Manila Standard - 2022 January 11 - Tuesday

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PH NEW RECORD CASES: 33,169; POSITIVITY RATE TOPS AT 46%

By Willie Casas

since Sept. 11, 2021. This number was surpassed on Sunday with 28,707 new THE Philippines logged 33,169 new infections.

The Philippines' COVID-19 cases on positivity rate Monday, bringing climbed to 46 the total number of percent, based cases to 2,998,530, on 73,234 total in the third straight COVID-19 tests day of record high NEWS / A2 that were conducted daily tallies. on January 8. The On Saturday, new record-high infections were reported country reported a record-high figure for Next page with 26,458, the highest daily case count

OCTA: NCR positivity rate slows slightly

VOL. XXXV • NO. 330 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Palace: No Alert Level 4 yet But won’t ‘hesitate’ to upgrade curbs once hospitalization rate hits 70%

By Vito Barcelo and Joel E. Zubano

HE government will not think twice about raising the alert level status of the National Capital Region (NCR) and neighboring areas if hospitals start filling up as a result of the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases, the Palace said Monday.

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This was after the Philippines is poised to breach the threemillion total COVID-19 case count after another record daily high of 33,169 posted Monday, with the positivity rate – the ratio of positive cases among all tests performed for the day – also rising for the sixth straight day (see related story below – Editors).

Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire also said the reported number of new daily cases is probably only a fraction of the actual number because many in the country now do home antigen testing, with hospitals and laboratories alike swamped with backlogs.

The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines also said 15 of its members are already at a “critical” occupancy level, while 20 more hospitals are at “high risk.”

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NO MORE ROOM. A health worker talks to a pregnant patient at the triage area of Dr. Jose Fabella Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Monday, as a handwritten sign indicates some facilities of the hospital are temporarily closed to undergo disinfection. Meanwhile, the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Pasay City puts up a sign on its emergency room driveway to indicate that it is also full with COVID-19 patients (inset).

Danny Pata and Norman Cruz

2,998,530 33,169

157,526

52,293

145

2,788,711

3,725

(As of 4 PM, JANUARY 10)

PhilHealth told to cover home COVID testing MALACAÑANG is pushing the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth) to expand its COVID-19 Home Isolation Benefit Packages (CHIBP) to include free reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing.

Acting presidential spokesman and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said PhilHealth currently covers free testing but only among patients who are symptomatic and are currently confined in public or private hospitals.

“We’re also pushing PhilHealth to increase the packages for home treatment.

Those who are treating themselves at home can also be covered by PhilHealth.

The PhilHealth package will also include RT-PCR,” he said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart.

RT-PCR testing is considered the gold standard in detecting the virusthat causes Next page COVID-19.

Gov’t eyes more people under short-term isolation period an official said on Monday, as the country battled an uptick in COVID-19 infections powered by the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus THE Philippines plans to shorten the variant.

COVID-19 isolation period for more To ensure that health facilities will people, not just medical frontliners, have enough manpower, the government

By Willie Casas and Rio N. Araja

LGUs urged to push telemedicine

By Vito Barcelo THE government is focusing more on telemedicine and telehealth services for patients who tested positive for COVID 19 virus, Malacañang said Monday.

Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said some local government units were already providing medicines for their constituents based on their capacity.

“Here in Metro Manila, you will see most, if not all, of our LGUs have a

telemedicine or telehealth hotline. That is the ideal that we want to be replicated in other provinces and cities and that’s what we’re pushing for,” Nograles said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel's Headstart.

“Let’s focus first on telemedicine, telehealth care and that depends on the budget. The LGUs, can on their own, give their constituents the necessary medicines,” Nograles said.

Nograles then urged LGUs in other areas to also consider providing free Next page

recently shortened the isolation period to five days for coronavirusstricken medical workers who are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic, noted Presidential Adviser for COVID-19 Response Vince Dizon.

Close contacts no longer need to

isolate if they have no COVID-19 symptoms, he said.

Dizon told a televised public hearing: “For now, that is only for healthcare workers. But our experts are studying the experience of other countries like Next page

DTI goes after illegal sellers of overpriced antigen test kits

By Othel V. Campos and Willie Casas THE Department of Trade and Industry is cracking down on physical and online stores selling self-test COVID-19 antigen kits which are yet to secure government approvals for commercial trade.

“They are not even covered by the

“Suggested Retail Price” of the DTI. And to think that there were reports of overpricing of antigens is definitely illegal,” said Trade assistant secretary for consumer protection group Ann Claire Cabochan.

She added the DTI was one with the Department of Health on regulating the proper pricing for RT-PCR and antigen testing kits which are available only

Next page

BORDER CONTROL. Motorcycle riders and jeepney passengers alike present vaccination cards and other documents to police officers manning a checkpoint at the Quezon City-San Mateo, Rizal boundary along the Batasan-San Mateo Road on Monday. Joey O. Razon

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News

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘No arrest, send unvaxxed home’ I

NDIVIDUALS who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 will only be requested to go home and will not be arrested, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año clarified Monday.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police also reported that 85 areas across the country are under granular lockdown —76 in the National Capital Region, five in Mimaropa, two in Cagayan Valley, and one each in Ilocos and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Under the Metropolitan Manila

Development Authority (MMDA) resolution, unvaccinated individuals are mandated to remain in their residences at all times except for the procurement of essential goods and services, such as food, water, medical services, public utilities, and work.

Many business leaders, medical groups, and organizations have been

pushing for the restrictions to be implemented nationwide amid the spike in infections and the threat of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

Ano noted that checkpoints were installed to restrict the mobility of the unvaccinated people in light of the rapid rise of Covid-19 cases believed to be caused by the highly transmissive Omicron variant.

“Our barangay chairmen and the police will set up checkpoints. If you are unvaccinated, you will be asked to go home, that’s all. But if you resist, you will really be forcibly brought back home,’’ Año said in a television interview.

Palace:...

Nograles said to qualify for a shift to a higher Alert Level 4, the country’s twoweek growth rate, average daily attack rate (ADAR), and healthcare utilization rate should all be at “high” levels.

He said the first two metrics are already high, but the health care utilization rate remains at a “moderate” level.

Nograles said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has recommended implementing an increase in the availability of bed capacity in hospitals and temporary treatment and monitoring facilities in Metro Manila and the surrounding areas, or NCR Plus.

The availability of medical workers would also be another indicator of health care capacity.

He said the government would ramp up telemedicine capacity outside NCR and increase efforts to test and vaccinate more people (see related story on A1 – Editors) At the same time, Nograles expressed optimism that getting fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and getting booster shots would prevent the country’s healthcare utilization rate from reaching alarming levels.

“This is what we’re seeing right now, those who are fully vaccinated only get mild symptoms or are even asymptomatic or are resolved in two days, three days… This is where the effect of full vaccination comes into play. We’re seeing less hospitalization from fully vaccinated,” he said.

He renewed his call to the public to get fully vaccinated and to get their boosters to protect themselves and others from COVID-19.

Earlier, Metro Manila mayors unanimously agreed to retain Alert Level 3 over the NCR. Members of the Metro Manila Council, composed of the 17 mayors in the NCR, noted that the healthcare utilization rate (HCUR) in the metropolis between Jan. 8 and 9 logged only a slight increase, which is still within the metrics for Alert Level 3.

DOH statistics show intensive care unit (ICU) beds were at 51 percent full last Jan. 8 and rose to 52 percent on Jan. 9. Isolation beds went from 51 percent to 50 percent on the same dates. Ward beds use rose to 62 percent to 65 percent, while the use of ventilators decreased from 27 percent to 26 percent.

“We are consistently monitoring the region’s HCUR rate, and we assure the public that the NCR mayors are ready in case the metrics show the need to escalate Metro Manila to alert level 4,” said MMC chairman and concurrent Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chief Benjamin Abalos Jr. Abalos said the public seems to be self-regulating in the past few days, citing less traffic on the road and fewer people in the malls.

The MMDA chief underscored the importance of vaccination, citing records from the DOH that 85 percent of critical and severe COVID-19 cases and 93

percent of deaths are unvaccinated.

Meanwhile, Abalos advised asymptomatic to moderate cases to seek medical advice through telemedicine to avoid congestion of hospitals.

He also asked for understanding from the unvaccinated, emphasizing that the MMC resolution restricting their mobility was aimed at helping them and it only applies when Metro Manila is under Alert Level 3 or higher.

Abalos also appealed to the public not to panic, assuring them that the DOH, IATF and the LGUs are on top of the situation.

“We need the cooperation of all. Let us follow the guidelines set by the DOH and continue to observe minimum health protocols,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Pasay City government placed 64 barangays under granular lockdown to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in the city.

As of. Jan 8, the city logged 1,750 (7.31 percent) active cases, bringing to 23,942 the total number of COVID-19 cases.

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion on Monday concurred with the decision to stay at Alert Level 3.

"Alert Level 3 at this point in time, to me, is sufficient. People are not going out. On top of that, I mean, you have people who just don’t want to go out.

The Omicron spread is just tremendous," Concepcion said, referring to the highly contagious variant of the coronavirus.

the total recoveries 2,788,711.

The number of active cases shot up to 157,526, of which 4,994 are asymptomatic; 147,912 mild; 2,858 moderate; 1,461 severe; and 301 critical.

This was the highest number of active cases since Sept. 24, 2021, when 173,408 were announced.

Nationwide, 38 percent of ICU beds, 41 percent of isolation beds, 41 percent of ward beds, and 17 percent of ventilators were in use.

In Metro Manila, 52 percent of ICU beds, 54 percent of isolation beds, 67 percent of ward beds, and 25 percent of ventilators were in use.

The independent OCTA Research

Group, meanwhile, said the positivity rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) has gone up to 52 percent.

This is a slight increase from the previous 50.5 percent as of Jan.7, the first time the rate hit above 50 percent in Metro Manila.

“This is really high. At this level, our testing is having a difficult time. It’s being strained and we’re starting to lose visibility of the pandemic situation,” OCTA fellow Guido David said in an interview with Unang Balita.

“Because if the positivity rate is higher, it’s not clear if we’re testing enough of the cases that are being released.,” he said.

David said the current surge in cases was most likely due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19.

David added that international travelers who broke quarantine may have caused the local spread.

On Sunday, an additional 2.7 million doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine arrived from the COVAX Facility donated by the US government, raising the total number of delivered COVD-19 vaccines to 213.4 million.

David said he believes that while raising Alert Level 4 can help curb the infection rate, there is no guarantee that it could work.

are self-test kits that can be performed at home, unlike RT-PCR that needs the intervention of laboratories,” Lopez said.

The DTI is mulling to announce the SRP for antigen kits by this Friday, January 15.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health has reminded the public on what steps to take depending on their symptoms and the result of their COVID-19 antigen test.

The DOH issued the following guidelines: • If you tested negative in the antigen test but are symptomatic, you should still isolate immediately and have a RT-PCR test done.

• If you have been exposed to a COVID-positive but asymptomatic person but tested negative in the antigen test, quarantine first and get an RT-PCR test on the fifth day after exposure.

• If you tested positive for COVID-19 but do not have your own room and toilet, you should go to an isolation facility.

Home isolation is only for those who have their own room and toilet.

Those exposed and considered close contacts may also quarantine at home if they have no symptoms and are not part of the vulnerable sector.

The DOH likewise reminded the public to only use test kits approved by the Food and Drug Administration and that only trained health professionals should administer the test.

In related developments, an official overseeing the Philippine COVID-19 testing program apologized for the slow turnout of test (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Gov’t... the US and Europe, which shortened the isolation, especially for vaccinated people.

That is being studied and hopefully, we will have changes in our policies in the next weeks.”

Several countries reduced their isolation period after the highly transmissible omicron COVID-19 variant spread globally, leading to worker shortages at airlines, schools, and businesses.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said its move to cut in half to 5 days the isolation period after COVID-19 infection was based on science around transmission of the virus.

A review of 113 studies from 17 countries showed that most transmission occurs early in the course of infection, the CDC said in its website. It said the average period of infectiousness and risk of transmission was "between 2-3 days before and 8 days after symptom onset."

The Philippines has detected 43 cases of the omicron variant. Its capacity for genome sequencing is limited.

396 positive Almost 400 Philippine General Hospital healthcare workers have tested positive for COVID-19, the PGH's spokesperson said Monday.

According to Dr. Jonas del Rosario, the hospital reported 86 new cases on Sunday night.

“Just last night, more healthcare workers were tested, and we added about

86… so if you do the math, 310 plus 86, we’re almost close to 400 healthcare workers who got COVID,” Del Rosario told CNN. “Some of them are probably towards the tail-end of their isolation, so we’re getting some of them, but it’s so fluid that every day, we are testing healthcare workers because some of them are really getting symptomatic,” he added.

Three to four staff get exposed for every COVID-positive healthcare worker. Due to this, he said the hospital would need augmentation.

265 COVID PGH patients Meanwhile, there are currently 265 COVID-19 patients admitted in PGH, of which around 25 percent are mild, 35 percent are moderate, and 20 percent are severe, and 10 percent are in critical condition.

"We still have severe to critical patients. We are a COVID-referral center so a lot of the mild cases who come to us, we actually do not admit, to reserve the beds for the ones who really need them," he said.

At the Laging Handa briefing, National Task Force against COVID-19 special adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa said the PGH would open two more COVID-19 wards.

Due to the increasing COVID-19 cases, Herbosa said the hospital’s chances of treating non-COVID patients were getting slimmer.

Allowed to work The PGH has clarified that only healthcare workers who don't have COVID-19 are allowed to report for work.

(See full story online at manilastandard. net)

He said LGUs get a big share of the 5.024-trillion national budget for 2022, getting a P959.04 billion share through their National Tax Allotment, formerly called the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), according to the Department of Budget and Management.

The huge increase was due to the implementation of the so-called Mandanas ruling of the Supreme Court, which determined that the “just share” of LGUs shall be sourced from “all national taxes and not only national internal revenue taxes.”

Nograles said it would also be the LGU as well as local health officers to determine whether asymptomatic or mild Covid-19 patients within their localities should isolate at home or be transferred to local isolation facilities.

Meanwhile, Malacañang is hoping to see more local government units providing telemedicine and telehealth services for patients who tested positive for COVID-19.

At the same time, Nograles said it would also be the LGU as well as local health officers to determine whether

asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 patients within their localities should isolate at home or be transferred to local isolation facilities.

“We have to entrust to the LGUs the wisdom in their decisions in terms of patient navigation… It will always have to be in consultation with LGUs. But on the ground, it’s LGUs who must be trained, who must be knowledgeable enough to know how to navigate the patients because it’s not a one-size-fitsall rule,” he said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

From A1

PHAP president Dr. Jose Rene De Grano said many of their patients are unvaccinated or children.

“Around 70 to 85 percent of our patients are not fully vaccinated, and maybe because children are not yet fully vaccinated as well, we’ve observed that 30 to 40 percent of our admissions are children,” De Grano told ANC. Private hospitals’ greatest challenge now, he said, is their dwindling number of staff, which was already a problem last year before this latest wave of COVID cases powered by the highly contagious Omicron variant.

Meanwhile, acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said: “We are actively monitoring all of the metrics and parameters that we need to look at and even over and above that.”

“As of the moment, it is not meeting the metrics for us to declare Alert Level 4. But immediately when it does, we will not hesitate to declare Alert Level 4 in any area or escalate any area to Alert Level 3,” he added in a mix of English and Filipino on ABS-CBN’s Headstart.

Nograles’s remarks came after the Department of Health (DOH) said there is a probability that Metro Manila will shift to Alert Level 4 from the current Alert Level 3 as new daily cases continue to hit record highs.

PH...

From A1

positivity rate for the sixth straight day.

The top regions with cases in the recent two weeks were the National Capital Region (Metro Manila) with 18,535 or 56 percent, Region 4-A (Calabarzon) with 7,443 or 23 percent, and Region 3 (Central Luzon) with 3,403 or 10 percent.

There were 145 new fatalities reported Monday, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 52,293.

The Department of Health (DOH) also reported 3,725 new recoveries, bringing

DTI...

From A1

through proper channels like the hospitals, clinics, and laboratories.

COVID test kits administered by hospitals, clinics and laboratories are covered by the price cap issued by the DOH in August 2021.

The CPG noted that surge in the demand for antigen kits has had online merchants abusing the platform to sell the self-test kits at prices far above the cap imposed on kits in hospitals and other COVID facilities and laboratories.

Cabochan said there must be proper certification from the Food and Drug Administration for the product to be legally sold on a commercial basis in the Philippines.

“We will continue to go after these sellers. The DTI and DOH will launch a joint investigation on self-test kits that are sold through illegal channels,” she said.

Those caught violating the DOH issuance will be penalized and face sanctions.

Cabochan added that the FDA was speeding up the approval of requests by some pharmaceutical companies for certificate of product approval (CPR).

Meanwhile, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATFEID) would review the existing price cap on RT-PCR and antigen kit for possible slash in prices.

“And we also plan to come up with SRP for antigen test kits only, since these

LGUs...

From A1

telemedicine services and, if possible, COVID-19 home care packages.

Nograles urged LGUs outside Metro Manila to also consider providing free telemedicine services and if possible, COVID-19 home care packages with the start of the implementation of the Supreme Court’s Mandanas ruling expanding local governments’ share in national taxes.

From A1

He, however, said the arrest of the defiant unvaccinated people by barangay officials should only be a “last resort’’ and must be enforced "within the bounds of the law".

Año, meanwhile, warned that those in possession of fake vaccination cards can be charged.

“Yes, they can now be apprehended there because they were caught in the act of being in the possession of fake documents,’’ said Año.

Latest data from the PNP showed that 14 areas are under the jurisdiction of the Northern Police District and one each for the Manila Police District and Southern Police District. AFP

Gas up P0.75, diesel P1.10 in latest oil hikes

By Darwin G. Amojelar OIL firms on Monday said they will implement another round of price hikes on their pump prices starting Tuesday morning.

In separate advisories, Petron, Flying V, Seaoil Philippines Inc., PetroGazz, and Cleanfuel will increase prices per liter of gasoline by P0.75 and diesel by P1.10.

Seaoil, Petron and Flying V will also increase kerosene prices by P0.90 per liter.

The adjustments will take effect at 6 a.m. on Tuesday for all the firms except Cleanfuel, which will implement the changes at 4:01 p.m. the same day.

“These reflect movements in the international oil market,” Petron said.

Last week, the country’s oil firms hiked pump prices by as much as P1.85 for gasoline and P2.40 for diesel per liter.

Latest data available from the Department of Energy show that last year’s adjustments stood at a total net increase of P17.85 per liter for gasoline, P14.95 per liter for diesel, and P12.39 per liter for kerosene as of December 21.

The Department of Energy ordered a price freeze on kerosene in areas under a state of calamity in Visayas and Mindanao due to Typhoon Odette.

NCR positivity rate slows, but slightly—OCTA THE rapid increase in the COVID-19 positivity rate in Metro Manila had slowed slightly, possibly indicating that infections in the capital region were "close to peaking," independent monitoring group OCTA Research said Monday.

"The slowdown in the positivity rate in NCR could mean we may be close to peaking, in getting to the peak in NCR. But that's a 'could'. It's just a possibility, no guarantee. We still have to wait for the trends in the next few days," said OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David on GMA's 24 Oras.

Daily cases nationwide could reach 35,000 this week with 20,000 coming from the National Capital Region, David added—but after the peak, cases might decrease.

"It follows the South Africa experience, it will slow just as quickly.

Maybe by the end of January, there will be fewer cases. Again, that is not something we can guarantee. We're just comparing it from the experience of South Africa," he said.

"If cases in the NCR continue to increase, most likely we'll hit 40,000 (daily cases). But there is a chance it will be peaking soon.

So maybe we won't reach 40,000," he added.

PhilHealth...

From A1

Currently, the CHIBP is available to patients who passed both clinical and social criteria in surge areas declared by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

Services under the package include home consultations for a minimum of 10 days, 24/7 daily monitoring of patients through teleconsultation, and provision of a home isolation kit which contains: 1L 70 percent alcohol, five pieces face mask, 1 thermometer, 1 pulse oximeter, drugs and medicines (18 pieces Paracetamol, 12 pieces Lagundi tablets or equivalent, six sachets oral rehydration salts, 10 pieces Ascorbic Acid, 10 pieces Vitamin D and zinc), and a consent form.

CHIBP providers may refer patients to higher-level facilities should they experience deterioration during home isolation. However, if the patient expires during home isolation, the facility can still file a claim.

On Nov. 4, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) No. 118, mandating the DOH and the Department of Trade and Industry to determine and implement a price range for RT-PCR testing.

Currently, the price cap for RT-PCR tests ranges from around P1,000 to P3,000.

Previously, the price cap for RT-PCR tests is P3,800 for public laboratories and hospitals and P4,500 to P5,000 for private laboratories, all costs included.

Meanwhile, the DOH has set at P960 the price cap for rapid antigen testing.

PhilHealth reminded the public that it is offering the CHIBP to members who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms of COVID-19.

PhilHealth spokesperson Shirley Domingo, in an Unang Balita interview, said this package is available for those who were found positive for COVID-19 through RT-PCR test, but does not cover those who have severe or critical symptoms. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

News

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Flights canceled, PAL passengers get stranded at Terminal 2 PASSENGERS of Philippine Airlines (PAL) have been stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 on Monday due to the cancelation of at least 22 domestic flights and two international flights.

“Our airport team set up a tent where stranded passengers can stay as they wait their turn to enter the PAL ticketing office in NAIA. Per Airport Services, water and snacks were given,” PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna told reporters.

Villaluna added that many of PAL’s cabin crew called in sick, compelling the airline to cancel a combination of domestic and international flights, she said.

PAL earlier issued an advisory regarding flight cancellations for January 9 to 16.

Passengers of those flights were notified via email, Villaluna said.

“The people in the tent are passengers of cancellations made just today, a few hours before the flights, due to crew unavailability,” she said.

The following flights were canceled on Monday: PR 2519/2520 Manila-Cagayan de OroManila; PR 2861/2862 Manila-CebuManila; PR 2965/2966 Manila-Busuanga (Coron)-Manila; PR 2981/2982 and PR 2985/2986 Manila-Tacloban-Manila; PR 2037/2038 Manila-Caticlan-Manila; PR 2143/2144 Manila-Iloilo-Manila; PR 2205/2206 Manila-Roxas-Manila; PR 2783/2784 Manila-Pagadian-Manila; PR 2959/2960 Manila-Cotabato-Manila; PR 2938/2939 Manila-Butuan-Manila; PR 2557/2558 Manila-Dipolog-Manila; PR 422/421 Manila-Tokyo Haneda-Manila.

In an advisory issued on Sunday night, PAL said it is experiencing challenges in sustaining operations due to the increasing number of front-line and support personnel who are absent because of isolation requirements.

“We are taking the precaution of canceling a number of PAL flights, even as our PAL teams do all we can to maintain as many other flights as possible, process all passenger requests and relieve the longer call waiting times and ticket office queues,” it said.

‘PH must have innovative plans against COVID’

2 senators hail tax relief law for schools

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

CANCELLED FLIGHTS. Overseas Filipino workers and other travelers queue at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Paranaque City. Many passengers have been stranded, as Philippine Airlines canceled flights. Danny Pata

SC: Bar examinees should isolate before online test T

By Rey E. Requejo

HE Supreme Court has strongly advised law graduates who will take the online bar examinations on Jan. 23 and 25 in testing centers nationwide to undergo self-quarantine starting on Monday, January 10.

In a Bar Bulletin, Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, chair of the 2020-2021 bar examinations committee, reminded that “bar examinees who will test positive for COVID-19 both under the antigen test or RT-PCR test will automatically be denied entry to their local testing centers.”

“The prohibition will apply to all positive cases, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic,” Leonen stressed.

The SC said fully vaccinated examinees will undergo only one antigen test within 48 hours before the first examination, while those who will test positive under the antigen test shall be required to comply with the guidelines

of their local testing center’s local government unit.

“Unvaccinated examinees, on the other hand, will be required to present negative nasal or saliva RT-PCR test results taken within 72 hours before the first examination. Information about testing will bed received through email by each examinee,” the Bar Bulletin stated.

“Examinees who have recovered from COVID-19 shall still be required to undergo an antigen test or RT-PCR test, as the case may be, before the first examination,” it said.

“Examinees who present a positive test result but have since recovered from COVID-19 up to a month before the first

Bar examination day shall be required to present an affidavit stating under oath that (1) they are considered by the local government unit as a ‘recovered’ case and (2) they have completed the required isolation period,” the SC pointed out.

According to the tribunal, as the law graduates take the examination, Bar exam personnel will verify with the local government unit as to their status as “recovered” and any false statement shall be cause for outright disqualification.

“As an added layer of protection, especially against the new Omicron variant, all unvaccinated Bar examinees are also highly encouraged to get vaccinated before the Bar examinations,” the SC’s Bar Bulletin emphasized.

There are 11,790 law graduates who are expected to take the online bar examinations on Jan. 23 and 25.

The increase was attributed to the postponement of the 2020 bar examinations due to COVID-19 pandemic and the decision to hold the tests simultaneously with the 2021 law graduates.

BOOSTER SHOTS.

The Quezon City government is still in full swing of vaccinations for the first dose of adults, youth ages 12 to 17, and for booster shots.

The vaccination sites include MRB Vaccination, Brgy. Holy Spirit, Brgy.

Fairview, Brgy. Gulod, Brgy. UP Village, Manotoc Covered court in Brgy.

Baesa, Culiat High School, Quezon Memorial Circle, and Pinyahan Elementary School. Those who want to have their first dose or booster shots can register online with their QC Vax Easy Plus.

Manny Palmero

By Maricel V. Cruz A LEGISLATOR said on Monday the Philippine government has to tailor its response with the mindset that COVID-19 is “here to stay” with the growing complexities of the pandemic.

Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano said “the cases can swell, it can deflate, the virus can weaken, anything can happen, but it’s certainly here to stay.”

“We’ve been caught off-guard before with Delta, now with Omicron. Other countries already define ‘fully vaccinated’ as three shots, and some are even thinking of a fourth shot,” the former Speaker added.

Cayetano said the current mindset brought about by less stringent restrictions late last year may hinder more progressive ways in dealing with the Omicron variant as well as other possible future variants of COVID-19.

Cayetano said because Filipinos are optimistic by nature, people do not think about adapting, innovating, and living with COVID-19.

Cayetano mentioned that even with no lockdowns and other restrictions, the ongoing rise in the number of cases of COVID-19 makes it a necessity for the government to provide financial assistance to everyone.

A3

QC widens vax program to include the bedridden

By Rio N. Araja TO help boost the immunity of its residents, the Quezon City government is intensifying its vaccination program for all eligible individuals, including the bedridden.

It is set to open more vaccination sites across all six districts to accommodate its remaining unvaccinated residents and those whose booster shots are due.

There will be a total of 36 regular vaccination sites, 21 special or pop-

up sites, and 16 mall or establishment vaccination sites.

Drive-through vaccination sites will also be made accessible as well as house-to-house vaccination for the bedridden.

School grounds would also be used as additional vaccination sites, while there would be permanent vaccination sites in different areas, including malls, events venues, and other eligible sites.

The city’s Mega Vaccination Site, Smart Araneta Coliseum would re-open its doors on Jan. 15.

Dr. Maria Lourdes Eleria, QC Task Force Vax to Normal coordinator, said “last year, we went all out to achieve our target of 1.7 million vaccinated adult individuals in record time. The same strategies will be implemented this time, including maximizing partnerships with the private sector such as malls and business establishments, churches, civic associations and other stakeholders.”

Individuals may register to be vaccinated through the QC VaxEasy portal www. qceservices.quezoncity.gov.ph/qcvaxeasy.

Taguig City to limit movement of unvaxxed

By Joel E. Zurbano

CAMOTE CROPS. Farmers clean and sort their sweet potato (camote) crops. It is said that the best-tasting sweet potatoes come from San Miguel Island in Tabaco, which is also the second-largest producer of sweet potatoes in the province. Norman Cruz

THE city government of Taguig is now implementing measures to restrict the movement of individuals unvaccinated against COVID-19.

Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano said the Taguig’s Safe City Task Force has issued Advisory No. 62, effectively adopting the Metropolitan Manila and Development Authority’s Resolution 22-01, Series of 2022, regulating the mobility of unvaccinated individuals.

Cayetano said the adoption of the said resolution was made primarily “to save lives and livelihood.”

“Unvaccinated individuals are at a higher risk if infected with the COVID-19 virus. The regulation of the mobility of this vulnerable

segment of the population is also a better alternative to a total lockdown that affects the entire economy,” he said.

Under the advisory, the regulation of unvaccinated individuals shall be implemented citywide.

The enforcement will focus on areas with a high possibility of COVID-19 transmissions such as public transportation and closed spaces, and areas that have seen increased COVID-19 cases and low vaccination rates.

Taguig enjoins the private sector to help by checking its employees’ vaccination status.

Under the MMDA resolution, unvaccinated individuals are mandated to remain in their residences at all times except for the procurement of essential goods and services such as food, water, medical services, public utilities, and work.

SENATORS Sonny Angara and Win Gatchalian said the law that would grant tax relief to private schools would help the schools stay afloat amid the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lawmakers hailed the enactment of the law clarifying the preferential tax treatment granted to private schools, saying this will save many struggling schools from closing down permanently.

Republic Act No. 11635, which President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law on December 10, 2021, further amends Section 27 (B) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, to reduce the preferential tax rate from 10 percent to one percent imposed on proprietary educational institutions.

“This law effectively cuts the noose that was tied around the necks of our private schools. It is a recognition of the critical role that our private sector educators play as partners of the government in teaching our youth,” Angara said.

Under the law, a “proprietary educational institution” means any private school maintained and administered by private individuals or groups with an issued permit to operate from the Department of Education or Commission on Higher Education or the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Angara, the principal author and a cosponsor of the law, explained that the amendment to that particular section of the NIRC removes any confusion regarding the application of the preferential tax rate on proprietary educational institutions, as well as nonprofit hospitals.

IN BRIEF SSS sets calamity aid to ‘Odette’ victims THE Social Security System is offering a calamity assistance package to members and pensioners affected by typhoon “Odette” starting Jan. 14.

SSS president and chief executive officer Aurora Ignacio said the calamity assistance package consists of the calamity loan assistance program (CLAP) and direct house repair and improvement loan for members, and the three-month advance pension for pensioners in areas affected by “Odette” as declared by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Members and pensioners in MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, CARAGA, and the other areas that may be declared by the NDRRMC to be under the state of calamity due to typhoons, can avail of the SSS calamity assistance package.

“It is unfortunate that the recent typhoon affected the daily lives and livelihood of our members and pensioners in these several areas. Through the SSS calamity assistance package, we can extend financial aid to our members and pensioners as they try to recover from the effects of the recent typhoon,” Ignacio said. Rio N. Araja

AFP mourns passing of ex-chief Abadia THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) extended its condolences to the family and friends of its former chief, Gen. Lisandro Abadia, who passed away Sunday.

“General Abadia served as the CSAFP (Chief-of-Staff AFP) in the early 1990s and has paved the way for the professionalization of the military and the return of meritocracy in its promotion system. He also led the AFP Campaign Plan ‘Lambat Bitag’ that significantly decreased the strength of the communist terrorist group,” AFP spokesperson Army Col. Ramon Zagala said in a statement Monday.

Abadia, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1962, served as AFP chief from 1991 to 1994 under the administration of then President Fidel V. Ramos.

Zagala said the military will provide “appropriate military honors” to the former AFP chief in recognition of his legacy and sacrifices as a soldier.

Manila

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Standard

COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS TODAY ANNOUNCEMENT

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (CA) for the confirmation of the ad interim appointment of: Armed Forces of the Philippines ADONIS R. BAJAO

to the rank of MAJOR GENERAL

The public may submit any information, written report, or sworn/notarized complaints or oppositions to the above ad interim appointment in seven (7) copies to the CA Secretariat, 6th Floor, PNB Financial Center, D. Macapagal Blvd., Pasay City, Metro Manila.

For the schedule of the public hearings, the CA Secretariat can be reached through telephone numbers 8834-2713, 8831-1824, 8831-0527, 88329830, 8834-2706 and 8551-1989.

10 January 2022.

HECTOR A. VILLACORTA Secretary (MS-JAN. 11, 2022)

A4

News

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022

IN BRIEF Leni’s Swab Cab visits Novaliches INDEPENDENT presidential candidate Leni Robredo on Monday oversaw the implementation of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) Swab Cab in Quezon City which offers free COVID-19 antigen tests to the public.

In a Facebook Live post, Robredo said the lines were already long very early in the morning at the Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Novaliches, an indication that many people wanted to avail of the free swab test to determine if they are sick with COVID-19 or not.

The sheer number of people who showed up led the OVP Swab Cab team to set up extra swabbing stations to accommodate more individuals, she said.

“Our goal is to give equitable access to swab tests so we are bringing our Swab Cab to communities,” Robredo said.

Odette survivors get more meds

CHECKPOINTS. Members of the Southern Police District man a Commission on Elections checkpoint on January 10, 2022. In Laguna, Comelec checkpoints were likewise set up across the province. The Philippine National Police began enforcing on Sunday a nationwide gun ban that will last until June 8. Norman Cruz and Roy Tomandao

Binay: MSMEs must get cash aid, free testing

By Joel E. Zurbano FORMER Vice President Jejomar Binay sought government measures to help Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) amid the COVID-19 public health crisis.

Binay, who is running for senator in the May 9 elections, proposed grants for MSMEs so they can continue giving salaries to their workers even when alert levels are raised.

He said the money can be given directly to workers, and MSMEs will not be required to pay the government back.

“I propose extending grants for MSMEs so they can continue paying their workers even when they are forced to downscale or shut down. The money can be given directly to the workers.

Since this is a grant, the MSMEs will not be obligated to repay the government. This has been done in Makati,” said Binay in a statement.

The former vice president was referring to the Assistance and Support to Businesses program initiated in 2020 by the city government of Makati, where he also served as mayor.

At the same time, Binay also urged government to subsidize the cost of testing for MSME workers “so they won’t need to worry about paying out of pocket or burdening employers with the cost of testing.”

He also proposed giving tax breaks for MSMEs until the state of emergency declared as a result of the pandemic is over.

“If we do not take these steps, there will be a breaking point. You cannot expect the economy to recover when businesses are closed and workers are sick,” he said.

Guanzon wants notarized Marcos’ medical certificate

A

N OFFICIAL of the Commission on Elections on Monday said she will require the camp of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to present his notarized medical certificate following his failure to attend a preliminary conference of the disqualification cases filed against him last week.

First Division presiding Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said she would order Dr. Benedict Francis Valdecañas, Marcos’ attending physician, to submit a notarized medical certificate that was read by the respondent’s lawyer during the January 7 preliminary conference.

“Now I have to require the doctor who examined Marcos Jr to have his medical certificate notarized and indicate his medical license number,” she posted on her Twitter account, @rowena_guanzon, Monday.

Based on the medical certificate, the physician said Marcos had a temperature

of 37.8 degrees Celsius and his throat was hyperemic and swollen after examining him in the morning of January 6 at the latter’s residence in Makati City.

Reports, however, said Marcos entertained a radio program on the same day.

“So why didn’t his lead lawyer submit a medical certificate dated Jan 6 if this is true? I will order the doctor and Atty (Vic) Rodriguez to show cause or require his physician to have his medical certificate notarized,” the poll commissioner added.

On Friday, the First Division held the

preliminary conference on the three petitions to disqualify Marcos from running in next year’s polls, filed

by Bonifacio Ilagan, among others, Abubakar Mangelen and Akbayan.

Guanzon gave the parties to submit their memoranda 48 hours after the proceeding or until noon of January 9, through electronic mail.

The cases are submitted for resolution after the petitioners and the respondent have submitted their memoranda.

Guanzon on Friday asked Marcos’ legal counsel, Hanna Barcena, to have her client show up via Zoom, without having to speak, just so his presence can be noted by the court.

But Barcena said Marcos could not show up via Zoom so “because we are afraid that he might cause the spread of the virus.”

SNAP LOCKDOWN. Officials of Barangay 2 Zone 1 in Pasay City, led by Chairman Joel Zabares, enforce granular lockdown measures to control the entry and exit of residents in the area on January 10, 2022.

Norman Cruz

Work continues for Isko after several staff test positive for COVID

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey Requejo WITH nearly all his essential staff infected with COVID-19, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso is practically doing many of his daily functions as a “one-man-team.”

At least 25 of Domagoso’s staff members have been infected, including his

own driver.

He drove himself to the Sta. Ana Hospital to visit the vaccine storage facility where he discussed with hospital director Dr. Grace Padilla and Manila Health Department chief Dr. Poks Pangan the volume of available vaccines for the city’s continuing inoculation program.

He said the staggering number of city officials and employees who turned out

Lacson: Public, private sectors must work for free RT-PCR test

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

PARTIDO Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson urged the national government to engage private sector organizations and local government units in the possible rollout of a free and wider COVID-19 testing program, considering the spate of new viral infections in the country.

Lacson issued this statement amid concerns from the general public over the price of getting an RT-PCR test and the increased demand for some reputable doit-yourself rapid antigen testing kits.

“The price range for testing is quite expensive. The swab test costs around P3,700 when conducted in a private setting. If you fall in line, of course, you get a much cheaper rate. But we know not all of our countrymen have extra money to pay for it,” he said.

“My suggestion is let’s involve our local government units again and even the private sector. Because the private sector is willing to help in this program.

I’m just not sure about the reason why sometimes, instead of encouraging it, we are making it hard for them,” the presidential aspirant added.

to be infected was discovered during last Monday’s routine antigen testing.

Some hospital directors were also currently infected, along with the head of the Manila Emergency Operations Center itself, Dr. Ed Santos.

“It’s been a difficult week for us because many of our colleagues in this building have been infected. Yet our fellow staff continue to serve our country-

men,” Domagoso said in a speech during the regular flag raising ceremony at Manila City Hall Monday.

“Life must go on. We must serve.

The people expect us. Although you are having a hard time with your respective agencies because many of us do not attend, we do not allow others to enter, all I ask is that we work together,” he said.

UNITEAM presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate vice presidential bet Sara Duterte-Carpio are continuously working to attend to the needs of Filipinos affected by the Typhoon Odette in Visayas and Mindanao.

Aside from providing food, potable water, and helping in the restoration of power and rebuilding of shelters, the tandem is also providing much-needed medicines and vitamins for children, the sick and senior citizens who are taking maintenance medications.

“We are grateful to those who have already extended their assistance for the medical medicines needed by our countrymen who were devastated by typhoon Odette in Visayas and Mindanao,” Marcos said. Rey E. Requejo

Roque: More aid for S. Leyte, Bohol UNITEAM senatorial aspirant Harry Roque on Monday vowed to facilitate the arrival of more rice donations and water purifiers for residents who were recently affected by Typhoon Odette.

Roque spent the weekend bringing aid to Southern Leyte and Ubay, Bohol.

He distributed 300 packs of rice to residents of Brgy. San Pascual in Ubay and food packs for families Maasin and Malitbog towns in Southern Leyte.

Roque also visited the beachfront homes in Limasawa Islands, which were washed away by the storm surge, and distributed relief goods.

Comelec probes alleged poll data hacking THE Commission on Elections is probing allegations of a data breach four months before the May 9 national and local polls.

“The Comelec is presently validating the allegations of the article published by the Manila Bulletin, specifically whether Comelec systems have, in fact, been compromised. With no independent verification that a hack has indeed taken place, one thing immediately stands out: the article alleges that the hackers were able to ‘download files that included, among others, usernames and PINs of vote-counting machines (VCM),’” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said.

“The fact, however, is that such information still does not exist in Comelec systems because the configuration files – which includes usernames and PINs – have not yet been completed.

This calls into question the veracity of the hacking claim,” he added.

AID.

BRP Jose Rizal, along with other Philippine Navy vessels, deliver relief goods to Macarascas, Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, one of the areas badly hit by Typhoon Odette last month.

Opinion Which presidential candidate will get businessmen’s vote?

ONE of the hardest parts of the job of a presidential campaign strategist is to include in the campaign strategy a set of ideas and proposals intended to capture the vote of the nation’s business sector. One of the hardest parts of a prognosticator’s job is to predict which of the business programs offered by the presidential candidates will be adjudged most attractive by this country’s businessmen.

Only two of the candidates fit the profile.

For reasons that should be obvious, the support of the business sector is extremely important, because of what comes with it.

The votes of the 20,000 men and women who make up a conglomerate’s workforce are of course important, but it is the finances that come with the conglomerate’s support that matters. Electoral campaigns have to be financially sustained right up to the last legally allowed day, and, with the exception of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Senator Manny Pacquiao, the men and women vying for the presidency in the 2022 elections are individuals relying mainly on corporate and other donations to support their candidacies.

It bears pointing out here that a conglomerate’s inclination toward a particu-

lar candidate does not mean that all of the thousands of corporate-group employees will follow their boss, sheep-like, into the corral of the favored candidate.

The non-MSME businessmen of this country are grouped mainly in four organizations, namely, PCCI (Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry), FFCCC (Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce) MBC (Makati Business Club) and MAP (Management Association of the Philippines) As its name suggests, FFCCC is the organization of the Chinese-Filipino segment - a very large segment to be sure - of the Philippine business community.

Whatever financial support these organizations give to their favored candidates is done with great discretion, e.g., through the third parties, for non-traceability. The members of the FFCCC have long been known to give support to all the strongest candidates, with decreasing generosity the farther down the survey rankings a candidate is. The give-to-everybody concept is intended to avoid bad feelings, especially when the donee loses. The word around town is that the Chinese-Filipino community’s favorite candidate is Senator Panfilo Lacson, who effected the safe rescue of two prominent Chinese-Filipino kidnap victims during his Marcos-era stint with then Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police (PC-INP).

Who will the other business groups MBC, MAP and PCCI - support in next May’s presidential election? After six years of turbulent, distracted Duterte governance, that’s a no-brainer. They will choose a candidate with a track record of integrity and competence, with a legacy of solid service in government and, last but not the least, a healthy regard for the rule of law.

Only two of the candidates fit that profile. These candidates are Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Lacson.

The death of my idol

THE death of National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose affects me in many ways. He was not only my friend; he was my idol.

Frankie was an Ilocano from Rosales, Pangasinan. We speak the same language.

The last time I saw Frankie was during the launching of my book, “The Road Never Ends” at the Manila Golf and Country Club on Jan. 30, 2021 before the COVID-19 pandemic struck the country. He even took some copies of my book, hoping to sell them at a bookstore, “Solidaridad” along Padre Faura. He was a great writer and a novelist, something I can never be. I have read many of his books.

I have always considered Frankie in the category of Nick Joaquin, also a National Artist for Literature.

With the death of F. Sionil Jose, I can say that it will take some time for the country to produce another literary giant of the same caliber. Frankie’s columns at the Philippine Star separates him from the other columnists. Although Frankie wrote only once every week, reading his columns gives me insights on Philippine events, past and present. I also know his wife.

Frankie and I were the oldest columnists still writing, he at the age of 97, and me at 94 going 95. Still, there is a great divide separating Frankie and me. He is a National Artist. I am only an ordinary journalist.

To Frankie, I bid farewell. To Frankie’s family, my deepest and sincerest condolences. *** In politics, nothing much is ongoing with presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos still leading by some 30 million votes against second placer, Vice President Leni Robredo.

For her part, former Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is likewise leading the vice presidential race, with Senate President Tito Sotto as second placer. At the rate things are going, it will take the other presidential and vice presidential aspirants some doing to catch up with the leading BBM-Sara tandem.

I really don’t know why the other aspirants are lagging far behind the BBMSara tandem this early in the campaign.

Is it a question of image or just a matter of perspective? Senator Imee Marcos said that people must remember her late strongman father President Ferdinand E. Marcos for so many good things he had

done for the country.

I believe, as a journalist who has covered election campaigns since the time of the late Apo Pidiong Quirino, that it is a confluence of events why the BBM-Sara tandem is leading. First, if we look at the pairings, the Bongbong-Sara represents a combination of the Solid North and the Solid South, together with a larger portion of the Visayas with Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio being a Cebuana. Note that the largest speaking dialect in Central Visayas and even the Christians in Mindanao Cebu dialect.

Thus, together with the Ilocano voters of the Solid North and the Cebuano-speaking people of the Visayas and Mindanao, the BBM-Sara team makes a perfect geographical and demographical combination that traditional politicians can only long for.

How about the rest of the aspirants? Vice President Leni Robredo can only hope for the Bicol region as her base. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno has the Tagalog region as his base, while fourth place Senator Manny Pacquiao has parts of the Visayas and parts of Mindanao as among his constituencies.

Senator Ping Lacson, while he is a Caviteno, has no base to his name.

He’s a National Artist while I am just an ordinary journalist.

That’s where the great difference lies.

The Martial Law issue? I believe that the Martial Law issue against Bongbong is now a discounted one, especially among the present generation, whose memory of Marcos and the Martial Law are just what they read in the books and the ululations of anti-Marcos people.

Most, if not all, issues thrown at Bongbong come from the fact that he is now the runaway presidential aspirant. Now, the big question. Can the other aspirants ever catch up with Bongbong? Can he maintain his lead until Election Day? However, we can expect Manila Mayor Isko Moreno to catch up with Robredo considering the fact that the percentage difference between Moreno and Robredo can change. On the part of the other aspirants, Senator Manny Pacquiao and Senator Ping Lacson, they should be reminded that May 9, 2022 is not too far away. And for them to catch up with the BBM-Sara tandem, they would do well to examine why all the poll surveys are showing that perhaps some things are wrong in their campaign.

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EDITORIAL

Much ado about nothing

L

such an exemption was not in place and as a result he is subject to the same rule as anyone else.”

The tennis star’s lawyers did him no favor when they pointed out that a COVID-19 infection in December entitled him to an exemption, something that does not hold true in Australia.

Moreover, because of the kerfuffle in Melbourne, we now know that Djokovic, who is a vocal opponent of vaccine mandates, had tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 16, then the very next day attended a public tennis event in Serbia, when he handed over cups and awards to the best players in 2021. Photos from that event showed Djokovic posing with federation officials and some 20 young players holding cups and awards—none of them wearing a mask.

The Australian government was correct in keeping an arrogant person who thinks nothing of endangering others out of their country. It is their prerogative and it is their right.

Alas, the court did not think so. It ruled Monday in the tennis star’s favor, saying he could remain in Australia. Reports say it is not yet known whether he would participate in the Australian Open or would face more legal challenges from the government.

Djokovic and his supporters should know that in some parts of the world, rules still matter—and not even sports superstars should feel entitled to bend them to their will.

ET’S call a spade a spade. Claims that Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic is being held captive or being harassed by the Australian authorities are utter rubbish.

Djokovic had flown into Melbourne last week to defend his title as the champion of the Australian Open, but was stopped by border officials when they learned that he had not been vaccinated against COVID-19, a requirement for entry into Australia.

He was detained at Melbourne airport for several hours before the authorities revoked his visa because had not met immigration regulations and said he would be deported.

Feeling perhaps that he was a big shot who was above the law, Djokovic contested the authorities’ decision to deny him entry and his lawyers are challenging the deportation order in Australia’s Federal Circuit Court.

As his case was heard, Djokovic was held at a hotel used to detain undocumented immigrants, many of whom complain about “disgusting” conditions, including maggots and moldy food, medical neglect, mistreatment and lack of hygiene.

This led to complaints by his family and Serbian government officials that the tennis star was being held prisoner.

“Novak Djokovic is not a criminal, terrorist nor illegal immigrant, but he has been treated as such by the Australian authorities, which understandably triggers the indignation of his support-

Not even sports superstars should feel entitled to bend the rules to their will. ers and Serbian citizens,” Serbia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry’s state secretary, Nemanja Starovic, spoke to the Australian ambassador to demand that Djokovic be transferred to “adequate accommodation for a sportsman of his caliber” while awaiting the court decision, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison offered a more compelling argument.

“On the issue of Mr. Djokovic, rules are rules and there are no special cases,” Morrison said. “That is the policy of the government, and it has been our government’s strong border protection policies and particularly in relation to the pandemic that has ensured that Australia has had one of the lowest death rates from COVID anywhere in the world. Entry with a visa requires double vaccination or a medical exemption. I am advised that

Scenarios on the Marcos petitions

OVER the weekend, the Marcos campaign released a press statement that suggested I supported the view that he should not be disqualified on the basis of the political questions doctrine, that is this is an issue for the people to decide in its sovereign capacity and not for the Comelec or the judiciary to decide.

Their basis for the press statement is an interview aired in ANC last December 31,2021, the year ender for After the Fact anchored by Christian Esguerra.

All those who watch and listen to Christian know that he is an excellent interviewer, probably the best in his generation. He asks good and intelligent questions. He probes, explores and discusses options with his guest. It is in this context that I suggested several scenarios to the Marcos disqualification case. I took care in being fair and objective, and yes not partisan, about these scenarios.

I certainly did not advocate that the Comelec or the Supreme Court should rule in favor of Marcos – nor did I advocate that he be disqualified. That is in fact up to the two bodies to decide and as long as they do it with independence and not influenced or coerced by outside actors, I can support whatever outcome they decide.

Since one part of my perspective on the Marcos disqualification case has been misused and taken out of context, let me share my analysis of the case.

The Marcos cancellation/disqualification petitions were triggered by Marcos’ 1995 conviction for failure to file his income tax returns (ITRs) for four consecutive years from 1982 to 1985. One of the main issues in these petitions is whether BBM’s 1995 conviction is for a crime involving moral turpitude, which carries perpetual disqual*** In the Senate race, it looks like the returning senators and reelectionists are filling up the 12 Magic Circle together with the newcomers, broadcaster Raffy Tulfo, former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, and former Vice President Jojo Binay.

The returning senators are Alan Peter Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Chiz Escudero, and Jinggoy Estrada, while the reelectionist are Migs Zubiri, Win Gatchalian and Joel

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

Anita F. Grefal

Baldwin R. Felipe

Edgar M. Valmorida

the minds of the Commissioners and the Justices. For sure, a technical analysis akin to the Carpio view can justify a cancellation/disqualification decision. The Commissioners and Justices can also reject that view and accept Mendoza’s argument saving the Marcos candidacy.

Let’s be clear that the Comelec and the Supreme Court have the authority to decide these petitions. But there is a scenario where the Comelec and/or the Court may decide to decline to decide that and allow the people to make the decision through the ballot box. I am not advocating that at all, at least right now, but I recognize that it can happen.

The worst-case scenario is for the Court to come up with a decision (including resolving motions for reconsideration) only after the 2022 elections but with Marcos already getting the most number of votes.

Equally bad is a decision made on the eve of Election Day, causing confusion and chaos.

These scenarios, in effect, will be nullifying the will of the people which goes against the essence of democracy. This will not only be very divisive but can be a lingering pain in the backside for years to come of whoever then becomes president in place of a disqualified Marcos.

In any case, the better scenario on the Marcos petitions is for the Comelec and Supreme Court to decide the petitions by the end of March, at the latest. That would mean the people would be apprised of their choices well ahead of their vote and the other campaigns will be able to recalibrate depending on the outcome of the petitions.

This way, the election would be won through the ballot box and not through a legal decision which will make the outcome illegitimate in the eyes of many of our people. That in turn will create instability and tempt the military and similar forces to intervene. No one should want that scenario.

ification from holding any public office.

Notice that while the conviction was affirmed by the Court of Appeals, the appellate court only imposed a fine with no imprisonment. The conviction became final in 2001. These facts are not controverted.

Estelito Mendoza, one of Marcos’ lawyers, argues that the former’s conviction in the tax case does not equate to a crime involving moral turpitude, for which one might be disqualified. According to Mendoza, the [Court of Appeals] CA decision does not, and no inference can be made from its decision that Marcos in this case, has been found by the CA of committing a crime involving moral turpitude.

My perspective on the Marcos disqualification case has been misused and taken out of context.

Former Associate Justice Antonio Carpio argues Marcos is not eligible to run for president, citing two legal provisions: First, Section 12 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) disqualifies any candidate who has been convicted by final judgment of “any offense for which he has been sentenced to a penalty of more than eighteen months or for a crime involving moral turpitude.” Secondly, Section 253(c) of the Tax Code provides that “any public officer” who is convicted of any crime penalized by the Tax Code is “perpetually disqualified from holding any public office, to vote and to participate in any election.” Either one of these two grounds is sufficient to disqualify Marcos, Carpio wrote.

The fate of Marcos will be decided initially by the Comelec and ultimately by the Supreme Court. I will not pretend to read Villanueva. In the 10th to 12th place are Robin Padilla, Dick Gordon, Risa Hontiveros and another Erap son, JV Ejercito.

In the Senate race, it’s a name recall that counts, and for the newcomers, they have to work much harder. *** We have a new COVID surge, likely driven by the Omicron variant. My gulay, the whole country is now considered a “high risk area” with stricter health protocols and restrictions.

We are now under Alert Level 3.

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

Website: tonylavina.com Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs Just how long will this new variant last?

It’s anybody’s guess, and yet health experts tell us not to panic. They must be kidding.

With the country now classified as high risk, there goes our expected economic recovery with its unemployment and rising incidence of poverty and hunger. I am alarmed because it seems the pandemic won’t end this year. To think that nine out of 10 Filipinos had hoped that this year 2022 will be a better year than last year.

The reality on the ground tells us this year won’t be a better year.

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

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

B2

World

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Suu Kyi gets 4 more years in jail Y ANGON—A Myanmar junta court on Monday convicted Aung San Suu Kyi of three criminal charges, sentencing her to four years in prison in the latest in a slew of cases against the ousted civilian leader.

The Nobel laureate has been detained since February 1 when her government was forced out in an early morning coup, ending Myanmar’s short-lived experiment with democracy.

The generals’ power grab triggered widespread dissent, which security forces sought to quell with mass detentions and bloody crackdowns in which

more than 1,400 civilians have been killed, according to a local monitoring group.

A source with knowledge of the case told AFP the 76-year-old was found guilty of two charges related to illegally importing and owning walkie-talkies and one of breaking coronavirus rules.

Junta spokesman Major General Zaw

Min Tun confirmed the verdicts and sentences and told AFP Suu Kyi would remain under house arrest while other cases against her proceed.

The walkie-talkie charges stem from when soldiers raided her house on the day of the coup, allegedly discovering the contraband equipment.

Monday’s sentence adds to the penalties the court handed down in December when she was jailed for four years for incitement and breaching Covid-19 rules while campaigning.

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing cut the sentence to two years and said she could serve her term under house arrest in the

capital Naypyidaw.

‘Fear tactic’ December’s ruling drew international condemnation, and the Myanmar public reverted to old protesting tactics of banging pots and pans in a show of anger.

Ahead of the verdict, Manny Maung, a Human Rights Watch researcher, said further convictions would deepen nationwide discontent.

“The announcement of her last conviction resulted in one of the highest days of social media interactions from inside Myanmar, and deeply angered the public,” she told AFP. AFP

9 kids among 19 dead in NY apartment fire NEW YORK—Nine children were among at least 19 people killed and dozens injured when a fire tore through a high-rise apartment building in New York on Sunday in one of America’s worst residential fires in recent memory.

At least 200 firefighters responded to the blaze, which broke out just before 11:00 am (1600 GMT) on the second and third floors of a 19-story building in The Bronx.

Witnesses reported seeing trapped residents screaming for help from windows during the deadly inferno that the city’s fire chief said had been caused by a portable electric heater, leaving victims on “every floor.”

“There were a lot of kids crying, ‘Help! Help! Help!’” 38-year-old Dilenny Rodriguez, who escaped with her children, told AFP. Mayor Eric Adams told reporters that 19 people had been confirmed dead and 63 had been injured, including several that were in a “critical condition.”

“This is going to be one of the worst fires in our history,” he said.

“Join me in praying for those we lost, especially the 9 innocent young lives that were cut short,” he added in a later tweet.

The mainly working class borough of The Bronx is home to a large number of immigrants and Adams said “many” of the building’s residents had been Muslims who moved to New York from Gambia.

Photographs and video posted on social media showed flames and thick black smoke billowing out of a thirdstory window of the brick building at East 181st Street as firefighters operated on a nearby ladder. AFP

STILL IN JAIL. In this file photo taken on March 2, 2021, a protester holds a poster featuring Aung San Suu Kyi as they take part in a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon. A Myanmar junta court on January 10 convicted Aung San Suu Kyi of three criminal charges, sentencing her to four years in prison in the latest round of a legal onslaught against the ousted civilian leader. AFP

Xinjiang anti-terror general to lead China’s HK garrison HONG KONG—A general who led China’s anti-terrorism special forces in Xinjiang has been promoted to head the People’s Liberation Army in Hong Kong, state media has reported.

China has been accused by Washington of genocide in Xinjiang, a farwestern region where human rights campaigners say authorities have detained vast numbers of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in camps and are stamping out their culture.

The Hong Kong appointment comes as Beijing remoulds the international

business hub in its own authoritarian image after huge and sometimes violent democracy protests in 2019.

Chinese President Xi Jinping appointed Major General Peng Jingtang, deputy chief of staff of the People’s Armed Police as the Hong Kong garrison’s commander, China’s official Xinhua news agency announced Sunday.

Under the city’s mini-constitution, Hong Kong has its own police force but China has maintained military barracks there since the 1997 handover when colonial Britain’s own forces left.

A new national security law has also empowered the mainland’s security agents to operate openly in the city.

Among the few details released on state media about Peng’s career was his former post as the chief of staff of the Armed Police Corps in Xinjiang, part of China’s paramilitary police force.

Three years ago, Reference News -- a branch of Xinhua -- reported that a new special force called Mountain Eagle Commando had been formed in Xinjiang “for the anti-terrorism needs in the region and across China.” AFP

Iran says Vienna nuke gab moving ahead, resulting in ‘good progress’

ANTI-VAX PROTEST. A demonstrator holds up a Guy Fawkes mask during a rally to protest against Covid-19 restrictions in Denmark at the City Hall Square (Radhuspladsen) in Copenhagen on January 9, marking the first anniversary of the anti-vaccination movement ‘Men in Black’. AFP

TEHRAN—Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said Monday that efforts by “all parties” to revive the country’s 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers had resulted in “good progress” during talks in Vienna.

Negotiations to salvage the nuclear deal resumed in late November after they were suspended in June as Iran elected a new, ultraconservative government.

The 2015 deal—agreed by Iran, the US, China, Russia, Britain, France, and Germany—offered Tehran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme.

But then-president Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US in 2018 and reimposed biting sanctions, prompting Tehran to begin rolling back on its commitments.

“There has been good progress on all four issues of removing sanctions, nuclear issues, verification and obtaining guarantees” during the latest round of talks, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters on Monday.

This progress is “the result of the efforts made by all parties to reach a stable agreement”.

His comments are the latest in a series of positive announcements

by Iran on the talks, as the Islamic republic negotiates with the remaining parties to the deal.

The US has participated only indirectly in the Vienna talks, which seek to bring Washington back inside the accord and to ensure Iran re-adheres to its own commitments.

“We are seeking a reliable and stable deal,” Khatibzadeh said. “If the other party thinks an unstable and unreliable agreement is to their benefit, this is not what the Islamic Republic is after.” AFP

Afghan baby lost in US airlift chaos reunited with family KABUL -- A baby lost during the chaotic evacuation of tens of thousands of Afghans at Kabul airport has been reunited with his relatives after five months, his elated grandfather has said.

The boy’s father handed two-month-old Sohail Ahmadi to a foreign soldier among jostling crowds desperate to flee the Taliban after the Islamists seized the capital in mid-August.

The pair were separated, and what happened next is unclear -- but taxi driver Hamid Safi said he found the baby crying and alone on the floor of the airport the same day.

“I took him to some women to breastfeed him but they would not... I kept looking for his family,” said Safi, who had gone to the airport to help his brother with evacuation.

“I then called my wife and she said to bring the baby home.”

The couple said they kept searching for the boy’s parents but on failing to find them, gave him the name Mohammad Abed and began to care for him.

“If we had not found his family then we would have protected and raised him as our own child,” Safi, 29, told AFP. Meanwhile, Sohail’s father Mirza Ali Ahmadi searched for three days at the airport for his missing son, finally choosing to board a flight to the United States with his wife and four other children.

Kabul’s only airport was trashed in August when tens of thousands of people scrambled to evacuate on any available flight as the United States wrapped up their withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war.

Many Afghans feared a return to the Taliban’s hardline rule of the 1990s or retribution for working with the USbacked government or foreign forces. AFP

Putin: Russians in Kazakhstan only for a while ALMATY—Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that a Moscow-led military detachment deployed to counter unrest in Kazakhstan would remain in the Central Asian country for only a “limited” period.

“A contingent of CSTO peacekeeping forces has been sent to Kazakhstan -- and I want to emphasise this -for a limited time period,” Putin said during a during a meeting of leaders from ex-Soviet countries, referring to a military pact among their nations.

Ex-Soviet Kazakhstan has been left reeling in the wake of unprecedented unrest that erupted earlier this month in the midst of protests over a fuel price hike in the west of the country.

Dozens are believed to have been left dead in the violence and the interior ministry said Monday that nearly 8,000 people had been detained by security forces.

Putin said the Collective Security Treaty Organisation had dispatched troops following the request of Kazakhstan’s president because the country was facing the “aggression of international terrorism.”

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during the meeting that the CSTO had dispatched 2,030 troops and 250 pieces of hardware.

The Russian president added during the meeting that the deployment of troops from former Soviet countries had sent a signal that leaders there would not allow “revolutions” to erupt within ex-Soviet countries.

“The measures taken by the CSTO made it clear that we would not let anyone destabilise the situation at our home and implement so-called colour revolution scenarios,” Putin added.

This developed as top US and Russian diplomats kicked off crucial talks Monday on soaring tensions over Ukraine, amid fears of a Russian invasion of its pro-Western neighbour. AFP

‘Attempted coup,’ not unrest, says Kazakh President ALMATY—Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Monday described days of historic unrest in his Central Asian country as a coup attempt and vowed his security services would never shoot peaceful protesters.

“Armed militants who were waiting in the wings joined the protests. The main goal was obvious: the undermining of the constitutional order, the destruction of government institutions and the seizure of power. It was an attempted coup d’etat”, he said.

Ex-Soviet Kazakhstan has been left reeling in the wake of unprecedented unrest that erupted earlier this month in the midst of protests over a fuel price hike in the west of the country.

Dozens have been killed in the unrest and the interior ministry said earlier Monday that nearly 8,000 people had been detained in operations executed by several branches of the security services.

During a meeting with the leaders of other former Soviet countries, Tokayev said his security forces would not shoot protesters rallying peacefully.

“We have never fired and will never fire on peaceful demonstrators,” he said.

During the unrest, the Moscow-led CSTO military alliance sent a detachment of 2,500 troops to the country following a request from Tokayev.

The Kazakh president said on Monday, during a meeting with leaders of CSTO countries—including Russian leader Vladimir Putin—that the Russian-led mission in Kazakhstan would end “soon”. AFP

KAZAKH DAMAGE.

A crane loads a car, burned during clashes, in Almaty on January 10 following violent protests over the price increase of the fuel. Ex-Soviet Kazakhstan was observing a day of national mourning, following the worst unrest in the republic’s independent history. AFP

Business

B3

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

IMF warns of economic turbulence

PSEi January 10, 2022

TOP GAINERS

LAST %

PRICE CHANGE CHANGE 1 ALHI 6.48 0.81 14.29% 2 UPM 0.0072 0.0007 10.77% 3 UBP 99.9 9.2 10.14% 4 AB 6.7 0.51 8.24% 5 SPNEC 1.29 0.09 7.50% 6 SECB 111 6.9 6.63% 7 LFM 28.6 1.6 5.93% 8 DNL 9 0.5 5.88% 9 ACR 1.09 0.06 5.83% 10 ALLHC 6.38 0.35 5.80%

TOP LOSERS

1 PRC 2 ABG 3 STI 4 RLT 5 SOC 6 MBC 7 ALCO

LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE 5.75 -0.88 -13.27% 5.36 -0.53 -9.00% 0.315 -0.025 -7.35% 0.202 -0.011 -5.16% 0.57 -0.03 -5.00% 10 -0.5 -4.76% 0.61 -0.03 -4.69%

8 IRC 1.13 -0.05 -4.24% 9 BCB 4.85 -0.21 -4.15% 10 ATNB 0.385 -0.015 -3.75%

MOST ACTIVE

1 MBT 2 GLO 3 SPNEC 4 ACEN 5 SM 6 ALI 7 JFC 8 SECB 9 TEL 10 SMPH

VOLUME VALUE (PHP) 5,396,570 294,021,618 86,285 278,102,990 213,296,000 269,977,280 26,328,600 250,498,419 247,910 235,589,160 6,478,800 222,214,975 849,060 187,548,392 1,597,890 175,068,077 95,485 174,094,595 4,921,400 168,028,475

DOLLAR CRISIS. Tourists leave from the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake, on the outskirts of Colombo.

Sri Lanka imposed electricity rationing last week with the main power utility unable to buy fuel oil for its power stations as a result of the island’s worsening dollar crisis. The island’s tourism-dependent economy has been hammered by the pandemic and the government imposed a broad import ban in early 2020 to try to save foreign exchange reserves. AFP

Stocks surge; Jollibee, Security Bank advance T HE stock market rebounded Monday on bargain hunting in step with the rest of Asia, as traders brushed off another negative performance on Wall Street as US data showed fewer new jobs than expected were created last month.

while Security Bank Corp., the eighth biggest lender in terms of assets, climbed 6.6 percent to P111.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. of the Sy Group rose 3.9 percent to P34.40, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the largest fast-food chain, gained 3.6 percent at P222.80 Most Asian and European markets rose Monday as US wages saw a strong gain, keeping pressure on the Federal Reserve in its battle against inflation.

Asia had an uncertain start but most were up.

Still, Hong Kong extended a recent winning streak into a third day, and Shanghai was also up.

Singapore continued its bright start to the year with another healthy gain while there were also advances in Taipei, Mumbai, Bangkok and Jakarta, though Sydney, Seoul and Wellington dipped.

Tokyo was closed for a holiday.

Traders will be keeping a watch on inflation readings out of the United

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index jumped 129.56 points, or 1.8 percent to 7,140.67 on a value turnover of P5.2 billion. Gainers overwhelmed losers, 116 to 64, wit 53 issues unchanged.

Solar Philippine Nueva Ecija Corp., which is building what is being touted as the biggest solar farm in Southeast Asia, advanced 7.5 percent to P1.29,

States and China this week as they try to assess the outlook for the global economy with rocketing energy costs and supply snarls compounding problems caused by the fast-spreading Omicron COVID variant.

The closely watched non-farm payrolls figure on Friday came in well short of forecasts, marking a disappointing end to the year, while wage growth beat estimates.

Fed officials are now faced with the problem of having to adjust monetary policy to rein in prices while at the same time avoid damaging the economic recovery and causing a panic on markets as the cheap cash that has fueled a near-two year rally is removed.

The bank has already started tapering its vast bond-buying program put in place at the start of the pandemic and has signaled it could start lifting interest rates from record lows from March, with some observers predicting three hikes this year. With AFP

In Liberia, abandoned hotel stands as symbol of haunted past

By Emmet Livingstone MONROVIA, Liberia—Towering above Liberia’s ramshackle capital Monrovia stands a hotel that once symbolized an African dream yet today lies in ruins, a legacy of brutal conflict.

When it opened its doors in 1960, the Ducor was one of the only five-star hotels in Africa, boasting a night club and air-conditioned rooms, according to travel guides.

At its height, it hosted VIPs such as former Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie. Guests would lounge by the swimming pool, sipping cocktails and watching the sun set over the Atlantic.

But the Ducor shut in 1989 at the outbreak of back-to-back civil wars which ran from 1989-1997 and from 19992003, and swiftly fell into disrepair.

Today, little of Monrovia bears the visible marks of war, but the Ducor’s decaying hulk stands as a reminder of the conflict that killed over 250,000 people.

The hotel lies in limbo, and even who owns it seems unclear.

The ruin, atop one of the city’s highest hills, looms over Monrovia’s downtown and the densely populated West Point slum.

The former hotel’s rooms have been stripped bare, mildewy walls are pockmarked with bullet and shell holes, and the grounds have become a haunt for drug users.

“It makes everybody sad,” said Ambrose Yebea, a retired tourism ministry official who previously offered tours of the hotel.

Liberia’s government once planned

The old pool is pictured of the dilapidated Ducor hotel which over looks Monrovia on November 18, 2021. The Ducor Hotel, when it opened its doors in 1960, was the first five-star hotel in Africa. At its height, it hosted illustrious guests such as the former Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie. AFP

to restore the hotel to its former glory with the help of former Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi.

But there has been no progress since his downfall in 2011, and time continues to chip away at the Ducor.

Golden age There were few hotels in Monrovia in the 1950s, according to Yebea, prompting the construction of the Ducor in 1960 to cater to traveling executives and government officials.

Designed by Israeli architect Moshe Mayer, in modernist style, it became one of Africa’s most luxurious hotels.

Then Israeli-foreign minister Golda Meir, who later became prime minister,

attended its opening ceremony. As did Guinea’s independence leader Sekou Toure.

Photos of the hotel from the era show a gleaming building and guests taking life easy.

One of the persistent anecdotes related to the Ducor, which AFP was unable to verify, holds that former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin swam in the pool with his gun.

Another guest, Ivory Coast’s first president Felix Houphouet-Boigny, was so taken with the hotel that he arranged for Moshe Mayer to build a similar luxury establishment in Abidjan, which is still in operation.

Many of Africa’s leaders stayed at the Ducor during the 1960s and 70s, including Selassie, Yebea said, with several booking rooms during the 1979 conference of the Organization of African Unity in Monrovia.

But by that point, the hotel was likely already in decline.

A 1975 World Bank report on Liberia describes the eight-story hotel as “quite run-down”—and mentions government plans to renovate it.

Liberian ex-warlord Charles Taylor positioned gunmen in the Ducor during the 2003 siege of Monrovia, at the close of the war.

Later, squatters occupied the site. But president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who won office in Liberia’s first post-war election, evicted them in 2007.

She then launched renovation plans. In 2011, her government handed the Ducor to the Libyan African Investment Company (LAICO), a subsidiary of Libya’s sovereign wealth fund.

Libyan scheme According to a 2011 government statement, the renovated hotel was due to have 151 rooms, restaurants, a shopping centrer, a tennis court and a casino—as well as provide jobs in the impoverished country.

However, the project—which with another scheme to develop a rubber-processing plant was priced at $65 million—then fell foul of another war. AFP

Too much meat? Debate over Spain’s factory farming creates beef MADRID, Spain—Debate over the environmental impact of Spain’s huge factory farming sector is heating up in the country, Europe’s biggest meat consumer, and splitting its ruling coalition.

In an interview published in British daily The Guardian, Consumer Affairs Minister Alberto Garzon lashed out against Spain’s “so-called megafarms,” calling them unsustainable.

“They find a village in a depopulated bit of Spain and put in 4,000, or 5,000, or 10,000 head of cattle,” he said.

“They pollute the soil, they pollute the water and then they export this poor quality meat from these ill-treated animals.”

Garzon is the coordinator of the tiny United Left party, a junior member of the minority coalition government led by Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and his comments angered farmers.

“There are no mistreated animals in Spain, minister,” the UPA union, which represents small producers, said in a statement.

It said Garzon’s statements were “based on falsehoods, clumsy, nearsighted and could have harmful effects on Spanish meat exports.”

Pablo Casado, the leader of the conservative main opposition Popular Party (PP) which is strong in some rural areas, also weighed in, calling Garzon’s words “an attack against ranchers and farmers and the image of our country.”

Government spokeswoman Isabel Rodriguez said Garzon was speaking in a personal capacity.

She added that the government “supports the livestock sector, which contributes decisively to our exports”.

The debate risks deepening the divide between the Socialists and left-wing coalition partner Podemos ahead of an election in the Castile and Leon region north of Madrid as the PP rides high in the polls.

Garzon had already come under fire in July for urging Spaniards to reduce their meat consumption, prompting Sanchez to say that for him “there’s nothing that beats a well done steak.” AFP

WASHINGTON, United States—Emerging economies should gird for possible rough times as the US Federal Reserve prepares to raise interest rates and world economic growth slows because of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the IMF warned Monday.

The International Monetary Fund, which is scheduled to release updated economic forecasts on January 25, said that for now global economic recovery from the ravages of the pandemic should continue this year and next.

But “risks to growth remain elevated by the stubbornly resurgent pandemic,” IMF economists Stephan Danninger, Kenneth Kang and Helene Poirson wrote in a blog post.

The highly contagious Omicron strain has spread like wildfire around the world since mid-December, causing record numbers of new COVID cases in the latest wave of the global health crisis.

Omicron, which seems to cause less severe disease than previous strains of the coronavirus, is causing countries to reinstitute health measures that hamper economic growth.

“Given the risk that this could coincide with faster Fed tightening, emerging economies should prepare for potential bouts of economic turbulence,” the economists said, as these countries are also confronting elevated inflation and substantially higher public debt.

The Fed has signaled that it will raise key interest rates sooner and more aggressively than it had planned, in order to counter rampant inflation in the US that is hitting US households and consumption—the engine of economic growth in America.

Higher interest rates mean financing costs for some emerging economies with dollar-denominated debt will rise.

These countries are already lagging behind in the global economic recovery and thus less able to absorb added expenditure.

“While dollar borrowing costs remain low for many, concerns about domestic inflation and stable foreign funding led several emerging markets last year, including Brazil, Russia, and South Africa, to start raising interest rates,” the IMF said.

Quicker Fed rate hikes could rattle financial markets and cause tighter financial conditions on a global scale, the blog says.

The risk is there will be a slowing of demand and trade in the US, as well as capital flight and a depreciation of the dollar in markets of emerging countries.

The IMF recommended that emerging economy nations “tailor their response based on their circumstances and vulnerabilities.” AFP

Sri Lanka seeks debt rescheduling of Chinese loans COLOMBO, Sri Lanka—Cash-strapped Sri Lanka sought to reschedule its huge Chinese debt burden in Sunday talks with visiting foreign minister Wang Yi, the president’s office said.

The island’s tourism-dependent economy has been hammered by the pandemic and its depleted foreign exchange reserves have led to food rationing at supermarkets and shortages of essential goods.

Key ally China is Sri Lanka’s biggest bilateral lender and Wang’s visit comes after a warning from international ratings agencies that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government could be on the brink of default.

“The President pointed out that it would be a great relief if debt payments could be rescheduled in view of the economic crisis following the pandemic,” Rajapaksa’s office said in a statement.

There was no immediate comment from the Chinese embassy in Colombo.

Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves had dropped to just $1.5 billion at the end of November –enough to pay for only about a month’s worth of imports.

The island’s main energy utility began rationing electricity on Friday after running out of foreign currency to import oil for its thermal generators.

China accounted for about 10 percent of Sri Lanka’s $35-billion foreign debt to April 2021, government data shows.

Officials said China’s total lending could be much higher when taking into account loans to state-owned enterprises and the central bank.

Sri Lanka has borrowed heavily from China for infrastructure, some of which ended up as white elephants.

Unable to repay a $1.4-billion loan for a port construction in southern Sri Lanka, Colombo was forced to lease out the facility to a Chinese company for 99 years in 2017. AFP

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

B4

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022

Lloyd receives perks to make COVID-19 drug

By Othel V. Campos THE Board of Investments said Monday it approved the registration of Lloyd Laboratories Inc. to locally manufacture globally-accepted COVID-19 therapy Molnupiravir.

Lloyd Laboratories Inc., a local company, recently expanded its production facility in Malolos, Bulacan to accommodate the production of Molnupiravir. The P24-million project, which is expected to start in January 2022, can produce 1 million 400-mg capsules of Molnupiravir annually.

“Amid the steep surge of COVID-19 cases exacerbated by the emergence of new variants, it is a crucial and urgent step to produce oral therapies locally to reduce hospitalization, and for those who will be hospitalized—to lessen the period of hospitalization, and to prevent the death of Filipinos who contracted the virus,” said Trade Secretary and BOI chairman Ramon Lopez.

Lopez said the BOI is at the forefront of harnessing Philippine manufacturing capacity in the fight against the pandemic by locally producing personal protective equipment, disinfectants and ventilators and in industrial coordination for oxygen supply.

The project was approved under the “All Qualified Activities Relating to the Fight against the COVID-19 Pandemic - Essential Goods” listing of the 2020 Investment Priorities Plan. The 2020 incentives scheme is transitioning to Strategic Investment Priorities Plan under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act Law. Lloyd Laboratories acquired a direct technology transfer on Molnupiravir production from Optimus Pharma—an integrated pharmaceutical organization in Hyderabad. The laboratory reported that it intends to make the product available locally soon.

Based on the interim results of the Phase III Clinical Trials of Optimus Pharma conducted in India for orally administered Molnupiravir capsules on patients with mild symptoms, the addition of Molnupiravir to the standard of care significantly results in faster clinical improvement in reducing viral load.

Business FDI inflows nearly doubled to $855m in October—BSP

By Julito G. Rada

N

ET inflows of foreign direct investments rose for the fifth straight month in October, posting a 98.9-percent growth yearon-year to $855 million from $430 million a year ago, latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

The figure brought the FDI net inflows in the first 10 months of 2021 to $8.1 billion, higher by 48.1 percent than the $5.5-billion net inflows a year ago and surpassed the $8-billion full-year net FDI target for 2021.

“Cumulative FDI net inflows rose on the back of the 78.6-percent increase in non-residents’ net investments in debt instruments to $5.9 billion from $3.3

billion in the same period in 2020,” the BSP said in a statement.

Reinvestment of earnings reached $942 million, an 11.9-percent increase from the $842 million posted in January to October 2020. Meanwhile, nonresidents’ net investments in equity capital (other than reinvestment of earnings) remained broadly stable at $1.3 billion.

Cumulative equity capital placements dipped slightly by 3.6 percent to $1.6 billion from $1.7 billion, while withdrawals grew 2.3 percent to $351 million from $343 million.

Equity capital placements in the period came mostly from Singapore, Japan, the United States, and the Netherlands.

These were channeled primarily to manufacturing; electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning; financial and insurance; and real estate industries.

The recorded increase in FDI net inflows in October was mainly on account of the 78.5-percent growth in non-residents’ net investments in debt instruments to $637 million from $357 mil-

lion in October 2020.

Non-residents’ net investments in equity capital (other than reinvestment of earnings) also increased to $141 million from $1 million in the comparable month in 2020. The notable expansion was due to the improvement in equity capital placements by 80 percent to $154 million from $86 million and the decline in equity capital withdrawals by 84.1 percent to $13 million from $85 million.

Equity capital placements were sourced mainly from Japan, Singapore and the United States. These were channeled mainly to manufacturing; electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning; and real estate industries. Reinvestment of earnings for the month amounted to $77 million, up by 7.1 percent from $72 million.

The BSP, in Decemger, raised the 2021 target for FDI net inflows to $8 billion from $7 billion previously, taking into account the improving global economic outlook despite the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

MANILA Electric Co. said Monday the average electricity rate in its franchise will go down by P0.0746 per kilowatthour in January on lower generation charges from power plants.

Meralco said the adjustment means the overall rate for a typical household will decrease to P9.7027 per kWh from December’s P9.7773 per kWh. This is equivalent to a reduction of around P15 in the total bill of residential customers consuming 200 kWh a month.

Monday, January 10, 2022

129.56 PTS. 7,140.67

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

745,526,770 74,785

TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES DECLINES

5,245,487,962.85 116 64

UNCHANGED

53

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

51.2490

Japan

Yen

0.008648

0.4432

UK

Pound

1.359100

69.6525

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128238

6.5721

Switzerland

Franc

1.088613

55.7903

Canada

Dollar

0.790764

40.5259

Singapore

Dollar

0.737735

37.8082

Australia

Dollar

0.716100

36.6994

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

135.9390

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266468

13.6562

Brunei

Dollar

0.735024

37.6692

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.029691

1.5216

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.9544

Euro

Euro

1.135600

58.1984

Korea

Won

0.000835

0.0428

China

Yuan

0.156814

8.0366

India

Rupee

0.013464

0.6900

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.237699

12.1818

New Zealand

Dollar

0.677500

34.7212

Taiwan

Dollar

0.036219

1.8562 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

Cirtek’s Quintel unit enters Hawaii market

CIRTEK Holdings Philippines Corp. said Monday its US-based telecom base station antenna unit entered the Hawaii market.

Cirtek said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Monday Quintel USA Inc. included Hawaii as a new market under its service coverage area in North America.

“Quintel has delivered its first batch of orders from Hawaii and will continue to help the island state improve its network in 2022 as the telco continues with its infrastructure upgrades to support the market’s growing wireless demand,” Cirtek said.

Cirtek said Quintel would support the islands of Hawaii with its new antenna portfolio.

“The 5G NR launch is the first in Hawaii using the 850 band. Our antennas provide independent tilt option when using these dual band radio. This means that the network optimization can independently control the coverage footprint of 5G which is in the 850 band and the 4G in the 700 band,” it said.

Quintel is also poised to release other antenna solutions in 2022 to help increase the network’s data throughput, it said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Solar PH Nueva Ecija to hike capital to P5b SOLAR Philippines Nueva Ecija Corp. said Monday it is expanding its authorized capital stock to P5 billion from P1 billion in preparation for a possible acquisition to expand its portfolio.

SPNEC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the increase in the company’s authorized capital stock would enable it to conduct asset-for-share swaps with parent Solar Philippines, subject to third-party valuations and approvals.

It will also enable the company to raise fund to expand its solar project portfolio, subject to third-party valuations and approvals. SPNEC said it would call a special stockholders meeting to approve the proposal.

“We are thankful for the level of interest in SPNEC, even as a single pre-operating project.

At the same time, we note the feedback that adding our already operating or contracted projects would make SPNEC even more attractive. We wish to take this opportunity to give our public shareholders this option, in the interest of advancing SPNEC’s value and profitability,” said Solar Philippines founder Leandro Leviste. Jenniffer B. Austria

HISTORICAL MARKER. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno (center) unveils a historical marker on China Bank’s Binondo Business Center in time for the bank’s 101st anniversary celebration. The site of the bank’s original headquarters in 1920s at the corner of Juan Luna and Dasmariñas Streets, the Binondo Business Center successfully underwent a restoration project, gaining the National Museum’s certification as an important cultural property and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines’ nod marking it as a heritage site.

Meralco announces P0.07-per-kWh reduction in January electricity rates

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Meralco said the lower generation charge dragged down overall electricity rates.

The generation charge in January decreased P0.1081 per kWh to P5.4262 per kWh from last month’s P5.5343 per kWh on the back of lower costs from supply agreements and independent power producers that more than offset the higher charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.

PSA and IPP rates registered reductions of P0.4375 and P0.0543 per kWh, respectively. The higher share of excess energy deliveries of AC Energy plants

and lower coal prices contributed to the reductions.

PSAs and IPPs accounted for 46.5 percent and 41.3 percent of Meralco’s energy requirement, respectively.

Charges from WESM, the trading floor of electricity, increased by P0.8511 per kWh, brought about by higher average capacity on outage in the Luzon grid.

Damage from Typhoon Odette and the continued Malampaya gas supply restriction also contributed to the grid’s tight supply condition. The share of

WESM this month was lower at 12.2 percent.

Transmission charges for residential customers increased P0.0728 per kWh, on higher ancillary service charges.

Meanwhile, taxes and other charges registered a net reduction of P0.0393 per kWh. Meralco also continued the implementation of the Distribution Rate TrueUp refund which began in March 2021 to temper the overall movement of rates.

The refund rate for residential customers is at P0.2761 per kWh.

Bohol bridge project to be completed soon THE Department of Public Works and Highways said Monday a bridge project in Bohol province is expected to open in the first half of 2022 that will improve mobility of goods and people and provide greater access to the tourism sites in the province.

DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain said the construction of the new Clarin Bridge along the Bohol Circumferential Road is at 82-percent completion rate and would be completed before the term of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte ends in June 2022.

The two-lane Clarin Bridge will replace the old bridge damaged during the Bohol earthquake in 2013.

Sadain instructed contractor Vicente T. Lao Construction in partnership with Indonesia’s PT Wijaya Karya to expedite the construction of roads leading to the main bridge.

Sadain also reminded that at this stage of pandemic which slows down construction activities and causing project critical delay, health and safety risk assessments of every worker should be conducted regularly consistent with medical and government guidelines, and contractors’ duty to provide a safe working environment. Darwin G. Amojelar

BDO launches P5-b worth of ASEAN sustainability bonds BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest lender controlled by the Sy Group, said Monday it started the public offering of P5-billion worth of peso-denominated fixed-rate ASEAN Sustainability Bonds as its third issuance under a P365-billion bond program.

“The net proceeds of the issue are intended to diversify the bank’s funding surces, and finance/refinance eligible assets under the bank’s Sustainable Finance Framework,” the bank said in a statement.

The bonds have a tenor of two years and a fixed rate of 2.90 percent yearly. Interest is payable quarterly, calculated on a 30/360 basis. The minimum investment

amount is P500,000, with increments of P100,000.

“The offer period will run from Jan. 10 to Jan. 21, 2022, while the issue, settlement and listing date is set for Jan. 28, 2022. However, the bank reserves the right to adjust the timing of the offer [as appropriate],” it said.

Standard Chartered Bank is the sole arranger, while BDO Unibank, BDO Private Bank Inc. and Standard Chartered Bank are the selling agents of the proposed issue.

BDO Capital & Investment Corp. is the financial advisor of the proposed issue.

BDO’s earnings returned to pre-pan-

demic levels after it posted a 95-percent growth in net income in the first nine months of 2021 to P32.4 billion from P16.6 billion a year ago.

It surpassed the 2020 net income of P28.2 billion that was pulled down by pre-emptive provisions of P30.2 billion against potential delinquencies from the pandemic.

Gross customer loans outpaced the industry with a 5-percent year-on-year increase, while total deposits went up by 6 percent, driven by the 14-percent expansion in current account/savings account deposits that now comprise 85 percent of total deposits. Julito G. Rada

PAL asks passengers to defer less urgent rebooking requests

By Darwin G. Amojelar

TELUS VACCINATION. Telus International Philippines, a leading provider of digital customer experience and IT solutions, continues to encourage team member vaccinations across all seven of its Philippine sites with the launch of a ‘get vaccinated, get rewarded’ program, called #VaxxedandHappyhere Grand Bonanza. The initiative aims to help promote vaccine ambassadorship within the company’s employee population, which is aligned with its health and wellness agenda, and support the government’s vaccination campaign and targets.

PHILIPPINE Airlines on Monday asked its passengers to defer less urgent rebooking transactions amid the surge in COVID-19 cases and the Alert Level 3 status in Metro Manila.

“We are receiving more and more calls from passengers who need to rebook or cancel their flights because they have tested positive or are in precautionary isolation,” PAL said.

“At the same time, many of our frontline

team members in ticket offices, contact centers and other support teams are unable to report for work,” it said.

PAL said the simultaneous events created challenges in the airline’s ability to serve all customers promptly, including longer wait times for calls to reservations hotlines, longer queues in ticket offices and corresponding delays in handling transactions.

“Our PAL teams are doing all possible to process all passenger requests, unclog any bottlenecks and serve you the best we can,” the company said.

“We request your understanding and cooperation as we cope with these serious but temporary challenges,” it said.

PAL said it would sustain as many flights as possible under these new circumstances, but some cancellations or schedule adjustments are likely.

“Please continue to check flight status for any changes in your flight schedule, and stay updated on changes in travel requirements by checking the website of the concerned provincial local government or destination country,” the airline said.

Sports

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022

Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a three point basket during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. AFP

Dubs celebrate Thompson’s NBA return with victory

Marcial on resumption of PBA: February crucial

By Randy Caluag

A

T THE rate things are going, it looks like only a tightly closed, bubble-type tournament can snatch the Philippine Basketball Association Governor’s Cup out of the doldrums.

A few days after the PBA Board of Governors decided to temporarily postpone all the games and team practices, active COVID-19 cases surged past the 128,000-mark and the numbers have continued to rise.

For the PBA, health is of the optimum importance. But the league must also balance its business side as team owners have continuously paid huge salaries for the newly contracted imports, as well as the local players with live contracts and team personnel. The league’s staff members also receive their salaries non stop.

With all these in mind, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the league should have a ready decision by February on the fate of the current importlaced tournament.

League officials can choose from two major scenarios.

PSC chair Ramirez is 1st Forum guest in 2022 PHILIPPINE Sports Commission Chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez is the special guest of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum for its first session for the year 2022 on Tuesday, Jan. 11.

Ramirez is expected to talk about the agency’s plans and programs for the year, specifically the country’s participation in two major international events, namely, the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, and the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

The PSC mediation on the current dispute between world-ranked pole vaulter EJ Obiena and the leadership of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association will also be tackled in the virtual session starting at 10 a.m.

The weekly Forum is presented by San Miguel Corporation, MILO® Philippines, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and new social media and webcast partner Prime Edge.

The public sports program is being livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page fb.com/PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and also officially shared

by Radyo Pilipinas 2 Facebook page.

William Ramirez

They can go back to the closed-circuit bubble tournament, which they have successfully held in the 2020 and 2021 seasons in two venues in Pampanga. The setup entailed lots of discipline, strict health protocols and heavy financial resources to implement.

But it worked and is the only set-up allowed by the government through the Games and Amusement Board.

The other choice—in the event that COVID infection rate worsens—is for the league to have the whole tournament canceled.

Any other option or innovation is up to league officials to decide.

For now, according to Marcial, the only way for the PBA to continue is for the COVID-19 infection rate to go down.

“Yan ang tinitingnan namin. Hindi ko maisusugal safety ng mga tao.

Sana itong February okay na tayo.

Crucial ang February. Siguro dapat magdedesisyon kung anong gagawin sa imports? Made-delay pa ba nating hanggang kung saan?” askedd Marcial during the weekly sports show Chasedown over the weekend.

“Talagang humihingi ako ng pasensiya sa mga fans and teamowners, hindi ko kaya makita na mga players and staff na mahawahan ang kanilang pamilya. ‘Yan ang hindi ko

Willie Marcial

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

kayang lunukin,” Marcial added.

This means the whole month of January is definitely out of the picture as far as resuming the games is concerned, with officials reassessing the COVID situation by February.

The spike in COVID-19 cases entering the new year proved to be another dampener in the PBA’s 46th season.

The league postponement came at a time when the season-ending meet is beginning to gain momentum.

Just a week after the opener, the league began to bring back fans in the games at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, eventually reaching a peak of close to 5,000, who watched the Christmas Day doubleheader featuring the Magnolia-Barangay Ginebra showdown as its main game.

Two weeks later, games had to be shut down again as COVID-19 active cases in the country reached alarming rates, including a record single-day high of 28,707 registered last Jan. 9.

“Sayang nandu’n na ‘yung momentum. Dire-diretso na sana tayo,” said Marcial.

But consistent with his belief, the PBA chief said he can’t compromise the safety of everyone, from players to the fans.

LOS ANGELES—Three-time NBA champion Klay Thompson returned from a 31-month injury absence on Sunday and the Golden State Warriors celebrated “Klay Day” with a 96-82 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Thompson—who won titles with the Warriors in 2015, 2017 and 2018— received a rapturous welcome at Chase Center in San Francisco. It was his first game in the arena, which the Warriors have only called home since September 2019.

Thompson scored the Warriors’ first basket of the game on their first possession and dispelled any doubt that he is all the way back from two serious leg injuries with a thundering dunk with 2:56 remaining in the first half, driving past Cleveland center Jarrett Allen and ramming the ball home over two Cavs defenders.

It brought fans to their feet, as did the scowl he threw over his shoulder as he ran back down the court on defense.

Before the half ended, he also had the first of his three three-pointers.

There was nothing tentative in Thompson’s game as he played just under 20 minutes in bursts of four to five minutes in each quarter.

He scored 17 points on 7-of-18 shooting, grabbed three rebounds and blocked a shot as the Warriors snapped a two-game skid and improved to 30-9 —matching the Phoenix Suns for best record in the league.

“I was just happy to be out there doing what I love again,” Thompson told NBA TV. “Getting my rhythm back, it feels really good.”

Thompson last played in an NBA game on June 13, 2019, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in game six of the NBA Finals. He was on his way back from that injury when, more than 17 months later, he tore his right Achilles tendon.

Thompson’s teammates, including Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, started celebrating his return early, all entering the arena and warming up in various versions of Thompson’s No. 11 jersey.

The roar when he was introduced before the game was deafening.

“I got a lot of old feelings again about game days—it was surreal,” Thompson said.

“The ovation to start the game, I just am so grateful for these fans. It was special.

“I’m never going to forget this night,” added Thompson, who departed in the fourth quarter to chants of “Klay! Klay! Klay!”

Curry led the Warriors with 28 points.

Green was injured but was in the starting lineup for the tip-off of Thompson’s comeback before sitting out the rest of the contest.

“I was amazed at his poise out there, his confidence after being out for so long,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

Kerr purposely didn’t draw up an opening play for Thompson to shoot, fearing he’d be too “amped up.” AFP

Chatri vs Dana? Just send location, says ONE chief IF the Chatri Sityodtong-Dana White clash does push through, all the ONE Chairman and Chief Executive Offer needs are directions to the monumental showdown’s venue.

ONE Championship teased on Instagram a prospective clash between the CEO of ONE and the President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The post featured a short clip of Sityodtong training at Evolve MMA with the caption, “Who wants to see Chatri vs. Dana?”

Sityodtong responded, “send me location,” alongside a laughing emoji.

That reply had mixed martial arts fans

and fighters giving their take on who they think would win between the two executives.

The choice is easy because martial arts is a way of life for ONE’s head honcho, and it isn’t just lip service.

A lifelong practitioner, Sityodtong has 35 years of Muay Thai experience and started his journey with the late Master Yodtong Senanan at the esteemed Sityodtong Gym in Pattaya, Thailand.

He’s also a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt under multi-time BJJ world champion Renzo Gracie.

That’s why it’s no surprise that the

fighters who commented took Chatri as the victor in this battle of MMA’s most influential figures.

“Uncle @yodchatri would beat the breaks off Dana,” Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks said.

“Not even a competition,” Black Belt Magazine Hall-of-Famer and Karate World Champion Colbey Northcutt shared.

The beef between the two started when White doubted that the hybrid rules superfight between Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson and ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man”

Jitmuangnon would work.

Sityodtong quickly brushed off the outspoken UFC President’s comments by doubting his knowledge of martial arts and questioning his appreciation for combat sports.

Catch ONE: HEAVY HITTERS live on One Sports+ beginning with the lead card at 6 p.m. Philippine Standard Time (PHT) on Friday, January 14. The main card will begin on ONE Sports and ONE Sports+ at 8:30 p.m. PHT on Friday.

It will air simultaneously on ONE’s YouTube channel and the ONE Super App.

Nadal’s Open preparations on track with Melbourne title MELBOURNE—Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal’s Australian Open preparations remain on track after he beat American Maxime Cressy 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 in the final of the Melbourne Summer Set on Sunday.

Nadal decided to play the lower level tournament to get some match practice after missing much of 2021 with injury and COVID-19.

He has not been totally fluent this week and was pushed hard by the American qualifier, but Nadal had too much experience for the 24-year-old serve-volleyer.

It was Nadal’s 89th title on the ATP tour and the win ensures he has won at least one singles crown every year for the past 19 years.

Nadal said that, while he was not in perfect shape, he was happy with his form so far.

“Exactly where I would like to be is being 100 percent healthy from last year, playing until the end of the season, and with not having come back after five, six months away from competition,” he said.

“So of course I am not exactly the place that I want to be.

“But I am very happy. If we put everything together and analyse all the things that I went through the last five months, including the Covid, of course I am happy.

“I think my practices have been much better than my level of tennis in the competition, but in some way that’s very positive.

“The only thing that I need is to stay healthy and spend time on court, in official matches.”

Cressy, who had to win through two rounds of qualifying just to make the main draw, started nervously but became more confident as the match wore on.

The American had a set point in the tiebreak but could not convert and, once Nadal claimed the first set, the final result was almost inevitable.

Nadal will be aiming to break the record for most Grand Slam singles titles at this month’s Australian Open.

He is currently tied on 20 titles with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, but with Federer injured and Djokovic’s presence in doubt because of visa issues, Nadal has a chance to go one ahead of his great rivals.

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates his victory in his men’s singles match against Maxime Cressy of the US at the Melbourne Summer Set tennis tournament in Melbourne. AFP

Nadal was playing his first tournament since August after injury and Covid.

He said while he was sick he could not get out of bed for days, but once he began to recover he had no doubt he would come to Australia to try to win his second title at Melbourne Park.

“There have been some very challenging moments, and I have been

working very hard even in the very tough moments,” Nadal said.

“I am quite satisfied the way that I approached all these very challenging months in terms of attitude, in terms of positive spirit and in terms of passion to try to be back.

“This title helps to keep going, and it’s of course just the beginning.” AFP

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Sports

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022

49ers stun Rams in OT to secure playoff spot

Beijing police warn: Don’t help in crashed Olympic cars

LOS ANGELES—The San Francisco 49ers punched their ticket to the NFL post-season for the second time in eight years on Sunday, rallying from a 17-point deficit for a thrilling 27-24 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams.

The 49ers, who started the season 3-5, were down 17-0 in the first half against the Rams before they orchestrated one of the biggest comebacks of the NFL regular season which wrapped up Sunday with an strong slate of playoff landscape changing games.

“We are dangerous, real dangerous. It is about to get scar y, let’s go,” said Niners running back Deebo Samuel, who ran for a touchdown and also finished off a trick play by throwing for one.

The 49ers locked up the number six seed in the NFC playoffs and will face the Dallas Cowboys in their first game of the playoffs next week.

The Rams clinched the NFC West title despite the defeat, but they dropped to the No. 4 seed in the NFC. Sunday’s see-saw win in Los Angeles was the 49ers’ sixth straight victory over the Rams.

Gritty quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo played through a painful thumb injury, completing 23-of-32 passes for 316 yards with a touchdown.

“It was tested,” Garoppolo said of the thumb. “We got the win and that is all that matters.”

Garoppolo drove the 49ers down the field in overtime setting the stage for Robbie Gould’s game-winning field goal from 24 yards.

San Francisco cornerback Ambry Thomas helped seal the win late in the fourth with his first career interception.

“Just a special moment,” said Garoppolo. “The guys came together, made huge plays on third down, stepped up on defense and Ambry had a great interception.

“We go to Dallas now and I know the guys are ready.”

Elsewhere, Ryan Tannehill threw four touchdown passes as the Tennessee Titans secured a top seed in the playoffs by holding on to beat the Houston Texans 28-25.

Tannehill tossed three of his four touchdowns in the first half as the Titans, who are back-to-back AFC South division champions, started quickly by jumping out to a 21-0 lead then outlasted the Texans. AFP

BEIJING—Beijing police have warned residents not to help any Winter Olympics vehicle if it is involved in a crash—to avoid breaching the Games’ strict bubble against the coronavirus.

China’s capital will host next month’s Olympics in a “closed loop” ensuring no athletes or other participants come into contact with the public.

Authorities closed up the bubble last week meaning thousands of staff, volunteers, cleaners, cooks and coach drivers will be cocooned for weeks with no access to the outside world.

The measures—part of China’s bid to maintain its zero-Covid strategy—are so strict that Beijing police issued a statement saying locals should not even rush to help an Olympics vehicle should it crash.

“In case of traffic accidents with special vehicles for the Winter Olympics, please pay attention to maintaining a safe distance,” Beijing’s Traffic Management Bureau said in a post on the Twitter-like Weibo.

“Do not make contact with vehicles or personnel in them and wait for professionals to arrive at the scene.”

China, where the coronavirus emerged toward the end of 2019, has pursued a zero-tolerance strategy and is taking the same approach to limit the pandemic’s impact on the February 4-20 Olympics and subsequent Paralympics.

That contrasts with the Coviddelayed Tokyo Summer Olympics, which allowed some movement in and out for volunteers and other personnel.

The global media and roughly 3,000 athletes are expected to start arriving in the Chinese capital in the weeks ahead and will remain in the bubble from the moment they land until they leave the country.

Anyone entering the bubble must be fully vaccinated or face a 21-day quarantine when they touch down, and everyone inside will be tested daily and must wear face masks at all times.

The system includes dedicated transport between venues, with even closed-loop high-speed rail systems operating in parallel to those open to the public. AFP

Djokovic wins visa case, judge orders his release M ELBOURNE—World number one Novak Djokovic won a stunning victory Monday over the Australian government, overturning the cancellation of the tennis star’s visa on COVID-19 health grounds, and ending his detention.

It was an extraordinary setback for the Australian government, which has imposed strict pandemic requirements on arriving foreign travellers for the past two years.

But the Australian government’s lawyer told the court that Immigration Minister Alex Hawke may still decide to use his “personal power of cancellation” despite the player’s victory.

The 34-year-old Djokovic arrived in Melbourne last week ahead of the Australian Open, which starts in just one week, hoping to win a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title.

But instead of a champion’s welcome, officers at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport decided the unvaccinated star had

failed to present a solid medical reason for not being jabbed.

Djokovic’s visa was revoked and he was moved to a notorious immigration detention facility pending deportation.

In an emergency online court hearing Monday, the judge said the government side had agreed to drop its visa decision and he ordered Djokovic’s immediate release.

“Such release must occur no later than 30 minutes after the making of this order,” he said.

Djokovic has been in detention at the former Park Hotel, a five-storey facility that holds about 32 migrants trapped in Australia’s hardline immigration system —some for years on end.

An early plea by Djokovic to be moved to a facility where he can train for the Australian Open had fallen on deaf ears, his lawyers said.

‘Not human conditions’ The court’s finding, read out in an online hearing, recalled that Djokovic was interviewed overnight at Melbourne airport after his arrival late on Wednesday night.

In the early hours of the next morning, the player was told he had until 8:30 am to reply to the proposed cancellation of his visa. But instead, the border agent cancelled it at 7:42 am.

If Djokovic had been given until 8:30 am as first promised, “he could have consulted others and made submissions to the delegate about why his visa should not be cancelled,” the judge said.

Though the hearing was held online, a small group of Djokovic fans gathered outside the federal court building, waving a Serbian flag, holding up a photo of their hero and dancing to the tune of an accordion. AFP

Aussie Smith breaks mark to win PGA Tournament of Champions LOS ANGELES—Australia’s Cameron Smith outdueled topranked Jon Rahm down the stretch Sunday to win the PGA Tournament of Champions in record-shattering fashion, firing a final-round eightunder par 65.

The 28-year-old from Brisbane finished with the lowest 72-hole tournament score in US PGA Tour history, shooting 34-under 258 on the par-73 Plantation Course at Kapalua, Hawaii.

“We were trying to get it to 35-under,” Smith said. “Missed it by one but I’ll take the W.” Rahm fired a 66 to finish second on 259 with Australian Matt Jones third on 260 after matching the 18hole course record with a 61.

All three beat the old PGA 72hole record low score in relation to par in a 72-hole event, the 31-under

by South African Ernie Els at Ka-

palua in the 2003 Tournament of Champions.

Last-pair partners Smith and Rahm traded birdies like boxers exchanging punches down the back nine.

Rahm sank a 14-foot birdie putt at the par-3 11th to pull within a stroke and both birdied the 13th, 14th and par-5 15th as the drama built with pars for each at 16 and 17 and birdies for both at the par-5 18th.

“Unreal round, something I’ll never forget for sure,” Smith said.

“It was intense. Jonny and I played well all day and Matty was playing well in the group in front of us.”

Rahm was stunned after the round that he wasn’t celebrating a victory.

“It feels really strange to shoot seven-under and almost be complaining because it should have ben a lot lower,” Rahm said. “Every reason to be smiling but one.

“It’s a weird feeling. I played great golf, I shot a low score, shot 33-under, and I still lost by one.

“Bittersweet moment. I lost. I had a lot of chances I could have converted.”

World number 22 Smith, a 2020 Masters runner-up, claimed his fourth US PGA Tour victory, having taken the 2017 and 2021 pairs titles in New Orleans and the 2020 Sony Open in Hawaii.

Smith, who played his final 51 holes without a bogey, was just shy of the green in two at the 18th while Rahm gave himself 54 feet for eagle.

Smith rolled the ball 3 1/2 feet short of the cup while Rahm was one foot right of the cup. Rahm tapped in for birdie to briefly grab a share of the lead one final time but Smith followed by sinking his birdie putt for the victory.

Rahm and Smith shared the lead with a five-stroke edge on the rest of

The substitute subsistence FREE THROW SHOOTER NATHANIEL DELA CRUZ IT wasn’t too long ago when load management was all the rage in the NBA. I could’ve said fad or in vogue, but let’s go with rage, considering how load management was received by those who criticized it.

I remember hearing and reading opinions of incensed fans who accused players and management of collusion, faking player injury or pretending to feel unwell for the sake of resting key players for a day or two.

Load management has been criticized as being unfair to fans who feel shortchanged coming to the stadium to watch games live and paying for tickets using hard-earned money only to see superstar players ap-

pearing in street clothes and playing cheerleader on the bench.

Others point to load management as an example of how the league and its players have become soft, very different from an era in the NBA when every player—superstars first and foremost - wants to play, injury or illness notwithstanding.

While load management has been criticized, some see the value of load management as a kind of health and safety protocol —yes, health and safety protocol, but a totally different animal compared to how we know HSP today: forceful, urgent, and necessary.

Players—one, two, or even a third of the team—sit out games because of health and safety protocol. They are told to rest. Health and safety protocol is not just a new catchphrase; it is a necessity for the healthy and sustainable staging of a months-long professional sporting event like the NBA in the age of COVID. All of a sudden, nobody is talking about sneaking in rest and downtime under the guise of load management, now that many

the field when the day began.

Smith sank a birdie putt from just outside five feet at the fourth to grab the lead alone and both Rahm and Smith tapped in for birdies at the par-5 fifth.

The Aussie rolled in a 23-foot birdie putt at the par-3 eighth to seize a two-stroke edge and each birdied the par-5 ninth.

A 62-61 weekend by Jones Jones birdied six of the first 10 holes, eagled from 85 yards in the fairway at the par-4 13th, sank a three-foot eagle putt at the par-5 15th and holed a 51-foot birdie putt at 17 but was never better than two adrift of the lead despite an unprecedented 62-61 weekend.

“If you told me I would have shot 32-under I would have been more than happy to sit in the clubhouse and let everyone play and see what happens,” Jones said. AFP

superstar players are mandated to rest and skip games as a result of HSP. Is it a good thing? It remains to be seen. Resting players decreases the chances of injury as a result of wear and tear playing a full calendar.

But with this many players missing this many games—including crucial games, the effect will reflect on the team’s win-loss slate and its chances of contending for the championship.

Even those built as super teams have suffered, and yes, like the conversation about load management, the topic of super teams, which was hotly discussed and debated not too long ago, was swept away into oblivion by health and safety protocol, a raging wave that has engulfed the league.

Or have you forgotten the time when every trade or signing by a legitimate contender like Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Houston, or Brooklyn of any player with enough experience and value triggers that knee jerk theyare-building-a-super-team reaction from fans and bashers alike?

Like load management, it feels like everyone connected or invested in the NBA (players, coaches, front office, fans, observers, etc.) was obsessed with this topic not too long ago. Before the 2021-22 NBA season began, the “super

Jay Monahan (right), PGA TOUR Commissioner, speaks before awarding Cameron Smith of Australia with the trophy after the final round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club in Lahaina, Hawaii. AFP

team” situation was a hot topic among those appraising roster, gauging championship mettle, and hoping to predict trade deadline scenarios and draft pick eventualities.

We haven’t reached the halfway mark of the regular season and yet nobody is talking about super teams anymore. Why? Because the reality is something else. Teams cannot even afford the appearance of being consistently super talented when starters are missing games because of health and safety protocol.

The super team paradigm has been replaced with the survivor model, with depleted teams relying on their skeleton crew to survive.

Resistance by subsistence on substitutes.

NBA teams are scrambling to sign players to 10-day contracts just to have enough in uniform.

Unusual, since we are used to pre-COVID era teams consistently fielding a full roster filled with many unused and unutilized players especially during the Playoffs when teams shorten their rotation to eight or nine players max.

With COVID-19 infection decimating NBA rosters left and right, forget about load management or super teams. The new normal is promoting the second unit as starters. Third stringers can now expect serious minutes of quality basketball, and not just the dutiful running of

offense and defense in the face of an eventual rout playing garbage minutes.

Agents of players left unsigned by teams are now busy talking to front office in need of players with experience; a rare silver lining, especially for many veterans eager to prove that they still belong in the big league.

The quest to become an NBA champion has always been about the survival of the fittest, and now, it has become very apt. The survival of the dream to vie for a championship rests on how many star players are fit and cleared to play, and how many games these starters can play (and win) together.

Despite our clear divide—about load management, about super teams, and about our affiliations—we find ourselves united in the wish for games to be played by teams that are healthy and with a complete roster.

Maybe it is because no one wants that sour aftertaste of losing on the account of absent superstars. No one wants an almost meaningless and unsatisfying victory if it is against a team that fought without its best players taking part in the battle. It is far from gratifying to become a champion of a tournament played by teams who are not in their full strength on many occasions.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022

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Still hanging there, ‘Spider-Man’ lifts anemic box office AFTER rescuing Hollywood from otherwise paltry year-end numbers, Spider-Man: No Way Home continued to soar this weekend, leading the North American box office with an estimated take of $33 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.

Sony’s superhero sequel has now accumulated worldwide ticket sales of $1.42 billion in four weeks out, helping brighten a mostly pallid picture for the COVID-slammed industry.

Its domestic gross of $669 million places it sixth all-time, surpassing Titanic and Jurassic World.

The domestic box office in Novem-

ber and December was down 32 percent from the 2019 period, said David Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. He described the industry’s overall picture as “mostly wreckage”— except for Spider-Man, whose earnings accounted for 46 percent of the total.

With COVID-19 surging, older moviegoers and families remain hesitant to return to theaters. So even the results of Universal’s animated musical Sing 2—second for the weekend at $12 million—were considered disappointing.

Its worldwide take is down 68 percent from Sing 1, Gross said, whereas such second-episode animation sequels generally drop just 8 percent.

Also seen as disappointing were the results for Universal’s new The 355, which placed third but took in just $4.8 million for the Friday-toSunday period. Analysts said the female-led spy thriller—starring Jessica Chastain, Penelope Cruz, and Lupita Nyong’o—suffered from weak reviews and continuing hesitation by older female moviegoers.

Fourth spot went to 20th Century’s The King’s Man, at $3.3 million, and in fifth was American Underdog from Lionsgate, at $2.4 million. AFP A scene from Sony’s superhero sequel ‘Spiderman: No Way Home’

How Xian Lim broke the ice

while on set with Glaiza de Castro

A spine-chilling thriller Sid Lucero (left) and Cindy Miranda in a scene from ‘Reroute’

T

HAT adage, “sometimes you need to get lost to find yourself,” somehow gives someone so much hope.

But what if you never do? Or worse, what if no one finds you?

Ever again.

These are the question that Reroute aims to answer.

The sexy-suspense thriller stars decorated actor John Arcilla with Sid Lucero, Cindy Miranda, and Nathalie Hart.

Reroute is a story about a couple, Trina (Cindy) and Dan (Sid), who are having marital problems after Dan accuses Trina of having an affair. While having this problem in their relationship, they decide to travel down south to visit Dan’s dying father.

As they try to reach their destination, they encounter a roadblock, advising all vehicles for a reroute. Tired from driving, Dan gets frustrated after finding out that it will take them another hour if they change their course. He then decides to continue their journey on a nearby shortcut, passing through a rough and deserted road. To add mishaps to their evening, their car suddenly broke down, and here they stumble upon a strange, barefooted man named Gemo (John).

GROWING up on Pinoy teleseryes, many of us, if not all, are familiar with the trope of an heiress losing her inheritance and falling into rough times before finding her happily ever after. The television series Princess Sarah, both the animated version and the live-action starring Camille Prats, are still well-known despite it already being years since its initial release.

This 2022, GMA adds a “little” twist to the usual plot as Jo Berry takes on her biggest role as the main protagonist in Little Princess.

Jo plays the role of Princess M. Montivano, a little person who has big shoes to fill. She, like the actress playing her, is born with dwarfism, a genetic or medical condition that causes individuals to only grow up to four feet and 10 inches in height.

Jo Berry is Princess M. Montivano in GMA’s new series ‘Little Princess.’

together for a musical collaboration.

“True enough, we were able to come up with one on the set of our show. She also noticed that I can be a good balladeer and rapper at the same time. It’s cool.”

Glaiza’s moniker is Asia’s Acting Gem. Interestingly, what title would Xian want for himself if ever?

“Well, at first, I liked Asia’s Sensation but I realized, Christian Bautista is Asia’s Romantic Balladeer. I guess, Sensational Asian would be fine,” he ended in jest.

Kapuso stars Glaiza de Castro (right) and Xian Lim

*** John Arcilla

Gemo offers to help and invites them to stay overnight at his house and then help in fixing their car in the morning.

Exhausted from the long travel they had, the couple accepts his offer, even if Trina senses something odd and unusual about Gemo.

As they arrive at his house, they meet Gemo’s wife, Lala (Nathalie), a young woman who also seems strange and seldom speaks. As Trina and Dan get comfortable in their stay, Gemo contin-

Nathalie Hart

uously interviews them. And when his questions become personal, they know something is wrong.

Matching the astounding cast is award-winning director Lawrence Fajardo, who brought viewers the internationally-acclaimed movie, Amok.

Just last year, Fajardo presented intense movies like Nerisa, Mahjong Nights, and MMFF entry A Hard Day. Produced by Viva Films, Reroute arrives on Vivamax on Jan. 21. Nickie Wang

Jo Berry unleashes inner boss in ‘Little Princess’

By Patricia Taculao

ACTOR Xian Lim considers working opposite Glaiza De Castro in the latest GMA fantasy comedy, False Positive, a big honor. At the same time, it made him get acquainted with the actress discovering along the way that they actually have some good things in common.

“Honestly, I was wrong with my initial impression of her. At first, I thought that she was a very intense individual, the type whom you can’t joke around with and who would just stick on the job and won’t let you distract her character internalization,” Xian shared.

“As our taping progressed though, I discovered what a fun person Glaiza is. If before, I was thinking about how to break the ice, so to speak, she eventually warmed up to me. She would crack jokes, too, and there’s no dull moment with her. She’s easy to deal with,” he went on.

Music is one of their common interests and the two thought that they could come

Since dwarfism or achondroplasia only affects about 1 in 15,000 to 1 in 40,000 people, the public maintains a negative view of the condition, a stigma that the new series aims to tackle and address.

Princess grew up in poverty but one day discovers that she’s an heiress to a thriving company.

Her biological father will later find her and put her in her rightful place.

While most fairytales end there, Princess’ story has just begun. Due to her petite nature, she’s on the receiving end of prejudice from those around her. Little Princess sheds some light on the struggles that people like Princess have to face from society, regardless of their socio-economic standing.

The series also marks Jo Berry’s return to television. According to the Kapuso actress, her role in Little Princess is another opportunity for her to inspire

others by portraying a character that defies several odds in today’s world.

Jo starred in other GMA series such as Onanay (2018) and The Gift (2019).

She shares that both roles have given her the chance to set a positive for viewers everywhere.

Although Jo sees her new role as a way to empower others, she admitted that she also drew inspiration from the character of Princess. In the previous year, Jo faced a challenging part of her life with the loss of her grandfather, father, and sibling.

She shared that during the lock-in taping for GMA’s new series, playing the role of Princess is what kept her occupied from the ordeal. But most importantly, it allowed Jo to channel her emotions and learn new lessons that helped her move forward in life.

One particular lesson that stuck with Jo is the idea that every challenge that comes our way is because it’s something that we can handle. She also believes that these obstacles will lead us to a bigger purpose in life.

Jo, as Princess, will give viewers a glimpse of her inner boss and how to deal with the prejudice of society agreeably.

Little Princess is directed by L.A. Madridejos and also stars Juancho Triviño, Rodjun Cruz, Angelika dela Cruz, Jestoni Alarcon, Geneva Cruz, Jenine Desiderio, Gabrielle Hahn, Therese Malvar, Tess Antonio, and Sherilyn Reyes-Tan. The series airs on GMA’s Afternoon Prime, replacing Stories from the Heart.

David Chua reveals that before he accepted to be part of the cast of GMA-7’s latest primetime offering Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune, he asked permission first from broadcast journalist and TV host Korina Sanchez-Roxas.

“She’s my boss. Everyone knows that I’m one of the directors of her news and magazine show Rated Korina that airs on TV 5, Kapamilya Channel, and A2Z. It’s good that she allowed me to say that if I have the opportunity, then I should do it. Anyway, if I’m not taping for the Kapuso soap, I can shoot segments for her program,” he said.

As for his inclusion in Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune, the former Kapamilya star is grateful to GMA for entrusting the role of Philip Lo to him.

In the story, he’s the henchman of Maricel Laxa for her to be able to get the fortune of the family of Boots Anson-Rodrigo.

“It’s a challenging part and I thank GMA considering that at these pandemic times, it’s hard to land an acting job. And because

David Chua

of it, I felt that I was able to get back my oxygen. It’s as if I came back to my original love which is acting. I’m very thankful for the chance to work with the cast whom I wasn’t able to collaborate with yet before.

It’s a nice experience since they’re all very warm to me,” David shared.

Luis Manzano meets dad’s new love in ‘I Can See Your Voice’ MYSTERY game show I Can See Your ers in determining whether the “see-cret Voice is returning this Saturday (Jan. 15) songers” are “see-ngers” or “seen-tunafor a brand new season with Luis Manzano dos” in different rounds namely, Lipsync, Two or False, and the third round that resuming his role as the host. will give clues Marry Me, like “Tabi-Tabi Marry You lead Po,” “Song Ka star Janine GutPa,”and “Mesierrez and her fasage Parlor.” ther will team up Viewers can to eliminate the now participate “seen-tunados,” in I Can Guess select the true Your Voice as “see-nger,” and home “singvestitry to win the gators” and win P25,000 in the Luis Manzano will meet Cherrie Picache for the cash prizes. They season opener. can leave comThe follow- first time in ‘I Can See Your Voice.’ ments or tweet ing night (Jan. 16), it will be Vina Morales and Cher- their responses using the show’s hashtag on rie Picache’s turn to try their luck on the the Facebook page and Twitter account for mystery game. It will be the first time for I Can See Your Voice.

The back-to-back premiere episodes of I Luis to meet Cherrie Pie since the actress and Luis’ father Edu Manzano announced Can See Your Voice airs this weekend at 9:30 p.m. on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, Kapamtheir relationship.

Lassy, MC, and Klarisse de Guzman ilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainjoin Negi and Nikko Natividad as “sing- ment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, vestigators” and will help celebrity play- Jeepney TV, iWantTFC, and TFC IPTV.

Life

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 11 , 2022

Filipino stylist Perry Tabora

Perry Tabora’s 12 years of understated elegance

By Patricia Taculao

S

INCE Liza Soberano’s rise to fame, the public supported her roles in television and films. Adding to Liza’s overall appeal, apart from her acting skills and natural beauty, of course, is her choice in wardrobe that accentuates her figure and brings out her features. And as avid fans, a lot of people tried to copy the look or add a personal touch.

However, Liza isn’t the only fashion icon the public looks up to, as the Philippines isn’t short on stylish celebrities.

Other sources of fashion inspiration are Miss Universe 2015 and 2018 Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray, respectively.

Although these celebrities have distinct styles, one man is responsible for their eye-catching looks, Filipino stylist Perry Tabora.

When it comes to

Liza’s iconic looks and style evolution are a product of Tabora’s creativity.

dressing celebrities, Tabora adheres to the idea that less is more. Even though trends come and go in the fashion industry, “You can never go wrong with an effortless look. For me, simplicity always has an understated elegance to it,” he said.

He draws inspiration from anything

and anywhere, such as how people from different cultures dress, art pieces, and interior design. If he finds the aesthetic interesting, it influences how he styles his clients. That’s something unique about his styling process because it’s always evolving. After all, he continuously experiences new cultures, visits new places, and meets new people.

Tabora started his career in styling over a decade ago, and 2022 marks his 12th year in the industry.

“I have always been interested in fashion for as long as I can remember.

My hobby as a kid was flipping through magazines because I would just be enamored with what people were wearing and the artistry of the shoots of fashion editorials,” he shared.

Back then, however, Tabora didn’t know what careers he could pursue in the industry. It was only when he took up fashion design and merchandising in college that he was introduced to styling.

Once he was exposed to styling, it was something that he gravitated towards fairly quickly because he liked envisioning the looks in his head, making it the ideal outlet to bring those ideas to fruition.

As he built his career, he managed to style celebrities like Janella Salvador, Zanjoe

Tabora is also responsible for styling Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray.

Janella Salvador embodies Tabora’s styling principle that less is more.

Made with gooey caramel fudge, espresso shot, ice, and dark chocolate sauce perfected with sea salt. Seattle’s Best Coffee is also adding another variety to your favorite top-notch Javakula. The Salted Caramel Javakula is made with rich caramel fudge and dark chocolate sauce, covered with whipped cream, topped with a swirl of caramel fudge and sea salt. This ice blended coffee-based drink will surely leave you looking at the cool side of life.

The Salted Caramel Deluxe Collection is available in all Seattle’s Best Coffee branches nationwide. Coffee lovers can grab a cup and order for dine-in, take-out, pick-up, and delivery via Grabfood, foodpanda, and Pickaroo.

The best place to ‘Eatogether’ The Eatogether Food Hall at SM Megamall revitalizes the food hall dining experience with new restaurants and food concepts.

Coffee lovers will delight in the new flavors from Seattle’s Best Salted Caramel Deluxe Collection

Learn-to-earn program helps home-based businesses grow ARE you looking for another source of income to help your family? Or have you started some ‘side hustles’ to keep those funds flowing? Then this learnto-earn program from Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi in collaboration with tech-giant Google is right for you.

Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi joined Google in the Google Negosyo Talk: Trending Negosyo - Usapang Online Business held last Dec. 3. The event

was perfect for those who wanted to earn extra, start an online “raket,” or improve their current business at home.

Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi ambassador Neri Miranda and YouTube content creator Madam Ely gave insights and shared their experiences and knowledge to start and grow a small online business at home.

“We know that Filipinos are always malikhain and hardworking especially for their

Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi ambassador Neri Miranda

to work for it, and it won’t feel like a job for you because it’s work that you enjoy,” Tabora said.

Luckily, the well-known stylist has several tips for aspiring artists in their careers. The first tip that he can give is to get an internship or a mentor because this can help them build a network in the fashion industry. Continuously building a portfolio and getting their name out into the world will also boost their careers.

He added that aspiring stylists need to be passionate about what they do because this is what will keep them going despite the challenges. “You also need to accept that success doesn’t happen instantly. There are times when you might feel that you are not progressing, but you are. Never doubt yourself and your abilities because it is your faith in yourself that will help you overcome the challenges,” the stylist to the stars said.

As Tabora celebrates 12 years in the industry, we can expect to see more of his work as he continues to evolve along with the world around him.

Zanjoe Marudo as styled by Tabora

Salted caramel coffee, anyone?

A COFFEE lover’s dream concoction come true with Seattle’s Best Salted Caramel Deluxe Collection available in Hot Salted Caramel Mocha, Iced Salted Caramel Mocha, and Salted Caramel Javakula. Each variant delivers a perfect blending of these two flavors – the sweet caramel brings satisfaction and comfort, while the salty flavor enhances the overall appeal and taste.

For warmth and comfort that tickles your palate, the Hot Salted Caramel Mocha is a creamy coffee-based drink made with luscious caramel fudge and dark chocolate sauce enhanced with sea salt. If you’re looking for some extra and muchneeded energy boost, the Iced Salted Caramel Mocha is your cup on the go.

Marudo, and Robi Domingo, among many others. He considers the highlight of his career was when he was interviewed and featured in Vogue.com to discuss Liza’s iconic looks and style evolution.

Being a stylist also enabled him to venture into his other passions such as launching NinetyNinety Studios (@ ninetyninetystudios), a fashion line that he started with his friend and business partner designer, Rob Ortega.

Despite his current success, he also faced several struggles along the way, especially when he was just starting.

“It’s a cut-throat and very competitive industry so you have to be able to hold your ground. The hours are also brutal because shoots can be as long as three days, and the preparations made before the shoot can be overwhelming as well,” he said.

The pandemic also posed a challenge for him because resources for clothes became limited, prompting him to learn how to be resourceful.

“There are a lot of challenges, but if this is truly your passion, you’re going

families’ needs. This webinar is especially designed for our madiskarteng kababayan who hustles non-stop for their family.

Google and Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi are here to ensure that malayo ang mararating ng business mo,” said Barbie Dapul, VP Marketing of Globe At Home.

Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi helps you go beyond internet access and to see your home as a place of security, learning, opportunities, and growth. Whether you are a “Raketera At Home” or want a “Negosyo At Home,” it ensures that you are right on track. Expect more of these exciting Negosyo At Home talks this year.

Globe strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9, highlighting the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development. It is committed to upholding the UN Global Compact principles and contributing to 10 UN SDGs. For more information about Globe At Home, visit glbe.co/GAHPW

SAZANAMI Sushi’s delectable Fusion bap and unlimited grill sets are popular to Sushi Rolls and Japanese rice bowls satisfy one’s Korean food cravings. like Tendon & Katsudon from retired Hola! Paella, on the other hand, offers Chef De Cuisine Godofredo “Freddie” authentic Spanish food including Seafood Aranda, who opened a home-based on- Paella and Paella Dela Casa without inline business during last year’s lockdown timidating the price-conscious. . . . Tomas Bistro’s mouth-watering FlatIn addition to the food startups, the bread Pizzas and Specialty Pasta from food hall houses mainstream names introducing new Chef James Besalo, brands. Tong Yang who relocated to the Shabu-Shabu ExPhilippines from press is the ala carte Bermuda . . . Chikks restaurant version of Party Chicken’s dethe Tong Yang Plus liciously flavored Buffet brands. It ofchicken wings and fers Shabu-Shabu, poppers which Phoeand allows customers be de Yor and friends to Create Your Own concocted in their Shabu-Shabu with search of the perfect Hola! Paella’s customers can’t get fresh hotpot ingrediparty food. enough of its Hola Paella Dela Casa. ents to choose from These are some for as low as 1 peso of the heartwarming stories behind the per gram. great food at EatoThe Vikings Food gether Food Hall at Group’s Nord’s Bread the Second Level of Hub is a food hall faSM Megamall. Eatovorite. Nord’s Bread gether Food Hall was Hub is an urban style previously an incubabakery and cafe that tor for Vikings’ new offers a variety of brands, but with the Asian and Westpandemic, the food ern healthy concept Sazanami specials Ripple Roll, Pork hall opened its doors Katsudon Rice Bowl, and Shogun Roll meals, bread, coffee, to accommodate and desserts such as displaced chefs and Pedro Gelato’s freshhome-based food enly made gelato. trepreneurs to pursue The Eatogether their passion for food Food Hall is a perfect and business. And place for families, today, the food hall friends, and even welcomes diners to a coworkers to come whole new food hall together and celebrate over food and drinks. dining experience.

Safety protocols inJapanese food lovers will be de- Tong Yang Shabu-Shabu Express also cluding temperature lighted with Daburu offers Create Your Own Shabu-shabu, checks, availability Ramen’s authentic which allows the customer to choose of alcohol dispensers, Daburu House Spe- fresh hotpot ingredients for as low as and accessibility of contact tracing QR cial Ramen, Kuro P1 per gram. codes are all in place.

Ramen, and Melting Gyoza. Its first store located at the Eato- Also, the food hall has a cashless system for gether Food Hall offers two ramen bowls safer and more convenient transactions. Eaat the price of one, making the most value together Food Hall is open daily from 10:00 in every bowl. Likewise, K-gogi’s bibim- a.m. to 9:00 p.m.