s scoring charts last season -- but he is unlikely to remain in the affections of Juve fans like he has at Real Madrid and United, where he had his greatest successes.

Over the past two seasons at Inter Romelu Lukaku became a huge fan favourite not just for his play but for the way he integrated in Italy, quickly learning the language and settling into life in Milan. AFP

A woman takes a doll representing Juventus’ Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo prior to the Italian Serie A football match Juventus vs Empoli at Allianz Stadium in Turin. Ronaldo’s departure to Manchester United undoubtedly leaves Juventus a weaker proposition on the field but his departure is unlikely to cause too many tears in Turin as an expensive experiment comes to an early end. AFP

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com moNday, august 30, 2021

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Twitch video gamers rise up against ‘hate raids’

Anne Curtis and Sarah Geronimo are some of the big names who have Vivamax projects currently in production.

Vivamax brings

entertainment directly to Filipinos

V

iVA entertainment’s Vic del Rosario had a vision. he wanted Filipinos anywhere in the world enjoy locally made entertainment anytime. he wanted to have a massive library of local titles, a one-stop entertainment hub, which consumers can access as Vincent G. Del Rosario, President and COO of Viva Comm., Inc. easily as lifting a finger. Thus, Vivamax was born in January renew their subscription. i think we did this year. something good,” Del Rosario added. the presence of global streaming platforms and local broadcast and telecommunication giants did not deter Viva’s head honcho from pursuing this dream.

Seven months later, Viva is proud to share that Vivamax is on its way to becoming an essential part of every Pinoy’s entertainment fix. in a recent virtual conference, Viva announced that to date there are 600,000 Vivamax subscribers and within this short period of time, it is now the most downloaded entertainment app on google Play, outdoing other long established local and international streaming brands.

“We have developed an entertainment platform that’s easy to be appreciated by everyone. i guess it’s the uniqueness the offerings between the originals, the tagalized content, and the concerts that makes people like the platform,” Vincent G. Del Rosario, President and COO of Viva Comm., inc., told Manila Standard Entertainment. “it’s the novelty that attracts them.

We also the renewals, some users keep on coming back after a month or two to

Starting with over 500 titles, with a mix of Filipino content, tagalized hollywood and Asian content (including the biggest offering of Korean blockbuster films), Vivamax continues with its commitment to add at least 15 new content every week --- a combination of originals, premieres, exclusives, and all-time favorites. “the product is not the technology. the service given by Viva is the content. And you look at the content and the way it is promoted by the marketing department, the way it’s done on digital platforms, is very entertaining. the service we deliver is that entertaining and it’s on an app. the secret of Vivamax is the content, not the technology. it’s the content and the way Viva looks at communicating the entertainment value and authenticity of that content,” Ronan K. De Guzman, Chief Operating officer of Vivamax, shared. guzman also said that Vivamax had developed a relationship with its subscribers based on goodwill.

“We don’t lock the subscribers in.

And that, we believe, has developed some goodwill. And as this goodwill develops, we also develop our product,

our technology, and our pricing,” De guzman added.

Priced at P149 per month, with tV casting on Smart tV via Chromecast or Apple AirPlay, subscribers are given access to originally-produced series, movies, documentaries, and concerts.

Currently in various stages of production are films and series that will star Anne Curtis, Sarah Geronimo, Aga Muhlach, Bela Padilla, Cristine Reyes, Empoy, Alessandra, Julia Barretto, Toni Gonzaga, Alex Gonzaga, Matteo Guidicelli, John Arcilla, JC Santos, Xian Lim, Andew E, Diego Loyzaga, Barbie Imperial, Carlo Aquino, JM de Guzman, Sue Ramirez, McCoy de Leon and Elise Joson, and many others. the pandemic has not stopped Viva from actively producing content. it is still the busiest studio in the country working with some of the most bankable directors, creative stalwarts, and prolific showrunners in the industry such as --- Erik Matti, Jason Paul Laxamana, Paul Soriano, Irene Villamor, Mikhail and Jon Red, Yam Laranas, Pedring Lopez, Darryl Yap, RC delos Reyes, Lawrence Fajardo, Joel Lamangan, Roman Perez, GB Sampedro, Al Tantay, Prime Cruz, Dan Villegas, Antoinette Jadaone, Ricky Lee, Paul Basinillo, Paolo Valenciano, and many others.

Also in place are several production and licensing deals with other top studios – Star Cinema, Regal, ideaFirst, Project 8, Reality, Black Cap Pictures, BlackOps Asia, tBA, Cignal entertainment, Brillante Mendoza’s Centerstage Productions, the Probe team, etc. to deliver diversified shows that will appeal to various audience tastes.

Now available in Japan, Singapore, hong Kong, Malaysia, the Middle east, and europe with plans to roll out in Australia, New Zealand, and North America in the next few months, Vivamax is truly a global brand.

GMA News and Public Affairs among worldwide leaders in digital video

gMA News and Public Affairs continues to lead Philip- Soho’ (KMJS). With 25 million followers, KMJS is now the pine news organizations in viewership on the top online most-followed television program in the Philippines. video platforms.

Aside from the best of gMA News and Public Affairs on telAccording to data from tubular Labs, gMA News ranked evision, the network’s digital platforms have also been offering No. 5 worldwide among video publishers in the News and up original programs that have been a hit for online viewers, Politics category in July. gMA Public Affairs, meanwhile, including GMA News Feed, snackable video alerts featuring ranked No. 18 for the month, also ahead of every other Phil- breaking news updates; Need to Know, an explanatory journalippine organization in the list. ism series distilling complex issues into easy-to-understand anithe gMA News digital platforms feature up-to-the- mated videos; Stand for Truth, a pioneering mobile journalism minute breaking news on newscast for millennial and the latest developments in gen Z viewers hosted by Jothe Philippines. the express seph Morong; The Mangahas version of ‘24 Oras,’ the netInterviews, featuring hard-hitwork’s flagship newscast, ting conversations led by vetis also available on-demand eran journalist Malou Mangaon gMA News Online and has; and The Howie Severino the gMA News Youtube Podcast, featuring gMA News channel for Filipino viewers and Public Affairs pillar Howaround the world. ie Severino and guests on “in these uncertain times, riveting conversations. gMA Network is commit«Our digital teams strive to ted to delivering Serbisyong bring the most relevant stories totoo to Filipino viewers in to every Filipino, wherever Jessica Soho with the viral 10-year-old kid from Sultan Kudarat who the country and around the plows lands to help his family. they may be and whatever deworld,” said Marissa L. Flovice they use,» said Jaemark res, gMA Network Senior Tordecilla, gMA Network Sr. Vice President for News and Public Affairs.

Asst. Vice President for News and Public Affairs Digital Media.

Meanwhile, storytelling powerhouse gMA Public AfViewers can check out more of these stories at www. fairs continued to fly high on digital platforms, powered gmanews.tv and the gMA News and gMA Public Affairs by flagship news magazine program ‘Kapuso Mo, Jessica social media accounts.

Night after night, video game «i›m being hated on for my skin streamer RekItRaven watches as color, or my sexual preferences, when their feed is inundated with abusive i don›t have control over that.» messages. hate twitch is more than raided, yet again. a source of fun for in recent months Raven: it›s their job. the phenomenon of the Virginia-based «hate raids» -- barhorror games player rages of racist, sexholds affiliate status, ist and homophobic under which prolific abuse -- has been and widely followed making life increasstreamers get paid. ingly unpleasant for Sick of racial slurs minority users of and messages refertwitch, the world›s ring to the Ku Klux biggest video game Klan, Raven started streaming site. a twitter hashtag, Raven, a Black #twitchDoBetter.

31-year-old who the hashtag has identifies as gender become a magnet for non-binary, fought Twitch streamer RekItRaven, a Black complaints over the back tears while de- 31-year-old who identifies as gender past month, largely scribing the mental non-binary, gets “hated on” over skin from female, nontoll of logging into color and sexual preferences. white and LgBtQ a site designed for players, that twitch entertainment. is failing to stop internet trolls running «it just gets hard,» said the parent- amok -- all while taking 50 percent of of-two, who declined to reveal their streamers’ earnings. AFP Read full real name over fears for their security. story on manilastandard.net.

Margie Didal embraces the limelight as new H&M ambassador the world of skateboarding has always been connected to the world of fashion. Looking back, the philosophy and aesthetic that skateboarders are known for have been experimented with since its origins. this look has since been replicated by multiple brands and fashion houses which eventually gave way to the punk street aesthetic that is still used as a style refer reference today.

Fast forward to 2021, and fashion’s obsession with the skateboarding culture is still as strong as ever; enter Margielyn Didal.

We all know her for her achievements in the world of skateboarding – 2018 Asian games gold medalist, 2020 tokyo Olympics Finalist and the list goes on.

A quick glance at her instagram page would show her love for the

oversized and relaxed street silhouette – a trend that has dominated since the 2010s. her sense of style is one that defies societal norms.

With a solid belief that fashion must be inclusive and should reach all gender identities and expressions, Margielyn has inspired h&M to create an exclu exclusive collection that brings this message across.

Called the With H&M new Skate Drop Se Secampaign, lected by Mar MarMargielyn Didal gielyn Didal, a gives the public it the first time n look into her ow for the brand world. to work with a woman to pick out exclu exclusive looks for menswear. the Skate Drop is not only an inclusive campaign but a proud Filipino one. it was shot right at the very home of Margielyn, together with Skate Pilipinas, in the Queen City of the South, Cebu. the exclusive collection is launched today in stores, ZALORA, and hM.COM.

Kych Minemotoa (left) and Z Mejia in a scene from Jan Carlo Natividad’s short film ‘Masalimuut Ya Tiyagew Ed Dayat.’

The relevance of Sine Halaga CiNeMA being employed as a medium for values formation, is the very essence of Sine halaga, a project of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Negros Cultural Foundation (NCF) that showcases twelve short films infused with 19 Filipino core values. explains NCCA Deputy executive Director Marichu Tellano: “Before this project became a reality, it took one year of extensive research to identify the different Filipino values that are important and unique in our culture and identity.

When the research identified what these core values are, we want everyone to realize what are they and we believe that through this film festival, the values affirmed by the research will be further bolstered and strengthened.”

For Festival Director Elvert Bañares, Sine halaga is unique from other film fests because here the film entries are used as a tool to teach Filipino values. “especially now when we put so much premium on what is instant and easily gratifying. Majority may find these values as dated but love for family, respect, kindness, and good manners, among other things, is not a fad

and will never go out style,” Bañares says. the 12 short films that are screening for free in VimeoOnDemand and the NCCA Learning Resources hub are: Bakit ako Sinusundan ng Buwan directed

by Richard Legaspi, Black Rainbow by Zig Madamba Dulay, Dandansoy by Rod Arden Condez, Hadlok by Ralston Jover, Looking for Rafflesias and other Fleeting Things by James Allen Fajardo, Lorna by Noel Escondo, Masalimuut Ya Tiyagew Ed Dayat by Jan Carlo Natividad, Mina’s Family History by Christopher Gozum, Sa Balay ni Papang by Kurt Steven Soberano, Salog ning Diklom by Jordan Jose Dela Cruz, Ugbos ka Bayabas

by Manie Magbanua, Jr., and 13 Feet by Carlo Obispo. this final set of short films was chosen by NCCA Committee on Cinema Chairperson Rolando Tolentino, film critic Tito Valiente, Jeffrey Jeturian, Roy Iglesias, Sari Dalena, Arvin Villalon, and Jose Soliman, Jr..

All the filmmakers heading the short films were awarded a grant of P400,000 and that their cameras rolled during the time of the pandemic. Read full story on manilastandard.net

Life

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

C4

FOOD

MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021

Eat like a Filipino hero

Filipino heroes Andres Bonifacio, Jose Rizal, and Melchora Aquino.

By Steph Llarena

A

S WE celebrate today the valiant efforts of our heroes, we walk down memory lane – the one lined with food – to talk about their favorite dishes which you can create at home or order from restaurants.

According to historians, Jose Rizal loved pancit, tinola, and monggo. A few was written about his fondness for champorado as well. But his “most favorite”, Chef Jessie Sincioco (based on her research) earlier said was bistek, which he would eat while writing Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

Bistek Tagalog is made with beef slices, soy sauce, onion, garlic, and lemon or calamansi.

The beef slices are marinated in soy sauce with lemon and pepper for at least an hour, onions are pan fried until soft then set aside to fry the beef (drained) for a minute per side, then removed from the pan. In the same pan, garlic and raw onions are sautéed, marinade with water is poured, and when the liquid boils, beef slices are added, dish is simmered, seasoned with salt and pepper, and topped with cooked onions.

No time for that? Goodah!!! offers Pinoy Bistek and Lugaw Bistek. Recovery Food also has Bistek Tagalog in its rice toppings menu.

Melchora Aquino, or Tandang Sora, was said to favor classic Filipino soup tinolang manok, which she served to wounded soldiers under her care during the Philippine Revolution. Her recipe used the tastier, albeit tougher, native chicken and dried chicken blood.

Today’s tinola is usually made with chicken, green papaya or sayote, sili leaves or malunggay, onion, garlic, and ginger. To make the dish, sauté garlic, onion, ginger, then add the chicken and cook until it turns light brown. Pour rice washing and fish

Andok’s lechon manok

Goodah!!!’s Bistek Tagalog

Melchora Aquino’s favorite food was tinolang manok, Grabiela Silang liked pinakbet with bagnet, and Jose Rizal’s ‘most favorite’ food was said to be bistek.

(Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Barrio Fiesta, Recovery Food)

sauce, simmer, then add green papaya or sayote. Cook for a few more minutes, then add the leaves and season with pepper and salt (if needed).

Like to eat but not to cook? Barrio Fiesta in Greenhills and Henry’s Kitchen in Makati both serve and deliver Tinolang Manok.

The Father of Philippine Revolution,

Andres Bonifacio’s favorite dish was lechon manok sa saha ng saging. The chicken was barbecued while wrapped in the outer layer of banana stalks (saha), which was said was done to prevent the smoke from coming out and alerting the guardia civil.

To recreate Bonifacio’s favorite food, use one whole chicken, ginger

juice, lemongrass, salt, and saha. Rub the chicken with salt and ginger juice, then stuff it with lemongrass before wrapping it in saha. Broil over hot coals until the wrap has wilted and the chicken is cooked.

While not wrapped in saha, several restaurants offer lechon manok, most popularly, Baliwag Grill and Restaurant

and Andok’s.

Ilocano hero Gabriela Silang was said to favor pinakbet (mixed vegetables in fish sauce) with bagnet (deep fried pork belly), Marcelo del Pilar liked pochero (beef or pork stew with tomatoes and saba bananas), and Apolinario Mabini’s favorite was bulanglang (mixed vegetables).

McDonald’s

gives back to delivery riders THEY do not wear cape, but they are hero still because they go through the challenging conditions everyday just to deliver our food. They are the delivery riders many of us depend on so much since the pandemic started.

To honor these modern-day heroes, McDonald’s is bringing back its McDeliverBack program on National Heroes Day, Aug. 30.

For every order of McDonald’s breakfast via McDelivery, GrabFood, foodpanda, PickARoo, or GLife from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., the delivery rider will receive a coupon for a Cheesy Eggdesal with regular orange juice.

For every McDonald’s breakfast delivery order on Aug. 30, the rider will get a coupon for a Cheesy Eggdesal with drink.

From left: Concha’s Garden Café’s laoya, and Highlands China Palace’s Peking duck and siomai.

Hot meals served at a residential community in Tagaytay WHEN the breeze blows in a community in Tagaytay, residents are assured of piping hot soups and other comfort food available to keep them warm.

Homeowners at Tagaytay Highlands, whose themed developments include among others Horizon Terraces and The Grove at Plantation Hills, can enjoy classic Filipino dishes at Concha’s Garden Café (one branch at Highlands, another one at Midlands) or savor Chinese fare at Highlands China Palace.

Situated at the Highlands Golfers

Lounge and Midlands Golfers Lounge, Concha›s Garden Café serves beloved Filipino heirloom comfort food such as its best-selling laoya, a meaty dish similar to beef nilaga.

Time-honored favorites siomai, steamed prawn dumpling, steamed spinach dumpling, sesame balls, spicy chicken feet, shrimp century egg roll, and more are served at Highlands China Palace. Residents can also enjoy Peking duck in the comforts of their home or in the restaurant.

For takeout and dine-in inquiries for Concha, call 0915-046-6367 (Highlands) or 0906-894-3381 (Midlands). For takeout, delivery, or dine-in at Highlands China Palace, call 0917-800-9656.

More food delivery and takeout options are available for residents. In addition to access to these food and beverage outlets, Tagaytay Highlands homeowners get exclusive access to world-class facilities and amenities such as golf courses, cable car rides, and indoor sports facilities.

FOOD FACTS

Things you probably you didn’t know about your favorite snack items DO YOU know the names of the characters on the packaging of Chiz Curls? How about why Chippy was named as such?

The maker of these beloved snack food items shares little known facts about its products, as it celebrates its 65th anniversary this year.

Chiz Curls – It is Universal Robina Corporation’s (URC) first branded snack product. The kids on its packaging are named Carl and Curlette.

Chippy – Since the ‘60s, the crowd-favorite corn chips have been part of barkada trips, school recess, and weekends at home. Jack ‘n Jill named it Chippy because it was sold at a friendly price during its launch back then.

Nova – According to URC, Jack ‘n Jill’s Nova is the first locally manufactured multigrain snack in the Philippines. Each chip is made with four fiber-rich grains.

Cream-O – The first Cream-O product URC released were the chocolate-coated cookie sandwiches packed in hexagonal boxes. These are now called Cream-O Premium, a limited-edition variant.

Nips – First launched in the ‘60s, it is URC’s first

branded chocolate whose name came from “spin” (Nips spelled backwards), which is the first step in the manufacturing process of these candy-coated chocolate lentils.

Maxx – It is one of URC’s first candy brands launched in 1993, and was first endorsed by the late actor Max Alvarado.

Great Taste Coffee – URC prides itself in pioneering the 3-in-1 coffee mixes, twin packs, and white coffee through Great Taste.

Blend 45 – Before the market was inundated with instant coffee brands, URC said Blend 45 was the “largest selling” when it was launched in the ‘60s, earning it the moniker “Pinoy Coffee”.

C2 – This ready-to-drink tea is popular in Vietnam.

Bonus fact: All the aforementioned items and more are available in supermarkets and on Universal Robina’s Shopee and Lazada stores.

Universal Robina Corporation celebrates its 65th year of offering Filipino consumers a variety of snack and beverage items.