Manila Standard - 2021 December 5 - Sunday

GOVT TRACKING 80 MORE PASSENGERS FROM S. AFRICA

‘Omicron possibly here in PH’

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n ByJOYCE BABE PAÑARES

“So far, we have not detected Omicron from the 18,000 samples we have sequenced,” PCG executive director Cynthia Saloma said. “[But] it is possible that it has entered our borders. We are on the lookout for that. The possibility exists but until such

HILE the highly-mutated Omicron variant of COVID-19 has yet to be detected in the country, it is “possible” that the strain is already here, the head of the Philippine Genome Center said Saturday.

time we already have the whole genome sequence, [we cannot say for certain],” she added.

The government is still waiting for the genome sequencing on the samples from three travelers from South Africa, Burkina

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Curbs leave 99 Filipinos stranded in EU, Africa ALMOST a hundred Filipinos are stranded in Europe and Africa after 14 countries from these regions were placed on the Philippines’ “red list” amid the threat of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola said at least 50 Filipinos are stranded in Europe, where seven countries are under the red list, namely Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy.

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No. 294 No.294

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December 5, 2021 10 PAGES

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IN MET R MANILAO

E. Visayas artists paint hope amid bleak era n By RONALD O. REYES DANTE Enage, 48, called one of his artworks “Keep calm and carry on” to remind himself not to lose hope despite the pandemic.

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Dante Enage’s ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ artwork sends a message of hope amid a bleak landscape.

9.9m inoculated during 5-day nat’l vax drive THE Department of Health on Saturday said a total of 9,937,827 were vaccinated against COVID-19 during the expanded five-day national vaccination drive.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the campaign was a "huge success" as the country was able to breach its target to inoculate at least nine million people.

LIGHT UP THE SKY. Mayor Francis Zamora lead the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony held at the San Juan City Hall parking grounds Friday evening. Manny Palmero I

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COVID-19 PH

Oil price rollback: P2.40/L

DIESEL and gasoline prices are expected to go down Tuesday to mark the fifth straight week of price rollbacks.

In its fuel price projection for the December 7 to 13 trading week, Unioil Petroleum Philippines said the price per liter of diesel will likely decrease by P2.40.

Gasoline prices, on the other hand, may go down by P2.30 per liter.

On Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021,

“For the first three days, we were able to vaccinate 8.01 million, but with this extension, we were able to add 1.9 million more,” Vergeire said.

AT

fuel firms implemented a P1.10 to P1.20 per liter price rollback on gasoline as well as a P0.60 to P0.70 price reduction per liter for diesel.

Year-to-date adjustments stood at a total net increase of P18.10 per liter for gasoline and P15.70 per liter for diesel.

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices were also slashed by as much as P4.75 per kilo on Dec. 1 or equivalent to a price rollback of

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Russia planning major Ukraine offensive—report WORLD | 3A

Kin to appeal dismissal of Sulpicio exec case NEWS | 2A

Unvaxxed do not lose right to vote—Comelec NEWS | 2A

‘Unvaxxed do not lose right to vote’

DECEMBER 5, 2021

Victims’ kin to appeal ruling on Sulpicio exec A LAWYER for the families of victims of a 2008 Philippines ferry disaster vowed Saturday to challenge the dismissal of a criminal case against a shipping company executive.

The Princess of the Stars capsized after hitting a reef in the central Philippines during a typhoon in June 2008 – and only about 50 of the 850 passengers and crew survived.

State prosecutors had charged Edgar Go, an executive at the ill-fated vessel’s owner Sulpicio Lines Inc, with “reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide” for allowing it to sail despite storm warnings.

But a Manila regional trial court dismissed the case for lack of evidence, according to a copy of the ruling dated November 18 seen by AFP. State prosecutors have appealed the decision, according to a court filing.

Persida Acosta, the country’s chief public attorney who represents families of the victims, said Saturday she will file a similar appeal on Monday.

“It appears there is no one liable anymore,” Acosta told AFP. “It’s painful to us.”

UNLESS disqualified by law, one does not lose the right to suffrage because he or she is unvaccinated, an official of the Commission on Elections said.

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon urged unvaccinated voters to exercise their right to cast their ballots in the May 9, 2022 polls.

“Vote even if you are not vaccinated,” she posted on her Twitter account Saturday.

“If you have symptoms when at the precinct, you will vote in the isolated polling place. Your vote will be counted,” she added.

Comelec previously said voters who will exhibit COVID-19 symptoms on election day will be ushered into isolation booths, but those in quarantine might not be able to cast their ballots.

“Congress should pass a law allowing voters to vote by mail if they want,” Guanzon said.

Earlier, Comelec passed Resolution No. 10732 which bars candidates in next year’s national elections from making physical contact in meetings and other related activities during the campaign period.

The ship’s captain was also charged over the tragedy, but he is missing and presumed dead.

Sulpicio Lines was later renamed Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp.

The company’s vessels have been involved in several maritime disasters in the last three decades.

In 1987, its Dona Paz ferry collided with an oil tanker, leaving more than 4,300 dead in the world’s worst peacetime maritime disaster.

Acosta said the families of those killed in the Princess of the Stars accident were still waiting for compensation after the firm appealed the award of P440 million pesos.

An employee in the company’s human resources department told AFP on Saturday that no one was immediately available to comment. AFP

Leni: Expand bike lanes, make roads friendlier to pedestrians

Marcos: Help entrepreneurs recover, grow

By MARICEL V. CRUZ AND JOEL ZURBANO n

By REY REQUEJO AND MARICEL CRUZ n

PARTIDO Federal ng Pilipinas standard-bearer Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said one positive outcome of the COVID-19 public health crisis is that it brought out the entrepreneurial skills of Filipinos, which could help in the country's post-pandemic economic recovery.

Speaking at the Kandidatalks program of the Go Nego Show, Marcos said the pandemic had opened a window of opportunity for independent suppliers and small entrepreneurs to do business as it prompted a change in peoples' consumer habits.

He said consumers have become less fastidious about their purchases, with only manufacturers of essential goods allowed to operate during the lockdowns.

"People have changed their consumer habits. Now they are more prone to buy from independent suppliers than they were before, which gives us a lot of hope because the small businesses have an opening there, that's a window of opportunity right there," the presidential aspirant said.

Marcos' economic assessment jibes with the official position of the Department of Trade and Industry.

"There's good news there, that entrepreneurship is alive in the country and that Filipinos are entrepreneurial. They find ways to earn, especially those who lost their jobs, so they shifted fast and now we're seeing this growth," Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said earlier.

VICE President Leni Robredo is eyeing more bike lanes across the country as she vowed to pursue “more biker- and pedestrian-friendly” roads if she wins the presidency.

“This is my dream for the whole Philippines, especially in Metro Manila. We saw the need for these during the pandemic,” Robredo said during a “Ride with Leni” event in Iloilo City.

Robredo’s statement came as the Department of Transportation earlier announced the completion of its 500-kilometer bike lane network in metropolitan cities across the country.

The bike lane network includes Metro Manila with 313.12 kilometers, Metro Cebu with 129.47 kilometers, and Metro Davao with 54.74 kilometers.

The Bayanihan 2 allocates P1.3 billion worth of funding for active transport, P1.1 billion of which was allocated for the establishment of the country’s bike lanes.

dsfsadfds

WHO WORE IT BETTER? A curious boy wearing a face mask properly peeks outside the window of a jeepney cruising along

Mac Arthur Highway in Valenzuela City on Saturday, December 4, 2021. Next to him is a male passenger who wore his face mask below his nose. Danny Pata

Be watchdogs of the budget, Lacson tells senatorial bets n

By JOEL E. ZURBANO

PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson has asked his senatorial bets, if elected, to be watchdogs of the national budget, a title he earned during his Senate days.

Lacson said the task of making sure the public’s funds are used properly has never become more important as now, with a pandemic affecting the economy and a

national debt threatening to reach P13.42 trillion by June 2022.

“I hope you carry the torch. Our national budget is the nation’s lifeblood. If we allow the budget to fall prey to corruption and incompetence, it is not only us who will suffer but also our children and grandchildren. This early we should wake up to the problem because the budget is funded by our own taxes,” he told senatorial candidates Raffy Tulfo, Guillermo

Tulfo is a guest candidate of the Lacson-Sotto tandem.

They accompanied him during his visit to Cavite on Friday along with Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who is running for vice president under the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Eleazar and Minguita Padilla.

“It is better that you win so you can carry on my fight,” he added.

During his terms as senator from 20012013 and 2016-2022, Lacson has been an eagle-eyed watchdog of the budget, flagging questionable appropriations and making sure they are realigned to crucial programs, activities and projects.

Eleazar and Padilla, like Lacson, are running under Partido Reporma while

Isko hoping to get Rody’s endorsement—Banayo n

By REY E. REQUEJO

THE camp of Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Saturday said it is only natural for the presidential candidate to hope for President Rodrigo Duterte’s endorsement since he has always been openly seeking support from everyone.

“Actually, for Isko Moreno, no matter who helped him, he openly asked for everyone’s help. Even when he speaks in big crowds, he keeps asking people to help him because he needs help,” political strategist and Team Isko campaign chief Lito Banayo

said in an interview.

“And so, if you are asking people for votes, who are you to deny asking the President himself if he wants to endorse you, in the absence of Bong Go?” Banayo explained that seeking for President Duterte’s endorsement does not make Domagoso an administration candidate or a Duterte Lite candidate, especially with the looming withdrawal of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go. Go announced Tuesday he is quitting the presidential race but has not yet officially withdrawn his certificate of candidacy before the Commission on Elections.

“In the first place, when Isko Moreno declared that he would run for president, he never categorized himself as part of the opposition nor the administration. He was running basically as a candidate who wants to help the people and present his platform to the people, his policies, advocacies,” Banayo said.

“Since the beginning they kept on saying that (Duterte Lite), but it’s been proven by events that Isko Moreno was never the administration candidate, without of course foreclosing the fact that now, President Duterte has suddenly lost the candidate,” he added.

RIDE WITH THE VP. Vice President Leni Robredo starts her day with an early morning bike ride with supporters and the Ilonggo biking community during the ‘Ride with Leni’ event at Esplanade 4 in Iloilo City on Saturday, December 4, 2021.

Go asks supporters to respect ‘unofficial’ decision n

By JOEL. E. ZURBANO

SENATOR Christopher "Bong" Go on Saturday appealed to his supporters not to exert efforts to change his mind from quitting the presidential race, citing how President Rodrigo Duterte respected his decision.

"President Duterte respects and understands my decision because it involves my

The senator also said he will formalize his withdrawal at the right time.

Go announced Tuesday his decision not to seek the presidency in next year's elections.

On Thursday, even President Duterte appeared confused as to whether his longtime aide would really withdraw from next year’s presidential race.

family," said Go in a statement.

Go's appeal came even as some of his supporters gathered in front of the Commission on Elections headquarters in Intramuros, Manila in an effort to stop him from formalizing his withdrawal.

He advised supporters to stop camping outside the Comelec building amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Solon hits ‘no vax, no face-to-face classes’ policy n

BELEN. A mother shows her two children a nativity scene depicting the birth of Jesus Christ inside Imus Park in Cavite Friday evening. JR Josue ManilaStandard

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MEMBER Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

By MARICEL V. CRUZ

A PARTY-LIST legislator who represents the education sector in the House of Representatives on Saturday assailed the Commission on Higher Education for

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

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

limiting face-to-face classes to only those who are vaccinated.

Assistant Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro said imposing this policy is a violation of the Constitution that ensures free quality education to every person.

"The Commission on Higher Education should not be limiting face-to-face classes to only vaccinated students and teachers. It is discriminatory to only allow those fully vaccinated join face-toface classes when there is also limited access to vaccines," Castro said.

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

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

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

WORLD

DECEMBER 5, 2021

Russia planning Ukraine offensive with up to 175,000 troops: report

R

RUSSIA is orchestrating a multi-front offensive involving up to 175,000 troops as soon as next year, The Washington Post reported, as Ukraine warned that a large-scale attack may be planned for next month.

Moscow’s plans “involve extensive movement of 100 battalion tactical groups with an estimated 175,000 personnel, along with armor, artillery and equipment,” a US administration official told the Post on condition of anonymity While the Pentagon told AFP it would not comment on intelligence matters, it said it was “deeply concerned by evidence that Russia has made plans for aggressive actions against Ukraine.”

“We continue to support de-escalation in the

region and a diplomatic resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine,” Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Tony Semelroth said.

Russian forces are currently massing at four points, with 50 battlefield tactical groups deployed in addition to the fresh arrival of tanks and artillery, the Post said, citing an unclassified US intelligence document.

Movement to and from the border is meant to make any tactical moves murky and cause uncertainty, the Post said, citing its sources.

US President Joe Biden earlier in the day said he was preparing fresh policies to halt any Russian plans to invade Ukraine after both Washington and Kiev reported that Moscow had massed troops near its border.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov estimated that Russia has around 100,000 troops near the border. Russia denies any military build-up.

“The most likely time to reach readiness for escalation will be the end of January,” Reznikov said.

Moscow seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and has since backed separatists fighting Kiev in the east of the country. The conflict has left more than 13,000 dead. AFP

FALLEN HEROES. A health

worker pays her respects to a late colleague who died from COVID-19 at a memorial dedicated to health workers who lost their lives while fighting the pandemic, in Bandung on December 4, 2021.

AFP

ST. LUCY. Nathalie Czarnecki

plays the role of Lucia, during the Swedish ‘Sankta Lucia Festival of Light’ service at York Minster in York, northern England on December 3, 2021. The Sankta Lucia celebration is based on the bravery and martyrdom of a young Sicilian girl, St. Lucy, who died in the early 4th century. AFP

Twitter admits policy ‘errors’ after far-right online abuses TWITTER’S new picture permission policy was aimed at combating online abuse, but US activists and researchers said Friday that far-right backers have employed it to protect themselves from scrutiny and to harass opponents.

Even the social network admitted the roll out of the rules, which say anyone can ask Twitter to take down images of themselves posted without their consent, was marred by malicious reports and its teams’ own errors.

It was just the kind of trouble anti-racism advocates worried was coming after

the policy was announced this week.

Their concerns were quickly validated, with anti-extremism researcher Kristofer Goldsmith tweeting a screenshot of a far-right call-to-action circulating on Telegram: “Due to the new privacy policy at Twitter, things now unexpectedly work more in our favor.”

“Anyone with a Twitter account should be reporting doxxing posts from the following accounts,” the message said, with a list of dozens of Twitter handles. AFP

US vows to prevent any Russia invasion US President Joe Biden said Friday he would make it “very, very difficult” for Russia to launch any invasion of Ukraine, which warned that a large-scale attack may be planned for next month.

Washington and Kiev say Moscow has massed troops near Ukraine’s borders and accuse Russia of planning an invasion.

Biden and President Vladimir Putin are due to hold a video call shortly to discuss the rising tensions, both sides confirmed Friday.

Biden told reporters in Washington he was putting together “the most comprehensive and meaningful set of initiatives to make it very, very difficult for Mr Putin to go ahead and do what people are worried he may do.”

“The most likely time to reach readiness for escalation will be the end of January,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov told parliament in Kiev on Friday.

A report in the Washington Post on Friday citing US officials and an intelligence document said Russia was planning a multi-front offensive involving up to 175,000 troops as soon as next year. AFP

Pope Francis in Cyprus migrant mass condemns ‘slavery, torture’ POPE Francis condemned “slavery” and “torture” suffered by people fleeing war and poverty, speaking at a prayer service for migrants on a visit to the divided island of Cyprus.

“It reminds us of the history of the last century, of the Nazis, of Stalin, and we wonder how this could have happened,” he said Friday, stressing the need to “open our eyes.”

Francis was expected to take 50 migrants back to Italy – a gesture that inspired dozens more to flock to the Church of the Holy Cross, some in apparent hopes that they too may get the chance to start new lives there.

Christians from the Middle East, Africa and Asia filled the pews of the Nicosia church next to the UN-patrolled buffer zone that divides the Mediterranean island, a key destination for irregular migrants.

“Your presence, migrant brothers and sisters, is very significant for this celebration,” said the 84-year-old pontiff.

He praised “the dream of a humanity freed of walls of division, freed of hostility, where there are no longer strangers, but only fellow citizens – fellow citizens who are diverse, yet proud of that diversity and individuality, which are God’s gift.” AFP

Peru’s Fujimori can’t be prosecuted over forced sterilizations‘for now’

FromtheFRONTPAGE OMICRON...Faso and Egypt who tested positive for COVID-19.

Saloma urged local government units to submit samples to the PGC if they see spikes in cases in a particular area.

“We are always ready to sequence them.

As we always say, it is not a matter of if.

It is just a question of when, that is why we have to be prepared and improve our healthcare facilities,” she said.

The country has placed 14 countries in its updated “red list” of countries and territories covered by the temporary travel ban, namely Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini and Mozambique.

Some 242 travelers who arrived in the Philippines in November tested positive for COVID-19, Saloma said, citing data from the Bureau of Quarantine.

“They are being traced now and we are coordinating with airport laboratories that conducted the tests to submit the positive samples to the PGC for sequencing. We have sufficient kits,” Saloma said.

As to the 253 travelers from South Africa who arrived in the Philippines from Nov. 15 to 29 – or before the red list was updated –165 passengers are under the verification process, 80 have been contacted to undergo verification, and eight are still being located through backtracing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

Over the weekend, the World Health Organization said Omicron has been detected in 38 countries but there are no reported deaths so far from the new COVID-19 variant.

The United States and Australia became

the latest countries to confirm locally transmitted cases of the variant, as Omicron infections pushed South Africa’s total cases past three million.

A WHO spokesman said the UN health agency had “not seen reports of Omicron-related deaths yet.”

The WHO said it will take several weeks to determine how infectious Omicron is, and to assess how vaccines, tests and treatments hold up against it.

But it insisted Friday that scientists were well on top of it and would be able to produce those answers soon.

“We’re going to get the answers that everybody out there needs,” WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said. “We need to trust in science now and be patient and not be fearful.”

The new variant’s spread has led to warnings that it could cause more than half of Europe’s COVID cases in the next few months.

The new variant could also slow global economic recovery, just as the Delta strain did, International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva said.

“Even before the arrival of this new variant, we were concerned that the recovery, while it continues, is losing some momentum,” she said.

“A new variant that may spread very rapidly can dent confidence.”

Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead on COVID-19, said of the mild Omicron cases found so far, the patients were mainly travelers. With AFP

CURBS...In Africa, at least 49 Filipinos are stranded. South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Mozambique were the first countries to be covered by the temporary travel ban after the

A PERUVIAN judge ruled that former president Alberto Fujimori cannot for now be prosecuted over alleged forced sterilizations that happened during his administration, because the allegation was not included in his extradition request.

The disgraced ex-leader who is serving a 25-year prison sentence over human rights violations and corruption is being investigated over the forced sterilization of hundreds of thousands of poor, mostly indigenous

women during his final four years in power.

In 2007, Chile granted extradition of the ex-president, who led Peru from 1990 to 2000.

Judge Rafael Martinez in his ruling said Fujimori can only be prosecuted over the sterilizations if authorized by the Chilean Supreme Court, which previously green-lighted his extradition.

Prosecution is prevented at present “as these facts are not included among the crimes for which his extradition was autho-

highly mutated strain was first reported in the region.

Arriola said the government is organizing repatriation flights in Europe for December 10 and 13, but it is having a harder time doing so in South Africa because most transit countries do not want to accept flights from there.

“What we really need at the moment is for Filipinos to coordinate with our embassies so we can help you. We are appealing to our kababayans to contact your embassies or consulates,” she said.

“Most of these are Bayanihan special repatriation flights. Some of them will have to board commercial flights that will be tagged as Bayanihan flights,” Arriola said.

Arriola said two of its posts in Europe are in talks with a Dutch airline company to facilitate a Bayanihan flight for December 13 with the Netherlands as the possible transit point.

Except for Filipinos returning via special repatriation and Bayanihan flights, all inbound international travelers from these 14 countries in Europe and South Africa are barred from entering the Philippines.

opportunity if we send them home," she said.

The Philippines has so far secured 146 million doses of vaccines against COVID-19, of which over 90 million have been administered.

The latest data from the DOH showed that 37.56 million people have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 while 443,985 received their booster doses.

The League of Provinces of the Philippines, however, cited the lack of vaccinators as the reason why several LGUs failed to hit their targets.

“There are several LGUs that have insufficient numbers of vaccinators.

That's why they haven’t met their target number to be vaccinated, but their supply of vaccines is enough,” LPP president and Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. said.

Velasco said 31 provinces have met 50 percent of their targets while Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Batanes, Siquijor, and Camiguin reached or surpassed 100 percent of their target population during the five-day Bayanihan, Bakunahan drive.

9.9M...Vergeire said the country also recorded its highest number of daily jabs at 2.82 million.

The inoculation campaign, originally set for Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, was extended for two days until Dec. 3.

The second round is scheduled for Dec. 15 to 17.

Vergeire urged local government units to accept vaccinees even without prior registration.

"If ever a person is already inside the vaccination site, we hope that the local government will call them to get vaccinated even if not registered because we lose the

E. VISAYAS... The painting, done in acrylic, features a woman wearing a mask with her eyes closed, while sprouting on her head were dark thoughts—from hunger to death and isolation, but hovering on these were a bee and a butterfly, which symbolize a “nurturing life.”

“Like everyone else, the pandemic brought fear and anxiety to me. I worry a lot about getting sick, of losing income,” said Enage, a renowned visual artist based in Tacloban City.

“However, I keep on painting to translate my worries into the canvas,” he added.

rized,” Martinez said Friday.

Martinez was tasked with deciding whether the 83-year-old Fujimori could be brought to trial by the 1,317 plaintiffs in the sterilization case, which began in 2002 but has been shelved and reopened several times.

An estimated 270,000 Peruvians, many of them indigenous people who did not speak Spanish, underwent surgery to have their fallopian tubes tied as part of a family planning program implemented under Fujimori. AFP He aptly named his series of artworks “Pandemic Paintings” after making them during the start of the COVID-19 public health crisis in the country in March 2020.

Enage playfully named each of the paintings as “Wake Me Up When We Can Travel Again,” “Wander,” “This Too Shall Pass,” “Shield,” “Lifeline,” “Insomnia and Vivid Dream,” “Abril Otso (Lockdown Journal),” and “Bright Side.”

Along with Kolor Banwa (Kolor Han Banwa Nga Waraynon), a collective group of Tacloban visual artists, Enage also found time to hold an exhibit as “a message of hope” to the medical frontliners.

“For artists, I think the pandemic has dealt both advantages and disadvantages. The arts have been helpful to keep us entertained and provided a bit of an ‘escape’ out of our homes,” said Dr. Christian Gloria, a US-based Filipino mental health expert.

“I hope that a positive side effect of the pandemic and our household restrictions enabled all of us more time to participate in the arts as viewers, performers, or both,” added Gloria, who is working as an associate professor of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

OIL...P52.25 per 11-kilo tank.

LPG prices ranged from P884 to P1,017 per 11-kilo tank based on the latest monitoring of the Department of Energy.

LPG and oil prices have been declining due to concerns of over renewed COVID spikes and new variants that could dampen demand.

New logistics company set to employ 10,000 in PH

Yuki Higson of Style Cat

DECEMBER 5, 2021

By Othel V. Campos

F

lash Express, Thailand’s first unicorn company, is building its presence in the Philippines as the next major delivery service and logistics provider that aims to hire 10,000 Filipinos this year.

Company shareholder representative Tony Luo said the Philippines is one of the target markets of Flash Express, as it commenced its market research two years ago.

“Our research compared industry practice in Thailand and Malaysia.

But we found out, along the way, that the Philippine, despite having numerous logistics players, still needs better logistics service. Because of its big population, e-commerce here is growing by leaps and bound. We expect Philippine e-commerce to rise steadily. That’s why we’re here,” he said during the public launch on Nov. 29.

Flash Express Philippines is an integrated e-commerce service provider established in August. Driven by its commitment to be the fastest, most reliable and cost-effective courier, the company remarkably increased its reach in a span of three months with 138 hubs nationwide.

It recently signed partnership with e-commerce player Lazada and remains open to partnerships even start-ups and micro-entrepreneurs.

Building on the strength of its mother company in Thailand, the Philippine unit is committed to ensuring fast and reliable service 24/7, 364 days a year, delivering goods and parcels even on holidays.

“Our system is not only designed for those needing delivery service.

We partner with entrepreneurs and business-minded people who want to start their own business, specifically those who are selling online,” Luo

said.

Despite having similar systems as with Flash Express Thailand, Luo said the company will tailor fit some services to be more consumer-sensitive in a market which has its own dynamics.

“I know our company understands that customer needs differ from country to country, that is why we are able to market our logistics service. We have a strong and confident pool of technicians who have backend and on-ground to develop a better system for the Filipinos and Philippine market,” he said.

An important segment of Flash Express’ investment in the Philippines is the integration of all services to the company website and manpower strengthening and capital expenditures on its fleet of riders.

“As you can see, we are very professional on each segment of our business. We adhere to all business and legal process. We have a strategic plan to identify first what are the key service areas to start a deal. We also ask ourselves if we have the rapidly covered all operations nationwide. And we and too happy to know that in just in a short span of three months, we are prepared,” said Flash Express Philippines general manager John de Guzman Tarampi.

Flash Express aims to become a household buzzword in delivery and courier services in the Philippines a year from now. It has detailed plans on how to be a reliable partner to all types of businesses where not only

Flash Express Philippines team leaders

big brands are welcome but also budding entrepreneurs.

It started with one hub in Laguna with 50 service areas in the National Capital Region including the cities of Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Manila, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pateros, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig and Valenzuela.

In September, it has expanded to 25 provinces in Luzon that include Albay, Aurora, Bataan, Batangas, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Oriental

Mindoro, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Rizal, Sorsogon, Tarlac and Zambales.

As of October, Flash Express was servicing 128 municipalities nationwide, checking out an average of 5,000 deliveries every day.

The company is also on point on its corporate target to create a massive logistics network that will cover all 7,106 islands of the Philippines.

“We have more than 130 distribution centers and we aim to have at least 300 by the end of the year. So that speaks volumes of how we have really reached our target, at least for

this year alone,” said company legal head for express operations Niquee Louise Yap-Espiritu.

“Flash Express has been very blessed to have been given this opportunity to be of service to the Filipinos. The vision of Flash Express has always been to reach out to our kababayans, to be of service to them,” she said.

Flash Express has given employment to 3,000 Filipinos in the first few months of operations in the Philippines which it plans to expand to 10,000 as it spreads its footprint nationwide.

Lady executive seeks reparation from Ombudsman SHE gained fame as Miss Caloocan in 2000, which eventually helped her win votes to become a city councilor and later as congresswoman for two terms.

Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy believes more opportunities could have been possible for her, if not for the cases filed by unknown parties but endorsed by the Ombudsman which tarnished her name and affected her family.

Cajayon-Uy, a former executive director of the Council for the Welfare of Children, undersecretary of the DSWD and representative of Caloocan’s second district, said while she was eventually acquitted by the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan in November this year, she had suffered financially, morally and emotionally.

“Now that I have been acquitted, there is the so-called ‘danyos’ or demand for compensation, given what we experienced morally, financially and emotionally. My name has been tarnished, my political rival used the case against me, and my family was affected.

I was worried about my children, what they felt and the way they were exposed to the public,” Cajayon-Uy said in a news briefing.

“The fact that I had a mugshot and was treated like a prisoner caused mental anguish that I had to endure. Now that the Ombudsman lost the case against me, how could I regain what I have lost,” the 43-year-old executive asked. It is not about money, she said, but only wanted to clear her name.

“I love our government and I am with the government. What I want is to rectify what was wrong, so the public would know,” she said.

Cajayon-Uy was cleared of graft and malversation charges in connection with the alleged misuse of P10 million in Priority Development Assistance Fund in 2009. The Sandiganbayan’s Second Division, in a 91-page ruling on Nov. 12, said the Ombudsman failed to present sufficient evidence to prove Cajayon-Uy’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Former Caloocan City Rep. Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy Cajayon-Uy, who was crowned Miss Caloocan in 2000, before becoming a city councilor and later a congresswoman, said because of the corruption case filed by an anonymous party with the Ombudsman, she had lost opportunities including the possibility of becoming a Cabinet secretary.

“Honestly, I have lost big opportunities,” she said, while admitting that she was considering filing an application with Malacanang Palace to become DSWD secretary, only to be derailed by the revival of the corruption case against her.

“When I was applying for a higher position, it was denied because of the baggage of the case. I also did not run for an elective post because of the same baggage thrown against me,” she said.

Cajayon-Uy said this is why she was elated when the Sandiganbayan absolved her by looking into the merit of the case.

To push for reforms in the justice system, she said she would run again for Congress where she served for two terms. Cajayon-Uy was among

the principal authors of several laws protecting children, including Republic Act No. 10627 (Anti-Bullying Act), RA 10152 (Mandatory Infant and Children Immunization Act) and RA 10630 (An Act Strengthening the Juvenile Justice System).

Cajayon-Uy said that once elected to Congress in 2022, she would file bills pushing for reforms in the Office of the Ombudsman to strengthen its mandate as a public defender and ensure that complaints filed with the office are rigorously scrutinized so that government funds are not wasted.

“Reforms and other measures must be legislated to ensure that complaints filed before the OMB undergo a more stringent screening before cases are filed before the courts so as not to waste government resources,” she said.

She said these reforms are necessary for the Ombudsman to fulfill its mandate and use its funds properly.

Data released by Cajayon’s legal team showed that of the P4.82-billion budget of the Ombudsman in 2019, P643.2 million or 51 percent was spent on Anti-Corruption Investigation Program, resulting in only 17.88 percent criminal and administrative charges.

About P469.3 million, or 37.3 percent of the 2019 budget, was spent on the Anti-Corruption Enforcement Program, contributing to only 25 percent of criminal and civil cases prosecution with actual court resolution.

“Based on these figures, it would seem that only a very small portion of complaints filed before the OMB are actually case-worthy or have enough basis to withstand investigation and trial. The rest can be deemed as frivolous suits or baseless complaints,” she said.

She said she would particularly push for a review of the Ombudsman Act of 1989 and would propose the imposition of fines, payment for damages, and reimbursement of legal expenses to cover all the losses of an accused who stands trial.

Horizon Terraces Garden Suites’ amenities such as the Central Garden allow residents to follow life’s rhythm and thrive in unique discoveries that can be made together with like-minded neighbors right in the comfort of their own community amid nature views.

Tagaytay project makes green Christmas possible AFTER being confined in the congested metro for nearly two years, many residents dream of celebrating Christmas in a place with plentiful open green spaces that meet the World Health Organization’s standards for adequate exposure to nature and opportunities for outdoor activities.

The WHO recommends that every resident should have access to at least 0.5 to 1 hectare of green space at a straight-line distance from their residence of no more than 300 meters. Horizon Terraces Garden Suites in Tagaytay Highlands actually provides a standard for a city—a hectare of green space with its lush, expansive Central Garden that is only a few steps away and one that is made for the exclusive use of only a number of residents.

Amid growing demand for open green spaces, the WHO considers such as vital for a community because of the promise of enhanced physical and emotional well-being as well as reduced air and noise pollution. These are wonderful gifts one won’t find under a Christmas tree.

Dedicating over 70 percent of its land area to recreational and garden space, Horizon Terraces Garden Suites’ smart planning integrates open green spaces

into its homebuilding, which is reminiscent of how dwellings back in the day used to be in harmony with nature by having ample open spaces around.

Today, a heightened yearning for lifestyle ideas that incorporate open spaces into the home has made people realize the importance of connecting with nature. Blending beautifully with the natural landscape, the Central Garden inspires leisurely pursuits. It entices one to stroll at the Garden Courtyard with Sundial; young children to romp and play at the Sensory Garden; seniors to spend quiet moments at the Pocket Gardens; and the entire family to take a dip in resort-inspired swimming pools.

Horizon Terraces Garden Suites are five-story, low-density residential condominiums sitting on 3.2 hectares of land surrounded by stunning verdant greenery, making it a safe alternative primary home where one takes in breathtaking nature views from all around.

One- and two-bedroom units of 35 to 68 square meters are thoughtfully laid out to adapt to growing families’ needs.

Close by is the Midlands Golf Course for the ultimate in work-life balance.

the United States (14.4 percent of total population), UK (9 percent), Australia (30 percent) and Canada (21.5 percent).

During the holidays, immigrants and OFWs are often unable to celebrate with their families in-person and find themselves working to support not only themselves but also their families and communities back home.

“The Christmas season is the perfect time to celebrate old traditions and create new ones with friends and family

across the globe. One tradition that is all too well known for Filipino households with friends and families overseas, is sending money in-lieu of gifts,” said Earl Melivo, country director of World Remit Philippines.

“With more than 244 million people worldwide classified as immigrants, and more than 2.2 million overseas Filipinos, we are making it easy to share love and joy over the holiday season,” Melivo said.

Filipinos spend 331% of monthly income on Christmas festivities FAMILIES are making plans to celebrate the season with unique traditions, meals and gifts as the year comes to a close.

In line with this exciting time, WorldRemit conducted a multi-country study to determine the true cost of Christmas in 14 countries, mining data to understand the average costs of traditional Christmas meals, decorations and gifts.

According to the study, Filipinos were found to spend 331 percent of their monthly income, an average of P37,106

during the holidays. Christmas celebrations begin as early as September and extend until January in the Philippines, making it challenging for many families to afford the basic costs of Christmas.

Without remittances into countries like the Philippines, celebrating the holidays would be near impossible.

More than 244 million people are classified as immigrants around the world and account for large percentages of populations in countries like

MOTORING

n Editor: RAMON L. TOMELDAN email: mon_tomeldan@yahoo.com

DECEMBER 5, 2021

5A

SYSTEM UPGRADE CONTINUES

NLEX equips more lanes with auto license plate recognition, early detection features N LEX Corporation continues to upgrade its toll collection system as it is set to start the installation of automatic license plate recognition and RFID early detection features in more NLEXSCTEX toll lanes by December 2021 and first quarter of next year, respectively.

These upgrades, which aimed at further improving customer experience, will bring the total number of lanes with ALPR to 95 and with early detection feature to 217.

Toll plaza with RFID early detection feature

ALPR cameras in operation

This ALPR system uses smart cameras that read vehicle license plates for easier matching of motorists’ RFID transactions. Toll lanes in Meycauayan, Bocaue, Balagtas, Tabang, Sta. Rita, San Fernando, and Angeles will be furnished with the new system starting next month. The company has initially implemented the ALPR system in NLEX Balintawak and in Valenzuela City particularly in Mindanao, Karuhatan, and Paso de Blas. Toll lanes in SCTEX Tarlac have also been equipped with the said system.

The ALPR system is also useful in improving safety and enforcing traffic laws as it aids in identifying vehicles passing the RFID lanes without

RFID stickers, as well as those with insufficient balance, and vehicles that may pose safety hazards.

Additionally, the data from the ALPR will be used in the future as part of the contactless apprehension policy which NLEX and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) are currently working on.

“Technology keeps on evolving and it is imperative to stay up-to-date and relevant. We continue to innovate and invest in technological advancements as these help us provide paramount service to our motorists,” said NLEX Corporation President and General Manager J. Luigi L. Bautista.

Meanwhile, the RFID early detection feature will

Nissan trumpets ‘pioneer’ status with new EV targets YOKOHAMA—Nissan on Monday unveiled plans for electric and hybrid vehicles to make up half its global sales by 2030, with a top executive insisting the firm’s “pioneer” status would help it capture market share.

Speaking to AFP, Nissan number two Ashwani Gupta insisted the firm’s electric vehicle (EV) targets were “progressive” and said he welcomed “healthy competition” from all-electric rivals like much-hyped Tesla.

“In 2010 when we talked about electric batteries, we were the only ones, and thanks to all these players the awareness has improved. That’s helping us,” he told AFP after the firm unveiled its new Ambition 2030 long-term plan.

“We are very happy to have these players who are creating the EV awareness... healthy competition is always good.”

Last year, just 10 percent of Nissan’s global sales were EVs or hybrids, and it said Monday it plans 23 new models, including 15 new electric vehicles, in a bid to reach the 2030 goal.

It said it will invest two trillion yen ($17.5 billion) over the next five years to speed up electrification, compared to spending one trillion between 2010-2020,

aiming to launch electric vehicles with its proprietary batteries in seven years.

Across the auto industry, firms are boosting electric vehicles, with Sweden’s Volvo pledging to switch all sales away from traditional fuel cars by 2030, and Japan’s Honda setting the same target by 2040.

Gupta denied that Nissan’s targets were unambitious by comparison, insisting the plan was “sensible, grounded and progressive.”

“We are the pioneers,” Gupta added.

“We launched our first battery electric (vehicle) in 2010, the market didn’t exist and the customer didn’t ask for it.”

‘More future than the past’ Now, he said, Nissan is “capitalising on the assets which we have prepared in the last 11 years.”

“Our asset is not only about technology, but our asset is (our) customer who has used our battery electric cars,” he added.

Electric and hybrid vehicles are being increasingly adopted in the face of concern about climate change, with Britain moving to ban new sales of diesel and petrol cars in the UK from 2030, and hybrids from 2035.

US President Joe Biden earlier this year announced a target for half of all cars sold domestically by 2030

to be zero-emission.

At present, around 10 percent of European car sales are EVs, but the US figure is just two percent.

Nissan has been battered by a series of problems in recent years, from weak demand even before the pandemic, to the fallout from the arrest and subsequent escape of former boss Carlos Ghosn.

After falling behind rivals during Covid-19, it has begun clawing its way back, tripling its full-year net profit forecast earlier this month despite the impact of a global chip shortage.

Ghosn’s arrest exposed rifts in Nissan’s alliance with Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors and France’s Renault, but Gupta said the partnership was “stronger now” and had helped the three firms weather the global chip crisis and supply shortages.

“The alliance has taught us that we have to collaborate with each other. There is no other option. And that’s where the crisis is making it more and more important to work together,” he said.

As for Ghosn, who remains a fugitive in Lebanon after jumping bail in Japan where he faced trial on financial misconduct charges, Gupta said the saga was now behind Nissan.

“I think we are moving on and we are talking about more future than the past.”

AFP Nissan Motor’s electric vehicle concept car is displayed at the company’s showroom in Yokohama. Nissan unveiled plans for electric and hybrid vehicles to make up half its global sales by 2030, with a top executive insisting the firm’s “pioneer” status would help it capture market share.

be implemented in 29 more toll lanes starting January 2022 to boost RFID detection capability. With this, enhanced RFID scanners can detect up to three vehicles in advance and promptly process the toll lane transactions.

Previously, the tollway company completed the installation of RFID early detection features in 188 toll lanes. It is continuously conducting comprehensive technical audit on its toll lanes to ensure system efficiency.

NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation.

Pilipinas Shell, Mazda collaborate for voluntary carbon offset PILIPINAS Shell Petroleum Corporation has launched a collaboration with Mazda Philippines to offset CO2 emissions, making Mazda the first in the car dealership industry to drive carbon neutrality in the Philippines.

“We are happy that as we take part in the Voluntary Carbon Offset programme, Mazda is the first automobile brand in the Philippines that has gotten on board,” said Chris Alli, Country Business Manager at Shell Fleet Solutions. “We hope to influence or attract similar businesses to follow Mazda’s example.”

The Voluntary Carbon Offset programme recognizes that, while the industry is trying to avoid or reduce emissions, the need for traditional fuel options still remains during the transition. Through Pilipinas Shell, participating companies can offset their fleet’s unavoidable CO2 emissions produced by the fuel purchased from Shellbranded service stations.

The programme calculates a fleet’s overall fuel expenditure and its associated CO2 emissions. The emissions are compensated by carbon credits purchased

by Pilipinas Shell for the customers from a global portfolio of nature-based projects.

These projects are independently verified to the highest internationally recognized standards.

“This collaboration will hopefully raise the awareness of the public and other company fleets to be conscious about the CO2 emissions generated from their business activities, as well as the action that Chris Alli, Country Business Manager at Shell Fleet Solutions, shares Shell’s ventures towards driving carbon neutral.

President and CEO of Mazda Philippines Steven Tan welcomes the Shell Fleet Solutions team to Mazda Makati for the Voluntary Carbon Offset Program contract signing.

they can take to address it,” said President and CEO of Mazda Philippines Steven Tan. “Mazda continues to challenge itself to further improve its technologies by combining our unique, efficient engines with electrical drive technologies, and deploys the appropriate technology and propulsion solutions to the markets that meet the requirement.”

Mazda’s collaboration with Pilipinas Shell is also in line with its long-term vision of “Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030,” which aims to achieve carbon neutrality through the development of hybrid systems and electrification, while championing innovations that lessen carbon emissions in car engines. All Mazda vehicles are equipped with Skyactiv Technology, which improves fuel efficiency and emits less CO2 than their previous powertrain technology.

“Shell’s target is to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050, in step with society. Our current business plans do not bring us there yet, so we need to change to help us move faster towards the target,” said Alli. “The Voluntary Carbon Offset programme is an important customer offer.

We hope that we can reach more purposedriven brands like Mazda to collaborate with, drive awareness, and start taking the necessary steps for this cause.”

6A DECEMBER 5, 2021

FEATURES This handout picture provided by Yame City on December 3, 2021 shows the “flame of peace” which is a symbolic flame kept alive since the aftermath of the 1945 US atomic bombing of Hiroshima displayed in Yame, Fukuoka prefecture. AFP

Hiroshima attack flame offered for Pearl Harbor peace memorial

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HE family of a famed Hiroshima atomic bomb victim is fundraising to take a flame burning since the wartime attack to Pearl Harbor to light a peace monument, they said Friday.

The “flame of peace” is said to have been taken from the smouldering ruins of Hiroshima after the world’s first nuclear attack. It was kept alive first in a private home before being moved to a peace tower in Japan’s Fukuoka in 1968.

Now, the family of Sadako Sasaki, who died at 12 of radiation-induced leukemia a decade after the attack, wants the flame to be taken to the site of the deadly Japanese attack to promote peace.

“We want this plan to be a symbol of peace

Pok ta Pok: Mayan ball game is serious business WITH little regard for joints or bones, bare-chested men hurl their bodies at a hard floor and contort their limbs to strike a heavy rubber ball with their hips.

They are practitioners of the ancient sport of Pok ta Pok, sometimes translated as Mayan ball, and have been competing in the game’s very own World Cup. Participants, mostly indigenous Mayans from three Mexican states, as well as Guatemala, Panama and reigning champions Belize, vied for the world title in the Mexican town of Merida.

Belize won the championship once again, defeating Mexico in the final on Friday.

But unlike ancient Pok ta Pok athletes, these competitors were not playing for their lives, merely pride.

In pre-Columbian times, the outcome could be worse than defeat: players risked being sacrificed, usually by decapitation.

The tradition varied over the centuries, researchers say: sometimes, it was the winners who were killed, which was considered an honor. AFP Players have to contort their limbs to strike a heavy rubber ball with their hips. AFP

after Japan and the United States, once enemies, have overcome their hatred,” Sasaki’s brother Masahiro Sasaki told AFP. A majority of Americans “still support the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and their reaction to our calls for ‘no more Hiroshima, no more Nagasaki’ is ‘you attacked Pearl Harbor,’ but we have to overcome the hatred,” the 80-year-old said.

He is soliciting private donations in Japan and the US to transport the flame next sum-

mer, and is discussing a site for the monument with authorities in Hawaii.

“We’re hoping that it will be at the memorial” built over the remains of the USS Arizona, which sank during the attack, he said.

The “flame of peace” has been taken abroad before including to the Vatican in 2019 when atomic bomb survivors were granted an audience with the Pope.

Sadako Sasaki is widely remembered for having folded one thousand paper cranes before dying on October 25, 1955, after a long battle with leukemia.

She set out to fold the cranes while in hospital, after hearing a tradition that doing so would make a wish come true.

Her brother Masahiro, also an atomic bomb sur-

vivor, and her nephew Yuji have used her story to educate people globally about the dangers of war.

In 2012, they donated one of Sasaki’s paper cranes to the memorial built over the remains of the Arizona.

December 8 will mark 80 years since the Pearl Harbor attack, which killed more than 2,400 Americans and opened the war between Japan and the US. Around 140,000 people died in the bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, a toll that includes those who survived the explosion but died soon after from radiation exposure.

Three days later the US dropped a plutonium bomb on the port city of Nagasaki, killing about 74,000 people and leading to the end of World War II. AFP

NASA astronauts complete ISS spacewalk TWO NASA astronauts have completed the 13th spacewalk at the International Space Station (ISS) this year, the agency said, days after the event was postponed over a debris risk.

Astronauts Thomas Marshburn and Kayla Barron headed outside the space laboratory on Thursday, replacing a faulty antenna and restoring its capability.

“It was awesome!” Barron said after completing her first spacewalk, according to a tweet NASA posted.

The duo also “did some get-ahead tasks for future spacewalks,” the US agency said, adding that the astronauts returned to the station after six hours and 32 minutes.

The spacewalk, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, was postponed after NASA received a “debris notification” for the orbital outpost.

In a subsequent statement, the agency said Houston experts were assessing a fresh risk from orbital rocket debris that may pass close to the ISS on Friday.

“Mission Control is working with NASA’s international partners to prepare for a possible debris avoidance maneuver,” they said.

NASA footage showed Marshburn catching a ride on the robotic arm to move around the ISS before getting to work on the antenna. AFP

File photo of the International Space Station. NASA

Handmaid’s Tale author Atwood on Canada stamp CANADA’S postal service celebrated the 60-year writing career of “The Handmaid’s Tale” author Margaret Atwood by featuring her image on a stamp.

At a ceremony at a Toronto library, Ottawa-born Atwood reacted with humor to the “unexpected honor,” welcoming friends and family, and “those who intend to make fun of me for being on a stamp.”

“On a stamp, really, the nerve,” she quipped dryly.

“How ever will I live it down...

How cringe. How eye-rolling.”

“Be prepared for a bunch of jokes about licking and sticking, not to mention cancelation and especially not to mention philately,” she said, recalling her childhood collection of stamps ripped off envelopes pulled from trash bins.

The new stamp features a picture of Atwood – eyes closed

and one hand on her cheek – with the lines “A word after a word after a word is power,” from her poem “Spelling.”

Atwood also used the unveiling to advocate for causes, recounting a friend’s vow to slap the stamps with her likeness on letters to lawmakers in Canada and the United States, calling for action on climate change and an end to gender discrimination.

The award-winning writer has 50 works to her credit, including novels, short fiction and poetry, and has sold millions of books translated into more than 30 languages.

“The Handmaid’s Tale” – about a totalitarian regime that forces fertile women to reproduce for barren elite couples – was This handout photo shows a Margaret Atwood stamp published in 1985 but remains issued by Canada Post in Canada. Canada’s postal relevant, and in the public service celebrated the 60-year writing career of “The consciousness thanks to Hulu’s Handmaid’s Tale” author by featuring her image—eyes Emmy-winning television adaptaclosed and one hand on her cheek—on a stamp. AFP tion. AFP

DECEMBER 5, 2021

Pickleball can be played on any flat surface or any existing basketball court

Pickleball: Growing modern sport in PH

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HE love of Filipinos for sports is once again shown by playing an innovative sport that mixes badminton, table tennis, and tennis features.

It is now enjoyed in various parts of the country where local government units including Baguio City, Asingan, Pangasinan, and Cebu are showing incredible support.

Pickleball is a sport played with a ball and paddle over a net and close to the size of a badminton court, with regulations that are similar to tennis but with a few differences.

It was first played in 1965 in Bainbridge Island, Washington.

It is now drawing international interest as a result of worldwide tournaments and championships Shana Upperman, founder of Pickleball Philippines said that her purpose in creating the group is to primarily introduce pickleball from the United States to the Philippines.

Practitioners in various towns and cities are growing in number

In November 2015, a Florida-based manufacturer of pickleball paddles, Pickle Pro donated to them 22 paddles to support its cause of teaching the game in the country.

Birthplace in PH On February 11, 2016, pickleball began in Cebu, Philippines.

Shana, a Filipino who lives in Tennessee, recruited Doug Keener

of Pickleball Spring and Sara Ash, a fellow Filipino who lives in Arizona to teach the sport in Barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue, Cebu.

“The event was facilitated by Jessie Perez. Donated paddles brought from the US were used in teaching pickleball. It paved the way in teaching pickleball in various schools and universities in Cebu City,” Uppermann said.

Pacio ready for Brooks REIGNING ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio has heard Jarred Brooks, the man they call “The Monkey God”, loud and clear.

And he expects nothing less from all of the challengers on his tail.

“I’m on top of the food chain so it’s just natural that everyone’s going to call me out.

Our job now is to stay ready and keep sharp to defend our position. We got our eyes on the top five contenders in this division and make no mistake about it, we are watching closely,” Pacio said.

Brooks delivered an emphatic statement at ONE: NEXTGEN III where he scored a second-round submission win over Team Lakay rising star Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang.

But for the famed Baguio-based camp, Adiwang actually made a lot more ground than what meets the eye in his faceoff against the brash American.

“Lito knew that he could finish Jarred and he just needed to consume Jarred’s energy, and we believe that energy was almost out,” said Team Lakay coach Mark Sangiao. “It just so happened that Lito went to a wrong position and that ended

the match differently from what we wanted.”

Pacio added, “Lito did well.

He defended the guillotine and he landed some strong shots especially that leg kick that Brooks asserted was a low blow but was not.”

Both Sangiao and Pacio actually gave Adiwang a lot of credit for how he held his own, especially with this being the Thunder Kid’s first main event match.

“I guess it wasn’t our night, but one thing I know is Lito will return in a more dangerous fighting fit,” said the 25-year-old champion.

Sangiao also agreed, saying, “We always see a new player as a new threat but a positive threat. When you face an unfamiliar threat, what do you do? You deal with it, you equip yourself and by doing so, you become better. Jarred is a driver for our athletes to keep growing.”

Still, Pacio promises that he is holding on tight to his ONE Strawweight World Championship and he will fight tooth and nail to keep his spot at the pinnacle.

“To Jarred Brooks, welcome to my division. But don’t you ever think that we’ll hand you the belt that easily.”

In June 2017, Shana and her daughter Sophia taught pickleball at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) in Cebu.

Pickleball was eventually included as part of the PE curriculum at the junior high school of USPF under Ms. Mabet Pacifico, the MAPEH Coordinator. be “People embraced pickleball be-

cause it is easy to learn. It is good exercise and keeps you physically active while having fun. Its surging popularity is because it is really fun,” said Uppermann.

Jonathan Jover, President of Asingan Pickleball Club (APC) in Asingan, Pangasinan said that pickleball helps to cope up mentally with the effect of the pandemic, since it is a non-contact sport, the possibility of being infected is lesser than other activities.

“Since popular sports are prohibited, it allows other non-contact sports like pickleball to be known. Pickleball is a rising sport. Having an established club or organization that promotes this sport in our locality is a plus factor that the LGU partners with us to conduct tournaments, which promote sportsmanship, teamwork, and camaraderie among participants.” Jover added.

Uppermann added that the sport is accessible as using simple chalk to make lines, badminton and you can convert an existing basketball, tennis or badminton court into a pickleball court.

She said that promoting the sport will have the potential of having pickleball as part of the Physical Education curriculum in schools, and the game being played in every barangay in the country.

Uratex teams lead 1st day winners in WNBL 3x3 tourney ONE strawweight champion Joshua Pacio vows to keep his belt at all cost

URATEX Tibay and Uratex Dream won all of their assignments on the first day of the WNBL 3x3 first leg at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

The Tibay team of Eunique Chan, Ford Grajales, Kat Quimpo, and Samantha Harada won over QWBT, 224; JJD Basketball, 21-7; and Dreamers, 11-9, while the Dream squad won over Kaye Pingol, Alyssa Villamor, Tina Deacon, and Angelica Anies beat Amazing, 7-6; and Jiaguel, 20-8.

Uratex Tibay holds a 3-0 record in Group A, while Uratex Dream owns a 2-0 card in Group B with a shot at topping their respective bracket on the second and final day on Sunday morning.

Dreamers and JJD will battle it out for the final semifinal berth in Group A after a 2-1 win-loss card.

The Dreamers beat Fourbees Hoopers, 16-9; and QWBT, 21-12, while JJD won over Fourbees Hoopers, 11-10; and QWBT, 18-9.

Jiaguel beat Swish, 22-4, and Bluefire Gasulista Huskies, 16-14, for a 2-1 win-loss record in Group B. Bluefire is also in second place in the bracket after winning over Amazing, 16-9, and Swish, 19-7.

The semifinals and the finals will be played on Sunday.

Life Editor: Nickie WaNg

DECEMBER 5, 2021

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Immersive online course

with Catriona Gray at Nas Academy

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ISS Universe 2018 Catriona Gray delighted her students in an immersive night of virtual fun, festivities, and entertainment during the “Meetthe-Creator” segment of her “How to Be a Queen” online course at Nas Academy.

have built together there because at the end of the day the course is just a course but the way that you apply it, the things that you’ve learned how you share and encourage and uplift each other and how you go on to share your own learnings, your own experience with other people is what it’s all about,” The global edtech platform opens tered students aspiring to follow in the says Gray to the students.

Her course centers on personalthe Catriona Gray Academy in Novem- footsteps of a beauty queen. ber, with almost one thousand regis“I am so proud of what you guys ity development and confidence-

Catriona and other administrators indulged fans with a ‘Meet-the-Creator’ segment of her ‘How to Be a Queen’ online course at Nas Academy.

Mixing beats and breaking taboos FOUCHIKA Junior adjusts her headphones, flicks a slider, and seamlessly drops the next tune: one of Tunisia’s rare female DJs, she is helping other women break into a male-dominated world.

“DJing isn’t very common among women,” she said.

“I’m trying to give them an opportunity so they understand that a woman can be a DJ in Tunisia—or anywhere.”

The 29-year-old, whose real name is Yasmina Gaida, works in cinema by day.

But since taking a three-day DJing course five years ago, she has mastered the decks and now plays various styles of house music in clubs across Tunis.

At the French Institute in central Tunis recently, she was giving Nada Benmadi, 25, her first lesson in mixology.

“I want to bring music lovers together to dance and spread positive energy,” said Benmadi, an aspiring sound engineer who wants to one day open her own production studio.

But “being a female DJ in Tunisia, that makes most families afraid,”

she said.

“You get home late at night, and it’s mostly a male thing.”

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray

building, where students are coached on making a powerful first impression and becoming the best version of themselves. Unleashing one’s inner queen, or king, is the major objective as Catriona shares comprehensive lessons on various facets of empowerment, including answering difficult questions, dealing with harsh criticisms and polarizing topics, challenging anxiety and self-doubt, as well as championing social cause—all leading to a true all-around queen persona.

Gray acknowledges the queens in her alumni and, together with the students, showed support for Jade Cini, one of her former students who is also competing in the international Miss Universe pageant.

“We are delighted that Catriona’s students finally got a chance to complete their experience with this Meet the Creator session. She is one of the most admired in our roster of creator educators. Our classes at Nas Academy are not only pre-recorded video lessons, but also a community experience where participants get to interact with hand-picked facilitators and build friends along the way as they learn with classmates,” emphasizes

Jacqueline Maye Lim, Nas Academy’s Country Head for the Philippines.

“It becomes a network of people that share interests and learnings with one another, and it empowers students in a very special way—and that’s what we especially want here in the Philippines,” Lim added.

True to its vision, Nas Academy aspires to build a community of Filipino educators and learners by offering courses on personal development, small business empowerment, and content creation on its platform. The Catriona Gray Academy, alongside Carlo Ople Academy and Anthony Francisco Academy, are among the first batch of Filipino creator academies that are open for enrollment.

In September, Nas Academy also launched its Community Classes that benefitted 7,000 students in its first month, to make a positive impact in the lives of Filipinos through online education. The classes were offered and will continue to be offered, free of charge.

“I’m so proud to be part of this, to be part of this group, and to have this connection with each and everyone of you; it’s just so so special to me,” Gray concludes.

Dine under the stars

‘Toxic’ environment

Fouchika, whose DJ name means “hyper” in Tunisian Arabic, said club owners were sometimes wary of hiring a female DJ for a night.

When it’s a man, they say ‘OK, send me your profile on SoundCloud’, and they can go and mix,” she said, referring to the streaming platform where DJs and musicians can share their work.

“But when it’s a girl, they ask, ‘have you ever mixed before?’”

“They see it as a technical thing and so not really made for girls,” said the DJ, wearing a loose blue shirt and her hair in an Afro.

Fouchika said her parents -- a make-up artist and a hotel entertainer -- didn’t stand in the way of her passion, but some of her students face more resistance.

“Sometimes I have to go and meet their families to tell them, ‘everything’s OK, we’re not doing anything bad, just music’,” she said. AFP Read full story on manilastandard.net

Yasmina Gaida, also known as Fouchika Junior, plays various styles of house music in clubs across Tunis.

Guests can relax by the poolside while dining al fresco.

CENTURY Park Hotel, one of the finest hotels in Manila, has been duly awarded the Certificate of Accommodation to Operate as Staycation (CAOS) by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Bureau of Quarantine. With this recent development, the hotel has prepared a host of exciting F & B offers that walk-in and staycation guests can appreciate.

A unique Unlimited Samgyoepsal experience awaits you at Al Fresco

by Palm Grove for only P669 net.

Grill those meats, drink & dine under the stars, and just relish the relaxing poolside ambiance.

The package includes unlimited meats (US short beef plate, US Short Ribs, Pork Belly Strips, and Marinated Pork Neck), one glass of beer or cocktail/mocktail, side dishes, and one Smore’s set. Seasonal items to watch out for are: Hungarian Sausages, Wienerli, Cheesy Franks, Assorted Taiwanese Balls, and Mozzarella Cheese Dip. You can also choose from a selection of ala carte items: Wings and Dips, Smoked Baby Back Ribs, Maldivian Grilled Blue Marlin, Mixed Seafood & Meat Grill Platter, and a whole lot more.

With its boho tropical theme,

decorative lights, and social media-worthy features, dining under the stars at Al Fresco by Palm Grove is a guaranteed hit with the gang and even the family. Upon entry, be dazzled with the Tunnel of Love and enter the giant Bird Cage for a unique selfie or groufie.

Go check out the art walls by the bar for other interesting photo moments. You can also strut your Tiktok moves by the giant teepee or by the poolside. Affirm your commitment to your loved one at the Love Locks corner (P150 per pair of padlocks) or just simply bask in the chill vibe of the place.

Al Fresco by Palm Grove is open Fridays and Saturdays from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Under the guidelines for staycation hotels, you must be fully-vaccinated (at least 2 weeks after your second dose) or have taken your RT-PCR test 48 hours prior to your visit. This applies to minors as well. (For other terms and conditions, visit www.centurypark.com).

“With the relaxed quarantine guidelines and aggressive efforts of our government & private sectors to secure vaccinations for everyone, we are optimistic that more people would like to experience again the things they used to enjoy before the pandemic such as dining out,” said Anthony Tan, Century Park Hotel’s General Manager.

‘Our Al Fresco by Palm Grove offers a fun and safe option where friends and family can just relax and delight in their food & surroundings,” Tan ended.

Al Fresco by Palm Grove offers a unique Unlimited Samgyeopsal experience where guests can dine under the stars.

The ambience is suitable for both friends and family.

Al Fresco by Palm Grove follows a boho tropical theme.

DECEMBER 5, 2021

Painting Christmas

Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano, or DonBelle, have an undeniable chemistry on and offscreen.

with vibrant colors of coming-of-age romance

T

HE series He’s Into Her understood the assignment of introducing the biggest love team of the year. Hence, DonBelle was born and now we’re here anticipating the love team’s debut in a movie.

Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano are headlining Star Cinema’s Love Is Color Blind, a coming-of-age film that aims to spread love and kilig this Christmas season as it starts streaming on digital platforms on Dec. 10.

“They are a great pair and you can see their undeniable chemistry on and offscreen. I wouldn’t be surprised if DonBelle becomes the next KathNiel or LizQuen,” said co-star John Lapuz during the film’s virtual junket.

“We love working together and we’re very comfortable with each other,” DonBelle said in turn.

Love Is Color Blind is a story about friendship and love and will center on the theme of worthiness in a post-pandemic setting. It features two different people, Cara (Belle) and Ino (Donny), who are trying to bring back hues in their colorless world. One wants to be seen, while the other one wants to see clearly.

The film marks the directorial debut of John Leo Garcia who switches roles with Cathy Garcia-Molina, who is the producer this time.

Garcia has been in the industry for quite some time producing notable movies including Olivia Lamasan’s The

Mistress, Starting Over Again, and Barcelona A Love Untold; Mae Cruz-Alviar’s Crazy Beautiful You and Can’t Help Falling In Love; Joyce Bernal’s Everything About Her; and Antoinette Jadaone’s Alone/Together.

Furthermore, he produced some of Garcia-Molina’s blockbuster projects like Four Sisters and a Wedding, Hello, Love Goodbye, The Hows of Us, She’s Dating The Gangster, and My Ex and Whys.

Prior to Love is Color Blind, he directed one of the episodes of the KathNiel digi-movie series The House Arrest of Us. The latest love team movie of Star Cinema is a breakthrough collaboration among ABS-CBN Film Productions Inc., Cignal TV, and Smart Communications Inc. Joining DonBelle, Jeremiah Lisbo, and Angelina Cruz in the cast are John Lapus, Hyubs Azarcon, Donna Cariaga, Ariel Rivera, Arabella Davao, Reich Alim, Amanda Zamora, Mika Pajares, and TikTok star Esnyr Ranollo, with special participation of Lloyd Samartino, Ryan Bang and Eula Valdes.

Jeremiah Lisbo

Angelina Cruz will also be joining DonBelle in ‘Love is Color Blind.’

Belle Mariano

Donny Pangilinan

Anthony Rosaldo recalls an old flame with self-penned single ‘Tama Na’ SOMETIMES the past must stay in the past.

This is how Anthony Rosaldo summarizes the message of his latest single, “Tama Na,” where he recalls a precious memory with a former lover.

“I revisited a memory—my breakup with an ex-girlfriend—and that became my inspiration. We loved each other, but our lives were going in opposite directions, and we could no longer grow together, that’s why we had to end the relationship and let each other go,” says Anthony.

The song came about when Anthony was driving back to Manila after his Ang Dalawang Ikaw taping in Tagaytay, where he played as Chris. A melody got

stuck in his head, and that became a sign to compose his first song. Now, the song has already landed the top spot on iTunes Philippines’ chart.

“It was a three-hour drive. I recorded the melody on my phone, and when I got home, I sat and dove into my creative mood,” he shares.

Produced by Rocky Gacho and music arranged by Simon Tan, the song “Tama Na” was released under GMA Playlist.

“When I sing, people get to know me more. They get to see a different side of me. Through singing, I can express my passion for music. My fans are my rock, my ‘baebies.’ I will always make them proud,” says Anthony. disAnthony’s soothing voice was dis covered in 2015 when he joined Eat Bulaga’s “Spogify” featuring “Singing Baes.” In 2018, he joined The Clash Season 1 where he emerged as one of its finalists. After that, he signed a contract with GMA Artist Center and is now part of All Out Sundays’ “Kingdom.”

His other songs under GMA Music are “Larawan Mo,” “Pwedeng Tayo,” and “Maghintay ka Lamang.”

“Tama Na” is now available for streaming on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, and other digital music streaming services worldwide.

Anthony debuted in 2016 when he joined ‘Eat Bulaga's’ segment ‘Spogify Feat. Singing Baes.’

Hip-hop single tackles love’s varied forms Filipino rap crew 8 Ballin’

8 BALLIN’ is exploring exciting new grounds with the release of “Di Na,” the group’s debut single under Def Jam Philippines.

With its minimalist beats and uniformly gentle guitar licks, the Filipino rap crew’s crossover anthem allows the group to set an acoustic-tinged blueprint for local hip-hop, and infuse it with a contemporary-sounding approach to production. “’Di Na’ was produced by zp3nd,” says the all-star ensemble. “What we really want at that moment was to give off an LA/West Coast sound with a mix of early 2000s feel. zp3nd did a great job mixing and mastering the track and made the most out of our unique voices.”

Lyrically, the track tackles love in its many forms and iterations, rejecting stereotypical presentation of the usual subject with something that is sincerely inclusive yet whose appeal remains universal. The song also emphasizes

Honoring the best of 2021 K-Drama METRO.STYLE, the source for the best curated and quality K-Drama content in the country, is back to honor the best KDramas of the year through “Metro Best K-Drama Awards 2021.”

The first of its kind in the Philippines, Metro recognizes the top dramas, actors and actresses, and other technical achievements in this digital awards event.

This year, it will cover dramas such as Start-Up, Vincenzo, River Where the Moon Rises, Mine, Hometown Cha-ChaCha, and Yumi’s Cells, to name a few.

There will be a combination of Jury categories, People’s Choice categories, and special awards, that will cover dramas that are available to watch on apps

or platforms accessible in the Philippines and aired starting October 2020 and ended by October 2021.

The Jury categories will be decided by a panel of judges composed of Metro editors and experts, while the People’s Choice categories will be determined by Metro.Style readers.

For the People’s Choice categories, readers have nominated awardees on Metro.

Style, and they have announced the nominees on social media and on Metro.Style.

Now that the nominees have been announced, the voting will be until Tuesday (Dec. 7), 11:59 p.m.via the Metro.Style Facebook, Metro.Style Twitter, Metro KDrama Club Facebook Group, and the Metro.Style website.

how meaningful and valuable love can be when shown in action rather than told in words.

“This song is pretty much a diverse kind of love song because it doesn’t only pertain specifically towards a single person, but also to each artist’s chosen significant others—be it a lover, a friend, a family member, or something beyond the actual human form,” the hip-hop group explains in a statement.

“With this song, the artists showed each of their perspectives on what love truly is —that love is about doing whatever it takes; that love is about giving our all even without having anything, that true love transcends distance, and that love is more than just saying ‘I love you’ because it is more about showing it and making your significant others feel it.”

According to 8 Ballin’, “Di Na” is a progressive step forward in terms of cohermusicality and lyrics. It’s a more coher ent and confident work that is receptive

Shin Min-a and Kim Seon-ho in ‘Hometown Cha-ChaCha.’

A scene from ‘Vincenzo’ starring Song Joong-Ki.

Kim Go-Eun and Ahn Bo-hyun in ‘Yumi’s Cells.’

to diverse music styles and storytelling.

“We were much improved versions of ourselves when we decided to make this song,” says the promising group.

“Our different paths and choices in life defined our character that was manifested with our music.”

The music video for “Di Na,” helmed by budding filmmaker TMP, was released on Dec. 3.

In true entertaining fashion, the visual narrative complements the vibrant appeal of the track and resonates with its carefree message.

As the 10-piece crew puts it, “We really had a great time shooting the video and I hope our audience feels the same way we did upon making the MV. The concept was more about its visual side and how we wanted the video to evoke and feel.”

“Di Na” is available now on all streaming platforms worldwide via Def Jam Philippines.

K-Drama series ‘Mr. Queen’ starring Shin Hye-sun and Kim Jung-hyun.

The cast of K-Drama series ‘Start-Up.’

DECEMBER 5, 2021

Blackie, a neutered cat.

He has been adopted.

The Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Cat

By Rowena David

S

OME people are surprised when I tell them that my female cats are spayed. They have this misconception that only male dogs and cats can be fixed or neutered. I am always glad to reassure them that female cats, as well as female dogs, can be fixed.

The female pets are the ones who must be spayed to prevent unplanned pregnancies. On average, a female cat can give birth to one to eight kittens per litter and approximately two to three litters per year. This is how fast the number of cats in one household can multiply in a year and the reason why spaying or neutering your pet cats is very important.

Some fur parents are worried that the spay/neuter procedure is painful for their pets. The procedure is generally safe. The vet will check first if the pet is healthy enough to get spayed or neutered. During the procedure, the pets are anesthetized so they don’t feel any pain. They might be groggy after the procedure but they will be okay provided the pet owner will j follow the post-surgery instructions of the veterinarian. I, too, was apprehensive when my cat Diego was neutered back in 2014. I was expecting him to take it slow for the next few days, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that he was his old playful self the next day.

How can a cat parent tell if their cat is in heat? These are the common signs that indicate the cat is looking for a mate: - vocalization (the cat “talks” a lot)

- wants to go outside (if the cat is an indoor cat) - more affectionate than usual - rolls on the floor - raises their rear end into the air when stroked along the back Admittedly, getting your pet cat fixed can be expensive. Some private veterinary clinics charge from 5,000 to 10,000 pesos. Fortunately, some clinics offer low-cost spay/neuter procedures.

There are also local government units that offer these procedures for free.

You can inquire at your city veterinary office if they offer such a service.

These are the benefits of spaying or neutering your cat: The life span of a fixed cat is noticeably longer than that of an unfixed one.

In 2013, Banfield Pet Hospital examined the medical data of 460,000 cats.

The study showed that spayed female

Milky, adopted from Save ALL, gives Mariana a kiss... all the time!

Mingming, a TNR'd campus cat.

Pickles, a TNR'd campus cat

Diego on the day of his kapon

cats live 39% longer and neutered male cats live 62% longer. Furthermore, fixed cats have lower chances of getting lifethreatening illnesses such as mammary gland tumors/cancer, prostate cancer, uterine infections, and pyometra.

A fixed indoor cat has less desire to roam outside.

A fixed cat is unlikely to look for a mate so there is less tendency to sneak out of the house. Additionally, there is a reduced risk of your cat getting hit by a vehicle or getting lost.

Helps eliminate urine spraying.

Urine spraying is a common instinct in male cats. Getting your cat fixed can prevent this occurrence.

Helps prevent cat aggression.

Unfixed cats tend to mark their territory, so they often get into a fight with

other cats. Some cats, not all, have less inclination to fight with other cats after they’ve been fixed.

You are helping reduce the stray cat overpopulation in your community.

Hundreds of newborn cats and kittens are abandoned every day because pet owners can no longer afford to keep them. Most abandoned kittens do not survive, and those who do will eventually get pregnant when they’re old enough. Unless they are rescued or fostered, they will give birth on the street. This is how the number of stray animals increases every year. By getting your pets spayed or neutered, you are ensuring that no unplanned pet pregnancy will ever occur in your household.

There are animal welfare volunteers

who do TNR (Trap-Neuter_Return) within their community. These dedicated volunteers capture stray cats so they can take them to a vet clinic for spaying or neutering. The cats are returned to their original location after a few days of recovery. These cats have clipped ears or a tattoo inside of their ear to distinguish them from unfixed ones. This is an effective method of preventing community cats from getting pregnant.

Some of the author's cats. They are healthy because they eat malunggay, said to be the super vitamins of all vegetables. It is the most accessible as a lot of Filipinos plant malunggay trees. You can ask for some leaves from neighbors.

Coco was adopted from a construction worker.

About the author: Rowena David is faculty member at College of Computer Science in the University of Makati, is a freelance writer (Tagalog short novels), admin of Philippine Pet Lovers Society Facebook page, an animal rescuer and animal welfare advocate.

Two adopted cats gave birth recently. Spaying the mothers soonest the kittens are eating on their own is the next step so that they will not get pregnant again.

What you can feed your pets when you are jobless

By Mariana Burgos I AM a solo parent for fourteen years now. My husband, when he went missing in 2007, was not able to leave anything for my daughter and I to start with.

So I started from scratch, as they say.

I did everything I know I can to earn a decent living. At that time, my daughter was just a toddler. The situation was “manageable,” in other words.

At first, I tried to earn from my artworks. Soon enough, I realized it is not that stable and sufficient for our daily needs. So, I thought of getting into the reselling business. It was good for almost a year. Unfortunately, my supplier stopped supplying due to unknown reasons. I heard a rumor that their factory had an issue and was forced to close shop. But, at least, I was able to have my daughter enrolled in school with my earnings from it. After that, I began to offer tutorials in the basic education level and I applied as a parttime teacher in school. This sustained us for more than a decade. But, honestly, our life is like what they say in Filipino, “Isang kahig, isang tuka.” (One scratch, one feed.) This was also the

time that we decided to adopt Milky, our dog. We adopted her from Save Animals of Love and Light- Save ALL, an animal welfare group. She was only five months old when we adopted her.

She was turning six human years old when the pandemic started. We had a cat, too, for a pet. She was our first rescue. Her name was Whisky. But we lost her before the lockdown began. Since last year, I have been jobless.

Since we only had Milky for a pet when the lockdowns were imposed, it was not that hard to feed her since she is used to having rice and vegetables with meat broth. But then, one of my mother-in-law’s workers gave us a puppy. So, we ended up with two dogs then: Milky and the puppy we named Coco.

After a month, we saw two abandoned kittens along the road. Of course, we could not just pass by them.

We rescued the kittens. After another month more, the 2 dogs of the worker who gave us the puppy began to stay at our house. They never left again to be with their former owner, the worker. And so, we had six pets by Augusts: four dogs and two cats.

When August came, the cats gave birth to five kittens each. Also, one of our dogs, Coco, got pregnant and gave birth to a litter of seven. Now, we have 11 dogs and 12 cats!

Can you imagine what we must do every day to keep these pets well fed and kept clean? Ah, but the biggest question is, how am I able to provide for all of them when I do not have a job, right?

My family is Catholic. We are Catholics and, as one, I do believe that God provides. How else can I see our situation? Actually, this is not the first time that I have no regular source of income. As you have read what I have said above, I really have no regular source of income. But we do get by day by day with family and friends that help in anyway they can. Save ALL often helps us by sharing dog food and vitamins donated to their rescues time and again. There were also times that we had our share of miracles. I say, miracles because that is the only way to describe them. Ok, you may also describe them as inexplicably delightful experiences (LOL)!

Most of the time, when we are by

ourselves and I have very little to spare for the needs of our pets, I try to see what I can utilize within our surroundings. It is a good thing that we are now staying here at the farm of my in-laws.

There are nutritious vegetables just outside the house that I can pick and cook for food. But when we were living in an apartment in town before, I used to go out and try to ask from our neighbors if they can spare me some sweet potato shoots (talbos ng kamote) or moringa (malunggay) leaves from their garden to cook for our pets’ food. I would ask fish vendors for their scraps or the meat vendors for theirs.

I cook the small amount of rice I have for our pets as lugaw (porridge) and put the vegetables and the scraps (if I get to have some). Then, I add lots of tender loving care or TLC. This is how we get by when we have very little to spare or almost nothing. Although, this is not all the time. Like I said, family and friends with good hearts do help us out time and again.

That is because God does provide.

If you are to ask me, it is really good if you train your pets to eat natural food and not to be dependent on those be-

ing sold commercially. Why? Because it is more practical and if it happens that you cannot afford to buy those things anymore, or if you are the one who cannot really afford so, it is not that hard to whip up something in the kitchen for your pets even for as simple as lugaw with veggies and scraps. And never forget cooking with lots of TLC! You must be wondering how is the health of our pets with just the kind of nutrition I am able to provide. You may have a look at them yourselves with the pictures provided here. There were only three instances that we had to bring a pet to the vet for treatment this year. And two of them were because of accidents and not diseases.

We are happy because our pets are happy and healthy even if we are not well off. But you know, I think, it’s the TLC that really did it.

About the Author: Mariana Burgos is a freelance artist. She is a solo parent for 14 years now because she is wife to a desaparacido. She and her daughter are animal lovers and are active in advocating not only human rights but the rights of animals as well.