Manila Standard - 2021 October 17 - Sunday

FLOWER POWER. The University of the Philippines-Los Baños has named a hybrid gumamela after Education Secretary Leonor Briones. ‘As a nature lover and educator, I am humbled and deeply honored to have a wonderful variant of Gumamela named after me,’ Briones said. The new Hibiscus rosa-sinensi ‘Leonor M. Briones’ was developed by the Institute of Plant Breeding.

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IN MET R MANILAO

‘WHO did not name vax brands for booster shot’ n By JOEL ZURBANO AND Vergeire said.

“What is clear is that those MARICEL CRUZ who need third doses are the THE World Health Organization did not specify any brand of vaccine that would require a booster shot to maintain its efficacy against COVID-19, the Department of Health said Saturday.

“We have to put this into context. First of all, the official document released by the WHO did not specifically state any type of vaccine," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario

immunocompromised and maybe the senior citizens," she added.

The Health official made the clarification amid reports that COVID vaccines made in China need to be administered thrice due to their shorter efficacy period.

Vergeire cautioned the public against sharing such false information, which she said could affect vaccine confidence.

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They’re out but not in droves

Crowd in malls, arcades, parks still sparse as people test Day 1 of Alert Level 3

A NOW OPEN. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources holds a soft opening of the Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach along Roxas Boulevard on Saturday, October 16, 2021. Visitors flock to the area, with minders holding placards telling the public to practice social distancing, as Metro Manila shifted to the more relaxed Alert Level 3 community quarantine.

Norman Cruz

THE Commission on Elections is training its guns on online votebuying for next year’s synchronized national and local elections.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the poll body will start talks with digital wallet operators to help track possible

electronic vote-buying.

“We have what we call e-wallets or e-payments systems. In fact, I will talk to a company that does that because they have monitoring tools,” he said.

“It's not clear to me that the use of e-wallets for vote-buying can be banned. But what is important for

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“definitely” increase as Maring damaged P1.7 billion worth of agricultural products.

Affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops such as vegetables, livestock, and fisheries.

The storm, DA data showed,

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Brace for higher veggie prices THE Department of Agriculture has warned prices of vegetables in Metro0* Manila are expected to increase due to disruptions in supply in the wake of severe tropical storm Maring.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said price points of vegetables will

FTER being placed under strict lockdown measures for the past two months, people in Metro Manila have started to go out of their homes as more business establishments have reopened while others have expanded their capacity as the region shifted to a looser Alert Level 3 community quarantine system yesterday.

Some malls have reopened their cinemas, but there were no long queues of excited moviegoers as people remained wary of catching COVID-19, especially in enclosed areas.

Business establishments with al fresco areas, especially restaurants, benefitted the most from the more relaxed community quarantine protocols as they are now allowed to operate at 50

‘Vote-buying to go digital’ n By VITO BARCELO

n By WILLIE CASAS

7,772

85,048

40,580

156

2,587,881

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RECREATING THAT FESTIVE MOOD. A Quezon City

Death

Memorial Circleworker hangs a Christmas parol in trees around the park.

The Department of Health said it expects a happier holiday season this year, but approval for the holding of Christmas parties is still up in the air.

Manny Palmero

Rare rebuke: Myanmar junta chief excluded from ASEAN meeting NEWS | 3A

Gov’t to hasten rehab work in Marawi City NEWS | 2A

Recoveries

Active

New New

(As of 4 PM, OCTOBER 16)

Protect poll integrity, Rody tells PDP bets NEWS | 2A

IN BRIEF

Protect election integrity—Rody

OCTOBER 17, 2021

SURPRISE CHECK.

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora inspects establishments inside a mall to ensure that safety protocols are observed as Metro Manila shifted to a looser Alert Level 3 yesterday.

Manny Palmero

Gov’t to hasten rehab work in Marawi City P RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday promised that his administration will double its efforts to hasten the completion of the rehabilitation projects in Marawi City.

Duterte made the vow as he led the commemorative rites of the fourth anniversary of the liberation of Marawi City from Islamic Statelinked terrorists.

“Let me take this opportunity to reassure the people of Marawi that the government is doing its best to expedite the completion of rehabilitation projects at the soonest time possible. We, in government, are strongly committed to bring back the city’s glory,” he said in his keynote speech at the Rizal Park in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. Duterte said it is “very important” to rebuild the lives of residents of Marawi City that were destroyed following the siege that started on May 23, 2017.

He said the government is resolved to restore

damaged properties and revitalize disrupted socio-economic activities.

“We will continue to foster cooperation among concerned stakeholders so that Marawi will be able to build back better and stronger,” he said.

Duterte also lauded the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM), local officials, and other partners for working together to rehabilitate the city.

He said the TFBM’s hard work to accomplish the programs, projects, and activities under the Bangon Marawi Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Program is “truly commendable.”

Duterte expressed hope that there will be no more Marawi-like siege in the country while commending state forces and the locals for their “bravery, sacrifice, and determination” in defending and liberating the city.

“To the people of Marawi and to our kababayans (countrymen), rest assured that this government, this administration remains steadfast in securing our nation against terrorism, violent extremism, and other lawless elements,” Duterte said. “With your support, I am confident that we will overcome any challenge that may test our strength and unity as a nation.”

The government declared Marawi City free from the Maute terrorist group in October 2017, or nearly five months after the war started.

On June 28, 2017, Duterte created the TFBM that is mandated to oversee the rehabilitation, recovery, and reconstruction efforts in Marawi City and help displaced families recover.

TFBM chairperson and Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said on October 1 that around 30 infrastructure projects have been completed.

He said all rehabilitation projects in Marawi City will be finished within Duterte’s term.

Customs seizes P50m smuggled agri products n By VITO BARCELO THE Bureau of Customs seized illegally imported vegetables, frozen meat, chicken, fish and cigarettes from China worth P50 million in separate operations in Tondo and Navotas as well as at the Port of Subic in Zambales province.

Customs agents raided two warehouses located at 920 Asuncion St. Tondo, Manila and in Vifel Storage, North Bay Boulevard, Navotas

where they found illegally imported fresh vegetables from China amounting to P35 million.

The warehouse at Tondo yielded smuggled imported commodities that include yellow onions, gingers, red onions, tapioca, flour, sugar, stanchion, cosmetics, and cigarettes (Marlboro, Winston, Mighty, and Winnsboro).

Likewise, the warehouse located at Navotas, Metro Manila, consisting of two storage facilities with a

total of 31 cold storage rooms, was holding beef heads, chicken legs, and chicken livers as well as various fruit products.

A Chinese businessman, identified as Lei Tsai, and his associates are allegedly responsible for the illegal importations of the seized commodities and will be investigated for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

At the Port of Subic, five con-

tainer shipments were inspected and discovered to contain assorted frozen vegetables consigned to Saturnus Corporation.

The shipments were confiscated as the chilled fresh vegetables were not covered by any import clearance from the Department of Agriculture.

The DA does not allow the importation of fresh vegetables from China since there is no pest risk analysis issued for fresh vegetables from the said country.

quick to impose granular lockdown in areas where there are transmissions.”

For her part, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Metro Manila’s COVID-19 cases could decline further – falling to the 1,000mark by mid-November – if the region’s virus response continues to improve.

“This would happen if the vaccination coverage improves and if we continue to isolate new COVID-19 cases within four days from detection. If those metrics improve, we expect our cases to decline further by Nov. 15,” Vergeire said.

The World Health Organization’s representative in the Philippines earlier called for “very clear” messaging about the more relaxed restrictions to avoid “putting people’s lives at risk.”

“It’s not about relaxing or reducing the restrictions – it’s about calibrating,” said Rabindra Abeyasinghe, the WHO’s official in the country.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said as many as 300,000 workers are expected to be added to the active labor force as Metro Manila and several parts of the country shifted to Alert Level 3.

For her part, Health Undersecretary and National Vaccination Operations Center chairperson Myrna Cabotaje said vaccine manufacturers should apply for an emergency use authorization (EUA) to provide a third dose of their COVID-19 vaccine Meanwhile, the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the German government has arrived in Manila over the weekend.

The shipment consists of 844,800 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines.

“This is a strong sign of solidarity between our two counties and it shows that our joint efforts are very needed in this pandemic,” said Alexander Schmidt, deputy head of mission of the German Embassy in the Philippines.

Schmidt also confirmed that around 800,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines are expected to arrive in the coming days to complete the 1.6 million doses donated by Germany.

“Obviously, that indicates vote buying. So, once we can identify these patterns, law enforcement can then take over,” Jimenez said.

Meanwhile, the Comelec has extended for two hours the daily voter registration – now from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. – that will run until Oct. 30.

Registration will also be opened on Saturdays in select areas, including Metro Manila.

The extended registration hours will also be applicable in mall registration sites.

The registration sites areas are in Metro Manila, Alcala, Pangasinan, San Quintin, Pangasinan, Tarlac City, Capas, Tarlac, Concepcion, Tarlac, Quezon province, Labo, Camarines Norte: Castilla, Sorsogon, Cebu City, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City The rest of the country will still observe an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. voter registration hours on weekdays.

“To reiterate, all types of application will be accepted, not just those that may come from first-time registrants,” Jimenez said.

The Comelec said it expects at least 500,000 new voters during the extended registration period.

Comelec is set to conduct voting simulations on Oct. 23 in San Juan

FromtheFRONTPAGE THEY’RE...percent capacity.

Public parks provided a fresh respite to people who have been cooped up in their houses from when Enhanced Community Quarantine was imposed in August up until Friday when the region was still under the stricter Alert Level 4.

In Manila, the so-called Dolomite Beach reopened to the public, but with marshals from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources holding placards to remind people to observe social distancing and to wear masks at all times.

The Philippine National Police said it is planning to deploy more cops in public areas to prevent a surge in new infections.

“With the implementation of Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila, I have instructed our unit commanders in Metro Manila to be alert and active in the implementation of minimum public health safety because our countrymen may become complacent, which may lead to a resurgence of COVID cases in our country,” PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar said.

Health expert Dr. Tony Leachon warned a rebound of COVID-19 cases may happen, prompting Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to remind local government units, including those in areas neighboring Metro Manila, to “be

‘WHO...

"Those who spoke to the media in reaction to the WHO were the ones who mentioned specific types of vaccines, not the WHO," she added.

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‘VOTE...me right now is that we

are able to identify behavior that signals vote-buying,” he added.

An example of this, he said, is if an account is suddenly loaded with a huge amount of money only to release the same in small amounts to various other accounts.

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

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

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday called on the local candidates of his ruling party, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), in the 2022 polls to safeguard the integrity of elections.

Duterte made the call as he reminded the PDP-Laban’s local bets to adhere to the party’s principles and values before, during, and after the May 9, 2022 elections.

During the proclamation of PDP-Laban’s local candidates in Iligan City, Lanao del Sur, Duterte assured them that they would get the party’s full support as they seek local government posts.

“It is my hope that all of you will stand by the PDP-Laban’s principles and aspirations throughout the campaign period and on election day and beyond. I urge you to ensure the integrity of the elections for your respective positions despite the challenges that you may face,” he said.

Online news site tries to hide ‘deceptive’ poll n By REY E. REQUEJO NEWS website Rappler deleted its Facebook presidential survey after netizens accused it of being engaged in propaganda moves, according to a statement from the camp of former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. This came after Rappler issued an apology to angry netizens, explaining that the survey had to be taken down since it was not aligned with their objectives.

But even after taking it down, vloggers still chided the media outfit for its attempt to deceive the public into believing that independent presidential aspirant Leni Robredo is now getting the support of netizens.

Doc Willie: Buy anti-COVID drug n By REY E. REQUEJO AKSYON Demokratiko vice presidential candidate Dr. Willie Ong asked the government to place advance orders for a new drug that he described as “a game-changer” in the fight against COVID-19.

“There is a new drug against COVID called Molnupiravir. It is life-saving. Make your order now, it’s good,” Ong said during the One Batangas-IM Pilipinas convention in Lipa City, Batangas on Friday.

Ong was referring to the antiviral pill developed by pharmaceutical giant Merck that is touted to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death in at-risk patients by 50 percent, according to the company’s interim analysis.

as approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The IATF ruled that “voting simulation exercises are essential activities.”

“For this purpose, all participants, including the voters, are exempt from any travel restrictions in place and shall not be required to show proof of vaccination status and/or be required to undergo any Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction test,” the IATF resolution read.

BRACE...affected 56,718 farmers and fisherfolk.

The Agriculture department said the agricultural losses were in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and SOCCSKSARGEN. Meanwhile, Maring’s death toll rose to 22 yesterday, 17 more possible fatalities still being validated, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

NDRRMC said 16 people were confirmed to be missing, while one more missing person was still being validated.

Rolando G. Estabillo Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor Emil P. Jurado

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

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

WORLD

INBRIEFS OCTOBER 17, 2021

File photo shows protesters holding signs as they take part in a demonstration against the Myanmar military coup in Inle lake, Shan state. AFP

Rebuke: Myanmar junta chief excluded from ASEAN summit

M

YANMAR’S junta chief will be excluded from an upcoming ASEAN summit, the group said Saturday, a rare rebuke as concerns rise over the military government’s commitment to defusing a bloody crisis.

Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed at an emergency meeting late Friday that Min Aung Hlaing would not be invited to the October 26-28 summit, current ASEAN chair Brunei said.

The bloc, widely considered a toothless organisation, took a strong stand after the junta rebuffed requests for a special envoy to meet with all parties concerned – a phrase seen to include ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The statement noted “insufficient progress” in the implementation of a five-point plan agreed by ASEAN leaders in April to end turmoil following a coup in February.

Some member states recommended giving “space to Myanmar to restore its internal affairs and return to normalcy.”

It was decided “to invite a non-political representative from Myanmar” to the summit, “while noting the reservations from the Myanmar representative,” the statement said.

Mustafa Izzuddin, a global affairs analyst at consultancy Solaris Strategies Singapore, called the exclusion “a political stopgap measure for ASEAN to assuage international criticism.”

“Second, it ensures its regional reputation as an organisation that can still play an active role in Southeast Asian affairs,” he told AFP. Izzuddin also said the move sent a “political

signal” to the junta “that ASEAN is not one to be pushed around, and that Myanmar must show its seriousness and its commitment to roll out the five-point plan.”

Myanmar, mostly ruled by the military since a 1962 coup, has been a thorn in ASEAN’s side since it joined in 1997.

Elections in 2015 won by Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party ushered in the start of civilian rule – but this was cut short by the coup.

ASEAN has been under international pressure to address unrest that erupted after the putsch, including massive protests; renewed clashes between the military and ethnic rebel armies in border regions; and an economy spiralling into freefall.

The bloc has expressed disappointment at a lack of cooperation from the junta, which continues to crack down brutally on dissent.

More than 1,000 civilians have been killed, according to a local monitoring group. AFP

Security under spotlight after British MP stabbed to death THE fatal stabbing of British lawmaker David Amess was a terrorist incident, police said Saturday, as MPs pressed for tougher security in the wake of the second killing of a UK politician while meeting constituents in just over five years.

Veteran Conservative MP David Amess, 69, was talking with voters at a church in the small town of Leigh-onSea east of London when he was stabbed to death on Friday.

Police said they arrested a 25-yearold suspect and were investigating “a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism.”

Police have said the investigation is in the “very early stages,” though multiple UK media outlets, citing sources, reported that the suspect was believed to be a British national with Somali heritage.

Britain’s politicians were stunned by the highly public attack, which recalled the murder of a pro-EU lawmaker ahead of the Brexit referendum.

In June 2016, Labour MP Jo Cox was killed by a far-right extremist, prompting demands for action against what lawmakers said was “a rising tide” of

public abuse and threats against elected representatives.

Cox’s sister Kim Leadbeater, who became an MP in the same constituency this year, said Amess’ death had left her “scared and frightened.”

“This is the risk we are all taking and so many MPs will be scared by this,” she added.

Home Secretary Priti Patel on Friday ordered police across the country to review security arrangements for all 650 MPs. House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle promised no “knee-jerk reactions” but told Sky News: “We will take further measures if we need to”.

Labour MP Chris Bryant wrote in The Guardian that “sensible measures” were needed both in parliament, which is typically heavily guarded, and in constituencies, where MPs often hold meetings in locations such as church halls and high-street offices.

“We don’t want to live in fortresses.

But I don’t want to lose another colleague to a violent death,” Bryant added.

AFP

This handout photo released by NASA shows a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with the Lucy spacecraft aboard at Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA is poised to send Lucy, its first spacecraft to study Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids, to glean new insights into the solar system’s formation 4.5 billion years ago, the space agency said. AFP

THREE people were killed Saturday when an earthquake struck the Indonesian tourist island Bali, the disaster agency said.

The 4.8 magnitude quake struck at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers northeast of the town of Banjar Wanasari. Shallow quakes tend to do more damage than deep tremors.

Two people died when the quake triggered a landslide that buried their house in Bangli regency while another person was killed in the port town of Karangasem, officials said.

The death toll was not expected to rise, they added.

“The quake was felt strongly for five seconds,” said disaster agency spokesman Abdul Muhari.

“People were panicking and ran from their houses when the quake hit.”

The tremor’s epicenter was far from the main tourist hub in Bali, which is slowly reopening to international visitors after a pandemic shutdown.

Indonesia experiences frequent quakes due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of intense seismic activity where tectonic plates collide that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin. AFP

Law firm stops representing HKU in Tiananmen row A TOP global law firm will no longer represent the University of Hong Kong in seeking the removal of a Tiananmen memorial from its campus after it came under heavy criticism in the United States for helping China purge dissent, the Washington Post reported.

Mayer Brown is the latest international company to face pressure over how its actions in China contradict its more progressive statements in the West.

The eight-meter (26-feet) high “Pillar of Shame” sculpture by Danish artist Jens Galschiot has sat on HKU’s campus since 1997, the year the city was handed back to China.

It features 50 anguished faces and tortured bodies piled on one another and commemorates democracy protesters killed by Chinese troops around Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989.

“Going forward, Mayer Brown will not be representing its long-time client in this matter. We have no further comment,” the firm said in a statement on Friday, the Washington Post reported.

The Chicago-founded firm has worked on civil rights issues in the United States but found itself under criticism from rights groups and US lawmakers over representing HKU to seek removal of the only Tiananmen memorial on Chinese soil.

“It is even worse American law firms are doing the bidding of the Communist Party to erase the memory of the brave, young Chinese students who gave their lives for freedom in Tiananmen Square,” Senator Lindsey Graham told Substack newsletter Common Sense.

Senator Ted Cruz also condemned Mayer Brown, saying the “American firms should be ashamed to be complicit” in the sculpture’s removal.

In response to the law firm’s decision, Galschiot said it would be almost impossible for Western law firms to represent and help Chinese and Hong Kong authorities suppress freedom of expression “without suffering severe damage to their reputation and image.”

The controversy was sparked by a letter Mayer Brown wrote on behalf of HKU ordering the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance, which used to organize the city’s annual Tiananmen remembrance vigils, to remove the statue by Wednesday.

HKU has so far not taken any action since the deadline passed and Galschiot said he had requested a hearing with the university over the fate of the statue.

Hong Kong used to be the one place in China where mass remembrance of Tiananmen’s dead was still tolerated.

But the city is being remolded in China’s own authoritarian image in the wake of huge and often violent democracy protests two years ago.

Scores of opposition figures have been jailed or fled overseas and authorities have also embarked on a mission to rewrite history and make the city more “patriotic.”

On Friday, eight pro-democracy activists were sentenced to between six and 12 months over an unauthorized assembly last year. AFP

Garcia Marquez’s clothes, other items on sale in Mexico

NASA to launch Lucy spacecraft to probe Jupiter Trojan asteroids NASA was set Saturday to launch a spacecraft called Lucy on a 12-year mission to explore for the first time a group of rocky bodies known as the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, gathering new insights into the solar system’s formation.

The Atlas V rocket responsible for propelling the probe was scheduled to take off on Saturday at 5:34 am local time (9:34 am GMT) from Cape Canaveral.

Named after an ancient fossil of a pre-human ancestor, Lucy will become the first solar-powered spacecraft to venture so far from the Sun, and will observe more asteroids than any probe before it – eight in all.

Additionally, Lucy will make three Earth flybys for gravity assists, making it the first spacecraft to return to our

Bali earthquake kills 3, injures 7

planet’s vicinity from the outer solar system.

“Each one of those asteroids, each one of those pristine samples, provide a part of the story of the solar system, the story of us,” Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission, told reporters on a call.

Lucy’s first encounter will be in 2025 with asteroid Donaldjohanson in the Main Belt, between Mars and Jupiter. The body is named for the discoverer of the Lucy fossil.

Between 2027 and 2033, it will encounter seven Trojan asteroids – five in the swarm that leads Jupiter, and two in the swarm that trails the gas giant.

The largest of them is about 95 kilometers in diameter. AFP

LOVERS of literature and fashion, take note: 400 articles of clothing and accessories from Gabriel Garcia Marquez’ wardrobe will go on sale in Mexico next week, the family of the Nobel Prize-winning writer said Friday.

Titled “The Wardrobe of Garcia Marquez,” the event will mark the opening of a cultural center in Marquez’ residence in southern Mexico where the author of “One Hundred Years of Solitude” lived and wrote for many years.

The items that will go on sale were selected by Marquez’ granddaughter Emilia Garcia Elizondo, who will head the future cultural center.

“Gabo” – Marquez’ nickname – “had favorite tailors and favorite designers,” Garcia Elizondo said in a statement.

She added that some of the clothes have “small vestiges of his life as a writer: a jacket with a marker in a pocket, which he used to autograph his books, or even an ink stain.”

The writer’s trademark tweed jackets are also part of the collection. Items that belonged to his wife, Mercedes Barcha, will also be offered but the outfit she wore when her husband received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982 will be on display but not for sale.

The sale will kick off on October 20, with the proceeds to be donated to a foundation that helps children from indigenous communities in southern Mexico.

The titan of magical realism, Marquez died on April 17, 2014 at the age of 87 in Mexico City where the Colombian lived part of his life. His wife died at the same age on August 15, 2020. AFP

Young GenSan entrepreneur redefines PH male personal care industry A

OCTOBER 17, 2021

Noah Solutions founder Ralph Layco

33-YEAR-OLD entrepreneur and marketing professional from General Santos City, who lost 11 outlets of his barbershop chain amid the pandemic, refused to give up. Relentless and persistent, he used the crisis as an opportunity to reimagine his business, leading to a direct-toconsumer retail model that is now disrupting the male personal care industry in the Philippines.

Ralph Oliver Layco is the founder of Noah Solutions which provides a wide range of products for men.

Noah is regarded by Lazada Philippines as the top 4 personal care brand for men and by Shopee Philippines as one of the potential “movers of the personal care for men”. Noah Solutions emerged as a strong brand this year based on Layco’s deep understanding of the segment.

A successful entrepreneur prior to the pandemic, he established at a young age General Santos City-based Sonny & Marsha Holdings Inc. which is behind several brands including Macho Mucho Salon, the largest barbershop chain in Davao City and the whole of Mindanao. He received various awards such as Asia’s Most Outstanding Young Marketer in 2019 from the Asian Marketing Federation and one of the top young entrepreneurs in 2017 from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He is a tourism provocateur, having helped rebrand SOCCSKSARGEN to SOX. Layco is also the founder of New Bold U—a weeklong pop-up school for entrepreneurs and passionate individuals. He graduated from the University of the Philippines-Visayas with Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Marketing and Communications in 2010. He received the 2009 Most Outstanding Marketing Student in the Philippines award from the Philippine Marketing Association.

Layco’s businesses were doing well until the pandemic struck the country in 2020 and forced the government to restrict mobility and close business establishments such as barbershops.

“I was initially scratching my own itch when I was thinking of a way for us to get back on the horse as our current businesses were affected by the pandemic. Having lost 11 branch-

More than a fifth of Filipino youth unable to find jobs n By Mary Umlas ABE Lopez, 19, said the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on her health after she was forced to stop her studies and lost her job at a fast food chain which was shut down at the height of the lockdown.

Lopez, the family breadwinner did not waste time applying for a job, but she had to wait for months to get one.

“I applied at more than 10 BPO companies since June, but I was only accepted in September,” Lopez said.

While the country is experiencing the longest lockdown yet, Lopez is one of the many young workers hit hard by the economic fallout from the pandemic.

Department of Labor and Employment assistant secretary Dominique Tutay said during the 19th Development Policy Research Month that youth unemployment climbed to 21.5 percent or about 1.5 million workers this year.

Tutay said lockdown restrictions challenged DOLE’s youth employability programs when workers below 21 years old could not leave their homes.

Amid the crippling impact of the pandemic to the labor sector, Tutay said they took the lockdowns as an opportunity to digitize their programs to reach more audience.

“We have also used the lockdown period in updating our modules and career information pamphlets [intended] for career advocacy and employment coaching,” she said.

To ease the unemployment problem, government programs were implemented such as Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or Tupad, COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program and Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong.

es last year, we were challenged, but nevertheless became relentless to start anew in a new space,” Layco says in an email interview.

Personal experience “Growing up, I suffered from bullying because I had severe acne and acne marks. I also suffered from hair loss triggered by the pandemic.

Rather than taking these challenges emotionally, I used my product development hat and learned formulations and ingredients, worked with teams of chemists to counter these challenges that also men of today are going through,” he says.

“I used my former and current struggles into a creative challenge. I believe the men of today, represented

by Millenials and Gen Z which are 75 percent of the Philippine market, respect continuous innovation and are also after genuine, fresh brands that are into the narratives of self-care, inclusion and debunking outdated models of living,” says Layco.

“As a millennial myself, I want to live in a world where men are not being marketed to with narratives of objectifying women, and getting the women to bed’ but narratives of self-improvement, growth and reinvention. This we try to build day by day through Noah Solutions,” he says.

Curiosity Layco tries to move away from the label of ‘entrepreneur’ and believes that it is his curiosity to find solutions to everyday problems that brought him to where he is now. “I simply consider myself as more of a curious individual. I am naturally drawn into seeing problems as opportunities ever since I was a 10 year old. I’m amazed with the actual exchange of value, from a unique offering that eventually enriches the customer. I sold play cards of Power Rangers when I was 10,” he says.

He established his business at 21. “I

borrowed money from my dad to start a barbershop chain. I eventually launched different businesses since then, from a flight congregator app to magazine publishing. I’ve been through multiple failures which I believe prepared me and made me resilient and understand which ideas and business models work and don’t,” he says.

When the pandemic derailed most businesses, Layco looked at the DTC or direct-to-consumer model which sell products directly to the consumer, skipping the wholesaler, retailer or middlemen in the process, making it less third party dependent. He says this allows for a more enriched customer experience, increased opportunity for SKUs or product offerings.

“This leads the way for more innovations, not restricted to retailer shelves. This also allows companies, like ours, to truly offer to the customers through niches with more customer service as the current marketplace is crowded by first movers and companies with bigger capitalizations,” he says.

Since launching Noah Solutions in January 2021, the business quickly took off and reached national exposure, thanks to online shopping platforms. “We’ve grown 1,300 percent since we started nine months ago, with 20,000+ customers and counting. We reach 400+ orders a day with 60 percent plus retention rate,” says Layco.

Noah Solutions is now the fourth top personal care brand for men on Lazada, after multinationals such as Nivea, Unilever and P&G. Layco links the success of Noah to their understanding of men’s evolving preferences. “First of all, we highly differentiate Noah because we’re on a mission to reimagine the ‘men care’ space, not just an afterthought

or a brand extension. Men today are different from 10 years ago. They are more values-oriented, they read the label first before they purchase.

They check the brands’ integrity first online before they give their loyalty.

They listen to experts and also make active conversations openly about problems such as skincare and even mental health. It is something unheard of a decade ago,” he says.

“Men’s needs have always been the same but their lifestyle, goals and values are evolving and different. We reverse engineer from that insight and truly have them centered in the products we create and the messaging we communicate. Also, we’ve leveled up our customer service experience, making it more personal and responsive.

Rather than just pure transactions, we believe in lifelong relationships with our customers,” says Layco.

“With Noah as a men care space innovator, we get to have a great opportunity to serve the market vs other brands that add ‘men’ in the brand and often sees men as an afterthought,” he says.

Continuous growth Layco expects this segment to sustain its growth in the coming years as the personal care space (skincare to haircare) market in the Philippines is expected to reach $2.4 billion by 2025.

“The personal care for men space worldwide has been growing since 2017 with a 35-billion-euro value. In 2015, the personal care for men space has grown by three folds and will grow by folds especially with the emergence of the Gen Z market,” he says.

This will also be supported by the growth of the e-commerce sector. The Philippines’ e-commerce market was valued at $3 billion in 2019 and is estimated to reach $12 billion by 2025.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

Couple rides on baking business to survive crisis THE pandemic has displaced thousands of workers and entrepreneurs, as the government imposed mobility restrictions and lockdowns in a bid to contain the spread of the virus. Now that it found a new way of allowing businesses to resume while keeping the health protocols in place, Catherine and her husband Roderick Parce are hopeful that their source of income—baked goodies and supplies—will get back on track.

“This pandemic has greatly affected our Catherine and Erc@th’s Roderick Goodies Parce small online business, as we do not have that huge sum of money to keep up with the challenges.

God’s great mercy and providence allowed my husband to work on board the vessel once again, after a long vacation because of stricter policies implemented brought about by several lockdowns. Our fervent prayer is to slowly expand our regular local patrons from within our premise and beyond NCR areas,” says Catherine, 48, who used to work as a nurse in the Philippines and abroad.

Catherine promotes Erc@th’s Goodies through online channels, particularly Facebook, Youtube and Google. It supplies various baked goodies, pastries and customized cakes for birthday parties and other events.

What makes Erc@th’s Goodies different is the way it delivers the products in style—on board the family’s subcompact sedan, adorned with party supplies.

Catherine says her baking journey actually began in 2000 while she was employed as a registered nurse overseas. “It started as a hobby but eventually became a career as I gained more ideas through online media like Youtube and Google,” she says.

When she decided to become a full-time mom to their son, she gained a whole new perspective that paved the way to her small online business.

“Having my own oven and my families and friends as our patronizers, we then decided to venture into this challenging point in life,” she says.

Fabric freshener spray found effective against viruses CLINICAL studies found that Natucair, a Japanese fabric freshener spray brand made to remove odors, are more than 99.9-percent effective against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 for up to 24 hours.

Earth Corp., a Japanese household company behind Natucair, made the announcement on its viral test conducted by Japan Textile Products Quality and Technology Center.

“The viral studies conducted by (QTEC) in Kobe, Japan showed that Natucair Linen and Fabric Spray was effective in killing >99.9 percent of SARS-CoV-2 suspension up to 24 hours on fabric, making it an important product in preventing the spread of the virus not only to loved ones and family within the same household, but to the public” said Shintaro Noda, who is in charge of regional marketing of Earth Corp.

Yuya Suzuki of research and development showed great excitement for these results. “In such difficult times, any additional caution to protect against COVID-19 is welcome and we’re proud to ensure that Natucair can play a role in helping Filipinos remove the virus from their fabrics.”

The groundbreaking discovery comes as the Philippines registers thousands of new COVID-19 cases a day.

One potential point of transmission that should not be taken for granted is fabrics. Recently, BBC reported a study led by microbiologist Dr. Katie Laird that looked at the survival rate of COVID-19 on commonly worn fabrics. It was found the virus could survive for up to three full days on fabric.

With this in mind, staying cautious and diligent is paramount for Filipinos nationwide. Continued adherence to recommended health and safety protocols such as mask-wearing in public area, social distancing and limited outdoor errands are key to remaining safe from the virus.

Natucair is the first fabric freshener spray available in the Philippines is found to be effective against virus on linen and fabric including car seat covers for up to 24 hours.

Additional steps at home can be taken as well to help prevent the spread to family members. Keeping fabrics in and around the home clear of the virus for up to 24 hours will be a valuable step in avoiding infection.

Noda said Natucair continues to be a helpful tool for every Filipino’s daily routine. “Vigilance about our health continues to be of utmost importance in our daily lives as we grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. This is why Earth Corp. is thrilled about Natucair’s efficacy in killing SARS-CoV-2 for up to 24 hours,” Noda said.

“Natucair is designed to remove odors and germs on everyday fabrics such as bedsheets, curtains, clothes, car seat covers and even the inner fabric linings of shoes and motorcycle helmets. We highly recommend using

Natucair regularly on fabric items in and around the house to keep you protected from SARS-CoV-2. For example, hard to wash items like upholstered couches where various members of the family or guests sit together in close contact can be sprayed down with Natucair to remove odors, germs and SARS-CoV-2 lingering on the fabric,” Noda said.

“Or one can even spray down their clothes in the morning and not worry about the virus on their clothes when they get home at the end of the day. This full 24 hours of protection allows us to not worry about spreading the virus on our clothes and fabric. It provides peace of mind to many Filipinos who may potentially be exposed to the virus when having to go to work or run errands outside,” Noda said.

Catherine bakes at home in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan where she does all the work, while her husband is in charge of driving the car, whenever he is in the country.

He works at an international cruise vessel.

“Our online small business is located in our own residence and we have no employees as our slim budget can’t afford one. I am the baker, the cook and the delivery crew, while my husband drives the car.

We’ve also decided to keep it small but of high quality,” says Catherine.

She says while their small online business is just like others, she makes sure the quality of goods and service is always attained at the highest level.

“Ingredients are carefully handpicked and prepared and proper sanitation in the working area is always met,” she says.

Their target customers are ordinary people looking for sumptuous goodies for affordable price. “We managed to keep the small business moving despite the pandemic by promoting our mobile surprise package using our Wigo vehicle. We’ve learned to be more economical and diverse with our products which primarily started with brownies butterscotch and cupcakes and eventually led to customized cakes with other delicacies and dishes as add-ons. This pandemic has made me not just an improved baker but also a better and stronger individual,” says Catherine.

“We simply hope and pray that we could maintain the quality of goods and service of our small business which are all prepared with love,” says Catherine, a daughter of a pastor.

Her plan is to establish her own kiosk or cafe nook in their area soon.

She encourages others to keep their faith amid this challenging period.

“Believe in God’s loving promise and the resilience that we Filipinos are known for,” says Catherine.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

OCTOBER 17, 2021

T

DROLLY’s amazing tool

Drolly Claravall as part of Team Philippines in Asian Masters

HEY say an athlete’s battle begins in the training. The medal, or the absence of it, is just the result of how much effort has been put into the preparation.

But athletes need to have their physical condition at its peak to continue high-level training when preparing for an important game or tournament.

Some experience recurring pain, and when this happens, training suffers.

Athletes have a lot of pain issues because they work physically harder than normal individuals, especially those so-called super athletes. But still, their bodies have limits and the body responds by sending pain signals to the brain. And during these times, treatment is necessary.

Normally, muscle pains are treated with massage to ease them up. They have to be relaxed and rested.

And now there’s an accurate way to treat those muscles without the massage or physical therapist using their hands or thumbs.

It’s called the blading system or simply a form of therapy that uses the “Hand-Held Massage Tool.”

One of the few proponents of the blading system in the country is Drolly Claravall, an athlete and academician who is based in Ilagan City, Isabela.

After several years of practice, Claraval put up her own rehabilitation clinic called Amazing Touch, which caters to athletes and those who have chronic pain problems, and designed her own utility tool.

“They (athletes) have a lot of body pains issues, and when the blade glides in the specific area of the body it eases and relieves the pains. The blade has the capacity to detect muscle adhesions that causes the body pains due to over workout or repetitive wrong movement,’ said Claravall.

“That causes abnormal circulation and body pains If you blade the tight muscles it releases the pressure and the circulation will go back to normal and gives you relax feeling again.”

The utility tool is used to facilitate the treatment of acute and chronic body pains of athletes, fitness and sports enthusiasts, and even individuals with body pain and mobility issues, dysfunctions muscles in the quickest possible time without electricity or battery assistance.

It has an ergonomic shape that purposely imitates the hands, thumbs, and fingers of the massage therapist to provide an accurate massage technique to their client.

Among those she treated were fellow athletes in the Masters national athletics team, tennis players, even medical doctors, politicians, and business persons in Ilagan, for their problems like acute frozen shoulder, recovery from stroke, and lumbar problem.

She has also provided treatment to the national teams of dragonboat, kickboxing, and athletics that included Eric Cray, Marestella Santos, and Hocket Delos Santos. Masters athletes from Singapore, Malaysia, Brunie, India (oldest athlete 103 Man KAUR), Indonesia, Sri Ranka, New Zealand also got a taste of her blade system and gave their thumbs up.

ATHLETE AND ACADEMIC Claravall is not your ordinary alternative therapy practitioner.

She is the regional director of the Philippine Athletics Federation (PATAFA) since 2008 up to the present and has been a member of the National Masters Athletics Claravall with the Philippine national kickboxing team at its training camp in Benguet

and graduate school. She also serves as Faculty Federation president of ISU, and member of the Board of Regent. She was University Socio-Cultural Director and Campus Sports Director.

It was in July 2017 when she first encountered blading system when she was informed by her cousin-doctor about a seminar on blading and taping at UP Diliman. Prior to that, Claravall has already attended a lot of training in the treatment and rehabilitation of chronic and acute paints and sports injuries.

She found the blading technique interesting. “But the problem was after the treatment there were bruises and clients felt pains during the process of therapy sessions. So, I am a little bit scared to experience it,” she shared.

of the Philippines (NMSAP) since 2016 and participated in National and several international invitational competitions in Singapore, Sabah Malaysia, and China, In 2019 in Malaysia, she took the bronze medal of women’s hammer throw in the 50-55 category. She also

participated in the 2018 World Masters Championships in Malaga Spain.

Claravall is also an excellent member of the academe, being an Associate Professor V of Isabela State University, teaching Physical Education basic and major subjects,

AMAZING TOOL So, Claravall thought of designing her own tool. “So I was convinced and inspired to make a design that is perfectly fitted in all areas of muscle fibers. This new tool designed is intended to assist the massage therapists, physiotherapists, Physical therapists, gym trainers, and coaches, to

Lady Aces sweep WNBL 1st round GAME SUNDAY (Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center) 11:15 a.m. – Taguig vs. Glutagence THE Paranaque Lady Aces swept their first round assignments beating the Quezon Lady SparTAN, 68-48, on Saturday in the Pia Cayetano WNBL Season 2021 at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Allana Lim had 18 points and 18 rebounds as the Lady Aces won their fourth game in a row to complete the sweep of their first round games.

Lim had a relatively silent outing in their previous match against Glutagence with eight points and 16 rebounds but regained her touch on offense against the Lady SparTAN. Jenina Solis with eight points and seven rebounds to also play a pivotal role in the Lady Aces’ win.

Paranaque also contained Quezon’s leading scorer Kath Araja to just seven points on 3 of 13 shooting from the field.

Chicky Faraon scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Lady Spartan (1-4), who are now in tie with Pacific Water at the bottom of the standings.

Action resumes on Sunday with Taguig facing Glutagance at 11:15 a.m. at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center.

Scores: Paranaque 68 – Lim 18, Solis 8, Tolentino 6, Angeles 6, Gloriani 5, Tingcang 5, Ventura 5, Alcoy 5, Bahuyan 4, Galicia 4, Baarde 2, Reyes 0, Siat 0, Santos 0, Dela Merced 0.

Quezon 48 – Faraon 12, Valenzuela 9, Ventura 7, Araja 7, Taroja 4, Jimenez 3, Nadres 2, Tupaz 2, Iida 2, Naynes 0, Razalo 0, De Austria 0.

Quarterscores: 14-11, 30-22, 53-39, 68-48

Allana Lim glides for a layup in this piece of action

facilitate the execution of therapy for everybody—athletes and non-athletes, young and adult, and even senior citizens.”

For a trained expert, the tool is effective to detect and fix fascia adhesions, relieve acute and chronic body pain, improved mobility, restore dysfunctions muscles, enhance body circulation, enhance neurological pathways, speed up recovery time and relax muscle fiber.

One of those who benefitted from Claraval’s Amazing Touch tool was school principal Coleen Estrellon who had was afflicted with Gullian Barre’ Syndrome that caused her to experience numbness from lower to upper extremities due to vein infection and muscle weakness.

She was advised to undergo therapy and told that it would take six months to three years for her to recover fully.

When she sought treatment using the Amazing Touch tool, she recovered within three months. “Now, I am back to work and working normally and getting better,” said Estrellon.

Claravall’s dream is for Filipinos to use the tool in their homes, to help treat their friends and family members.

‘I have made it my mission to disseminate the benefits and efficacy of this tool for Filipinos to prevent taking up pain relievers just to ease the pain, but the source of pain is still existing.

We can get treatment natural way.”

OCTOBER 17, 2021

A ‘b

bment’

to fight breast cancer H

EADS up, ladies!

Have you done your breast selfexamination already?

According to the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology, the Philippines has the highest number of breast cancer diagnoses among Asian countries, with three out of 100 Filipinos developing the disease before they reach the age of 75. It comes in second to

lung cancer in terms of mortality rate.

Anyone can perform a breast selfcheck in the comfort of their homes to detect symptoms, which, experts say, is one of the best ways to prevent and treat breast cancer.

Foreign data show women who are diagnosed with breast cancer when it is located only in the breast (63 percent) have a five-year survival rate of 99 percent.

For almost 30 years, direct selling company Avon has been advocating early detection of breast cancer through regular self-examination, especially during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

This year’s campaign of the company invites women of all ages to join “The Boobment: Avon’s Simultaneous Breast

Breast cancer survivor and mental health advocate Dr. Gia Sison

Experts advise women to do breast selfcheck 3-5 days after their monthly period.

Self-Check” on Oct. 21, happening on Avon Philippines’ Facebook page at 6:00 p.m.

The online activation aims to encourage Filipinos to do regular checkups through a simple and fun routine that they can do every month.

“When you join The Boobment, your support benefits all the other Filipinos who may or may not be aware of this indiscriminate disease,” says Marion

The Breast Cancer Promise Foldable Umbrella illustrates all the steps in breast self-examination.

Limlengco, head of PR and communications at Avon Philippines.

“It is very important that we let everyone know that this disease can be addressed early, especially when you do self-checking at home,” adds Limlengco.

When to do the monthly breast selfcheck? Experts recommend doing it 3-5 days after your monthly period.

Through The Boobment, Avon seeks to raise funds in behalf of the Philippine Cancer Society and breast cancer patients. The public may donate via GCash QR code or through the purchase of limited-edition items at the Avon Shop.

Fundraiser items include the SelfCheck Watch, which features a mechanism that will remind the wearer when they should do their monthly breast self-check; the Breast Cancer Promise Manual Foldable Umbrella, which fea-

tures all the steps in self-checking; and the Avon Empower Non-wire Mastectomy Bra, a nylon micro-fiber lace bra equipped with soft lining with pockets for prosthesis and cushioned straps for comfort and support.

In addition to the online event, Avon is also partnering with 24/7 telehealth KonsultaMD to provide an alternative avenue of consultation for those who might detect symptoms of breast cancer.

“Breast cancer is not something we should take lightly, but it’s also not something we should be afraid of. All of us need to be aware of the risks, the signs, and the actions to take should you encounter it,” concludes Limlengco. “That’s what the Avon Breast Cancer Promise has always been about, and that is what we’ve been always been advocating.”

BREAST BUYS

Boob-inspired products on the web

By Theriz Lizel R. Silvano

Write your to-dos for tomorrow the night before.

Collaborate and surround yourself with people who inspire.

THEY’RE cute, they’re sassy, they celebrate all sizes of titties.

These three Instagram shops show that boobs should be celebrated and appreciated, not shamed or sexualized. The following breast-inspired products – “breast buys”, if you will – aim to inspire everyone to honor boobs and raise awareness about breast cancer.

Boob mugs

10 HABITS OF SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE

@peekaboobph Launched in October 2020, Peek A Boob celebrates feminism, breastfeeding, and women’s bodies by offering ceramic boob mugs handmade by Filipino artisans. Products range from travel mugs and espresso cups, to regular mugs with handles in various designs.

The store also sells butt mugs, body mugs, and breast of luck candles.

THE key to your success, it appears, lies in the things you do everyday.

It takes conscious effort to cultivate positive habits that contribute towards success. Some may be simple, while others require more discipline. The Benilde Well-Being Center shares some lifechanging habits noted by Jim Probasco, a specialist in personal finance, business, and retirement, in his meetings with global industry leaders.

Plot your day

Come up with a to-do list every evening to be prepared for the next day.

For Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsay, Sunday is the day to organize the tasks for the week to come.

When overwhelmed, relax, take a breath and concentrate on it for 3 to 5 minutes.

Rise early

Wake up early to reduce stress levels as mornings may have less distractions.

Notable early risers include Disney chief executive officer Robert Iger, former Yahoo! chief executive Marissa Mayer, and Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson.

Prioritize diet, exercise, and hygiene.

A subsection may have complex regi regimens, but for achievers such as Tesla Motors chief executive Elon Musk, it can be as simple as showering. The magnate said that it had the most posi positive impact on his life.

Relax

Read

Read for pleasure, and/or to gain inspiration, knowledge, and insight.

Author JK Rowling advised, “Read as much as you possibly can; nothing will help you as much as reading.”

Take action

Build your network

Recognize the importance of collaboration and teamwork. Surround yourself with people who inspire and provide insight.

@macaboobs.ph

Do not neglect personal care

Take a breath and concentrate on it for three to five minutes. Relaxation – whatever form it may be – comes easily and naturally when one is organized.

A plan without action is nothing more than a potential. While others are still reconsidering their next moves, successful individuals act quickly. They often and always take the all-important first step.

Boob macarons

Be frugal

Save more than what you spend.

Share

Share your time and volunteer for a good cause.

Donate or volunteer. It does not need big bucks to support noble causes. Well-known bene benefactors include Microsoft co-found co-founder Bill Gates and American celebrity Oprah Winfrey.

Cultivate positive attitude

Acknowledge and be grateful for blessings.

With breast cancer awareness and women empowerment at the core of its business, Macaboobs sells macarons featuring boob sketches. According to the brand, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of its sweet treats goes to ICanServe Foundation, a nonprofit that advocates early breast cancer detection through breast self-examination.

Macaboobs also uses its platform to empower women and highlight those who inspire and embody “what we should all aspire to be”.

Boob pots

@thenakedpot “Normalize normal bodies,” The Naked Pot PH writes in the bio of its Instagram page where customers can buy its very reallooking boob pots (nipples and all) for plants, dried flowers, or pens. The store says all pots are locally handmade, and no boobs nor pots are identical.

Each boob pot is shipped in eco-friendly buri gift box.

OCTOBER 17, 2021

Maneskin shows ironic side in new single ‘Mammamia’ FOLLOWING on from its summer global hits ‘I Wanna be Your Slave’ and ‘Beggin’ (which both spent months inside the top 10 on the global charts) Italy’s flamboyantly energetic rock band Måneskin returns with their new single “Mammamia” produced by Fabrizio Ferraguzzo and Maneskin.

As always, the song is live recorded to keep the sound raw and rough. Despite being a rock song, the track also brings dance and club vibes, starting with a strong bass’ riff and a rhythmic drum.

The tongue-in-cheek lyrics talk about people’s perception of your behavior, while your intentions and thoughts are truly different. For the track, the band shows its ironic side for the first time.

The band has consistently been one of the most-streamed artists globally of the last few months amassing more than three billion streams. It also managed to have two songs simultaneously in the global Top 10 for over two months.

The group’s track “Beggin” has charted Top 10 in 63 countries, while “I Wanna Be Your Slave” in 35 territories. They also have achieved 24 Platinum and 16 Gold certifications from around the globe so far. The band also has two singles simultaneously in the UK top 10 and reached #1 in the United States Alternative Radio chart. This marks the fastest rise to #1 in U.S. Alternative Airplay by a band new to the format in 24 Years.

Such is the hunger for this band that when Maneskin recently announced its European Loud Kids” tour, it sold out in two hours.

Alden Richards is limitless with GMA

M

ULTIMEDIA star Alden Richards has renewed his contract with GMA ahead of his 11th year celebration with the network.

In a grand event held at Edsa-Shangrila Hotel on Friday, the 29-yearold TV and movie star and recording artist was joined by GMA’s top executives, led by GMA Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, in renewing his ties with Kapuso Network.

Also present in the contract signing were Gilberto Duavit, Jr., Felipe S. Yalong, Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes, Regie Bautista, Jose Mari R. Abacan, Angel Javier-Cruz, Daryl Zamora, and Artist Center consultant Johnny Manahan.

Speaking to Manila Standard Entertainment, Richards described his relationship with his mother studio as “limitless.”

“Of all the people, of all the networks, it was GMA who gambled on me. They were not sure but they still decided to give me a chance.

And being a newbie back then, who am I to just take that opportunity for granted,” Richards said.

The actor added that what he could do in return was to work passionately to earn the network’s trust as he likens his partnership with GMA as a relationship.

Explaining his description of his career in GMA as limitless, Richards underscored the network’s unparalleled support even letting “me to expand my wings.”

“They let me do projects outside the walls of

Alden Richards shows off his car parked in front of Edsa Shangri-La Hotel during his contract renewal with GMA Network.

Maneskin is an Italian four-piece rock band composed of vocalist Damiano David, bassist Victoria de Angelis, guitarist Thomas Raggi, and drummer Ethan Torchio.

KathNiel

blockbuster movies go Bollywood THE biggest hits of the Philippines’ leading movie company will soon be adapted for one of the world’s biggest film markets. ABS-CBN Film Productions announced Friday it is forging an agreement with Global One Studios of India to remake five of its box-office movies, all top-billed by the phenomenal love team of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla.

The deal is historic in Philippine cinema as it will be the first time for India, considered as one of the largest movie hubs in the world, to localize five Filipino films with lead artists and introduce them to new and talented Indian loveteams to Bollywood.

“This is a great opportunity for ABSCBN Films to share our well-loved and heartfelt stories and become a source of inspiration for global audiences,” ABS-CBN Films Managing Director Olivia Lamasan said.

“The Philippines and India share many common values, among which is the strong love for family, that resonates in our films and will soon be experienced by the people of India,” Lamasan added.

the network. They didn’t restrict my potential as an actor because I believe I can give more. That’s why I believe it’s a wise decision to stay with GMA, probably until the end of my career,” Richards stated.

The multimedia star started his career in the Kapuso Network in 2010 debuting in the afternoon fantasy series Alakdana opposite Louise delos Reyes. Since then, he has expanded his catalog and ventured into film acting and music recording.

He has appeared in a dozen films, the most recent of which was Hello, Love, Goodbye with Kathryn Bernardo. The film holds the record of being the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time earning almost a billion pesos worldwide.

Richards is also among the few recording stars who earned a Diamond Record. His Wish I May album sold over 150,000 units and was certified by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry.

“Everything is just right timing.

If not in the next five years or eight years, believe me, in time magiging oras mo rin. So, sa mga nagsisimula, patience, hard work, and faith are the key to success.

And always have a good heart.

Kasi yan ang maiiwan sa tao, hindi ang kasikatan mo. So, always have that,” Richards concluded.

“We are happy to be associated with ABS-CBN Films to bring their well-crafted love stories to the people of India by adapting their heartrending films in Indian languages. Family bonding and cultural values are common to both Philippines and India, which are captured seamlessly in their films. This will be the first time that five Filipino films will be remade in India and we are excited to join hands with ABS-CBN to showcase their relationship stories with the same intensity and emotions through our films,” said Ramesh Krishnamoorthy, President of Global One Studios.

The five films set for Indian remake are “Barcelona: A Love Untold,” “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” “Crazy Beautiful You, “She’s Dating The Gangster,” and “The Hows Of Us,” which was the Philippines’ top-grossing film in 2018.

The Indian adaptation deal comes at a time when Kathryn and Daniel, popularly called KathNiel, are celebrating their 10th anniversary as a love team. They started teaming up on television in 2011 and eventually became top movie stars with a stellar

lineup of projects together.

“She’s Dating The Gangster,” their coming-of-age 2014 romantic-comedy film, is about two students who pretend to date to make an ex-girlfriend jealous.

“Crazy Beautiful You” came out a year later, centering on the story of a rebellious teenage girl sent on a medical mission camp and finds herself falling for a politician’s son. “Barcelona: A Love Untold” is about two Filipinos who are trying to get over their respective past and finds romance in Spain. It was released in 2016 and named Best Picture in the 65th Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards.

The 2017 romantic-comedy drama “Can’t Help Falling In Love” is an exciting tale of an engaged young lady who discovers that she is already married to a total stranger.

“The Hows Of Us” is about a young couple who dreams of growing old together but faces hurdles along the way. It received the Golden Jury award from the 50th Guillermo Box Office Entertainment Awards.

Gigi de Lana ‘lang Sakalam’ BREAKTHROUGH star Gigi de Lana gives an excruciating new meaning to the popular Pinoy slang “Sakalam,” which serves as the title of her debut single released under Star Music.

“Sakalam” is a power rock ballad that lyrically tackles a person’s struggle to let go of a broken relationship despite the detachment of her partner. The term is an inverse of the Tagalog word “malakas,” adding more emphasis to the emotional grief caused by the separation as depicted in the song.

“Even though ‘sakalam’ talaga siya, pansamantala lang ‘yang nararamdaman mo.

Itong song na ito, hindi lang tungkol sa heartbreak. It also gives positive vibes,” De Lana says of the song.

Apart from being the first original song of the newest pop-rock diva, “Sakalam” also serves as the first single off her debut full-length album set to drop in 2022. As of writing, the song is currently listed at the top spot of Spotify Philippines’ Fresh Finds playlist.

The Star Magic artist and RISE Artists Studio talent performed and recorded “Sakalam” with The Gigi Vibes band members Jon Cruz, Jake Manalo, LA Arquero, and Romeo Marquez. The track was written and composed by Marquez with Erwin Lacsa, with Cruz serving as its arranger, and ABS-CBN Music creative director Jonathan Manalo as its producer.

Last August, De Lana announced many of her exciting projects lined up for the remaining months of 2021, led by her participation in the Filipino music festival “1MX Dubai” and the staging of her very own “YouTube Music Night” digital concert both in December.

Pop-rock diva Gigi de Lana drops “Sakalam” which serves as her first single off her debut full-length album set to release in 2022

OCTOBER 17, 2021

Treatments

for a cat’s dry skin B

ALD spots, scabs, scaly patches, or flakes similar to dandruff are signs that your cat has dry skin. They are most commonly found around the nose, tail, lower back, and ears.

When you are sure your cat has dry skin, the next step is to figure out what is causing it, and then how to treat it.

“Dry skin is a common concern for cats, often bringing cats and their pet parents to the veterinarian,” said Lauren Leonard in “5 Treatments For Cat Dry Skin Getting Rid of Your Cat's Itchy Skin” in petcarerx.com “Dry skin is no fun for anyone, including cats, but there can be many different reasons for it.

Luckily, there are just as many ways to get rid of it,” Leonard said.

Dry skin is common across all breeds. You will usually see a cat with dry skin constantly scratching and itching, especially focused on a certain

A cat's skin is healthy and well if the cat is given nutritious food since kittenhood.

spot on the body.

Top Home Remedies for Dry Skin on Cats

Here are five remedies from Leonard to treat your cat’s dry skin and heal their discomfort quickly: 1. Give a cat food that has a higher protein content.

2. Consult your vet if you suspect your cat has allergies and ask for an allergy elimination plan for your cat.

3. Giv an Omega-3 fatty acid supplement to provide natural moisture for your cat’s skin.

4. Use a humidifier to help protect your cat’s skin from becoming dry If your home is naturally arid.

5. Put a natural moisturizing agent (such as coconut oil) on your cat’s dry areas. There are shampoos and essential oils that can also be used as remedies for dry skin on cats.

Indications of dry skin in cats

Dandruff and flakiness are the main indications that your cat has dry skin. “The skin itself may appear dull when you part the fur to have a look.

Also, your cat may be itching, scratching, or lick licking more than usual, “ said Leonardo.

Scratching of the head and neck may be due to food allergy.

Hair loss, or thinning hair by the tail, may be due to fleas.

Cause of dry skin

A whole family of orange and a fostered kitty were nourished by a mama cat who was given nutritious food and lots of water to keep them all healthy, including their fur and skin. The mama cat which gave birth to four kittens was reported by a concerned SM employee. Tet Santos rescued and fostered them. A few weeks later, another rescuer friend of hers, Lanie Pakingan, found an orphaned kitten with cement on his tiny body in a hospital in Quezon City. Rescuer Tet agreed to take and foster him. Luckily, the orange mama cat accepted the orphaned kitten and treated him as her own brood.

“More often than not, dry skin is a red flag alerting you to some other condition. By address addressing the real issue, dry skin should go back to nor normal,” said Leonardo.

The common causes of dry cat skin are: Allergies: Ask help from your vet to determine if your cat is allergic to an ingredient in his food or to the pollen in the air. Your cat may be react reacting to something in the environment, like a new bed or grooming product.

Poor Diet: Your cat may need more vitamins and minerals. Their dry skin could be an indica indication of a deficiency in the cat food.

Changes in the Weather: When it is colder and you use heaters, even a human’s skin gets dry.

This is easy to treat. Just use oils that are safe for cats when put on the skin.

Other causes of dry skin in cats are: 1. Fleas: Flea infestation can cause dry skin. Removing the fleas can solve the problem unless rean infection has developed. This, in turn, will re quire antibiotics and/or a special ointment.

2. Lice and Other Parasites: When parasites are removed, the problem stops.

3.Overgrooming: Cats can over groom themselves. “Over grooming can indicate a serious medical problem or a behavioral issue like OCD. Both the medical problem, and the excessive licking, can lead to dry skin,” Leonardo said.

4.Fungal Infections: “Fungal infections like

yeast infections, ringworm, and sporotrichosis, for example, can lead to dry skin. Sporotrichosis can spread to humans, and should be managed right away,” Leonardo said.

5.Serious Health Conditions: Older cats can develop hyperthyroidism, heart conditions, and diabetes. Dry skin are usually early indications of one of these illnesses.

The 5 treatments

1. A Better Diet More Protein: Most commercial dry cat food do not contain sufficient amount of protein that a cats needs. They “are low on protein and high on carbs, which is the opposite of what nature requires for a cat’s health. The solution? More protein. Consider buying a higher protein food and/or mixing some wet food into your cat’s diet, and see how their skin fares,” Leonardo stressed.

Eliminating Allergens: Ask your vet immediately for a plan to identify the cause of allergy.

2. Omega 3 Fatty Acids & Other Supplements If your cat has a well-balanced diet, you can ask your vet if you can give an Omega 3 supplement.

“The benefits of fish oil for pets even go beyond skin moisture -- some tests indicate it may help prevent cancer. You may also consider a more general supplement, like Dermatrix, that includes keratin for skin health,” Leonardo said.

3. Topical Treatments, Shampoos, and Grooming Shampoos: Use shampoo only if your cat is very dirty, greasy, or sticky. If not, there is no reason to bathe a cat, Leonardo said.

Flea and tick Topical treatments will remove lice or flea infestations, which may skin issues.

Brushing your cat regularly will help spread their natural skin oils.

4. Antibiotics & Antifungals The vet will prescribe medicine like antibiotic for any infection-related skin condition.

5. Household Changes Dry Heat: If the air is very dry due to the hot weather or use of heater, use a humidifier in the room where your cat spends the most time in.

Allergies: “Have you changed laundry detergents? Brought in a new scratching post? Started using a new household cleaner? Your cat’s dry skin could be a reaction or an allergy to one of these substances,” Loenardo said.

HOW TO CARE FOR SENIOR PETS By the Philippine Pet Institute

lates, or anything with caffeine in it.

Pet owners are also discouraged from giving their older pets hard food such as bones and hooves.

To better understand an aging pets’ diet, pet owners are encouraged to consult their local veterinarian.

AS PETS grow older, their routine, lifestyle, and nutritional requirement change and one of the most common signs that comes with aging is a pet’s loss of appetite. Despite this, pet owners must continue to ensure that their pets meet their nutritional requireEveryday Exercise ments every day otherwise these pets Another of the most common are at risk of developing serious health signs of aging in pets is their energy issues such as obesity, diabetes, liver level. As pets age, their energy levels disease, and heart disease. drop and many pet owners may find them becoming lethargic compared Nutritional Requirements to when they were younger. This adof Senior Pets justment in their pet’s lifestyle may Every pet requires a well-bal- lead to obesity and other health isanced diet regardless of their age. sues. To avoid this, pet owners must Many commercially-available pet provide their four-legged companfood are scientifically developed ions the opportunity to exercise evby experts to provide pets the re- ery day. Running with older pets may quired nutrients they need to stay not be suitable however pet owners healthy every day. may opt to take longer walks and As pets age, they typically be- light jogs around the neighborhood come more sedentary and a well- as an alternative to ensure their bebalanced diet is a must for senior loved senior pets continue to get pets. Some pet owners avoid pro- their daily dose of exercise. tein however this nutrient is imporAging pets may also begin to tant to help fuel their pets’ muscles experience sore and stiff joints. In and avoid muscle loss, another consultation with a veterinarian, common problem among senior pet owners can develop mobilpets. Some pet owners may also see ity exercises to help keep their pet food specifically formulated for se- safely moving if he or she is experinior pets, which often is lower in fat encing joint point. and contains fewer calories.

Much like younger pets, senior dogs Veterinary Visits and cats must avoid toxic treats which Regardless of a pets’ age, pet ownincludes grapes, raisins, onions, choco- ers must regularly check in with their

Exercise your senior pets to keep them healthy.

But limit to a few minutes of walking, and make sure it is not too hot outside. Give you senior dog a lot of water after an exercise. In photo is 16-year-old senior dog Silver, rescued from the pound by Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL Inc.) who loves a short walk in front of the house.

veterinarians to make sure that their pets are in tiptop condition. These visits can help pet owners establish the proper diet and exercise regimen, as well as acquire vaccinations to protect their pets from fleas, ticks, worms, and other parasites.

These visits should happen on a regular basis and not just when a pet is sick. For pets with underlying illnesses, a regular trip to the vet will ensure that they are receiving proper treatment to secure quality of life.

Interaction with another pet is important for a dog's mental health. Richie, rescued from the pound and now 7-21 years old, loves roaming around the garden with another rescue, Margaux, who was saved from being cooked as an appetizer (pulutan) by construction workers.

Interaction with humans is also important for a senior pet's emotional health. Georgy, a senior dog with cancer who was saved from street, loves to pose with Ate Tani. She is such a sweet girl of 12.

About the Pet Food Institute

Pet Food Institute (PFI) is committed to educating pet owners about proper pet nutrition to keep pets healthy and happy. Through its local initiative, Well-Fed, WellNurtured campaign in partnership with the Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines (VPAP), PFI seeks to advocate responsible pet ownership to the evergrowing Filipino pet community.

Since 1958, the Pet Food Institute has been the voice of the U.S. pet food industry. PFI is the industry's representative before Congress and state legislatures, as well as state and federal agencies; public education and media relations resource; organizer of seminars and educationalprograms; and liaison with other organizations. PFI represents the companies that make 98 percent of U.S. dog and cat food, an industry with more than $20 billion in U.S. retail sales and $1.3 billion in exports in 2015.