Manila Standard - 2021 November 7 - Sunday

Protocols to color Christmas DOH: Observance of health standards key to sad or merry holidays n By WILLIE CASAS

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ILIPINOS can determine if they want a merry or sad Christmas, based on how well they continue to comply with minimum public health standards as COVID-19 quarantine restrictions are being loosened across the country.

This is after the Department of Health (DOH) projected Saturday that the country’s active coronavirus cases could drop to as low as 22,000 or go as high as over 53,000

b November 15 – as it warned that complacency in following health protocols could lead to a spike in COVID-19 infections by yearend.

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November 7, 2021 8 PAGES

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IN MET R MANILAO

CHRISTMAS DISPLAYS. (From top)

The Belenismo sa Tarlac art of belen (Nativity scene) exhibits opens at the Capt.

Servillano Aquino Camp in Tarlac City with (from left) Sheila Centino, Philippine Army Lt. Gen. Andres Centino, Tarlac Heritage Foundation founder Dr. Isa Cojuangco, and Isabel Cojuangco Suntay. At SM City Dasmarinas, dancers perform before a 30-foot Christmas Tree embellished with gold and warm lights accents. In San Juan, Mayor Francis Zamora leads the Christmas launching and lighting ceremony with the STARS held at Greenhills G-Strip open area with officials of Ortigas Malls and his family. Lino Santos, Norman Cruz and Manny Palmero

Even with parents, children still can’t ride public vehicles CHILDREN in Metro Manila are still barred from taking public transport, even if they are with their parents or guardians, despite the allowed capacity for passengers on public vehicles being raised to 70 percent, a Transportation Department official said Saturday.

Meanwhile, motorists can expect a rollback of 90 centavos per liter on the pump price of gasoline, as well as a cutback of 40 to 50 centavos on diesel prices, by next week, local retailer

Cinderella Faye Obeñita

Unioil said in a statement.

The rollback for the week of November 9 to 15 would end 10 consecutive weeks of oil price increases that have sent gas prices past the P60 mark.

Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary Manuel Gonzales said there are still no guidelines from the agency or other authorauthor ities even as quarantine protocols were eased CONTINUED ON 3A

Pageant vet is Ms. Globe; 2nd for PH

IATF tackles mandatory jabs n By B JOEL E. ZURBANO THE Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) is discussing how it can increase inoculations through mandatory vaccination against the coronavirus, National

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FIL-AMERICAN Maureen Montagne, a veteran of local and international beauty competitions, finally won her own crown after beating 50 candidates from all over the world at the Miss Globe 22021 pageant held at the Opera Theater in Tirana, Albania on Friday night (Saturday in Manila).

The 28-year-old model from Chandler, Arizona is the second Filipina to win the title after Ann Lorraine Colis in 2015.

She is also the second of Binibining Pilipinas’ reigning queens to win an international crown this year following the victory of Cinderella Faye Obeñita at Miss Intercontinental 2021 last week.

Miss Nigeria Esther Ogechi Gabriel was named Miss Globe first runner-up; Miss Turkey Melike Bali, 2nd runner up; Miss Venezuela Jhosskaren Smiller Carrizo Orozco, 3rd runner-up; and Miss Canada Hailey Hamelin-Wilson, 4th runner-up.

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SAMPAGUITA STAR. Maureen Montagne flaunts her figure in in her Sampaguita national costume created for her by Patrick Isorena that helped her win the Miss Globe title on Friday. The 28-yearold is the second Filipina to win the pageant after Ann Lorraine Colis in 2015 -- and the second in a week for Binibining Pilipinas following Cinderella Faye Obeñita at Miss Intercontinental 2021.

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Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) spokesperson Restituto Padilla Jr. said Saturday.

This was after both the Department of Health and Department of the InteInte rior and Local Government supported vaccine mandates to increase coverage rates, which currently stands at just 26 percent of fully-vaccinated Filipinos after eight months of the government inoculation program.

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‘Just a nuisance,’ Marcos camp says of COC petition NEWS | 2A

8 dead, several injured in US music stampede WORLD | 3A

Is it real? Maybe it’s a deepfake YOUNG LIFE | 2B

INBRIEFS

BUHAY debunks Shaddai desertion

NOVEMBER 7, 2021

‘Just a nuisance,’ Marcos camp says of petition to cancel COC

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n By REY E. REQUEJO

ARTIDO Federal ng Pilipinas on Saturday described as “just a nuisance” the petition seeking to cancel the certificate of candidacy of its standard-bearer Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. PFP general counsel George Briones lamented that the petition was a desperate move by some groups trying to derail Marcos’s candidacy for president in next year’s elections.

Briones referred to the petition as a mere “scrap of paper” since the petitioners failed to attach a certified true copy of a final judgment showing Marcos was guilty of a crime involving moral turpitude.

“Clearly, this petition is just a nuisance,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Enrile family has made official their endorsement of PFP presidential aspirant Marcos Jr. after a meeting in Makati City, where

they discussed plans for the 2022 elections.

Marcos Jr. will support Katrina Ponce Enrile, who is running for a congressional seat in Cagayan. Katrina is also the Cagayan provincial chair of the PFP. Juan Ponce Enrile, 97, was the defense minister during the term of Marcos Jr.’s father, late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. According to political analysts, Cagayan is part of the Marcoses’ so-called Solid North, where the family

has traditionally received strong electoral support.

Also, following the destruction of more than P300 million worth of vegetables and other agricultural products in Pampanga, Marcos Jr. asked the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to look into donating the seized fruits and vegetables to communities in need once they are deemed safe to eat.

According to Briones, before the Comelec allows the petition to proceed and ask the respondent Marcos to comment, the poll body should at least order the petitioners to provide what he “actionable document.”

“Before the Comelec gives due course to the petition and requires the respondent to answer or comment to the petition, they must at the very least order the petitioners to attach a certified true copy of this final judgment to their petition. For how can the respondent intelligently answer the petition, if the judgment upon which his alleged ineligibility is based is not even attached to it?” Briones asked.

Lacson: Budget scrutiny saved P300b in funds from corruption CARMONA, Cavite -- Seventeen years of scrutinizing the national budget has saved the Filipino people at least P300 billion, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson disclosed Friday afternoon.

Lacson, a watchdog of the national budget, said this amount in public funds could have been lost to corruption had he not kept his guard up.

“I am not bragging but the Filipino people saved some P300 billion in the 17 years I had been scrutinizing the budget. Even I did not quite expect the amount to be that big,” the Partido Reporma standard bearer said before a gathering here.

The Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer also defended barangay officials who were criticized over the distribution of cash aid or ‘ayuda’ to residents stuck inside their homes because of strict lockdowns at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a public forum held on the sidelines of his political rally here, Lacson said village chieftains who took it upon themselves to ration out the P8,000 cash subsidy so that more people could benefit did not deserve to be pilloried.

Officials and residents of the towns of Carmona, Silang and General Mariano Alvarez (GMA) in Cavite threw their support behind the Partido Reporma standard-bearer as hundreds pledged their allegiance to the party and its reform advocacies.

Garcia clan poised to endorse Isko as Cebu’s bet all their statements and body language point to Moreno as their bet for presidential race in next year’s polls.

“The most glaring symbolism so far that not too many noticed last Friday was when Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and his brother, 3rd District Rep. Pablo John brought Mayor Isko to the Capitol’s Balcony where the three of them flashed the No.1, sign which is both the

One Cebu sign and Manila God First!,” a statement released by Moreno’s media bureau stated.

“Moreno is the only second presidential candidate invited to stand between Gov. Gwen and Cong. PJ at the Balcony,” the statement said, noting that the first was Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2004, the year she won the presidency and won big in Cebu province. Rey Requejo

Tingog thanks NYK for module aid n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

P16m in party drugs seized from shipment GOVERNMENT agents seized a smuggled shipment containing more than P16 million worth of party drugs ecstasy from Belgium.

A composite team from Port of Clark, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, Customs Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force, and Enforcement Security Service, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) also conducted a controlled delivery operation on Friday resulting in the arrest of the shipment’s claimant.

The authorities did not identify the name of the suspect, but said the claimant is a resident of Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City.

During X-ray inspection and physical examination on Nov. 3, Customs examiners discovered the prohibited drugs - 9,917 and approximately 31 broken tablets of ecstasy worth P16, 911, 600 - hidden inside four bed sheets from the shipment declared as “Bed Sheets, Lady Bag, Watch, Shoes, Cloth” shipped from Brussels.

“Samples were turned over to PDEA for the conduct of chemical laboratory analysis which confirmed that the tablets were indeed Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or Ecstasy,” said Clark District Collector Alexandra Lumontad in a statement. Joel E. Zurbano

PHYSICAL AND VIRTUAL PLAY. Youngsters play basketball with the magnificent setting sun on their backs along Dominican Hill overlooking the town of Tuba, Benguet on Saturday. Meanwhile, a boy enjoys a driving game inside an arcade at a shopping mall in Ermita, Manila (inset) as children were finally allowed to use indoor amusement parks under Metro Manila’s COVID Alert Level 2. Dave Leprozo and Norman Cruz

AKSYON Demokratiko presidential candidate Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, after winning the hearts and minds of Cebuanos during his “listening tour” in Cebu province, is likely to get a strong endorsement from One Cebu Party as their choice for 2022 elections.

Moreno’s camp revealed that formal endorsement from the Garcia clan of Cebu may wait for another 10 days but

BUHAY Party-list board member and legal counsel Melchor Monsod has debunked the claims of disgruntled former board members that the party had abandoned Deputy Speaker and BUHAY party-list Founder Lito Atienza.

“We were hoping not to discuss this matter publicly,” Monsod said in a statement Saturday after the Catholic charismatic group El Shaddai reportedly severed ties with Atienza’s pro-life group.

In the letter signed by former Reps. Rene del Monte Velarde and Michael del Monte Velarde Jr., second nominee for the 18th Congress and secretary general of the pro-life party-list group, respectively, it said the Velarde group expressed its resentment over Atienza’s alleged refusal to honor an agreement he had with the El Shaddai leader in connection with the placement of Buhay nominees for the 2022 party-list election.

The Velardes are sons of evangelist Mike Z. Velarde, servant leader and founder of El Shaddai Ministry. Maricel V. Cruz

At the same time, Romualdez donated 15 brand new laptop units in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to three schools here as Tingog’s contribution to further level up the quality of education in this time of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“The act of donation is indeed a remarkable gesture, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic,” Romualdez, chairperson of the House Committee on the Welfare of Children, said in her short speech during the A4 for a Module Campaign turnover held at the Leyte National High School last Friday.

Romualdez explained that the A4 For a Module Campaign project is one of the major projects of the IMO-ASTIG in s Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal No. 4, which is to provide quality education.

Iloilo gov vows work with Leni on food security

ILOILO Governor Arthur “Toto” Defensor, Jr. vowed to work with Vice President Leni Robredo and her running mate, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, to attain food security for the nation, following his recent declaration of support for the tandem in the May 2022 national elections.

“Number one, sa MoRe ProGRes ILOILO (Movement for a Resurgent, Progressive, Globally Competitive and Resilient Iloilo) vision namin, ang objective – na sa ngayon hindi pa nga napapag-usapan, we want to pursue this with her – ang food security.

Wala nang mas importante pa kaysa bigas at ulam,” Defensor said.

Defensor on October 28 declared his support for the Leni-Kiko ticket, adding his voice to the growing number of local chief executives who believe that a Robredo-Pangilinan administration will bring progress, development, and healing to the country as Filipinos try to survive the pandemic.

The province of Iloilo is aggressively pursuing food security on three fronts: food availability, economic and physical access to food, and food utilization and stability.

TINGOG Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez has expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support of the Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha or NYK Line of Japan to International Maritime Organization-Alliance of Seafarers Towards Achieving (IMO-ASTIG) A4 For a Module Campaign project of ensuring the delivery of quality education in the country.

Romualdez, Honorary Chair for Membership of YWCA Founder’s FedLAPTOP DONATION. Leyte National High School Principal Basilisa Negru (ceneration of the Philippines, Inc. (FFPI), ter) receives five new laptops from Tingog Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez (3rd from left) to support distance learning amid the pandemic. Also pictured (from left) thanked NYK Line, Japan’s biggest and oldest shipping company, for donating are Brgy. 95-A Caliban Tacloban City Capt. Abet Eviota), NYK Line Chief Engineer 1,700 reams of A4 bond papers and Hideo Watanuma, NYK Captain Kenji Hongan, Raymund Romualdez, and Tingog 10 units of Fuji printers to three most nominee Jude Avorque Acidre (right). densely populated schools in Leyte – Leyte National High School, San Jose National High School and Greendale Residences National High School.

Goitia asked why the Comelec is THE Commission on Elections appears allowing “these illegal organizations” to to have no intention of intervening participate in the election despite in the participation of the “strong proof” they have communist terrorist groups’ violated requirements of Relegal fronts, Gabriela and public Act 7941 Section 6 or the Kabataan Partylist, the Party-List System Act. in the 2022 elections, He cited Section 6.2, the Liga Independencia which states that a party-list Pilipinas (LIPI) said in a group can be disqualified if it statement. “advocates violence or unlawful This, LIPI Secretary Genmeans to seek its goal.” eral Jose Antonio “Ka Pep” The LIPI chief also cited Goitia said, was despite forSection 6.4, barring groups mal complaints filed with the Comelec “about the acts and affiliations “receiving support from any foreign government, foreign political party, of both party-lists to the communist foundation, organization, whether terror group.” directly or through any of its officers “No decision has been made. The or members or indirectly through question is why? Why is the Comelec CAMPAIGN TRAIL. Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson receives signatures from 1,500 leaders and members of Partido third parties for partisan election not acting on the complaints?” he Reporma in Cavite to support his candidacy for president on Friday at Imus National High School. Meanwhile, senatorial candidate and Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano tackles the political dynasty issue in a press conference at SM purposes.” said.

LIPI demands Comelec DQ Red party-lists

Aura in Taguig City. JR Josue and Norman Cruz

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WORLD

NOVEMBER 7, 2021

DIRE WARNING.

People participate in a rally during a Global Day of Action on climate change in Sydney on November 6 as world leaders attend the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. AFP

Dems rescue Biden economic plan, pass $3t infra spend bill WASHINGTON -- Democrats rescued President Joe Biden’s faltering domestic agenda Friday, passing a giant infrastructure package that is one of the pillars of his $3 trillion economic vision after rebel moderates had earlier blocked a vote on his social welfare expansion.

Despite hours of cajoling lawmakers, party leaders had risked seeing Biden’s two-pronged legislative strategy collapse as they failed to unite the party’s feuding progressive and moderate factions.

But the breakthrough came as lawmakers rubber-stamped the Senate-passed $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill on the House floor by a comfortable 228 votes to 206.

The passage of the infrastructure spending marks a legacy-making achievement for Biden, amid plunging personal approval ratings and a humiliating upset defeat for his Democratic Party in the Virginia gubernatorial election.

His spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the success was “proof that delivering for the American people is worth all the painful sausage making.”

“Clean drinking water for kids, broadband access, electric vehicles, biggest investment in public transit.

It’s happening. And more to come,” she tweeted.

Party leadership in the House of Representatives began the day aiming to rubber-stamp the infrastructure bill, the biggest upgrade of roads, bridges, and waterways in decades, after sending an even bigger social welfare deal, worth up to $1.85 trillion, to the upper chamber.

But six moderate Democrats refused to commit to the “Build Back Better” benefits package, arguing they first needed to see a full accounting of its economic impacts, which won’t be available for at least a week. AFP

200-plus rallies worldwide demand action on climate Communist Party

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LASGOW—Glasgow was on Saturday bracing for a second day of protests against what campaigners say is a lack of urgency to address global warming after Greta Thunberg labelled the crunch UN climate summit there a “failure”.

From Paris to Sydney, Nairobi to Seoul, more than 200 events are planned worldwide to demand immediate action for communities already affected by climate change, particularly in the poorer countries in the South.

In Glasgow, organisers and police said they expected up to 50,000 people to parade through the streets of the Scottish city near the COP26 summit venue, which is under tight security.

Delegates from nearly 200 countries are in

Glasgow to hammer out how to meet the Paris Agreement goals of limiting temperature rises to between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius.

At the halfway stage of the COP26 negotiations, some countries have signed up to pledges to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, with separate deals on phasing out coal, ending foreign fossil fuel funding and slashing methane.

The promises followed a major assessment that showed global CO2 emissions were set to rebound in 2021 to pre-pandemic levels.

But activists have been left unimpressed by the summit so far.

“They cannot ignore the scientific consensus and they cannot ignore us,” said Thunberg.

“This is no longer a climate conference. This is now a global greenwashing festival.”

In Australia on Saturday, protesters in Sydney and Melbourne -- some dressed as lumps of coal or Prime Minister Scott Morrison, a vigorous defender of the mining industry -- labelled the talks “a sham” and their national leader “an absolute embarrassment”.

“No more blah, blah blah. Real climate action now,” read one sign at a protest in Sydney.

The South Korean capital of Seoul saw around 500 take to the streets demanding immediate action for communities already hit by the fallout of a heating planet. AFP

8 dead, several injured in US music stampede LOS ANGELES -- At least eight people died, and several were injured in a crush at the Astroworld music festival in the southern US state of Texas on Friday night, authorities said.

Houston fire chief Samuel Pena said the incident began at around 9 pm when “the crowd began to compress towards the front of the stage”.

“That caused some panic and it started causing some injuries, people began to fall out, become unconscious and it created additional panic,” Pena said at a press conference outside NRG Park.

“We had at least eight confirmed fatalities tonight and scores of individuals that were injured,” he said, adding the cause of death cannot be confirmed until after medical exams are completed.

“We transported 17 patients to the hospital... 11 of those that were transported were in cardiac arrest,” he said.

Around 50,000 people were in the crowd at rapper Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival, Pena added.

Houston police said they were investigating the cause of the mass casualty incident and looking at video footage from the arena.

“Over the course of just a few minutes, suddenly we had several people down on the ground experience some type of cardiac arrest,” police said, adding the concert was ended after the incident occurred. AFP

FromtheFRONTPAGE PROTOCOLS... The Philippines’ total COVID-19 infections breached 2.8 million on Saturday, after the DOH confirmed 2,656 new cases -- the fifth straight day under the 3,000 mark. Active coronavirus cases stood at 34,866.

Meanwhile, the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) lauded the government’s decision to downgrade the quarantine status in Metro Manila from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Guillermo Eleazar also directed on Saturday police regional offices outside the National Capital Region to prepare for the nationwide implementation of the alert level system for COVID-19 response.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the move to bring down the NCR’s quarantine status to Alert Level 2 was in no way sudden or arbitrary.

“If the situation improves, we can go as low as 22,000 active cases for the whole Philippines by the end of November 15. So, we appeal to our citizens to follow the public health standards religiously so that our cases would not increase this Christmas,” Vergeire said in the weekly Laging Handa program.

The projection was based on the calculation by a DOH team that conducts the Feasibility Analysis of Syndromic Surveillance Spatio-Temporal Epidemiological Modeler or FASSSTER contagion modeling tool as of Oct. 26.

Vergeire said the 22,000-case projection could be achieved if the country maintains the reduced mobility and the

SINGER’S LAST. This handout picture released by Minas Gerais Fire Department

shows firefighters working on the wreckage of the crashed plane where the Brazilian singer Marilia Mendonca died on the afternoon in Caratinga, Brazil, on November 5. The young Brazilian Mendonca, one of the most popular of the “sertanejo” genre in Brazil, died along with four other people in the crash in the state of Minas Gerais, the firefighters confirmed. AFP

plenary to extend Xi rule over China BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping, the uncontested leader of the world’s most populous nation, heads a pivotal plenary of the ruling party’s top figures next week that will set the tone for his bid for long-term rule.

From Monday to Thursday, some 400 members of the Communist Party’s all-powerful Central Committee gather in Beijing behind closed doors.

The only such meeting this year paves the way to its 20th party congress next autumn -- at which Xi is widely expected to be handed a third term in office, cementing his position as China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong.

At next week’s plenary, top figures will debate a key resolution celebrating the party’s main achievements in its 100 years of existence, according to state news agency Xinhua.

Analysts say the resolution, only the third of its kind in the party’s history, will help Xi shore up his grip on power by setting in stone his vision for China, ahead of the crucial 2022 party congress.

Like all meetings of Beijing’s secretive top leadership, the event will be held behind closed doors, and most key decisions are made well in advance.

China’s political meetings are all highly choreographed and open dissent to the official line is extremely rare.

- ‘Natural inheritor’ The content has not yet been published in full, but the timing of the resolution is key -- as was the case with the previous two resolutions.

The first, passed under Mao in 1945, helped him cement his authority over the Communist Party four years before it seized power. AFP

Quadruple amputee bids to swim 122km across Lake Titicaca LA PAZ, Bolivia -- A Paralympian quadruple amputee, an Olympic silver medalist and an “eco-adventurer” will attempt to swim 122 kilometers across the highest navigable lake in the world to raise awareness of environmental pollution.

The French trio -- Theo Curin, 21, Malia Metella,

slow interval from infection detection to isolation.

But she warned this could still reach up to 52,393 if the mobility level rises.

The country’s current mobility is at 82 percent while the detection-to-isolation period is five days, but Vergeire assured the public that safeguards are still in place.

“The shift was not sudden. We were still able to monitor the situation in Metro Manila, the timeline for our declaration only changed,” she said.

Vergeire noted the decision to ease restrictions in the region was based on different metrics.

“We saw that since last week or two weeks ago, our health care utilization had been decreasing. Now the occupied beds are less than 50 percent,” she said.

The PNP said policemen arrested more than 9,000 quarantine violators in the region on the first day of Alert Level 2.

They have yet to release the breakdown of violations, but a tenth of those were minors who violated curfews in their cities, said PNP Chief Eleazar.

OCTA fellow Guido David said the capital region posted only 358 cases on Friday, followed by Negros Oriental (155), Negros Occidental (119),and Zamboanga (114).

Meanwhile, FINEX president Francisco Ed Lim said in a statement: “We welcome the government’s announcement that the National Capital Region has been placed under Alert Level 2.”

EVEN... with thedecline in COVID-19

cases in the National Capital Region.

The capacity for rail lines and select public utility vehicles (PUVs) in the region

39, and Matthieu Witvoet, 27 -- were in La Paz on Friday finalizing preparations to swim across Lake Titicaca on the border of Bolivia and Peru.

“One of the reasons is that I wanted to take on a challenge that has never been done before,” said Curin, a Rio 2016 Paralympian who had part of both arms and both legs amputated when he

was raised to 70 percent from 50 percent on Nov. 4.

"For the past 2 days, IACT has prohibited boarding children in public transport because there are no guidelines yet from our transportation heads," said Gonzales, who also serves as the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (IACT) chief.

“Those who have children with them are not allowed to ride these vehicles even if the PUVs' allowed capacity has been increased to 70 percent," he added.

In mid-October, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority allowed the travel of minors in the capital region, home to 13 million people, as long as they are accompanied by adults.

Now that Metro Manila shifted to Alert Level 2, minors are also allowed to go out and go to establishments and malls, regardless of vaccination status.

Fairs or kids' amusement areas such as playgrounds, playrooms, and kiddie rides were also allowed to operate under the looser quarantine level.

Earlier, the Philippines began the vaccination of all children aged 12 to 17 in an expansion of its pediatric jab coverage against COVID-19.

No coronavirus vaccine has, however, been approved for toddlers and school age children. With Alena Mae Flores

IATF... “This is what is being discussed now in the IATF. Currently, there are discussions on how to push through with mandatory vaccination,” Padilla said in an interview on Dobol B TV. “Although this is not yet finalized, discussions are still ongoing because there are legal matters that need to be considered.

Nonetheless, discussions are already in that direction which are being monitored

was six after contracting meningitis.

Starting on Wednesday, the trio will swim from Copacabana on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca, 122-kilometers across to Puno on the Peruvian side of the world’s highest body of navigable freshwater, some 3,800 meters above sea level. AFP

inside the IATF,” he added.

Meanwhile, the country achieved another milestone in its inoculation program as more than one million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered on November 4, and the government is planning to roll out five million jabs over three days next week.

A total of 1,119,389 jabs were administered last Thursday, making it the highest daily vaccine throughput recorded since March.

Lawyer Wilben Mayor, Assistant Secretary and chief of staff of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, said this following the arrival of 866,970 doses of government-procured Pfizer vaccines Friday night at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

In a separate TV interview, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the department has proposed a “no vaccine, no subsidy” policy to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for unvaccinated beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Malaya said that many 4Ps beneficiaries still refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19, thus the agency is proposing to “disincentivize” the unvaccinated government aid recipients.

“The 4Ps is called conditional cash transfer because before you can get your regular subsidy from the government, you have to meet certain conditions,” he said.

“You go to a health center, you undergo deworming, your children are in school and are enrolled. So we will add another condition which is vaccination,” Malaya said.

Padilla said the basis for mandatory vaccination are statistics that show most of the severe or critical COVID-19 cases are the unvaccinated ones.

It is also important for the country to achieve herd immunity against the virus so that the economy can recover faster, he added.

“If ever this becomes a law, there will be repercussions against those who refuse to get vaccinated unless they have reasons such as medical conditions which could put them in danger if vaccinated,” Padilla said.

PAGEANT... Montagne clinched the crown with an impressive answer in the Top 5 question and answer round.

“I think that true beauty comes from within. To be a Miss Globe is to be a beauty that inspires. What makes us beautiful is our smiles, it’s what we do for our community. It’s how we give back to others, and it’s how we carry ourselves through life. I believe that everyone has beauty inside of them, and I believe it is our duty to share it with the world, and to give back, and to truly inspire others,” she said.

Montagne shone in her Sampaguita national costume created for her by Patrick Isorena.

Her vast experience in beauty pageants includes her first runner up finish in Miss Eco International 2019 in Egypt, where she declined to take over from dethroned Suheyn Cipriani of Peru, who was stripped of the title due to her pregnancy.

After finishing third princess in Miss Asia Arizona 2011 and first runner-up in Mutya ng Pilipinas 2013, Montagne represented Arizona in Miss USA 2015, finishing among the Top 15, where Miss Oklahoma Olivia Jordan won and competed in the Miss Universe 2015 won by Filipina Pia Wurtzbach.

Montagne, who studied at Arizona

NOVEMBER 7, 2021 Converge ICT co-founder and president Maria Grace Uy

Converge co-founder joins elite list of Asian women M ARIA Grace Uy, the 53-year-old co-founder and president of fiber Internet provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc., believes that their company has just started despite achieving over P230 billion in market capitalization just a year after it launched an initial public offering.

“I have always lived with the principle that to be successful, you need to put in everything you’ve got and always work to do it better.

And we still believe that we have just started,” says Mary Grace, wife of co-founder and chairman Dennis Anthony, in an interview with Forbes Magazine for the 2021 Asia’s Power Businesswomen list, which recognizes 20 female business leaders in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mary Grace is the only Filipino woman in the list which includes the likes of Thailand’s Wallapa Traisorat, president and CEO of real estate company Asset World Corp.; Helen Wong, the first woman to helm the 89-year-old Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., Singapore’s second-largest bank by

market value; and South Korea’s Lee In-kyung, the first woman partner at MBK Partners, one of the largest homegrown buyout firms in Asia.

Forbes Magazine describes Mary Grace Uy as a notable listee for helping grow Converge ICT into one of the largest fixed broadband operators in the Philippines.

Converge went public in late 2020 in one of the country’s largestever IPOs, raising $522 million.

Its shares have since risen over 70 percent, pushing the company’s market capitalization to $4.6 billion.

In September 2021, Forbes Magazine estimated the net worth of Dennis Anthony and Maria Grace Uy at $2.8 billion, making them the sixth in the list of the richest billionaires in the Philippines.

Maria Grace, a certified public accountant, graduated from De La Salle University in 1988 and placed 16th in the Certified Public Accountant Licensure Board Examination in 1989. She worked for various companies, including as accounting manager at IBM Philippines from 1990 to 1997 and as vice president for finance in Savers Mall Group of Companies from 1997 to 2000, prior to establishing Converge ICT Solutions in 2007 with her

husband.

In 2019, she led the negotiations for a $250-million investment from Warburg Pincus that Converge used to expand its fiber network to cover 25 percent of Filipino households.

The couple then took the company public in late 2020 in one of the country’s largestever IPOs, raising $522 million, according to Forbes Magazine.

“Its financials are doing well, as pandemic-driven demand led to an 84-percent jump in first-quarter revenue to P5.5 billion from a year earlier, while net income nearly tripled to P1.5 billion. Converge doubled its subscriber base to over 1 million last year and plans to more than double the reach of its fiber network by 2025,” Forbes Magazine says in a press statement shared with the local media.

Aside from being president of Converge ICT, Mary Grace also serves as chief resources officer and executive director of the company.

Forbes Magazine said businesswomen across the Asia Pacific region continue to break barriers and, in many cases, expand their businesses despite the lingering pandemic.

Forbes

INTERNATIONAL Workspace Group, the world’s leading flexible workspace provider with brands such as Regus, Spaces and HQ and professional facilities management company VelcoAsia Management Corp. signed a memorandum of agreement to establish a two-center franchise deal, which will provide venues for organizations to collaborate, innovate and grow together.

The two organizations teamed up to develop the Manila Coworking Powered by IWG, a franchise located in the historical Port Area, Manila.

IWG Philippines country manager Lars Wittig said that while the pandemic caused massive disruption to businesses and to the global economy, it also had its share in perking up digitally-relevant businesses and support to businesses.

“It’s a very good sign because the interest in investing and to become part of IWG and our network and network development has actually been more progressive during COVID even before COVID. We all knew the trends in real estate, commercial real estate.

It was about a very rapid increase in demand for flexible workspace instead of the conventional leases. It was already growing, the trend was there,” he said.

IWG predicts that about 30 percent of all commercial office spaces would become flexible, one way or the other, by year 2030.

“I can safely claim and state that the future of work has arrived early to the Philippines, no doubt about it. The future of work is hybrid. The traditional workspace is changing, and employees have shown a clear preference for hybrid working, which allows for improved comfort and work-life balance benefits. Whether with the pandemic or not, flexible workspaces have long

been growing immensely and a rising number of both local and multinational companies have been recognizing its importance to retain and attract talent,” said Wittig.

‘Powered by IWG’ is a new concept that enables management companies to run their business with the help of IWG’s world-class systems, brand, marketing and sales activities.

Operating under the IWG brand, management companies can tap into the global sales channel to draw traction and inquiries to their center, improving occupancy performance. ‘Powered by IWG’ allows them to drive operational and cost efficiencies that benefit both their business and tenants.

The development of two IWG franchise centers under VelcoAsia came alongside the growth in flexible working across the world.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need to transform the world of work, accelerating the hybrid work model, a trend that has been underway for several years. Businesses challenged the traditional approach to corporate real estate and are now committing to hybrid working for the long term.

“We have all been forced into a huge flexible workspace experiment regardless of country and industry.

We have all been asked to try to work from home and it has been incredibly good learnings for the CFOs, the HRs, the CEOs. The employees actually already wanted that flexibility but now, everybody has embraced it. So, there are new terms that have become, I would say, the legacy of COVID-19 and that is hybrid working,” Wittig said.

He said that with the whole new type of demand, even the biggest corporations, enterprise accounts or customers approach IWG to help them set up their own networks for hybrid working with office hubs.

“And therefore, we also see a huge

Businesswomen list recognizes outstanding leaders who managed to adapt and thrive in industries including technology, healthcare, banking and manufacturing.

“They are leading the way as the world struggles with the postCOVID-19 reality,” said Rana Wehbe Watson, editor of the 2021 Asia’s Power Businesswomen list.

All the businesswomen highlighted are newcomers to the list, further expanding Forbes Asia’s network of prominent businesswomen in the region.

They have been selected for their achievements in managing either a business with sizable revenues or a startup valued at over $100

million.

Also featured on the list is serial entrepreneur Meena Ganesh, who cofounded Portea Medical, India’s largest home healthcare company by revenue. Prior to taking over as chairperson in August, Ganesh had been running the eight-year-old Bangalore-based company as managing director and CEO. The youngest to make this year’s list is 37-year-old Malaysian Nadiah Wan who holds two CEO titles at her company. She is group CEO and executive director of TMC Life Sciences, a role she took in 2019. She is also CEO of its flagship Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara, a position she has held since 2017.

Tagaytay subdivision supports home garden

CEO: The future of work is hybrid

By Othel V. Campos

Asia’s Power

IWG Philippines country manager Lars Wittig

shift not only in the type of demand and inquiries but where the interest, the focus has shifted to, by these many corporations, these new customers,” he said.

In a recent study, IWG found that 81 percent of the companies worldwide anticipate that hybrid work will be the new norm and 82 percent of them have taken advantage of the flexible working options. Another study revealed that 42 percent of workers surveyed in Southeast Asia are remote-ready, while 9 out of 10 employees want flexibility in where and when they work.

Manila Coworking Powered by IWG is set to provide local and multinational companies, including freelancers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs, an unparalleled network of office, co-working and meeting spaces.

Customers will benefit from a global network of workspaces that will enable employees to work where, when and how they want. It provides cost-effective business solutions to foster an inclusive community and propel businesses through collaboration and innovation.

IWG noticed that Manila gravitates a very unique demand of customers and while it sees growth advancement on a rapid scale, it realized the importance to get ahead of the growth and do it together with the right partners.

As they settle down in their Garden STUDIES show that people who spend more time communing with Lots, the joy of eco-farming, a shared nature have a significantly more pos- activity with fellow residents, will help itive outlook on life and increased forge a holistically healthy community where their families—and not just feelings of vitality and energy.

This positive outcome is what in- plants—bloom and grow. After all, spires The Grove at Plantation Hills studies prove that people who care to declare that “the road to self-care for nature are more likely to care for is paved with greens.” Future home- others, and more easily form shared owners at the lush residential enclave bonds that result from common inwithin Tagaytay Highlands flex their terests. green thumbs as they enthuAt The Grove’s siastically engage in self-care Garden Lot, via vegetable gardening. nurturing The pandemic has spawned one’s own ‘plant therapy’ enthusiasts natural space through home who now happily tend to their gardening flourishing home gardens means taking which channel their stresses an active role into something beautiful, proin practicing essential ductive and uplifting. self-care amid Be it low-maintenance sucprevailing culents and rare ornamentals uncertainties. cared for in patios or even herbs and vegetables cultiLife at The Grove at Plantation Hills vated at one’s backyard, The Grove at Plantation Hills provides ample is for discerning residents looking for green space for nurturing plants. a genteel farmer’s lifestyle that beThis eco-farming community is a gins as one wakes up in their mod22-hectare land area that is mas- ern primary home at a sun-blessed ter-planned to be a leisure residential Garden Lot. While nurturing green spaces evand farming concept-in-one.

The Grove’s Orchard Lots, ranging ery day with herbs and vegetables, from 750 to 1,300 square meters, are an one knows that thoughtfully crafted estate of their own. Each cut is ideal for amenities such as ponds, pocket growing fruit trees, herbs and vegeta- parks, a playground, gazebo and bles in the comfort of one’s own back- even a relaxing tree-lined perimeter yard. Its Garden Lots range from 450 to path are just a stroll away.

Each property purchase at Tagay600 square meters, enabling future residents to build their dream farmhouses tay Highlands gives residents excluand surround these with an abundance sive access to world-class facilities of greens. Here, they can grow all the and amenities such as challenging fresh produce they want for a farm-to- golf courses, cable car rides, indoor table lifestyle—plus bright-colored flow- sports facilities and specialty restaurants, all within reach. ers and ornamental shrubs.

CLSU expert introduces soilless home gardening INFECTED with a complex strain of technological and economic crisis, the Philippine vegetable industry has been referred to in an almost ‘comatose’ condition for so many years, and it threatens the country’s food security.

Some experts say the present system of local agriculture is no longer suitable, especially in the vegetable industry, when there’s the fast-growing population, increasing hunger demand, rapid development of rural areas to become urban jungles, global warming and climate change.

Facing these difficulties, different agencies of government responded and embarked on several projects that would lessen its impact by turning to science and technology.

Hydroponic, from the Greek words

‘hudor’ for water and ‘ponos’ for work, means ‘water working’, is not a new design of gardening/farming in the country but it is one of the smart agricultural technologies that can help the country ensure food security and to be climate resistant in the future.

Through this modern concept, Dr. Chito Sace of Hydroponics and Aquaponics Technology of the Central Luzon State University in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, introduces another means of crop battlefield, known as Hydroponic Household Garden. It is a complete set of hydroponic system for leafy vegetables and herbs that one can easily manage even in the backyard.

This simple plant factory which can produce up to 360 plants per one

square meter area takes place in a protected and controlled structure such as a greenhouse, that is funded by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources and Development.

Hydroponic Household Garden is a ‘soilless vegetable gardening’ model that uses a ‘one pump rule’ system, where one pump takes the water from the tank full of nutrient solution to the highest portion of the growing system. After 30 days or less, according to Dr. Sace, leafy vegetables and herbs are ready for harvest.

More production, water conservation and energy conservation are the three major benefits of this smart agricultural technology.

Soilless vegetable gardening Photo courtesy of CLSU Hydroponics Aquaponics FB Page

NOVEMBER 7, 2021

Dr. Micco Sollano’s vast collection of his trophies and medals as a young basketball player.

BUILDING TRUE CHAMPIONS

Sollano was a 2003 champion baller.

T

HE year 2021 will go down in Philippine sports history as the year of Filipino champions.

In the recent Tokyo Olympics, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz brought home the first-ever gold medal for the country. Team Pilipinas also hauled in two silver and a bronze medal – its most successful contingent in over a century.

Diaz and boxers Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, and Eumir Marcial showed what true Filipino champions are made of, lifting the spirit of the entire nation during a pandemic and igniting hope for what our young athletes can achieve in the future.

But sports is not only about competing and getting a podium finish.

Former athletes Dr. Micco Sollano and Atty.

Madeline Mina proved that champi-

in life through sports

Mina (extreme right) with former teammates.

Madeline Mina, a champion gymnast in her younger days, now works as a lawyer at the Supreme Court.

ons are not only measured by mere skill, but also by heart and character. Their humble beginnings with Nestlé and Milo Sports programs have been the foundation of their ongoing success.

Today, they try to live by these values while pursuing their other passions in life On and off the court “I was in Grade School when my mom enrolled me in the Milo Best Center program,” Dr. Sollano shared.

Founded by Coach Nic Jorge, the Milo Best Center recognizes sports as an integral part of a child’s growth.

The aspiring doctor continued to

play basketball, competing in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines or UAAP as part of the champion teams of both Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University during his college years.

“Sports is a great teacher. I learned about discipline and teamwork. I also gained the confidence to face challenges, on and off the court,” he emphasized, adding that the whole experience taught him to never give up. A trait, he admits, helped him while pursuing his medical degree later on.

In 2020, however, Sollano had to dig deeper and flight as he had never done before. “I was the first

medical frontliner to test positive for COVID-19. I knew in my heart that I needed to fight because that is how Milo nurtured me,” he said.

He made sure he won this most challenging personal battle yet.

Because for Sollano, other people were counting on frontliners like him and depending on their team to win the fight against COVID. Building champions One’s champion journey is never easy.

When Atty. Mina’s father enrolled her at 10 years old in MILO Club Gymnastica in Pasig, where Lucero and Yulo also trained, she had to prove to herself that she

Lady Aces beat SparTAN to stay unbeaten Games Sunday (Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center) 11:15 a.m. – Taguig vs. Quezon 1:15 p.m. – Paranaque vs. Glutagence THE Paranaque Aces continued their winning run, defeating the Stan Quezon Lady SparTAN, 69-49, last Saturday in the Pia Cayetano WNBL Season 2021 at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Allana Lim had 17 points and 15 rebounds, and Marydyn Tingcang had 11 points as Paranaque won its seventh game heading into its final elimination round match-up against Glutagence on Sunday afternoon.

Clare Castro had eight points, 14 rebounds and four blocks as the Lady Aces went on a big run after trailing by 10-4 early in the game, finishing the first quarter with 14 straight points for an 18-10 lead and never looked back.

Prior to the game, Paranaque had already cemented its place in the No. 1 seed for the best-

of-three semifinal round, but the Lady Aces were determined to enter the playoff round on a winning note.

Quezon fell to last place with a 1-6 win-loss record and must win against Taguig on Sunday to clinch the fourth and final semifinal berth.

A loss will place Pacific Water in the final four after completing the eliminations with a 2-6 slate.

Dianne Ventura had 21 points for Quezon but it was not enough as the Lady SparTAN failed to sustain their hot start to the game.

Scores: Paranaque 69 – Lim 17, Tingcang 11, Castro 8, Alcoy 5, Siat 4, Angeles 4, Galicia 4, Gloriani 3, Solis 3, Santos 3, Bahuyan 2, Reyes 2, Ventura 1, Dela Merced 0.

Quezon 49 – Ventura 21, Razalo 8, Iida 6, Taroja 5, Faraon 5, Araja 2, Valenzuela 2, Naynes 0, Jimenez 0, Tupaz 0, De Austria 0.

Quarterscores: 16-10, 34-20, 58-36, 69-49

Claire Castro of Paranaque attacks the Quezon defense

could do what kids two to four years her junior were already capable of.

“Hindi siya basta-basta. You have to go through the process of training for a particular skill.

Because in progressive training, especially for gymnastics, everything will get harder and more complex,” Mina explained.

She committed herself to training both at home and in the gym to improve her somersaults and stick the landing of her vault routine. And when local and international competitions came, all the hard work to be at the highest competitive level was rewarded with medals and loud cheers of “Go, Madel!” from her family and teammates.

But after winning in four competitions, Mina felt like she wanted to give up.

Her dream of becoming a champion gymnast in the Olympics remained just that – a dream. “It was that time when I felt overfatigue and no longer improving. I had to overcome such frustration, that even though I was no longer competing as a gymnast, I could still do what I love as a member of our cheerleading teams in high school and college.”

She went on to join and win titles with her new teammates at the Pasig Catholic College Pep Squad and San Beda Cheerleading Association.

Struggles, she stressed, are part of the whole journey.

“Sometimes being a champion means taking failure in stride, allowing yourself to mourn and picking yourself up again to do better and bounce back higher,” she said.

From being a gymnast to becoming a lawyer, Mina is now focusing her energy on taking part in the speedy administration of justice under the Supreme Court.

It is about championing others this time around, she said.

Champion’s mindset Nestlé has been championing the health and wellness of Filipino families for 110 years.

As Nestlé adapts to the times, Arlene Tan-Bantoto, Senior Vice President and Head of Public Affairs, Sustainability and Communications, said the company has pivoted its Milo Sports program into the Milo Home Court online to continue helping kids stay active and healthy even while at home.

“A champion’s journey starts with fostering a champion’s mindset. As the Kasambuhay of Filipino families, Nestlé is excited to build the next generation of true champions while cheering them on at every stage of their journey. It may have been five decades since Nestlé launched its first MILO Sports program but the determination, discipline, and self-confidence that it has instilled in millions of Filipino youth through sports will, hopefully, prepare them to become champions in life,” Tan-Bantoto said.

Nestlé continues to build Filipino life champions through sports. Since 1964, Nestlé nourishes the youth with nutritious energy to jump-start their own journey to success through the MILO Sports Programs.

It is not surprising that Nestlé has been able to inspire more than 35 million Filipinos to grow with sports and pursue their love for basketball, volleyball, taekwondo, football, swimming, gymnastics, arnis, among others.

Look no further with Bea Lucero, Caloy Yulo, Kiefer Ravena, Jamie Lim, and Pauline Lopez as some of Milo’s best and most notable athletes. And more champions to come, on and off the playing field.

NOVEMBER 7, 2021

Is it real? Maybe it’s deepfake

By Steph Llarena

D

O NOT believe everything you see on the Internet, they say. A sound advice considering the massive amount of false information on the Web. But aside from altered information or edited photos meant to deceive or spread fake news, another type of manipulated content, arguably scarier than the others, is causing great concern online.

Have you seen a video of a person that looks a bit wrong, like there are unnatural movements and blurred spots? It might be a deepfake.

Deepfake, a portmanteau of “deep learning” and “fake”, is a synthetic media created using powerful techniques from machine learning and artificial intelligence to manipulate visual and audio content.

Deepfake videos have been expertly edited to replace the person in the original material with someone else. The aim may be to create confusion, deceive the public, cause reputation damage, or spread fake news. Deepfake can also be used for photos.

In 2019, AI firm Deeptrace found 15,000 deepfake videos, 96 percent of which were pornographic – nearly all were mapped faces of celebrities edited to replace those of porn stars'.

Acknowledging how easy it is to take presented information at face value, tel-

ecommunications company Globe has made the Digital Discernment eModule under its Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) available on its YouTube channel and Globe Bridging Communities Facebook page. The eModule serves as a guide to help individuals understand the content they consume online.

“The Internet provides easy access to information, but not everything is real and verified,” Yoly Crisanto, Globe chief sustainability officer and senior vice president of corporate communications, said in a statement.

“It’s important to always be critical of what we see online. As responsible digital citizens, let us do our part to deter these threats by stopping its spread and reporting malicious content.”

To tell if videos are deepfakes, the Digital Discernment eModule lists the following tips: - Carefully look at the difference of

MANIPULATED MEDIA. Deepfakes are often used to create confusion, damage a reputation, or spread fake news. Globe's Digital Discernment eModule offers tips to help individuals tell if a video is a deepfake.

Deepfake videos and photos have been expertly edited using sophisticated artificial intelligence to replace the person in the original material with someone else.

first wide-format printer link to a website (useful for brands and businesses).

According to So, voice clips and hidden messages embedded in the QR code can be accessed for two years, while URL links and location pins have no expiration so long as they are still available.

There are also templates that can be personalized.

The Collage Print feature enables printing of multiple images in one photo, while the Sketch, Edit and Print tool allows users to import sketches and calligraphy or signature to add to the photo. Hundreds of stickers are also available.

Fujifilm says a single battery charge of instax Link Wide will last for around 100 prints. It comes in dea sleek, on-the-go de availsign and is avail able in two colors: Ash White and M o -

instax Link Wide prints photos about the size of two credit cards side by side via Bluetooth and a dedicated smartphone app which allows users to choose between Rich and Neutral modes, add a QR code, create a collage, and add stickers.

Earlier, Globe created two other DTP eModules: Digital Insight, which deals on cybersecurity and safety; and Digital Impact, which is about online responsibility and etiquette.

“We have transitioned our highly successful DTP program into eModules to adjust to these changing times.

People are online more often, and we want to create a safer digital environment for netizens. These bite-sized eModules present important lessons on digital citizenship in a very approachable fashion,” said Crisanto.

TOY TIME

Live life wide: Instax launches THE public requested for a wide-format instax printer, Fujifilm answered.

Fujifilm Philippines on Friday launched the instax Link Wide, its first smartphone printer in wide format, twice the size of the instax Mini launched in 2019.

“Wide-format printer is the most asked product from instax. We listened, and now we have instax Link Wide,” said Geremy So, Fujifilm Philippines marketing leader for Asia Pacific.

A photo printed using the device is as big as two credit cards side by side, ideal for landscape images and bigger “groupfies”.

Using its dedicated smartphone app (available on App Store and Play Store), users can choose between two modes before printing their photos: instaxRich for deep and immersive colors, or how the image looks like on their phones; and instax-Neutral, which has a more retro look with muted colors.

With QR print mode, they can add a QR code on the photo that car carries a voice clip, a hidden message (up to 100 characters), a location pin (ideal for invitations), or a URL

color whenever the subject speaks or the angle changes.

- Check for blurred spots, especially between the face and the neck.

- See if there are unnatural eye movements, facial expressions, and body movements.

- Observe if the speaker’s emotion matches their speech or if lip movements match.

When in doubt, research and verify with legitimate news and established entertainment sources if the videos are authentic.

Justice League in Jolly Kiddie Meal

Fujifilm launches its first wide-format smartphone printer, instax Link Wide.

cha Gray.

“The instax Link Wide can be used by a wider variety of people. It is perfect for businesses looking to add more value to their products. It allows you to connect with more people and live life wider,” said So. The printer is available at instax's flagship store on Lazada and Shopee, at wonderphotoshop. ph, and at Fujifilm authorized dealers nationwide for P8,999 per unit with a free pack of film.

PLAY superhero and save the day with Jollibee’s Justice League Jolly Kiddie Meal set of collectible toys.

Kids and kids at heart can keep the peace on the streets of Gotham with Batman and Batgirl who come with their own Batmobile, while Jolly Kids can save the Earth while flying on spaceships and rockets with Superman, Supergirl, and Green Lantern. Flash’s cosmic treadmill and Wonder Woman’s supercar are there to ensure that justice and jolliness will al- Justice League collectible toys come in Jolly Kiddie Meal sets. ways prevail.

Each toy comes with its own Jolly Joy Box with every purchase of a Yumburger (P82), Yumburger Meal with drink (P102), Jolly Spaghetti (P97), Jolly Spaghetti Meal with drink (P107), 1-piece Burger Steak (P97), 1-piece Burger Steak Meal with drink (P114), 1-piece Chickenjoy with rice (P129), and 1-piece Chickenjoy Meal with drink (P144). Order the 6-piece Chickenjoy Bucket (P714) to complete the set.

The Justice League Jolly Kiddie Meal toys are available today until Dec. 31.

Transformers, My Little Pony in Happy Meal MCDONALD’S starts the holiday celebrations with My Little Pony and Transformer toys inside its Christmas-themed Happy Meal boxes.

The collectible toys include Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity of My Little Pony; and BumbleBee, Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Starscream of Transformers.

To make the holiday season more fun for kids and kids at heart, McDonald’s is offering an add-on promo that allows customers to get a Burger McDo Happy Meal by just adding P50 Happy Meal features My Little Pony and to any McDonald’s meal.

Transformers toys.

NOVEMBER 7, 2021

Maymay Entrata is ‘Mpowered’ in first solo digital concert

F

KABOGERA. After launching her explosive single ‘Amakabogera,’ Maymay Entrata is headlining a digital concert that will celebrate her fifth year in show business.

ILM, television, and music darling Maymay Entrata is celebrating her fifth year in show business with her first-ever solo virtual concert that aims to showcase her growth as a versatile singer-performer who is now fully embracing her uniqueness with renewed boldness.

Fresh from the success of her “Amakabogera” single and music video now with more than one million views on YouTube, Entrata returns to the concert stage more confident than ever in Mpowered, a digital spectacle streaming on Nov. 26 via KTX.ph, iWantTFC, and TFC IPTV. The Kapamilya artist shared that she is thrilled about the surprises they have been preparing for the concert, which include never-before-seen production numbers and challenging dance routines.

“Maipagmamalaki ko po na labis ang paghahanda namin dito at marami kaming pasabog na ngayon ko lang gagawin,” she said.

Joining Entrata in Mpowered are her fellow young artists Darren Espanto and AC Bonifacio, her good friend and social media sensation Mimiyuuuh, and the Nyoy Volante.

The digital offering produced by ABS-CBN Events follows the success of Entrata’s self-empowering singles “’Di Kawalan” and “Amakabogera,” which will both be part of her upcoming album under ABSCBN’s Star Pop. Regular tickets which give viewers access to the main concert are priced at P299. Meanwhile, VIP and SVIP tickets can be purchased at P899 and P1399 respectively, which comes with a special Zoom after-party admission with Maymay and hosts DJ Jhai Ho and Edward Barber.

Mpowered streams worldwide on Nov. 26 at 8:30 p.m. (PHT), with a rerun the next day at 10:00 a.m. via KTX.ph, iWantTFC, and TFC IPTV.

Meghan Trainor unwraps special cover of Holiday ditty

Liza Soberano an out-of-the -ordinary heroine in new TVC ACTRESS Liza Soberano has been a part of the Jollibee family since 2019, and since then, the strong and groundbreaking projects have been pouring for her left and right.

With all the success she’s experienced, it’s no secret that Liza is truly someone who’s proved herself to be out of the ordinary.

Her out of the ordinary life and career carry on with her latest project—a brand-new advertisement for Jollibee’s new Crisscut Fries, for which Liza serves as the face. She is the central figure of the Crisscut Fries’ new exciting and action-packed video, which highlights its deliciously out of the ordinary experience.

In the ad, Liza is shown displaying amazing and out of the ordinary superpowers, slashing potatoes to create the unique and fun shape of the Crisscut Fries.

Much in the same way Liza is an actress and personality whose talent, drive, and skills definitely make her someone who’s out of the ordinary, the Crisscut Fries is an out of the ordinary fries experience thanks to its extra crispy and extra flavorful taste, as well as its unique crisscut shape, which makes it perfect for moments when you need to satisfy your cravings and grab a great snack.

Jol“I had so much fun working with my Jol libee family in creating this awesome ad.

Fries really is an It’s true—the Crisscut out-of-the-ordinary fries experience! It’s my new favorite snack!” said Liza. “Liza really is the perfect ambassador who’s truly out of the ordinary for the delicious and exciting Crisscut Fries. We absolutely

Gearing up for the holidays early, Meghan Trainor unwraps a very special cover of the classic ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.’

Liza Soberano takes an exciting, action-packed turn in new TVC

love what she’s done in this new ad for Jollibee,” said Mari Aldecoa, Jollibee Marketing’s Assistant Vice President.

Watch the video here: https://www.facebook.com/ watch/?v=3033493706929918

GEARING up for the holidays early, Meghan Trainor has unveiled a very special cover of the classic “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.

Emanating no shortage of Christmas spirit, Meghan electrifies the song with powerhouse vocals and infectious energy. As always, she lights up this holiday staple with her own style, swagger, and soul.

The cover will be included on the Deluxe Edition of her holiday album, A Very Trainor Christmas under Epic Records. It stands out as one of three new additions, as she also puts her own spin on the Darlene Love classic “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” and serves up a cheeky and catchy original entitled “Christmas Coupon.”

Last year, Meghan unveiled the original “A Very Trainor Christmas” to fan and critical adoration. In addition to debuting in the Top 10 of the Billboard Top Holiday Albums Chart, Associated Press raved, “The winner of the best Christmas album of 2020 is clearly Meghan Trainor.”

Meanwhile, it reeled in over 100 million streams and views worldwide as her cover of “White Christmas” [feat. Seth MacFarlane] shot to #1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Radio Airplay Chart.

Meghan Trainor first made history in 2014 with her diamond-certified smash single “All About That Bass.” Since then, the award-winning singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist has garnered a Grammy for Best New Artist, achieved eight multi-platinum singles and two platinum albums, sold out three world tours, penned multi-platinum hits for peers across pop and country, and received countless industry awards and nominations.

Expanding her influence on pop culture, she starred on FOX’s hit series The Four: Battle for Stardom for two seasons and on the superstar coaching panel of The Voice UK alongside Sir Tom Jones, will.i.am, and Olly Murs.

Gen Z pop king reveals world tour details Popstar Conan Gray just announced a massive world tour in 2022.

MAKING his grand return to the road, Gen Z pop king Conan Gray announces he will be kicking off “The Conan Gray World Tour 2022” next year.

Pre-sale started Oct. 27 followed by a Spotify pre-sale on Oct. 28 and general on-sale on Oct

29.

The tour kicks off on March 1 in Dallas, TX at South Side Ballroom, rolls through Nashville, TN at the legendary Ryman Auditorium March 6, takes over the iconic Radio City Music Hall in New York, NY on March 16, and concludes after

six weeks at Mission Ballroom in Denver, CO on April 20.

The European leg launches on May 5 in Oslo, Norway at Sentrum Scene and traverses the continent for a month before closing out on June 9 at Eventim Apollo.

Conan recently shared a new single entitled “Telepath”. This upbeat anthem highlights his fiery falsetto and one of his biggest, boldest, and brightest hooks yet.

He already teased it on social media, generating millions of impressions and stirring up fan ex-

citement.

Conan notably cowrote the song with a powerhouse cohort of collaborators, including Julia Michaels (Justin Bieber, Gwen Stefani), Ilya (Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lopez), and Caroline Ailin (Dua Lipa).

NOVEMBER 7, 2021

A message from Victor

By Mariana Burgos

M

Y LOLO (grandfather) told me this story so many times when I was still very young. I liked the story so much that I kept asking him to tell me the story over and over again even though it did not have a very happy ending. At that time, I thought, he was simply proud of having had such an intelligent dog.

Then, as I grew older, I thought that perhaps he was trying to show me that you can make seemingly impossible things possible with determination. But now, I realized that the message of the story was very simple yet very important.

Lolo and Victor. This is a sketch by Mariana, the apo and author, who learned that "pets are family" from Victor's story

Lolo told me he had a dog once. His name was Victor. He was a short-haired asong Pinoy (aspin, a native Filipino breed), of medium built, and quite lean. Victor was just a pup when he was given to my Lolo by one of his friends. When Lolo first looked into Victor’s eyes, he said, “Though you are a native breed, they will all be surprised with what you will be able to do.” And so goes the start of something big for Victor.

Lolo constantly talked to the pup as if he was a person. He took Victor with him everywhere he went. And, as if he was carrying a child, he would point out to Victor certain things, places, and even introduce him to some people, as if to educate him. He did this religiously every day, adding more information each time as Victor grew older.

When Victor was able to walk on his own, Lolo taught Victor to carry a basket whenever they went out for their walk around the neighborhood.

At first, everyone thought my Lolo was a bit of a loony talking to this dog the way he did. But then, later on, as they saw him cuddling and kissing the pup from time to time, they knew and they would say that he really loved that dog of his.

Every morning, Lolo and Victor would go out with a basket with Victor carrying it. They would go to the nearby bakery first. Lolo would tell Victor to give the basket to the baker. The baker would pick up the little note with money pinned with it inside the basket and would put

Victor with Lolo's basket. This is a sketch by the author Mariana based on what she imagined Victor looked like when she was a young girl while her Lolo told stories about a loving, lovable aspin named Victor.

the ordered bread inside the basket, together with the same note and the change, and give it back to Victor. After the bakery, they would go to the nearby sari-sari store where Victor did the same thing he did at the bakery. He would give the basket to the store owner who did the same things the baker did.

Everyone who witnessed this were amused and awed with what Victor could do. Because of this, they would always apologize to Lolo for thinking before that he was a little “crazy” with the dog. Each of them now wished they had a dog like Victor. My Lolo would always tell them that they could have such a dog if they only wanted to. And he was right. Anyone could have a dog just like Victor if only one has the love and patience to train a dog. It is not about the breed. Victor was so smart because he was trained. He was friendly to other people because he was cared for with love and affection and not with an iron fist. Lolo had the patience to train hm.

That was the start of Victor’s fame. At least, within our small neighborhood.

Victor’s popularity lasted, I think, for about a few years. Two or three years, I guess. I remember that Lolo would always avoid telling details about Victor’s death. He would only say that his dog died because of some heartless “tambays” in the street, and that’s it. Period. He would say, “...Kasi, napag-tripan siya...” Every time I heard that part, I would feel so angry at those men. I would always think to myself that if I were Vic-

tor’s owner, I would have made sure those men paid dearly. I tried asking my Lolo what he did about it but he would always dismiss it abruptly and refused to give details.

As I grew older, I learned a little more about Victor’s death. I thought what details I would know more would ease the hurt I feel about Victor’s death. But it did not. One time, I heard from Lola (grandmother) that the reason Victor was slain was because he bit one of the “tambays.”

Because of the people’s fear of rabies infection, the usual remedy of our elders then was to kill the dog. At this point, I think you could all imagine how hard that was for my Lolo. I remember my Lola would always say then that Victor would not bite anyone unless he was threatened or someone attempted to get the basket from him.

After learning this, I understood why my Lolo would not say more about Victor’s death. I would not want to hear it, too. Since then, I just let it be.

And every time Lolo told stories about Victor, we would always be content with reminiscing the good ones, the happy parts.

It is a good thing that we now have the Animal Welfare Act, a law which punishes humans who hurt animals. If we had this law during Victor’s time, perhaps we would have gotten some form of justice for our dog and it could have eased our pain even just a little. To us, pets are family. This was the simple but very important message of Victor’s story, as emphasized by my Lolo. If we lose a pet, the pain is the same as losing a human member of the family.

Pets: Small Unsung Heroes of Mental Health TALES of bravery and kindness flood everyone’s timelines nowadays, including pets that have been the stars of social media because of their cuteness and silly antics. But more than the amusement they bring, pets have become a reliable companion for fur parents living alone or undergoing emotional stress.

As many of today’s individuals cope with the separation from their friends and family in this time of seclusion, now, more than ever, pets play a tremendous role in keeping people at ease with their unconditional loyalty and companionship.

Fitness Pals

With the new social distancing regulations, pets have become their owners’ partners in achieving an active and healthy lifestyle. With their furry friends around, pet owners come up with novel ideas for exercises to have their dogs or cats join in the fun. Some owners explore their homes by walking around the vicinity while others are even seen doing push-ups or sit-ups with their four-legged companions looking on.

Exercising with one’s pet is known to have several health benefits. Research shows that owning and exercising with a pet can significantly lower one’s blood pressure and help one calm down during stressful situations. Working out with pets also helps owners maintain their weight and aids in the development of one’s bones and muscles. It is important to make sure a pet is able to exercise comfortably as well, does not overheat, and has plenty of water available.

Gab Santos, nine years old, learns unconditional love from cats, specially from Rafa who sleeps with him. His mom, Tet, rescues cats to save them from the suffering and cruelty on the streets. "Cats teach Gab to be kind and loving, " says Tet. As for rescuing, Tet says: " Saving a life gives us a sense of purpose in life. It is good for our soul and mind."

Cat Timmy gives rescuer Chi Medalla a massage. Timmy was a stray who entered Chi's house in 2010 and became a house cat. He is friendly towards other cats, and is a very talkative cat who usually responds when called, giving the Medallas verbal cues as if he understands what they are saying. He was adopted by Chi's sister-in-law and now stays at their condo in Eastwood. He stopped urinating everywhere after he was neutered.

To Chi, cats are her stress busters. "They give you a sense of joy an fulfilment even if your pocket is always empty," Chi says.

Rescuing cats comes naturally to Chi because she wants to help alleviate their pain and suffering. She can not walk away from an injured cat or kittens discarded like trash. She wishes more humans will be kind to stray kittens, cats , pups and dogs. She hopes more humans will feed strays and will adopt them too.

Orange cat Billy always rubbed himself against rescuer Dolly Tuason whenever she went to Ortigas and fed stray cats. It was his way of saying thank you to Dolly whenever they saw each other. Dolly feels happy feeding the stray cats in the area and their language of love -- rubbing against her and massaging her--- makes her feel good. While Billy has been adopted, Dolly is so happy for him that he now has a loving family. Besides, there are so many stray cats who need to be fed there, waiting to be pet and to rub against a human to say thank you and to feel loved. Dolly has a lot of Billies who still need her love and help. If you want to adopt a stray cat, please message us and we will link you up with Dolly.

help ease feelings of stress. Physical contact such as hugging and petting one’s pet can not only improve the relationship between the two, but can help provide physical and psychological relief. Pet owners can still find peace in knowing they don’t have to stay six-feet away from their beloved furry pals to show affection.

Meanwhile, the pet community all over the Stress Relievers Even the act of simply petting a dog or cat can world is coming together to upload and share

photos of their pets for those who do not own any to uplift their spirits and help them cope with the quarantine. Social media platforms are flooded with photos of dogs, cats, and other pets enjoying more time with their owners.

In the coming weeks, pet owners can take this opportunity to strengthen the bond with their pets and show gratitude to the small unsung heroes of mental health during this pandemic. (Pet Food Institute)

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

Companionship When It’s Needed Most

Several health experts are now expressing their concern over peoples’ mental health condition after being confined within one’s home for several weeks and stressful world events. The drastic change in routine and sudden loss of physical contact with people from the outside world may cause loneliness and anxiety in many.

Having pets around had been proven to have health benefits such as a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure, including the ability to alleviate loneliness and decrease anxiety. Pets can provide companionship and make people feel less lonely.