Manila Standard - 2022 January 17 - Monday

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VOL. XXXV • NO. 336 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Tonga volcano erupts, triggers tsunami waves A MASSIVE volcanic eruption in Tonga that triggered tsunami waves around the Pacific caused "significant damage" to the island nation's capital and smothered it in dust, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Sunday.

The eruption Saturday was so powerful it was recorded around the world, triggering a tsunami that Next page

MASSIVE QUAKE. Clouds stretching over 12-miles high form above a submarine volcano that erupted off the coast of Tonga on Saturday. Inset shows a grab taken from footage by Japan's Himawari-8 satellite showing the volcanic eruption that provoked a tsunami in Tonga. The eruption was so intense it was heard as "loud thunder sounds" in Fiji more than 800 kilometers away. AFP

Pharmacists eyed in vax drive Govt to tap drug stores as jab sites, deploy doctors to unvaxxed areas

By Willie Casas

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HE government is hoping to enlist pharmacies and drugstores to administer COVID-19 vaccines, and doctors are being deployed to unvaccinated communities to convince people to get their jabs as the number of cases outside of Metro Manila begin to rise sharply.

Less crowd outside, traffic sign ‘people self-regulating’

By Joel E. Zurbano and Othel V. Campos METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. said people in Metro Manila are now "self-regulating" so there is no need to raise the COVID-19 quarantine level.

"Even if it is not raised, the citizens practice self-discipline, they are already self-regulating,” Abalos said.

“After all of these variants – the UK variant, the Delta variant, the African

variant and now Omicron – maybe we have learned to self-regulate. Even if you do not tell them not to go out, on their own, they know not to go out because there is the risk of spreading the virus,” he added.

The MMDA said the volume of traffic has been reduced in the National Capital Region (NCR), especially along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, since the government imposed the Alert Level 3.

MMDA Traffic Engineering Office chief Noemie Recio said based on their

In an interview on radio dzBB, Dr. Ted Herbosa, medical adviser to the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 said they met with private drugstores and pharmacies last week, and could do a trial run in which the government would supply the vaccines to them.

This would address a shortage of vaccinators at vaccination centers, many of whom have had to go

back to their hospitals whose personnel are in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, an official of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines said doctors are being deployed to communities with a large number of unvaccinated people in the provinces to explain the benefits of getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

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Other LGUs to adopt ‘no vax, no ride’ rule LOCAL governments outside Metro Ma- of Local Authorities of the Philippines from using public transportation, citing nila will issue executive orders to carry (ULAP) said Sunday. a Metro Manila Council (MMC) resoluout the "no vaccine, no ride" policy in The Department of Transportation tion as legal basis to implement it. their respective jurisdictions, the Union (DOTr) has barred the unvaccinated Next page

KEEPING THE FAITH. Devotees stand outside of the Shrine of Sto. Niño de Tondo Parish in Tondo, Manila on the Feast Day of the Child Jesus on Sunday, January 16, 2022. The Catholic Church postponed all public fiesta celebrations related to the Feast of the Holy Child Jesus over the weekend to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 cases.

Norman Cruz

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SC affirms Pichay’s ouster

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has affirmed the resolution of the Office of the Ombudsman ordering the dismissal and perpetual disqualification from holding any public office of Surigao del Sur 1st Dist. Rep. Prospero Pichay.

This is in connection with the P780 million alleged unlawful investment of Local Water Utilities Administration in the Express Savings Bank Inc.

during his term as chairman of the agency in 2009.

In a 40-page resolution, the SC’s First Division also upheld the October 18, 2016 and November 17, 2017 resolutions of the Sandiganbayan which upheld the finding of probable cause by the Ombudsman to indict Pichay and several others for violation of the Manual of Regulation for Banks (MORB) and three counts of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices.

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AFP adds 32 Black Hawks into its fleet FLEET UPGRADE. File photo shows one of the 16 S-70i Black Hawks delivered to the Philippines last year. DND

THE Philippines will buy 32 new Black Hawk helicopters for more than $620 million, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Sunday, in the nation's latest big-ticket purchase to upgrade its aging military capability.

For the past decade, the government has been trying to modernize its runNext page

3,205,396 37,154

287,856

52,907

50

2,864,633 30,037 (As of 4 PM, JANUARY 16)

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Covax delivers 1 billionth vax dose T

The Covax facility was set up in 2020 by the World Health Organization, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to ensure that poorer countries can access the vaccines needed to battle the pandemic.

"Covax has delivered its first billionth dose of COVID-19 vaccines to 144 countries & territories across the world," Gavi chief executive Seth Berkley tweeted.

"It's a key milestone in the largest and most rapid global vaccine rollout in history."

Berkley said that when the plane carry-

ing the shipment with the one billionth dose had touched down in Kigali, Rwanda Saturday evening, "I felt proud but also humbled knowing how far we have to go to protect everyone and solve vaccine inequity."

Covax hit the one-billionth mark less than a year after delivering its first vaccine dose late last February – to Ghana.

All countries have been permitted to order doses through the mechanism, but lower-income countries have received the jabs free of charge.

Berkley said in a statement Saturday that he was "proud that nearly 90 percent

of the first billion doses Covax has delivered have been full-funded doses sent to the low and lower-middle countries."

But while reaching that one-billion milestone is impressive, Covax has fallen far short of its initial objective of delivering two billion doses by the end of 2021.

That is because it has been forced to compete with rich countries willing to pay a high price and hoarding doses.

In a speech on Thursday, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pointed out that while more than 9.4 billion vaccine doses had been administered around the world, more than 85 percent of people in Africa have yet to receive a single dose.

Health experts warn that allowing COVID to spread unabated in some places dramatically increases the chance of new, more dangerous variants emerging.

WHO said late last month that nearly half of its 194 member states had missed

Pharmacists...

“The surge is no longer just in NCR Plus. It's now all over the Philippines, and it won't peak in the entire Philippines even if, for instance, we say that cases have peaked in the NCR,” he said.

The Philippines logged on Sunday 37,154 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 3,205,396, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

The country's positivity rate was at 47.4 percent based on 81,381 tests conducted on Jan. 14.

There were 50 new deaths reported, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 52,907.

The DOH also reported 30,037 new recoveries bringing the total recoveries to 2,864,633.

There were 287,856 active cases, of which 9,212 were asymptomatic; 273,924 were mild; 2,940 were moderate; 1,475 were severe; and 305 were critical.

Nationwide, 49 percent of ICU beds, 48 percent of isolation beds, 51 percent of ward beds, and 21 percent of ventilators, are in use.

In Metro Manila, 57 percent of ICU beds, 50 percent of isolation beds, 66 percent of ward beds, and 28 percent of ventilators, are in use.

Herbosa said the government is looking for alternatives to continue the

vaccination in the Philippines despite the lack of vaccinators and increasing COVID-19 cases to accommodate those who have yet to receive their primary jabs or booster shots.

Based on the Department of Health’s (DOH) national COVID-19 vaccination dashboard, 58,765,384 people have already received their first dose against COVID-19 as of Saturday.

Of this number, 55,093,311 have completed their doses, while 4,765,771 have received their booster shots after reaching the three- to six-month requirement.

Herbosa said there is enough vaccine supply in the country, noting that a total of 210 million COVID-19 vaccine doses arrived in the Philippines as of December 2021.

The government is planning to start the inoculation of minors aged 5 to 11 against COVID-19 in the first week of February.

For his part, Cua said some local government units send doctors to unvaccinated communities to try to explain that vaccines can prevent severe infection against COVID-19.

“At least the unvaccinated are being identified. We send doctors to farflung areas to explain [vaccination] to them. The unvaccinated can ask about

HE Covax scheme aimed at equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines hit a "key milestone" Saturday (Sunday, Manila time) when it delivered its one billionth dose, one of its key backers said.

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ULAP president and Quirino Gov. Dakila Cua, interviewed on radio dzBB, said that barangay captains were identifying those who still refuse to get vaccinated in their respective jurisdictions but noted that they were difficult to convince.

Regions outside Metro Manila have just started to experience a sharp increase in new infections, the independent OCTA Research Group said Sunday, adding that it believes COVID-19 cases in the Philippines would not reach their peak "any time soon."

OCTA fellow Guido David, in an interview with ABS-CBN News' TeleRadyo, said the new COVID-19 surge is no longer contained in the National Capital Region (NCR) and its surrounding provinces.

“Unfortunately, I don't think cases in the entire Philippines will peak any time soon because the surge has just started to accelerate in many parts of the country,” David said in Filipino.

David cited Cebu City and Tacloban City, which reported record-high new infections on Saturday, at 393 and 108, respectively.

Less...

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latest traffic report, the volume of vehicles along the 23.8-km highway has been reduced by 15 percent to 20 percent.

Recio attributed the decrease to the self regulation and self discipline of Metro Manila residents who decided to just stay at home amid the continuing surge of COVID-19 active cases..

Abalos said he witnessed the decrease on Friday, saying it felt “like Holy Week.”

Earlier, the 17 mayors in Metro Manila agreed to retain the Alert Level 3 in the NCR. "There is no need for a lockdown or putting Metro Manila under Alert Level 4," Abalos said.

Major supermarkets and groceries, meanwhile, are also hurting from the declining foot traffic in malls and commercial establishments.

The Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association, Inc., (Pagasa) over the weekend, reported the industry was losing 40 to percent sales as the country bears the brunt another shift in quarantine measures due to escalating cases of COVID-19, which is now on its third wave.

SC...

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The high court denied Pichay’s consolidated petitions seeking to nullify his administrative and criminal liabilities over LWUA's purchase of 445,377 ESBI shares, its deposit of P300 million, and advance payment for subscription in the anticipated increase in capital stock of ESBI in the amount of P400 million.

The SC junked Pichay’s argument that his right to due process was violated when the Ombudsman ordered his dismissal from the service, which was approved by the Court of Appeals in its October 23, 2013 decision and February 24, 2014 resolution.

In his appeal, the lawmaker asserted the complaint did not raise allegations pertaining to the requirement of presidential approval under Administrative Order 59 and the approval of the Monetary Board under the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas- MORB, thus, he

Other...

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But Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) president and Quirino Gov. Dakila Cua said they would introduce modifications to the policy to accommodate vaccinated parents who must take their unvaccinated children to the doctor.

its target of vaccinating 40 percent of their population by the end of 2021.

It has called for a redoubling of efforts to ensure all countries manage to hit its second target, of vaccinating 70 percent of their populations, by mid-2022.

But experts warn that the current imbalance risks deepening further as many countries now rush to roll out additional doses to respond to the fast-spreading coronavirus variant Omicron.

"We cannot afford to let Omicron and the increased demand for boosters unravel the progress we've made," Berkley tweeted, urging the world to "work together to #breakCOVID now."

"If the world unites to ensure adults in lower-income countries are immunized at levels achieved in high-income countries," he said, "between 940,000 and 1.27 million deaths could be prevented in the next year." AFP

the vaccines and its effectivity,” said Cua. Local government units have been formulating strategies to restrict the movement of unvaccinated people in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s order.

David said it was possible that NCR had already reached its peak and that new cases are decreasing. But he does not discount the possibility that the region is now at its COVID-19 testing limit.

“We'll find out what's really happening [in] the next few days. if the number of new cases won't go down from 17,000 to 18,000, it means that maybe there are increasing infections, but we just don't see it,”said David.

David's statement comes a day after the Department of Health (DOH) said the growth of new cases in Metro Manila has slowed down.

On Twitter, David said 18,422 new cases were reported in Metro Manila, while the growth rate of the seven-day average in the region was at 2 percent.

The DOH projects that COVID-19 cases in the country would peak by the end of January or early February.

OCTA expects the Philippines to report around 41,000 new cases on Sunday or Monday, David said.

Tonga...

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flooded Pacific coastlines from Japan to the United States.

The capital Nuku'alofa suffered "significant" damage, Ardern said, adding there had been no reports of injury or death but a full assessment was not yet possible with communication lines down.

"The tsunami has had a significant impact on the foreshore on the northern side of Nuku'alofa with boats and large boulders washed ashore," Ardern said after contact with the New Zealand embassy in Tonga.

"Nuku'alofa is covered in a thick film of volcanic dust but otherwise conditions are calm and stable."

However, there has been no word on damage in the outer islands and New Zealand will send an air force reconnaissance aircraft "as soon as atmospheric conditions allow," the NZ Defense Force tweeted.

"We're working hard to see how we can assist our Pacific neighbors after the volcanic eruption near Tonga."

The United States was "deeply concerned for the people of Tonga," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, pledging support for the island nation.

A 1.2-meter wave swept ashore in the Tongan capital with locals reporting they had fled to higher ground, leaving behind flooded houses, some with structural damage, and with small stones and ash falling from the sky.

"It was massive, the ground shook, our house was shaking. It came in waves. My younger brother thought bombs were exploding nearby," resident Mere Taufa told the Stuff news website Saturday.

She said water filled their home minutes later and she saw the wall of a neighboring house collapse.

"We just knew straight away it was a tsunami. Just water gushing into our home. You could just hear screams everywhere, people screaming for safety, for everyone to get to higher ground."

Tonga's King Tupou VI was reported to have been evacuated from the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa and taken by police convoy to a villa well away from the coastline.

Dramatic satellite images showed the long, rumbling eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano spew smoke and ash in the air, with a thunderous roar heard 10,000 kilometers (6,000 miles) away in Alaska.

The eruption triggered tsunamis across the Pacific with waves of 1.74 meters (five and a half feet) measured in Chanaral, Chile, more than 10,000 kilometers away, and smaller waves seen along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Mexico.

Waves of around 1.2 meters (four feet) hit along Japan's Pacific coast.

By 0300 GMT Sunday, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said the threat from the eruption had passed.

AFP

“It is difficult to estimate lost sales, but I would say that sales have been down by 40 to 50 percent from pre-pandemic [levels],” said Pagasa president Steve Cua. The group said there is ample inventory of basic necessities in retail stores while suppliers have been very careful in adjusting prices, in deference to the call of the government to keep prices affordable while the country is still in crisis.

Cua noted that suppliers have been closely coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in terms of price adjustment even if it translates to lower sales for them though prices have slowly been increasing.

He added that the prices of goods, especially agricultural produce, “are more of a function of supply chain conditions.”

He said the group noticed a seeming persisting fatigue from all the fake and confusing news on social media.

At present, foot traffic, even in smaller groceries and convenience stores, has gone back to the days of fewer trips and shoppers.

“Most of the people have learned to rely on virtual shopping platforms, even for their basic necessities,” an owner of a local brand of RTWs said.

MOBILITY CURB. Driver Federico Tiozon Jr. posts a 'no vaccine, no ride' signage on his passenger jeepney on Sunday ahead of today’s implementation of the mobility curb policy on unvaccinated people. Danny Pata

could not be held administratively guilty for these acts.

“Poring over the documents made available before this Court, it cannot be said that Pichay was deprived of an opportunity to raise his defenses on the charges laid down against him. Contrary to the claims of Pichay, he was apprised of, and was given the opportunity to controvert, the allegation pertaining to the absence of prior approval of the President under A.O. No. 59 and the Monetary Board under the MORB,” the SC noted.

“Pichay cannot conveniently close his eyes on these allegations and nitpick which among the allegations he would choose to answer and thereafter cry violation of due process. He was given a copy of the position paper and had the time to browse all of its contents before submitting his own position paper. As such, he had the opportunity to controvert all of the allegations therein, and was given the opportunity to be heard,” it said.

The tribunal also said that based on the evidence, Pichay committed “flagrant disregard of the rules” in obtaining ESBI. It pointed out that Pichay, as chairman of LWUA, allowed the purchase of ESBI despite the absence of approval by the MB as required by the banking laws and regulations.

“Ultimately, the absence of the requisite MB approval resulted in losses on the part of the government in the total amount of P780 million. This amount could have been used for other endeavors to help local water utilities,” the SC said.

The SC also did not give weight to Pichay’s claim that the term "perpetual disqualification for re-employment in the government service, unless otherwise provided in the decision" as an accessory to the penalty of dismissal from service means that the disqualification extends only to government positions that involve employment.

Pichay claimed the Ombudsman gravely abused its discretion when it imposed disqualification to hold any

public office, which is an accessory penalty under the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (RRACCS).

The High Tribunal, however, noted that there is nothing from the provisions of A.O. No. 07 that would prevent the application of the RRACCS. On the contrary, the SC explained, A.O. 07 allows the application of the rules on civil service, which serves to implement the provisions of Executive Order No. 292, or the Administrative Code of 1987.

Rule III, Section 1 of A.O. 07 provides the grounds for administrative complaint while its Section 10 states that “the penalty of dismissal from the service shall carry with it that of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and the perpetual disqualification for re-employment in the government service, unless otherwise provided in the decision.”

Pichay is seeking reelection as Surigao del Sur 1st district representative.

down military equipment featuring Vietnam War-era helicopters and World War II naval vessels used by the United States.

The first of the 32 S-70i Black Hawks from a Polish firm owned by US defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin will begin to arrive next year, Lorenzana said on Facebook.

The aircraft were needed for humanitarian assistance and disaster response, he said.

"The lack of transport planes and helicopters have never been more acute during the pandemic and in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette," Lorenzana said.

Odette left more than 400 people dead and caused widespread devastation when it hit the country in December.

"This was exacerbated by our aging Hueys that have become uneconomical to maintain," Lorenzana added.

The government last year completed an order of 16 S-70i Black Hawks to replace the air force's fleet of Bell UH1H helicopters, commonly known as the Huey, after fatal accidents.

Many of them were acquired as surplus from the United States, Manila's longtime military ally.

The entire Black Hawk fleet was grounded in June after an S-70i helicopter crashed during a night-time training flight, killing all six on board.

An investigation found it "inadvertently entered a thunderstorm" and the pilot suffered "spatial disorientation or vertigo."

As well as long-running insurgencies by communist and Islamist fighters, the Philippines faces growing Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. Lorenzana announced Friday the country would buy an anti-ship missile system from India for nearly $375 million that would boost its defense capability.

That came weeks after the country ordered two new warships from South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries in a $556 million deal. AFP

Cua said he supports restricting the movement of the unvaccinated to slow the transmission of COVID-19, saying the new policy can really help.

Also on Sunday, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) urged public utility vehicle drivers to report enforcers who may use the new "no vaccination, no ride" policy to extort money.

LTFRB technical division chief Joel Bolano said the government will not allow enforcers to abuse the policy, which will be implemented in Metro Manila starting Monday, and harass drivers into giving them money.

Earlier, the DOTr said it would deploy plainclothes enforcers in public utility vehicles (PUVs) to ensure compliance with its “no vaccination, no ride” policy, which

begins Monday.

“We will be deploying mystery passengers to ensure compliance with the policy even if there are no uniformed enforcers around,” said Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark Steven Pastor, speaking in Filipino at an online briefing Friday.

Under a Department of Transportation (DOTr) order issued Jan. 11, access to public transportation is limited only to fully

vaccinated individuals, who must show a valid vaccination card (physical or digital) and a government-issued ID with a photo and an address.

Pastor said the enforcers would be deployed at “strategic locations” to ensure compliance by transport workers and passengers. He added that the move would ensure that the people follow the rules even when no uniformed enforcers are around.

AFP...

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PGH to help OFW hospital in Pampanga

RELIEF GOODS FOR PALAWAN. Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel of BRP Malabrigo unload 15.3 tons of relief goods and essential supplies at San Fernando Wharf, El Nido, Palawan on January 15. The operation is part of the ongoing relief transport missions of the PCG, through the Task Force Kalinga, to support the recovery and rehabilitation of typhoonstricken provinces in MiMaRoPa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Caraga.

Defensor vows to build new diagnostic labs CONGRESSMAN Michael “Mike” Defensor has pledged to build new molecular diagnostic laboratories to provide Quezon City’s 2.94 million residents with “transformative pointof-care screening services for multiple diseases, including the next pandemic virus.”

“The residents of Quezon City deserve access to world-class automated testing services for diseases, and we are determined to give it to them,” Defensor, who is running for city mayor, said in a statement on Sunday.

“We intend to put up at least three molecular testing labs – one each for the Quezon City General Hospital, the Novaliches District Hospital, and the Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital,” Defensor said.

At present, the three hospitals run by the Quezon City government do not have their own molecular screening labs. They end up outsourcing all their specimen testing to private facilities, thus causing holdups in patient diagnosis and treatment, Defensor said.

“We cannot have delays in patient diagnosis and treatment during a public health emergency,” Defensor, Anakalusugan party-list representative in Congress, said.

The envisioned molecular testing labs would run on the “gold standard” GeneXpert platform, according to Defensor.

“They would be capable of detecting not only COVID-19 and the next pandemic virus, but also a wide range of diseases, such as multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis, cervical cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, and meningitis,” Defensor said.

Defenso also pledged to build new molecular diagnostic laboratories to provide Quezon City’s 2.94 million residents with “transformative pointof-care screening services for multiple diseases, including the next pandemic virus.”

“The residents of Quezon City deserve access to world-class automated testing services for diseases, and we are determined to give it to them,” Defensor, who is running for city mayor, said in a statement on Sunday.

UN calls for more aid for ‘Odette’ survivors

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HE United Nations called for more support to victims of typhoon “Odette” to hasten the recovery of areas hit by the super typhoon.

Super typhoon “Odette,” international name “Raj” rammed the country a month ago, devastating many areas and affecting thousands.

UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez in a statement said there have been challenges, particularly COVID-19, which has hampered relief efforts.

The typhoon also caused restrictions in the movement of relief and aid efforts, Gonzalez said.

The UN executive said UN’s fundraising effort for typhoon survivors has so far only collected 39 percent the $107.2 million target, after a month since the fundraising effort was started.

“On behalf of the UN and the Humanitarian Country Team, I call on everyone to support this Humanitarian Needs and Priorities Plan to complement ongoing national efforts and bring help and hope to the people of the Philippines,” he said,

quoted in an ABS-CBN report.

The super typhoon packed maximum sustained winds of 200 kilometers per hour when it hit the Philippines Dec. 16.

It devastated parts of Mindanao and the Visayas, leaving nearly 400 people dead and almost a million displaced.

“It damaged infrastructure and livelihoods on a comparable scale to Typhoon Haiyan, forcing 2.7 million people from their homes, damaging almost l.4 million houses, and affecting 514 towns and cities, 100 of which still have power outages or no power at all,” said Gonzalez, referring to super typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

MANILA ZOO VISITORS.

Visitors take a selfie at the front gate of the newlyrehabilitated Manila Zoo on Sunday.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno is planning to use it as a vaccination site for senior citizens and minors aged 5 to 11 as the national government plans to roll out the first pediatric vaccination in the first week of February.

Danny Pata

THE expertise of the government’s top medical institution, Philippine General Hospital (PGH), will add quality to the service of the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital in San Fernando. Pampanga.

On Friday, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and PGH to help manage the clinical services of the country’s first hospital for OFWs. “I’m glad that the state’s leading research and medical center is supporting the OFW Hospital. With PGH on our side, what could possibly go wrong?” DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in a news release on Sunday. “In serving the health needs of our modern-day heroes, we need the champion in saving lives. Thank you, PGH, for helping us.”

PGH will help the OFW Hospital in the training of clinical and administrative personnel, planning and acquisition of hospital equipment, and formulation of clinical and fiscal process flow, according to the MOU. It will also guide the hospital in the creation of electronic medical records and hospital information system and planning of infrastructure layout in relation to clinical services.

Law granting benefits to NPS families hailed

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Win Gatchalian commended the signing into law of the bill granting survivorship benefits to the legitimate spouse and dependent children of the members of the National Prosecution Service (NPS).

He noted that the modest entitlement is long overdue especially to those who have dedicated their lives to be instruments in the dispensation of justice in the country.

Gatchalian, co-author of Republic Act No. 11643, otherwise known as “An Act Granting Survivorship Benefits to the Surviving Legitimate Spouse and Dependent Children of a Deceased Retired Member of the National Prosecution Service,” said the law could help boost the morale of prosecutors who are saddled with heavy caseloads and face a myriad of challenges that can influence their decision-making and performance.

President Rodrigo Duterte has recently signed into law RA 11643 which allows the surviving legitimate spouse and dependent children of a deceased member of the NPS, who is eligible to optionally retire at the time of death, to be entitled to the retirement benefits that the deceased was receiving or entitled to receive.

Solon urges stronger measures to combat cybercrimes, ‘phishing’

By Rio N. Araja

CAMARINES Sur Rep. Luis Ray Villafuerte is urging Congress to act swiftly on a measure passed by a House committee to add more teeth to the efforts of regulatory agencies to combat cybercrimes by penalizing social engineering schemes, commonly

known as “phishing” that lead to illegal financial activities.

The committee-approved consolidated measure, which includes his House Bill No. 10141, aims to regulate the use of bank accounts and electronic wallets and consider certain illegal financial acts related to their use as a form of economic sabotage and a heinous crime if

done on a large scale.

“Our ongoing efforts to accelerate the country’s digital switch must be complemented by measures to safeguard consumers against cyber threats and other illegal online schemes,” Villafuerte said.

“The recent gains in the digitalization of financial services should not result to

adverse consequences for our people, especially during this prolonged pandemic,” he added.

HB 10141 and other similar bills were substituted with a consolidated bill that was approved in principle last week by the House committee on banks and financial intermediaries chaired by Quirino Rep. Junie Cua.

PAGASA records lowest temperature in Manila

By Rio N. Araja

THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) recorded the lowest temperature in Metro Manila on Sunday.

The lowest temperature of 19.7 degrees Celsius in the National Capital Region this northeast monsoon was

recorded on Jan. 16 at 5:30 a.m. at the Science Garden in Quezon City.

Weather specialist Ana Clauren said this was the lowest temperature in the metro since the onset of the northeast monsoon in October 2021.

PAGASA said the top 10 stations that recorded the lowest temperatures in the country on Sunday morning were Bagu-

io City, Benguet at 11.0°C; Tanay, Rizal at 18.0°C; Casiguran, Aurora - 18.6°C; Laoag City, Ilocos Norte at 18.6°C; Malaybalay, Bukidnon at 19.0°C; Basco, Batanes at 19.1°C; San Jose, Occidental Mindoro at 19.1°C; Sinait, Ilocos Sur at 19.5°C; Science Garden, Quezon City at 19.7°C, and Abucay, Bataan at 19.8°C (RIO)

DFA closely monitoring 800 Pinoys after eruption THE Philippine Embassy in Wellington is currently monitoring the situation of close to 800 Filipinos in Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji after the eruption of an underwater volcano on Saturday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

In a statement Sunday, the DFA said

the eruption triggered tsunamis and strong waves reached Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji, and concerned residents are moving to higher grounds.

It added there were disruptions to communication systems in those areas.

“Coordination efforts with local authorities and community leaders are on-

going to ascertain the situation on the ground and the condition of the Filipinos in Tonga (87), Samoa (300), and Fiji (400),” the DFA said.

Meanwhile, tsunami advisories were also issued for the coastal areas of New Zealand, Japan, and the US western states.

FOR GARDENERS. Plastic pots of various shapes, sizes, colors, and other

implements are sold at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City on Saturday. Gardening has become a popular hobby since the Covid-19 pandemic forced Filipinos to stay and work at home most of the time. Rico H. Borja

BAYANIHAN. Personnel of the Philippine

Navy conduct clearing operations in Brgy.

Macarascas in Puerto Princesa that was among the areas devastated by Typhoon Odette.

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NBI: Comelec servers were not hacked

News

By Willie Casas THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Sunday there was no hacking that took place at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) warehouse in Laguna.

Representatives from the NBI and Comelec conducted a site inspection at the commission’s warehouse in Sta. Rosa, Laguna on Saturday amid reports of alleged hacking of data for the May 9 polls.

“We looked at the configuration and the testing area. We are convinced that it did not happen here. No hacking happened here,” NBI officer-incharge Eric Distor said.

Distor made the statement four days days after Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, who is retiring next month after a seven-year term, denied the systems of the poll body were breached, which allegedly compromised sensitive data as claimed by a Manila Bulletin report.

“FAKE NEWS: Comelec server was hacked, not true. Manila Bulletin editor must verify,” Guanzon said in a tweet.

On Monday, MB reported its Technews Team had verified information from an unnamed source about the supposed hacking that took place Saturday last week. “[T]he hackers’ group managed to breach the system of the Comelec last Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, and download files that included, among others, usernames and PINS of vote-counting machines (VCM),” the article read.

Marcos to focus on job creation to spur recovery

By Rey E. Requejo PRESIDENTIAL candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Sunday he and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio would work to make job creation a top priority to hasten the country’s economic recovery from the scourge of COVID-19 once elected into office in the May 9 elections.

Marcos stressed the UniTeam’s priority was to create more jobs that would focus on business, agriculture, tourism and infrastructures in line with the successful “Build, Build, Build” program of the Duterte administration.

“We must prepare ourselves for that recovery, we have to create jobs. That’s the first and most critical element in all of these. We need to create jobs for Filipinos,” Marcos said in an interview.

The 64-year-old Marcos explained that among the top priorities was to focus on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises as they could quickly create jobs for Filipinos and in the process put food on their tables.

“It’s all about jobs. We have to put Filipinos back to work and the way we do it is to invest in sectors that have good returns, the socalled `you get the biggest bang for your buck` when you invest in certain sectors that many will be employed immediately,” Marcos said.

144 gun ban violators nabbed in checkpoints

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HE weeklong checkpoints related to the May 9, 2022 national elections have netted 144 gun ban violators so far, the Philippine National Police said.

A total of 121 firearms have been confiscated as of 6 a.m. Sunday, while 512 illegal weapons have been seized, including gun replicas.

“We issued appeals before the establishment of checkpoints. There is a gun ban, so do not bring weapons,” PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said in a radio interview.

The gun ban will last until June 8.

“Our intention is to perform professionally for peaceful elections. If we want peace, let’s unite – including voters, the general public, and the candi-

dates – do not resort to violence and be fair,” Carlos said.

Four active private armed groups have been monitored in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Pursuant to Comelec Resolution No. 10728, the PNP suspended the validity of all permits to carry firearms issued to licensed holders, juridical entities, and members of government law enforcement agencies.

Also suspended are permits issued by the PNP to transport firearms, ammu-

nition, explosives, public firearms display, and exhibits, as well as employment of security personnel.

As a general rule, only police, military, and members of government law enforcement agencies in complete uniform and while on official duty are allowed to bear firearms for the entire duration of the election period.

Exemption from the Comelec-imposed firearms prohibition may be secured from the Comelec Committee on Ban on Firearms and Security Concerns.

Meanwhile, in Metro Manila, a total of 1,215 operations were conducted from January 9 to 14, including checkpoints and other police operations geared to implement the gun ban policy.

SNAP LOCKDOWN.

Community watchmen and officials from Brgy.

209 Zone 19 in Tecson Street in Tondo, Manila place a signage on Sunday, January 16, 2022 announcing a week-long granular lockdown after several residents tested positive for COVID-19.

Danny Pata

‘Lacson leadership to bring out best in every Filipino’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta PARTIDO Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson hopes to turn every Filipino into the best versions of themselves, like what he did with himself, if he would be granted the opportunity to serve as the country’s 17th head of state in the forthcoming May 9 elections.

Party treasurer and spokesperson Arnel Ty gave this assurance in an interview with Cagayan de Oro City-based Magnum Radio over the weekend as he vouched for the character of Lacson and his political acumen that would make him the most qualified person to lead our nation for the next six years.

“What we see is that if he [Lacson] will be fortunate enough to win the sup-

port of Filipinos, the majority of Filipinos can achieve whatever dreams they have [in life],” he said.

Ty said Partido Reporma chose to support and campaign for Lacson on his second presidential bid because of how he built a long and successful political career by simply relying on his own sets of skills and without losing his moral code.

Pasig mayor positive for COVID PASIG City Mayor Vico Sotto said he tested positive for COVID-19 and is now undergoing isolation.

In his social media post on Saturday night, Sotto said he is exhibiting a sore throat, fever, and body aches.

He assured his constituents that he will continue to work remotely while undergoing isolation for the next seven days.

“The Omicron variant is extremely transmissible—as some experts say, all of us will be exposed to this variant.

So, let’s always be careful, strengthen our resistance, and be responsible. If you have symptoms, refrain from going out,” Sotto said.

Meanwhile, Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba announced Sunday that he

and his wife, Mabel, have contracted COVID-19.

Although they have mild symptoms, they are confined at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center due to their comorbidities, namely hypertension and diabetes.

Both are vaccinated and have received their booster shots.

In a video message shared by the Cagayan Provincial Information Office Facebook, Mamba said they were swabbed on Friday and their positive RT-PCR test results were released the following day.

“We seek patience from you for not being able to answer your calls and texts as we are confined. Please pray for us,” the governor said.

DEVOTION. Shane Marie Navelgas, a Bible reader, prays before the image of the Infant Jesus before the start of an online mass at the Sto. Niño Church on Sunday, January 16, 2022. The feast day of the Sto. Niño de Tondo is celebrated on the third Sunday of January. Danny Pata

Isko: Manila Zoo can be used as pediatric vax site

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso is seriously considering the use of the newly-redeveloped Manila Zoo as a vaccination site for senior citizens and minors aged 5 to 11 as the national government plans to roll out the first pediatric vaccination in the first week of February.

Based on the latest data from the Department of Health, there are around 13.5 million children aged 5 to 11 in the country. Vaccinating this age group will be a big step in meeting the government’s goal of resuming physical classes and lessening restrictions on children.

Domagoso said the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden is an ideal vaccination site.

The 5-hectare recreation facility has lots of open spaces and after their vaccination, children and their grandparents could go around to see the animals, the garden and the museums.

“So we thought, because of the people requesting for the Manila Zoo, at least they should have a sneak peek.

Besides there are many things to visit here -- open air. Double purpose, they can visit with their grandchildren or grandparents,” the mayor said during his visit to the zoo over the weekend.

The initial COVID-19 vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 will be rolled out on Feb. 1-7.

Pacman seeks one student, one gadget policy

By Macon Ramos-Araneta PROMDI presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao, claiming education is a great equalizer between the rich and the poor, has vowed to pursue a “one student, one gadget” program to create equal opportunities for poor students.

Poor students could hardly keep up with the demands of the “new normal” in the country’s educational system, he said in a statement released by his campaign headquarters Sunday.

Pacquiao also raised the need to attune the country’s educational system to the possibility of prolonged restrictions for face-to-face classes and urged the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to create long-term plans on the use of modular and digital platforms as the mode of instruction.

Pacquiao said the government must ensure no one is left behind by providing poor students the assistance that they sorely need.

Pacquiao said a very important component for poor students to cope with the demands of the “new normal” is having the gadgets they could use for online classes.

Opinion Sundays of Epiphany

AS THE Christmas season ends, the Church invites the faithful to recall the Biblical episode of the Epiphany, which is traditionally celebrated on January 6. The word “Epiphany” comes from the Greek word “phainein” which means “to display”, or “to show” – thus indicating the time when Christ is displayed, disclosed or manifested to the word.

Following the commemoration of the adoration of the child Jesus by the Magi, the Sundays that follow extend the significance of “showing forth” Christ to the world to include two other epiphanies or manifestations of Christ, that is at his baptism in the river Jordan, and at the wedding feast of Cana.

In the Philippines, the celebration of the Santo Niño can even be considered a fourth “epiphany” feast, during which traditionally diverse artistic expressions portray the child Jesus from one vested as a Spanish governor general to one clothed like a lowly street child are paraded by the pious on our city streets.

It would be interesting to point out that the three Magi were actually pagan astrologers. Theirs were actually an occupation that was expressly forbidden among the Jews – and yet they were among the first to offer gifts to the long-promised Messiah.

So these feasts of the epiphanies point out to one thing: that inasmuch as Christ has embraced our humble human nature, we are called to search for him in the ordinariness, and yes, even the brokenness of our everyday lives. These Sundays – including the much celebrated feast of the Santo Niño – recall the manifestation of God’s presence in earthly form, showing up to the most ordinary of persons – and the most unexpected of times and places.

Jesus himself was born during a dark and difficult time in Jewish history. The Romans occupied Judea and crushed every attempt to defy their unchallenged rule over their empire. In an attempt to secure their support, they made Herod king of the Jewish nation - an unpopular, insecure and power-hungry tyrant rejected even by his own people.

Even the intimate circumstances of Jesus’s birth were far from ideal. Mary became pregnant out of wedlock. His birth occurred when Mary and Joseph were on the road, forced to travel because of a census imposed by a distant Roman emperor. The journey of the Magi came with dire consequences, since after having told Herod that the “king of the Jews” was born in Bethlehem, the tyrant ordered what is now known as the “massacre of the innocents” – the murder of all children two years and under.

Despite all of these, Jesus came anyway.

Barely a week before Christmas, a supertyphoon devastated parts of the Visayas and northern Mindanao leaving a sorry swath of destruction in its path. Just when we thought the pandemic was finally coming to an end, another more transmissible variant led to another surge of coronavirus infections.

A PUNISHING mix of heat and humidity that makes outdoor labor difficult and dangerous is causing around 677 billion lost working hours a year around the world, according to a new study Thursday that warns climate change is making it worse.

Researchers in the United States, who estimated the current cost at $2.1 trillion every year, said that the negative effects of stifling temperatures on people doing heavy work in agriculture and construction had been underestimated.

The new figures come amid a growing focus on the severe health impact of climate change, not just as projections of future harm from heatwaves and other extreme events, but also as consequences already playing out across a warming world.

The study, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, looked at data on humid heat -- particularly dangerous because the body is less able to cool down by sweating.

Researchers estimated the number of workers exposed to unsafe levels over the 20 years to 2020, as well as the impact on labor compared to the period 1981 to 2000.

Researchers incorporated the findings from laboratory-based research published last year that suggest productivity drops off at lower temperature and humidity levels

In the midst of all these crises, many of us are longing to understand God’s purpose and searching for whether there might be a blessing behind all of these difficulties.

Like the Magi, many of us are motivated to look for God, not because of a lack of faith, but because we want to know if there might be something more than the challenges that we see around us. The curiosity of the Magi forced them to go beyond the limits of their knowledge. The steadfastness of John the Baptist led him to a close encounter with Christ whose coming he prophesied in the desert. The persistence of Mary compelled Christ to perform the very first of his miracles, transforming water to wine in a wedding feast.

Interestingly, each epiphany of Christ was preceded by a crisis, and punctuated with an encounter of faith.

We cannot live as those who do not have hope.

That encounter happens to us in many ways - mostly when we are faced with the limits of our human capacity or when we are confounded by the realities and circumstances around us. Similarly, that encounter affects us in many ways. The Magi, for example, took a different route on their way home, implying an act of conversion from disbelief to faith. John the Baptist, on the other hand, accepted profoundly, that “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). Finally, Mary, anticipating the miracle that Christ would perform, told the attendants with deep faith, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5).

The same could be said of the problems and difficulties that we have in our own lives, and the pains caused and scars left by these less-than-ideal situations. These are the dark and desperate places in our lives that leave us longing for light, and the way ahead that makes us wonder if God ever listens to our prayers.

At times, it would be the suffocating discomfort in the monotony of our mundane affairs, or the discouraging limitations of our present circumstances that limit our own possibilities. Or it could be the lingering frustration and hopelessness that stem from the growing breakdown in our politics, in our economy and in our society.

These are the troubles of our times and our lives that may weigh on us heavily.

We may be constantly surrounded by reminders of human brokenness – the continuing coronavirus pandemic, the political strife and racial tension, social injustice, violence and poverty, and even our own personal concerns – but it is in the midst of all these that Christ shows himself to be the light in the midst of darkness.

These Sundays of the Epiphany leave us with the comforting thought that it is in when and where it is least possible and expected that God shows forth his presence. For even though we are constantly reminded that we are in a broken world, we cannot live as those who do not have hope.

All we have to do is to accept with greater faith that in the end, even if we cannot fix everything that needs to be fixed, and even when we cannot make everything perfect, Jesus will come, anyway.

than previously thought.

They found that between 2001 and 2020, exposure to high humidity and heat was linked to approximately 677 billion lost working hours a year in heavy outdoor labor.

It suggested almost three quarters of the global working-age population are already living in locations where background climate conditions are associated with about a hundred hours of heat-associated lost work per person per year.

The negative effects of stifling temperatures on people doing heavy work in agriculture and construction had been underestimated.

“If outdoor workers are losing productivity at these lower temperature and humidity levels, then labor losses in the tropics could be as high as 500 to 600 hours per person per year, which is over twice as high as previous estimates,” said lead researcher Luke Parsons, of Duke University.

The research found that India currently loses around 259 billion hours annually due to the impacts of humid heat on labor, while

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EDITORIAL

Climate change worsens toll of humid heat on outdoor laborers: study

By Kelly Macnamara

MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 2022

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A truly strong leader will defend our territory

HE State Department of the United States this week released a report examining China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea. The study concluded that the claims are inconsistent with international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The report says China’s maritime claims fall under four categories: • Sovereignty claims over more than 100 features in the South China Sea that are submerged below the sea surface at high tide; • Straight baselines that enclose the four “island groups”; • Maritime zones, specifically internal waters, a territorial sea, an exclusive economic zone, and a continental shelf that are based on treating each claimed South China Sea island group “as a whole”; and • Historic rights China’s claims under each of these categories undermine the rule of law in the oceans and numerous universally recognized provisions of international law, the US State Department said.

Just as important as the general conclusion of the State Department is its significant mention of the Philippines’ victory over China at

– go to war with powerful China, or not do anything at all. The emphasis has been that we are certain to lose in the event of war.

But we know too that there are many other options we can take to protect our territory against China’s incursions. We don’t need to go to war, but we can capitalize on being on the right side of the law.

We have the support of the international community, we have the decision of the PCA, and we are aware that China’s aggressive, sometimes stealthy moves are not something that transpires between friends who respect each other.

It is thus our hope that the next president of our land would be enough of a leader to assert what is ours and stand up to China’s bullying. As the elections draw near, let us demand that our candidates lay down and expound on what they plan to do about this issue. Let us not let them get away easily with prepared speeches or motherhood statements—or jokes about jetskiing to the Spratly Islands to plant our flag. We need them to understand, and appreciate, just how high the stakes are here, and just how important the issue of sovereignty is to us as a nation.

the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. The tribunal’s 2016 decision is unanimous, final and binding.

Let us hear what the candidates really plan to do about China. And let us judge them from their answers.

Unfortunately, the current administration has consistently refused to assert this legal and moral victory.

Except for sporadic pronouncements whenever the public clamor gets too loud, our executive leadership chooses to defer to the political and geographic might of our giant neighbor.

A common rhetorical strategy is to reduce the issue to a binary scenario

RA 11635 – Rectifying a policy blunder

CONGRATULATIONS to the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) and the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU) for their successful legislative initiative with the enactment into law of Republic Act 11635 “An Act Clarifying the Income Taxation of Proprietary Educational Institutions, Amending for the Purpose Section 27 (B) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, As Amended”.

RA 11635 rectifies the onerous provisions of the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s RR 5-2021. If enforced, this would have slapped a 150-percent increase on the income tax of private schools. This would have caused long-term consequences to a strategically critical ecosystem that affects not just the direct stakeholders of private educational institutions. Thousands of households that depend on thousands of linked small and medium enterprises that benefit from the business operations of private schools would also be affected.

Provisions of BIR RR 5-2021 would have denied private schools the preferential tax treatment mandated in the Constitution and imposed a 25-percent corporate income tax on them. This went against what President Duterte and Congress actually intended in the CREATE Law which rightfully provides much needed relief to the distressed private schools by a temporary reduction of the 10-percent tax rate that has been in effect since 1968, to 1 percent during the pandemic. Had this not been remedied, it would have been a colossal policy blunder of this administration that would have more than doubled the tax rate of private schools from 10 percent to 25 percent.

China loses 72 billion hours and Bangladesh loses 32 billion hours.

Warming ‘magnifies impact’ Over the last four decades, as global temperatures have risen, the study found heat-related labor losses have increased by at least nine percent.

The authors estimate that climate change is to blame for an additional 25 billion working hours lost annually in India over the last 20 years compared to the previous 20 years, and an extra four billion hours a year in China over the same period.

Parsons said other hot and humid regions such as the southeastern United States could

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

Anita F. Grefal

Baldwin R. Felipe

Edgar M. Valmorida

The educational system is a big booster of the economy as the sector’s operations support jobs, allied industries, and many small and medium enterprises in its community.

Before these crises, the private education system was a vibrant ecosystem that has been the dominant producer of the country’s skilled workforce of professionals, managers, and technicians which according to most recent PACU data accounts for 74.9 percent compared to 25.1 percent from the State Universities and Colleges. This translates to more than 3.5 million from the private higher education institutions and about 1.8 million from SUCs. This is the critical economic role of private schools which is indispensable to our economic recovery.

We must also commend both Houses of Congress for their fast response to the cries of the private education stakeholders. Responding to the loud protests from both the private and public education sector, several lawmakers called for the revocation of the “erroneous” revenue regulation with both Houses of Congress convening special hearings and filing bills to rectify RR 5-2021.

The House of Representatives quickly passed with 203 votes and no objections

House Bill 9913 defining with finality the 10-percent preferential tax rate for proprietary schools as mandated in the constitution. The Senate swiftly reciprocated with unanimous approval of their counterpart legislation Senate Bill 2407. The bicameral proceedings sustained the urgency with the House adopting the Senate version as the enrolled bill for signature of the President.

Republic Act 11635 was finally signed into law on December 10, 2021, just six months after the private schools started their protests against RR 5-2021.

In a recent statement of COCOPEA and PACU, they expressed their profound gratitude to the President and all legislators who supported the enactment of RA 11635 as the law will give many private schools “the needed boost for sustainability in the school years ahead, and this allows them to fully focus on the Learning Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic that our country is currently grappling with.”

“We especially thank Senate President Vicente Sotto III, House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, Senate Committee on Ways and Means Chairperson Sen. Pia Cayetano, House Committee on Ways and Means and primary author of the House Bill Cong. Joey Salceda, and Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, primary author of the Senate version, as well as, Sen Minority Leader Frank Drilon, Sen President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez and Cong. Kiko Benitez.”

The fast enactment of RA 11635 demonstrates how the repercussions of a damaging policy crossed sectoral and political lines and mobilized civil society and business groups to launch a determined campaign for urgent legislative action. Policy responsiveness is achieved when there are close consultations with stakeholders covering all dimensions with expert advice and sound data. This will help us avoid, or in this case correct, policy blunders in crafting government regulations.

also be experiencing “significant” labor losses as well.

“These results imply that we don’t have to wait for 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming to experience impacts of climate change on labor and the economy,” he said.

“The warming we’ve already experienced may be associated with large-scale background labor losses. Additional future warming magnifies these impacts.”

The Lancet’s annual Countdown on Health and Humanity report last year warned that overall some 295 billion hours of potential work were lost due to extreme heat exposure in 2020, with the average potential earnings

lost in poorer countries equivalent to between four and eight percent of national gross domestic product (GDP).

Research published last year in the journal Nature Climate Change suggested 100,000 heat-related deaths per year were caused by climate change.

Last year, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that global heating is virtually certain to pass the Paris Agreement threshold of a 1.5-degree Celsius cap, probably within a decade.

The last seven years since the Paris deal was signed in 2015 have been the hottest on record. AFP

This controversial BIR tax regulation was announced at a time when the ECQ lockdown was causing widespread disruptions to all industries with the education sector taking the hardest hit. An April 2021 survey by PACU found that 50 percent of the respondents suffered a 10- to 50-percent decline in enrollment compared to 2020. Over one million of their direct stakeholders, teachers, students, and school personnel were affected by the health and economic crisis of the pandemic.

Repercussions of a damaging policy crossed sectoral and political lines

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

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

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor

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MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Prince Harry sues for police protection before UK courts

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S-BASED Prince Harry is appealing to the UK courts after the government refused to allow him police protection paid for out of his own pocket, arguing the decision means he cannot return home.

Harry and wife Meghan lost their UK taxpayer-paid protection when they quit frontline royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United States.

Now living in California, they have their own private security team. Legal papers showed Harry arguing that the US team would not have adequate powers to protect his family in the UK. The Duke of Sussex is seeking a judicial review in London after the interior ministry declined his request to pay himself for UK police protection, Britain’s PA news agency said Sunday.

“The UK will always be Prince H a r r y ’s home and a country he wants his wife and children to be safe in,” a legal representative for Prince Harry the duke said in a statement to PA. “With the lack of police protection comes too great a personal risk.”

Last summer, Harry’s car was chased by paparazzi photographers as he left a charity event in London. The next day, he and elder brother William unveiled a statue of their late mother, Princess Diana.

She died in Paris in 1997 after a high-speed car chase also involving photographers, and Harry’s relations with the UK media remain fraught.

The legal representative noted Harry had served two tours of combat duty in Afghanistan, and said “in recent years his family has been subjected to well-documented neo-Nazi and extremist threats.”

A UK government spokesperson refused to comment on any legal proceedings but said its protective security for VIPs was “rigorous and proportionate.”

“It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements. To do so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security,” the spokesperson said.

Harry’s uncle Prince Andrew is meanwhile facing calls to pay for his own security after he was stripped of his military titles, in the fallout of a US civil case alleging sexual assault. AFP

Student’s selfies fetch $1 million in cryptocurrency sale in Indonesia

REMINDER. An artist

paints a mural based on COVID-19 safety protocols on the walls of an underpass during an ongoing weekend curfew imposed in New Delhi on January 16, 2022 to curb the spread of the coronavirus infections. AFP

Hostages freed in 10-hour synagogue standoff ALL four people taken hostage in a more than 10-hour standoff at a Texas synagogue have been freed unharmed, police said late Saturday (Sunday, Manila time), and their suspected captor is dead.

The hostage siege in the small Texas town of Colleyville – in which the suspect was apparently demanding the release of a convicted terrorist – had sparked an outpouring of concern from US Jewish organizations as well as from the Israeli government.

Colleyville police chief Michael Miller told a news conference that a “rescue team breached the synagogue” Saturday evening and rescued the three remaining

hostages being held inside. A first hostage had been released unharmed a few hours earlier.

“The suspect is deceased,” Miller told reporters.

FBI Dallas Special Agent Matt DeSarno said the four hostages – who included a much-loved local rabbi, Charlie CytronWalker – were not in need of medical attention, and would soon be reunited with their families.

“He did not harm them in any way,” he said.

There were reports from journalists at the scene of a loud explosion and gunshots at the synagogue shortly before the press

conference.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott had announced that the remaining hostages were “out alive and safe” at 9:30 pm (0330 Sunday GMT).

That was more than 10 hours after police were alerted to the emergency at the Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, some 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Dallas.

ABC News reported that the hostagetaker was armed and had claimed to have bombs in unknown locations. That was not confirmed by police although Miller said that “bomb techs are clearing the scene.” AFP

TORITO. People run away from fireworks exploding around them next to a traditional ‘torito’ (little bull) – made of paper, wood and fireworks – during the Cristo Negro celebration outside Guarda Viejo church, in Guatemala City on January 15, 2022. AFP

Questions persist on Kazakh version Ex-Haiti senator arrested in Jamaica over president’s murder of deadly unrest AS THE dust settles on lethal clashes in Kazakhstan that prompted authorities to call in Russian-led troops, questions are mounting over the authoritarian government’s handling of the unprecedented crisis.

While President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has pinned the blame on bandits and foreign militants, many ordinary people question the official storyline.

Following days of internet shutdown, prosecutors announced late Saturday the unrest that began with peaceful protests over energy price hikes had left 225 people dead, including 19 law enforcement and military personnel.

But many stress that a number of issues remain unexplained.

It is unclear why so many civilians died, and who the “foreign terrorists” the government blames for the violence are.

And where is Tokayev’s mentor and predecessor, 81-year-old Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has not been heard from since last year?

Dauren Bitkembayev, 30, who lost his elderly parents in the unrest, told AFP he needs answers.

He and others want to know why gun attacks on civilian cars in the country’s largest city occurred even after the military had appeared to restore order.

A video shared on social media shows a car engulfed in flames close to barriers put up by the military. Inside the vehicle were a retired postal service worker and a former teacher, Bitkembayev’s late parents. AFP

A FORMER Haitian lawmaker who is a suspect in the assassination of the country’s president has been arrested in Jamaica, Jamaican authorities said Saturday.

Ex-senator Jean Joel Joseph, wanted in the July 7, 2021, killing of president Jovenel Moise, was arrested Friday evening, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) said in a statement.

The JCF “can confirm that a Haitian national; Jean Joel Joseph and three other members (of) his family were arrested in Jamaica on immigration related charges,” the statement said.

Jamaican investigators contacted Hai-

tian authorities who said Joseph was “wanted in Haiti as a suspect in the alleged assassination of the Haitian President in 2021,” it added.

Joseph was arrested at a house in St. Elizabeth, a parish in the southwest of the island.

A Jamaican police source told AFP that Joseph is “being detained at the moment.”

The source said Jamaican police acted in conjunction with “international law enforcement partners” and that “joint investigations” had been underway.

Moise, who was unpopular in Haiti, was killed and his wife was seriously wounded when a commando of around 20

men burst into the presidential residence and shot them in July.

Dozens of suspects had been arrested previously over Moise’s murder, but much about the assassination remains murky, especially who ordered it.

An arrest warrant was issued for Joseph right after the killing, with authorities describing him as “armed and dangerous.”

Joseph was an opposition senator and fierce critic of the president.

More than 40 people, including more than a dozen Colombians and some Americans of Haitian origin, have been arrested in connection with the assassination. AFP

Indonesian college student Sultan Gustaf Al Ghozali

AN INDONESIAN college student has become an internet sensation after trade in the digital rights to his selfies fetched more than $1 million on a platform for non-fungible tokens.

Sultan Gustaf Al Ghozali, who studies computer science at a university in the central city of Semarang, has taken a picture of himself sitting in front of his computer almost every day for the last five years.

He intended to use the collection of nearly 1,000 selfies to create a timelapse video for his graduation day.

But after learning about blockchain technology, the 22-year-old decided to upload the photos to NFT trading platform OpenSea under the title “Ghozali Everyday.”

“I was thinking it might be funny if one of the collectors collected my face,” Ghozali told reporters at his university’s campus on Thursday.

“I never thought anybody would want to buy the selfies, which is why I only priced them at $3,” he said.

But on Friday one selfie was available for 0.247 of the cryptocurrency ether ($806) after demand shot up.

NFTs have transformed digital items ranging from illustrations to memes into virtual collectors’ items that cannot be duplicated.

Ghozali started to upload his selfies in late December but it was not until a celebrity chef snapped some up last week and promoted Ghozali on his social media account that sales took off.

In the next few days more than 400 people bought ownership of his expressionless photos.

As of Friday afternoon, Ghozali’s collection had reached a total trade volume of 317 ether, equivalent to more than $1 million.

“To be honest I still haven’t got the courage to tell my parents, they would be wondering where I got the money from,” Ghozali laughed.

On his Twitter account, where he has more than 16,000 followers, the student often offers updates on his OpenSea statistics.

“Today (I) sold more than 230+ (selfies) and until now I don’t understand why you want to buy #NFT photos of me !!! but i thank you guys for 5 years of effort paid off,” he tweeted on Tuesday. AFP

Trump rallies faithful, insists he won in 2020, during ‘MAGA Woodstock’ DONALD Trump delivered a crowdpleasing speech to thousands of adoring supporters in Arizona Saturday, insisting yet again that he won the 2020 US presidential election.

Some of the faithful had arrived in the area days in advance from as far away as Florida or Texas, waiting to hear the former president trot out a familiar list of grievances.

Their patience was soon rewarded.

“We are done having our lives controlled by politicians in Washington.

We are done with the mandates,” he said, in reference to rules brought in to control the coronavirus pandemic.

“The radical Democrats want to turn the United States into a communist country,” he continued.

“We won those elections. We won them big. We can’t let them get away with it.”

Earlier speakers had kept to similar themes, slamming 2020 election victor President Joe Biden as “weak” and “deranged,” and taking aim at the “lamestream media,” who were duly booed by the crowd.

It was a greatest hits of Trumpism, playing all the expected notes: a stolen election, the unfairness of the media, open borders and how the United States has become “a laughing stock all over the world.”

There was a carnival feeling for much of the day.

Flags proclaiming “Trump 2020” and “Trump 2024” fluttered in the desert wind, as chants of “Let’s Go Brandon” erupted from the good-natured crowd. The slogan has become code in right-wing circles after a news reporter mistook coarse anti-Biden chants. AFP

INDIGENOUS WAY. Fishermen trawl their nets along a beach in Lhokseumawe, Aceh on January 16, 2022, in a traditional fishing method. AFP

Business

B3

MONDAY, JANUARY 17 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

COVID-19 spike still weighs on market

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

HARE prices are expected to move sideways this week as investors continue to assess the impact of the COVID-19 situation.

“We believe that the continuous rise of COVID-19 cases in the country driven

by Omicron coronavirus variant could dampen economic activity as consumer spending shift to prioritize health related expenses and basic need items,” said Niel Maderaje, research analyst from online

brokerage firm Utradeph.com.

First Metro Investments Corp., meanwhile, remains positive about the stock exchange as it expects the index to hit 7,900 points to 8,100 points by the end of 2022.

FMIC vice president and research head Cristina Ulang said the stock market would be boosted by the continued reopening of the economy, election-related spending as well as higher corporate earnings.

FMIC expects corporate earnings in 2022 to increase 35 percent from last year’s 28 percent.

The Philippine Stock Exchange last week advanced 3.6 percent as the

positive economic growth outlook outweighed concerns about the rapid spike in COVID-19 cases in the country.

The broader All Shares Index also jumped 2.9 percent to to 3,855.30.

All sub-indices ended in green, led by mining and oil which rose 5.9 percent; financial which climbed 5.1 percent; property which inched advanced 4.8 percent; holding firms which went up 3.2 percent; industrial which rose 2.7 percent; and services which added 1.8 percent.

Foreign investors were net buyers for the week by P58.9 million, while the average daily value traded reached P6.2 billion from the previous week’s average of P5.56 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were Solar Philippines Nueva Ecija Corp., which surged 25.8 percent to P1.51; Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., which jumped 8 percent to P57.80 ;and Security Bank Corp., which advanced 7.6 percent to P112.

Weekly top price losers were Wilcon Depot Inc., which declined 5 percent to P28.50; San Miguel Corp., which dropped 2.2 percent to P110.30; and Emperador Inc., which fell 2 percent to P19.40.

Wall Street stocks, meanwhile, staged a partial recovery Friday following mixed banking earnings and disappointing retail sales as markets continue to weigh worries over tightening monetary policy. With AFP

Libya oil, gas shipments hit $21.5b in 2021 TRIPOLI, Libya—Libya’s lifeline oil and gas exports raised revenues of more than $21.5 billion in 2021, the highest level in five years, the National Oil Corporation announced Saturday.

Total net revenues for oil and gas exports last year amounted to $21.5 billion as well as 30 million euros in nondollar sales, the state-run NOC said in a statement.

It said record levels were achieved in November and December, raising a combined $4.3 billion in the two last months of 2021.

“The end of the year 2021 recorded a recovery, and oil prices achieved their largest annual gains since 2016, driven by the recovery of the global economy from the state of stagnation” due to the coronavirus epidemic, NOC chief Mustafa Sanalla said.

Since the 1970s, Libya which sits on the largest known oil reserves in Africa has been heavily dependent on revenues from its hydrocarbon exports.

But in a decade of violence since the 2011 revolt that overthrew and killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi, armed groups have frequently blockaded or damaged oil installations.

The shutdowns have forced the NOC to declare force majeure, a legal move allowing it to free itself from contractual obligations in light of factors beyond its control.

Oil production has recovered to 1.2 million barrels per day, as opposed to between 1.5 million and 1.6 million bpd before the NATO-backed uprising of 2011.

But Sanalla warned “the ability of the oil sector in Libya to invest and advance the process of infrastructure modernization will remain weak in the foreseeable future, especially in light of the scarcity of budgets”.

“What we need more than ever is to think outside the box and create initiatives to save the infrastructure,” he stressed. AFP

PSEi January 14, 2022

TOP GAINERS

LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE

1 OPMB 0.011 0.001 10.00% 2 MREIT 21.8 1.55 7.65% 3 SPNEC 1.51 0.09 6.34% 4 DIZ 5.49 0.3 5.78% 5 TECHW 0.93 0.05 5.68% 6 ARA 1.01 0.05 5.21% 7 TECH 4.08 0.19 4.88% 8 ROX 1.09 0.05 4.81% 9 NRCP 0.69 0.03 4.55% 10 BCB 5.06 0.21 4.33%

TOP LOSERS

LAST %

PRICE CHANGE CHANGE 11 ACR 0.98 -0.11 -10.09% 2 ACE 1.51 -0.12 -7.36% 3 DITO 5.67 -0.31 -5.18% 4 IDC 1.14 -0.06 -5.00% 5 LCB 0.133 -0.007 -5.00% REOPENING. Hairdressers wash customers hair in the center of Roermond, The Netherlands on January 15, 2022. After Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s announcement on January 14, 2022, The Netherlands is allowing shops, gyms, hairdressers and sex workers to reopen, Bars, restaurants, cafes and cultural locations will however remain closed until at least January 25. AFP

China’s economy expanded 8% in 2021—AFP survey BEIJING, China—China’s economy expanded at its fastest pace for 10 years in 2021, according to an AFP poll of analysts, but its strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is threatened

by Omicron and a property sector slowdown.

The eight percent growth would be well above the government’s target of more than six percent, and comes on the back of a strong start to the year as a “zero-COVID” policy allowed the country to lead the global economic recovery.

China’s exports surged nearly 30 percent last year on solid global demand as countries reopened from pandemic lockdowns, boosting its stuttering economy.

But the country’s recovery in the second half of 2021 was hobbled by a series of outbreaks—with officials reimposing strict containment measures—as well as power outages caused by an emissions-reduction drive, supply chain problems and surging energy costs.

While the forecast marks a healthy annual tick—up from 2.3 percent in 2020— those issues put a dampener on factory activity and led to businesses shuttering.

They were compounded by a crackdown on debt in the property sector, which accounts for a huge part of the economy.

“Key factors... were the impact of power shortages, the residential construction sector slowdown and moderating retail sales,” said Rajiv Biswas, Asia-Pacific chief economist at IHS Markit.

The analysts tipped growth of just 3.5 percent on-year for the fourth quarter, down from 4.9 percent the previous three months and 7.9 percent from April-June.

And headwinds from the construction sector slowdown, as well as the impact of COVID measures on consumer spending, will likely pose a “significant drag” on growth this year, Biswas added.

Beijing has been on high alert as it prepares to host the Winter Olympics next month, with its zero- COVID policy pow-

ering lockdowns, border restrictions and lengthy quarantines.

“The current coronavirus resurgence presents large downside risks to China’s economic recovery... amid the government’s zero-tolerance approach,” said ANZ Research’s chief economist for Greater China Raymond Yeung.

Yeung noted that Ningbo port, the world’s third-busiest, faced disruptions as cases led to truck entry restrictions, suspended container freight operations and roadblocks.

“These delays and backlogs could exacerbate the inflation in shipping costs as well as exert pressure on export volumes,” he told AFP. Another major port city—Tianjin--was hit by an Omicron cluster in January, the first time the virus strain was found in the community in China.

Analysts expect that China will not ease up on its policy until after the Games conclude. AFP

6 PHR 0.77 -0.04 -4.94% 7 BC 5.04 -0.26 -4.91% 8 HLCM 5.52 -0.28 -4.83% 9 ECP 4 -0.2 -4.76% 10 ALCO 0.61 -0.03 -4.69%

MOST ACTIVE

VOLUME

VALUE (PHP)

1 SPNEC 2 MBT 3 MONDE 4 BDO

351,152,000 522,289,470 6,789,400 394,273,343 15,871,900 269,586,508 1,780,220 229,116,936

5 ACEN 21,188,100 201,553,648 6 PGOLD 5,372,900 201,109,760 7 TEL 100,205 190,492,525 8 SM 9 ALI

181,510 171,817,180 4,331,100 155,779,390

10 DITO

26,820,000 153,794,325

People committed to innovation View of an oil rig over the south of Lake Maracaibo, off the coast of Maracaibo, Venezuela, on September 9, 2021. Lake Maracaibo’s old oilfield is a metaphor for the once-flourishing Venezuelan petroleum industry now on its knees. Zulia state, where the lake is, was the birthplace of Venezuela’s oil industry more than a century ago. AFP

Venezuela: The decline of an oil giant in crisis

By Margioni Bermúdez PUERTO CONCHA, Venezuela—Leaks, rusted pipes, pieces of broken equipment scattered about and staircases leading nowhere: Lake Maracaibo’s oil field is a metaphor for Venezuela’s once-flourishing petroleum industry that is now on its knees.

More than a century ago, the Maracaibo basin in northwestern Zulia state was the birthplace of a business that transformed the country into one of the world’s 10 largest oil producers and a Latin American economic heavyweight.

By 2008, the country was producing 3.2 million barrels of oil a day.

Just 13 years later, it can only muster 500,000 to one million barrels per day amid a grinding economic crisis marked by years of recession and hyperinflation. Venezuela’s gross domestic product per capita is now similar to that of Haiti.

Despite sitting on the world’s largest proven oil reserves, the country battles fuel shortages and frequent blackouts, and at one point even had to import fuel from Iran.

The Maracaibo basin was once a flurry of oil activity, with a halo of light over the complex visible at night from a fair distance.

Today, it is a humid swamp that stinks of oil from leaking pipes floating on the water.

Hardly anyone risks going to that area “for fear of an explosion due to the gases,” one fisherman who asked not to be named told AFP. The oil platforms have long been pillaged of any valuables, including taps and valves

that control the flow of oil and gas.

‘Families broke up’ It is a sea change from the prosperous 1970s when Venezuela’s oil industry was nationalized, giving state-run PDVSA a monopoly.

That lasted until the 1990s when the industry was opened to private capital.

But after Hugo Chavez came to power in 1999, he ordered all private oil companies to merge with PDVSA and made the state institution the majority shareholder.

From then on, the industry was hit by corruption, poor decision-making, problems with maintenance and aging equipment, and later financial sanctions.

PDVSA did not immediately respond to requests from AFP for comment for this story.

Many analysts believe the key moment in the industry’s decline came in the early 2000s when Chavez, who died in 2013 while still president, became embroiled in a protracted battle with PDVSA executives.

The clash resulted in a crippling strike from December 2002 to March 2003, during which production dropped to a historic low of just 25,000 barrels a day.

Blasting the “sabotage” of Venezuela’s oil production, Chavez sacked most of PDVSA’s management and thousands of employees, replacing them with people “loyal to the revolution” who often lacked the necessary expertise.

Production rebounded after the strike, but by 2009, 70 businesses involved in the supply chain were also nationalized. AFP

FOR my Lasallian Business Leadership course, we watched several leadership and corporate social responsibility videos. They all concern ethical principles or frameworks. In another blog, I will discuss what I have learned with the ethical frameworks, but for this instance, I will focus on the two people who lead me to believe that a change in society is possible.

As a Lasallian for both my undergraduate and graduate studies, my journey as a student would never be complete without knowing the life and values of St. John Baptist De La Salle.

St. John Baptist De La Salle, Patron of Christian Teachers La Salle founded the Brothers of the Christian Schools, a Catholic order whose members are called to teach rather than preside in a holy mass or perform other priestly duties. I witnessed the early struggles in establishing the institution from the video. He had problems with other teachers as they became different.

He initiated scheduled classes for the students in which one teacher could teach many students simultaneously.

He also even had issues with a brother who claimed that the institution exploited his family, and it was like a betrayal to him. While watching the film, I reflected and saw that this incident was very similar to what Jesus had experienced. As Jesus has been preaching the good news of our salvation, He also struggled to fight for His teachings as many Pharisees challenged Him. Even then, Judas also betrayed Him. But in the end, they both taught and fulfilled their mission.

I am honestly inspired by how they

fought with life using their vocation, to the point that this has been part of my life plan. Teaching is part of my goals in life, but viewing St. La Salle’s life and reflecting on it as a similar struggle with Jesus strengthened my passion. I have also realized that when answered and upheld in life, our calling or vocation leads to innovation in society. It may be easy for us to compare with others on what they have achieved and feel bad for ourselves, but as stated in my previous entry, we live on our timelines. It is simple. The reason why people succeed is they answer their calling, this is just what I should continue to do.

However, I may know what I want in life, or I should do, but this begs the question, “Well, you are all good with your plans, but how would you take those initial baby steps to fulfill your mission?” We watched another video in which Pat Gelsinger aids in answering this question.

Pat Gelsinger, CEO of Intel As St. La Salle is an innovator in establishing the Catholic institution, Pat is an innovator in pursuing his goals.

This innovation involves his capability to plan out his goals in life which eventually led him to become Intel’s CEO. While I was making my life plan, there seemed to be quite similar elements with Pat’s advice.

The first one is that I need to develop my personal mission statement. To be honest, it is quite easy to say that I want to teach and be a good business leader, but what makes it truly interesting is when he followed it with having a work-life balance where I should

MIKHAIL D. PADILLA

Green Light spend some of my time with my family, friends.

I remember how St. La Salle also tried to achieve work-life balance. He scheduled time with his students. He told the brothers to let the children play when they rest. I could see how much of this is truly relevant, as I did not have months of vacation ever since I graduated from college. Actually, I only had one day.

I could see myself getting some rest to allow myself to breathe and realign with what I truly planned in my life. Carving time for work and leisure would lead me to Pat’s advice to become a great employee. I believe that without a work-life balance, I would not be productive. Hence I should take time to reflect upon what I wanted to do.

He further said something about having a mentor, which I would like to follow soon, but I am still challenged to find some friends who are willing to take time with me regarding these topics, such as career choices, but the search continues.

The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, DLSU. He can be reached at mikhail_d_padilla.

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

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

B4

MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 2022

IN BRIEF

Meralco recognized for service excellence

MANILA Electric Co., the biggest retailer of electricity, emerged as one of the top companies in the Philippines for service excellence, leveraging both digital and traditional customer channels amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Meralco was recognized for its entry, “Transformation Powered by Technology and Tradition” in the recently concluded 2021 ASEAN Enterprise Innovation Awards presented by Asia IoT Business Platform.

Meralco chief commercial officer and head of customer retail services Ferdinand Geluz said tthe company always advocated for “service with compassion” as it commits to making customers the priority while adapting to the challenges of the new normal.

“Moving forward, and as signaled by all our efforts behind customer centricity, we will continue pursuing our passion of transforming customer experience across all our transactions and touch points,” he said.

Meralco’s entry showcased the power distributor’s programs aimed at enhancing customer experiences through process improvements and digital transformation.

Alena Mae S. Flores

SEC revokes license of Fynamics Lending

Business Formal sector lost half million jobs in past 12 months—ADB

By Othel V. Campos

T

HE Asian Development Bank said over the weekend the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic affected employment stability in the Philippines, with half a million jobs lost in the private sector over the past 12 months.

ADB country director in the Philippines Kelly Bird noted a reversal of trend from the formal employment sector struggling to bring in security of tenure, while the informal labor sector showed increasing reliability in terms of sustainability and reliability of opportunities.

THE Securities and Exchange Commission declared final and executory the revocation of lending license of Fynamics Lending Inc. over its alleged repeated failure to comply with reportorial requirements.

The SEC Corporate Governance and Finance Department, in an order dated Jan. 5, upheld its earlier order revoking the certificate of authority of Fynamics, which operates online lending platform Pondo Peso, for its alleged fourth violation of the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 9474, or the Lending Company Regulation Act of 2007.

It said Fynamics failed to submit financial reports to the corporate regulator as provided under the IRR of LCRA. Rule 8(a) of IRR states that a lending company that has been duly registered and granted a CA should file with the SEC reports/manuals, including interim semi-annual financial statements, in accordance with a designated schedule.

The CGFD gave Fynamics a chance to explain why its CA should not be revoked through a show-cause letter dated July 7, 2021, and through a hearing on Oct. 11, 2021. Fynamics failed to submit an explanation or appear in the hearing, it said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

“The formal employment is struggling to recover. And there’s been a shift. And in fact, there’s been 500,000 paid jobs in the private sector, or private establishments lost over the last 12 months. And we’ve seen a shift of the labor force towards the informal sector,” Bird said Friday in a webinar organized by the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with the Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

Bird said the ADB was concerned the reversal of jobs trends might persist over the medium to long term, which would mean continued loss of jobs.

The multilateral institution said the massive sectorial reallocation of jobs may improve as the economy recovers but the situation may persist for a while.

“But what it also means is that we expect to see a increase in the skills mismatch. As as for workers, it’s not so easy to transition between sectors.

So we’re gonna see a more persistently high unemployment rate. And some sectors are going to have skill shortages, while other sectors will be losing jobs and there’s a number of reasons this will occur,” Bird said.

He said one reason its that businesses were digitalizing their workforce work practices. He said the sectors that could move towards automation would eventually drive the shift to digitalization.

Bird said those who lost their jobs or had disruptions in schooling or job training may suffer from skill erosion and workers who spent longer periods in unemployment would lose their skills and become less employable.

“This means that the unemployment rate will persist for some time, but it also lowers the potential capacity of the economy as well. So this is a long term or medium long term concern for the economy,” he said.

CARE PACKAGES.

Resorts World Manila’s League of Volunteer Employees led by chief operating officer Stephen Reilly (center) sends L.O.V.E. care packages to Typhoon Odette survivors in Bohol and Palawan.

Philippine Coast Guard’s Rosendo Abinoja III (second from right) receives the care packages.

AC Energy unit set to finish solar farm

SANTA Cruz Solar Energy Inc., a unit of AC Energy Corp., is set to complete the 280-megawatt San Marcelino solar power project next year and has sought approval to connect the plant to the Luzon grid.

SCSEI asked the Energy Regulatory Commission to approve its application for an interim connection to the Luzon grid through the 500 kilovolt-Heromasa-Castillejos line, pending the construction and completion of the 230-kV Castillejos substation.

The company initially sought to develop a dedicated point-to-point facility to connect its solar plant to the Luzon grid via the proposed Castillejos substation of National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

SCSEI said the 230-kV Castillejos substation has no firm completion date.

“This is the most convenient and economical connection that is feasible and available when the plant becomes operational in 2023, given that the NGCP’s target for completion of the 230kV Castillejos substation and related transmission facilities is set to 2024,” said the company.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Energy, NGCP officials meet to discuss this year’s power outlook

By Alena Mae S. Flores OFFICIALS of the Department of Energy and National Grid Corp. of the Philippines met virtually over the weekend to discuss this year’s power supply situation.

The department assured the public it is closely working with all energy players and stakeholders to secure the continuous supply of power nationwide.

“The goal of these meetings is to make sure that all power sector stakeholders are aligned for CY2022. The availability of stable and reliable power supply is of grave importance―there should be no surprises this year, especially given

our continuous battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, regions that have been affected by Typhoon Odette are rebuilding themselves, and of course, because we are in an election year,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in a statement.

The energy stakeholders discussed the 2022 power demand/supply outlook, as provided for by Department Circular DC2020-02-0004, which provides guidelines on the planned outage schedules of power plants and transmission facilities and the public posting of the grid operating and maintenance program.

NGCP presented its updated power outlook for Luzon, Visayas and Min-

danao grid this year. It indicated that there are no foreseen yellow alerts for the year with the grid operator proposing for some amendments in the schedule of generator maintenance adjustments.

A yellow alert refers the thinning of power reserves in the grid. It is raised when reserves fall below the capacity of the largest generating unit.

The DOE said as the worst case scenario, the energy sector should anticipate the potential occurrence of yellow alerts in the Visayas in the absence of high-voltage direct current transmission link from Luzon, and taking into account generator maintenance adjustments.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Friday, January 14, 2022

-46.41 PTS.

TOTAL VOLUME

947,070,297

TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP)

76,648 5,797,318,467.45

ADVANCES 77

7,261.34

DECLINES 97 UNCHANGED 53

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

51.1310

Japan

Yen

0.008634

0.4415

UK

Pound

1.353500

69.2058

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128195

6.5547

Switzerland

Franc

1.085658

55.5108

Canada

Dollar

0.785546

40.1658

Singapore

Dollar

0.735024

37.5825

Australia

Dollar

0.716000

36.6098

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652590

135.6296

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266361

13.6193

Brunei

Dollar

0.732332

37.4449

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.029842

1.5259

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.9223

Euro

Euro

1.129500

57.7525

Korea

Won

0.000830

0.0424

China

Yuan

0.156666

8.0105

India

Rupee

0.013444

0.6874

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.237473

12.1422

New Zealand

Dollar

0.674500

34.4879

Taiwan

Dollar

0.036149

1.8483 Source: BSP

DOTR to grant 9 contracts for PNR-Calamba rail plan in Q1

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Department of Transportation said over the weekend nine civil works contracts for the construction of the P344.6-billion PNR-Calamba Project are set to be awarded in the first quarter of 2022.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the overall progress rate of the PNR Calamba Project reached 28.63 percent as of December 2021.

He said the 56-kilometer railway project would serve at least 340,000 passengers a day in its partial operations. Ridership is expected to increase up to 550,000 passengers once the railway is on full operations by 2028.

It is a part of the longer 147-kilometer North-South Commuter Railway System (which has 35 stations from Calamba in Laguna to the Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

The NSCR System will have a fleet of 464 train cars or 58 trains sets, including seven airport express trains.

Data from the department showed that PNR Clark 1, or the ManilaMalolos section, had a 53.85-percent overall progress rate while PNR Clark 2, or the Malolos-Clark segment, registered 34.46-percent construction progress as of end-2021.

The agency said the construction of the P106-billion PNR Clark 1 was on track to be completed by 2024.

Once finished, this section will have 10 stations and will traverse the cities of Manila, Caloocan, Valenzuela and Meycauayan and the municipalities of Marilao, Bocaue, Balagtas and Guiguinto and Malolos City in Bulacan province.

The second leg of the NSCR Project, the 53-kilometer PNR Clark Phase 2, is expected be partially operational by the second quarter of 2023, while the full operation is targeted by the third quarter of 2024.

The project will connects cities and municipalities in Central Luzon to Metro Manila and will link the railway system with the country’s first ever Airport Express Service going to Clark International Airport.

Mindanao Star Bus commits to sustain quality public transport amid pandemic

RIVER PROTECTION. The

Department of Environment and Natural Resources will implement the ‘Ecosystem-based Adaptation in 2 River Basins,’ including the Tagum Libuganon in Davao del Norte (shown above) and Ilog Hilabangan in Negros Occidental province, through a partnership with German-commissioned Deutsche Geselschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit.

The Philippines received a grant of 4.6 million euros from Germany’s International Climate Initiative, which will secure drinking water access for 500 households and irrigation to 3,000 hectares of agricultural land in the Negros and Davao areas. The project will strengthen the river basins’ ecosystem services, protect their biodiversity and reduce their vulnerability to climate change as destructive flooding have been experienced in the river basins.

MINDANAO Star Bus Transport Inc. said over the weekend it remains committed to providing quality public transportation in the region amid the challenges brought about by the global pandemic.

Leo Rey Yanson, who was re-elected chairman and president during the company’s stockholders’ meeting on Jan. 15, said despite the challenges faced in 2021, MSBTI continued to be strong and resilient.

“It continues to be steadfast in its goal to serve the Filipino people. MSBTI remains committed to providing the riding public with the most reliable means of public transportation for all,” he said.

The company said that during the annual meeting, Olivia Yanson, Leo Rey Yanson, Ginnette Yanson Dumancas, Charles Dumancas, Rey Ardo and Arvin John

Villaruel were re-elected as members of board of directors.

The board also held an organizational meeting where Leo Rey Yanson was reappointed chairman of the board and president of MSBTI and Olivia Yanson as corporate secretary and treasurer.

Olivia was appointed last year by a Bacolod court to be the special administrator of the estate of her late husband Ricardo Yanson.

The newly re-appointed board said they are excited to see how they can continue to push boundaries to provide quality transportation to every Filipino despite the challenges of the pandemic.

Mindanao Star Bus is a public transport firm plying the major routes in Mindanao.

Darwin G. Amojelar

BSP expects inflation to remain manageable in 2022 and 2023 unless crude prices breach $95 a barrel

By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said over the weekend inflation will remain manageable in 2022 and 2023 unless world crude prices continue to increase in the coming months.

Diokno earlier projected inflation to average 3.4 percent in 2022 and 3.2 percent in 2023, both within the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

“The BSP’s inflation projection is based on the assumption that Dubai crude oil will average $72.66 per barrel in 2022 and $68.74 per barrel in 2023.

We explored various oil price scenarios ranging from $50 to $100 per barrel,” he said.

“The assumption is that oil prices are sustained at these levels starting January 2022. Results of the simulation: inflation could settle above the target range if crude oil prices average higher than $95

per barrel for 2022 and 2023,” Diokno said.

He said the scenario analysis considered only the direct effects and did not incorporate any potential second-round effects on transport fares, food prices, wage increase and others.

“Other things constant, our inflation forecasts for 2022 and 2023 would hold unless world crude prices settle above $95.00 per barrel from January 2022 until December 2023,” he said.

Inflation settled at 3.6 percent in December, the first time it fell within the target range for the year.

It brought the average inflation last year to 4.5 percent.

“For this year, inflation is likely to [be] lower than the midpoint in Q1 before it goes above the midpoint in Q2 to Q4,” Diokno said.

Diokno said BSP’s analysis supported the view that future oil prices remained in backward action, where near-term

contracts have a higher price compared to longer-term contracts.

“This view is consistent with the latest assessment of international energy agencies,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Finance said in an economic bulletin the slowdown in inflationary trend should continue with the unhampered implementation of Department of Agriculture’s programs in mitigating food supply concerns.

Sports

Serbian president lashes out at Australia BELGRADE—Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic lashed out at Australian authorities Sunday morning, hours after a federal court paved the way for the deportation of Novak Djokovic on the eve of the Australian Open over his vaccine status.

“They think that they have by this, this mistreatment of ten days humiliated Djokovic, but they have humiliated themselves. Djokovic can return to his country with his head held high,” Vucic told a state media outlet.

Vucic has remained steadfast in his support for Djokovic throughout the drama, calling the earlier detention of the unvaccinated tennis star a “political witch hunt”.

“I spoke earlier to Novak Djokovic after the decision and I encouraged him. We look forward to seeing him return to his country, where he is always welcome,” the president added.

Earlier in Australia, Djokovic said he was “extremely disappointed” by the federal court’s ruling that upheld the government’s right to rip up his visa over fears he is stoking anti-vaccine sentiment and dashed his dream of a record 21st Grand Slam In Serbia, the ruling stoked outrage among Djokovic’s fans.

“It’s a farce ... All this has nothing to do with the sport,” Nebojsa Viskovic, a journalist covering notably tennis, told AFP. “All the criticism about whether he was vaccinated or not doesn’t hold water.”

Many other Serbs echoed the view.

“The decision is not a surprise but is still shameful,” said Jadranka Misic, a 29-year-old sociologist from Belgrade.

For tennis fan Milovan Jankovic, Australia and the tournament itself had secured little more than a Pyrrhic victory.

“It’s going to be ridiculous to hold the tournament without the defending champion and ninetime winner.

“If I were Djokovic I would never set foot in Australia again,” the 57-year-old salesman added.

An “extremely disappointed” Djokovic said he would comply with the unanimous ruling. AFP

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 2022

Djokovic’s bid to become greatest ever over, for now Novak Djokovic’s refusal to get vaccinated against Covid-19 and imminent deportation from Australia after losing his court fight Sunday has halted him in his tracks and thrown huge question marks over the rest of his season, and perhaps even beyond. AFP

M

ELBOURNE—Novak Djokovic has never hidden his craving to be remembered as the greatest men’s tennis player of all time, but his chance to make Grand Slam history is over for now—and perhaps indefinitely.

The Serbian world number one had been the overwhelming favourite to win a record-extending 10th Australian Open, and in doing so become the first man to clinch 21 Grand Slam crowns.

But his refusal to get vaccinated against Covid-19 and imminent deportation from Australia after losing his court fight Sunday has halted him in his tracks and thrown huge question marks over the rest of his season, and perhaps even beyond.

His long-held number one spot could also come under threat.

In the short term, it opened the door wider for Rafael Nadal to beat him to the 21 Slam milestone when the Australian Open starts on Monday. Roger Federer is also tied on 20 but is injured and not in Melbourne.

“I wish him all the best. I really re-

spect him, even if I don’t agree with a lot of things that he did the last couple of weeks,” said Nadal on Saturday of Djokovic, before the Serbian lost his court case against deportation.

The sixth-seeded Nadal, who won the lead-up Melbourne Summer Set tournament on his return from injury and contracting Covid, might have met his great rival in the semi-finals at Melbourne Park.

Before the debacle Down Under, Djokovic appeared almost certain to surpass Nadal and Federer. He won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon last year to assert his status as the world’s top player.

But his stubborn stance could now also compromise his chances at the other three majors.

Under current guidelines he could go to France to play if he returns a nega-

tive PCR test, although French President Emmanuel Macron recently said part of his Covid strategy was to “piss off” the unvaccinated.

Entering Britain and the United States for Wimbledon and the US Open could be more complicated, with much depending on the future course of the pandemic.

Young challengers

Djokovic’s former coach Boris Becker warned that unless the often intense and brooding 34-year-old changes his position, it could be problematic.

“I don’t think it will get easier for him,” Becker told Eurosport Germany on Friday.

“The French Open and Wimbledon are looking very closely at the situation in Australia.

“If he wants to continue to focus on tennis, he has to make some changes.

“Therefore, my opinion would be: Novak, try to realise that it will be easier for you if you are vaccinated. Whether he will do that, I don’t know.”

Djokovic is also facing the emergence of a new set of hungry and determined younger challengers.

While Nadal hasn’t won outside the

Novak: Divisive, brooding player with fiery temper MELBOURNE—Novak Djokovic grew up with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal—never fails to divide NATO bombs raining down on Serbia but emerged to as well as unite. become one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

His staggering achievements on court have often The 34-year-old, who boasts a record-equalling 20 been overshadowed by blunders and missteps off it.

Grand Slams—the same number as his great rivals The latest and easily most controversial—sparked

by his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19— culminated Sunday in Djokovic losing a high-profile federal court case against deportation from Australia.

It came just one day before he was supposed to defend his Australian Open crown.

The world number one flew into Melbourne last week claiming a vaccine exemption because of a positive PCR test result on December 16.

The exemption sparked fury among Australians— who have endured virus lockdowns and restrictions for two years—and his visa was cancelled, landing him in an immigration centre.

A judge overturned that, but the government then tore up Djokovic’s visa for a second time, triggering Sunday’s court hearing, which the tennis ace lost.

He now faces the ignominy of deportation.

Brooding, divisive

Even before this, Djokovic was seemingly doomed never to be held in the same esteem as Federer or Nadal, the undisputed people’s champions.

There are those who see something too calculating in the Djokovic make-up—an intense, brooding presence prone to affectation, a little too ‘new age’.

A fiery temperament—a characteristic absent from the DNA of Federer and Nadal—bubbles over too often, such as in his infamous default from the US Open in 2020 for petulantly swiping at a ball which then speared into the throat of a female line judge.

Djokovic, who left Belgrade when he was 12 to train in Munich and escape NATO’s bombardment of his home city, often seems to feel he can’t stand up for falling down.

His decision to organise a series of exhibition events in the Balkans in the middle of the pandemic may Turn to C2

Kath Arado, 2 ex-Petro Gazz players join PLDT PLDT Home Fibr has signed one of the top liberos in the country today.

Reigning Premier Volleyball League Best Libero Kath Arado has signed with the High Speed Hitters.

Also signed by PLDT are middle blocker Jessey De Leon and outside hitter Mean Mendrez—who like Arado was also previously part of Petro Gazz.

For Arado, joining PLDT was a nobrainer since she still has unfinished business with Rhea Dimaculangan, Chin Basas, and Eli Soyud.

Back in 2020, they were supposed to be part of Generika-Ayala in

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the Philippine Superliga but the tournament was scrapped due to the ongoing pandemic.

“To be honest, ang isang factor na nagdecide na sumali ako sa PLDT is ‘yung magiging teammates ko,” said the 23-year-old Arado. “Kami nila Ate Rhea, Chin, at Ate Eli, nagsama-sama nu’n sa Generika.

Kilala ko na po sila at malaking bagay ‘yun. Hindi ako nagdalawang isip na pumunta dito.”

In addition, the 5’5” defensive specialist out of Iligan City is just glad that De Leon and Mendrez will still be on her side.

“Malaking bagay din na makakasama ko sila kasi mayroon din kaming hindi natapos sa Petro Gazz noon,” she added.

Arado is honored as she joins the storied PLDT franchise. But she knows that there is pressure that comes with it.

“Goal ko siyempre is matulungan sila Ate Rhea na makabalik sa top four muna pero hindi magiging madali ‘yun,” she admitted.

“Kailangan namin pagtrabahuan at laging magimprove.”

Kath Arado

red clay of Roland Garros since 2019, Alexander Zverev, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev and Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas are all knocking on the door.

Medvedev denied Djokovic the US Open and a calendar-year Grand Slam last year to win his maiden major and is favourite in Melbourne to win back-toback Slams, now that Djokovic is out.

“I’m feeling much more confident than last year in terms of knowing my game, what I’m capable of,” said Medvedev, who was in superb form at the recent ATP Cup in Sydney.

Djokovic has occupied the world number one spot for a record number of weeks, but that could also be in danger now.

Despite missing the Australian Open he will remain top of the ranking points even if Medvedev wins, but his position will be in jeopardy the more tournaments he misses.

The Serbian has yet to reveal his calendar for the early part of the year, but after Australia he often takes time off, then returns for the ATP Masters tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami —both in the US, where he could face similar problems to Australia. AFP

Saygid, Ikeda, Vanderyava earn $50K bonuses at HEAVY HITTERS ONE Championship had a night of memorable fights and dominant performances at ONE: HEAVY HITTERS on January 14 inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

“The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan retained her ONE Women’s Strawweight World Title by dominating Ayaka “Zombie” Miura in the main event, while Saygid Izagakhmaev had a debut to remember with his second-round submission win over James Nakashima.

The event also marked the first time the organization gave out $50,000 performance bonuses. ONE’s Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong awarded the bonuses to Izagakhmaev, Senzo Ikeda, and, surprisingly, Ekatarina “Barbie” Vanderyava.

Izagkhmaev, the 27-year old protege of MMA legend Khabib Nurmagovmedov, was good as advertised as he dominated the NCAA wrestler en route to a body and arm triangle choke win.

Ikeda, on the other hand, dug down deep and finished Elipitua “The Magician” Sireger to score a third-round TKO win after peppering the Indonesian’s body with big shots.

Perhaps the most interesting selection was Venderyava, who lost a controversial split-decision to Supergirl. A lot of people disagreed with the decision, Sityodtong included, especially since “Barbie” nearly finished the Thai prodigy in the second round.

“I thought Ekatarina won easily. She staggered Supergirl and the judges got it wrong. We’re going to have to work with different judges. They made errors in the striking department. In my opinion, people might disagree with me, but I thought Ekatarina won,” Sityodtong said in the post-event press conference.

“I thought she displayed high-level striking, World Championship striking. She’s a champion in Muay Thai and kickboxing and she showed gameness and toughness,” he continued when he announced the performance bonus winners.

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Sports

MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 2022

Novak:...

Season 97 of NCAA limited to online events

From C1

By Peter Atencio THE start of Season 97 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association on March 5 could once again be limited to online events.

The Mancom, headed

by Dax Castellano of Season 97 host College of St. Benilde raised this possibility during a meeting last Friday.

The committee discussed the plans that the NCAA needs to come up with, now that the National Capital Region is on COVID-19 alert level 3, following a big spike in virus cases recently.

It was learned that many schools have not began their scheduled bubble training for student-athletes.

If the planned opening on March 5 pushes through, the league could limit their events to online activities involving taekwondo and chess, just like last year, along with skills challenges in basketball and volleyball.

Talks on holding regular events of basketball and volleyball were put forward during the meeting.

But school officials said that member teams may need at least six weeks of preparation.

For now, the mancom will consult with the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases over their situation and plans.

The league has asked the IATF if they can be allowed to have scrimmages and face-toface training.

James Harden of the Brooklyn Nets falls to the floor after shooting against Jaxson Hayes of the New Orleans Pelicans during their game at Barclays Center in New York City. AFP

Harden lifts Nets past Pelicans; Raptors win L

OS ANGELES—James Harden flirted with a tripledouble, scoring 27 points with 15 assists and eight rebounds as the Brooklyn Nets rolled over the New Orleans Pelicans 120-105 despite an injury to NBA leading scorer Kevin Durant.

“The guys got to step up. It’s simple,” Harden said. “Obviously you know how great of a player KD is and what he brings to the table each and every night consistently. So, guys got to step up and fill that role and just continue to compete.”

Durant was hurt with 5:44 left in the second quarter of Saturday’s contest when he collided with teammate Bruce Brown. Durant grimaced from the contact but stayed in the game for the next possession before calling a timeout and heading to the dressing room.

Durant, the MVP of the NBA finals, is expected to have an MRI on Sunday to de-

termine the extent of the damage.

Before exiting, Durant -- who entered Saturday averaging 29.7 points per game -scored 12 points in the first quarter to help the Nets compile a 32-22 lead.

Coach Steve Nash said they are hoping that Durant won’t be forced to miss significant time.

“Yeah, of course it will be tough to lose him,” Nash said. “You know no one wants to see that. We obviously hope for the best outcome. Regardless of the outcome, we have to continue to work, build and grow, and get better and compete.”

Patty Mills added 21 points and Kessler

Edwards chipped in 16 for the Nets, who never trailed in front of a crowd of 17,000 at Barclays Center.

Brandon Ingram scored 22 points and Josh Hart had 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Pelicans, who had won two straight.

In Milwaukee, Pascal Siakam posted his second career triple-double with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the Toronto Raptors rallied from 15 points down to beat the league champion Milwaukee Bucks 103-96.

“I just try to come out every night with just the same intensity and same energy,” Siakam said. “Tonight I think we all played well. We were flowing and moving the ball and just playing our brand of basketball.”

The Raptors continued their move up the Eastern Conference standings by winning their seventh game in the last 10 and their third straight against the Bucks this season. AFP

have been with the best of intentions but a series of positive COVID-19 tests, including for him and his wife Jelena, highlighted the recklessness of the plan.

He then publicly expressed his doubts over the Covid-19 vaccination programme, a stance which saw him dubbed ‘Novax’.

Australian player Nick Kyrgios once accused Djokovic of a desperate need to be liked, describing the Serb’s postvictory on-court “cup of love” gesture as “cringeworthy”.

However, the career achievements and resolve of a player who was the first to smash through the $150 million prize-money barrier cannot be doubted.

Four years ago, Djokovic’s career was in the doldrums.

Unable to shake off the lingering effects of elbow surgery, he suffered a shock early exit at the French Open.

With his ranking outside the top 20 for the first time in 12 years, Djokovic even threatened to skip Wimbledon.

He changed his mind, and suddenly rejuvenated, sweeping to a fourth title at the All England Club and successfully defending it a year later, saving two championship points in an epic final against Federer.

Race for greatness Djokovic has 20 Grand Slam titles in his career haul of 86.

He has occupied the world number one spot for a record number of weeks.

In the race for greatness, he has winning records over both Nadal and Federer, 30-28 and 27-23 respectively.

Djokovic captured the first of his majors at the Australian Open in 2008, but it was three years before he added his second.

He dropped gluten from his diet, his lithe physique allowing him to chase down lost causes.

After leading Serbia to a maiden Davis Cup in 2010, he raced through the first half of 2011, building up a 48-1 winning run.

Only a semi-final defeat at the French Open prevented him from capturing a calendar Grand Slam.

Despite that, he finished 2011 with a 70-6 win-loss record, a haul of 10 tournament victories and as year-end number one for the first time.

Back-to-back Australian Opens followed in 2012 and 2013, although the French Open remained frustratingly out of reach with three heart-breaking losses until his 2016 breakthrough. AFP

Henley leads Matsuyama by 2 at Sony Open LOS ANGELES—Russell Henley fired five birdies in a three-under par 67 on Saturday to stay atop the leaderboard at the Sony Open, where Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama was two shots back.

Henley, who won the first of his three US PGA titles in his tour debut at the Sony Open in 2013, couldn’t match the fireworks of Friday at Waialae Country Club.

But his 18-under par total of 192 was enough to stay in front of Matsuyama, who charged up the leaderboard with a seven-under par 63 that featured seven birdies.

Henley shook off an early bogey with birdies at the seventh and ninth to make the turn one-under for the day.

After a 14-foot birdie at the 11th he gave a stroke back at 13 before pushing his lead to two strokes with a birdie at 15 and a 16-foot birdie putt at the 17th.

He was unable to take advantage of the par-five 18th, where he was in the right rough off the tee and his second shot left him 150 yards to the pin.

“I was trying to lay it up more to like a wedge distance, so I could attack the pin,” Henley said. “I just misjudged my lie in the rough tremendously.”

Overall, however, Henley was pleased with his round “I figured it wouldn’t be quite as easy as the first two days,” said Henley, who followed a first-round

62 with a 63 on Friday that featured two eagles. “It’s just not how golf works typically. I wasn’t planning on making bogeys, but definitely wasn’t expecting to shoot eight-under again.

“But at the same time I felt really good about my game all day. I never really got too nervous or too ahead of myself.”

Matsuyama said putting was the key to his seven-under effort, which gave him a career-best 54-hole score.

“Even my missed putts found the hole,” Matsuyama said after another bogey-free round.

His strong day on the greens included a 37-foot birdie bomb at the 13th.

He got things going with a nine-footer at the second and rolled in a five-foot birdie putt at the seventh. He two-putted from 47 feet to birdie the par-five ninth and rapped in a four-footer at 12.

After making a 13-foot birdie at the 15th, Matsuyama missed the green with his second shot at the par-five 18th and chipped to 13 feet, rolling that in for one last birdie.

Matsuyama was two strokes clear of a quartet sharing third on 196.

Li loses ground That included China’s Li Haotong, who started the day in second place, three shots behind Henley, and

carded a two-under par 68.

Li, a two-time winner on the DP World Tour who has seen his ranking slide from the top 50 to his current 460th, was holding his own alongside Henley with a 24-foot birdie putt at the fifth, a birdie at the par-five ninth and an up and down birdie from a greenside bunker at the 10th.

But he lost ground with a three-putt bogey at 13 and a birdie at 14 was followed by a costly double-bogey at the parfour 16th, where he needed four shots to reach the green.

He regrouped to birdie the par-five 18th and was tied at 14-under with Canadian Adam Svensson and Ireland’s Seamus Power—who both shot 65—and American Matt Kuchar, who signed for a 67.

“Any day you shoot under par is a good score,” Li said. AFP Russell Henley of the United States waves on the 18th hole during the third round of the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii. AFP

Bengals end 3 decades of playoff futility

B.J. Hill (left) of the Cincinnati Bengals sacks Derek Carr of the Las Vegas Raiders in the fourth quarter of the AFC Wild Card playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. AFP

LOS ANGELES—A solid outing from quarterback Joe Burrow and a late defensive stand saw the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Las Vegas Raiders 2619 on Saturday to earn their first NFL playoff victory in 31 years.

Burrow threw for two touchdowns as he piloted an efficient Bengals offense that scored on their first four drives.

Rookie kicker Evan McPherson made all four of his field goal attempts as the Bengals ended an eight-game playoff losing streak that stretched back to their victory over the now-defunct Houston Oilers in January of 1991.

“It feels great winning for us, for the city, for the organization. But, you know, we expected this. So it’s not going to be a big celebration like it was when we won the division,” Burrow told broadcaster NBC. “We took care of business, on to the next round.”

Cincinnati will face either the Kansas City Chiefs or Buffalo Bills in the

divisional round next weekend.

Josh Allen passed for five touchdowns as Buffalo thrashed the New England Patriots 47-17 in another AFC wild-card matchup.

Allen led the Bills to touchdown drives on their first seven possessions, a first for any team in an NFL playoff game in the Super Bowl era.

In Cincinnati, Burrow completed 24 of 34 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns as the Bengals held on for the win in front of a crowd of 66,200 at Paul Brown Stadium.

That included a controversial 10-yard TD strike to Tyler Boyd that Burrow unleashed just before going out of bounds.

A line judge erroneously blew his whistle to indicate Burrow was out of bounds, which should have immediately made the play dead.

The touchdown counted, however, whether or not the sound of the whistle caused Raiders defenders to pull up on the play.

Raiders interim head coach Rich Bisaccia declined to criticize the officiating crew.

“I think there’s a lot of things that went on in the game both ways,” he said. “I’ve got enough problems with my job, I can’t do the officiating, too.”

Another questionable call—roughing the passer against the Bengals—helped the Raiders keep a potential game-tying drive alive in the final minutes.

Down 26-19 and needing a touchdown to force overtime, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr converted a third and 17-yard play and a third and 10 before the Bengals defense came up with three huge stops from within 10 yards of the goalline.

Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt intercepted Carr on fourth down to seal the victory.

Carr completed 29 of 54 passes for 310 yards and a touchdown, but the Raiders remained without a post-season victory since their triumph in the 2002 AFC Championship game. AFP

Entertainment Celine Dion cancels US tour due to health concerns CANADIAN superstar Celine Dion announced on Saturday she would not be able to perform the North America leg of her Courage World Tour, citing persistent health problems.

“I was really hoping that I’d be good to go by now, but I suppose I just have to be more patient,” the singer wrote on Twitter.

After a pause due to the pandemic, Dion had been scheduled to resume her world tour in November 2021 with a slate of performances in Las Vegas.

Those dates were canceled in October after she began “experiencing severe and persistent muscle

spasms,” she said at the time on Twitter.

The singer had hoped to continue the tour in March, starting in Denver and traveling over two months to 15 other cities across the United States and Canada.

Those dates are now also canceled, due to “her recovery taking longer than she hoped,” explained Dion’s management in a press release accompanying her tweet.

According to the statement, Dion had performed 52 shows as part of her Courage World Tour before the beginning of the pandemic, and she still plans to perform the European leg beginning May 25 in

MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 2022

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Canadian singer Celine Dion

Birmingham, England.

“I’ll be so glad to get back to full health, as well as all of us getting past this pandemic,” said the star, thanking her fans for t h e i r support.

“I feel your love and support and it means the world to me.”

AFP

TVJ regards Eat Bulaga’s mass appeal for its longevity; noontime show renews ties

with

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

GMA Network (From left) Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon

Idol PH winner drops debut album TEEN singer Zephanie has blossomed into a full-fledged recording star with the release of her self-titled debut album led by its key track “Magpakita Ka Na.” The Zephanie album is a compilation of all her singles after winning as the grand champion of Idol Philippines in 2019. It includes the hit song “Pangarap Kong Pangarap Mo,” which she first performed in the ABS-CBN reality singing competition.

Her latest single, the pop ballad “Magpakita Ka Na,” composed by Miguel Mendoza III, is about one’s readiness to find love and willingness to face the challenges that come with it.

Aside from her solo versions, the first album of

This Generation’s Pop Princess also features her collaboration with Ebe Dancel for “Bawat Daan,” “Tinadhana Sa’Yo” with Jason Dy, and “Pagibig Na Kaya” with Jeremy G. Other tracks are “Pangako Ko,” “Isa Pang Araw,” and one of Zephanie’s biggest hits, “Sabihin Mo Na Lang Kasi.” It also includes her rendition of Yeng Constantino’s hit song “Lapit.”

Named New Female Recording Artist of the Year in the 12th PMPC Star Awards for Music and Singer of the Year in the first kumu Livestreaming Awards, Zephanie has continuously made her mark in the music industry with her powerful vocals. She fulfilled her dreams of joining Himig 11th Edition as the interpreter of SJ Gandia’s entry, “Tinadhana Sa’Yo,” which won MOR’s Choice and TFC’s Global Choice awards. Last year, she joined the global pop group Now United’s boot camp in Abu Dhabi.

Coinciding with the release of her album under Star Music this January, she unlocked another milestone upon amassing 10 million all-time streams on music streaming service Spotify.

Teen singer Zephanie

Love and light

T

ELEVISION is a competitive industry and for a program to last for forty-two years on air is no easy feat.

Eat Bulaga is now an institution on the local entertainment landscape surviving cultural shifts, disruptions in the media, including the ever-changing ways of how people access entertainment brought about the fast-paced world of technology.

“It’s the pulse. Even before TVJ, we have a very good sense of what the people want.

And through the years, it has developed and has trickled down to the people we work with,” Sen. Tito Sotto told Manila Standard Entertainment alluding to Eat Bulaga being an institution on local television.

“And we are lucky that the people behind the camera also have that kind of pulse, especially the writers. Ika nga, nababasa nila ang pulso ng masa,” the senator carried on.

For Vic Sotto, the show’s mass appeal contributes to its longevity.

“Masarap panuorin ang Eat Bulaga dahil madali siyang panoorin. Kahit nasa bahay ka kaya mong mag-multitask habang nage-enjoy, nakikitawa at minsan nakikiiyak sa show. Madaling panoorin pero may dating sa puso. Kaya nga rin tayo’y Kapuso dahil ‘yun ang pinaka importanteng ingredient sa ating buhay – puso,” said the variety show’s Bossing.

Joey De Leon, on the other hand, playfully claims how the universe seems to conspire Eat Bulaga to remain in GMA for eternity, “Hindi pa seven ang GMA, seven na kami. Mula Student Canteen, nag-Discorama, hanggang sa The cast nabuo kaming Tito, Vic, and of ‘Eat Joey. Palagay ko kung may Bulaga’ mother of all, Eat Bulaga na 'yun. Ngayon, at 27 years sa GMA-7, seven presidents na rin ang dinaanan ng Eat Bulaga at tumatakbo tayo sa ating ika-43rd year. Add mo ‘yun 4 plus 3 equals 7. Kaya hindi lang forever kundi 7-ever na ‘to.”

GMA Network and TAPE Inc. executives together with 'Eat Bulaga' hosts during the renewal of their blocktime agreement.

De Leon also added that Eat Bulaga is such an innovative show.

“We follow the trend, and sometime we also set the trend. ‘Yan ang dahilan kung bakit kami nagtagal ng ganito,” he exclaimed.

The Philippines' longest-running and multi-awarded noontime show continues to bring “isang libo’t isang tuwa” to its millions of viewers worldwide as GMA Network and TAPE Inc. renewed their block time agreement for the airing of the program in a contract signing held Jan.11.

Eat Bulaga has provided Filipinos nonstop fun, entertainment and public service through its various segments including the well-loved ‘Mr. Pogi,’ ‘Bulagaan,’ ‘All For Juan, Juan For All,’ ‘Pinoy Henyo,’ ‘Little Miss Philippines,’ ‘Bawal Judgment,’ among others. Now, the top-rating variety show is gearing up for a more enjoyable and fun noontime experience for the Dabarkads around the globe still with GMA as its home network.

GMA Network executives showed their full support and excitement to Eat Bulaga’s contract renewal via Zoom.

Present during the virtual event were GMA Network Chairman and CEO Atty.

Felipe L. Gozon, GMA Network President

and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., Executive Vice President and CFO Felipe S. Yalong, GMA Network Films Inc. President and Programming Consultant to the Chairman and CEO Atty. Annette GozonValdes, First Vice President for Program Management Department Jose Mari R. Abacan, Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angel Javier-Cruz, Assistant Vice President For Program Management Department Concie Agnes, and Assistant Vice President for Corporate Communications Jojo Aquio.

TAPE Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Antonio P. Tuviera and Senior Vice President for Creatives and Production Operations Jeny Ferre were also present for the momentous occasion.

Joining TVJ were Allan K, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Ryan Agoncillo, Pauleen Luna, Jimmy Santos, Ryzza Mae Dizon, and Alden Richards.

GMA’s head honcho believes it is only appropriate that the number 1 noontime show in the Philippines will continue to air in the number 1 television station in the country, "We at GMA Network are honored to have been chosen once again by TAPE Inc. to be the home TV station of Eat Bulaga, their very popular TV program. Many have tried to beat Eat Bulaga, the longest-running number 1 noontime TV program in the Philippines. And if I'm not mistaken, in the whole world.

Meanwhile, Atty.

Annette Gozon-Valdes put it succinctly: "Gusto ko lang sabihin na kung may forever, mukhang ito na iyon."

MAKING a short film about one’s rainbow-colored life, with one of the most powerful and popular mass communications mediums used to press your message across for public consumption, is a tricky undertaking.

The well-meaning women and men behind Liwanag: The Life and Legacy of Dra. Minguita Padilla were obviously an excited lot with their “baby film venture.” They Dra. Ma. Dominga "Minguita" Padilla (left) and Valeen Montenegro forgot that it is imperative for a motion picture to present not only and watching the the essence of the finished product, the personality, but her Padilla portrayed truths, demons, in it was almost flaws, warts, and all. bordering on being Almost two a “living saint.” Not weeks old on sure if they wanted YouTube, Liwanag, directed by to show all of us that Padilla can be a Rember Galera, produced and Mother Teresa or the modern-day written by Rosanna Hwang, has version of Assumption College’s less than 2,000 views. On Facebook, patroness, St. Marie Eugenie of Jesus. the digits posted are also not that In the short film, the individual impressive. acting and breathing in it was “too So, what seems to be the reason good to be true.” Aside from harping for the lackluster support and how “beautiful” Mingita was, excelled watching? According to its official academically, and even if the handful of press release: “The inspiring story “actors” in some of the scenes lauded of ophthalmologist-turned-health that her beauty transcended the physical, advocate, Dr. Ma. Dominga because of her innate character that is “Minguita” Padilla, starring GMA 7 more than ready to be of service to the actress Valeen Montenegro. Produced downtrodden, and to sleep on a bench

by Kapitana Media Entertainment— was the filmmaker’s way of telling that the company behind the comedy The she is “one of us,” the person in the Women of TONTA Club that is now short film was devoid of “realness.” She streaming on KTX and Upstream did not seem “human.”

PH—Liwanag: The Life and Legacy The givens in Padilla’s life, to be born of Dra. Minguita Padilla shows the a “beauty” and that “affluence” opened renowned eye doctor’s journey from doors and opportunities, was not her an unassuming medical student to a fault. What was out of commission public health crusader, who is now one was the fact that the life of hers in the of the country’s most active medical short film, had no crises and conflicts. advocates in this time of COVID-19 No major upheavals, just the demise pandemic.” of her father. No mind-altering and As a short film, its main objective emotionally shattering events that made was: “To present a medical drama, her question and doubt her many gifts with touches of humor, hat sheds light and privileges. on what she has done for our country What was showcased, “perfection” at and how she had been helping the its most annoying and “saccharine” that sick, especially those afflicted with we all know is adverse to one’s welleye ailments.” being when taken too much. Read full The answer to the question, sitting story on manilastandard.net

Life

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

FOOD AND TRAVEL

MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 2022

Zamboanga, La Hermosa

Zamboanga’s seascape becomes alive with its colorful vintas, especially during the Regatta (photo courtesy of Pinterest)

T

The de luxe Tree House of Vista del Mar, which has all the modern facilities and amenities guests need for a comfortable and memorable stay

HIS busy port city was formerly tagged as The City of Flowers, mainly because of the colorful blooms one would see everywhere in the city.

According to Wikipedia, it got its name, from the Malay word “jambangan,” which means “garden of flowers.” These days, however, these blooms are sparse and are no longer the city’s main attraction.

Nevertheless, this week’s column takes us to the beauty of Zamboanga City, as seen through its rich, diverse culture, heritage and natural attractions.

What gave the city its rich history? Zamboanga was a very important part of the Spanish colonization of our country, which explains the residents’ Chavacano dialect, a Spanish-based creole language variety, but with grammatical structures similar to Cebuano. The city was not only a seat of government, but was also a cultural center of Spanish heritage and tradition.

To protect it from “Moro” attacks, the Spaniards built a fort, now called Fort Pilar, and originally installed the image of the Nuestra Senora del Pilar at its main entrance. Fast forward to how it is today, the city residents’ devotion to the Blessed Mother has become legendary because of the many stories of miracles and apparitions supposedly witnessed by some faithful devotees.

The title of this week’s column not only describes what tourists see during their visit but it also refers to the annual Festival in honor of the city’s patroness, Our Lady of the Pillar or the Nuestra Senora del Pilar. Zamboanga Hermosa is a month-long festival, most awaited in the region, species, and has a separate aviary for colorful parrots, and is one of the oldest and colorful eagles, and turkeys. festivals in the country.

Grande Santa Cruz Island, with its famous pink Pasonanca Park has a tree house, a small one, that was Let’s take a look at how the city was before the beach, is only a 20-minute boat ride from the city originally built during the time of former Mayor Cesar pandemic set in, so we can add it to our list of lei- (photo courtesy of Pinoy Traveler) Climaco, to accommodate one of his guests. However, sure destinations once quarantine levels go back to “almost normal.” view of spectacular sunsets, the city’s busy port, and I recommend, instead, a visit to the better version, a more Numerous activities are featured during the cel- the neighboring Santa Cruz Island. At night, live “de luxe” Tree House, the main feature at Vista del Mar, ebration, like the street dancing competition partici- bands, food stalls, and attractive decorative lamps the city’s beautiful seaside resort. There, the tree house pated in by the different schools in the city. There perk up the place further, drawing in more crowds to has all the facilities for comfortable accommodations and is rented out to guests who want to experience “livare also talent shows that showcase the city’s different the area. barangays and what each of them has to offer.

Approximately 20 minutes away from downtown ing on top of a tree,” with all the modern conveniences.

Natural attractions also lure tourists to Zamboanga One of the highlights of the celebration is the Regatta is the Yakan Village, known for its colorful, highquality woven fabrics bannering geometric designs. City. Of course, we’ve all heard of Grande Santa Cruz La Jardin de Maria The Yakans are known to be among the country’s fin- Island, with its world-famous pink coralline sand and Clara Lobregat in is only 20 minutes from Vista del Mar. This seemest weavers.

Pasonanca Park has ingly magical sight is the result There they also sell antiques, the statue of the of pulverized red organ pipe coral author’s late mother- for those who appreciate heritYOUR MONDAY washed ashore and mixing with age pieces, and bundles of atin-law, everybody’s CHUCKLE: the white sand on the beach. For beloved “Tita Caling” tractive accessories to perk up and “Sra. Caling,” who anybody’s wardrobe. Every JUST THINKING—You know that reasons of conservation, the city served for many terms visitor to the village always indestructible “Black Box” each government limits the number of each as Mayor and leaves with bags of the treas- airplane has, why don’t they make visitors to the island, so a tourist as Congresswoman ured Yakan weave, which has the whole plane from that material? permit is required, and staying of the city (photo overnight is not allowed. become even more popular now courtesy of There is also the breathtaking Merloquet Falls, a after having been included in our Tourism Secretary’s Zamboanga.com) unique 10-meter-high, 15-meter-wide stair-like waterfashionable wardrobe. de Zamboanga, where colorOf course, there is also the popular Pasonanca Park falls, which ends in a shallow pool below. From afar, ful vintas race to win the cov- which offers visitors several picnic areas and three it looks like a white flowing curtain set against a wall eted title and prize money. public swimming pools---one that’s Olympic-size, of lush greenery, indeed, a sight to behold! This aweAside from the historical another that’s a natural flowing pool, and one for chil- some, one-of-a-kind natural wonder is 2 hours away Fort Pilar and its religious im- dren which includes water slides. The park also has from the city, near the border of Zamboanga Sibugay. portance, what else is there the La Jardin de Maria Clara Lobregat, named after With all these interesting attractions, and many more, that captivates tourists? my late mother-in-law, the beloved former “multi-ter- it’s small wonder visitors to the city are one in their The Paseo del Mar, the mer” mayor and congresswoman of the city. A fitting mantra, “Zamboanga hermosa, de hecho!” bayside park and walkway, tribute to a lady so well-loved by her constituents, the

The awesome Merloquet Falls is well worth the two-hour drive from the city offers visitors a front-seat garden features beautiful and rare floral and butterfly For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail. (photo courtesy of CTPH Tour)

Clark’s newest dining destination for Chinese cuisine Chef Raymond Yeung

Wu Xing Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (from left) Clark Marriott General Manager Goeran Soelter, Vice Mayor of Angeles Pampanga Vicky Vega, Miss Universe 2013 3rd runner up Ariella Arida, CDC President and CEO Manuel R. Gaerlan, and Mabalacat Tourism Officer Arwin Paul Alfonso Lingat

Marriott recently launched the Mix n’ match with KFC’s zinger combo CLARK first Wu Xing restaurant in the Philippines, WHAT this still-raging pandemic has taught us well—as we value our personal space, we also put a personal touch to everything that we do. We customize our lifestyle according to the needs of these challenging times–from choosing what clothes to wear, designing our own rooms, and planning what our day would be like.

Wouldn’t it be great if we can apply this same flexibility to our limited food choices, the way we want it, how we want it?

So start your year with an extra zing with KFC’s “Your Combo. Your Zinger.” and customize your combo just as you like it.

You can make your own unique combo with your choice of a regular side (fries, mashed potato, or buttered corn), a regular drink (iced tea or soda), and a brownie to match with your Zinger Sandwich. Just add P15 for each add-on.

Mix ‘n Match with KFC’s “Your Combo. Your Zinger.” Promo runs until Feb. 28 exclusively available on KFC’s channels, just dial 88-87-8888, visit www.kfc. com.ph. The promo is also available for Dine-in, Take-out, and Drive-Thru.

year course in Hong Kong at CCTI or Chi- specialized equipment,” Yeung says. nese Cuisine Training Institute and was The duck is marinated and roasted in a part of the first batch of graduates of this traditional Beijing oven using star apple course at CCTI. firewood to help bring out the flavors and Yeung is an expert in merging com- aroma of the duck. This makes the meat plex flavors, combining traditional and extra tender and the skin crispy. It’s served modern, east and west tastes into various with cucumber, onion leeks, pickled gindishes, thanks to his rich experience in the ger, special hoisin sauce, and rolled in hot diverse world of modern Chinese cuisine. Chinese pancake.

He paid extraordinary attention to detail in Apart from the Peking Duck, Yeung developing the menu for Wu Xing, trave- and his team will delight diners with exling across China to draw from the best pertly prepared dishes such as Crispy Soft regional styles.

Tofu with Hoisin Sauce, Premium Jelly “We tried the different and popular Fish with Treasure Oil, Ox Tongue and dishes of Beijing, Shanghai, Sichuan, and Tripe with Sichuan Oil, Sliced Pork Belly Hong Kong, and got the best of them in de- with Chili Oil and Garlic, Century Egg veloping the menu for Wu Xing,” he says. with Marinated Pickled Ginger, CucumWu Xing’s main attraction, of course, is ber and Black Fungus in Chili Oil, Wokthe Peking Duck. With the fried Snake Beans with Salted duck sourced from China, Egg Yolk, Clay Pot Braised Spicy the imperial-era traditional Duck with Beer Sauce, Wok-fried style of cooking has been Sliced Duck with Black Fungus, passed on to generations of Ginger and Leek, Wok-fried chefs and now has found its Duck Intestine with Black Bean way into the expert and creaSauce, Lotus Leaf Wrapped Glutive hands of Yeung. tinous Rice with Duck Meat.

“Traditional Chinese cuiChef Yeung says he is passionsine was developed through ate about sharing his knowledge almost 500 years of Chinese and creating menus that are stimhistory. At Wu Xing, we fol- Wu Xing follows ulating, and finds joy in revealing low the Beijing style of prepar- the Beijing style of his creative side in the kitchen ing and cooking our Peking preparing and cooking and bringing the “wow” experiDuck using Clark Marriott’s Peking duck ence to diners.

Wu Xing is delicious proof of that.

bringing authentic Peking Duck to Clark Freeport Zone.

“Wu Xing is poised to be the newest dining destination not only for northern Luzon diners but also for Metro Manila,” says Clark Marriott general manager Goeran Soelter.

“We are bringing authentic and traditional Peking Duck to northern Luzon. We are already a destination for people to staycation coming out of Manila for the weekend.

That was our bread and butter for the last 12 months and it really grew in comparison to the period pre-pandemic. Now people have more reasons to make the trip to Clark Marriott,” hotel executive carries on.

Wu Xing is helmed by award-winning, new-generation chef Raymond Yeung, who has 30 years of experience in Chinese The restaurant is poised to be the cuisine with Cantonese as his specialty. newest dining destination at the From 2000 to 2005, Yeung also took a five- Clark Freeport Zone.

Wu Xing is now open at Clark Marriot, Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga. For inquiries and table reservations, contact +6345 598 5000 or visit its official Facebook page Wu Xing by Clark Marriott.