Manila Standard - 2022 January 3 - Monday

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SC SUSPENDS WORK FOR 3 DAYS AMID INFECTIONS

NURSES WELCOME P50B FUNDING FOR SRA THIS YR NEWS / A3

NEWS / A4

VOL. XXXV • NO. 322 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

OCTA sees 10,000 cases daily Infections accelerate with no let-up as new tally soars to 4,600

By Willie Casas and Rio N. Araja

A

S THE positivity rate for COVID-19 shot up to 19.6 percent, the Philippines logged 4,600 new cases Sunday, leading pandemic researchers to warn that the numbers may surpass those of previous coronavirus surges.

OCTA fellow Guido David said the growth in new infections was not slowing down, and was in fact accelerating, and concentrated in Metro Manila.

“Right now, if you look at the raw

the numbers that we've seen in past surges,” he said.

David said Metro Manila's single-day positivity rate has reached 28 percent, adding that the highest positivity rate in the previous

numbers, it looks like we're going to surpass

RISING NUMBER OF INFECTIONS. At least two Manila

hospitals —Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital (JJASGH) and the Gat Andres Bonifacio Medical Center (GABMC) – have limited admissions temporarily amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, including among its own health workers. Inset shows a GABMC personnel conducting disinfection on Sunday, January 2, 2022. Norman Cruz and Danny Pata

2 hospitals cut admissions as infections rise

By Willie Casas

In-person classes in NCR suspended, stricter curbs up FACE-TO-FACE classes in Metro Manila have been suspended amid a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases as mayors consider more mobility curbs on the unvaccinated.

“Following the meeting between the Department of Education and Metro Manila mayors, face-to-face classes in schools…are suspended starting tomorrow, Jan. 3,” the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)

said in a statement.

MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos said the suspension of face-to-face classes is automatic as Metro Manila goes under stricter Alert Level 3 status starting Monday until Jan. 15 due to increase in COVID-19 cases and recorded cases of the Omicron variant.

Education officials and the mayors appealed to parents to make sure their

children stay at home for their safety amid the threat of rising infections.

Abalos said Sunday the Metro Manila mayors will discuss the terms of an “enhanced vaccination mandate” that would give the fully vaccinated more mobility and access privileges.

Abalos told radio dzBB they were collating policies from other countries that could be adopted in the National

Capital Region (NCR).

On Wednesday, Abalos said that the Metro Manila Council approved a resolution creating a technical working group that will lead the study of an enhanced vaccination mandate together with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

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2,851,931 4,600

21,418

51,570

25

2,778,943

535

Next page

Cops may aid hotels ensure health protocols

(As of 4 PM, JANUARY 2)

Coco industry suffers P1.6b typhoon blow

By Othel V. Campos THE country’s coconut industry sustained massive losses estimated as P1.6 billion caused by Typhoon Odette, the Department of Agriculture said during the weekend.

The DA reported that the Philippine Coconut Authority had mobilized manpower and resources to assist in the clearing and rehabilitation of damaged areas and uplift the conditions of Next page

TWO Manila hospitals are temporarily limiting patient admissions due to rising COVID-19 infections, including among its health care workers.

In an advisory, the Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital (JJASGH) said it was going to stop admitting patients starting at 8 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 1).

"The number of COVID patients is greater than the number of beds. Thus, the hospital must first close so it can send home or transfer other admitted patients to quarantine facilities," JJASGH said in a statement posted on the Manila Public Information Office's Facebook page.

JJASGH added that many of its staff tested positive for the virus.

The Department of Health (DOH) said Sunday that the Abad Santos hospital "would open within the day."

"The temporary closure was due to the hospital's initiative to transfer patients with mild cases to the nearby isolation facilities," the DOH said in an advisory.

The Gat Andres Bonifacio Medical Center also announced it will temporarily stop admitting patients in its emergency room due to an increase in COVID-19 infections among employees.

"All incoming patients shall still be evaluated and transferred to other city

CLOSED AGAIN. Barely four days after the newly-renovated Manila Zoo opened to public, it was temporatily closed as COVID-19 cases continued to increase, prompting the government to place Metro Manila under the stricter Alert Level 3 starting today (Monday).

NBI drug war report out in few days—Guevarra

By Rey E. Requejo JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra, with only six months more at the agency's helm, said Sunday one of their highest concerns was the government's focus on the drug war campaign launched by the administration in 2016.

Guevara, appointed to his post in April 2018 by President Rodrigo Duterte, said the National Bureau of Investigation was expected to submit soon to the Department of Justice its initial report on its probe of the 52 police drug war cases that resulted in death.

“As to the status of the drug war review, the NBI will submit in a few days an initial report on the 52 Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service cases that the DOJ endorsed to the NBI for case build-up," he said.

“Meanwhile, prosecution offices in Next page

THE National Capital Region Police Office said Sunday it was prepared to give additional security in hotels if needed – after a woman allegedly used her "connections" to waive her five-day quarantine at a hotel in Makati City.

The Department of Tourism is also investigating Berjaya Makati Hotel which allowed the female guest to forgo her quarantine to attend parties in Poblacion, Makati where her colleagues and even the restaurant staff eventually tested positive for COVID-19.

In an interview over Super Radyo dzBB, NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. said hotels already have inhouse security to ensure COVID-19 protocols would be followed. Next page

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MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2022

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Nurses hail P50b budget for SRA T

PNA President Melbert Reyes es- health workers, of whom half are nurses, timated that approximately a million from both public and private hospitals,

would benefit from the SRA allotment.

"This SRA is across the board. All health workers will receive it equally,” Reyes said in an interview with ABSCBN's TeleRadyo.

Reyes does not know the exact amount that each health worker will get, but said he initially proposed to Congress a P15,000 SRA. He added the SRA included the

meals, accommodation, and transportation allowance.

"It's like a one-time compensation. It covers everything,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the 2022 budget last December 30.

Last year, the delayed release of health workers' benefits triggered protests from medical frontliners across the country.

cent of 3,500 intensive care unit (ICU) beds for COVID-19 patients nationwide were in use.

At least 14 percent of the 12,000 ward beds in the country were being used, while 26 percent of the 3,700 ward beds in the National Capital Region (NCR) were occupied.

Amid the sharp rise in cases, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) placed the National Capital Region under Alert Level 3 from Jan. 3 to 15.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Friday that the highly transmissible Omicron variant may already be responsible for this rise in COVID-19 cases.

The independent OCTA Research Group, meanwhile, said the country will see an increase in COVID-19 infections in the coming days, with the numbers possibly surpassing figures from past surges.

Dr. Maricar Limpin, president of the Philippine College of Physicians, reiterated the concern of health workers, who will be at risk because of their exposure to COVID-19 patients.

But David said there is a possibility that hospitalization "won't be as bad" compared to past surges, because of the high vaccination rate in Metro Manila and other areas.

It was also possible that most patients will only experience mild symptoms, he added, but also warned that "there will still be some cases that will be severe and critical."

David and Leachon agreed that it is highly likely that the surge is driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant, which has also triggered a rise in COVID-19 cases in other countries.

It was also possible that the surge would not last long compared to previous ones, given the quick rise in infections. Previous surges usually lasted for about two to three months, David said.

Leachon urged the government to strengthen COVID-19 testing, including allowing the use of self-administered test kits, to curb infections.

He added that the government should ramp up the administration of booster shots to the vulnerable population, and primary vaccines to the unvaccinated.

He cited anti-COVID pills such as molnupiavir as a reason for optimism.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benhur Abalos, meanwhile, said mayors in the capital region were scheduled to meet Sunday afternoon to discuss additional policies to control infections.

Limpin said lowering the alert level in the country was done too suddenly because it increased mobility, which may have caused COVID-19 infections to rise.

Limpin said lowering the alert level system allowed more businesses to open which could encourage more people to go out and gather.

“Lowering the alert level was too sudden. Even if we downgraded it, more people are outside,” Limpin said in an interview on radio dzBB. She said that the movement of people should be contained.

She added that more children also went out amid the loose restrictions even if they have yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

“We allowed them to go out. Many kids do not follow health standards and social distancing,” she said.

Unvaccinated younger kids are more vulnerable to infection, Limpin said.

She added that she even encountered a child as young as six months who tested positive for the disease.

On New Year's Day, the Philippines posted 3,617 new COVID-19 infections after documenting below 1,000 new infections in the past months.

The COVID-19 reproduction number in the National Capital Region (NCR) has climbed to 4.05, the highest since April 1, 2020, while the positivity rate jumped to 28 percent, according to the OCTA Research Group on Saturday.

Reproduction rate refers to the number of people infected by one case. A reproduction number that is below 1 indicates that the transmission of the virus is slowing down. The positivity rate meanwhile refers to the percentage of people who were found positive for COVID-19 among the total number of individuals tested.

Also on Sunday, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said the country’s best defense against the Omicron variant of COVID-19 would be “an ability to accommodate the infected and heal them fast.”

He cited studies showing that the variant is highly infectious but less lethal than the Delta variant.

“It is essential for economic recovery that we do not lose the momentum in demand and job creation that we have already sustained. So we have to get fighting this variant right,” he said.

“Omicron appears to be more infectious but less lethal than most variants.

So, if we can isolate the infected and treat them quickly, we should do all right. Of course that will require some flexibility in treatment capacity again.

So, we need to reactivate disused or unused isolation centers in preparation for Omicron,” he added.

By Willie Casas

HE Philippine Nurses Association said Sunday it welcomed the allocation of P50 billion for the special risk allowance of medical frontliners in the 2022 national budget.

OCTA...

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surge was at 30 percent.

A worst case scenario is that the capital region will record more than 10,000 additional infections in a day, he said.

“It seems like we’re heading there,” he said.

Public health adviser Dr. Tony Leachon, in a separate Teleradyo interview, estimated that daily new cases may reach 20,000.

Sunday’s tally of new cases brought the total case count to 2,851,931, amid fears that the recent spike in cases has been driven by the highly infectious Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

So far, 14 cases of the Omicron variant have been detected, including three local cases.

The positivity rate of 19.6 percent was well above the 5 percent recommended by the World Health Organization.

Active infections stood at 21,418, of which 769 are asymptomatic, 15,644 are mild, 3,081 are moderate, 1,589 are severe, and 335 are in critical condition.

The regions with the most cases in the past two weeks were the National Capital Region with 3,279 infections, Region 4-A or CALabarzon with 676, and Region 3 or Central Luzon with 252.

The 25 new fatalities reported Sunday pushed the COVID-19 death toll to 51,570.

The Department of Health (DOH) said recoveries climbed by 535 to 2,778,943.

The DOH said 19.6 percent of the 26,122 people tested on Dec. 31 were found positive for COVID-19.

The latest data showed that 22 per-

Coco...

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coconut farmers severely affected by the typhoon.

Total damage to the agriculture sector due to Odette has reached P9 billion, including agriculture infrastructures.

PCA administrator Benjamin Madrigal, Jr., said the agency’s regional offices immediately reached out to the coconut farmers in the disaster-hit areas to help rehabilitate severely affected areas.

“To date, with the transport assistance provided by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the PCA has deployed one 140 chainsaws in affected areas to facilitate the clearing and disposal of damaged coconut trees, 50 of these were sent to Surigao, 30 to Dinagat Island, another 50 to Southern Leyte, and 10 to other parts of Leyte. An additional 50 units of reconditioned chainsaws will be deployed to Southern Leyte,” he said.

The local AFP units in Eastern Visayas and Caraga region coordinated their efforts and helped transport the chainsaws from Tacloban and distributing same in Surigao while PCA ensures that onlye felled and totallydamaged trees are cut, he added.

Partnership with local government units has made the task easier, enabling swifter delivery of assistance and relief packages to affected coconut farmers, Madrigal said.

The PCA has been working with the governors, municipal mayors, and other local executives to ensure that the support and assistance will be given asap.

PCA also coordinated and partnered with other national government agencies such as the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD), the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the military to allow coordinated and speedy rehabilitation efforts.

NBI...

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the various regions are coordinating with the PNP-IAS in these regions for the examination of thousands of other administrative disciplinary cases against police officers involved in anti-narcotics operations,” he added.

In the DOJ-led drug war review panel’s initial report that they submitted to the President last

The DSWD committed to provide temporary employment to the chainsaw operators, haulers, and helpers through their cash-for-work program while coconut lumbers will be turned over to the DHSUD to be used for the construction of temporary housing facilities; and the AFP will assist PCA in transporting the chainsaws, equipment, and other supplies to the different affected areas.

PCA also released P2.95 million farmers in Surigao; P1 million for the farmers in Dinagat Island; and P1 million for the affected farmers of Southern Leyte.

The funds are intended to provide short gestation crops and small ruminants to provide food for the families of our farmers and for the consuming public, support the incentivized and participatory planting and replanting project, as well as fertilizers to rehabilitate damaged coconut trees.

An additional P480,000 was also reprogrammed by PCA for the repair of chainsaws and the deployment of generator sets.

The PCA has also prepared the distribution of 152,014 seednuts and seedlings for the eventual replacement of the felled and damaged trees in the said severely affected areas.

For 2022, the PCA said it is working double time to fast track the implementation of the different programs under its 2022 GAA allocation like the coconut fertilization project to revive the partially damaged coconut trees; the sustainable planting/ replanting of local cultivars to replace the more than 10 million totally damaged trees; and the intercropping of short gestation crops to fully support the rehabilitation and recovery of our coconut farmers.

It is also waiting for the approval of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) by the President, to finance the modernization of the coconut industry and usher in comprehensive and sustained development and competitiveness of coconut farmers.

September, it took note that some of the information was missing, including detailed narration that transpired during the police operation and the cause of death.

There were also instances where there was no pre-operation report, no coordination form, no custody form, ballistics or paraffin test results, or autopsy result on record, no crossmatching of the weapon that was allegedly recovered from the subject; and no scene of the crime operation

In-person...

From A1

At the same time, Abalos said the mayors were displeased with quarantine facilities that fail to prevent people from skipping their quarantine.

This was in reaction to revelations that a Makati hotel had allowed a returning overseas Filipino from the United States to skip quarantine and attend a party where many people tested positive for COVID-19.

The Berjaya Makati Hotel, where this traveler was supposed to be quarantined, apologized for the incident, saying it was a "very serious breach" of quarantine protocols.

The mayors will discuss the repercussions of such violations, including the revocation of business permits.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), meanwhile, said it is ready to implement again stricter health protocols against COVID-19 in Metro Manila beginning Monday.

“Our mandate is to make sure that the restrictions are properly implemented. We will closely coordinate with the IATF and the LGUs (local government units) as well,” PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said in a statement Saturday night.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr),on the other hand, has ordered the implementation of strict health protocols in all transport sectors amid the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the country.

“The safety of commuters is paramount. We must make sure that health protocols are strictly implemented in all public transport vehicles and in all transport facilities,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

“I am ordering all transport sectors to strictly enforce the health and safety protocols in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19,” he added.

Tugade made the call as the status in Metro Manila was raised anew to Alert Level 3 from Jan. 3 to 15, as the country recorded a continued rise in COVID-19 infections.

Under Alert Level 3, intrazonal and interzonal movement are still allowed, however, restrictions may be imposed by local government units.

As part of the implementation of health protocols, Tugade has ordered enforcers from the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and train marshals of all railway lines to make sure that proper physical distancing is being observed inside public transport vehicles and inside transport terminals.

Enforcers and marshals have also been ordered to make sure that commuters entering terminals and boarding public transport are using face masks. Transport marshals have also been ordered to remind commuters not to talk or eat while inside the trains. Joel Zurbano and Darwin G. Amojelar (SOCO) report.

The DOJ also found out that in some of the paraffin tests, both hands of the suspect-victim were negative for gunpowder nitrates.

This prompted the DOJ to direct the NBI last October to build up cases arising from the 52 PNP drug war operations, suspected to be of extra-judicial killings, and where the 154 policemen involved in these operations were already found by the PNP-IAS to have administrative liabilities.

The NBI was tasked to cross check information and conduct further investigation to determine if there was criminal liability.

According to Guevarra, in his remaining months at the DOJ, he would also prioritize the implementation of the Philippines-United Nation (UN) joint program on the protection and promotion of human rights.

The DOJ would also intensify its campaign against corruption, Guevarra said.

2 hospitals...

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hospitals," GABMC Director Dr. Ted Martin said in a statement.

As of Jan. 1, Manila City had 435 active COVID-19 cases.

The DOH on the same day reported 3,617 new COVID-19 cases all over the country, the highest count recorded since Oct. 10.

The growing caseload has pushed the government to again place Metro Manila under the stricter Alert Level 3 from Jan. 3 until 15.

The government attributed the spike in new cases to increased mobility during the holiday season.

It has yet to confirm whether the spike in infections is driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant.

The Philippines has so far detected 14 Omicron infections.

Meanwhile, the OCTA Research Group said the hospital bed occupancy for COVID-19 in the National Capital Region (NCR) rose to 41 percent.

In a tweet, OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David showed that the number of occupied hospital beds for COVID-19 patients in NCR rose from 1,381 on Dec. 24 to 1,942 on Dec. 31.

Intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy increased by 37 percent from 231 to 316 in the same period.

The Department of Health’s (DOH) latest bulletin said 25 percent of the 1,300 ICU beds and 23 percent of the 4,700 isolation beds for COVID-19 patients in the NCR were occupied.

“Both are considered to be very low at this time,” David said, noting that the critical level threshold is at 70 percent occupancy.

Also on Sunday, the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) said there is no lack of nurses in health care facilities, however, they are already preparing for an influx of COVID-19 patients anew.

PNA president Melbert Reyes, in an interview with radio dzBB, said while the sharp increase in COVID-19 infections is “very alarming,” there are still enough nurses to tend to the patients.

Reyes also said that most of the nurses who tested positive for COVID-19 are either asymptomatic or show mild symptoms.

The DOH reported Sunday that the calls to its One Hospital Command Center doubled since the last days of December,rising from100 to 200 a day.

DOH Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega, also the treatment czar, said after the detection of the Omicron coronavirus variant, they prepared for the reopening of quarantine centers because cases in the country were starting to go up.

In November 2021, the number of new infections as well as active tally in the Philippines was on a downward trend. During this time, some local government units, including Pasig City, closed their quarantine centers as COVID-19 infections were becoming fewer and fewer.

Cops...

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But if hotels need more enforcers, Danao said they could send additional manpower "depending on the situation," Danao said.

At the same time, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is now conducting an investigation into the circumstances involving the woman, identified as Gwyneth Anne Chua, who flew in from Los Angeles, California.

Chua would be charged by local officials for violating the statemandated health protocols, according to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos also said he had tasked units to investigate the case.

The PNP was mandated to inspect hotel facilities and make an accounting of persons under quarantine.

Danao also asked the public to be disciplined and to follow the COVID-19 safety protocols.

"The key here is for people to have discipline. We can't guard them all,” Danao said.

In a statement on Saturday, the hotel assured it is fully cooperating with the investigation and will impose severe sanctions on “any employee found errant by commission or omission” to deter a repeat of the breach.

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CROWDED DIVISORIA.

In BrIef

People flock to Divisoria in Binondo, Manila to go shopping on Jan. 2, 2022.

Metro Manila is will be placed under Alert Level 3 starting January 3 until January 15 due to the rise in COVID-19 cases.

Norman Cruz

Pasay mayor infected with COVID for 2nd time Mayor Emi Calixto-rubiano of Pasay has tested positive for CoVID-19 for the second time.

The Pasay City public information office (PIo) also said Calixto-rubiana found out that she caught CoVID-19 after she experienced a sore throat and had herself tested for the virus.

The Pasay City chief executive was infected with CoVID-19 in February 2021. She is now in isolation in a health facility.

It is not known if Calixto-rubiano was infected with omicron, or the other earlier CoVID-19 variants. The Pasay PIo further said Calixto-rubiano will continue working, while in isolation.

Metro Manila is experiencing a surge, which authorities said, was due to relaxed CoVID-19 restrictions during the holidays.

Marawi rehab nears completion, exec says

‘Bank hacking victims should file complaints’ DEPoSITorS who lose money due to computer hacking should file formal complaints with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and seek assistance if they are not satisfied with the way their cases were resolved by their banks, rep. Michael Defensor (anakalusugan) said on Sunday.

“The BSP has an administrative mechanism in place to provide a remedy to aggrieved depositors who feel that they’ve been treated unfairly by their banks,” Defensor said Defensor urged disgruntled bank clients to email the BSP’s Consumer assistance Desk at consumeraffairs@ bsp.gov.ph, or visit the following link: https://www.bsp.gov.ph/Pages/ aBoUT%20THE%20BaNK/advocacies/advocacies/Financial%20Education%20and%20Consumer%20Protection/Consumer%20assistance%20 Mechanism/Consumer-assistanceMechanism.aspx Defensor, meanwhile, dismissed the blanket liability disclaimers in the terms and conditions governing bank accounts as adhesion contracts “that cannot be enforced when depositors lose money under conditions where they are not at fault.”

“If you are a blameless depositor and you lose money because the bank’s computer system got hacked, and illegal transfers were made out of your account, then the bank has no choice but to reimburse your losses,” Defensor said.

“Certain provisions of bank adhesion contracts, such as sweeping liability denials, may be voided or disregarded by regulators and the courts, if it is found that innocent depositors lost money because of security breaches in the bank’s computer system,” Defensor said.

Crime rate in the metro drops 9%, NCRPO says

T

HE National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Sunday that crime incidence in Metro Manila dropped 9 percent in 2021, during the same period in 2020.

The NCrPo, in a statement said, the occurrence of index crimes in the metro dropped 13 percent, while non-index crimes dropped percent.

Murder incidents also dropped significantly. The NCrPo said murder incidents in the metro dropped to 490 in 2021, compared to 687 in 2020.

Cases of physical injuries also dropped to 741 cases in 2021, compared to more than 1,100 in 2020.

The NCrPo also said there were de-

clines in the following crimes: Homicides dropped to 143 from 171; rape cases dropped to 997 from 1,083; robbery cases to 1,286 from 1,446; cases of theft dropped 3,094 from 3,187, carnapping of motor vehicles was down 115 from 126; and carnapping of motorcycles was also down to 526 from 631 Theft - 3,094 from 3,187.

The NCrPo further reported that “special complex crimes” dropped from 44 in 2020 to 33 in 2021.

In a statement, NCrPo director Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao said “the success in the fight against all forms of criminality, illegal drugs and terrorism may be attributed to the strengthened partnership we have developed with our community.”

Danao further cited that partnership between police and the community particularly in the area of informationsharing which resulted in quick resolutions of criminal cases.

Metro Manila is one of the mostdensely populated cities in the work.

Current data show that the metro is home to more than 13 million people and is a major hub for business and commerce.

PALAY AS A LUCKY CHARM. A

young child sells Palay stalks as a lucky charm at a price of P20 each along the street of Abad Santos in Divisoria, Binondo Manila. Many Asians believe that having Palay stalks hanging on a door frame will give a family an abundant life ahead.

Danny Pata

Lawmaker welcomes project to roll out P250m for biz startups

By Rio N. Araja

CaMarINES Sur rep. Luis ray Villafuerte on Sunday welcomed the move by the Department of Trade and Industry in teaming up with the National Development Co. (NDC) to roll out a P250-million fund for startups to provide them the incentive to innovate and help the country accelerate its

shift to new high-value enterprises.

“If micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) already had a hard time during this pandemic, what more startup firms which have yet to venture into business?” he asked.

“This is why we welcome the DTI’s program to provide assistance to startups, which will in turn embolden to in-

novate and set up new businesses that will create more jobs,” he said.

The DTI earlier said it successfully launched with the NDC and the QBo Innovation Hub the startup venture fund last Nov. 19.

This year, the NDC has allocated a P250-million or $5-million venture fund for innovative Philippine startups.

IBP condemns killing of Cavite prosecutor

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Sunday denounced the killing of assistant City Prosecutor Edilbert Mendoza in front of his house in Barangay Cabuco, Cavite last December 31.

The IBP through national president Burt Estrada branded Mendoza’s murder by a still unidentified gunman as “treacherous and cold-blooded” as it called on the government and other stakeholders to come up with a collective effort the members of the judiciary.

“The IBP once again calls for a nationwide effort to protect our lawyers and judges. We cannot ignore the disturbing and increasing frequency of lawyer killings. We will not stand idly by and watch as many more of our brethren are attacked and mur-

dered,” Estrada said, in a statement.

The mandatory lawyers’ organization noted that Mendoza is the 66thlawyer killed during President Duterte’s administration.

The IBP vowed to assist in, and monitor the investigation and prosecution of the victim’s case.

It added that the organization will coordinate with the Supreme Court, Department of Justice (DoJ), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to address the increasing attacks on the members of the judiciary.

The IBP also called on PNP and other law enforcement agencies to come up and immediately implement specific measures to improve the security of lawyers, judges, and prosecutors and to expeditiously resolve its investigations on these killings to hold accountable their perpetrators.

Villafuerte said that investing in startups is an effective way to promote innovation among micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The launch of the startup fund is timely in the wake of recent reports that about 10 percent or 100,000 MSMEs in Metro Manila alone have permanently closed down because of the CoVID-19 pandemic.

rEHaBILITaTIoN of Marawi City in Lanao del Sur is inching closer to completion, according to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.

Secretary Eduardo del rosario as Task Force Bangon Marawi chief said after months of efforts in rebuilding the country’s lone Islamic City, the task force is now in the home stretch of completing the massive rehabilitation works in the area.

Del rosario said normalcy has started to be felt even inside Marawi City’s most affected area (Maa) or the so-called ground zero where the Maranaws, especially those displaced by the 2017 armed conflict, are now enjoying initial fruits of the massive government-led rehabilitation.

He vowed that the rebuilding by the task force and its 56 implementing agencies in unison with partner organizations, would be completed next year.

Rio N. Araja

Injuries from fireworks now total 153: DOH

By Willie Casas

THE Philippines logged 68 additional firecracker-related injuries, bringing the total to 153, the Department of Health (DoH) reported on Sunday. as of 6 a.m. on January 2, 2022, the DoH said the total number of firecracker-related injuries was 32 percent higher than 116 cases during the same period in 2020.

The DoH said, of the 153 cases, 39 percent or 60 were from Metro Manila, 22 each from region I and VI, 12 from region 3, six each from regions V, VII, and BarMM, five each from region II and Calabarzon, four from region XII, three from Car, and one each from regions IX and XI. of the 153 cases, 113 or 74 percent were males. a total of 15 cases were blast or burn injuries requiring amputation, 102 cases require no amputation, and 39 cases were eye injuries. a total of 70 out of the 153 cases involved active users, the DoH also said.

The top five firecracker types involved were “kwitis” which had 35 cases, “boga” with 15 cases, “luces” with 12 cases, “triangle” with 10 cases while 24 cases involved unknown fireworks.

“Boga” and “triangle” are prohibited types of firecrackers. all incidents were people who were wounded by fireworks but there were no reports of firework ingestions and stray bullet injuries.

DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER RESILIENCE.

Former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano is pushing for a Department of Disaster Resilience which will focus on relief and rehabilitation of areas hit by disasters. Cayetano also distributed grocery packs, generator sets, solar lamps, and tents to victims of typhoon “Odette” in Cebu.

PRACTICING FAITH WITH SCIENCE.

Catholic devotees attend the first Sunday Mass of the year while observing social distancing at the Quiapo Church in Manila. Norman Cruz

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2021

IN BRIEF SC halts work for 3 days amid infections THE Supreme Court on Sunday said it will suspend work for three days from Jan. 3 to 5, 2022 after a number of its personnel got infected with COVID-19.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said the three-day work suspension will allow the testing of its personnel as well as the disinfection of the entire court premises.

In his memo, Gesmundo said the Supreme Court’s Medical and Dental Services reported that many of its personnel tested positive for COVID, and that they were in “close physical contact” with other employees.

The High Court’s modified working arrangement will also take effect on Thursday.

Under Memorandum order No. 1-2022, all offices and divisions in the SC will continue to be operational, with half of the workforce reporting on site Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and the other half on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The order likewise stated that everyone who is to enter the Court premises must present a negative antigen result.

Bayan Muna solon: Free mass-testing BAYAN Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate on Sunday urged the Duterte administration to implement free COVID-19 testing to contain the new surge in the transmission of the virus.

“Malacañang should implement the much inadequate, even delayed but still crucial free COVID mass testing, together with pro-active contact tracing as well as faster and more efficient vaccine roll out,” he said.

“We strongly call on President Rodrigo Duterte to finally listen to the oft repeated but unheeded call for free mass testing because the COVID surges are becoming a vicious cycle. As the new year starts with the reimposition of Alert Level 3 in the National Capital Region, we also call on our people to be vigilant as the government may make this as a prelude to another militaristic new lockdown,” he added.

Zarate said the government should listen to the medical experts and not to the military generals in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Rio N. Araja

News Ping: Plan budget better to avoid unutilized funds

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

D

ISMAYED over an average of P300 billion a year in unused funds from the national budget from 2011 to 2020, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said development projects being advocated by lawmakers should undergo proper planning and consultation with the proper local authorities and implementing agencies.

Even if a project is “inserted” into the National Expenditure Program, there should be no problem as long as it underwent proper consultations.

The standard bearer of Partido Reporma in the upcoming elections said the country cannot afford to continue wasting hundreds of billions of pesos in unutilized funds in the budget due to

“pork”-related corruption.

He said that while lawmakers have the right to amend the National Expenditure Program by inserting their projects, there should be no “commissions” involved.

“It’s the right of lawmakers to propose amendments to the NEP. What is bad is that some use their earmarks to get com-

missions or up to 40 percent. That is the part that is unacceptable,” he said.

“That’s why from 2011 to 2020, an average of P300 billion a year in the budget went unused – all because of the insertions by some lawmakers.

How can agencies like the Department of Public Works and Highways implement the projects if they were not consulted?” he added.

As a senator, Lacson has flagged billions of pesos in questionable projects in his yearly scrutiny of the national budget.

He found out the projects “inserted” by some lawmakers did not undergo proper planning or consultation.

Lacson said this is all made worse by the fact that Filipinos are still mired in poverty amid the pandemic.

BURST OF COLORS. Shoppers check colorful dresses at a shop along Claro M. Recto St. in Manila on Sunday, January 2, 2022.

Danny Pata

QC urges residents to get booster shot THE Quezon City government on Sunday urged its residents to get booster shots immediately amid the threat of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Its Task Force Omicron immediately held a meeting to discuss the city’s strategies in curbing the spread of the infection.

OCTA Research Fellow Fr. Nick Austriaco said based on the data from other countries, the Omicron variant is less potent than the Delta variant, though it is much more transmissible and infectious.

“If one person gets sick in the house, it is twice as easy for Omicron to infect the household,” he said.

Inevitably, this means that it is likely that entire households in Quezon City will become infected with the Omicron variant, he said.

The city government has enough supply of AstraZeneca vaccines for boosters after the city immediately procured 1.1 million doses of the life-saving jabs. Rio N. Araja

Uniteam vows post-Odette reconstruction

By Rey E. Requejo AS SUPPORTERS of the BBM-Sara UniTeam are still busy in their massive relief operations, presidential candidate and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Sunday assured survivors of Typhoon Odette in Visayas and Mindanao that he will help them rebuild their damaged communities.

Marcos said he sympathizes with the people who lost their homes and his main concern at the moment is to help them get back on their feet.

“I promise you that we will have reconstruction, we will give all the help we need. Don’t lose hope and don’t be discouraged because many people are always ready to help you,” he said.

He also thanked all the volunteers and donors who responded to his earlier call to immediately deliver aids to the typhoon victims.

“We have been able to bring relief goods to various places but it is a little different here in Palawan because the need used to be food. We brought rice.

We brought food, finished slippers.

Then what is being demanded now is construction materials for people to fix their houses so that is what we are trying to give back here,” Marcos said.

While the arrival of the ship carrying the aid to the typhoon victims in Palawan was a little bit delayed due to inclement weather, Marcos explained that it did not hinder his plans and commitment to bring in the necessary construction materials in an effort to help those who were displaced during the typhoon.

For her part, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio guaranteed the distribution of relief goods in the affected areas will continue, including the construction materials which the UniTeam hopes to start pouring in.

Volunteers spend New Year doing clearing operations in Cebu

By Rey E. Requejo TWELVE volunteers from the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office spent New Year in Cebu province as they continue to conduct clearings operations as well as provide clean and potable water to typhoon-affected communities.

Of the twelve MDRRMO volunteers,

six were already in Cebu before Christmas – making it a first for them to spend the holiday season away from their families to answer to the call of duty.

Presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso earlier thanked city hall employees and MDRRMO volunteers who provided their time and effort to help in the relief

A DIFFERENT KIND OF AL FRESCO.

Due to the number of vehicles in the parking lot of Picnic Grove, a family from Rizal province just ate outside their vehicle on January 2, 2022 amid the cold Tagaytay breeze. JR Josue

efforts and clearing operations in areas devastated by Typhoon “Odette” which slammed Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao almost two weeks ago.

Domagoso was in Cebu City a day after Typhoon Odette’s fury and saw for himself the devastation that the province suffered.

Aside from the boxes of medicine and vi-

tamins, the 47-year-old local chief executive also handed cash assistance worth P2 million to Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia as well as to Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

Domagoso would later deploy a 16man team from the MDRRMO to help in the clearing operations and provide clean and potable water using the two units of water purification machines.

‘New office to end OFW illegal recruiters’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Joel Villanueva on Sunday said illegal recruiters and fixers preying on hapless overseas Filipino workers seeking employment abroad will now be put on notice once the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is established.

Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee, said Republic Act No. 11461 has been crafted to eliminate the “nooks and crannies” where fixers and illegal recruiters thrive to victimize Filipinos seeking to provide a decent living to their families and loved ones.

Villanueva said would-be OFWs from the provinces need not go to Metro Manila to process their travel papers or seek assistance as there will be fully operational regional offices for the DMW serving as one-

stop shop centers for workers headed overseas.

RA No. 11461 also “provides clear parameters for ethical recruitment, which is the lawful hiring of workers in a fair and transparent manner that respects and protects their dignity and human rights to protect our OFWs from abuses and exploitation,” Villanueva explained.

He said this will make the Philippines among the first signatories to the UN Global Compact on Migration to include an express provision on ethical recruitment.

Ethical recruitment covers the accreditation of foreign principals and employers, as well as the licensing and regulation of their counterpart recruitment agencies in the country to eliminate cases of contract violation and substitution, among the many kinds of abuse suffered by OFWs.

Opinion Fearless and faithful

AS A new year begins, there is much uncertainty in each of our lives. We don’t know what the new year will bring. We are looking back at a year that had caused us incredible trauma and loss. Understandably, we cannot help but look forward to the next year with as much fear and anxiety.

“Do not be afraid.” In the face of storms and fear, Christ would always assure his disciples with these words.

The same message of comfort and confidence also rings true as a new year begins. Christ is calling us not only to be courageous and fearless, but to be confident and faithful. He asks us not only to find peace of mind, but also strength in our faith.

This realization is even made more meaningful as the Church celebrates the solemnity of Mary, the mother of God, at the beginning of the civil year.

At the very first instance of the incarnation – at the annunciation of the Lord to Mary – the angel Gabriel begins with the greeting, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” (Luke 1:20) Imagine the anxiety and confusion Mary felt on hearing the angel’s announcement. In those days, getting pregnant outside of marriage was not only a huge scandal, it was a crime punishable by stoning to death. Before she could even worry about raising the child by herself, she was perhaps fearful of how she would be judged according to Jewish law.

But Mary took the angel at his word.

What followed were words of utmost fidelity to God’s will, “Be it done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) “Do not be afraid.” A demanding order for many who have a good reason to be afraid. Those who lost someone they love last year. Those who lost their job or closed down their business. Those who became critically ill because of the coronavirus pandemic. The elderly who worry about their growing needs.

The young who are afraid of missing the right opportunities.

Unfortunately, modern society prefers to describe the future with certainty. We like to know for sure what will happen, so we can adequately prepare for how things are expected to be. This is why the New Year’s Day broadcast on televisions was replete with forecasts and predictions on how the coming year will be – and how we can be in control for whatever eventuality.

Looking into the past could also help us assess our place in the present and

By Alito L. Malinao Lest I be misconstrued as anti-Lacson, I would like to emphasize that I have always admired Senator Panfilo Lacson since he became senator. He is conscientious, hard-working and principled. But above all, he has been consistent and uncompromising in his fight against corruption in government.

But I also have to be candid that Lacson will not win in next year’s election.

He will suffer the same fate that he had when he ran and lost in 2004 to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Some analysts even said that had Lacson not run, Fernando Poe, Jr. would have won notwithstanding the Hello Garci scandal.

Anyway, that is history now.

Today, the reality is that Lacson is on the tail-end of recent surveys among presidential candidates. In the SWS survey conducted Oct. 21-23, 2021 Lacson got a measly 5 percent of the respondents. In that survey, former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos got 47 percent, followed by Vice President Leni Robredo with 18 percent, Mayor Isko Domagoso with 13 percent and Manny Pacquiao with 9 percent.

In the Publicus Asia survey conducted from Nov. 16-18, 2021, Lacson also got the lowest score with 2.9 percent, lower than Pacquiao’s 3 percent, Isko’s 6.9 percent, Robredo’s 15.4 percent and Marcos’ 56.7 percent.

Another drawback of Lacson is that he and Vicente Sotto III are running not in tandem under a common polit-

in the future. But with a year as challenging as 2021, it would be easy for us to be fixated on its adversities and challenges and forget about our success and accomplishments. The value in the lessons of the past is not only to be found in learning what needs to be done better, but also in understanding what we are able to do best. The last year may have been difficult, but it should not distract us from taking the chances of things becoming better this year and for us to take the opportunity to be fearless and faithful.

We begin this year worried about many unknowns.

The Bible speaks of a sign, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel” (which means, God with us) (Matt 1:23). By giving birth to God in the flesh, Mary presents a simple yet profound image of God’s abiding presence. In Christ, we see God walking as we walk. Hungry as we hunger, tired as we tire, God healing human illness with a touch. So there is nothing in our frail human experience, that Christ has not experienced himself. In embracing our human nature, God instills courage into our hopeless hearts, saving us not only sin but also from fear.

We may not know what the year 2022 holds for us, we may not even know the way into the year. But in Mary we receive the assurance that God will always be with us. Confronted by our own fears, God invites us to see in Mary and her motherhood his desire to be part of our lowly human condition.

In her fearlessness, Mary consented to God’s will to become what we are so we might become more like him. In her faithfulness, Mary exemplified the challenge to love God and others every day, as a mother would care for her own child.

We may begin this year worried about the many unknowns – about what is going to happen to the economy? When will our children be back in school? How will our healthcare system cope with the growing number of infections? Will this coronavirus pandemic ever end? What does the upcoming elections mean to us as a nation?

It may be natural for us to be afraid and worried at times – but following the example of Mary, we are not a people of fear. We are a people of faith and hope and we need to express in our lives what we believe in our hearts – our faith in the goodness of God and the hope that we continue to hold each other against all odds.

A happy and hopeful New Year, everyone!

ical party which is what is needed as a team. Initially it was announced that the two would run under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) of which Sotto is the chairman. All of a sudden Lacson announced that he would run under the Partido Reporma of Gen. Renato de Villa which he resuscitated and of which he now president.

Now that Robredo is way ahead of him in surveys, Lacson, as an officer and a gentleman, should give way to Robredo.

Because of this weird combination, it is no wonder that Lacson and Sotto are drawing thin crowds whenever they campaign. In his home province of Cavite, Lacson may even lose because the province is controlled by the Senator Bong Revilla who is campaigning for the BBM-Sara team. Lacson and Sotto are now mostly campaigning through social media with virtual meetings held with local officials. This is the most ineffective way of securing voters’ support.

Also, in August this year, Lacson told Robredo that a sure-fire formula to unify the opposition would be for both of them to run and whoever would lag behind in surveys would withdraw to give way to the other. Now that Robredo is way ahead of him in surveys, Lacson, as an officer and a gentleman,

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EDITORIAL

Why Lacson should quit now EvEryman

MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2022

Another bumpy ride

T

HIS time last week, we had just celebrated Christmas and looked forward to the promise of the coming year. We pondered the lessons of a difficult year and hoped that 2022 would be kinder, less traumatic, and more peaceful.

With horror, however, we saw how the number of fresh COVID-19 cases doubled, or nearly doubled, every day in the past week. As a response, the government is bringing us back to Alert Level 3, with its attendant guidelines and regulations. Once again we read about hospitals being stretched anew with patients sickened by the virus, the Omicron variant looming large.

A l l o f a s u d d e n o u r p l a n s f or fu rt h e r re o p e n i n g t h e e c o nom y, h o l d i n g fa c e -t o -fa c e c l a sse s a n d re s u m i n g o u r s o c i a l i nt e ra c t i o n s a re o n c e a g a i n on hold.

What awaits us this 2022?

It i s s o fru s t ra t i n g t o not h a v e t h e a n s w e rs n o w, a n d t o k n o w t h a t t h i s c ri s i s i s not g o i n g a w a y a n y t i m e s o o n . We we re a l l s e t t o e n t e r t h e “ n ew n o rm a l , ” wh a t e v e r t h a t i s.

No w i t a p p e a rs we a re h e a ded b a c k t o t h e “ o l d a b n o rm a l . ”

Still, even though we are fighting the same virus as we were in early 2020 when COVID-19 first became a threat to our health, livelihood and our way of life, there is a significant difference between today and two years ago.

We can only arm ourselves with lessons from the past.

T hen, we knew next t o not hi ng about our unseen enem y.

T he vi r us was a m yst er y and we di d not know how t o di s t i ngui sh bet ween sci ence and specul at i on. We act ed out of f ear of ever yt hi ng and l i m i t ed al l our act i ons, i n a vai n at t em pt t o pr ot ect our sel ves f r om possi bl e exposur e. Regul at i ons wer e i l l advi sed and changed f r om t i m e t o t i m e, as

our l eader s off er ed conf l i cti ng ver si ons of t hei r m et hods of cont ai ni ng t he spr ead of t he vi r us.

We have seen sickness, death, loss, desperation, but also arrogance, entitlement, ineptitude.

Today, nearly two years hence, we should know better.

We know which protocols are more effective than others. We don’t need to shun economic activity altogether but we need to know the conditions in which the virus is more likely to spread. We more or less know what to do when family members start exhibiting symptoms, and how we can boost our immunity. Almost 50 million Filipinos, after all, have been vaccinated.

This year is also an election year. May we see this not just a routine democratic exercise but as a make-or-break opportunity to install leaders who would neither flounder not panic, but who will be guided by science and good sense as we wiggle our way out of this pandemic. Which we will, for certain.

The year ahead seems far from easy. Let’s brace ourselves for it, and do so smartly.

A digital mindset for 2022

A NEW year is always a time of retrospection and hope that better times are ahead. The lower alert levels opened a few weeks of respite from the restrictive, but necessary, safety protocols that after two long years have left deep economic scars that we must heal while in a still uncertain environment in this evolving battle against the mutating pestilence of COVID 19.

Thought leaders from the academe, industry, and government see that recovering from the impact of these crisis-ridden years will be a problem for the country’s ecosystems. For us consumers, the road to recovery will not be that smooth as bureaucratic barriers to systemic transformations toward a more sustainable, inclusive, and holistic resilience will need enlightened and highly competent leaders to overcome the resistance to disruptive policy reforms and strategic thinking.

Though yet another alarming surge of new infections were recorded in the last few days that health authorities suspect is already from the most virulent Omicron variant and the National Capital Region now regressing to Alert Level 3, there is still a sense of cautious optimism that we should – being survivors of the world’s longest and most stringent lockdowns – be able to manage this new threat without resorting to another economic shutdown.

We really have no choice but to live and work in pandemic conditions. With digital technologies, we can.

Economic continuity and recovery are critical to all sectors and for this, digital transformation is now indispensable. This, I believe, is the biggest game changer effected by the pandemic. In an October 2021 Stratbase-commissioned Social Weather Stations

should give way to Robredo.

Perhaps with Lacson’s withdrawal, the other candidates may realize that they too are not going to win and would decide to rally behind Robredo who is the only candidate who can possibly thwart another Marcos as our next president.

The famous Chinese general and war

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

survey, almost nine in ten Filipinos (89%) agreed that “the benefits of digital technology such as strong cell phone signals, fast e-banking and social media can greatly help create jobs and businesses.” Ninety-two percent of respondents nationwide say the government should build, upgrade, and extensively expand the country’s digital infrastructure to improve speed, reliability, and access to the internet nationwide.

Can we manage this new threat without resorting to an economic shutdown?

Cloud-based digital technologies are the default communications and productivity tools of the new digital world. Archaic bureaucracies with old linear analog processes and policies must now be replaced with the more dynamic and light speed efficiency and transparency of digital technologies – characteristics that boost productivity and even curb corrupt practices.

While the government is still developing its ICT capacity and talent, the private sector is a ready partner for technology and expertise. They are actually taking the lead in investing and developing innovative digital services to boost a growing digital marketplace and even venture into becoming major global players.

But before this exciting potential can happen, there are several digital readiness issues that must be prioritized as foundational requisites to be competitive in a digital economy. There is an apparent lack of appreciation on the side of government policy makers of the complexity and the magnitude of investments required to develop and sustain a network of digital infrastructure to support convergent digital services we access through our devices.

The nominal budget allocated for the National Broadband Plan is a disap-

tactician Sun Tzu once said that “the greatest victory is one which requires no battle.”

By now, Lacson should realize that being president of this country is not his destiny. But he will still be “victorious” if he realizes this sad reality and withdraws.

After three years, he can run again as

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

pointing example.

Furthermore, the extensive destruction of power and energy, road, and telecommunications networks by super typhoon Odette highlighted the interlinked relationship of these three critical utilities. The total paralysis which delayed rescue and relief operations will definitely affect the pace of recovery in the devastated areas.

This calls for more aligned action on the part of government and the private players to close the gaps in disaster protocols, quick response capability, and a strategic plan to rebuild networks that can withstand Signal #4 torrents.

Though primarily from the private telcos, heavy investments to expand and upgrade digital infrastructures must be complemented by a competent workforce that have the matching skills for the digitalized operations of industries. Here is where the educational institutions must keep their training programs at pace with fast-evolving digital technologies.

Coming out of the holidays, I hope that we will be able to avert the further spread of the Omicron variant which is a sad dampener on what should be a hopeful spirit of the New Year. Otherwise, with Odette calamity zones far from recovering, this will be a back to back disaster and a bleak start for 2022.

Being an election year, expect to be bombarded by campaign narratives from politicians competing for your vote to install them into power. There will be varying versions of solutions to the country’s problems that will be mouthed in well-rehearsed speeches.

My bias will be for leaders who understand how technology can be installed as a tool for good governance and economic recovery. A digital mindset, if you may, that will champion the country’s digital transformation and will nurture symbiotic linkages that will harness the private sector as the driver of investments, innovation, jobs, sustainable growth, and competitiveness on a global scale.

senator; he would be a sure winner and would even be a topnotcher. Perhaps, it is his destiny to be a perpetual critic and fiscalizer of any administration.

Alito L. Malinao is the former news editor of this paper. He is the author of the textbook, “Journalism for Filipinos.”

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares

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

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World

MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

France to ease curbs despite surge

F

RANCE announced an easing of COVID restrictions from Monday and Britain’s health minister said curbs were an “absolute last resort,” as governments face tough choices between controlling the virus and keeping economies open.

Coronavirus cases have surged globally in recent weeks, fueled by the emergence of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, and the pandemic dampened New Year’s celebrations yet again.

Europe crossed 100 million known cases on Saturday, and governments there are keen to prevent healthcare systems from becoming overwhelmed by COVID-19 while also avoiding punishing restrictions.

Fully vaccinated people in France who test positive will only have to isolate for seven days, and can leave quarantine after five days if they show a negative test.

The change in rules should allow a

“benefit-risk balance aimed at ensuring the virus is controlled while maintaining socio-economic life,” the French health ministry said.

According to an AFP tally of official figures, 17 out of 52 countries or territories in Europe beat their previous record of most cases in a single week.

The countries with the highest ratio of infections per 100,000 inhabitants in the world were all in Europe too, with Denmark showing the worst figure of 2,045.

However, some studies have sparked hope that Omicron does not cause COVID as severe as the Delta variant, with

some governments factoring that into their decisions to ease curbs.

But the World Health Organization has warned of trying times ahead, saying Omicron could lead to “a tsunami of cases” because of its high transmissibility.

The virus surges dampened New Year’s celebrations around the world, with events cancelled and tens of millions spending the holidays under some form of restrictions.

The British government, which is responsible for health policies in England only, has put in place some precautions but so far refused to curb socialising and large events despite record case numbers last week.

It has pointed to the less dramatic rise in hospitalisations compared with case numbers as justification.

“Curbs on our freedom must be an absolute last resort and the British people rightly expect us to do everything in our power to avert them,” Health Secretary Sajid Javid

wrote in the Daily Mail newspaper.

“I’ve been determined that we must give ourselves the best chance of living alongside the virus,” he added, noting the “enormous health, social and economic costs of lockdowns.”

Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have all rolled out new rules since Christmas limiting gatherings.

Despite virus concerns, populations in many parts of the world have grown increasingly weary of restrictions, sparking regular protests and defiance in some countries.

Dutch police on Saturday broke up a rave in breach of COVID rules that was attended by hundreds in a disused factory, local media reported.

Dozens of police officers entered the makeshift venue in the central town of Rijswijk with hundreds more mobilized to shepherd people away, NOS television said. AFP

IN BRIEF Nine killed in shootout in Iran’s southeast town IRAN’s Revolutionary Guards said they killed six “armed bandits” in a shootout in the country’s southeast that also left three of its members dead.

The latest clashes in Sistan-Baluchistan broke out around a hideout of the militants near a village in the center of the province, the paramilitary force said late Saturday on its Sepah News website.

“Six bandits were killed and five others wounded,” it said, while three members of the force also died. No arrests were announced.

On Friday, the Guards said they “targeted and killed the perpetrators” behind an attack that left two of their members dead on December 25 in the same province.

Sistan-Baluchistan lies on the border with Pakistan and Afghanistan and is a flashpoint of clashes with smuggling gangs as well as separatists from the Baluchi minority or extremist militant groups.

On November 18, three policemen, including a colonel, were killed and six wounded in fighting with an armed group in an area bordering Sistan-Baluchistan.

AFP

US seeks new 5G delay over plane interference ROMANTIC SILHOUETTE. A

couple kisses near the Pyramid in the Louvre Museum square, lit up in blue to mark the French presidency of the European in Paris.

France took over the rotating presidency of the EU on January 1, 2022. AFP

A year after Capitol siege, US democracy still faces challenges ONE year after supporters of Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol and shut down Congress, Americans still await a reckoning on the unprecedented challenge to the country’s democracy.

Was it a simple protest-turned-riot? An insurrection? A coup attempt plotted by Trump?

Videos from January 6, 2021 bear witness to the violence wrought in the former president’s name.

Attackers are seen beating security officers with iron bars and clubs.

A policeman is crushed in a doorway, howling in pain.

Rioters clad in assault gear chant “Hang Mike Pence,” while the vice president and Democratic and Republican

lawmakers flee. A woman is fatally shot in a Capitol hallway.

Americans were stunned by the hours-long assault, and so was much of the world, accustomed to seeing the United States as a model of stable democracy.

One year later, the brazen attempt to prevent Democrat Joe Biden from taking office after his victory in the November 2020 presidential election needs an accounting.

“Not even during the Civil War did insurrectionists breach our Capitol, the citadel of our democracy,” Biden said in July.

“This was not dissent. It was disorder. It posed an existential crisis and a test of whether our democracy could

survive.”

A year later, more than 700 people involved in the January 6 attack have been charged, for assaulting law enforcement officers and breaking into and desecrating the halls of Congress.

Investigations have shown a concerted effort by Trump and his allies to prevent Pence from leading Congress in certifying Biden as the lawfully elected president.

The looming question is: how are the attack and Trump’s effort linked?

A special committee of the House of Representatives is investigating, but the deeper they get, the more sensitive it becomes. AFP

Fire breaks out at South African parliament office in Cape Town A MAJOR fire broke out at South Africa’s seat of parliament in Cape Town early Sunday, sending a thick column of smoke into the sky and threatening the National Assembly building.

The fire was believed to have started in one of the older buildings in the parliament precinct, leading to a security cordon nearby the cathedral where anti-apartheid icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu was buried just hours before.

“The roof has caught fire and the National Assembly building is also on fire,” a spokesman for the city’s emergency services told AFP, requesting reinforcements at the scene.

“The fire is not under control and cracks in the walls of the building have been reported,” he added.

No one was believed to have been harmed and the cause of the blaze was not yet known.

Emergency services said that the “fire is currently on the third floor – initial reports indi-

READY FOR DISTRIBUTION. Aid donated by a Kuwaiti charitable organization is lined up to be distributed to internally displaced Yemenis on the outskirts of the northeastern city of Ma’rib, the last stronghold of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government in the north. Yemen has been wracked by civil war since 2014, pitting the government, which is supported by a Saudi-led coalition, against the Iran backed Huthis. AFP

5 dead, 21 hurt in Russia bus accident FIVE people were killed and 21 were injured in a bus accident south of Moscow in the early hours of Sunday, Russian authorities said.

Russia’s Federal Road Traffic Inspection agency said the accident took place at around 5:45 am local time (0245 GMT) in the Ryazan region.

“As a result of the accident five people died. 21 were injured,” the agency said on Telegram, adding that two of the injured were under-age.

It said the injuries were of “various severity.”

The agency said the bus could have hit a pillar by a railroad bridge.

The accident took place on a highway near the village of Voslebovo around 270 kilometers (170 miles) south of Moscow, the agency said.

There were a total of 49 passengers onboard, according to authorities.

Police said it had opened a criminal case on violations of traffic rules. AFP

SEEING DOUBLE.

A seagull casts a shadow as it flies over the waters of river Yamuna in New Delhi on January 2, 2022.

AFP

cate it started in the office space and is spreading toward the gymnasium.”

The fire broke out in a former parliament building at around 0300 GMT on Sunday.

Flames and smoke were visible above the building in the early morning, according to AFP journalists at the scene.

Concerned Cape Town residents quickly shared pictures of the fire on Twitter.

Former Cape Town mayor and current minister Patricia de Lille told reporters at the scene that the “actual National assembly is still safe.”

“Fire Service has the situation under control,” she added.

Firefighter reinforcements arrived at the scene, using a crane to spray water on the flames.

Emergency services feared the fire could spread swiftly through the old rooms, which are decorated with thick carpets and curtains. AFP

US AUTHORITIES have asked telecom operators AT&T and Verizon to delay for up to two weeks their already postponed rollout of 5G networks amid uncertainty about interference with vital flight safety equipment.

The two companies said Saturday they are reviewing the request.

The US rollout of the high-speed mobile broadband technology had been set for December 5, but was delayed to January 5 after aerospace giants Airbus and Boeing raised concerns about potential interference with the devices planes use to measure altitude.

US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the head of the Federal Aviation Administration, Steve Dickson, asked for the latest delay in a letter sent Friday to AT&T and Verizon, two of the country’s biggest telecom operators.

The US letter asked the companies to “continue to pause introducing commercial C-Band service” – the frequency range used for 5G – “for an additional short period of no more than two weeks beyond the currently scheduled deployment date of January 5.”

Asked by AFP for comment, Verizon spokesman Rich Young replied, “We’ve received the government’s letter after 6 pm on New Year’s Eve. We’re in the process of reviewing it.”

AT&T also said it was reviewing the government request.

In the letter, the US officials assure the companies that 5G service will be able to begin “as planned in January with certain exceptions around priority airports.”

The officials say their priority has been “to protect flight safety, while ensuring that 5G deployment and aviation operations can co-exist.” AFP

US removes Mali, Ethiopia, Guinea from trade accord PRESIDENT Joe Biden’s administration announced on Saturday that it had excluded Ethiopia, Mali and Guinea from a US-Africa trade agreement, saying the actions of the three governments violated its principles.

“The United States today terminated Ethiopia, Mali and Guinea from the AGOA trade preference program due to actions taken by each of their governments in violation of the AGOA Statute,” the US Trade Representative (USTR) said in a statement.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was put in place in 2000 under the administration of former president Bill Clinton to facilitate and regulate trade between the United States and Africa.

But the United States is “deeply concerned by the unconstitutional change in governments in both Guinea and Mali,” the statement said.

It also voiced concern about “gross violations of internationally recognized human rights being perpetrated by the government of Ethiopia and other parties amid the widening conflict in northern Ethiopia.”

“Each country has clear benchmarks for a pathway toward reinstatement and the administration will work with their governments to achieve that objective,” the USTR said.

Under the AGOA agreement, thousands of African products can benefit from reduced import taxes, subject to conditions being met regarding human rights, good governance and worker protection, as well as not applying a customs ban on American products on their territory.

By 2020, 38 countries were eligible for AGOA, according to the USTR website The agreement was modernized in 2015 by the US Congress, which also extended the programme until 2025. AFP

Business

B3

MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks likely to move sideways this week TOP GAINERS S

By Jenniffer B. Austria

HARE prices at the Philippine Stock Exchange are expected to move sideways at the start of the trading week in 2022, as Metro Manila was placed under more stringent quarantine measures following the surge in new COVID-19 cases.

Metro Manila was declared under Alert Level 3 from Jan. 3 to 15 after the Department of Health confirmed the first local Omicron variant transmission.

Analysts said investors could again

turn cautious as the continued rise in COVID-19 cases icould hurt the recovery of the domestic economy.

Philippine Stock Exchange president and chief executive Ramon Monzon said he is hopeful that domestic retail investors would remain active this year as more companies are expected to tap the equities market for their funding requirements.

Monzon said he was also anticipating the gradual return of foreign investors in the local stock market.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, closed lower by 0.82 percent last week to end the year at 7,122, while the broader all-share index dropped 0.11 percent to 3,816.12.

The holding firms sub-index went down 2.38 percent, while the five other sectoral indices ended in green led by

mining and oil which rose by 4.1 percent; property by 0.87 percent; services by 0.34 percent; industrial by 0.18 percent; and financials by 0.16 percent.

Foreign investors turned into net buyers last week week by P704 million, even as the average daily turnover was thin at P4.8 billion.

Top gainers last week were Apex Mining Co. Inc. which climbed by 16.7 percent to P1.61; Solar Philippines Nueva Ecija Corp., which jumped 11.3 percent to P1.28; and Philex Mining Corp., which advanced 11.2 percent to P5.45.

Meanwhile, heavy losers included GT Capital Holdings Inc., which declined by 5.3 percent to P540; Ayala Corp., which went down by 4.6 percent to P831; and Aboitiz Power Corp., which dropped 3.8 percent to P29.70.

Global stock markets also closed

lower Friday, the final trading session of 2021―a year of strong gains overall as economies recovered despite ongoing restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

On Wall Street, the broad-based S&P 500 had its best December in over a decade, and scored a third straight year of double-digit gains with a 27.1-percent jump.

The index notched records 70 times this year, “second only to 1954,” said analyst Sam Stovall. “2021 was a very good year.”

The benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average won 18.7 percent, while highflying tech stocks pushed the Nasdaq up 21.4 percent.

London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index fell 0.3 percent in a shortened trading session ahead of the New Year, posting an increase of 14 percent for the year. AFP

More than 2,700 flights in the US canceled on Jan. 1 WASHINGTON, United States― Air travel continued to be severely disrupted in the United States on Saturday, with bad weather in parts of the country adding to the impact of a massive spike in COVID-19 infections fuelled by the Omicron variant.

The United States had 2,723 cancelled flights, more than half of the 4,698 cancelled worldwide, around 11:00 p.m. (0400 GMT Sunday), according to tracking website FlightAware.

In addition, 5,993 domestic flights were delayed on Saturday, out of a total of 11.043 worldwide for the day.

The worst affected US airline was SkyWest, which had to cancel 23 percent of its flight schedule, according to the site.

In the United States, airports in Chicago were particularly hardhit because of bad weather, with a snowstorm expected in the area on Saturday afternoon and into the night.

The global air travel industry is still reeling from the highly contagious Omicron variant.

Many pilots, flight attendants and other staff are absent from work after contracting Covid-19, or because they are quarantining after coming in contact with someone who has the infection.

Some 7,500 flights were cancelled by airlines worldwide over the Christmas weekend. AFP

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

APX AB BCOR CLI FJP JOH MVC MA PRC SLF

LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1.61 6.05 7 3 2.6 5.45 4.28 0.011 7.8 2788

0.16 0.45 0.6 0.22 0.22 0.56 0.48 0.0011 2.05 288

11.03% 8.04% 9.37% 7.91% 9.24% 11.45% 12.63% 11.11% 35.65% 11.52%

TOP LOSERS

In this file photo taken on Dec. 27, 2021 a man pushes his luggage after picking it up at the baggage carrousel after landing at Ronald Reagan International Airport in Washington, DC. Air travel continued to be severely disrupted in the United States on Jan. 1, 2022, with bad weather in parts of the country adding to the impact of a massive spike in COVID-19 infections fueled by the Omicron variant. AFP

EU moves to label nuclear, natural gas energy as ‘green’ BRUSSELS, Belgium―The European Union is planning to label energy from nuclear power and natural gas as “green” sources for investment despite internal disagreement over whether they truly qualify as sustainable options.

The proposal, seen by AFP on Saturday, aims to support the 27-nation bloc’s shift towards a carbon-neutral future and gild its credentials as a global standardsetter for fighting climate change.

But the fact the European Commission quietly distributed the text to member states late Friday, in the final hours of 2021 after the much-delayed document had been twice promised earlier in the year, highlighted the rocky road to draft it.

If a majority of member states back it, it will become EU law, coming into effect from 2023.

The commission confirmed on Sat-

The long decline: mass migration sheds population of Balkan nation This photograph taken in Valandovo on Dec. 20, 2021 shows a pedestrian walking in a street of the North Macedonian town of Valandovo, from where young people are fleeing in large numbers hoping to find a better life abroad. Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia and independence in 1991, North Macedonia has been clobbered for decades by abysmal economic growth and a lack of investment. AFP

VALANDOVO, North Macedonia— Abandoned shops and mostly empty streets offer few signs of life in North Macedonia’s Valandovo, where young people are fleeing in large numbers hoping to find a better life abroad.

Like much of this impoverished corner of southeastern Europe, this tiny Balkan nation is sitting on a demographic time bomb fueled by an aging population, sinking birth rate and mass migration.

North Macedonia has shed 10 percent of its population in the last 20 years. Around 600,000 Macedonian citizens now live abroad, according to World Bank and government data.

Abysmal economic growth and a lack of investment have clobbered the country, now home to just 1.8 million people, in its 30 years of independence.

“If you have a little over 2.4 million citizens and more than a quarter have left, then you have to seriously be worried about what is happening,” says Apostol Simovski, director of the country’s statistics office.

Villages and small towns such as Valandovo, 146 kilometers (90 miles) from the capital, offer few jobs, pushing the ambitious and able to search elsewhere.

“The spirit of young people has been

PSEi December 31, 2021

systematically destroyed,” Pero Kostadinov, the newly elected 33-year-old mayor tells AFP. “The enthusiasm to fight and stay home has been lost.”

In Valandovo alone, nearly 90 percent of people’s income is linked to agriculture, a common denominator across North Macedonia.

“Five of my friends from our class of 20 students have already moved abroad with their families,” said Bojan Nikolov, 24, a member of the youth municipal council in Valandovo.

The anecdote offers a stark picture of where the country’s future is headed.

‘Better to slave abroad’ Initial results from North Macedonia’s most recent census conducted in September estimate that the population has declined by more than 200,000 since 2002.

Since independence and the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1991, many hoped integration into the European Union would provide a life raft and promises of a brighter future.

But North Macedonia’s path to EU membership has been repeatedly blocked, first

by Greece and later Bulgaria, ushering in fresh doubts that the country will ever join and pushing many to jump ship.

For those who stay, monthly salaries average 470 euros ($530). AFP

urday that it has started consulting with member states on the proposal where it covers nuclear and gas energy.

“The activities covered in this complementary Delegated Act would accelerate the phase out of more harmful sources, such as coal, and in moving us towards a more low-carbon greener energy mix,” it said.

It said it “considers there is a role for natural gas and nuclear as a means to facilitate the transition towards a predominantly renewable-based future”.

France has led the charge for nuclear power—its main energy source—to be included, despite robust opposition from Austria and skepticism from Germany, which is in the process of shutting all its nuclear plants.

Germany’s Environment Minister Steffi Lemke told German media group Funke on Saturday that including gas and

nuclear would be “a mistake”, arguing that atomic power “can lead to devastating environmental catastrophes”.

Austrian Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler also criticised the project, denouncing nuclear power as “an energy of the past” that was “too expensive and too slow” to combat climate change.

Fossil-reliant countries in the EU’s east and south have defended the use of natural gas, at least as a transitional source, even though it still produces significant greenhouse emissions.

“It is necessary to recognize that the fossil gas and nuclear energy sectors can contribute to the decarbonization of the Union’s economy,” the commission proposal says.

It added that, for nuclear power, appropriate measures should be put in place for radioactive waste management and disposal. AFP

LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2

MAB OPMB

0.01 0.011

-0.001 -0.001

-9.09% -8.33%

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

CAB MB ECP AEV APC SGI DMPA1 MEG

55 0.415 4.2 54.45 0.22 1.08 9.4 3.15

-5 -0.03 -0.3 -3.85 -0.015 -0.07 -0.6 -0.18

-8.33% -6.74% -6.67% -6.60% -6.38% -6.09% -6.00% -5.41%

MOST ACTIVE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

ALI TEL BDO MBT ICT SM GTCAP

VOLUME 9,961,600 184,670 2,103,610 4,646,300 1,290,250 245,380 419,700

VALUE (PHP) 357,753,675 338,516,645 259,715,280 256,559,022 255,823,657 231,930,260 229,121,155

8 9

SMPH MONDE

6,543,800 13,375,400

223,440,530 213,453,092

10

RLC

9,284,700

176,736,608

How to know your purpose in life?

“IF you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose.” -Bishop T.D. Jakes Life is full of surprises. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Our future lies in our hands, which means our future depends on our achievements and determination to reach our goals in life. A hard-working, patient and persevering person can be a millionaire in the near future if they pursue their passion as early as a child and consistently reach their adulthood stage.

It’s in the law of attraction. If you put your dreams in mind and pursue your passion, you will achieve them successfully in the future.

I have experienced different jobs, where I explore and seek my purpose in life. I have several questions in mind, “Why am I on this earth?” and “What is my pain purpose in life?” My past experiences made me realize I should use my strength to grow. I used my Civil Service Commission certificate, my honor graduate eligibility, to enter the public sector.

Not everybody is given a chance to have this exemption on the CSC exam, and it is the main requirement for you to be part of the government agency.

Life is a journey filled with unexpected miracles. While browsing the internet for the list of vacant jobs, I quickly applied for the rank-and-file position since the ad stated that work experience related to that job is not required. God is great because I only pray to get employed in a government company even though the position is clerk or a low position. Still, I’m very grateful that led and guided me to the officer position.

On the day I received the good news that I was already hired, I felt blessed and proud. Patience is indeed a virtue.

Our hardships in life often prepare us

for an extraordinary destiny. That’s why I promised myself that I would no longer resign from this job until I reached my retirement age.

God led me to be a good public servant, and now I figured out that this is my main purpose in life. My goal is to do a good deed once or twice daily without expecting any return. Helping our fellowmen makes me feel happy that with simple things, I can share happiness with other people by sharing my knowledge and kindness with them.

As a government employee, I always wanted to be part of the company with a good vision as a resilient foreign service for a strong Philippines and a mission of promoting and protecting the Philippine interests in the global community. I always wanted to be a good role model and show everyone that government agency employees are always inspired to serve and ready to accommodate in delivering an excellent service to the Filipino people.

As a good public servant, one must possess the following traits: 1. Grit: Means getting something done in government doesn’t just take good ideas. It takes tenacity and relentlessness. Excellent governance is the power to make people’s lives better, but it doesn’t mean that it is easy. Front liners experienced having irate applicants, but still, they serve them patiently to deliver their needs.

2. Optimism: Working in a government is very difficult, but it is also the most powerful institution in the country. Since it handles things that no other organization could imagine, it is a great responsibility, but it is a great power too. One should be proud of getting employed in the public sector, but that doesn’t mean that they will underestimate our fellow applicants. Practicing

SHIELA ANNE ESGANA

GREEN LIGHT to serve the people with a smile and accommodating them nicely are good qualities of an excellent public servant.

3.

Openness to learn: One of the most important qualities for a public servant is enthusiasm and a thirst for new information. To make a positive difference, public sector professionals should constantly refresh their understanding and learn to adapt to change.

4.

An ability to engage others: Whether we want to make a difference in the public sector as a nurse, judge, teacher or anything else, one must be ready to include and engage others as part of their work. Think beyond our organizational perspective and look at things from the viewpoint of others.

To find your purpose in life, always set the following phrases into your mind: 1. Believe in yourself 2. Never give up 3. Work hard 4. Stay strong 5. Stay humble 6. Be grateful always 7. Keep smiling 8. Be kind I pray that you will find your purpose in 2022! Happy New Year!

The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, DLSU. She can be reached at shiela_esgana@dlsu.edu.ph.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty and its administrators.

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

B4

MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2022

IN BRIEF

Mining firms help typhoon victims

NEARLY 12,000 households benefitted from the joint relief operation dubbed “Tabang Caraga” launched by three mining companies along with a non-government organization to help victims of Super Typhoon Odette that battered the Caraga Region and the rest of the country.

The relief operations was jointly conducted by TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc., Agata Mining Ventures Inc., Greenstone Resources Corp. and the Villar Sipag Foundation. The initiative was launched a day after Odette hit two Surigao provinces and Dinagat Islands. Employees of the three companies immediately packed and distributed rice, canned goods and noodl es for the typhoon victims.

The relief effort covered the eight barangays under Agata’s nickel mining operations, including the coastal barangays of Binuangan, Tinigbasan, Tagpangahoy and Lawigan. Also included were residents of inland barangays E. Morgado, Tagbuyacan, Colorado and La Paz. A total of 3,163 households in the area received assistance.

The operations also benefitted the host and nearby communities of Greenstone in the town of Tubod. Some 4,830 food packs were distributed to the typhoon victims while another 3,400 were given to affected households in Surigao and Dinagat Islands.

PSALM, BIR sign P517-m tax settlement THE Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. and the Bureau of Internal Revenue said over the weekend they signed a mutually advantageous global settlement of all the pending tax issues between them, consistent with the wholeof-government approach promoted by President Rodrigo Duterte.

PSALM remitted P517,707,336.81 to the BIR on Dec. 29 to end long outstanding tax cases covering taxable years 2006 up to 2016 and the various disputed tax assessments for the taxable years 2017 and 2019. BIR amicably accepted the amount offered by PSALM. “This global settlement of all the tax cases and disputed assessments marks a major accomplishment for PSALM as it resolves and ends many years of conflict between PSALM and the BIR. We fully recognize the advantage of following the whole-of-government approach to resolve pending issues with other government offices. We sincerely thank the BIR headed by Commissioner Caesar Dulay for being very fair to PSALM and for accepting our offer,” said PSALM president and chief executive Irene Besido-Garcia.

The government-to-government arrangement with the BIR ensures a clean slate for PSALM.

LandBank opens two new agri hubs STATE-RUN and Bank of the Philippines said it capped-off 2021 with the inauguration of two agri-hubs in Candaba, Pampanga and Echague, Isabela as part of its commitment to bring financial services closer to more farmers and fishers.

The LandBank Candaba Agri-Hub is expected to provide banking, lending and agrarian services to local development players, including 22,011 farmers from Candaba’s 33 barangays and the adjacent towns of San Luis, Sta. Ana and Arayat.

LandBank said that as part of its thrust of expanding touch points in key strategic areas nationwide, the newest agri-hub will complement seven branches and 50 ATMs in Pampanga province.

Meanwhile, the LandBank Echague AgriHub is the first in the province of Isabela and eighth in the country.

Opened on Dec. 29, the agri-bub provides financial and technical services, with a stronger focus on supporting more than 4,000 farmers and fisherfolk in the town of Echague and other nearby municipalities.

Business November bank lending growth quickened to 4% on rising demand

By Julito G. Rada

B

ank loans grew 4 percent in November from a year ago, faster than the 3.5-percent rise in October, driven by the more positive business outlook and wider vaccination program, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

“Outstanding loans of U/KBs [universal and commercial banks] continue to gain traction amid businesses’ optimistic economic outlook due to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and the continued rollout of vaccines. On

a month-on-month seasonally-adjusted basis, outstanding universal and commercial bank loans, net of RRPs, increased by 0.3 percent,” the BSP said in a statement.

Outstanding loans to residents, net of RRPs, went up by 4.1 percent in November from 3.7 percent in October amid the continued expansion in loans for production activities.

Outstanding loans for production activities increased by 5.3 percent in November, from 4.9 percent in October, led by the growth in loans for real estate activities (8.0 percent); information and communication (27.2 percent); financial and insurance activities (9.0 percent); manufacturing (6.7 percent); and transportation and storage (11.4 percent).

Outstanding loans to agriculture, forestry and fishing declined 8.3 percent).

Meanwhile, consumer loans to residents decreased at a slower rate of 7.1

percent in November after a 7.4-percent decline in the previous month, on improvement in credit card loans.

Outstanding loans to non-residents also increased by 0.4 percent following a decline of 3.7 percent in the previous month.

“The BSP sees enough scope to continue providing appropriate policy support in order to sustain the recovery in credit activity. Looking ahead, the BSP aims to keep a patient hand on its monetary tools to allow the economic recovery to gain stronger traction, in line with its price and financial stability mandates,” it said.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said the growth of bank lending in the coming months could continue to pick up as the country shifts towards granular lockdowns, away from large scale lockdowns in the city/provincial/regional levels in the past.

PRICE INSPECTION. The Department of Trade and Industry issues violation notices to erring retailers as it intensifies its price monitoring operations to apprehend price freeze violators in typhoon-affected regions. The department says it has issued 69 show cause orders and letters of inquiry and confiscated overpriced construction and hardware supplies, such as those in Surigao del Norte. The campaign covered overpriced consumer goods, including power generator sets, construction materials and fuel products in typhoon-hit areas.

DTI issues notices to price-freeze violators in typhoon-hit provinces

By Othel V. Campos THE Department of Trade and Industry said over the weekend it issued 69 violation notices to erring retailers as it intensified price monitoring operations to apprehend price freeze violators in typhoon-affected regions.

The DTI said it confiscated overpriced construction and hardware supplies, mostly in Surigao del Norte province.

It said the campaign covered overpriced consumer goods, including power generator sets, construction materials and fuel products in typhoon-hit areas.

“We reiterate our strong warning against the profiteers. Our DTI regional teams and

the Consumer Protection Group, in collaboration with the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, have been relentless in this drive to catch profiteers and hoarders who are taking advantage of our countrymen who are already suffering from the damages caused by typhoon Odette. We will not hesitate to apprehend violators,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

President Rodrigo Duterte, in a public address on Dec. 27, warned retailers that he would not hesitate to arrest hoarders and profiteers as he directed concerned agencies to a stop these activities.

Meanwhile, the DTI said it started the distribution of livelihood kits or “kabu-

hayan” packages to typhoon-affected micro entrepreneurs. Over 1,000 micro business owners from the provinces of Siargao, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Bohol, Cebu, Southern Leyte, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Guimaras and Iloilo benefited from the livelihood program.

The DTI said it would release the initial dole-out fund of P8 million to bring government services to the typhoon victims as soon as possible.

This is part of the estimated P150-million livelihood fund for 2,000 beneficiaries per typhoon-affected province, with each beneficiary entitled up to P10,000 worth of kabuhayan package.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Friday, December 31, 2021

-211.93 PTS. 7,122.63

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES DECLINES

623,430,439 52,851 5,384,074,574.05 73 111

UNCHANGED

49

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.7740

Japan

Yen

0.008691

0.4413

UK

Pound

1.349800

68.5347

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128217

6.5101

Switzerland

Franc

1.094811

55.5879

Canada

Dollar

0.784929

39.8540

Singapore

Dollar

0.739645

37.5547

Australia

Dollar

0.724900

36.8061

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652731

134.6898

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266397

13.5260

Brunei

Dollar

0.736920

37.4164

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.029949

1.5206

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.8251

Euro

Euro

1.132700

57.5117

Korea

Won

0.000841

0.0427

China

Yuan

0.156910

7.9669

India

Rupee

0.013441

0.6825

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.239521

12.1614

New Zealand

Dollar

0.682900

34.6736

Taiwan

Dollar

0.036072

1.8315 Source: BSP

PAL prepares for long-term growth after Chapter 11 exit

By Darwin G. Amojelar PHILIPPINE Airlines Inc. said over the weekend it is well-positioned for long-term growth after it emerged from voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings.

PAL said it successfully completed the financial restructuring within four months, in contrast to other airlines that remained in the Chapter 11 process more than a year after filing in 2020.

The airline credits the strong support of its creditors and shareholders, the cooperation of its industry partners and the collective efforts of PAL employees around the world who sustained flights on multiple international and domestic routes throughout the restructuring period.

PAL said it streamlined operations with a reorganized fleet and is now better capitalized for future growth.

The company’s plan of reorganization, approved by the US restructuring court on Dec. 17, 2021, provides for over $2 billion in permanent balance sheet reductions from creditors, improvements in PAL’s critical operational agreements and additional liquidity including a $505-million investment in long-term equity and debt financing from PAL’s majority shareholder.

The airline’s consensual restructuring plan was accepted by 100 percent of the votes cast by its primary aircraft lessors and lenders, original equipment manufacturers and maintenance, repair and overhaul service providers and certain funded debt lenders.

“Philippine Airlines stands ready to help grow back the Philippines’ local and international air travel markets in ways that renew the tourism industry, serve the needs of global citizens including overseas Filipinos, and contribute actively to the recovery of the Philippine economy,” said PAL director Lucio Tan III, quoting PAL chairman and chief executive Dr. Lucio Tan.

Filinvest Land’s REIT unit to infuse 8 buildings, expand lease area by 55%

DIVINA LAW’S DONATION. Divina

Law Office led by founding partner Nilo Divina (fourth from left) turns over P250,000 to the Alagang Kapatid Foundation’s Tuloy Pa Rin Ang Pasko Movement. Cignal and TV5 president Robert Galang, AKF chief officer Pierre Buhay and AKF executive director Menchie Silvestre receive the check on the foundation’s behalf. Atty.

Divina expresses hope that this will help in the initiatives of the Tuloy Pa Rin Ang Pasko Movement, as he says the law firms shares the foundation’s goal to spread ‘good vibes’ and Christmas cheer to those affected by the recent typhoon.

By Jenniffer B. Austria FILINVEST REIT Corp., the real estate investment trust company of Filinvest Land Inc., said over the weekend it plans to infuse eight more buildings with estimated value of P24 billion in its office leasing portfolio.

FILRT said in a disclosure to stock exchange said FREIT Fund Managers Inc. listed eight buildings, with gross leasable space of 164,318 square meters for possible infusion from 2022 to 2024.

This will increase FILRT’s GLA of 301,362 sq. m. to 465,680 sq. m. in GLA by 2024, or an increase of 55 percent over the three-year period.

It said among the buildings for asset infusion are Filinvest Cyberzon Cebu Tower 2, a 21-story Grade A, PEZA-accredited office building with 28,296 sq. m. of GLA and Filinvest Axis

Tower Two, a 25-story PEZA-accredited office building, with 39,340 sq. m. of office GLA and 1,195 sq. m. of retail GLA in Northgate Cyberzon Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

These two properties are owned by FLI. FFMI also identified six other office buildings in Clark Freeport, Pampanga; Makati; and Pasay with total GLA of 94,811 sq. m.

FILRT said funding for the planned asset infusion or acquisition would be a mix of debt and equity.

It said the asset infusion from FLI would likely be conducted through an asset-forshares swap.

FILRT’s portfolio consists of 17 Grade A office buildings. Sixteen buildings are in Northgate Cyberzone in Filinvest City in Alabang, a PEZA special economic zone and IT park while another building is located in Cebu IT Park in Lahug, Cebu City.

Bureau of Customs reports P17.90b in tariff collection from 2.8m tons of imported rice as of Dec. 10 THE Bureau of Customs collected P17.9 billion in import duties from 2.8 million metric tons of rice shipments from Jan. 1 to Dec. 10 this year, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said in a report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. Guerrero said revenues from rice imports during the period came from shipments worth a combined amount of P51.37 billion.

Preliminary data showed that import duties collected from Jan. 1 to Dec. 10 grew by 21.9 percent from P14.72 billion the agency collected in the same period in 2020.

“For the monitoring of rice imports, the table shows that for the period Dec. 1 to 10, 2021, volume of rice imports grew by 487.9 percent, while revenue also increased by 475.8 percent. Cumulatively, it grew by 23.4 percent in volume and 21.9

percent in revenue,” Guerrero said in a recent Department of Finance executive committee meeting.

The agency said that from Dec. 1 to 10, 2021, rice import volumes reached 118,656 MT, up from 20,181 MT recorded in the same period in 2020.

It said that from Jan. 1 to Dec. 10, the volume of rice imports totaled 2.797 million MT, up from 2.266 million MT imported a year earlier.

Guerrero said that as a result of the continuous decline of the price of rice in the world market since May 2021, the average value of rice per MT dropped 1.7 percent to P18,532 per MT for the period Jan. 1 to Dec. 10 from P18,854 per MT a year ago.

Import duties collected from rice imports beginning March 5, 2019 go to the annual P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund as provided

under Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law. The RCEF is used to finance programs that will sharpen the competitiveness of palay growers by way of providing them easy access to fertilizer, farm machinery and equipment, high-yield seeds and cheap credit; and offering skills training programs on farm mechanization and modern farming techniques. Julito G. Rada

Sports

Bulls’ Demar makes historic consecutive buzzer beaters WASHINGTON—Chicago’s DeMar DeRozan became the first NBA player to sink game-winning buzzer beaters on back-to-back nights Saturday while Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a triple double in the reigning champions’ victory.

DeRozan’s three-pointer from the left corner at the final horn gave the Bulls a 120-119 victory at Washington and completed a 28-point performance.

“I don’t know if I’m dreaming or if it’s real right now,” DeRozan said.

“Willing to step up whenever that moment is called for and to be ready for it, that’s all I can do.”

The Bulls stretched their win streak to seven games while Milwaukee’s grew to six in a row as Antetokounmpo powered the host Bucks over New Orleans 136-113.

NBA overall leader Golden State beat Utah 123-116, snapping a sixgame Jazz win streak, but the talk was all about DeRozan.

“Dude is incredible,” Chicago’s Zach LaVine said of DeRozan after scoring a game-high 35 points. “I can’t say much more than that.”

DeRozan, whose game-ending three-pointer Friday lifted Chicago over Indiana, made two free throws with 49 seconds remaining. But Kyle Kuzma’s three-pointer with four seconds remaining gave the Wizards a 119-117 advantage, setting the stage for DeRozan’s closing heroics.

“DeMar’s shot again was unbelievable,” Bulls acting coach Chris Fleming said. “He had the presence of mind to look down and find out where his feet were to make that shot. Incredible shot.”

No other player has made back-toback game-winning shots on consecutive nights. He became the first to manage the feat in consecutive games since 1985 by Boston’s Larry Bird, who had an off day between triumphs.

DeRozan, the NBA’s top fourthquarter scorer, is hitting a career-high 37.3 percent from three-point range this season.

Greek star Antetokounmpo scored 35 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and passed off 10 assists for his second triple double of the season and the 27th of his career.

“I try to stay aggressive the whole game,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’m at my best when I’m aggressive. I can create open shots.”

Antetokounmpo hit 12-of-18 from the floor and 9-of-12 from the free throw line. He moved one shy of NBA legend Michael Jordan’s career triple double total.

“I’m so locked in and focused on what we’ve got to do, those moments go—not unnoticed, it’s a great compliment to be mentioned with those guys—but you just brush it off,” Antetokounmpo said.

“As I get older, I’ve got to live in the moment and enjoy this moment. I’ve got 27 triple doubles. It’s insane.”

Milwaukee improved to 25-13, third in the Eastern Conference behind Brooklyn and Chicago, while the Pelicans fell to 13-23.

It was the 400th career NBA victory for Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer.

At Utah, Stephen Curry scored 28 points, Andrew Wiggins added 25 and Otto Porter netted 20 to lead Golden State (28-7) over the Jazz, who fell to 26-10, still third in the league.

Harden has triple double Nikola Jokic had 24 points and 11 rebounds to lead Denver to a 124-111 victory at Houston while Eric Bledsoe scored 27 points to lead the Los Angeles Clippers over host Brooklyn 120-116.

James Harden had a triple double for Brooklyn with 34 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists while Kevin Durant added 28 points for the Nets.

At Detroit, Saddiq Bey sank a threepointer with 2.1 seconds remaining in overtime to give the host Pistons a 117116 victory over San Antonio.

The Dallas Mavericks said All-Star guard Luka Doncic, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Maxi Kleber have cleared NBA Covid-19 health and safety protocols and could return Sunday. AFP

MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2022

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DeMar DeRozan of the Chicago Bulls celebrates his game-winning triple with teammates against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. AFP

Filipino athletes to continue training under bubble setup

By Peter Atencio

T

RAINING under a bubble type of setup will have to continue for national athletes next week.

Commissioner Ramon Fernandez said this after the government raised the COVID-19 status in the National Capital Region to Alert Level 3 starting Monday.

“It’s going to be a bubble type of training setup. That was original plan,” said Fernandez, the chef de mission of the Philippine contingent to the Southeast Asian Games.

Under the guidelines of the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, the agency will not allow the staging of “contact sports, except those conducted under a bubble-type setup, as provided for under relevant guidelines adopted by the IATF, Games and Amusement Board, and Philippine Sports Commission, and approved by the LGUs

Ramon Fernandez

(local government units).”

Last November, the agency opened its doors for the training of combat sports athletes from different national sports associations.

And this will be possible in two of three sports facilities that are under the control of the PSC by January.

Training be allowed once the PSC finishes clearing numerous areas inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in the City of Manila City and the Philsports Complex in Pasig City.

Among the combat sports events that were supposed have physical training sessions are karatedo, judo,

GAP slates National Stroke Play Amateur tilt at Southwoods Legends THE country’s top amateurs return to competitive action with the holding of the National Stroke Play Amateur Championship, kicking off Jan. 4 at the Legends course of the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Carmona, Cavite.

A 116-player field -- 92 in the men’s division and 24 in the women’s side -- has been assembled for the 72hole event marking the resumption of the National Golf Association of the Philippines tournament calendar stalled the past two years by the Covid-19 health crisis.

“It’s going to be a busy schedule for our amateurs barring any more possible serious disruptions from the still existent pandemic as we have lined up events all year-round,” said Bones Floro, secretary general of the NGAP.

Though several of the men’s entries have played in the recent Fil-Am tourney, the Baguio tourney offered limited slots for the championship class and next week’s competition will feature a full-sized field now to include entries from all over the country.

Despite the handicap limit of 8 and below for the men and 12 and below for the ladies, the available slots were snapped up quick and the NGAP even had to request for additional slots from the host club just so more players will be accommodated.

“We wish to tip our hats to Manila Southwoods for giving us their full support for this much-awaited revival of tournament play. This is another showing of their time-tested commitment to talent development,”

PBA seeks government advice with NCR under Alert Level 3 THE resumption of the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup on Wednesday is in doubt.

PBA officials are still unsure of their coming schedule of games, now that Metro Manila has been placed under Alert Level 3 for two weeks starting Monday because of a rise in COVID-19 cases and the emergence of the Omicron variant.

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

The league is currently discussing matters concerning their status with government authorities.

Commissioner Willie Marcial is seeking the advise the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, the Games and Amusements Board and local government units regarding their schedule.

Marcial is expected to get clarification early this week on

the PBA’s status, after the games returned to the SMART Araneta Coliseum before a live audience last December 15.

The PBA is also supposed to return to the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay by Jan. 15 When the league reopened late this year, action was done under a closed-circuit set-up at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig. It was held in Bacolor, Pampanga as well.

said Floro.

Both men’s and women’s play will be for 72 holes. There shall be a cut-off after 36 holes, top 50 and ties for men and top 20 and ties for ladies. Ironically, the same event was the last staged by the NGAP before it was halted first due to the eruption of Taal Volcano in January 2020 then the coronavirus crisis wiped out all tournaments for the next 23 months.

Aside from the handicap limits, the NGAP and local government also required vaccination for entry not just for next week but for all its forthcoming events.

The event is part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour and is also sponsored by Huawei, MVP Sports Foundation and Manila Southwoods.

Willie Marcial

sambo, taekwondo, boxing, kickboxing and muay.

Fernandez said the agency is taking a cautious stand in many places inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and the Philsports Complex when they open it by Jan. 10.

That’s because the government is still utilizing certain areas as isolation facilities for COVID-19 patients.

As for the national training camp in Baguio, only two groups of national athletes can be accommodated.

The athletes are training for the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games in May and the Hangzhou Asian Games in September.

Daley hopes to use OBE platform to create change LONDON—British diver Tom Daley hopes he can use his status to promote change and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community after being awarded an OBE in the new year honours list.

Daley, who won gold alongside Matty Lee in the 10 metre synchronised event at the Tokyo Olympics, has been recognised for services to his sport, LGBTQ+ rights and charity.

“I’m extremely proud to be honoured with an OBE and it feels like a responsibility to make the whole Commonwealth a better place for LGBT people, for women, for people of colour,” Daley told the BBC. “In accepting this OBE, it’s now my responsibility to try and help create change, and help create this environment where anyone can be who they want, no matter where they came from.”

Daley, who is married to screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, with whom he has a son, is one of Britain’s most famous gay sportsmen.

“Accepting an OBE is one thing but accepting it and doing something with it (is another),” he added.

“I feel it’s really important to lift up all the people who feel like they’re outsiders and don’t fit in and feel like they have been ‘less than’ for so many years— to support them in being what they want to be.”

Daley is just one of a number of Olympians recognised after Team GB won 65 medals at the Games, which were delayed by a year by the coronavirus pandemic.

Swimmer Adam Peaty, who retained his 100m breaststroke title, has also been awarded an OBE after he spearheaded Britain’s best-ever Olympic performance as the team took home eight medals. AFP

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Sports

MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2022

Medvedev suffers shock ATP defeat to Humbert

NFL legend Reeves, twice a Super Bowl champ, dies

SYDNEY (AFP) -- Daniil Medvedev suffered a shock defeat in his opening match of the season against France’s Ugo Humbert Sunday at the ATP Cup, upsetting his preparations for the Australian Open.

The US Open champion is leading a Russian team in Sydney depleted by injuries and Covid-19 as they look to defend the title won against Italy last year.

But world number two Medvedev, who captured four tour-level titles in 2021, was stunned by impressive 35th-ranked Ugo Humbert on a hot Sydney day.

The Frenchman rallied from a set down to pull off a big upset 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 7-6 (7/2) in a gruelling 2hr 55min as Medvedev, red-faced from the heat, ran out of steam.

“It was very tough today, but I’m very happy,” said Humbert after one of the biggest wins of his career.

“I had some opportunities in the first set, and I just tried to stay relaxed, stay focused on what I had to do and it was a great match.”

With fifth ranked Andrey Rublev missing after contracting coronavirus at an Abu Dhabi exhibition last month, unheralded Roman Safiullin was drafted in as Russia’s second singles player.

Ranked 167, he saved 15 of 19 break points to pull off a 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over France’s Arthur Rinderknech to set the stage for Medvedev, who could be the top seed at this month’s Australian Open if defending champion Novak Djokovic fails to show up.

Djokovic has refused to confirm if he has been vaccinated against Covid-19, a requirement at the opening Grand Slam of the year, and pulled out of the ATP Cup. The Russia-France tie went to a deciding doubles rubber.

Russia are in a tough ATP Cup group that also includes hosts Australia and 2021 runner-up Italy, led by world number seven Matteo Berrettini.

They play each other in an evening tie with Berrettini facing Alex de Minaur. AFP

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic hits a return during the men’s singles semi-final match between Croatia and Serbia of the Davis Cup tennis tournament at the Madrid arena in Madrid. Djokovic has pulled out of the ATP Cup in Sydney, organizers said on December 29, 2021, amid speculation about his vaccination status and whether he will defend his Australian Open title. AFP

Novak still a question mark for Aussie Open M

ELBOURNE —Australian Open boss Craig Tiley said Sunday there was still “quite a bit to play out” on whether Novak Djokovic will defend his title in Melbourne, with a clearer picture “in the coming days”.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion has refused to confirm if he has been vaccinated against COVID-19 and withdrew from the ATP Cup in Sydney this week without giving a reason.

All participants at the opening Grand Slam of the year, which starts January 17, need to be vaccinated or have a medical exemption.

There is speculation that Djokovic has applied for one, which would be as-

sessed by an independent panel of experts and remain confidential.

Tiley said the clock was ticking.

“We’ve still got a few charter flights coming in until the end of this week and then all the players will be here,” he told the Nine Network.

“As far as the status relates to Novak, I think we’ll have a much clearer picture in the coming days otherwise it’s getting pretty late to show up and play the Australian Open.”

“There’s quite a bit to play out and I think it will play out in the coming days,” he added.

Government officials in Victoria state, which hosts the Australian Open, have been adamant for months that only vaccinated players can play the tournament.

“They’re the rules. Medical exemptions are just that -- it’s not a loophole for privileged tennis players,” the state’s Deputy Premier James Merlino said in December.

Djokovic’s arch-rival Rafael Nadal, who is also gunning for record 21st Grand Slam title, is already in Melbourne preparing after recovering from the coronavirus.

Fellow 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer is sidelined by injury. AFP

NEW YORK—Dan Reeves, the only person to appear in multiple Super Bowls as a player and a coach, has died aged 77 at his home in Atlanta, his family said on Saturday.

Reeves, who died after complications from a long illness, played eight seasons for the Dallas Cowboys from 1965-1972, helping them win the 1972 Super Bowl, and was an assistant coach on the Dallas squad that captured the 1978 Super Bowl.

He went on to be the head coach of the Denver Broncos, New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons, losing three Super Bowls with Denver and another by guiding Atlanta in the 1999 Super Bowl.

In all, Reeves took part in the NFL championship spectacle nine times, twice as a Dallas running back, four times as a coach and three as a Dallas assistant coach.

“His legacy will continue through his many friends, players and fans as well as the rest of the NFL community,” the Reeves family said in a statement.

Reeves guided the Broncos for 12 seasons from 1981-1992, masterminding John Elway’s growth into an NFL star quarterback.

“The football world lost a heckuva coach and a man today in Dan Reeves,” Elway said in a statement.

“I am grateful for Dan and know that his legacy in this game will continue to live on.”

Reeves coached the Giants from 1993-1996 and Atlanta from 19972003, compiling an NFL record of 190-165 with two drawn in 23 seasons as an NFL head coach. His teams reached the playoffs nine times.

“He made an indelible mark on the league and all the people he played with, coached and worked alongside,” Giants owner John Mara said. “He was one of the finest men I’ve ever been around in this business.”

He guided the Falcons to their first Super Bowl, where they lost to Elway and the Broncos. AFP

Raducanu honored by British queen LONDON—Emma Raducanu was named in Britain’s New Year Honors list on Friday—alongside a clutch of Olympic stars—in recognition of her stunning breakthrough victory at the US Open.

Cyclists Jason and Laura Kenny —who have won 12 Olympic gold medals between them—received a knighthood and damehood and there was recognition for Tokyo gold medallists Tom Daley, Adam Peaty and Max Whitlock.

The honors list recognizes outstanding achievements in various fields including showbusiness, sport and politics, as well as the contributions of people acr oss society.

A number of medical chiefs leading Britain’s battle against coronavirus have also been given awards in the latest list.

Raducanu, who became the first British woman to win a Grand Slam since Virginia Wade in 1977, has

been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

“It makes me immensely proud and grateful to be listed to receive an MBE from Her Majesty the Queen,” said the now 19-year-old Raducanu, who did not drop a set at Flushing Meadows on her run to the title.

“This year has been full of amazing surprises for me so to end 2021 with this appointment is very special.”

Jason Kenny has received a knighthood after becoming Britain’s most decorated Olympian of all time at the Tokyo Games, winning his ninth medal—and seventh gold—on the final day.

His wife, Laura Kenny, Britain’s most successful female Olympian, has been given a damehood—the female equivalent of a knighthood.

British Cycling’s performance director, Stephen Park, who himself becomes a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire), praised

the Kennys for their achievements.

“Not only are Jason and Laura true masters of their craft, they are also wonderful teammates, role models and ambassadors for our sport,” he said.

Diving star Daley, who won his first Olympic gold at his fourth Games, was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for services to diving, LGBTQ rights and charity.

Gymnast Whitlock and swimmer Peaty, both of whom have won three Olympic gold medals, also received OBEs. Seven-time Paralympic wheelchair racing champion Hannah Cockroft was made an OBE after winning two golds in Tokyo.

Chelsea Women manager Emma Hayes has been awarded an OBE after helping the Blues retain their Women’s Super League title in 2021 and reach the Champions League final. AFP

Emma Raducanu

Indonesia miffed after 4 ruled out in AFF loss to Thailand

Indonesia’s Asnawi Mangkualam Bahar (center) receives a yellow card during the second leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 football final match between Thailand and Indonesia at the National Stadium in Singapore. AFP

SINGAPORE—Indonesia head coach Shin Tae-Yong expressed disappointment after four of his players were ruled out of the second leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup final loss against Thailand on Saturday for breaching the competition’s Covid-19 protocols.

Rizky Ridho Ramadhani, Elkan Baggott, Victor Igbonefo and Rizky Dwi Febrianto were reported to have left their hotel for up to two hours in breach of the strict arrangements put in place for players and team officials for the duration of the month-long tournament in Singapore.

Following an investigation by an Asean Football Federation (AFF) disciplinary committee, it was decided the players had failed to follow controlled rules and were barred from involvement in the match.

“We host events like the Suzuki Cup 2020 under strict safe management measures to protect the participants of the tournament and the community,” said Singapore Sport Institute chief Su

Chun Wei. “We had emphasised this to all teams competing in the Suzuki Cup 2020 and worked hard to provide a safe environment for the football players and other participants.

“The four players breached the regulations and put others’ safety at risk. We will therefore be taking action against them.”

Speaking after his side drew 2-2 with Thailand on Saturday to lose the final 6-2 on aggregate, Shin lamented the absence of the quartet and highlighted organisational issues which affected his team’s preparation for the final.

“I have to thank the Singapore government, the Football Association of Singapore and Asean Football Federation for allowing us to have this tournament in Singapore in the midst of this Covid pandemic. However, I have to highlight some organisational issue that caught my attention,” said the former South Korea midfielder.

“We were told this morning that the players would not be able to play in the match tonight. I was aware of the problem as the four players went out to buy essentials like shampoo and soap and we were informed of the penalty for that, which I totally understand.

“However, given the fact that we were locked in our hotel room for as long as one month, it is understandable that you run out of your necessities and essentials.

“We were on a controlled itinerary but at the same time, the two hotel floors that we occupied were not occupied only by us as there were other hotel guests staying there. On the weekend, there were also some also drunken wedding guests who came up to our floor and made a lot of noise which resulted in our players not getting proper sleep at night.

“Moving forward, if these issues can be properly addressed, it can ensure the well-being of our players to play good matches in the tournament.” AFP

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2022

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‘Mano Po Legacy’

GMA Network, Regal Entertainment’s opening salvo for 2022 FROM the big screen to primetime TV, the legacy of the highly successful Mano Po film franchise lives on as GMA Network and Regal Entertainment proudly present the much-awaited series, Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune.

Premiering tonight, this intriguing series revolves around the unexpected death of a business tycoon and leader of a prominent Chinese-Filipino clan. As its members scramble to stake their claim in the family’s immense fortune, who will have the right to gain control and power over the conglomerate?

The first installment of this The acting ensemble that leads GMA Network and Regal Entertainment compelling drama features co-production, ‘Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune.’

a grand ensemble of cast led by Barbie Forteza as Steffy Dy, Christine Chan’s street-smart assistant; Sunshine Cruz as Christine Chan, the intelligent and driven daughter of Consuelo Chan and the person behind the success of the business empire; Maricel Laxa as Valerie Lim, the manipulative and scheming common-law wife of Consuelo’s only son; and Boots Anson-Roa as Consuelo Chan, the Matriarch of the Chan family who’s very protective of the family’s reputation.

Joining the powerhouse cast members of Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune are four of the country’s promising actors: David Licauco as Anton Chan, the eldest in Consuelo’s grandsons from her son’s legal wife; Nikki Co as Jameson Chan, Consuelo’s arrogant grandson from her

New hope T

HE previous year introduced us to a few names that even we’re in the middle of a pandemic and showbiz projects are limited, they still made a mark and instantly grabbed our attention.

Belle Mariano The Philippine’s answer to Meteor Garden’s Shan Chai is outright charming, a true-blue damsel that knows how to deal with her distress and can be the girl next door or the young miss that makes your heart scream and shout. Her starlight will surely be breathtakingly bright.

Jeremiah Lisbo Yes, he is the Hua Ze Lei in She’s Into Her. This tall and good-looking actor is perfect for any romantic lead. With a to die for body, he is the better partner for Belle M. Lisbo is not too squeaky clean but he’s the perfect combo of hotness and handsomeness that most girls want and most men envy.

Vince Rillon He is a protégé of Palme d’Or winning film master Brillante Mendoza. Vince, who considers himself an accidental actor, shines in whatever role given to him.

With seven projects lined up for him, this rising star is out to prove that he is ready for the acting A-game.

Barbara Miguel and Therese Malvar To say that these two misses are superlative actresses is an understatement. Miguel makes a mark as the mentally challenged sister in Walker, while Malvar shows that she is every inch the actress of note in the forthcoming Broken Blooms opposite Jeric Gonzales. Yes, Miguel and Malvar are the Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos of their generation.

Alonzo Rafael Eliquin and Alec Kevin Rigonan More popularly known as Ali King and Alec Kevin, the two baby-talked their way to BL stardom in what people viewed as the Dear Heart of the boys love genre with Boy’s Lockdown. Now, the two are out to prove that they are indeed the Gen Z versions of Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion in “BL Love Team.” When you hear the thoughts of King that said “Totoo na ‘to” and Kevin’s “I have feelings” with a twinkle in their eyes when they look at each other, boy oh boy, this spells kilig to the bones!

The series is under the supervision of First Vice President for Program Management Jose Mari Abacan, Assistant Vice President for Program Management Department Concie Agnes, and COO & Vice President of Regal Entertainment Inc. and Regal Multimedia Inc. Roselle Monteverde.

Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune is directed by Ian Loreños together with 2nd Unit Director and Creative Manager Director Easy Ferrer and conceptualized by Creative Head and Head Writer Jose Javier Reyes.

The series airs tonight at 9:35 after The World Between Us on GMA Telebabad.

Viewers abroad can also catch the program via GMA Pinoy TV. For more stories about the Kapuso Network, visit www.

GMANetwork.com.

NCR cinemas remain operational amid Alert Level 3 — MTRCB

Stars to watch in 2022

As we enter 2022, we are listing down a batch of new hope in the entertainment sector courtesy of promising young blood who are more than their spanking personas.

son’s common-law wife Valerie; Rob Gomez as Joseph Chan, the illegitimate grandson of Consuelo through her son’s assistant; and Dustin Yu as Kenneth Chan, the youngest of the four boys and Anton’s younger brother.

Also portraying very special roles in the series are Almira Muhlach as Elizabeth Chan, the legal wife of Consuelo’s only son; David Chua as Philip Lo, Valerie’s loyal ally; Darwin Yu as Leo Evangelista, Steffy’s childhood friend; and Casie Banks as Jade Lee, Anton’s fiancé.

GMA Chairman and CEO Atty.

Felipe L. Gozon expressed his delight in the upcoming Mano Po series, “We are happy that the legacy of Mano Po continues on GMA. I’m sure that many viewers are excited to watch its new chapter on television. Walang duda na magiging blockbuster ang programang ito sa Kapuso Network.”

Rans Rifol She is one of the big winners in the recently concluded Metro Manila Film Festival. This newcomer bagged the best supporting actress trophy for her performance as Daniel Padilla’s love interest in Kung Matupag Man It Panahon. Anyone who can hold her artistic and creative candle to the relatively young superstar and aching for dramatic recognition Padilla and the first lady of Philippine entertainment, Charo SantosConcio, deserves to be on this list.

Juan Carlos Galano Everything about this single brown Filipino male underwear and commercial model screams “matinee idol.” He had an impressive screen debut in Nelia, his photos clad only in the skimpiest of undergarments that flood social media get the love and appreciation from fairies, ladies, and men who sex with other men. What makes him a standout is his “Pinoy na Pinoy” features and the fact that he is tall, adds more guapo points to him.

Mariane Osabel After several attempts to create a singing sensation and superstar, it seems that The Clash finally found “The One” to fulfill its ambition.

Mariane, dubbed as the Ultimate Siren from Iligan, sang her rendition of Harish Joya’s “Bakit Mahal Pa Rin Kita,” which reminded listeners of the classic songs from the jukebox era where mush plus a big, dramatic voice that hits the highest notes with ease equals gold.

Andrew Gan His performance as Jethro in the surprise BL hit Limited Edition earns him a soft and cuddly spot in the pink community. With a good physique, a speaking voice filled with authority and sincerity, and a man/boy vibe that makes many a heart flutter, Gan guns his way to full-fledged stardom.

Joaquin Domagoso, Andi Abaya, Bamboo B, and Jhassy Busran They are four promising teen stars, whose fresh and exciting performances, made their movie an engaging watch. Domagaso, if the Lady of Destiny and Lady Luck smiled at his dad, First Son might be his most appropriate title. Abaya is a pretty young miss that reminds you of a youngish Love Marie Ongpauco and Dawn Zulueta but has a bubbly personality and stellar wattage that is her very own. Bamboo is a natural charmer and Busran has what it takes to become a bida/ kontrabida with her gift of gab and true Pinay beauty.

THE Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTCRB) has announced that cinemas and movie theaters in the National Capital Region (NCR) will remain operational amidst the change in the Alert Level Status from level 2 to 3, following the increase in COVID-19 cases.

On Friday, acting Palace spokesman Karlo Nograles said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) made Under Alert Level 3, indoor cinemas will be allowed to the decision to place Metro operate at 30 percent capacity while outdoor cinemas at Manila under the stricter Alert 50 percent.

Level 3 from Jan. 3 to 15 to to be a Responsableng Manonood prevent further local transmission of the by observing minimum public health Omicron strain. standards, likewise, we encourage all to In a statement sent to Manila Standard get vaccinated against the COVID-19 Entertainment by MTRCB, it noted that through your Local Government Units. under Alert Level 3, cinemas and movie Together, we shall make 2022 a healthier, theaters shall be allowed to operate at safer, and prosperous year for everyone,” the maximum allowed capacities (indoor said Benjo Benaldo, MTRCB Executive cinemas at 30 percent capacity for fully Director II and Spokesperson vaccinated individuals; and For more information on MTRCB outdoor cinemas at 50 percent capacity), Policies, Activities, and to get the latest provided that all on-site employees/ information on MTRCB Reviewed Film/ workers of the establishment are fully Television Materials, visit https://mtrcb. vaccinated against COVID-19: gov.ph or follow @MTRCBGov on “We appeal to the viewing public Facebook.

Thousands thank ABS-CBN for ‘the love’ UP TO 33,709 families affected by super typhoon Odette have already received assistance through ABS-CBN Foundation Sagip Kapamilya, which continues to bring aid to Filipinos in devastated areas.

Among those that received relief packs recently were 2,100 families from different barangays in Surigao City and 5,000 families in San Joaquin, Iloilo and Tobias Fornier, and Anini-y in Antique.

Additionally, 1,141 families were served in San Francisco, Southern Leyte, while 2,000 individuals received hot meals from the Mobile Kitchen.

In Cebu, food was distributed to 136 families from San Roque, Liberon Carcar Marigondon Evacuation Center, and Lapu Lapu Bankal Elementary School, while ten communities benefited from water purification equipment from Adtel.

ABS-CBN Foundation, together with the ABS-CBN News Public Service team, has also traveled to La Libertad, Negros Occidental, which was also severely impacted by the typhoon.

In an interview with TV Patrol, one of the residents, Jonalin Tulisana, described how it feels to celebrate Christmas in an evacuation center.

“What matters is that our family remains intact and no one was harmed or injured. Despite the typhoon, we’re

still complete this Christmas,” she said.

She also expressed her gratitude for the help that arrived, “You came here even if you came from a great distance.

Thank you so much.”

ABS-CBN Foundation continues its relief operations especially as many families are still waiting and hoping for help after the typhoon destroyed their homes and livelihoods, while some have also lost loved ones.

As many Filipinos still await aid and assistance to rise from the tragedy they experienced, the “Tulong-Tulong sa Pag-Ahon: Andito Tayo Para Sa Bawat Pamilya” online fund drive continues its call for donations.

For donations, donors may deposit to accounts of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc. through BDO (0039302-14711), BPI (42210000-27), PNB (1263-7000-4128), GCash, PayMaya, and PayPal accounts.

International donations may be coursed through abscbnfoundation.org.

More details are available on ABSCBN Foundation’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. Donors can also download social media badges that they can use as their profile photos, twibbons, Facebook frames, Instagram filters, or to express their love and support for the families affected by the typhoon.

As of Dec. 28, total cash donations have already reached P34,554,977 while in-kind donations of items like canned goods, rice, water, hygiene kits, and blankets amount to P4,087,209.

Life

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

FOOD

MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2022

Where Christmas is celebrated all year round A T CAFÉ Claus, everyone is always in a festive mood. The staff will greet you ‘Merry Christmas’ every single day.

The café is bursting with everything Christmas – from poinsettias to nutcrackers, and colorful stockings to Christmas trees. As soon as you enter the main door, you will be greeted by walls trussed with garland glowing with warm lights.

“And if you’re lucky, you might see Santa Claus, too, and have a picture with him even it’s no longer the holiday season,” said actor Ken Chan during the opening of the first Christmasthemed restaurant in the country.

Located in Tandang Sora in Quezon City, Café Claus serves American and Filipino dishes. Officially opened its doors to the public on Dec. 27, it is the first venture of the 28-year-old actor into the food business.

“We opened here because this is where I grew up, the area is very memorable to me,” Ken said of the café’s location.

While opening a food business is a passion project for Ken, it’s also a product of careful planning. Part of the restaurant is also a commissary, which will soon serve the other branches of

Café Claus.

“We are opening another branch at Promenade in Greenhills in January and then another one in Eastwood in March,” the actor shared.

And that’s not all, according to his business partner Ryan Kolton (a Filipino American actor who was born in Ukraine and grew up in the States but fell in love with the country in 2018 so he decided to stay), they plan to have a total of six branches by the end of 2022.

“We are opening a branch in La Union, Antipolo, and then in Tagaytay,” Ryan told Manila Standard Life.

“Ken and I share this passion for films and food, so we decided to do business together. What you’re seeing now is a product of three years of planning, creating, and conceptualizing. I had the pleasure of working with Ken for many years now,” Ryan shared.

“We’ve put up companies together.

But we both have a passion for opening up a restaurant café, though, the challenge was, we really didn’t exactly know what the idea would be. When we first thought about it, we want the best features, the coffee machines, the fridge, the desserts,” he carried on.

According to Ryan, although it took them three years putting up the business and one year conceptualizing what items to put on the menu, there’s a much deeper meaning to all of their efforts bringing their vision into a reality.

“It’s actually a lifetime planning. I mean, the food we are serving here has an individual story. From puto bumbong, to the soup, to the roasted chicken.

Some of the items in our hot kitchen are heirloom recipes. Some are the dishes we grew up eating, some are dishes that remind Ken of his childhood.

Everything is from the family,” Ryan

The themed restaurant café in Tandang Sora officially opened its doors on Dec. 27 attended by Ken Chan and Ryan Kolton’s family and friends including actress Rita Daniela.

Every item on Café Claus’s menu has a story like its roasted chicken, which is an old recipe prepared by Ryan’s greatgrandmother.

said.

Asked why put up a Christmasthemed food establishment, Ryan, who also has Spanish blood in him, gave a rather expected answer.

“Ken and I love Christmas. Who doesn’t love Christmas? For both my family and also for Ken’s family,

Christmas is not just the holidays, it’s a day that marks both sad and good memories,” he said.

“Here at Cafe Claus, it’s Christmas every single day. But it’s deeper than that. It comes to the idea that every day, no matter what happens outside, no matter how down you feel, whenever you come to our doors, this is your home away from home. If there is one thing that you can take away, this is your family-first type home to come back to and reconnect to all the things that made your life and home beautiful,” Ryan ended.

Café Claus owner Ken Chan (right) with business partner and restaurant CEO Ryan Kolton

Reliving the magic of Filipino traditions through food

Dining under the stars

Century Park Hotel’s Palm Grove presents a relaxing poolside ambience.

Nothing beats a traditional well-prepared holiday breakfast when it comes to warming the heart and the soul.

THE holiday season is such a multifaceted occasion and there is something different about the “Paskong Pinoy” and its relevance to us as a society. For us, the season is also synonymous with other things that all hold a special place in our hearts—family, traditions, and of course, good food.

For a culture that puts a premium on all these three, it isn’t surprising to see how big of a role they all play during the holidays. After all, the yuletide season is about spending time with the special people in our lives and expressing our love and care for them through acts of service; and what better way to show that other than through food and a breakfast table where everyone can sit down and connect?

After all, while holidays in the Philippines are already teeming with so many food traditions in general, there is something extra special about Christmas mornings when you wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and plates of breakfast favorites waiting for you.

Nothing beats a traditional well-prepared holiday breakfast when it comes to warming the heart and the soul. A holiday breakfast, in a way, is when we truly sit down around the table and take in the importance of the day while appreciating everything that surrounds us. It’s an expression of love, as well as an invitation

for everyone to just truly be in the moment with the people we hold closest to our hearts.

This is something that mothers out there could deeply understand for sure.

As the ones who are mostly in charge of preparing meals for their family, their roles are even more amplified during this special time of the year when festivities almost always equate to food.

The past few years have thrown more light on the roles their play, as they tie the family together not only through the good food that they create but also through the memories that they help shape via shared moments at the breakfast table.

Breakfasts made with love is something that Pacific Sunrise, a healthy brand of cooking oil, has always stood up for.

A product of AgriPacific Corporation, a manufacturer which also supplies highgrade kitchen staples to the market, Pacific Sunrise continues to advocate for the importance of a well-prepared breakfast that could be shared and enjoyed by the whole family. Pacific Sunrise is made with palm olein and is Halal Certified, and it is also rich in vitamins A&E and minerals like Omega 6&9. Moreover, it has 0 percent cholesterol and trans-fat and non-GMO, which means that it is a healthy choice for cooking breakfast for the family.

THESE days, when it looks like we’re finally on our way back to normalcy, it still is very important for us to be mindful of the government’s health and safety protocols, just to be sure that we don’t experience another surge in infections.

We know that many countries abroad, especially those in Europe, are now in a quandary as to how to suppress those sharp spikes in their daily cases of infections which, hopefully, will serve as a warning to all of us, that the virus is still very much around.

We have to continue wearing a mask, avoid crowded places and, if we must share a meal with other people, i.e., friends and relatives, it is best to do it in an al fresco setting.

The times that I have gone out for a meal lately, I look for an open-air restaurant, because it makes me feel “safer” when I take off my mask to partake of the food as, I’m sure, you do, too.

The good news is that we now have a “new” destination to add to our list of “safe” dining venues.

Century Park Hotel now offers a unique open-air banquet experience at its Palm Grove, where customers can relish the relaxing poolside ambience while dining and enjoying their favorite beverage under the stars.

In a tastefully designed tropical setting, with decorative lights and Instagrammable features, the hotel’s Al Fresco by Palm Grove is guaranteed to dazzle any jaded diner who has “seen it all.”

Guest have a choice of enjoying their sumptuous Samgyeopsal meal under any of the creatively designed Teepees.

Customers enter the venue through an aweinspiring Tunnel of easLove, which can eas ily re-charge any tired soul into a party mood.

Then, there is the giant Bird Cage which has cusbecome a favorite of cus tomers for selfies.

There are also the art walls by the bar which provide the perfect backdrop for memorable photo ops, and the masterfully crafted giant Teepees which offer comfortable seating for customers to enjoy their meal while ensuring a unique setting for treasured photo moments. For lovers and couples who might want to feel again the excitement of being romantic, as they enjoy their meal, there is the Love Locks corner where they can purchase a pair of padlocks and leave it there to poetically signify their true love and commitment to each other.

This unique, easy-on-the-pocket dining package of Century Park Hotel comes with a sumptuous Samgyeopsal experience of unlimited meats (US short beef plate, US short ribs, Pork Belly Strips, and Marinated Pork Neck), one glass of beer or cocktail, side dishes, and one S’mores set. Seasonal items to watch are Hungarian Sausages, Wienerli, Cheesy Franks, Assorted Taiwanese Balls, and Mozzarella Cheese Dip. Of course, there are also the popular a la carte items of Wings and Dips, Smoke Baby Back Ribs, Maldivian Grilled Blue Marlin, Mixed Seafood, Meat Grill Platter, and many more.

Al Fresco by Palm Grove is available

only on Fridays and Saturdays from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and only for those who are fully vaccinated (at least two weeks after the second dose) or have taken an RT-PCR test 48 hours prior to the visit.

Since seats and tables are limited, reservations are required through 85288888 local 2500 or 0956-5232880. It is quite reassuring to know that Century Park Hotel has been given the Safety Seal Certification by the Department of Tourism and all of its staff have been fully vaccinated.

With the relaxed quarantine guidelines and aggressive efforts of the government and private sector to secure vaccinations for everyone, General Manager Anthony Tan is optimistic that more people are in the mood to experience once again the things they used to do before the pandemic set in.

Considering the precarious condition this thriving virus has put us all in, we know we want to enjoy life once again, yet safety should still be foremost in our minds, thus, dining under the stars would be the way to do it…and Samgyeopsal at that! Definitely a good way to welcome 2022…HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE Did you ever wonder why doctors and lawyers charge exorbitant fees, yet they call what they do “practice?”

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@ gmail.com