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Saudi to pay OFWs P4.6b

Amount settles unpaid salaries of 9,000 Pinoy workers in time for Christmas

T

HE government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is expected to pay P4.6 billion in unpaid salaries to 9,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were forced to return to the Philippines after they stopped receiving remuneration amid the coronavi coronavirus pandemic.

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Young kids below 12 yrs. to take only 1/3 vax dose

By Willie Casas THE Department of Health will be studying the vaccination of young children below 12 years old against COVID-19 now that it has started the inoculation of adolescents 12 to 17 years old.

The statement came after the US Food and Drug Administration said it has authorized the use of the Pfizer vaccine for kids aged 5 to 11.

In an interview on ABS-CBN TeleRadyo, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said studies indicated that unlike adolescents and eligible adults, younger children must only take one third of the COVID-19 vaccine dose.

“Yes, considering that other countries are vaccinating those below 12 [years old]. We will wait for the results of the study,” Cabotaje said in a separate interview on Dobol B TV. Starting Nov. 3, all minors in the Philippines aged 12 to 17 may get the vaccine.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Saturday the completion of the vaccination of around 12.7 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 against COVID-19 could be achieved in the first quarNext page ter of 2022.

In a statement Sunday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said he is optimistic the payment will be made when Saudi Labor Minister Ahmed al-Rajhi visits the country in December this year.

“So, the unpaid salaries of our OFWs can be settled just in time for Christmas,” the Labor chief said.

Bello was in KSA last week to attend the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, a forum for talks and cooperation between Asian Countries of labor origin and destination.

It aims to enable safe, orderly, and regular labor migration in some of the Next page

Davao journo killed at home, probe ongoing

ORLANDO DINOY

By Rey E. Requejo and Willie Casas A REPORTER for an online news service was shot dead in his home, becoming the latest in a long line of journalists slain in the country.

Orlando Dinoy, a reporter for Newsline Philippines and anchor for Energy FM, was shot six times by a gunman who barged into his apartment in Bansalan town, in Davao del Sur, local police chief Major Peter Glenn Ipong said.

Dinoy died immediately.

Officers were still investigating possible motives, he said.

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Church seeks 50% capacity, 100 percent under Level 2

By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta WITH loosening COVID-19 restrictions, the Catholic Church hopes the government will allow churches to

admit half their capacity in worshippers, an official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said Sunday.

“I hope for a 50 percent capacity. If they will lower it DOST eyes clinical trials to level 2, I hope they can allow 100 for ivermectin Nov. 15 percent, but health protocols should be

NEWS /A2

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HALLOWEEN SCENES. Yasha Mae Ananayo and her horse Sky pose as ‘Calavera’ as young artists celebrated Halloween in Baguio City’s Wright Park by dressing up for a contest staged by Kabalyudong Riders and costumes produced by Ezrah Allysa Ananayo. On a more somber note, Father Reginald Malicdem blesses the urns of the deceased at the Manila Cathedral on Sunday (inset), as cemetery visits have been suspended for All Saints Day to avoid public gatherings amid the pandemic.

Dave Leprozo and Norman Cruz

Cops deployed at park areas with expected holiday crowds

SANTA TIME. A Santa

Claus performer shares a light moment with a health worker during the giant Christmas tree lighting at SM Taytay on Saturday, while another Santa scatters confetti to welcome shoppers to SM San Mateo in Rizal, launching the yearly tradition of SM SuperMalls in the country. Danny Pata and Manny Palmero

PHILIPPINE National Police Chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar has ordered all police commanders to deploy sufficient personnel in all leisure areas as people are expected to flock there during the All Saints Day or "Undas" holiday today and Nov. 2.

Eleazer made the directive to ensure that safety protocols are being followed amid the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.

"Coordinate with local government units and the management of establishments and leisure areas for the orderly implementation of health and safety regulations," Eleazar told police officers over the weekend.

Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on

Sunday assured it is recalibrating its crowd management measures to ensure visitors' adherence to health protocols while Manila Bay’s dolomite beach is closed until Nov. 3.

While the agency enjoins the public to appreciate the beauty of the dolomite beach project, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu underscored that keeping people safe from COVID-19 remains their top concern.

"The public’s health is still of paramount concern for us. This is the reason why we at the DENR are studying the guidelines to make sure that the public can still appreciate the beauty of the dolomite beach while keeping them free from sickness," he Next page said.

Romualdezes laud INC head for his ‘kind heart’ in serving God, country

By Rio N. Araja

Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo a long life as he celebrated his 66th HOUSE Majority Leader Martin birthday on Sunday.

They thanked Manalo for his “kind Romualdez of Leyte and his wife, Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie heart” in serving God and the country Next page Romualdez, wished Iglesia ni Cristo

Iglesia ni Cristo Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo (left) receives well-wishes from Tingog Party-List Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez on his 66th birthday on Sunday.

2,787,276 3,410

45,233

43,172

128

2,698,871

5,825

(As of 4 PM, OCTOBER 31)

G20 agrees to 1.5C on global warming ROME—G20 leaders agreed Sunday on the need to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius but fell short of a hoped-for pledge on reaching net zero emissions, according to a draft communique seen by Agence-France Presse.

The group of 20 major economies emit nearly 80 percent of carbon emissions, and are under pressure to go bold on climate to give a much-needed boost to crucial UN climate talks starting in Glasgow on Sunday.

According to the draft, which Next page

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News

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

400k added to registered voters S “We think it was generally successful,” said Comelec spokesman James Jimenez of the recently closed registration process that was extended until Oct. 30.

Despite the extension, the Comelec is still on schedule for its activities for the 2022 elections, he said, noting that each item on its slate had slack time to account for unforeseen circumstances.

The registration period was supposed

to end on Sept. 30 but was extended until Oct. 30 because of pressure from Congress.

On Saturday, the Comelec said convicts may still run for office as long as the sentence was no more than 18 months.

“To be disqualified, there must be a conviction for a crime involving moral turpitude (not all crimes do), or a sentence to a penalty of more than 18 months,” Jimenez said on his Twitter account.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, any person who has been declared by a competent authority insane or incompetent, or has been sentenced by final judgment for subversion, insurrection, rebellion, or for any offense for which he has been sentenced to a penalty of more than 18 months or for a crime involving moral turpitude, will be disqualified to be a candidate and to hold any office, unless he has been given plenary pardon or granted amnesty.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar welcomed the initiative of some presidential aspirants and other candidates in the 2022 local and national elections to undergo a drug test.

Saudi...

unsettled pay in KSA. Despite the legal victory, however, the Saudi government refused to pay the OFWs. “But our government is really thankful that the meeting with the KSA labor minister was fruitful,” Bello said.

President Duterte sent Bello to KSA in 2016 to help the beleaguered OFWs. “Now, our migrant workers can now have a merry Christmas,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Labor department cautioned Filipinos aspiring to work overseas to be wary of spurious job offers online.

This was after the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Madrid, Spain received a request to verify an online job offer for a fruit farm cashier position in the country with a salary of 3,000 or 6,000 Euros (P175,000 to P350,000).

With numerous job offers proliferating in social media, POLO Madrid Labor Attaché Joan Lourdes Lavilla advised job seekers to be careful in entertaining ‘too good to be true’ job opportunities abroad.

“We advise jobseekers to be very cautious. Scammers use names of legitimate companies and when you look at the job offer, it is usually too good to be true.

They also give mobile numbers only. One tip is to check their given address using Google maps because sometimes there is no actual structure or company,” said the Labor Attaché in a virtual briefing.

She also said that another indication of a scam is when an applicant is being required to send out money to an individual through a remittance center.

“What our kababayan did was right.

She checked with us first before grabbing

the 'job opportunity',” she added.

Overseas job seekers may visit the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration’s website at https://www. poea.gov.ph/ to verify the legitimacy of job offers.

Lavilla said that with the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in Spain, more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are now back to work. She also shared that Spanish employers prefer Filipino workers because of their capacity to speak and understand the English language.

OFWs in POLO Madrid’s jurisdiction, which includes Spain, Andorra, France, Portugal, and Monaco, are composed of household service workers; hotel and restaurant staff; and professionals like information technology personnel, researchers, managers, and nurses. Vito Barcelo

Cabotaje said the country has already administered 35 million first doses and would need to double its effort to hit its 70 percent target.

Official data, however, showed that as of Oct. 28, only 31.4 million first doses have been administered, while those fully vaccinated have reached 26.8 million.

The government aims to fully vaccinate around 77,139,058 people, which accounts for 70 percent of the country's

total population, to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19.

Cabotaje said last week that only 50 percent of the country's population--the low threshold of the government target-may be fully vaccinated by the end of this year, while the high end target of 70 percent may be achieved in the first quarter of 2022.

The Philippines has received some 105 million doses since March, she added.

The government has also begun inocu-

lating children aged 12 to 17 with health risks and will soon expand the program to include all kids of the same age nationwide.

This aims to encourage the "rest of the adult population," especially the elderly, of whom only 50 percent have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Cabotaje said.

An independent research group attributed the decline in COVID-19 cases to the country's wide vaccination coverage.

THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Sunday said it is hoping to begin next month the postponed clinical trials of ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment.

Previously, the DOST said they were revising the methodology for the clinical trials to avoid issues of data manipulation and data validity.

In an interview on Dobol B TV, Science Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said DOST is still revising their protocols before they could start the clinical trials.

"Hopefully, since these were postponed twice, by November 15, we can finally start with the trials. There are many areas where the trials will be conducted.

It's not like vaccines. There will be a long intervention,” he said.

"Hopefully, by the end of the year, we can submit a first report," added dela Peña.

The Philippines' Food and Drug Administration has said ivermectin products registered in the country for human use are in topical formulations and for treatment of external parasites such as head lice and skin conditions such as rosacea.

It added that ivermectin is not approved for treatment of any viral infection.

Even the US FDA warned against using ivermectin to treat patients infected with COVID-19.

But in April, the DOST revealed it will conduct trials to determine if ivermectin can be used to treat COVID-19.

Ivermectin maker Merck already stated there is “no scientific basis for a potential therapeutic effect [from ivermectin] against COVID-19 from pre-clinical studies."

Merck also said there was "no meaningful evidence for clinical activity or clinical efficacy in patients with COVID-19 and a concerning lack of safety data in the majority of studies."

The Department of Health has said a reevaluation of newer evidence on ivermectin showed that it is still not recommended as a COVID-19 treatment.

crowding incident last Oct. 24, during which an estimated 121,744 people visited the dolomite beach, nine days after its soft re-opening along Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

Cimatu apologized for the crush of people at the beach, promising that the agency “will confront the things that need to be corrected.”

To prevent overcrowding, the DENR

decided to close the area from Oct. 29 to Nov. 3 in conjunction with the long holiday weekend.

Cimatu said a further investigation would be conducted during the beach closure to decide if the area would be reopened to the public after Nov. 3.

If not, he said, the dolomite beach would remain closed until the completion of the second phase of its rehabili-

tation and expansion.

The DENR chief designated retired Philippine Army Brig. Gen. Reuel Sorilla as the new task force’s ground commander of the dolomite beach.

As for other areas, the Picnic Grove in Tagaytay, a top tourist destination, resumed operations, allowing fully vaccinated visitors from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

On the other hand, Baguio City will be

opened to the public beginning Nov. 1.

All ages are allowed to the summer capital, but visitors must be fully inoculated against COVID-19 while those aged 12 to 17-years-old must present a negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or antigen test result.

The requirement is optional for those aged 11 and younger. Rio N. Araja (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

even if they have already been vaccinated," said Angara.

Until the number of COVID cases drops to zero, the government cannot claim success in its efforts to address the threat, Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson stressed.

Lacson said the drop in cases in past weeks should not lull authorities into a false sense of security.

"We can claim success only if we have zero cases. As long as there are new cases, even one or two, we cannot do so. And we are still having new cases by the thousands)," he told DWIZ radio.

He noted that in other countries and territories, authorities call for meetings among government officials if there is even one new case.

While the supply of vaccines is increasing, Angara said the country still has a long way to go to vaccinate a majority of its population.

Angara renewed his appeal for the DOH and local government units to go the extra mile to encourage the citizenry to get vaccinated and to bring the vaccines directly to those who cannot go out such as the senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

“We support the call of our Vaccine Czar Sec. Charlie Galvez for LGUs to be more creative and flexible in its efforts to vaccinate its constituents. Many LGUs have successfully conducted house-to-house vaccinations to cater to the senior citizens and other eligible individuals. They could serve as models of best practices that the other LGUs could emulate,” Angara said.

Meanwhile, Lacson lamented there are still lapses being committed by the government and issues that have to be addressed—including lack of trust by the public for some vaccine brands.

In its latest report, the OCTA Research Group said the positivity rate in the National Capital Region has declined to five percent, the lowest rate since July 14.

The group noted that the World Health Organization considers a positivity rate of five percent or below as acceptable. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Davao...

Guevarra said the National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine National Police are among the member agencies represented in the PTFoMS. He urged journalists who feel they are in danger to contact the task force.

“We are calling on all journalists and media persons who feel that their personal security is at risk to immediately inform the PTFoMS, through its Executive Director Joel Egco, so that the task force may take all the necessary protective or preemptive measures,” he said.

On Friday, Guevarra said every violent attack against a Filipino journalist is investigated immediately by law enforcement agencies.

“The Presidential Task Force on Media Security created under AO (Administrative Order) No.1 has been doing its job diligently and has helped in the prosecution of many cases of media violence,” Guevarra said.

In response to the Philippines’ high ranking in the Global Impunity Index, Guevarra said Filipino journalists “are in the better position to say whether their lives are in mortal danger as they go about practicing their profession.”

He also said the prosecution of Filipino journalists for libel should not be considered as government attacks against

the media.

Egco said in a statement that the “government condemns in the strongest terms this heinous crime against a respected member of the media and has instructed the local Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bansalan to immediately conduct a complete and thorough investigation of the incident.”

“Even if the motive seems to be a personal matter, the Task Force will see to it that justice will be served to those responsible for Dinoy’s death”, Egco added.

In a statement, Eleazar said, “We will look into all the possible angles on this case, and we are also asking the help of our kababayan to provide us with any information that could lead to the resolution of this case.”

Eleazar also offered his condolences to the family of Dinoy, adding that the regional office assigned to Davao del Sur will ensure justice for the victim.

Eleazar said they are coordinating with the PTFoMS to ensure that they will probe all cases of harassment against the members of the press.

"We will not accept this type of attack against media freedom,” Eleazar said in Filipino, adding that the Constitution requires that press freedom be protected. – With AFP

sources said would be the final one, the G20 reaffirm their support for the 2015 Paris Agreement goal of keeping "the global average temperature increase well below 2 degrees and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels".

In addition, they state that "keeping 1.5 degrees within reach will require meaningful and effective actions and commitment by all countries."

This will "require taking into account different approaches, through the development of clear national pathways that

align long-term ambition with short- and medium-term goals, and with international cooperation and support".

Experts say meeting the 1.5 degree target means slashing global emissions nearly in half by 2030 and to "net-zero" by 2050.

But the draft declaration, due to be published later Sunday, does not set a clear deadline for carbon net neutrality, saying it should be achieved "by or around mid century."

Summit host Italy was pushing for a 2050 target, but this was hard to square with China, the world's largest carbon emitter, which has set its own deadline at 2060.

The declaration includes a commitment to "put an end to the provision of international public finance for new un-

abated coal power generation abroad by the end of 2021", a key pledge that mirrors what was already promised by China in September.

Elsewhere, it reaffirms the so-far unmet commitment to mobilise $100 billion for developing countries for climate adaptation costs.

Opening the formal discussions on climate on the second and final day of the G20 Rome summit Sunday, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi urged counterparts to aim high.

"The decisions we make today will have a direct impact on the success of the Glasgow summit and ultimately on our ability to tackle the climate crisis," he said. AFP

Romualdez couple said.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa Panginoon sa mahabang buhay na ibinibigay niya sa inyo. We are thankful, too, that He has continued to bless you with strength of will and exemplary character through the years. All these blessings you put to good use in steering Iglesia ni Cristo to greater heights, and in service of our less fortunate brothers and sisters,” they said.

“Patuloy ang aming panalangin, Ka Eduardo. May the Lord pour in his blessings of good health to you and your loved ones. May He keep you safe and strong at all times. We pray that He continues helping you shepherd your flock on the road to salvation,” they added.

The couple credited Manalo for the good character formation of the Filipinos, especially the youth.

“We personally wish to extend to you, Ka Eduardo, our sincere appreciation for all the good work you have done for the good of the Filipino nation. You have shown us that one is justified by works and not by faith alone. You made us realize that for one to be a true believer in Christ, life should give evidence,” they said.

The Romualdezes wished for the continued success of the INC leader in the

fulfillment of his aspirations for the Filipinos as one of the country’s moral authorities.

“On your birthday, we also wish the INC all the best as you propagate the faith in every part of the globe. May the Lord continue to bless your efforts in spreading the good news of salvation and in living a life of good deed. Maraming salamat po sa serbisyo. Maraming salamat po sa malasakit,” the couple said.

OME 400,000 more people were added to the roster of 62 million registered voters for next year’s national polls as a result of the extended voter registration, a spokesman for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Sunday.

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world’s largest temporary labor migration corridors.

Before the dialog, Bello said he was invited by Al-Rajhi for a private meeting where the KSA labor executive appealed for the lifting of the suspension on Arab mega recruitment agencies, which were responsible for the deployment of OFWs whose salaries and benefits remained unpaid.

Bello said he assured Al Rahji the Philippines would lift the deployment ban in exchange for the payment of salaries of the OFWs. Repatriated by the government in 2016, the unpaid OFWs, through the help of state lawyers, won the case over their

Young...

From A1

A total of 23,727 minors with comorbidities aged 12 to 17 have been vaccinated so far.

Meanwhile, the Philippines aims to partially vaccinate at least 70 percent of the 77.1 million people eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine by the year’s end, the DOH also said Sunday.

Cops...

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“I would like to put on record that the Manila Bay Task Force will conduct an investigation on the said incident to assure the people that this will not happen again in the future,” Cimatu added.

He said he wanted to address the

Church...

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maintained," said Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of CBCP Public Affairs Committee.

Metro Manila and seven other regions will be under COVID-19 Alert Level 3 from Nov. 1 to 14, which allows religious gatherings at a maximum of 30 percent venue capacity.

“But of course, that's just our dream so people can be given the chance to enter the church and pray. At the end of the day, if the experts deem it otherwise, the Church will follow," Secillano told ABSCBN TeleRadyo.

The Philippines logged on Sunday 3,410 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 2,787,276, as all laboratories were operational while four labs were not able to submit their data on time, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism will offer RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) tests free of charge starting today—but the offer is only for domestic tourists.

A report on 24 Oras News Alert said that to avail of the offer, interested local tourists need to log on to the Tourism Promotions Board website https://www.tpb. gov.ph/ for the application requirements.

Also, only 350 applicants will be accommodated daily, the report noted.

Also, two senators warned the public not to be complacent following the continuing decline in COVID cases and reminded them to keep observing minimum safety protocols.

Sen. Sonny Angara said the public and the government as a whole should not let their guard down because there are still a lot of people getting infected, succumbing to the virus, and new variants of the virus continue to emerge.

"The public should continue observing the minimum safety protocols such as wearing face masks and to practice social distancing while outside of their homes

Romualdezes...

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with great passion and “malasakit” (compassion).

“We join the nation in extending our warmest greetings to you, Ka Eduardo Manalo, on the joyful celebration of your 66th birth anniversary this year,” the

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"One of the angles we are looking at is his work as a media man... but no one can give us a concrete lead so far," Ipong said.

Dinoy was the 21st journalist killed since President Rodrigo Duterte took power in 2016, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said.

National police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar ordered a thorough investigation into the case and vowed to protect the media from attacks.

In a report this month, the New Yorkbased Committee to Protect Journalists listed the Philippines at seventh place in its Global Impunity Index, with 13 murders of journalists still unsolved.

The nation has been a mainstay in the annual index since it started in 2008.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he would direct the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) to lead and coordinate an investigation of Dinoy’s killing.

Police reports showed that Dinoy was killed by an unidentified gunman inside his rented apartment at past 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30.

G20...

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Eleazar said the move reflects the candidates’ commitment to drug-free governance.

"As applicants for government positions, candidates for the May 2022 elections should indeed be at the forefront of showing to the public that they are clean and that they will continue addressing the problem," he said in a statement on Saturday.

Vice President Leni Robredo and Senators Panfilo Lacson, Manny Pacquiao and Ronald dela Rosa as well as Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso, and former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have supported the proposal to require both national and local candidates to undergo drug tests.

DOST eyes start of ivermectin trials on Nov. 15

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

P7.8b set to help feed 3.6m kids, – Mike Defensor CONGRESS has set aside P7.8 billion in the 2022 national budget for feeding programs that are expected to benefit over 3.6 million undernourished children, Rep. Michael Defensor (Anakalusugan) said on Sunday, ahead of the observance of November as National Children’s Month.

“We are counting on the national government’s targeted feeding programs to help improve the nutritional and overall health condition of children from poverty-stricken families who continue to suffer from hunger,” said Defensor, House committee on welfare of children vice chairperson.

A Social Weather Stations survey in June found that an estimated 3.4 million Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger – hunger due to lack of food to eat – at least once in the past three months.

Defensor said the Supplemental Feeding Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development is getting P4.2 billion to provide meals and milk to 1.9 million children aged two to five years old over a period of 120 days.

“The program targets underfed children who are not formally enrolled in kindergarten,” Defensor said.

Meanwhile, the School-Based Feeding Program of the Department of Education is receiving P3.3 billion to supply nutritious food products and fresh milk to 1.7 million learners from kindergarten to Grade 6, also over a period of 120 days, according to Defensor.

“The SBFP targets wasted and severely wasted learners, or those deemed too skinny for their age,” Defensor said.Rio N. Araja

‘Ka Oris’ death in Bukidnon blow to NPAs THE death of ranking New People’s Army leader Jorge Madlos alias “Ka Oris” in an encounter with government troops in Bukidnon last Saturday will greatly affect plans of the communist terrorists to plot violence against peaceloving Filipinos, the military said.

“His death will deter the activities and plans by the NPA for he can no longer direct the communist terrorists’ violent action against our people,” Armed Forces spokesperson Col. Ramon Zagala said in a statement on Sunday.

Madlos was the commander and spokesperson of the NPA’s national operations command and spokesperson of the National Democratic Front in Mindanao.

He was wanted for criminal cases such as murder, multiple murders with double frustrated murder, and robbery with double homicide and damage to properties.

“Ka Oris was directly and indirectly responsible for the death of soldiers and civilians for decades as he perpetuated a violent armed struggle that struck terror to our people who only desire peace in solving our country’s problems,” Zagala said.

He added Madlos’ death was a major blow to the communist terrorists in Mindanao and will usher in eventual peace in the region.

“The AFP calls on the remaining leaders and members of the communist armed movement, who have been misled to this senseless cause, to surrender and return to the fold of law and eventually join the path towards peace and development in our country,” Zagala said.

He also said the AFP leadership applauded the operating troops of the 403rd Infantry Brigade under Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) for the successful combat operations that led to the death of the NPA leader on Oct. 30.

In a news release on Saturday, 4ID commander Brig. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the reign of Madlos has finally ended following his death. PNA

EARTH ART. Art activists

paint a street mural themed Pangarap Hindi Panaginip Activism for Climate Justice, an activism-anchored project to mark Greenpeace’s 50th anniversary globally in Marikina City on October 30, 2021. The project is part of the global Climate Justice and Liability campaign which seeks to hold governments and corporations accountable for human rights harms arising from the impacts of climate change.

DA targets hybrid rice area: 1.3m ha for 2022 T

HE Department of Agriculture has targeted a hybrid rice area of an unprecedented 1.2 to 1.3 million hectares for crop year 2022 after a lull in hybrid planting as it aims to boost food security amid the continuing COVID 19 pandemic.

At least 700 hectares of hybrid rice are being readied for the bumper dry season of 2022. That leaves around 500 to 600 hectares for the less anticipated rainy season, but still a big area compared to previous years.

Out of the 15 priority provinces, five provinces already have identified locations. These top five provinces are Bukidnon, Bicol, Nueva Ecija, Isabela, and Ilocos.

“For our third year now, we have aggressively pursued hybrid rice planting.

That is the reason why we have been able to attain the highest level of rice production this year. With hybrid rice, you’re

sure to automatically harvest an additional 1.52 metric tons per hectare versus inbred,” said Dr. Frisco Malabanan, DA rice program consultant.

The Philippines posted a record rice harvest of 19.44 million MT in 2020 from 18.81 million MT in 2019.

Yet, the DA budget for the food security program for 2022 has yet to be assured for the hybrid rice program to sustain.

“The budget of DA for food security has yet to be approved. It’s still being discussed in the Senate,” Malabanan said in a statement.

Private seed growers have committed to supply DA the needed hybrid rice

seeds. They are readying the rice area particularly involving DA’s rice clustering program.

The clustering program consolidates a hybrid rice area of at least 100 hectares particularly in 15 priority provinces.

“We assure government of our support for this public partnership program. It will be the key to our goal for food sufficiency and food security,” said Rice Board President Recher Ondap.

“We hope to be assured of the government’s budget allocation as many farmers have started land preparation for the dry season 2022.

Budgetary support should not only be for this rice clustering program but for the entire food sufficiency and resiliency program.”

The DA has been successful in restoring the hybrid rice program after it secured a budget for this in the last two years.

NEW INFIRMARY. SM

Foundation, in partnership with UNIQLO Philippines, announced Sunday the newly improved Montalban Infirmary Hospital, turned over to the local government unit and people of Rodriguez, Rizal on October 14 was now ready to provide quality healthcare services.

Duterte names Usec Bernie Cruz DAR acting chief PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has tapped Undersecretary Bernie Cruz to be the acting chief of the Department of Agrarian Reform, Malacañang has announced.

Duterte signed Cruz’s appointment paper on Oct. 28, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement.

“The Palace confirms that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed last October 28, 2021 the appointment of Mr. Bernie Ferrer Cruz as Acting Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR),” Roque said.

Cruz replaced DAR Secretary John Castriciones who stepped down from the post to join the 2022 senatorial race.

Roque said the Palace wished Cruz “all the best in his new assignment.”

“We are confident that Acting Secretary Cruz will continue to oversee the completion of DAR’s programs and projects in the remaining months of the current government,” he said.

Prior to his new stint, Cruz served as DAR Undersecretary for Foreign Assisted Projects.

In a statement, Cruz vowed to hasten the distribution of the remaining undistributed lands to landless farmers, as the government still has a balance of over 700,000 hectares of agricultural lands.

Cruz also promised to provide support services to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and bring social justice to agrarian communities.

“If these lands were awarded to qualified and deserving ARBs, the country would have a sustainable agricultural sector that would contribute to ensuring food security,” he said.

Cruz also said his resolve is to provide support services to the agricultural sector to attain a stable rural economy in the country.

“I am committed to bring industrialization to the agricultural sector and through provisions of support services such as various livelihood opportunities, infrastructure projects, farm machinery and equipment, capability-building training, loan facilities, among other support, we can achieve a stable rural economy,” he said. PNA

Socio-political gap between Muslims, Christians thinning in BARMM

By Nash B. Maulana PIKIT, North Cotabato—Old stories of social gap between Christians and Muslims are slowly fading out following perceived mutual reaching out--as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao leadership engages both sectors in development projects.

More than 200 Muslim and Christian local officials and their families peacefully gathered here Thursday, among them political rivals in the coming elections, during a ceremonial groundbreaking of

24 two-story barangay halls.

Barangay Chairman Gulam Guimbalanan of Kabasalan, a riverside village here, said he and other barangay officials were thankful for this “once in-a-lifetime project,” to President Rodrigo Duterte, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim, lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, who heads BARMM’s Ministry of the Interior and Local Government, Pikit Mayor Sumulong Sultan, and Bangsamoro Member of Parliament Akmad Abas.

Sinarimbo led Thursday the ground-

breaking here of the two-story barangay halls the regional government will build in 24 villages and in adjoining Aleosan town, both in Cotabato.

He said barangay governance is every citizen’s first encounter with government—and so the BARMM’s development efforts start in that level, “both in terms of infrastructure programs and on improving the administrative and operational functions of local governance.”

Zaiton Abas, MILG senior programs development officer, said the initial beneficiary-barangays were Rajamuda,

Bagoinged, Boliok, Barungis, Kabasalan, Gli-Gli, Bulol, Macabual, Balong, Manaulanen, Pamalian, Lagunde, Bualan, Panicupan, Nalapaan, Batulawan, Nunguan, Gokotan, Nabundas, and Macasendeg in Pikit cluster; and Dunguan and Tapodok in Aleosan.

In the first group of villages benefitting from the P 3.5 million BARMM-MILG barangay halls project, construction works have been ongoing, said Engineer Abibazar Sali, MILG project development officer.

Anti-graft panel to probe irregularities in DHSUD READY FOR DEBATE.

Taguig Rep. and senatorial candidate Alan Peter Cayetano has called for a round robin weekly and monthly presidential debates from November 5 until February 7, eve of the end of the official campaign period. Norman Cruz

By Rio N. Araja THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development has launched its own anti-graft panel to look into irregularities within the agency.

At the culmination of the National Shelter Month celebration, Secretary Eduardo del Rosario spearheaded the official rollout of their anti-corruption committee and administered the oath of commitment to panel members.

He said the committee aimed to “create and sustain a venue for checks-and-balances in our policies, programs and operations, ensuring full integrity among us, our backbone of honesty while we cultivate service excellence.”

“Let me also take this opportunity to thank the Presidential Anti-Corruption

Commission, led by chairperson Greco Belgica, for uplifting the pride and dignity of the men and women in the bureaucracy through his stern and logical campaigns on good and clean governance,” he said.

Under Executive Order 43 as amended by EO No. 73, all agencies in the executive branch are obliged to form their respective anti-corruption committees.

Gracing the event were Undersecretary Marylin Pintor and Undersecretary Zyril Carlos.

Pintor cited the importance of the committee in safeguarding departmental anti-corruption policies, compliance practices and enforcement trends.

“As corruption has a very secretive nature, it is one of the most difficult crimes to investigate. We cannot allow such a despicable act to infiltrate this

institution, which we have all carefully maintained clean and transparent,” she added.

Assistant Secretary Avelino Tolentino III, committee chairperson, described the anti-corruption panel as a platform to ensure integrity and honesty among public servants.

“In all honesty, we can provide for numerous functions of each Anti– Corruption Committee, but it boils down to promoting a high standard of ethics in public service and that public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence, and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest,” he said.

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2021

Marcos Jr. stays on top of ‘Kalye survey’ in South

By Rey E. Requejo PARTIDO Federal ng Pilipinas standard-bearer Ferdinand “Bongbong” Jr. is gaining a strong foothold in Mindanao as confirmed by the series of so-called Kalye survey conducted by vloggers in various areas in the southern Philippines.

In the recent Kalye surveys conducted by vloggers of Bugwak TV in Butuan City, Gingoog, Misamis Oriental, and Surigao City, Marcos was the preferred candidate of the working class.

Bugwak vloggers roamed around busy streets, such as downtowns, bus terminals, and marketplaces where they randomly approached individuals or groups of people and asked them to choose from a list of presidential candidates.

“The best in the presidency of our nation. Qualified,” an employee of the city government said, in explaining his choice.

“We are all here for Bongbong.

There is no one else, just for Bongbong,” another respondent, a security guard, quipped.

“Bongbong has a clear program, not only for his people (in Ilocos Norte), but for the whole Philippines. There is political will. He is the most qualified, he does not think only of personal interests,” a tricycle driver in Gingoog declared.

The real time, real man surveys mirrored the result of the recently published Presidential Preference Survey of PUBLiCUS Asia Inc. where Marcos got a whopping 62.5 percent voter preference in Mindanao.

Isko prepared to ‘lose’ P130b for Pinoys’ sake

IF ELECTED president in next year’s elections, Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso declared that the first thing that he will do as chief executive is to lower by 50 percent the taxes imposed on fuel and electricity.

Saying that he is prepared to become the next president, Moreno admitted that he is aware about the downside of his proposal, which would mean a loss of P130 billion from the government’s income from taxes as pointed out by the Department of Finance.

“Nothing will happen if you don’t do it if we do something strange… Can the government back down first and let the people go first,” Moreno told his supporters, majority of them are ordinary people, who gathered at the Kalookan Cockpit Arena on Saturday evening.

“As president, my administration is ready to lose P130 billion because I know that the same amount will benefit more than 100 million Filipinos,” the Aksyon Demokratiko presidential candidate added.

Apart from the immediate savings for the household, Moreno stressed that cutting taxes on electricity would also prevent manufacturers from shutting down, thus letting their employees keep their jobs and their livelihood.

“The bigger picture here is: imagine the things that can be made by manufacturing plants, they can sustain jobs. Instead of firing people, they can sustain the size of their savings,” Moreno said.

Rey E. Requejo

HOT MEALS.

To help the less fortunate constituents of his district, Quezon City 4th District Councilor Hero Bautista (right) holds a mass feeding program, giving hundreds of people steaming hot bowls of arroz caldo. He partnered with fellow Councilor Marra Suntay during the event at the Old Capitol Site, as visiting senior citizens were given free flu vaccine shots while children were given free immunization shots.

Robbie Pangilinan

WELCOME TO CHRISTMAS. Performers dressed as Santa Claus and his elves welcome mall goers at SM City East Ortigas on Sunday, a scene replicated in SM malls across the country with just 55 days to Christmas. Dancers regaled viewers at SM Marikina, while officers and staff at SM City Marilao were all decked in warm red costumes. Norman Cruz, Manny Palmero and Jun David

Ping: Time to reinvent 4P, gov’t cash aid programs

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

P

ARTIDO Reporma standard-bearer Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he will push for the reinvention of all cash assistance programs of the government, particularly the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), if he wins the 2022 presidential elections.

In the third episode of “Online Kumustahan,” Lacson underscored the need to streamline government spending on the provision of cash grants or “ayuda” for poor Filipino families to further alleviate their living conditions.

He said cash assistance must have a purpose, not just as a form of relief, but also something that can uplift. What we mean is that you help them [poor Filipino families] become more productive by way of livelihood.

Lacson also said on Saturday he would make COVID-19 testing and treatment free for all if he wins the elections in May. The Philippines has “missed our opportunities” and “failed to insulate our nation from the most severe impact of the worst global health crisis of our time,” Lacson said in an online forum put together by Cignal TV and FINEX, where he outlined his economic agenda.

In the forum, he said is open to the

Philippines entering a joint venture agreement with China to develop the West Philippine Sea but stressed this would only be if China follows the 6040 ownership provision in the Philippine Constitution.

He said this would show that the Philippines owns and has sovereign rights over the area.

The senator also encouraged students enrolled at different state universities and colleges (SUC) to consider taking more courses related to agricultural development instead of focusing on liberal arts education.

Lacson recognized the apparent productivity gap between blue- and white-collar workers, especially among the members of our youth sector who are preparing to join the labor force.

PINK MURAL.

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday speaks at the solidarity mural ‘Kurit nin Paglaom’ in Poblacion, Libmanan, Camarines Sur, made as part of many efforts of Artsts4Leni, other local artists, and ordinary Filipinos to show their support for her 2022 presidential campaign. OVP Photo

More mayors pledge support to VP Robredo

By Rio N. Araja THE support for Vice President Leni Robredo and her running mate, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, continued to mount in Bicol with seven more Albay mayors rooting for the tandem running for the country’s top posts in the 2022 elections, according to Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman.

In a statement, Lagman said those who signed a joint statement of support dated Oct. 28 were Mayors Armando Romano of Bacacay, Ann Gemma Ongjoco of Guinobatan, Wilfredo Maronilla of Libon, Lenybelle Ceriola-Santos of Malinao, Alan Arandia of Pio Duran, Ronald Galicia of Rapu-Rapu, and Jaime Villanueva of Tiwi.

Lagman said the local executives firmly believe the tandem of Robredo and Pangilinan “is truly qualified and sincerely motivated to effectively realize” the uplifting of the lives of the Filipinos, particularly the marginalized and disadvantaged.

Meanwhile, Robredo’s camp said the COVID-19 pandemic situation could have caused the recent decline in President Rodrigo Duterte’s net satisfaction rating.

“I think it is very clear that the people are already tired that for the past two years, we are still here (in this kind of situation),” Robredo’s spokesperson Barry Gutierrez said.

“The worries and the lack of a clear answer as to how to address the problem. That could have contributed to the anxieties and lack of trust in our leaders now,” he added.

Should she become the next president, Robredo also vows to reach out and give help to the people in far-flung areas, Gutierrez added.

Manila city gov’t bags 3 plums in DICT Digital Governance Awards

MANILA got three awards for its efficient system and approach on the aspects of education, pandemic, and business in the city during the recent Digital Governance Awards 2021.

Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso thanked the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) for the awards, saying it

will inspire them more to better serve Manilans and those doing business in the city as the local government continues to lure investors amid the pandemic.

Manila was awarded Best in Customer Empowerment Award for ‘Connection for Inclusion’ (first place, city level); Best in LGU Empowerment Award for its COVID-19 Testing Center

Web Lab-IS (first place, city level) and Best in Business Empowerment Award for its GO Manila App end-to-end solution (2nd place, city level).

For the first award, Domagoso lauded Division of City Schools Superintendent Magdalena Lim for the efficient distribution of the free tablets, laptops and 10gb bandwidth to thousands of

public school students and teachers.

On the second award, Domagoso commended Sta. Hospital Director Dr. Grace Padilla and all the medical and health frontliners for all their sacrifices and efforts.

The Manila mayor also cited the number of such frontliners who got infected and lost their very own lives in the name of duty. Macon Ramos-Araneta

QC exits rabies list with pet vax A QUEZON City official on Sunday credited a decline in the cases of rabies to the city’s intensified pet vaccination campaign.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, they continue to conduct anti-rabies vaccination drives as well as spay and neuter procedures in the city’s 142 villages, city veterinarian Dr. Ana Marie Cabel said.

“Rabies can be easily transmitted.

That’s why we continue to go around and provide free anti-rabies vaccines despite a low incidence of rabies. We also offer spay and neuter to control the animal population,” she said.

To impound stray animals that are

usually the carrier of rabies virus is another measure to protect the public, Cabel said.

“Rabies can be fatal to humans if not treated,” she warned.

From being one of the top 10 cities with highest rabies cases in the Philippines in 2018, Quezon City is no longer on the list.

Based on the data of the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Animal Industry, the city has recorded a 65 percent drop in rabies cases from 2018 to 2019.

From 17 cases, the city was able to bring down its number to eight.

Rio N. Araja

Opinion Synod on synodality

FROM the time of the early Church in Jerusalem, the apostles – and later their successors – would come together to pray and make decisions about matters of Church teaching and practice for all the faithful under their care.

These gatherings would later be known as “synods” from an Greek word “synodos” which means “coming together” or “traveling together.”

In time, bishops from neighboring provinces would gather to discuss matters affecting all the Christian communities in a region, thus starting the tradition of regional synods. Eventually, the bishops around the world would assemble for the ecumenical councils to resolve issues that were consequential for the whole church. However, as the power of the papacy grew, not only did the importance of regional synods diminish; ecumenical councils also began to happen infrequently. The most recent one, the Second Vatican Council, met from 1962 to 1965, ushering in a wide-reaching “aggiornamento” or renewal of the Catholic Church.

It foresees all the people of God taking greater responsibility for the church’s mission.

However, Vatican II did not only reinforce the importance of bishops in leading their respective local dioceses. It also emphasized the need for them to cooperate with one another, and make them mutually responsible for the governance of the whole church under the leadership of the pope. To this end, Saint Pope Paul VI created a permanent structure for the “Synod of Bishops” – an assembly of bishops called regularly by the pope. Since its creation, the popes have brought this assembly together at least 18 times, the last held in 2018 to discuss the role and mission of the youth in the Church.

Early this year, Pope Francis introduced two unprecedented changes to the next general assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

First, instead of the usual month-long gathering in Rome, the Pope launched a three-year “synodal process” of listening, discussion and discernment on how the Catholic Church can move forward as a church that “journeys together.”

The diocesan and national listening phases will run until April 2022 and will be followed by a continental phase from September 2022 to March 2023. The final “universal Church phase” will culminate in the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2023.

Second, while participation in the actual general assembly will be limited to bishops, the next synod will begin in dioceses all over the world by seeking the input of every Catholic at the diocesan, continental and international levels and encouraging a much wider consultation with the faithful. It starts with, and involves, all the faithful at the diocesan levels across the world, promising to listen to all, especially to lay people. In effect, Pope Francis has decided to involve the people in a bottom-up synod process.

In his opening address to the Synod, the pope called on the Church to take this synod as

Secretary-General of the United Nations THE climate crisis is a code red for humanity.

World leaders will soon be put to the test at the UN Climate Conference — known as COP26 — in Glasgow.

Their actions — or inaction — will show their seriousness about addressing this planetary emergency.

The warning signs are hard to miss: temperatures everywhere are reaching new highs, biodiversity is reaching new lows, oceans are warming, acidifying and choking with plastic waste. Increasing temperatures will make vast stretches of our planet dead zones for humanity by century’s end.

The respected medical journal The Lancet just described climate change as the “defining narrative of human health” in the years to come — a crisis defined by widespread hunger, respiratory illness, deadly disasters and infectious disease outbreaks that could be even worse than COVID-19.

Despite these alarm bells ringing at fever pitch, we see new evidence in the latest UN reports that governments’ actions so far simply do not add up to what is so desperately needed.

Recent new announcements for climate action are welcome and critical — but even so, our world is on track for calamitous global temperature rises well above 2 degrees Celsius.

This is a far cry from the 1.5 degree Celsius target to which the world agreed under the Paris Agreement – a target that science tells us is the

an opportunity “to become a listening church, to break out of our routine and pause from our pastoral concerns in order to stop and listen.”

Interestingly, the next Synod of Bishops will focus on the theme of “synodality,” a theme that is very close to the heart of Pope Francis himself. The upcoming synod is a fitting culmination of efforts by the pope to bring about a new way of being the church, and furthering openness, collaboration and greater participation of ordinary Catholics. In fact at the diocesan level, the synodal consultation will comprise three phases: preparation, celebration and implementation.

In the Philippines, the output of the consultations will be collated from the parish to the diocesan level and will be reported to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. At the “continental phase,” the reports from the different dioceses will be forwarded to the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference, which will now prepare the final regional document for submission to the general assembly.

The Catholic bishops in the Philippines have willingly accepted the pope’s invitation to take part in the two-year synodal consultation with a pastoral message by CBCP President and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, entitled “Jesus Walked With Them.”

In the said pastoral message, Archbishop Valles clarified that the “Synod on Synodality” is a way for the Church to discern the “signs of our times” in order to respond to the calls of the present-day world. This is particularly timely, as the Church continues to address the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic, the scandals in the Church and in government, the secularism and materialism, and the “double-edged” power of the digital world.

Archbishop Valles raised two important questions in his pastoral message. The first is, “How is our Church with?” The second is, “How is the Church together with the entire human family.”

“Are we still salt and light for the world?

Is dialogue our way of life? How willing are we to listen with humility and respect despite differences? Have we become haughty or insensitive to the groans of suffering humanity?”

Pope Francis has invited the whole Church to examine how it can live out “synodality” in its life and mission by reconnecting its roots in the early Church and by witnessing more faithfully to the vision of the Second Vatican Council.

There is no doubt that this “Synod on Synodality” could be the most important effort since Vatican II that is aimed towards the renewal of the Church. The pope himself pointed out the biblical roots of the synodal process, and that the Church is a pilgrim community on a journey “that began with the first apostles and has continued ever since.” Rather than having a mere theoretical consideration of synodality, the entire synodal process hopes to put into practice how the Church can collegially discern its future.

In a nutshell, synodality foresees all the people of God taking greater responsibility for the church’s mission. It hopes to end the culture of clericalism, put fuller emphasis on the pastoral role of bishops and priests as well as introduce a culture of dialogue, collaboration and consensus among the faithful.

Echoing the fourth century Saint John Chrysostom who said that the “Church and the synod are synonymous” the bishops of the Philippines rightly describe the synod in their pastoral message, “A synod is not just an event; it is a journey. A synod is not just a meeting; it is the life of the Church. A synod is not just an assembly in view of administration; it is a convocation guided by the Spirit for the challenge of mission.”

only sustainable pathway for our world.

This target is entirely achievable.

If we can reduce global emissions by 45 per cent compared to 2010 levels this decade.

If we can achieve global net-zero by 2050.

And if world leaders arrive in Glasgow with bold, ambitious and verifiable 2030 targets, and new, concrete policies to reverse this disaster.

G20 leaders — in particular — need to deliver.

The time has passed for diplomatic niceties.

The time has passed for diplomatic niceties.

If governments — especially G20 governments — do not stand up and lead this effort, we are headed for terrible human suffering.

But all countries need to realize that the old, carbon-burning model of development is a death sentence for their economies and our planet.

We need decarbonization now, across every sector in every country. We need to shift subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy, and tax pollution, not people. We need to put a price on carbon, and channel that back toward resilient infrastructures and jobs.

And we need to phase-out coal — by 2030 in OECD countries and 2040 in all others.

Increasing numbers of governments have pledged to stop financing coal — and private finance needs to do the same, urgently.

People rightly expect their governments to

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EDITORIAL

The Glasgow climate test

By António Guterres

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2021

T

No more cop-outs

HE global climate conference, after being sidelined for a year by COVID-19, is happening again beginning this week, this time in Glasgow, Scotland.

The virus remains a presence to contend with even as political and business leaders, negotiators, diplomats, activists and many other groups gather in person to hammer out doable solutions to the problem of global warming.

Science has established that unless mankind acts collectively now, the effects of climate change will be progressively, acutely felt in the days to come. In fact, vulnerable populations in certain places on Earth — including the Philippines — have been feeling the effects of frequently erratic weather patterns, melting ice caps, scarcity in food, catastrophic forest fires, and many more such climate events.

Six years ago, the world achieved a milestone with the Paris Agreement, where nations declared their intention to curb greenhouse gas emissions to the extent that the rise in global tem-

perature would be limited to 2 degrees Celsius. Nations both developed and developing agreed on the need for collective action, taking into consideration historical responsibility, current economic activity, financing capability and vulnerability of certain populations.

What shall we expect from COP26?

But six years has been a long time, and since then many things have happened in many countries: Some have reneged on their commitments and even disassociated themselves from the agreement, while some have been tentative about delivering on their nationally determined con-

tributions. Yet others have remained obstinate about keeping their emissions down, insisting that the current dire situation is less of their own making than it is other developed nations.

And then there are those who use clever financing techniques to hide the fact that they proclaim one thing and do another.

What will be different this time?

We can only hope that participants in the high-profile conference, armed with their individual and collective experiences of COVID-19, will be more decisive, more specific, more committed and more forthright, knowing first-hand how it is to come face to face with an existential threat.

Alas, while the world has discovered vaccines to combat this virus and is slowly learning to live with it, there is just no quick preventive measure against climate change.

We, too, will find it extremely difficult to live with the effects of a warming planet — that is, if it even allows us to continue living as we know it, in the first place.

Change we desperately need

THE drums of political war games have started beating to muster their forces from a crisis-battered populace still struggling to survive an unprecedented storm of challenges.

This storm has shaken every sector of society and has exposed the systemic and leadership flaws of this administration. The theater of political battles will be unlike any in our history as we prepare to exercise our right as Filipino citizens to elect a new set of leaders in the post-pandemic political cycle.

For many voters, the experiential and perceptive appreciation of the effect of this government to one’s current socio-economic state and prospective aspirations will be the prime motivator to pivot from the current populist pretenses to the more sober values of statesmanship, integrity, professionalism, strategic thinking, and propriety.

As digital technologies saved the pandemic-stricken world from complete devastation, it has also become the primary weapon of disinformation. This has apparently succeeded in mesmerizing many minds with creatively simplistic and deceivingly polarizing narratives that, in my opinion, has come to an unconscionable level of proficient lying.

It is this environment of disinformation and populism that respected democracy advocates are calling on all Filipinos to be vigilant and reject during the latest Stratbase ADR Institute virtual town hall discussion on “Democracy Goes On: Upholding a Safe, Free, and Credible 2022 Elections in the New Normal”.

Stratbase president Prof. Dindo Manhit said that the issue of trust and corruption are of much importance. These are issues that I hope candidates focus on.

Citing their two separate commissioned surveys with PULSE Asia on what Filipino lead. But we all have a responsibility to safeguard our collective future.

Businesses need to reduce their climate impact, and fully and credibly align their operations and financial flows to a net-zero future. No more excuses; no more greenwashing.

Investors — public and private alike — must do the same. They should join front runners like the net-zero asset owners alliance, and the UN’s own pension fund, which met its 2021 carbon reduction investment objectives ahead of time and above its target, with a 32 per cent reduction this year.

Individuals in every society need to make better, more responsible choices in what they eat, how they travel, and what they buy.

Young people — and climate activists — need to keep doing what they’re doing: Demanding action from their leaders and keeping them accountable.

Throughout, we need global solidarity to help all countries make this shift. Developing coun-

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

voters are looking for in terms of characteristics of candidates, the respondents consistently said that candidates should have concern for the poor or pro-poor (48%), not corrupt (47%), is trustworthy and honest (37%).

Another Stratbase ADRi commissioned survey on trust of the COMELEC’s automated election system found that 74% to 84% had BIG trust in terms of election results which in effect established the legitimacy of the elected leaders and how voters value automated elections.

May the electorate seize this opportunity.

“We’ve always argued in our institute that those who attack automated elections want to go back to the old ‘dagdag-bawas’ era,” Prof. Manhit said.

Prof. Manhit warned that the key challenge in the 2022 National Elections is the “pandemic of disinformation” that has been perpetrated since 2016.

He emphasized that false or wrong information paralyzes people’s critical ability to choose leaders and called on us to collectively expose and denounce trolls and disinformation machineries in a multi-stakeholder effort to promote timely and “right” information.

Dr. Ador Torneo, Director of the La Salle Institute of Governance, said the COVID-19 situation will be a major factor in the success of the elections. This means that the progress of vaccines, the effectivity of the policies of the IATF, and the adequacy of the COMELEC preparations and our response as stakeholders will be key.

Ms. Mardi Mapa-Suplido, chairperson of InciteGOV, lamented that the substance of political debate in social media has deteriorated due to ad hominem statements, profanity and name-calling.

“Populists who claim to speak on behalf of ordinary people but are out to destroy the status quo are actually dangerous because they threaten democratic norms that many value,” Mapa-Suplido said. tries are grappling with debt and liquidity crises.

They need support.

Public and multilateral development banks must significantly increase their climate portfolios and intensify their efforts to help countries transition to net-zero, resilient economies. The developed world must urgently meet its commitment of at least $100 billion in annual climate finance for developing countries.

Donors and multilateral development banks need to allocate at least half their climate finance towards adaptation and resilience.

The United Nations was founded 76 years ago to build consensus for action against the greatest threats facing humanity. But rarely have we faced a crisis like this one – a truly existential crisis that — if not addressed — threatens not only us, but future generations.

There is one path forward. A 1.5-degree future is the only viable future for humanity.

Leaders must get on with the job in Glasgow, before it’s too late.

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

University of the Philippines Professor Danilo Arao, convenor of Kontra Daya, for his part protested the attack on press freedom and killings happening in Duterte’s time.

“The bottom line is that impunity has been there, the killings have been happening, and if you look at the statistics, whether you are pro-administration or anti-administration, the fact is it is still happening,” Arao said.

Atty. Mildred Ople, Program Officer for Youth Leadership for Democracy, called on the youth to wield their voting power.

The high turnout of first-time registrants supports this potential. She appealed to young voters to choose the most deserving leaders and expose abusive politicians – to participate in designing the kind of government we deserve.

Parish Pastoral Council on Responsible Voting trustee, Mr. Henry Aguda gave a comprehensive rundown of the workings and built-in safety systems of the vote counting machines and advised of the protocols anticipating various glitches that may happen on election day.

Stratbase ADRi Executive Director and Democracy Watch Lead Convenor Paco Pangalangan stated that all stakeholders must be vigilant and play an active role in holding our public servants accountable and engaging candidates on how concerns of different sectors should be addressed.

For his part, Commission on Elections spokesperson, Director James Jimenez, reporting voter registration numbers way above expected levels despite the pandemic, confirmed that Filipino voters are seriously looking forward to the May 2022 elections.

Hopefully, with this heightened focus, the Philippine electorate will seize this opportunity to elect transformative, trustworthy, and highly competent leaders who have the persona to uplift our nation to prosperity and with moral uprightness – change we desperately need.

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Climate woes on G20 before UN talks

R

OME—G20 leaders gather for a second day of their Rome summit on Sunday, with all eyes on whether they can deliver a meaningful commitment on climate change ahead of crucial UN talks.

The Group of 20 major economies emit nearly 80 percent of carbon emissions, and a promise of action would provide a much-needed boost to COP26 climate talks starting in Glasgow on Sunday.

But draft communiques suggest they would fall short of a firm pledge to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels or a clear timeline on how to reach net zero emissions.

Experts say meeting the 1.5 degree target—the most ambitious goal in the 2015 Paris climate deal—means slashing global emissions nearly in half by

2030 and to “net-zero” by 2050.

However, some activists expressed hope that in the final hours of wrangling, some progress would be made before nearly 200 leaders, including many of those in Rome, fly to Scotland.

US President Joe Biden is among those pushing for action in Rome, although his own ambitious climate policy is mired by infighting among his own party.

A senior US official said elements of the final G20 statement “are still being negotiated”, adding that the Rome summit was about “helping build momentum” before Glasgow.

The official expressed hope that the summit would commit “to end overseas financing of coal”, offer “positive language” on decarbonizing the power sector and see more countries sign up to targets on cutting methane.

Speaking to the weekly Journal du Dimanche, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the Rome summit had to “do its utmost” to ensure the success of Glasgow, but that “nothing is ever written before a COP”.

“Let’s not forget that in Paris, in 2015, nothing was decided in advance,” he said.

President Xi Jinping of China—by far the world’s biggest carbon polluter—is absent from the meeting, as is Russia’s Vladimir Putin, although they sent representatives and are logging in via video link.

Britain’s Prince Charles, a long-time

environmentalist, will be making his case for change on Sunday as a special guest of the summit, speaking ahead of final working sessions.

Going alone ‘not an option’ On Saturday, summit host Mario Draghi, the Italian prime minister, urged G20 leaders to act together on climate, but also on improving the delivery of vaccines and on helping the world recover from the devastation of Covid-19.

“From the pandemic to climate change, to fair and equitable taxation, going it alone is simply not an option,” he told the gathered leaders.

The G20 showed on Saturday they could work together on some issues, green-lighting a deal for a minimum tax of 15 percent on global corporations, as part of a reform plan inked by almost 140 nations. AFP

First appearance in public for top leader of Taliban KABUL—Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada addressed supporters in the southern city of Kandahar, officials announced Sunday, his first public appearance since taking control of the group in 2016.

Akhundzada has been the spiritual chief of the Islamist movement since 2016 but has remained a reclusive figure, even after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan.

His low profile has fed speculation about his role in the new Taliban government, formed after the group took control of Kabul in mid-August -- and even rumors of his death.

On Saturday, he visited the Darul Uloom Hakimah madrassa to “speak to his brave soldiers and disciples”, according to the introduction to an audio recording circulated by Taliban social media accounts.

“May God reward the oppressed people of Afghanistan who fought the infidels and the oppressors for 20 years,” Akhundzada said, in the recording. “My intention here is to pray for you and you pray for me”.

In the 10-minute recording, he prays for the Taliban martyrs, wounded fighters and the success of officials involved in the “big test” of rebuilding what they call the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

“Let’s pray that we come out of this big test successfully. May Allah help us stay strong,” he said.

There was tight security at the event and no photographs or video have emerged. AFP

AFGHAN WOMAN. A woman walks past a mural painted on the wall along a road in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan on October 31. AFP

Canada vows to donate 200 million COVID-19 vax doses MONTREAL -- Canada on Saturday pledged at the G20 summit to donate millions more Covid vaccine doses to poor countries worldwide.

“Canada will donate the equivalent of at least 200 million doses to the COVAX Facility by the end of 2022,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement, referring to the global vaccine-sharing alliance.

Of this number, 10 million doses of Moderna’s vaccine will be delivered “quickly” to developing countries, he

said.

Canada has also pledged $15 million to help increase vaccine production in South Africa, said Canadian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland at a Rome briefing.

Those funds should contribute to the creation of a “technology transfer center” so that the region can produce messenger RNA vaccines against COVID-19.

“We do not control production, but by 2022, we are certain that it will be pos-

sible to contribute at this level,” Freeland said.

In August, the American company Moderna announced that it wanted to build a vaccine manufacturing plant in Canada, the first outside the United States.

According to the Canadian government, fewer than three million of the 40 million doses already promised by Canada had been received by the COVAX program on Saturday, with additional deliveries planned in coming days. AFP

Japan hits polls in test of conservative ruling party’s parliament dominance

BLAST DEBRIS. People inspect the damage to their shops following a car bomb blast the previous night near the airport of the southern Yemeni city of Aden on October 31. AFP

Children among 12 killed in car blast near Yemen airport in interim capital ADEN—At least 12 civilians, including children, were killed Saturday in a car bomb blast near the airport of Aden, the Yemeni government’s interim capital, security officials said.

“Twelve civilians were killed in an explosion” in the vicinity of Aden airport and “there are also serious injuries”, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Another security official confirmed the toll.

A spokesman from the Southern Transitional Council (STC) -- part of Yemen’s government -- said the blast was caused by a car bomb explosion.

“A car bomb was detonated, killing a number of our peaceful citizens, including children, and wounding a number of other civilians,” STC spokesman Ali al-Kathiri said in a statement.

The explosion comes almost three weeks after six people were killed in a car-bomb attack that targeted Aden’s governor, who survived.

AFP footage on Saturday showed

people pulling out a body from a vehicle that had been completely destroyed, as firefighters put out flames nearby.

The internationally recognized government relocated to Aden from the capital Sanaa in 2014, forced out by the Huthis, who are fighting Saudibacked Yemeni government loyalists.

A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemen’s war in 2015.

No one has yet claimed responsibility for Saturday’s blast, which is the deadliest in the area since December last year, when an attack targeting cabinet members ripped through Aden’s airport.

At least 26 people, including three members of the International Committee of the Red Cross, were killed and scores were wounded when explosions rocked the airport at the time, as ministers disembarked from an aircraft.

All cabinet members were reported to be unharmed, in what some ministers charged was a Huthi attack. AFP

TOKYO—Japanese voters hit the polls on Sunday with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hoping to win over a pandemicfatigued public as his long-ruling conservatives battle to preserve their commanding majority in parliament.

Kishida became leader of the Liberal Democratic Party a month ago after Yoshihide Suga resigned just a year into the job, partly due to public discontent over his response to the Covid-19 crisis.

Despite a steep drop in cases, the LDP -- which has held power almost continuously since the 1950s -- is likely to lose seats in parliament’s lower house, analysts say.

Even if Kishida wins, a poor showing could threaten his longevity as leader of a country with a long history of revolving-door premierships.

The soft-spoken moderate, 64, has pledged to issue a fresh stimulus package worth tens of trillions of yen to counter the impact of the pandemic on the world’s third-largest economy.

He has also outlined plans to combat

FESTIVAL FLOWERS.

Flower garlands are displayed at a shop at a flower market ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in New Delhi on October 31. AFP

inequality heightened by the businessfriendly policies of Suga and his predecessor Shinzo Abe, saying he will distribute wealth more fairly under a so-called new capitalism, although details so far remain vague.

Voters in Tokyo told AFP the pandemic was an important factor in their decision.

“The economy is suffering because of the coronavirus, so I compared the politicians’ responses,” said Chihiro Sato, 38, a housewife and mother of a toddler.

But engineer Hiroyasu Onishi, 79, said he was more concerned by “the military threat from China”.

Japan’s 106 million voters have “struggled to get excited about the new prime minister”, said Stefan Angrick, a senior economist at Moody’s Analytics.

“Kishida will need to convince the public and younger members of his party that continuity does not mean status quo, but rather maintaining what has worked and improving on what has not.” AFP

China rejects ‘political, false’ US COVID report BEIJING—Beijing lashed out against a US intelligence review into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic on Sunday, calling it “political and false” while urging Washington to “stop attacking” China.

The Chinese foreign ministry’s retort came days after the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a fuller version of its findings from a 90-day review ordered

by President Joe Biden.

The paper said that, without new information, intelligence agencies would not be able to offer a better judgement on whether the virus emerged via animal-to-human transmission or a lab leak.

It added that China’s cooperation would probably be needed to reach a conclusive assessment on origins, although stressing that Beijing continued to “hinder the global investigation”.

The so-called lab-leak theory says the virus was spread from a research facility in Wuhan, the central city where the contagion was first reported. The theory remains unsubstantiated, and China has repeatedly rejected it.

Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin responded in a statement Sunday that China had expressed firm opposition to initial findings published in the summary report in August.

“No matter how many times this report is published and how many versions are concocted, it cannot change the nature of this being entirely political and false,” Wang said.

He added that the fact intelligence agencies were tapped in origin-tracing efforts was “ironclad proof” of politicization and urged the US to “stop attacking and smearing China”.

Beijing has come under pressure to consider a fresh probe into the origins of the pandemic after a delayed and heavily politicized visit by a World Health Organization team of international experts that failed to conclude how the virus first broke out. AFP

US Supreme Court hears challenge to Texas abortion law WASHINGTON—Two months after refusing to intervene, the US Supreme Court is to hear challenges on Monday to a Texas law that bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy and makes no exceptions for rape or incest.

The nine-member court, which includes six conservative justices, will listen to two hours of arguments by parties in a closely-watched case with far-reaching human and political ramifications.

Texas, the country’s second-largest state, is being sued by Democratic President Joe Biden’s Justice Department and a coalition of abortion providers, accused of enacting abortion restrictions they say are “plainly unconstitutional.”

Texas Senate Bill 8 (SB8) bans abortions after a heartbeat can be detected in the womb, which is normally around six weeks, when many women do not even know they are pregnant.

Laws restricting abortion have been passed in other Republican-led states but were struck down by the courts because they violated previous Supreme Court rulings which guaranteed the right to an abortion until the fetus is viable outside the womb, which is typically around 22 to 24 weeks.

The “Texas Heartbeat Act” differs from other efforts in that it insulates the state by giving members of the public the right to sue doctors who perform abortions, or anyone who helps facilitate them, once a heartbeat is detected. AFP

Business PSEi October 29, 2021

TOP GAINERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

BKR OPM PBB FPI ZHI FJP NI

LAST PRICE 1.79 0.011 9.09 0.31 0.185 2.7 1.06

8 9 10

PTC CNPF MWC

104.9 28.3 26.5

CHANGE 0.39 0.001 0.59 0.02 0.011 0.16 0.06

% CHANGE 27.86% 10.00% 6.94% 6.90% 6.32% 6.30% 6.00%

4.9 1.3 1

4.90% 4.81% 3.92%

TOP LOSERS 1 2 3 4 5

PRMX MVC MAB I ABG

LAST PRICE 1.84 4 0.0089 1.07 5.5

6 7 8 9 10

VMC CAB SOC MACAY ICT

2.31 58.9 0.65 6.35 180

CHANGE -0.26 -0.5 -0.001 -0.12 -0.5

% CHANGE -12.38% -11.11% -10.10% -10.08% -8.33%

-0.16 -4.05 -0.04 -0.35 -9

-6.48% -6.43% -5.80% -5.22% -4.76%

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Sideways trading seen; eyes on inflation and GDP figures

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

HARE prices are expected to trade sideways during this shortened trading week ahead of key data releases, including the October inflation rate and the thirdquarter gross domestic product numbers.

Analysts said the index may consolidate between 6,900 points to 7,300 points over the near-term period as investors monitor the release of crucial economic data as well as results of thirdquarter earnings of listed companies.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno last week said there was a possibility the inflation rate

in October breached the 5-percent level from 4.8 percent a month ago on higher prices of oil, electricity and some food items, and weaker peso.

With inflation rate expected to remain elevated over the near-term period, investors are worried about its impact on the country’s economic recovery.

However, upcoming equity deals in the market will likely boost investor sentiments. These included the followon offering of Synergy Gird & Development Phils. Inc. and The Keepers Holdings Inc., and initial public offerings of AllDay Marts Inc. and Medilines Distributors Inc. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week declined 3.2 percent to 7,054.70 after the government has decided to keep Metro Manila under Alert Level 3 until the middle of November. The index is still down 1.2 percent year-to-date.

Four of the sectoral indices ended in

red, led by property (-7 percent), mining and oil (-5.9 percent), holding firms (-5.3 percent) and financial (-1.2 percent).

The industrial index climbed 1.5 percent while services increased gained 0.8 percent.

Foreign investors were net sellers for the week by P1.5 billion as investors cashed in on gains, while the average daily value traded declined to P6.9 billion from the previous week’s average of P8.9 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were AC Energy Corp., which rose 11 percent to P12.26, Wilcon Depot Inc., which climbed 9.8 percent to P31.20, and Jollibee Foods Corp., which advanced 4.4 percent to P235 apiece.

Weekly top price losers were JG Summit Holdings Inc., which fell 9.5 percent to P60.20, DMCI Holdings Inc., which dropped 9.4 percent to P7.95, and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which declined 9.42 percent to P3.75. With AFP

MOST ACTIVE 1 2 3 4 5 6

SMPH SM ALI ICT BDO ACEN

VOLUME 19,175,400 520,640 12,187,700 1,905,220 2,721,290 26,650,600

7 8 9 10

GLO AC DMC BPI

100,895 345,390 33,318,900 3,069,830

VALUE (PHP) 639,810,120 503,509,130 428,129,670 345,355,106 340,518,855 328,205,222

302,759,850 295,782,425 266,766,969 263,707,808

G20 SUMMIT. French President Emmanuel Macron (right) chairs a meeting with leaders of the African Union and European Union at the Palazzo Farnese, in Rome, on the sidelines of the G20 leaders’ summit, on October 30, 2021. Climate change and the relaunch of the global economy will top the G20 agenda as leaders of the world’s most advanced nations meet October 30, the first in-person gathering since the pandemic. AFP

US Fed to announce stimulus tapering in this week’s meeting WASHINGTON—The Federal Reserve is set to begin removing a major plank of the stimulus policies it rolled out last year as the pandemic began, a sign of the progress the US economy has posted since the historic downturn.

While the American central bank is always capable of surprises, its top officials have widely signaled that they will announce at their policy meeting next week the start of a drawback in their monthly purchases of bonds and securities, which they began as the economy collapsed in March 2020 to stop the crisis from becoming a catastrophe.

The world’s largest economy has undoubtedly come a long way from those dire days, but with an unpleasant passenger: inflation, which has spiked throughout much of this year, and caused some economists to name the Fed’s easy money policies as an accessory.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell could touch

on these topics when he speaks following the two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting beginning Tuesday, and may also offer the central bank’s latest views on the state of the recovery.

“I think it’ll be one of the biggest surprises in a long time if they didn’t taper.

They’ve been about as explicit as you can hope the Fed will ever get about a future action,” Michael Feroli, chief US economist at J.P. Morgan, told AFP. Controlling inflation is one of the Fed’s top priorities, and its high level this year has tested the bank’s policy of keeping its benchmark interest rate at zero for longer than in the past to spur a return to full employment.

The latest sign of the wave came Friday when the Commerce Department— the central bank’s preferred inflation gauge-taker—reported prices rose 4.4 percent year-on-year in September.

The most potent policy move the Fed could make against inflation is raising

its lending rate off zero.

Powell has made clear that doing that will require a “substantially more stringent test” and only come after tapering the bond purchases has finished.

The Fed currently buys at least $80 billion each month in Treasury bonds and at least $40 billion in agency mortgage-backed securities. The purchases are intended to ease lending conditions as the economy weathers the pandemic.

Powell has previously said the buying could be wrapped up by the middle of next year, but details on the pace and composition of the taper, as well as its exact starting date, will have to wait for the meeting.

At the gathering, Powell could find himself caught between the demands of inflation hawks who want rates hiked sooner and doves who see the zero rate as beneficial, said Standard Chartered’s Head of North America Macro Strategy, Steve Englander. AFP

GHADAMES, Libya—Libya has hosted its first group of foreign tourists in a decade, with an excursion to an oasis town deep in the desert previously offlimits to visitors due to years of war.

French traveller Jean-Paul, who first visited Libya more than a decade ago, was among some 100 mostly European tourists on the trip.

He said he had long wanted to return to the “magnificent country, with extraordinary scenery and very welcoming people.”

“Events meant for 10 years that wasn’t possible—then we were told we could finally come back on a supervised trip, with a security detail,” the 57-year-old said.

“People here are very welcoming and you get the feeling that Libyans really want to see tourists again.”

Police sirens echoed around the oasis of Ghadames, its old white buildings set amid a sea of palm trees, as the convoy of dozens of four-wheel-drives fer-

ried the Italian, French, Icelandic and Swiss tourists through town.

Libya had been mostly off-limits to tourists throughout the four-decade rule of Moamer Kadhafi.

When the dictator was overthrown in a 2011 uprising, foreign visitors mostly continued to stay away as the country plunged into lawlessness and armed conflict.

Today, thanks to a year of relative calm following an October 2020 ceasefire and a United Nations-led peace process, the first group of tourists since 2012 were able to visit, on a tour paid for by the state.

Tour guide Ali al-Kouba says he wants to “break the wall of fear” for foreigners wanting to visit the vast Libyan Sahara.

Italian traveller and tour operator Giovanni Paolo, who wore a Tuaregstyle yellow scarf against the desert wind, agreed.

“We were sure we’d be welcome in this wonderful country,” he said.

The visitors arrived via a border

BEIJING, China—Factory activity in China plunged more than expected in October, official data showed Sunday, suggesting the industrial sector continued struggling as it grappled with tight power supply and surging raw material costs.

The key Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)—a gauge of manufacturing activity in the world’s second-largest economy—fell to 49.2 this month, down from 49.6 in September, said the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

This marks the second straight month in which China’s PMI dipped below the 50-point mark separating growth from contraction.

A Bloomberg poll of economists had pegged the reading at 49.7, which would have been a slight improvement.

Although the country’s PMI contracted when the spread of COVID-19— which first surfaced in the central city of Wuhan—forced most business activity to a halt, life has largely returned to normal as strict measures brought the outbreak under control.

But the NBS said Sunday: “In October, due to factors such as still-tight power supply and the high costs of some raw materials, the manufacturing PMI fell.”

Both the production and new-order indexes were in contraction, pointing to weakening supply and demand, senior statistician Zhao Qinghe said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the price index continued rising, reflecting higher purchase prices of raw materials such as petroleum and coal, and that of sales costs.

The production index has fallen to among its lowest levels since 2005, said Pinpoint Asset Management chief economist Zhiwei Zhang—warning of stagflation.

“A worrying sign is the passthrough of inflation from input prices,” he said, adding this could pile pressure on consumer inflation.

Tommy Xie of OCBC Bank told AFP that smaller companies appear to be “paying the price for the power shortages”, suggesting the need for more policy support. AFP

US, European Union agree to lift punitive tariffs on steel, aluminum WASHINGTON—The United States and the EU agreed Saturday to lift punitive tariffs on imported European steel and aluminum, ending a dispute that strained their trade ties since then-president Donald Trump imposed the levies three years ago.

The deal was announced by US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, who said it “allows limited volumes of EU steel and aluminum to enter the US tariff-free.”

Increased EU retaliatory measures on iconic American products like HarleyDavidson motorcycles, Levi’s blue jeans and Kentucky bourbon—due to take effect December 1—will not now be applied, Raimondo said from Rome where she was attending the G20 summit.

EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said in a tweet: “we have agreed with US to pause our steel & aluminum... trade dispute and launch cooperation on a Global Arrangement

Libya welcomes back foreign tourists after years of war

By Hamza Mekouar

China’s factory production sinks on energy woes

on Sustainable Steel & Aluminum.”

Trump in June 2018 imposed tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum from several economies, including the European Union. He said he was acting on national security grounds.

The Europeans hit back quickly, with duties on tobacco, corn, rice and orange juice from the US, besides motorcycles and bourbon.

In June, as they announced a deal to end their dispute on subsidies to Airbus and Boeing, the US and the European Union gave themselves until December 1 to resolve the steel tariff issue.

“These industries were facing retaliatory tariffs of 50 percent,” Raimondo said of the likes of Harley Davidson.

“No business can survive that. There are 1.7 million Americans supported by the distilled spirits industry. There are 5,600 manufacturing workers at Harley Davidson and all of their jobs are safer today because of this deal.” AFP

An aerial view shows the Libyan town of Ghadames, a desert oasis some 650 kilometers (400 miles) southwest of the capital Tripoli, on October 19, 2021, during an organized tour for tourists in the town. In the first organized visit of European tourists to Libya since 2012, a private Libyan agency arranged the visit of tens of tourists to Ghadames and various sites in the Libyan desert. AFP

crossing with Tunisia which had opened in September after months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

They spent a night under the stars before heading deep into the dunes and rocky stretches of the southern Libyan wilderness.

Finally they reached Ghadames, the “pearl of the desert” some 650 kilometers (400 miles) south of the capital Tripoli.

The UNESCO-listed oasis city, a

pre-Roman Berber settlement and a key stop on Saharan trade routes, has unique multilevel architecture with whitewashed, covered alleyways beyond the reach of the brutal summer sun.

The tourists wandered through the old city taking photos of its traditional houses, propped up with palm trunks.

They also visited the newer part of town, where a mosque with striking minarets faces modern villas echoing the style of the old town.

‘Exceptionally welcoming’ Jean-Jacques Sire, a 67-year-old Frenchman with a white beard, said he had visited Libya twice in the 1990s and “met an exceptionally welcoming population”.

“When I found out that there was a group of people ready to come back, I didn’t hesitate,” he said.

Tourism has been a tiny industry in Libya, whose economy has been dominated by oil and gas since the mid-20th century. AFP

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

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2021

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Friday, October 29, 2021

-103.03 PTS. 7,054.70

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

1,115,518,585 88,018 7,701,089,988.18 84 107 45

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.7700

Japan

Yen

0.008807

0.4471

UK

Pound

1.380000

70.0626

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128576

6.5278

Switzerland

Franc

1.096972

55.6933

Canada

Dollar

0.810045

41.1260

Singapore

Dollar

0.743771

37.7613

Australia

Dollar

0.754100

38.2857

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652661

134.6756

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266610

13.5358

Brunei

Dollar

0.741015

37.6213

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.030066

1.5265

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.8232

Euro

Euro

1.168400

59.3197

Korea

Won

0.000855

0.0434

China

Yuan

0.156450

7.9430

India

Rupee

0.013371

0.6788

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241080

12.2396

New Zealand

Dollar

0.720000

36.5544

Taiwan

Dollar

0.036072

1.8314 Source: BSP

Increased exports and imports point to recovery—DOF

By Julito G. Rada THE increased merchandise trade figures show the economy is on its way to recovery from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Finance said over the weekend.

It said in an economic bulletin merchandise trade rose 25.3 percent in August to $16.5 billion from a year ago, with imports jumping 30.8 percent to $10 billion and exports rising 17.6 percent to $6.5 billion.

The figures brought total merchandise trade in the first eight months to $123.1 billion, up by 26.3 percent from the same period last year. It was also 1.5 percent higher than the figure recorded in the same period in 2019, the last normal year before the pandemic.

Exports reached $48.9 billion, or 3.8 percent higher than the prepandemic level, while the cumulative imports of nearly $74.2 billion were short by $25 million to be at par with the 2019 level.

“As the country continues to grapple with the risks posed by COVID-19, the government will continue to be vigilant and be ready to respond with the appropriate measures, lest the green shoots in the economy be stamped out completely,” the DOF said.

“With trade activity continuing to show recovery, the constant arrival of additional vaccines, combined with a sustained vaccination drive for Filipinos, and a calibrated reopening of the economy will be key in helping the Philippines maintain the gains in containing the virus and eventually lead the way to economic recovery,” it said.

The latest Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for September available from IHS Markit was recorded at 50.9, indicating the recovery of the manufacturing sector.

This is a reversal of the contraction observed in August which was largely due to the imposition of tighter quarantine measures during the month.

JLL reports slower office space take-up

PROPERTY consultant Jones Lang LaSalle Philippines reported a 35.7-percent decline in take-up of leased spaces in the third quarter to 72,000 square meters from a year ago.

It said despite lower take-up and widening vacancy, overall rentals held steady. The average monthly rent in Metro Manila was around P1,082 per square meter in the third quarter, or the same rate from the second quarter, but 5.6 percent lower than P1,147 per sq. m. registered a year ago.

Makati and Taguig registered the highest average monthly rent at P1,324 and P1,244 per sq. m., respectively, while Manila had the lowest at P637 per sq. m.

These figures were below pre-pandemic levels.

“Some landlords are allowing negotiation flexibility to find a win-win arrangement between them and the occupiers to navigate the current market conditions,” said JLL Philippines’ head of research and consultancy Janlo de los Reyes.

Othel V. Campos

BSP assures supply of banknotes, coins

VACCINATED CREW. Cebu Pacific attains 100-percent vaccination rate for its active flying crew through an employee vaccination program, COVID Protect, and various partnerships with local government units. CEB celebrates the milestone as scheduled, and in time for the expected increase in passengers in the coming months, following the easing of travel restrictions across the Philippines.

PPA asked to waive share in cargo handling charges T

By Othel V. Campos

HE Export Development Council endorsed a draft executive order that seeks to repeal a 41-year-old regulation that gives the Philippine Ports Authority a share in cargo-handling revenues.

Members of the council, in a letter dated Oct. 26, 2021, asked Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, chair of the PPA board, and PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago to support the draft EO and help exporters recover from the impact of the crisis.

The letter was signed by Oscar Barrera, chairman of EDC’s networking committee on legislative advocacy and monitoring.

The council, created by Republic Act 7844 or the Export Development Act of 1994, consists of government officials

and private sector representatives who craft the Philippine Export Development Plan. It is headed by the Department of Trade and Industry.

“It is a time of acute suffering for exporters whose operations have been most heavily affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, the PPA has regularly and reliably increased the cargohandling charges that it permits to be imposed,” Barrera said in the letter.

“Further, it touts its collections as an achievement, ignoring the impact that its regulatory [policy might have] on lo-

“the incentive to increase the rate to improve its financial health.”

EDC Resolution No. 3 also highlighted that the Department of Transportation, Department of Trade and Industry, Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce and National Competitiveness Council support need for policy reform to lower the cost of port services for shippers to eventually benefit the consumers.

The EDC and the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. were strongly opposing any cargo-handling rate increases at Philippine ports. In July, PHILEXPORT and EDC asked PPA to defer the approval of the proposed cargo-handling rate increase at Manila North Port.

PHILEXPORT and EDC, in their July 28 petition letter, urged Santiago to suspend the approval of the cargo-handling rate increase “considering the state of the Philippine economy in these trying times.”

DIGITAL PAYMENTS.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan pays for his purchase at a stall in Farmer’s Plaza in Araneta, Cubao by scanning the PayMaya QR Ph of the merchant using his UnionBank app. PayMaya was the first financial technology company to adopt QR Ph P2M (person-to-merchant), the national QR standard for merchant payments fully launched by the BSP in October.

Geologists ask gov’t to take over Malampaya natural gas project

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Association of Filipinos for the Advancement of Geosciences, a professional organization of geologists, warned that the country will be deprived of P42 billion in profits if it fails to take over Service Contract 38, or the Malampaya gas project in northwest Palawan.

AFAG, in a position paper, opposed the transfer of Chevron Malampaya LLC’s stake in SC 38 to UC Malampaya controlled by businessman Dennis Uy. AFAG urged government to rescind the Chevron transaction and also prevent the sale of the 45-percent stake of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. to the Udenna Group.

“We ask that, instead, the Philippine government take full control and man-

agement of SC 38,” the group said.

AFAG said it was opposing the transfer to UC Malampaya because the transaction “lacks transparency and is grossly disadvantageous to the Filipino nation.”

“If government does not take full control and management of SC 38, the Filipino people is deprived of about P42-billion net profits from Malampaya. Further, full government control will greatly enhance the country’s energy security,” AFAG said.

AFAG said to fully receive the benefits of the remaining Malampaya gas reserves, the government should exercise its rights and power to take full control and management of SC 38 through PNOC Exploration Corp. which has the rights to purchase the interests of the selling partners Chevron and Spex.

“The government through PNOC EC can take advantage of the profitability of the Malampaya gas reserves to arrange the necessary financing and technical expertise, both local and international, to take over and safely and efficiently operate the Malampaya facilities,” it said.

AFAG is a professional organization formed in 1959 with over 200 members of practicing and retired geologists in various fields.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian questioned the technical, financial and legal capability of the Udenna Group for the acquisition of Chevron’s 45-percent stake in the Malampaya gas project but Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the sale and its approval of the deal is above board.

Taiwan lithium-ion polymer battery maker looks at PH as possible manufacturing site A TAIWANESE manufacturer of lithiumion polymer batteries for e-vehicles, personal gadgets, household appliances and industrial facilities is exploring the Philippines as a possible manufacturing site.

Amita Technologies chief executive Elden Tu and product development manager Jack Chen said the company was looking for local partners who would bring their products to the Philippines and help Amita put up its first manufacturing plant in the country.

“The battery’s compactness and long

IN BRIEF

lifespan sets it apart from other lithium battery packs. Its laminate film enables a large capacity and the simple structure being lightweight provides the cost competitive advantage,” said Tu. Amita paid a courtesy call on newlyappointed Manila Economic and Cultural Office resident representative Wilfredo Fernandez on Oct. 21, 2021 with representatives from Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute and Science and Technology International Strategy Center.

Established in 2000, Amita Technolo-

gies Inc. emerged as one of the leading manufacturers of high-performance lithium-ion polymer battery in Taiwan. With over 60 patents and various international certifications in the manufacture of lithium-ion polymer batteries, Amita Technologies was one of the companies selected to co-develop a project with ITRI which won the 2009 R&D 100 Award in enhancing the safety of lithium-ion batteries.

Amita said its battery cells have “low impedance, high current, long cycle life

and are safe even in the event of overuse.”

Its products are suitable for use in data center UPS units, power banks, power tools, battery-powered vehicles and energy storage systems for household appliances, commercial or industrial facilities and smart grids.

The company has a pilot project in Taoyuan using its battery for e-buses, capable of traveling 80 to 120 kilometers on a full charge. When charging, the batteries reach up to 80 percent of their capacity in just 20 minutes. Othel V. Campos

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno assured the public over the weekend there will be adequate supply of fresh banknotes and coins in anticipation of higher currency demand during the Christmas season.

“There will be no shortage of new banknotes in the Yule season. As in previous years and to support seasonal demand, 40 percent and 50 percent of the total volume of banknotes and coins, respectively, will be serviced in the fourth quarter of the year,” Diokno said in a statement.

He said the peak of currency demand starts from October and continues to increase until December of each year. Historically, there is greater demand for denominations of 1000-, 100- and 20-piso banknotes; and 20-, 5- and 1-piso coins during the holiday season.

Diokno also advised the public to exchange their unfit banknotes and coins for new ones with their banks.

Julito G. Rada

DOJ supports SEC case vs. Organico

THE Department of Justice affirmed the findings of Securities and Exchange Commission against Organico Agribusiness Ventures Corp. which allegedly engaged in an unauthorized sale of investment securities to the public.

The SEC said in a statement the DOJ recommended the filing of criminal charges against Organico and its officers for violations of Sections 8, 26.3 and 28 of Republic Act No. 8799, or the Securities Regulation Code in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. “(T)he business operations carried out by respondent Organico is in the form of a Ponzi scheme whereby purported returns to existing investors are culled from funds contributed by new investors,” the DOJ resolution read.

“It is not an investment strategy but a gullibility scheme and which only works as long as there is an increasing number of new investors joining,” it said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

URC’s net income increased 40.4% to P10.5b in 9 months

By Jenniffer B. Austria FOOD manufacturer Universal Robina Corp. said over the weekend net income grew 40.4 percent in the first three quarters to P10.54 billion from a year ago, led by other income from gain on sale of fixed assets and turnaround of net foreign exchange losses.

URC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange nine-month revenues were nearly unchanged at P85.8 billion from P85.1 billion a year earlier, on lower sales from domestic business.

Cost of sales, consisting of raw and packaging materials, direct labor and manufacturing costs, increased at a faster rate of 2.6 percent in the first nine months to P60.74 billion on higher input costs.

Sales of branded consumer food group declined 2.5 percent to P60.36 billion reflecting the high base effect from pantry stock-up in 2020 at the start of the pandemic.

International sales rose 5 percent to P16.13 billion in the first nine months.

In US dollar terms, sales increased by 6.7 percent, driven by Indo-China and Indonesia despite the COVID challenges.

Sales in Vietnam grew by 17.7 percent, helped by resurgence in beverage sales while sales in Thailand recovered with an 8.2-percent growth coming from strong domestic performance.

Wholly owned subsidiary URC Oceania signed an agreement in July to sell its remaining 60-percent stake in Oceania business to joint venture partner Intersnack for an undisclosed amount.

URC Oceania’s consolidated businesses in Australia and New Zealand include Snack Brands Australia, one of Australia’s leading salty snack manufacturers with a wide portfolio of strong local brands and Griffin‘s Foods, New Zealand’s largest biscuit manufacturer.

Sports

5’8” Carlos crowned slam dunk champ of FIBA 3x3 ABU DHABI — At 33 years of age, Manila Chooks TM’s David Carlos proved that he can still fly. At 5-foot8.

Carlos returned to the FIBA 3x3 pro circuit after a two-year absence with a bang, defeating Ukraine’s Vadim “Miller” Poddubchenko in the World Tour Abu Dhabi Masters’ Slam Dunk Competition final, Sunday morning (Manila time) at the Kasr Al Amwaj here.

This is only the third time a Filipino won a World Tour dunk competition with Carlos doing so back in the 2017 Chengdu Masters and Rey Guevarra topping the 2015 Manila Masters.

And it was a dramatic and thrilling victory for the 5’8” Filipino dunk king.

“I just wanted to put on a show and to prove to myself that I can still compete with the world’s best,” said an exhausted Carlos.

Already ahead of the 6’6” Miller heading into the third and final dunk, 9.3 to 7.35, Carlos needed just to complete a dunk to win it all.

Carlos though still went for broke as he tried to jump on four people but literally crashed and burned that hurt his back.

Instead of throwing down a simple one-hander and not risk getting a zero if he missed, Carlos decided to just pull out the last standee for an overthree-people dunk. It was the adjustment he needed as he converted on his final attempt for a 7.7.

Miller’s no-look scorpion dunk drew a 9.7 and was not enough to overcome Carlos’ early lead.

“I did not want to disappoint yung mga kapwa natin Pilipino na nanood dito,” said Carlos. “Kaya ako, kahit lamang na ko, tinodo ko po rin yung mga dunk ko kanina. Nasa isip ko kanina, bahala na kung ma-zero ako basta alam ko na binigay ko yung best ko.”

Carlos’ first dunk was an elevated windmill jam that drew a 9.3. His second attempt was his trademark scorpion that also had a score of 9.3.

Besides the title, Carlos also took home $3,000 (P151,617.93).

This is Miller’s first loss in the current season after topping the Debrecen and Prague Masters.

Besides his two golds in the World Tour Masters, Carlos is also a twotime runner-up (2018 Penang and 2019 Doha) and a one-time bronze winner (2019 Jeddah).

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2021

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SEAG stresses value of top competition for athletes

Rep. Abraham Tolentino

David Carlos dunks over three people in the World Tour Abu Dhabi Masters’ Slam Dunk Competition.

SEAGF makes joint bid to host ‘34 World Cup

By Peter Atencio

T

HE Philippines may wind up being one of the hosts of the FIFA World Cup in 2034.

This possibility was raised after member countries of the Southeast Asian Games Federation pushed for the staging of more Olympic-recognized sports events in future stagings of the SEA Games and in other sporting meets.

In a joint statement signed by sports leaders from 10 member countries, the SEAGF unanimously supports the proposed hosting of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, with Thailand leading the initiative.

Sports leaders expressed their support

during Thursday’s virtual conference of the Sixth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports.

The meeting was chaired by Singapore’s Edwin Tong, the minister of Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, along with vice chair Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Thailand’ s minister of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Back in June of 2019, the Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayuth Chano-cha, announced that all 10 nations of ASEAN will take part in a joint-bid to

host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. This made ASEAN as the first to submit a 10-country joint bid in FIFA World Cup history.

The proposal has gained unanimous approval from all members, after five ASEAN countries officially proposed to jointly host it.

“We reaffirm our support for the commitment of Thailand to lead the preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2034 joint bid by ASEAN. We adopt the Terms of Reference of the Technical Working Group for ASEAN’s Joint Bid for the World Cup 2034 and look forward to the convening of its first meeting,” said the statement, which was also signed by Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez.

Reyes savors title after 9-year absence in PBA FOR coach Chot Reyes, winning a championship is already special.

But an eighth crown he got as coach of the Talk N Text Tropang Giga has a more exceptional personal connotation to him.

“Every championship is special, pero iba talaga ito. Because first of all, ang tagal kong nawala,” said the 58-year-old Reyes, who steered the Tropang Giga to the 2021 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup crown last Friday following his return to coaching last March.

Reyes, who talked about the team’s achievement on the weekly program “Power and Play,” has been absent in the PBA for the last nine years after he got busy handling the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s team from 2012 to 2014, and from 2016 to 2018.

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

During his long layoff, he also concentrated on his television career by serving as president of TV5, with Media5, which served as the sales and marketing arm of TV5, and as the head of Sports5, the network’s sports division.

The journey to the championship, according to Reyes, was also difficult and unimaginable.

The Tropang Giga landed on top of the leaderboard at end of the eliminations at 10-1, with the games held with no spectators at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

Wielding a twice-to-beat incentive, they went on to beat Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 84-71, in the quarterfinals, to reach the best-of-seven semifinals against the San

Miguel Beermen.

In the semis, the Tropang Giga advanced to the best-of-seven finals with a 4-3 record after stopping the Beermen, 97-79, in Game 7.

The finals saw the Tropang Giga appearing dominant, and in Game 7, they relied on better firepower to bring down the Magnolia Hotshots, 94-79.

But for Reyes, the series was not that easy and dominating for the Tropang Giga.

“The series was a lot closer than what the scores indicated. Sobrang hirap. Never at any moment did we feel that the series was under control,” said Reyes.

The situations and injuries confronting many players and big men in the roster, made the outcome of the finals quite suspenseful for Turn to C2 TNT.

Chot Reyes

THE Southeast Asian Games Federation on Friday reiterated its recognition on the importance of providing the region’s athletes with “more competition opportunities at the ASEAN level before they compete at the regional and international levels by aligning the sports played at the SEA Games with those at the Asian and Olympic Games.

“We adopt the Joint Statement of ASEAN Sports Ministers on Cementing Strong Foundation for ASEAN Athletes at the Southeast Asian Games,” the region’s sports ministers said during the Sixth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports that was held virtually on Thursday, the Sports Ministers Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino praised the SEAGF for its unwavering stand on developing sports in the region as well as on its support for the ASEAN Sports Ministers’ initiatives.

“The SEAGF and the ASEAN Sports Ministers are standing on the same page and are bound by one goal—to develop further sports and athletes in the region,” Tolentino said. “There has always been a healthy and symbiotic relationship between the two bodies and with that, we have been reaping the success of that bond.”

There were 50 athletes—19 Filipinos— from six SEAGF members who competed at the Tokyo Olympics with the Philippines emerging as the best performer at 50th place with one gold (Hidilyn Diaz), two silver (Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio) and one bronze (Eumir Felix Marcial), followed by Indonesia (55th) with 1-1-3 (gold-silver-bronze), Thailand (59th) 1-0-1, Malaysia (74th) 0-1-1.

The SEAGF assured the Sports Ministers that Asian Games and regular Olympic sports would always be prioritized for each SEA Games editions, but would also put emphasis on the inclusion of sports indigenous to the region.

“Category 1 in Clause 34 [SEAGF Charter and Rules] provides for the compulsory sports [Athletics and Aquatics (Swimming, Diving and Water Polo are mandatory]) of the SEAG, Category 2 states that the host NOC must select and include at least 14 sports from its list of 38 Olympic and Asian Games sports, and Category 3 states that the host NOC [national Olympic Committee] may select and include at least two but not more than eight other sports listed therein,” the SEAGF said.

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Sports

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2021

Will Smith (51) of the Atlanta Braves celebrates the team’s 3-2 win against the Houston Astros with his teammates in Game Four of the World Series at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. AFP

Reyes savors...

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For one, slotman man Kelly Williams suffered a strained back and had to be stretchered out the playing court in Game 1.

Williams left the game at the 5:21 mark of the third period, a few moments after a failed attempt and was gone after the Tropang Giga’s 88-70 win over Magnolia.

Poy Erram sustained facial fracture from an accident in Game 4 of the semis and he needed to play with caution for the rest of TNT’s campaign in the finals.

Backup center Dave Marcelo missed Game 5 Friday due to “internal team disciplinary action” after he reportedly got involved in a fight with Magnolia sophomore Aris Dionisio at the lobby of their hotel.

The incident took place following TNT’s 106-89 win in Game 4 last Wednesday.

In Game 3, a hard foul by Magnolia forward Jackson Corpuz put TNT ace big man Troy Rosario out of action and left him doubtful for Game 4.

Rosario still played, but with limited minutes as the Tropang Giga went on to post a 106-89 win in the fourth game of the series.

Reyes said that the Magnolia Hotshots are a strong team and they showed it during the finals.

“They’re really tough at hindi bibigay ang team na iyan,” added Reyes, who now earned his place in league history as one of two most accomplished coaches as far as the all-Filipino conference is concerned.

In getting his sixth Philippine Cup crown as a coach, Reyes is now tied with the late great Virgilio ‘Baby’ Dalupan for the most number of All-Filipino championships won.

Dalupan won four of his all-Filipino titles when he was still with the Crispa Redmanizers from 1975 to 1980, while the other two were with Great Taste (1983, 1984).

Reyes won one each with the Purefoods TJ Hotdogs and the Coca-Cola Tigers, and the rest with the TNT franchise, one in 2008, back-to-back title conquests in 2011 and 2012 and the recent one.

Peter Atencio

Braves reach brink of World Series title W

ASHINGTON (AFP) — Dansby Swanson and Jorge Soler smashed back-to-back home runs and the Atlanta Braves defeated Houston 3-2 on Saturday to reach the brink of their first World Series title since 1995.

Swanson and Soler hammered solo blasts in the seventh inning to grab the lead as the Braves seized a 3-1 edge in Major League Baseball’s best-of-seven final, which could end with game five Sunday in Atlanta.

“It’s such a cool moment for this city but we’ve got one more and we can’t take anything for granted,” Swanson said. “We’ve got to be ready and come out and play our game tomorrow.”

The Braves, who improved to 7-0 at home in this year’s playoffs, are playing in the World Series for the first time since 1999.

The Astros are in the World Series for the third time in five seasons, seeking their first crown since 2017.

“We’ve got to win tomorrow,” said 72-year-old Astros manager Dusty Baker, chasing his first title as a manager. “We’ve had our backs to the wall before. Our guys know what we have to do.”

Houston relief pitcher Cristian Javier entered in the seventh inning and the 24-year-old Dominican right-hander was tagged for back-to-back solo homers by US slugger Swanson to right field and Cuban pinch-hitter Soler to left field that gave the Braves a 3-2 advantage.

“In that moment, the ‘compete’ factor went through the roof,” Swanson said. “Something amazing happened.”

When Soler followed him with what proved to be the winning run, Swanson said, “I told him you didn’t have to one-up me by hitting yours so hard.”

Soler, who won a World Series crown with the 2016 Chicago Cubs, said through a translator he was “focusing on the fastball but ready for the slider when it came.

“This is one of the most enjoyable teams I’ve ever played on.

We have no fear. And now we’re one win away from winning the World Series.”

Atlanta reliever Luke Jackson entered in the eighth and retired the Astros in order, with leftfielder Eddie Rosario making a backhanded running catch to rob Houston’s Jose Altuve of a base hit.

“It was incredible,” Soler said of Rosario’s catch. “It was like a movie.”

In the ninth, Braves left-handed closer Will Smith struck out Michael Brantley, induced a pop fly out by Alex Bregman and got Yordan Alvarez to ground out to first to end the game.

It was the fourth comeback victory of the playoffs for the Braves, a mark bettered in MLB history only by the six victory rallies of the 1995 Braves on their way to the title.

Altuve put Astros ahead Atlanta’s Dylan Lee, a 27-year-old left-hander, became the first pitcher whose first MLB start was in the World Series.

Altuve singled while Brantley and Alvarez walked before Lee was replaced after 1/3 of an inning by right-hander Kyle Wright, who went 4 2/3 innings.

Carlos Correa grounded out to drive in Altuve for a 1-0 Astros edge but Wright struck out Kyle Tucker to end the threat.

“I was just trying to give my team a chance,” Wright said. “The job is not done but we’re in a good spot.”

Altuve blasted a solo homer in the fourth to give Houston a 2-0 lead.

“We left 11 on base,” Baker said. “We didn’t have a bunch of chances after the first four innings.”

Astros pitchers scattered four hits over the first five innings before left-hander Brooks Raley entered in the sixth.

Raley surrendered a one-out double to Rosario and walked Freddie Freeman before being replaced by right-hander Phil Maton, who surrendered a single to Austin Riley that scored Rosario, setting the stage for the seventh-inning heroics.

The Astros were forced to add catcher Garrett Stubbs for reserve catcher Jason Castro, who was put on the Covid-19 list.

Former US President Donald Trump attended, doing the controversial “Tomahawk Chop” cheer in support of the Braves before the contest.

Wizards win in double OT; Spurs stun Bucks LOS ANGELES (AFP) — San Antonio used a balanced attack Saturday to beat the reigning NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks 102-93, snapping a four-game losing skid with their first road victory of the season.

Point guard Dejounte Murray and reserve Bryn Forbes led the charge as five players, including two off the bench, scored in double figures for the Spurs, who improved to 2-4 on the season.

Murray scored a team-high of 23 points, Forbes had 16, Derrick White delivered 17 and Keldon Johnson finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs. Thaddeus Young came off the bench to score 10.

“I love having the ball, no matter what,” said Murray, who finished with nine assists. “I take pride in being a pass-first point guard, but also being ready when my number is called.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a gamehigh 28 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the injury-hit Bucks who were missing Brook Lopez (back), Jrue Holiday (ankle) and Donte DiVincenzo (ankle surgery).

The Spurs were playing the third game of a road trip and coming off a disappointing 104-99 loss to Dallas.

“Obviously, it’s a good win against the NBA champions,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “They were missing a pretty big piece tonight but it happens to all of us.”

San Antonio’s mostly inexperienced squad outscored Milwaukee 33-26 in the final quarter.

The Spurs played without starting forward Doug McDermott, who has an injured knee.

In Washington, Bradley Beal scored a team-high of 36 points and Kyle Kuzma grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds as the Washington Wizards continued their hot start to the season by beating the Boston Celtics 115-112 in double overtime.

Both Kuzma (17 points) and Montrezl Harrell (20 points, 14 rebounds) finished with double doubles as the Wizards improved to 5-1 for their best start since the 2005-06 season.

“It just shows our resilience,” Washington coach Wes Unseld Jr. said. “I keep using that word, but it’s who we are and who we have to be. And every night somebody else finds a way to step up and make a play for us.”

Boston’s Jaylen Brown finished with 34 points and Jayson Tatum tallied 27 points and 15 rebounds. Josh Richardson was the only other Celtic to score in double figures, coming off the bench to score 18.

Al Horford grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked six shots for the Celtics, who played in their third overtime game out of six contests this season.

Beal made a layup with 25 seconds left in the first overtime period that forced a second one.

In double overtime, Beal scored on a fadeaway and layup, then Spencer Dinwiddie hit for two of his 20 points to give Washington a three-point lead.

Catch NBA’s historic 75th season with PLDT Home

COURTESY CALL. Coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito (fourth from left)

pays a courtesy call at the Brazilian Embassy on Friday and meets Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission Sergio Taam, Counsellor Ricardo dos Santos Poletto and Vice Consul Muiz Gustavo de Lacerda Sousa. Souza is accompanied by Philippine National Volleyball Federation President Ramon “Tats” Suzara (second from left) and Secretary General Don Caringal (left). Souza, a member of the gold medal-winning Brazilian men’s team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, is in the country on a twoyear mission to assist in the development of the women’s national team program as provided by the International Volleyball Federation or FIVB.

A NEW season, a new logo, a new list of top players, and more. This October, the NBA returns packed with games, storylines, and tributes to mark NBA 75, the league’s landmark 75th Anniversary Season, which Filipino basketball fans can enjoy watching live and on-demand through NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscription service, from PLDT Home!

NBA League Pass will continue to provide the most comprehensive live and on-demand access to an entire season of NBA games in high-definition with live stats and multiple viewing options, including the NBA Mobile View, which delivers a closer shot of the action optimized for viewing on mobile phones, tablets and connected devices. The 3-Game Choice enables users to watch up to three games of their choice per month. PLDT offers League Pass and 3-Game Choice packages in monthly pricing options starting as low as P85.

To open the 2021-22 season, the NBA

commemorated its 75 greatest players in league history. The league will also feature 75 Classic Matchups to celebrate the teams, players, coaches, and moments that have defined 75 years of NBA basketball.

The Classic Matchups will also pay tribute to three of the NBA’s original franchises including the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors (formerly Philadelphia Warriors), and New York Knicks which have all played in every season of the NBA. With so much to look forward to during NBA 75, an NBA League Pass subscription is a must-have for local hoop fans! The much coveted virtual front-row pass will allow fans to watch and support their favorite players and teams in their quest for the NBA Championship. Additionally, PLDT customers can enjoy live game streaming with zero interruptions on any mobile device, which is made hassle-free with the option to charge subscription fees directly to their PLDT Home account.

With subscription prices made affordable, there’s no better way to enjoy live NBA action than through PLDT Home— home of the fastest fiber internet in the country. And while the NBA League Pass already guarantees every subscriber an amazing courtside experience right at home, PLDT Home also offers an upgrade fitting for bigger groups in the NBA League Pass Premium. The latter package allows multiple subscribers to enjoy simultaneous video streaming of their favorite NBA games on different devices and at seamless speeds, making the ultimate bonding experience for families and friends going all out to root for their favorite teams!

Get your NBA League Pass now through PLDT Home in celebration of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Sea Season! For more information, visit www.pldthome.com/ nba-leaguepass.

Avaricio resumes drive for elusive win at Aoki TWICE foiled in her breakthrough bid, Chanelle Avaricio hopes to finally nail it this time – sans her two-time tormentor – as she top-bills the ICTSI Aoki Classic at Eagle Ridge, which unwraps Wednesday in Gen. Trias, Cavite.

The Alabama State U alumna barely missed scoring her first win at Sherwood Hills, falling short by one to Princess Superal, then losing by three to her again at Eagle Ridge-Norman, both last July, before play on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour was suspended due to the spike of coronavirus cases in NCR Plus.

But those setbacks are expected to strengthen not just her game but the mental side as well as she resumes her pursuit of the elusive crown at the third restart of the country’s premier ladies circuit put up by

ICTSI. Strategy and decision-making will indeed be the key points as the field tackles the challenging Aoki course kept in championship form year-round with Avaricio facing a set of rivals also all geared up for the 54-hole championship offering a total prize fund of P750,000.

That includes Harmie Constantino, who actually marked her pro debut with a two-shot victory over Superal at Aoki last March although the former national amateur champion slowed down in her next two outings, ending up third behind Superal and Avaricio at Sherwood and winding up fourth at Eagle RidgeNorman.

But with Superal out of the picture to pursue her

own campaign in Japan, Avaricio and Constantino look forward to a title clash next week with the likes of Chihiro Ikeda, Daniella Uy, Cyna Rodriguez, Sunshine Baraquiel and Marvi Monsalve also hopeful of coming out on top on Friday.

A host of others are also raring to spring a surprise, including Sarah Ababa, Lovelyn Guioguio, Apple Fudolin, Pamela Mariano, Eva Miñoza, Florence Bisera, Majorie Palumbarit and Sheryl Villacencio, in a title chase that could go down to the last shot or putt.

The organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., meanwhile, is enforcing strict safety measures to guarantee the health and safety of all those involved as per the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) guidelines

the way it conducted its previous successful bubble tournaments.

The touring ladies will next test the tricky Highlands course in the ICTSI Tagaytay Highlands Challenge on Nov. 9-11 with Gretchen Villacencio joining the hunt after skipping the Eagle Ridge sortie for medical reasons.

Meantime, two more tournaments are being readied for the touring ladies on Nov. 23-26 and Nov. 30-Dec. 3 at the Riviera Golf and Country Club in SIlang, Cavite, which hosted the first restart of the circuit after an eight-month hiatus late last year.

Chanelle Avaricio is wary but hopeful of finally joining the elite circle of LPGT winners.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2021

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Maymay Entrata defies beauty standards in ‘Amakabogera’

Maymay Entrata in a scene from her fiery P-pop music video 'Amakabogera.'

ACTRESS and recording star Maymay Entrata defies society’s toxic beauty standards in her selfempowering single “Amakabogera,” her latest release under Star Pop. “Everyone seems to have that same standard—to be beautiful according to what the trend is or what society tells you to be. ‘Amakabogera’ is a song about self-empowerment, being confident in who you are amid the high standards of the world,” said Maymay, whom netizens dubbed as the new solo star of the P-pop movement.

She added, “Don’t ever doubt and compare yourself with

others. You are beautiful, you are unique, and you are strong. Don’t let their standards snatch your crown.”

The track, written by Loriebelle Darunday and Elmar Jan Bolano who composed the song with Justin Ian Catalan, encourages listeners to be unapologetic and confident in embracing their own beauty, regardless of what cynics say. It was produced by Star Pop head Rox Santos.

Apart from its infectious beat and bold lyrics,

The beauty brand Miss Universe trusts U

S-BASED Filipina skincare specialist Olivia Quido-Co admires the beauty of Liza Soberano and lists Heart Evangelista as one of the local celebrities that she wanted to meet in person.

“I think she has a good chance if she were to join beauty pageants.

She’s a beauty queen material,” Miss O said of Soberano whom she wanted to invite to her clinic in Los Angeles.

“She’s really stunning and very fashionista,” her comment on Evangelista.

Quido-Co is popular among pageant fans for being the skincare sponsor of Miss Universe for two years in a row. And for the third time in December, her brand O Skin Med Spa, once again, is partnering with the world’s most prestigious beauty pageant as its official skincare provider.

For the 70th Miss Universe competition set on Dec. 12 in Eilat, Israel, Miss O looks forward to meeting the candidates and their fans.

“I get to know the ladies prior to the event, and what’s interesting, I get acquainted with their fans who watch my show,” Quido-Co told Manila Standard Entertainment.

The skin expert, who recently went to Bogota to be part of Miss Universe Colombia 2021 judging panel, shared that she’s able to widen her network and deep involvement in the world of pageantry because of her digital show, The Miss O Show.

“I was able to interview the candidates before and after the pageant.

I was able to get to know them better. And I think my team and I are doing a great job because we’re able to do 13 episodes. That’s our first

“Amakabogera” also showcases Maymay’s range as a vocalist, proving that the Kapamilya all-rounder has a dynamic sound and impressive artistry.

Meanwhile, the music video of “Amakabogera” has also dropped, which shows Maymay in her element—strutting down a runway, dancing to a commanding choreography, slaying in a captivating red dress, and embracing her natural beauty with a just-woke-up look.

The video directed by Amiel Kirby Balagtas has so far accumulated almost 800,000 views since it premiered on Oct. 22.

Last May, she released the single “’Di Kawalan,” another self-assuring track about realizing one’s own precious worth. The song currently has over 243,000 Spotify streams while its music video has over 1.3 million views.

On November 26 (Friday), Maymay is also set to hold her first digital concert “Mpowered,” with special guests Darren Espanto, AC Bonifacio, Mimiyuuuh, and Nyoy Volante that will be livestreamed via KTX.ph, iWantTFC, and TFC IPTV. SVIP and VIP ticketholders will also enjoy an after party with Maymay, DJ Jhai Ho, and Edward Barbers.

Hero for Pinoy values

Olivia Quido-Co, owner and CEO of an LA-based beauty brand O Skin, has been tapped by Miss Universe Organization to be its skincare partner for the third time.

season,” she said.

The CEO and founder of L.A.-based O Skin Med Spa was both delighted and excited over her collaboration with the prestigious beauty pageant for the third time.

“The Philippines will take care of the candidates’ skin once again, and we’re coming up with an exclusive Miss Universe line to mark this partnership. And this will be promoted all over the world.

We’ve sourced out the ingredients from the seven continents.

This is going to be so exciting,” Miss O said.

The licensed esthetician expressed her deep gratitude to Miss Universe Organization for giving her the platform to promote her brand.

“It helped me and my company so much beyond I expected. Prior to my partnership with Miss Universe, my clients and the orders I got are from Los Angeles, but after the generous exposure from the pageant, the territory is getting bigger and bigger. Now we are shipping to Japan, Dubai, Australia, and other countries. The exposure really helped in brand awareness,” Miss O concluded.

Quido-Co lists Heart Evangelista and Liza Soberano as the local celebs that she wanted to meet and invite to her clinic in LA.

Charlize Theron on COVID-19, youth empowerment, and revolution in PH Digicon 2021 HOLLYWOOD A-list actor Charlize battling health crisis such as HIV and Theron is unquestionably the real- now with the COVID-19. life heroine we see her portray in Theron recalls how she was moved movies with her philanthropic work, by the HIV/AIDS plight of South entrepreneurial ventures, and stance on Africa, recounting how “Once you’ve women empowerment and the youth. personally experienced those things it’s Theron shared her life experiences really hard, kind of not being proactive, as a mother, philanthropist, producer, especially in something that is 100 and entrepreneur during her sit-down percent preventable. Knowing that there interview with PLDT FVP and Head was maybe an entire younger generation of Group Corporate Communications that was not going to have access to that Cathy Yap-Yang during the recent simple life-saving information.” streaming of the Philippine Digicon Because of COVID-19, Theron’s 2021, an annual gathering of telco and foundation has doubled up its efforts in technology industry leaders, organized helping the vulnerable communities in

by PLDT Enterprise.

South Africa already living with HIV to Just as in numerous movies where have access to vaccines. she played the strong-willed female lead, Theron does in fact have heroic feats under her belt in real life. A UN Ambassador for Peace, mother of two, and founder of the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTOAP) South Africa, Theron shares how inspirational her work is in their organization helping change the lives Hollywood star Charlize Theron with host Cathy of so many young people Yap-Yang during the Philippine Digicon 2021. through education, and

Other than battling an epidemic, Theron’s foundation also gave focus on supporting South African youth by providing communities access to information and education in the hopes of giving them a better future.

“When young girls and young boys get that further education, no matter where they go in the world, a lot of those experiences will come back into their communities,” she shared.

Theron’s advice to women leaders in the business industry is to “be resilient, find your crew, find your team, find and surround yourself with people who make you better, who challenge you, who push you. I think understanding the value of leadership is not something that happens in a vacuum; doesn’t happen with one person.”

The Philippine Digicon 2021 was a three-day event staged

by PLDT Enterprise, which featured experts and key figures in the telecoms sector and technology space. Philippine Digicon 2021 was broadcast to over 5,000 delegates from various companies around the world.

FROM the dynamic duo composed of director Avid Llongoren and screenplay writer Carlo Vergara, comes another mustwatch animation led by a tomcat named Heneral Tuna voiced

by Manny Angeles Angeles.

The animated series is one of the values Heneral Tuna is an animated web miniseries directed by Avid formation projects of the Liongoren under Rocketsheep Studio.

National Commission for Culture and Arts that is currently being shown on the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Facebook page and the other social media of the arts and culture Commission.

“The NCCA is using animation, short films, teleserye to be able to communicate message and values in a subtle yet effective way,” NCCA officerin-charge executive director Marichu Tellano declares.

“Heneral Tuna is from the Planet Mingming and his main task is to observe the earthlings, apparently because he is the best general on their planet. The plan is to invade the earthlings, but Heneral Tuna would feel like his heart is softening as he observes the members’ values,” Llongoren shares.

Why a cat then as the main character? Screenplay writer Vergara explains that cats, as central characters, can be very interesting.

“Cats seem to have a mind of their own. Cats are tactile creatures, malambing sila but are cunning and observant. As Heneral Tuna becomes part of a Filipino family, he becomes more curious about what constitutes a family,” Vergara added.

Before the animated series was made and developed as “Heneral Tuna,” NCCA commissioned a research that provided the answers on the most important values that Filipinos consider. Per the results of the research, the values that are highlighted in the Llongoren-Vergara cartoon creation are love of family and community, faith, health, wellness, welfare, and goodness.

Also articulated in the research is how Filipinos give merit to the attainment of a higher degree and quality education, addressing of basic and important needs of the family unit in particular and the community in general, honesty and integrity, political stability, and good governance.

As part of its values formation campaign, “Project Destination”, which stars Migo Adecer, Kate Valdez, Royce Cabrera, Yul Servo, and Angeli Bayani, was launched a year ago. Read full story on manilastandard.net

Andrea Torres bags role in Argentinian film ‘Pasional’ ACTRESS Andrea Torres celebrates a milestone in her career as she stars in another international movie project. She secured a role in the Argentinian film tentatively titled Pasional and flew to the country last Oct. 21 to shoot for the movie.

The producers of the film took notice of Andrea’s Instagram account and reached out to her managers. She explained the project is about an unusual romance of two people and gushed over the story.

"Na-excite ako kasi kakaiba yung way kung paano sila nagmeet, kung papaano nagdevelop yung feelings nila sa isa't-isa and how it will end! It’s a different kind of story, something na hindi ko pa nagawa before.”

The Kapuso actress also revealed her character is a Filipina dancer. She took a threeday tango class to prepare for the role.

“Actually, nagustuhan ko yung tango dance. Ang sarap ng feeling when you are doing the tango, very romantic kasi ang moves and it’s really like you are in love while you are dancing. Para kang lumulutang 'yung gan'on. Feeling ko even after the movie, gusto ko pa rin mag-aral ng tango."

Andrea is the only Filipino in the main cast and with mostly international actors. The movie is

co-produced by Malevo Films of Argentina, an independent Filipino producer, and GMA. It is also set to shoot in the Philippines in the first half of 2022.

Andrea’s first international movie project was the Cambodian film Fight For Love in 2016. Currently, she is part of GMA’s family drama series Legal Wives as Diane San Luis, the Roman Catholic second wife of Dennis Trillo's character, Ishmael.

Actress Andrea Torres poses for a snap while in Argentina for the filming of the movie 'Pasional.'

Celebrities’ partner in hygiene

Megan Young and Mikael Daez

FOR couple Megan Young and Mikael Daez, actress Dianne Medina, and online personality Kimpoy Feliciano, hygiene is always important.

Even if we’re not in a pandemic but being in a global health crisis makes it doubly so. We need to keep our homes and surroundings clean so we will stay strong and healthy.

When it comes to sanitation, washing clothes, bed linens and towels is definitely one of the most challenging household chores because it is time-consuming and labor-intensive. With

the help of a good washing machine, doing the laundry becomes easier.

Beko, - European Appliance Brand, continues to inspire people to live healthier - with home appliances that make use of technology to make it more effortless and convenient for homemakers and users to keep their clothes and those of their family members’ spotless and clean.

Beko washing machine with amazing features like SteamCure Hygiene+ technology helps clean and sanitize your clothes while also

being gentle to fabrics. SteamCure Hygiene+ technology uses steam in softening stubborn and even dried-up stains. The steam is released from the bottom of a Beko washing machine’s drum right before it starts the wash cycle, making it an effective pre-treatment for stains.

Another batch of steam is released after the wash cycle.

This helps smoothen out any unwanted creases and folds in clothes. This program also sanitizes and kills bacteria on garments, so every home stays safe and clean. The steam in SteamCure

Hygiene+ gets rid of - bacteria in your clothing and bed linens and also helps wash away allergens like dust and animal dander. This is particularly helpful during the rainy season in the country.

The steam also makes sure your laundry is odorfree once done. To help your clothes dry faster during the rainy season, the Beko Heat Pump dryer works well with the SteamCure Hygiene+ washing machine so your clothes are always clean and dry.

For more information, visit Beko’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bekoph.

Life

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

C4

FOOD

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2021

RECIPE FILES

Easy-to-do weekend menu

N

Bacon, Cranberries, and Cabbage Sandwich

OTHING beats enjoying delicious meals on weekends when the whole family is at home. King Sue offers eight different recipes, from breakfast to midnight snack, that are easy to cook and make mealtimes extra special.

Procedure: 1. Sauté in olive oil the garlic, onions, and King Perfect for kids and kids at heart who love pancakes for breakfast. This one is made special with Sue Chicken Tocino.

2. Add the bean paste, oyster sauce, and dash of King Sue Bacon and King Sue Sweet Ham. sesame oil. Then add the carrots and bell pepper, followed by cooked rice.

Ingredients: 3. Toss in the rest of the vegetables and top with 4 slices King Sue Sweet Ham sesame seeds.

6-8 pcs.

King Sue Bacon, cooked 2 cups dry pancake mix Brunch: Bacon, Cranberries, 1 cup milk

Breakfast: Pancake Medley

and Cabbage Sandwich

This meal is perfect on weekends that start late; Procedure: on Sundays we brunch!

1. Mix pancake mix, eggs, and milk. Whisk until most lumps dissolve.

Ingredients: 2. Heat a non-stick pan over medium/high heat, 9 slices King Sue Bacon Sliced brush with a little butter.

1/2 pc. small cabbage 3. Place bacon slices and ham on a skillet and 1/2 cup carrots, julienned top with pancake mix until the meats are covered.

1/4 cup chopped walnuts 4. Cook until the top is bubbly and the edges 1/4 cup dried cranberries start to dry. Flip and continue cooking until the 1/4 cup honey other side is golden brown (about 45 seconds to 1 1/4 cup natural yogurt minute).

6 slices sourdough bread 8 tbsp. butter Breakfast: Korean Chicken Tocino 1 pc. apple Stir-Fried Rice mayonnaise A dish for family members who like to eat a big salt and pepper breakfast before starting their day. Serve it with a cup of hot dark chocolate.

Procedure: 1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Ingredients: honey, and yogurt until smooth. Season with salt 1 tbsp. olive oil and pepper. Set aside.

3 cloves garlic 2. In a large bowl, toss together cabbage, carrots, 1 pc. white onion walnuts, and cranberries. Pour dressing over cab250g King Sue Chicken Tocino bage mixture and toss evenly to coat.

1 tbsp.

Korean bean paste 3. Heat a large skillet over medium heat.

1 tbsp. oyster sauce Spread both sides of bread with butter and toast 1 pc. small carrot, julienned until brown.

1 pc. green bell pepper, sliced thinly 4. Assemble the sandwich. Place 1/2 cup of cab3 cups cooked rice bage salad on top of one toasted bread. Add 2 slic1 cup Chinese cabbage es of King Sue Bacon Sliced and 4 slices of apple.

4 cups bean sprouts Add another piece of toasted bread.

1 tbsp. sesame oil 5. Slice the sandwiches before serving.

1 tbsp. sesame seeds

Monte Cristo Sandwich

Meat Lover’s Pizza

green peas and Chinese cabbage.

4. Before serving, sprinkle with chopped spring Here’s a tasty dish for lunch featuring King onions.

Sue’s signature products.

Lunch: Yang Chow Fried Rice

Ingredients: 70g 280g 250g 3 tbsp.

1 tsp.

1/4 cup 1 tbsp.

2 pcs.

6 cups 1 1/2 tbsp.

1 tsp.

1 tsp.

1 tbsp.

3/4 cup 100g

Snack: Monte Cristo Sandwich King Sue Chorizo, chopped King Sue Hungarian Sausage, chopped King Sue Bacon Sliced, chopped vegetable oil ginger, minced white onions, chopped garlic, minced eggs, beaten cooked rice soy sauce salt sugar hoisin sauce green peas Chinese cabbage, finely chopped spring onions, chopped

Ingredients: 2 slices 2-3 slices 2 slices 2 slices 1 pc.

3 tbsp.

King Sue Sweet Ham King Sue Chicken Nuggets, cooked and sliced thinly white bread cheese whole egg, beaten milk butter, as needed

Procedure: 1. Place the toasted bread slices on a clean work surface, spread with butter.

2. Place the King Sue Chicken Nuggets, King Sue Sweet Ham, and cheese slices on one of the pieces of bread. Top with the remaining slice of bread, buttered side down.

3. Beat the egg and milk together to form the batter.

Procedure: 4. Dip the sandwich in the batter until it is com1. Sauté ginger, white onions, and garlic. Add pletely coated and the liquid has partially soaked King Sue Chorizo, King Sue Hungarian Sausage, into the bread. and King Sue Bacon. Set aside.

5. Cook on a griddle until browned on both sides.

2. In the same pan, cook beaten eggs. Stir and 6. Cut in half or quarters and serve. cook very well. Cut into small pieces.

3. Add cooked rice. Season with soy sauce, hoi(Read the rest of the article at manilastandard.net) sin sauce, salt, and sugar. Cook for 3 minutes. Add

BITES A new plant-based brand on the block Nestlé Philippines announced Monday the launch of its plant-based brand initially in its food service business.

Harvest Gourmet, launched on World Vegan Day, will be available in initial three gourmet formats: Sensational Burger, Schnitzel, and Chargrilled Pieces, in 2-kilogram institutional packs. Mince, nuggets, balls, and other formats will be rolled out by next year, giving restaurants and hotels many options to add plant-based products to their menus.

“As a ‘Kasambuhay for the Environment’, accelerating consumption of plant-based alternatives will help us attain our company’s commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, contribTGI Fridays’ Chops party box with one-piece pork chop, sides, and a drink.

TGI Fridays offers party boxes IN TIME for the holiday season, casual restaurant TGI Fridays offers party boxes ideal for socially distanced parties, Zoom reunions, and intimate gatherings.

The menu is available in four categories, namely the Burger Box (shiitake or chicken for P600), the Meal Box (salisbury steak or fish and chips for P800), the M-Eat Box (pork chop, Chipotle chicken, or liempo for P1,000), and the Fridays Fave Box (glazed ribs, ribs and shrimp, half rack ribs, or pork chop and chicken fingers for P1,450).

Each box comes with a meal, sides, and a Fridays drink. For the Fave Box, customers have the option to upgrade their drinks to Fridays handcrafted beer for an additional of P50.

TGI Fridays’ party boxes can be picked up from any store nationwide or delivered through preferred courier. To order, go to bit.ly/TGIFPartyBox or call or visit any branch near you.

Harvest Gourmet’s plant-based burger, schnitzel, and chargrilled pieces made of non-GMO soy and wheat.

uting to the aim of the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius,” said Nestlé Philippines chairman and chief executive Kais Marzouki.

According to Nestlé officials, the arrival of Harvest Gourmet in the Philippines comes at the “perfect time” as more consumers are recognizing the benefits of plantbased options, with over 40 percent of consumers in Asia consciously reducing their meat intake and shifting to non-meat alternatives.

“What we are seeing is that the demand for plant-based food is not just a food trend, but really a growing social movement for sustainability,” said Alexander Ong Oh, business executive officer at Nestlé Professional, the foodservice unit of Nestlé Philippines.

Each product under the Harvest Gourmet range is made with non-GMO soy and wheat that promises taste, texture, and a cooking experience as close as possible to that of meat products. Nestlé also uses High Moisture Extrusion Technology to optimize the product performance in commercial kitchen equipment, ensuring that they deliver a gourmet-quality experience in terms of texture, appearance, aroma, and taste.

It is now available at Nestlé Professional Philippines and on e-commerce partners Rare Food Shop and Prime Pacific Foods Corporation.

A Champ with a kick

Shiitake Burger Box

Ultimate Ribs Box

A spicy kick to turn up the heat has been added to this juicy, tasty burger many Filipinos love.

Jollibee serves the new Spicy Champ, made with the same 1/3-pound pure beef patty with an added Sriracha mayo dressing and jalapeño slices. It’s also available in Spicy Champ Jr. variant.

“We know Filipinos love two things when it comes to food—we enjoy a good burger and many of us love eating spicy food,” said Mari Aldecoa, Jollibee marketing assistant vice president for bestsellers and

ready-to-cook category. “With the Spicy Champ and the Spicy Champ Jr., we believe we’ve managed to create something that’s definitely new and exciting for our Jollibee fans, and we can’t wait for everyone to try it out.”

Both regular (P175 solo) and junior-sized (P79) Spicy Champ variants are now available in Metro Manila stores and in more stores across the country later this year.

Jollibee’s Spicy Champ and Spicy Champ Jr.