Manila Standard - 2022 February 2- Wednesday

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US warns vs. travel to PH Lists other areas with ‘very high’ COVID cases, crime, terrorism, unrest

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday followed by advising Americans against travel to the Philippines and a dozen new countries with COVID-19 cases at "Level Four: Very High."

Mexico, Brazil, Singapore, Ecuador, were also put on the US State Since mid-December, the US CDC has Kosovo, Paraguay, Peru, Anguilla, Department’s Level 4 “Do Not Trav- added more than 60 countries and terriFrench Guiana, Moldova, and Belarus el” advisory list on January 31. tories to its list of places to avoid, citing

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ASHINGTON has issued its highest alert warning urging American citizens not to travel to 12 countries, including the Philippines.

the Omicron coronavirus variant. It added Anguilla, French Guiana, Moldova and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to its highest level on Monday, bringing its list to 130 nations.

The State Department said in the Philippines, US citizens must exercise increased caution due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping and COVID-19

infections.

There was no immediate reaction from Malacanang, but it was a downer for the local travel industry, as the Palace had announced last Friday it would reopen the country to fully vaccinated tourists from 157 countries on February 10, as well as lift quarantine restrictions for them.

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Rody prays for prosperity in Year of the Water Tiger

By Vito Barcelo and Rio N. Araja PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte wished Filipinos good fortune and called on them to look forward to growth and prosperity as the multiethnic country of 110 million celebrated the Chinese New Year on Tuesday.

“This year of the Water Tiger is hoped to bring us good fortune and renewed strength as we recover

VOL. XXXV • NO. 352 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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WELCOMING THE NEW YEAR. Despite the cancellation of all activities related to the Chinese New Year to guard against COVID-19, people swarm Ongpin St. in Binondo, Manila to buy lucky charms and ‘tikoy’ or rice cakes to mark the occasion.

Manila SWAT policemen also help to maintain order in Chinatown by directing traffic (inset). Norman Cruz and Danny Pata

NCR cases doubled, report backlog blamed

By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Parents told: Get health experts’ opinion, rely not on social media

By Willie Casas AN INFECTIOUS disease expert on Tuesday advised parents to talk to trusted health professionals and not rely on social media for information, as the country prepares for the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 5 to 11.

“It’s better to talk to a health professional that you trust… rather than relying on social media because there may be misinformation,” said Dr. Timmy Gimenez, chairman for vaccination at the Philippine Pediatric Society.

Gimenez assured parents that most side effects are minor, such as pain at the injection site, fever or a headache, nothing that would necessitate a trip to the emergency room.

She also stressed that the benefits of vaccination outweigh any risks.

Gimenez said so far, about 1,000 patients of PPS have registered for vaccination.

The inoculation of children 5 to 11 will be rolled out in sixvaccination sites in Metro Manila on Friday, Feb. 4.

NEW COVID-19 cases more than doubled in Metro Manila in just two days, but Health officials said this was most likely the result of a reporting backlog.

The doubling of cases to 4,040 from 2,008 on Sunday came as Metro Manila entered the less stringent COVID-19 Alert Level 2.

However, the Philippines logged 9,493 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, raising the total case count to 3,569,665, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

This was the lowest number of daily infections since Jan. 4 this year, when 5,434 cases were reported.

Noting the steep rise in a single day, OCTA Research fellow Guido David said it was likely the result of the late reporting of test results, given that the positivity rate had declined to 17 percent in the region.

"4,040 in the NCR today. I hope AL2 was not premature. If this is not [a] backlog, this is a resurgence of sorts. We need to follow health protocols," David wrote on his Twitter account.

In a separate tweet, he added: "Let's not panic in NCR yet. Right now, the most likely explanation for the spike is backlog…. DOH warned about [a] backlog. Also, cases don't just spike in all LGUs just like that. It usually starts with a few LGUs," he said, referring to local government units.

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THE Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Tuesday found that President Rodrigo Duterte betrayed the public trust in connection with his actions related to the government's multibillion-peso contracts with Pharmally Corp.

Also called the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, the Senate panel also recommended the filing of criminal charges against Health Secretary Francisco Duque

By Joel E. Zurbano and Rio N. Araja FOUR cities in the National Capital Region are not automatically lifting restrictions against unvaccinated people, even though the NCR has already shifted to COVID-19 Alert Level 2, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)

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Guanzon: I named ‘meddling’ senator to wife, Sotto RETIRING Election Commissioner Rowena Guanzon has told two persons the identity of a senator supposedly meddling and delaying the release of the poll body’s judgment on the consol-

idated disqualification cases of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. – the senator’s wife and Senate President Vicente Sotto III. The 64-year-old Guanzon, set to re-

tire today along with Commission on Elections Chairman Sheriff Abas, earlier told some members of the media she voted in what was announced as her Next page

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Senate finds Duterte betrayed public trust, Duque liable in Pharmally case

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

No automatic lifting of curbs in 4 MM cities

III and other former government officials over the alleged misuse of COVID-19 pandemic response funds.

The initial 113-page partial report of the committee chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon stressed that Duque transferred a total of P41.4 billion to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) during the height of the pandemic in 2020.

The committee said Duterte betrayed the public trust, in violation of his oath of Next page

3,569,665 Next page

9,493

176,053

54,054

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3,339,558 24,210 IN THE SOUP. Families happily take a walk despite the thick fog at the People’s Park in the Sky in Tagaytay City on Tuesday after the province of Cavite entered COVID-19 Alert Level 2, with looser restrictions that allow children to go outside their homes. JR Josue

(As of 4 PM, FEBRUARY 1)

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DOH sets self-test kit guidelines The self-administered antigen test kits are recommended only for symptomatic individuals within seven days from the onset of symptoms.

They are also recommended for asymptomatic close contacts and for screening asymptomatic people.

The DOH said such tests are recom-

mended “especially if the capacity for timely RT-PCR results is limited or not available.”

However, the DOH said the RT-PCR remains the main diagnostic method for COVID-19.

Symptomatic individuals, suspect or probable COVID-19 cases, and their

close contacts whose antigen tests yield positive results will be considered positive for COVID-19.

At present, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two antigen self-test kits from Abbott and Labnovation Technologies, Inc. The DOH said all individuals with positive results must report to their Barangay Health Emergency Response Team or health care provider.

Meanwhile, local government units and telemedicine providers accredited by the DOH will implement their own reporting system.

“Reporting of results of self-adminis-

US...

The Washington travel advisory, released by the State Department, cited the Omicron coronavirus variant bar to travel and for its citizens, where it indicated “a very high level of COVID-19 in the country.”

At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice, saying “Your risk of contracting COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA (Food and Drug Administration) authorized vaccine.

“Before planning any international travel, please review the CDC's specific recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers.”

The State Department specifically told Americans not to travel to Marawi City in Lanao del Sur and the Sulu archipelago “due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest and kidnapping.”

According to Washington, terrorist and armed groups were continuing to conduct kidnappings on land and at sea for ransom, bombings, and other attacks targeting US citizens, foreigners, civilians, local government institutions, and security forces.

Civilians are at risk of death or injury due to conflict between remnants of terrorist groups and Philippine security forces in Marawi, it said, adding the US government had limited ability to provide

emergency services to American citizens in Mindanao as US government employees must obtain special authorization to travel there.

Lawyer Carlos Capulong, BI port operations chief, said as of Jan. 31 only 23 immigration officers assigned in the airports were still recovering from COVID-19.

Capulong said 14 of these personnel were stationed at the NAIA, four at the Clark airport, two in Mactan, two in Kalibo, and one in Davao.

“To cope with a sudden or unusual increase in passenger volume we have formed a reserve team of immigration officers from other BI officers who will be tapped to augment and assist our frontliners at the airport if the need arises,” Capulong said.

The BI advised the airlines and the traveling public to view the updated guidelines in the bureau’s website and Facebook page.

In related developments, the Philippine government was urged Tuesday by a former government adviser to require arriving international travelers to undergo rapid antigen tests after the facility-based quarantine requirement was removed for the fully-vaccinated, and as Metro Manila and nearby provinces de-escalated to Alert Level 2.

"I wish we had a medical safeguard if

we no longer require facility-based quarantine and allow travelers to go home immediately.

They can buy the kits at the airport if we can't provide it for free.

Then they can do that within 48 hours and submit it to their village chairman," Dr. Tony Leachon, a former adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19, said in an interview with ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo.

The Department of Health earlier released guidelines on COVID-19 self-test kits following the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of two brands.

Arriving travelers are currently required to present a negative RT-PCR or confirmatory swab tests within 48 hours of their travel.

But this does not ensure that a traveler did not get infected during their flight, said Leachon.

Leachon cited as an example a Filipino woman who arrived from the US and skipped her hotel quarantine last month upon arrival and went to a party in Poblacion, Makati.

The Philippines recorded on Monday 14,456 new COVID-19 cases and a 28 percent positivity rate versus the hundreds of fresh infections and 2 percent positivity rate last month when Alert Level 2 was also imposed in the capital region, Leachon said. Vito Barcelo, Rey E. Requejo, and Willie Casas

"It is my fervent prayer that 2022 will be a better year for all of us, in terms of wealth, health, relationships and progress. Let us continue to demonstrate the ideals of bayanihan and malasakit, (compassion) especially to those who are most in need," Duterte added.

The president also encouraged Filipinos to “become instruments of peace, harmony and generosity.”

“As we look forward to the blessings

of this auspicious occasion, let us continue to demonstrate the ideals of bayanihan and malasakit, especially to those who are most in need,” he added.

Duterte declared Feb. 1, 2022 as a special non-working holiday to mark Chinese New Year.

In her CNY message, Vice President Leni Robredo said there is still hope for the Filipino people to recover and start

again amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Filipinos can win over all the trials if they unite and help one another, Robredo said.

“Despite the celebration being different because of the continued threat of the virus, the message of the Chinese New Year has not changed: despite any challenge, there is always hope. We can always start over again. We can hurdle the trials through unity,” she said.

"The goal in the NCR is for the positivity rate to decrease to less than 10 percent within two weeks," David said.

As of Jan. 31, NCR's positivity rate is at 17 percent.

David also projected that the country’s daily tally of new COVID-19 cases could drop to about 5,000 by February.

COVID-19 infections have peaked or have gone down in "almost all of Luzon”, David noted.

David said cases are also starting to decrease in parts of Visayas and Mindanao like Cebu City, Tacloban, Iloilo, and Davao City.

The Philippines logged record high daily COVID-19 cases several times in January, driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant.

Infections have since dropped, prompting authorities to relax curbs in Metro Manila and several other areas from Tuesday until Feb. 15.

Meanwhile, an infectious disease expert on Tuesday said a new variant “as deadly as Delta” could still emerge but said this was unlikely in the next three months because people are still protected against the Omicron variant.

Solante, a member of the government’s Vaccine Expert Panel, said everyone should be vaccinated against COVID-19 to prevent the emergence of a heavily mutated variant of concern.

He noted that coronavirus mutation might only happen among unvaccinated or immunocompromised people.

He said those infected during the surge of Omicron cases might also benefit from a “temporary immunity.”

No...

The city government also imposed curfew hours on minors 17 years old and below from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., and granular lockdowns in some areas in Pasay.

Despite the shift to a more relaxed Alert Level 2, the Quezon City government on Tuesday reminded business establishments to continue enforcing health protocols.

QC retained the implementation of disciplinary hours for minors under Ordinance No. SP-2301 s. 2014, prohibiting them from loitering in public places from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The holding of gatherings for no specific purpose and gatherings in residences with individuals not belonging to the same household is still prohibited.

Fully-vaccinated adults, and minors regardless of vaccination status, may enter establishments for essential or non-essential reasons such as dining, shopping, and watching movies.

Restaurants and other food establishments as well as personal services establishments, such as salons and barbershops, may provide services at up to 70 percent capacity indoors for fully vaccinated adults, and minors regardless of vaccination status.

They can also accommodate guests up to 90 percent of their capacity outdoors regardless of age or vaccination status.

Religious gatherings are allowed for fully vaccinated adults, and for minors regardless of their vaccination status, for up to 70 percent capacity indoors and 90 percent capacity outdoors for all persons regardless of age or vaccination status.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) placed Metro Manila and seven provinces -- Batanes, Bulacan, Cavite, and Rizal in Luzon; Biliran and Southern Leyte in the Visayas; and Basilan in Mindanao -- under the less stringent Alert Level 2 starting Feb. 1. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

By Willie Casas

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HE Department of Health (DOH) has issued guidelines for self-administered antigen test kits for COVID-19, the agency said on Tuesday.

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Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration said it was prepared for the influx of arriving international passengers following the government’s decision to reopen the country to foreign tourists in eight days.

Under the latest resolution issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, fully-vaccinated foreign tourists coming from countries under Executive Order 408 are again allowed to enter the country without a visa for 30 days.

“We are ready, and we have the available manpower to address this projected increase in passenger volume in our airports,” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement.

Morente also reported a sharp decline in the number of Immigration officers who are still infected with the COVID-19 virus.

He said that as of Monday, 401 BI personnel, most of them assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, who earlier tested positive for the virus or have gone on isolation and quarantine have already returned to work.

“We continue to operate at full capacity in the airports as we anticipate an increase in international flights and passengers in the next few weeks,” the BI chief added.

Rody...

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from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges that have tested our mettle as a nation. Through our courage, faith, and determination, we have become more resilient and capable of building back better,” Duterte said in a statement.

NCR...

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Health Secretary Francisco Duque III also said backlogs were behind the doubling in the new case count, noting that late reporting cannot be avoided.

The rise in Metro Manila cases could not be said to be due from a resurgence, Duque said, but reminded the public to observe minimum health protocols.

“Although we are at Alert Level 2, this does not mean that we should be complacent in wearing face masks and physical distancing. We should remind the public of this.” Duque said Meanwhile, the country's positivity rate was at 28.8 percent, based on 31,053 tests conduced on Jan. 30.

The DOH reported 51 new fatalities, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 54,054.

The DOH also reported 176,053 active cases, of which 6,133 were asymptomatic; 164,995 were mild; 3,070 were moderate; 1,529 were severe; and 326 were critical.

Nationwide, 46 percent of ICU beds, 45 percent of isolation beds, 47 percent of ward beds, and 25 percent of ventilators, were in use.

In Metro Manila, 40 percent of ICU beds, 35 percent of isolation beds, 40 percent of ward beds, and 24 percent of ventilators, were in use.

Meanwhile, OCTA said Batangas, Laguna and Quezon have already been classified to be at "moderate risk" for COVID-19, following the NCR, Cavite and Rizal.

Parents...

From A1

The Department of Health (DOH) earlier said a total of 168,355 children ages five to 11 have already registered for vaccination in their local government units.

The government said it aims to inoculate some 15 million children in this age group against COVID-19.

Children with comorbidities will be prioritized, said Dr. Ted Herbosa, and advisor to the government’s pandemic response task force.

Herbosa said only children with preexisting medical conditions need to present a medical certificate from their doctors while others will be assessed just before vaccination.

Gimenez said while children aged 5 to 11 have a stronger immune system,

this needs to be reinforced with a vaccine as they do not have a natural resistance against COVID-19.

"There is no such thing as natural resistance. All of us are susceptible to catching the virus. But children do better than adults in fighting the virus,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Getting children vaccinated is still the best way to protect them from the possibility of getting severe COVID-19, Gimenez said.

She also said children must also get vaccinated against other diseases such as measles.

“My call to parents is that if your children have not been given these vaccines, please contact our local government centers because there’s a massive campaign to catch up,” she said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

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chairperson Benhur Abalos said on Tuesday.

In a press conference, Abalos said the ordinances of Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, and Pateros have no automatic lifting clause for restrictions against unvaccinated people.

“Four LGUs don't have automatic lifting clause but three LGUs will be issuing a new executive order. These are Parañaque, Pasay, and Quezon City,” he said.

“Only Pateros will be left as they will still discuss the issue tomorrow (Wednesday),” Abalos added.

The Metro Manila Council (MMC), composed of the 17 mayors in the region, earlier agreed to restrict the mobility of unvaccinated people in the NCR under the Alert Level 3. These LGUs issued their respective ordinances on the matter.

Strict measures against unvaccinated individuals are still being imposed in Pasay City. On Tuesday, Mayor Imelda Rubiano issued an executive order limiting the movement of individuals unvaccinated against COVID-19 in the city.

Rubiano’s order stated that "unvaccinated persons, regardless of age, must remain at home, except as necessary to obtain essential goods and services, or when necessary for work in a permitted business as shown by a work ID or employer's certificate."

Those fully vaccinated are allowed to go outside residences provided that he or she should be able to present his or her vaccination card and valid identification prior to entry into the concerned establishment.

Rubiano's directive also stated that a "person shall be deemed fully vaccinated upon completing the prescribed doses of COVID-19 vaccine at least two weeks previously, as shown by a duly-issued vaccine card and a valid ID."

Guanzon:...

From A1

“dissenting opinion” to disqualify the survey front-running 64-year-old Marcos.

Guanzon said the senator, whom she did not identify, influenced colleague Aimee Ferolino-Ampoloquio into delaying the ponente or majority resolution on the consolidated petitions all based on the 1995 tax evasion conviction of Marcos Jr., which was appealed

tered antigen test is mandatory,” the DOH said.

LGUs were also directed to monitor the use of the test kits and to immediately report to the DOH all circumstances of indiscriminate use.

The DOH said waste generated from the use of self-administered test kits such as swabs, kits, gloves, and body fluid should be considered infectious waste and must be separated from other waste.

Waste that has been combined with waste from test kits shall also be considered infectious waste. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

to the Court of Appeals.

"Anybody from any law school can write a resolution in 15 days. I don't know why (Ferolino) cannot because she's the one who is under influence and she’s acting in conspiracy to make sure that they defeat my vote," said Guanzon, presiding commissioner of the Comelec First Division also made up of Ferolino and Marlon Casquejo.

The retiring commissioner said she already told the wife of the unidentified senator the situation with Marcos Jr. Sotto had said he already knew who

COVID protocols make it hard to catch escapees

By Rey E. Requejo JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday said the COVID-19 protocol to wear face masks makes it hard for authorities to identify and capture the two deprived of liberty (PDLs) who escaped from the New Bilibid Prison last January 17.

“No, they have not been found and rearrested. Yes, it is difficult to find them because everyone is wearing a mask. But our law enforcement agents, with the help of ordinary citizens, will find them. it’s just a question of attrition,” Guevarra said, in a text message.

Guevarra made the statement after two weeks since Drakilou Falcon and Chris Ablas escaped from the penal facility, but they remain at-large and still subjects of manhunt operations.

The Justice Secretary admitted that the requirement for persons to don face masks when going out of their homes might make it hard for government enforcers to recognize and apprehend them.

“Each day that passes makes the task of recapturing these escapees more difficult. But the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) tracking team is relentlessly hunting them,” he said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Civil Service chief Dela Rosa-Bala ends fixed term ALICIA dela Rosa-Bala will end her fixed term Wednesday as head of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the central human resource (HR) agency of the Philippine government.

Bala was appointed by the late President Benigno Aquino III in October 2015, with expertise and years of experience in social work.

She introduced policies and programs that empowered and uplifted civil servants, promoted social change and development, and spread bringing malasakit (concern) to public sector HR management.

Under her helm, the CSC promulgated guidelines to institutionalize occupational safety and health and mental health programs in the public sector.

It also issued rules on mandatory random drug testing among civil servants in support of the government’s anti-drug campaign.

Also issued were guidelines on the administration of the Career Service Examination-Pen and Paper Test to persons with disabilities, pregnant, and senior citizens, as well as to female examinees wearing Muslim covering/clothing to make the test procedures more inclusive. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Senate...

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office under the 1987 Constitution, by: • Appointing Michael Yang, a foreign national, as “Economic Adviser to the President” in 2018. Yang then introduced numerous Chinese suppliers with whom the government transacted and, in the process, enriched himself immensely; • Accepting that an undercapitalized corporation owned by a Taiwanese fugitive, and with proven ties to Michael Yang, had dominance over pandemic procurement of COVID-19 supplies; • Seeking to discredit the Commission on Audie (COA), whose Constitutional duty it is to conduct an audit of all government expenditures, and which had previously flagged the anomalous transaction, and through threats, prevent it from functioning; • Trying to discredit the credibility of the Senate by publicly attacking, maligning, and disrespecting the Senate as an institution, a coequal branch of government, and its members duly performing their duties, and in doing so attempting to render inutile the Senate’s role in investigating corruption; • Ordering the issuance of a patently illegal memorandum preventing his cabinet members and other officials of his administration from attending the hearings; and • Refusing to run after his appointees despite calls from the public and the Senate to compel their attendance, in order to further the search for truth, failing to hold accountable these appointees for one of the biggest plunders of the Philippines' coffers in recent history. (See full story online at manilastandard.net) the senator was, but declined to name him while waiting for identification by Guanzon, who said she would cooperate with the legislature if she would be subpoenaed by the chamber.

"I will tell them when I get there (Senate). The important thing is I am doing this in the nation’s interest. On February 3, I will be defenseless. I will be a private citizen... If the senators feel they are alluded to, they should tell the Senate President to subpoena me." (See full story online at manilastandard. net)

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QC works with SC on free swab tests for bar examinees THE Quezon City local government has signified its support to this year’s bar examinations tasking its swab testing team to undertake the testing of 756 examinees and 350 personnel and volunteers at the bar exams to be held on Feb. 4 and 6.

The effort would ensure that all individuals involved, especially the examinees, are safe from exposure and that the activity would not become a superspreader event.

The city government is closely coordinating with the Supreme Court (SC) and administrators from the University of the Philippines since the University has been selected as one of the testing sites.

As per initial discussions, the SC agreed to provide the test kits, while the City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU) would conduct and oversee the rapid antigen test of over 1,100 individuals involved.

CESU would dedicate 20 health personnel for the testing activities, which will be held on Feb. 2 for the bar examinees and Feb. 3 for personnel and volunteers, both at the UP College of Human Kinetics Gymnasium.

Anyone who tests positive would be assessed and referred either for home quarantine or for immediate transfer to any of the city’s HOPE Community Care facilities.

Other Departments of the Quezon City government are also carrying out the necessary preparations to assist during the swab testing and bar examinations.

The city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and Quezon City Fire District would set up tents at the UP Campus and be on standby for any emergency.

The QC Task Force for Transport and Traffic Management is tasked to maintain the smooth flow of traffic in the immediate vicinity of the campus.

Rio N. Araja

Angara says health workers assured of aid

Housing chief lauds Marawi Compenstion bill

By Rio N. Araja

FOR GOOD LUCK. Shoppers are greeted by lion and dragon dance performers to bring good luck during the celebration of Chinese New Year inside SM City Taytay. (INSET) Despite an Executive Order

by Manila Mayor Francisco Isko Moreno Domagoso prohibiting traditional activities in celebration of the Chinese New Year due to the threat of COVID-19, people are seen strolling at Ongpin Street and buying Chinese delicacies and lucky charms in Chinatown, Binondo, Manila, on February 1. Norman Cruz

PH logs highest death rate in decades—report T HE first 11 months of 2021 saw more registered deaths across the Philippines, which stood at 768,504—higher by 154,562 than all of 2020, a report from the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) said, citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

POPCOM said this number hiked the country’s mortality rate to 6.98 per thousand, as against 5.8 per thousand in 2020.

This latest report shows a 25-percent increase in mortality, with still a monthand-a-half worth of data to be reckoned for 2021. This also set a record in the number of Filipinos dying in a year since post-World War 2.

COVID-19, classified either as “identified” or “unidentified” by medical practitioners, was the underlying cause of death (COD) for 75,285 Filipinos—high-

er than the 30,140 deaths from the same cause from March to December 2020. It was the second-leading COD to ischemic heart disease responsible for 110,332 deaths up to October 2021 from 86,164 the previous year.

Aside from both CODs, mortalities were also up for cerebrovascular disease (from 53,082 to 58,880) hypertension (from 26,079 to 32,614), and diabetes mellitus (from 32,830 to 38,584).

Meanwhile, neoplasms (from 55,700 to 48,937) were markedly down from January 2021 to October 2021. Overall,

there was increased mortality in five of the 10 leading CODs last year.

“The increasing number of deaths indicate a health system severely challenged by the pandemic and its consequences,” explained Dr. Juan A. Perez III, Undersecretary for Population and Development.

“Diseases with higher mortalities are also those causing the highest incidences of illnesses in the entire population, since respiratory diseases, hypertension and diabetes contribute to heavy caseloads of clinics and health centers nationwide. If consultations for these are delayed, exacerbations and complications happen.”

“The fact that neoplasms are down should not be a comforting thought, as hospitals are heavily burdened with Covid-19,” the POPCOM executive director noted. “Diagnosis of all forms of cancers may also be delayed or remain undiagnosed, leading to deaths attributed to other causes.”

MEDICAL MISSION IN TABACO CITY.

Governor Al Francis Bichara,Vice Governor Grex Lagman, and the Provincial Government of Albay, held a medical, dental, and optical mission at the Hiraya Manawari Park, in San Vicente, Tabaco City. Also in the photo is Tabaco Mayor Krisel Lagman. Norman Cruz

‘Firms will be responsible for plastic wastes’ LARGE companies would be responsible for their plastic wastes once the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) bill, which was approved by the Senate on the third and final reading, is passed into law.

Twenty-two senators gave their nod to Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2425, which seeks to institutionalize the EPR, amending Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, said the bill mandates large companies to adopt and implement policies for the proper manage-

ment of plastic packaging wastes.

She said the bill was crafted in response to the clamor for the regulation of singleuse plastics and its production, importation, and disposal by industries.

“It is not a solution in itself, but it is a move in the right direction, I believe. We need to rescue our country from being a marine litter culprit and demonstrate that a developing country can and will make this work,” Villar said following the measure’s third reading approval.

Through the EPR, obliged companies “have the responsibility for the proper and effective recovery, treatment, recycling or disposal of their products after they

have been sold and used by consumers” to reduce packaging waste generation and improve the recyclability and reusability of packaging wastes.

Obliged companies would include producers, manufacturers, and importers of consumer goods using plastic packaging. They shall be responsible for making financial contributions to support the collection, recovery, transportation, processing, recycling and disposal of their plastic packaging wastes.

Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) would not be required to have EPR programs, the bill stated.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Bill divides Muzon into four brgys

By Maricel V. Cruz SAN Jose Del Monte City Rep. Florida Robes expressed elation over the passage of both Houses of Congress of bill dividing Brgy. Muzon in her city into four independent barangays for better delivery of services.

Robes, the bill’s principal author, made the statement after the House of Representatives last Monday concurred with the Senate amendments of House Bill 6866 which divides Brgy. Muzon into four separate and distinct barangays to be known as Brgys. Muzon Proper, Muzon East, Muzon West, and Muzon South.

Robes said Brgy. Muzon is considered the most populous barangay in her city with more than 100,000 residents and dividing it into four barangays will improve the de-

HOUSING czar Eduardo del Rosario, who is also the chairperson of Task Force Bangon Marawi on Tuesday lauded the Senate’s approval on third reading of the Marawi Compensation Bill, saying it is a “huge boost” to the Maranaws.

He welcomed the measure to help the Maranaws affected by the 2017 siege rebuild their lives.

The bill aims to provide compensation for the loss or destruction of private properties brought about by the fivemonth battle between government forces and Daesh-inspired terrorists more than four years ago.

“The Task Force Bangon Marawi welcomes the Senate’s approval of the Marawi Compensation Bill as a huge boost to the morale of our Maranaw brothers and sisters who were affected by the infamous 2017 siege.

They have long been clamoring for this legislation, and hopefully, it will soon be enacted into law,” Del Rosario said.

“This will ensure the totality of the government-led rehabilitation of Marawi City with the reconstruction of public infrastructures, which is now in the final stages. The compensation bill’s final approval will allow private individuals not only rebuild their properties but also rebuild their lives,” he added.

Senate Bill No. 2420 or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act got 23 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and no abstentions.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto, who voted “yes” to the bill said, Senate Bill No. 2420 “spells out the method of submitting and assessing claims, the mechanism of compensation, the management—which is under a nine-person Board, their mandate, the means of resolving conflict and addressing appeals. Even priority areas are enumerated.”

He added that “this bill must be fully and faithfully funded as it would hasten the healing of a wounded land and a hurting people. It is the missing link in making Marawi better than it was before.”

IN BRIEF Cops bust 7 suspects; seize shabu in Parañaque

By Macon Ramos-Araneta HEALTH care workers (HCWs) are now assured of receiving their COVID-19 benefits and allowances as long as the state of national public health emergency declared

by President Rodrigo Duterte is in place, Senator Sonny Angara said.

As the sponsor and co-author of Senate Bill 2421 that was approved on the third and final reading today, Angara said there should no longer be any impediment in the delivery of the much-deserved benefits to HCWs. The bill was filed by Angara and Senator Richard Gordon in response to the request by the Department of Health (DOH) for the passage of a law that will ensure the continuous grant of the benefits provided to HCWs under the now-defunct “Bayanihan” laws.

“While it was clear to the proponents of the Bayanihan laws in Congress that the grant of benefits to our health workers should continue for as long as the state of national emergency declared by the President is in place, the expiry of those laws became a cause of delay for the delivery of those benefits and this is what SB 2421 aims to address,” Angara said.

Once enacted into law, Angara said the benefits for the HCWs will be provided even beyond 2022, for as long as the state of national public health emergency is in effect.

Under the bill, all public and private health workers, regardless of employment status, will be granted a singular monthly COVID-19 Risk Allowance based on the following categories: P3,000 for those deployed in “low risk” areas; P6,000 for “medium risk” areas; and P9,000 for “high risk” areas.

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livery of services to its residents. “Splitting the barangay will not alter its administrative status. This will improve the delivery of social services and effectively managing resources for the general welfare of the whole constituency of the city,” Robes said.

The division will be subject to a plebiscite conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) which shall be held within 90 days from the effectivity of the Act. The expenses of the plebiscite will be shouldered by the city government of San Jose Del Monte.

The first set of officials of the new barangays shall be elected in a special election supervised by Comelec not later than 90 days from approval by a majority of votes cast in the plebiscite. The current set of officials will continue to hold office until a new set of officials will have been elected.

PASADA BABES. All-female group “Pasada Babes” together with Dom Chad Hernandez, Secretary-General of Pasada Partylist attend a press conference in Quezon City on February 1. Hernandez introduced the Pasada Babes as a way to boost their bid for a partylist seat in May. The party-list emphasized the value of social media platforms like Tiktok as a way for alternative campaigning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Manny Palmero

POLICE busted seven suspected drug dealers and seized P5.9 million worth of shabu late Monday night in Paranaque City.

Arrested were Bablyn Cabueñas, 35; Edwin John Gonzales, 39; Ebrahim Karim, 29; Ronnie Bayao, 35; Omera Guimad Mohammad, 30; Amira Carel, 21; and Datu Rajabuyan, 19.

Seized from the suspects were 882 grams of shabu, a weighing scale, a sling bag, and the cash and boodle money used in the entrapment operation.

A composite team from the Southern Police District - Drug Enforcement Unit, District Intelligence Division, and Paranaque City Police Sub-Station 5 conducted the buy-bust operation at 159 Football Street, Lopena Compound Area 4 Fourth Estate in Barangay San Antonio around 11:30 p.m.

Police believed the suspects are members of a drug syndicate operating in the southern part of Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

The suspects are now under the custody of SPD-DDEU and will be charged with violation of Sections 5 and 11 under Article II of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act) before the city prosecutor’s office. Joel E. Zurbano

Phivolcs records 13 volcanic quakes in Taal THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has recorded 13 volcanic quakes at Taal Volcano in Batangas in the past 24 hours.

The volcano had a volcanic tremor lasting three minutes and emitted 4,829 tons of sulfur dioxide on Saturday, and a plume was observed rising to 1,000 meters tall before drifting northeast and southwest.

Alert Level 2 (increased unrest) remains hoisted over Taal Volcano.

Phivolcs said there was an u welling of volcanic gas in the main crater’s lake, adding there was a deflation of the Taal Volcano Island and Taal Caldera.

Earlier, eight “very weak” phreatomagmatic bursts were recorded in the Taal Volcano.

In an advisory, Phivolcs said these phreatomagmatic bursts from the main crater occurred between 1:18 p.m. to 9:57 p.m., lasting 10 seconds to two minutes.

Phreatomagmatic eruptions were caused by the interaction of magma and water, and accompanied by distinct infrasound signals, according to Phivolcs.

Meanwhile, Phivolcs also detected steam-rich plumes 400 to 900 meters high.

Since the start of 2022, the average sulfur dioxide (SO2) flux is 10,668 tons per day, and the highest emission was 18,705 tons on January 27. Rio N. Araja

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News

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022

Ex-VP Binay leads donation of COVID vax

By Joel E. Zurbano

Former Vice President Jejomar Binay and Makati City government officials on Tuesday donated COVID-19 vaccines to local government units of Malvar, Batangas and Meycauayan, Bulacan. Binay, a former mayor of Makati, and City Administrator Claro Certeza turned over the vaccines donated by the Makati City government to help the two towns included in Makati’s sister-LGU program.

To date, a total of 34,800 doses have been distributed to seven local government units.

These include Urdaneta, Pangasinan; the province of Batangas; Malabon, Cuenca, Batangas; and Batac, Ilocos Norte.

Binay, who is running for senator in the May 9 elections, earlier urged the government to send more COVID-19 vaccines outside Metro Manila.

“The vaccine supply should not be concentrated in Metro Manila. Every citizen, including those from the provinces, should be vaccinated,” said Binay.

Binay said the vaccination rate remains low in several regions. He noted that a number of local officials have complained that their request for more vaccines has not been acted upon by the national government.

“If we want the country to get back on its ANOINTED ONE. Kingdom of Jesus Christ Leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy 2nd from left) prays over vice presidential candidate and Lakas-CMD Party chairperson Davao City Mayor Sara feet, we need to vaccinate everyone, not just Duterte-Carpio (2nd from right) before the start of the ‘Mahalin Natin Ang Pilipinas Ride’ in front of the KJC Kingdom Arena in Davao City. Also in photo are a few,” he said. senatorial bets Harry Roque (right) and Jinggoy Estrada (left). Ver Noveno The sisterhood program of Makati was launched during the mayoral term of the former Vice President. Over the years, the city has extended various forms of assistance to sister LGUs throughout the country.

During the term of Binay’s daughter, incumbent Mayor Abigail Binay, the city government sent financial, relief and technical aid to localities hard-hit by disasters.

Makati was able to lend its modern disaster response equipment to Bauan, Batangas to serve thousands of evacuees who fled

By Macon Ramos-Araneta their homes when the Taal Volcano erupted. for turning Davao into a “model city” These included mobile kitchens, mobile

By Maricel V. Cruz UNDERSTANDING the value of a showers and portalets, a water filtration sysin the Philippines. good public infrastructure program in He said the elder Duterte has created tem, and a mobile clinic.

INGDOM of Jesus Christ leader, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy driving the national economy, Partido a “template of leadership” that should Reporma standard-bearer Sen. Panon Tuesday predicted a “landslide” victory for the tandem be followed. filo Lacson committed to build on the of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) presidential aspirant During the send-off, Quiboloy achievements of past administrations former Sen. Bongbong Marcos and his running mate, Davao Mayor prayed over the lady mayor and her in this aspect if he wins in the May 9 Sara Duterte-Carpio. team for a safe ride around the country elections. under the “Mahalin Natin ang PilipiBut while he recognized what the He also endorsed Duterte-Carpio ing the UniTeam, including our belov- nas” caravan.

“Build, Build, Build” program of and the rest of the UniTeam slate ed Davao City mayor who is running Duterte-Carpio, chairperson of the President Rodrigo Duterte tried to acahead of the start of the campaign for vice president under the UniTeam Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats complish, he said he is leaning toward period for national candidates in the BBM-Sara and their senatorial slate.”

(CMD), thanked Quiboloy for his supreviving the “Public Private PartnerBy Maricel V. Cruz May 9 elections.

“I am telling you: this team will have port and prayers. ship” approach that was initiated by “Many have been asking who the a landslide win in the coming elections The presidential daughter underthe late President Benigno Aquino III. TOP officials of the Lakas-Christian Kingdom of Jesus Christ will support and I pray that we all join the UniTeam,” scored that the caravan symbolizes “Instead of the Build, Build, Build, Muslim Democrats (CMD) led by and perhaps now is the right time for me Quiboloy added. patriotism. let’s go back to PPP because we are Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur to declare who we have chosen,” QuiQuiboloy mentioned how he support“We hope this will highlight our call deep in debt right now. We need to First District Rep. Prospero Pichay, boloy said. ed Duterte-Carpio’s father, President for us to rise again as one,” Dutertecompress our government expendiJr., Lakas-CMD secretary general, on “One hundred percent, I am support- Rodrigo Duterte, as he praised the clan Carpio said. ture a bit, our public expenditure, beTuesday afternoon gave cause right now [our national budget] the warmest welcome to their vice is at P5-trillion,” Lacson said. presidential aspirant, Davao City “Let us go back to that level of exMayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who arpenditure because there are other rived in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur things that take higher priority such as for her monthlong on-the-road nationpublic health, and productivity, among wide motorbike campaign. others,” he added.

Accompanied by his wife, Cantilan Lacson said a shift to PPP would Mayor Carla Pichay who is running enable the government to keep buildfor governor, Pichay and the proving roads, bridges, and other public ince’s local leaders, including cominfrastructure projects that remain in munity leaders, met with Dutertethe pipeline without sacrificing other Carpio who rode her big bike from areas of governance that equally need Davao City to spread her message appropriate budgets. of nationalism and unity, as well as promote safe campaigning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The “Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas Ride” that kicked off in Davao City will return to Duterte-Carpio’s hometown on February 28.

“Mayor Inday Sara’s ‘Mahalin NEW HOUSE LEADER. Biñan City Lone District Representative Len Alonte-Naguiat officially takes her oath as the House Deputy Natin ang Pilipinas’ caravan is a very Speaker before Speaker Lord Allan Velasco. Roy Tomandao good event because right now, we are trying to inculcate in the minds of the people, especially the youth, a sense of patriotism and love of TWENTY-SEVEN former Cabicountry, which I think in the modnet members, four chiefs of staff of of every Filipino family.

Domagoso said among the food production. ern days are being taken for granted,” By Rey Requejo the Armed Forces of the Philippines Moreno, Aksyon Demokra- first economic policies that his Agriculture is one of the said Pichay.

(AFP), senior government officials, tiko standard-bearer, made the government will introduce is major users of petroleum House Majority Leader and LakasPRESIDENTIAL candidate ambassadors, and career civil servants assurance during the launch- to cut the excise tax of petro- products. Farmers are heavily CMD President Martin Romualdez and Manila Mayor Francisco who served under the wished Duterte-Carpio a safe and “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on ing of his 10-point Bilis Ki- leum products by 50 percent to dependent on oil products for administration of President Belos Economic Agenda which lower the cost of food produc- fuel, fertilizers and pesticides fruitful journey in her on-the-road Tuesday said his administranigno Aquino III have expressed their focuses on agriculture as one tion, especially rice, raise the to achieve high crop yields. campaign aboard her motorbike. tion will strongly support and support for the presidential bid of Vice of the economic pillars to ac- income of farmers and fisher- Fisherfolks are also reliant on “Have a safe journey and stay protect farmers and the counPresident Leni Robredo. celerate human and economic folk, bring down the prices of petroleum for their motorized healthy Mayor Inday Sara as you emtry’s food producers to ensure Among those who signed the statebasic commodities and sustain boats. bark on your month-long on the road that there is food on the table growth. ment released on Tuesday was former

Ping: Bring back PPP to hasten growth, recovery

Pastor sees landslide victory for BBM-Sara

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Ex-Aquino men, 4 military chiefs back Robredo

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, who was Robredo’s running mate in the 2016 elections.

The former military chiefs who signed the endorsement were retired Generals Eduardo Oban, Jr., Jesse Dellosa, Emmanuel Bautista, and Hernando Iriberri.

Forty-two career diplomats also joined the endorsement for Robredo, a move not often heard of in the diplomatic community. Among the senior career diplomats who are supporting Robredo’s candidacy are former Foreign Affairs Sec. and Ambassador Delia Albert, former Labor Secretary and Ambassador Jose Brillantes, and former Ambassadors Sonia Brady, Victoria Bataclan, Estrella Berenguel, Eduardo Maglaya, Claro Cristobal, Laura del Rosario, Cecilia Rebong, and Millie Thomeczek.

Lakas officials fete Sara’s bike campaign

Isko: Slash tax on oil, power to help farmers, fisherfolk

Unanimous OK of Baybayin bill hailed

By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Lord Allan Velasco hailed the unanimous approval by the House of Representatives of a measure seeking to promote, protect and preserve Baybayin and other Philippine indigenous and traditional writing systems as part of the country’s cultural treasures.

The legislative chamber on Monday voted 197-0 to approve on third and final reading House Bill 10657 or the proposed “Philippine Indigenous and Traditional Writing Systems Act,” principally authored

by Velasco.

“It is time for our country to revisit our past through one of its cultural remnants,

our indigenous and traditional writing systems, including the pre-colonial writing system called Baybayin,” Velasco said.

Baybayin is an ancient syllabary script, which means “to spell.” It is said to be one of at least 16 different writing systems that were used by early Filipinos prior to the Spanish era.

“Lost, but not forgotten, Baybayin, together with other indigenous and traditional writing scripts, should be preserved and promoted as part of the country’s resurgence,” Velasco said.

Velasco said Baybayin and other indig- Residents of Barangay Pinyahan in Quezon City, some unmindful of the need to observe enous writing scripts are representations of physical distancing amid the pandemic, fall in line for a sack of rice given free per household Filipino tradition and national identity. during the sidelines of a health caravan of local candidates. Manny Palmero

Opinion How Beijing sees bilateral ties in the next 6 years

HOW will the next administration deal with China in the next six years?

We have yet to hear anyone among the presidential candidates unveil a wellthought-out and coherent position regarding the country’s relations with our next-door neighbor, quite possibly because they would rather talk on pressing domestic issues.

But the candidates should be ready to discuss the China question when the campaign period starts this month as this is a key component of our foreign policy.

After all, the 1987 Constitution provides that “the State shall pursue an independent foreign policy” and that in “its relations with other states, the paramount consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest and the right to self-determination.”

Has the Duterte administration’s attitude toward China hewed to the concept of an “independent foreign policy” or not?

Recall that during presidential debate in the 2016 elections, Duterte declared that once elected, he would take a jet-ski to the nearest contested Spratly island and hoist the Philippine flag there. That declaration may have earned him votes then, but subsequent events—and his own admission that it was nothing more than a big joke that only the stupid would have believed—demonstrated not only a profound understanding of the broad range of foreign policy issues from A to B, but also a herky-jerky approach to our relations with other countries.

It’s the Beijing side, from where I sit, that has a clear view of how it intends to pursue bilateral ties in the years ahead, even beyond the term of our next president.

The Chinese position on our bilateral relations was clearly laid out by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the online 5th China-Philippines Manila Forum organized by the Chinese Embassy in Manila and the Association for the Philippines-China Understanding (APCU).

Foreign Minister Wang delivered a video message where he said China will continue to adhere to its policy of good-neighborliness, security and prosperity, uphold the diplomatic policy of goodwill, sincerity and tolerance, and strengthen solidarity and cooperation with the Philippines.

“We are ready to work together with the Philippines to completely overcome the epidemic. We are willing to continue to guarantee the Philippine side’s vaccine needs, and to carry out cooperation on special drugs and public health capacity building until the virus is completely defeated,” Wang said.

He told the meeting that China has provided more than 57 million doses of the (COVID-19) vaccine to the Philippines.

The Chinese official said Beijing is “ready to work with the Philippines to accelerate development and revitalization” as part of its Belt and Road initiative, which calls for the construction of various irrigation, dam,

telecommunication, railroad and bridge projects, aside from helping in the post-war reconstruction in Marawi.

Moreover, Wang said, as the Philippines’ largest trading partner and largest export market, “China is willing to continue to open its doors to more Philippine agricultural products, bring more investment, and help the Philippines accelerate the process of industrialization and modernization and improve its independent development capacity.”

The presidential candidates should be ready to discuss the China question.

At this point, China’s top diplomat discussed at length what up to now has been a contentious issue between the two countries.

“We are willing to work together with the Philippines to properly deal with the South China Sea issue. Both China and the Philippines have their own claims and positions, and in the event that we cannot agree at the moment, we should put this issue in its proper place to prevent it from affecting or even abducting the overall situation of China-Philippines relations. To highlight only unilateral claims and impose our own opinions on the other side is not a true way to serve our neighbors, nor is it our Eastern philosophy of getting along. China will never bully the small with the big, and we do not believe that the winner takes all.

We are willing to work with the Philippines in a spirit of goodwill and pragmatism to find ways to control and solve the problem. We should make an early decision to promote joint development without affecting our respective claims, so that the South China Sea issue can be turned from a challenge into an opportunity and become a positive factor to help the Philippines’ national development and enhance friendship between the two peoples.”

At the same time, Wang reiterated that China is “ready to work hand in hand with the Philippines to maintain regional peace and stability. East Asia is the common home of China and the Philippines and is the region with the most development potential in the world, a hard-won situation that deserves to be cherished. At the same time, we need to see that some extraterritorial forces are constantly taking provocative actions in an attempt to undermine this good momentum.

As important members of the region, China and the Philippines should firmly pursue an independent foreign policy, maintain the ASEAN-centered regional cooperation framework, deepen the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, and contribute to maintaining regional stability and promoting regional prosperity.”

Our question is: How will the next administration deal with Beijing in the next six years? Will it concur lock, stock and barrel with the Chinese position, or chart a new path that asserts the national interest especially on the South China Sea issue? ernhil@yahoo.com

MWSS, water companies come to aid of Typhoon Odette victims

Siargao Island where typhoon Odette made its first landfall on December 16, 2021.

Everyman

By Melandrew Velasco TYPHOON Odette, the strongest typhoon to hit the country last year, affected a total of 2,366,309 families or 8,409, 602 persons.

According to Situationer Report No. 39 posted at the NDRRMC website, 11 out of the country’s 17 regions were affected. A total of 531 cities and municipalities were affected, of which 361 were declared under the state of calamity. Houses, roads and bridges, communication lines, agriculture, power and water supply were damaged. Government efforts to immediately extend assistance to the affected population were reinforced by private sector initiatives.

Among those who extended assistance included companies in the water sector industry namely Manila Water Company, Inc. (Manila Water), Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad), San Miguel Corporation and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). To ensure access to safety potable water, Manila Water President JV Emmanuel “Jocot” de Dios deployed a mobile treatment plant (MTP) to Siargao. It was in

Here are some of their contributions.

The mobile treatment plant is capable of treating and converting any type of raw water into potable water. It can produce up to 3,000 liters of drinkable water per hour and can operate up to 12 hours daily.

Various areas in the province of Surigao del Norte were also recipients of safe water brought by Manila Water tankers with a capacity of 10,000 liters of water per trip. Manila Water has distributed almost 23,000 liters of water to 5,000 residents in Siargao. Other typhoon affected areas such as Cebu and Bohol also benefited from Manila Water’s mobile treatment plants as the company dispatched two MTPs and several water tankers. For his part, Manila Water Foundation President Donato C. Almeda who is also Manila Water Chief Regulatory Officer, also ordered the speedy distribution of bottled water and hygiene kits in Bohol, Cebu, Dinagat Island,

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

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Taking a stand against lies

OME 270 doctors and science educators issued an open letter last month to music streaming company Spotify to protest a podcast that featured a guest who claimed “mass formation psychosis” was responsible for believing that COVID-19 vaccines worked, and that hospitals earned money for falsely diagnosing COVID-19 deaths.

According to reporting in Rolling Stone, the guest on the Joe Rogan podcast, Dr. Robert Malone, had been banned from Twitter for promoting COVID-19 misinformation and undermining the efficacy of vaccines.

In the interview with Rogan, Malone also said the Biden administration was suppressing information on the efficacy of ivermectin—an anti-parasitic drug first used in farm animals--against the virus.

“Spotify has a responsibility to mitigate the spread of misinformation on its platform, though the company presently has no misinformation policy,” the letter said.

Earlier, Rogan – who reportedly has 11 million people listening to each episode – discouraged young people from getting vaccinated and promoted ivermectin to treat COVID symptoms despite a dearth of evidence supporting it.

More recently, 76-year-old rock musician Neil Young, inspired by the doctors’ move, told his management team and record label that Spotify would have to choose between streaming his music and hosting Rogan’s podcast.

How many will look the other way?

Spotify could have Rogan or Young but not both, Young said.

Spotify chose Rogan. It expressed regrets about Young’s choice, but said it wants all the world’s music and audio content to be available to its users, and pointed out that it had already removed over 20,000 podcast episodes related to the virus.

Young’s music is no longer available on Spotify.

Another music legend, Joni Mitchell,

followed suit in solidarity with her friend Young and the global scientific and medical communities.

These two big names have articulated their position on anyone and anything that supports, enables or encourages misinformation. The question is – how many more will follow? How many more will, for reasons of convenience and practicality, look the other way?

It is not only on the issue of COVID-19 that information has been skewed, distorted, denied or manufactured across the globe. In matters of politics or governance, there are countless attempts by people in power, abetted by their league of defenders, to subvert the truth for their own interests.

Unfortunately, there remain too many people who lap up these claims too quickly without bothering to check whether they are true, or whether they stretch credulity.

In these few days leading to the start of the national campaign period, it is our hope that Filipino voters make a conscious effort to dig into the truth instead of believing readily available “sources,” and most importantly, take a principled stand against truth benders and outright liars.

Ariel O. Querubin

ARIEL Oliva Querubin is the most decorated soldier in the Philippines.

He has no less than 49 medals and decorations, more than the 28 medals of Audie Murphy, America’s most bemedaled soldier.

Ariel’s awards include the Medal of Valor, the military’s highest decoration for bravery, the Most Distinguished Conduct Star, three Distinguished Service Stars, seven Gold Cross Medals, and 12 military merit medals.

His Medal of Valor citation reads in part: “For acts of conspicuous courage, gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer, Marine Battalion Landing Team-1, Philippine Marine Corps, Philippine Navy during a 24-hour firefight against an estimated 300 fully armed men belonging to the separatists Moro Islamic Liberation Front at Bgy Inudaran, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte from 18 to 19 March 2000.”

Ariel had just 117 men during the 2000 battle. His victory brought relative peace to the island and stopped kidnappings that had netted the MNLF P38 million yearly in ransom.

He was deemed resigned on Nov. 30, 2009 but he retired formally on Dec. 23, 2021 when the Philippine Marine Corps tendered his long awaited retirement and testimonial ceremony.

Born in Dagupan, Pangasinan, Querubin grew up in La Union and studied in Manila.

He was a member of the leftist student group Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan (“Democratic Association of Youth”) until he attended the Philippine Military Academy, graduating in 1979. He opted to become an officer in the Philippine Marine Corps.

He was an active participant in various military operations during the ongoing Communist rebellion and the Moro conflict in the Philippines, the world’s two longest insurgencies.

He is credited with the neutralization of various rebel leaders of both the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army and the Moro National Liberation Front.

They include CPP-NPA provincial chairman Jessie Rafael in 1981, four MNLF

On Aug. 28, 1987, Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) rebels led by Gregorio Honasan attempted a coup against President Corazon Aquino. They attacked Malacañang Palace, Camp Aguinaldo and Villamor Air Base. Querubin, along with Red Kapunan and Juancho Sabban, attempted to bring PMA cadets from Baguio to Manila to support Honasan.

In 1989, then Captain Querubin co-founded the Young Officers’ Union (YOU) which along with another group known as the “Soldiers of the Filipino People” (SFP) and RAM, participated in the most serious coup against Corazon Aquino’s government.

Querubin almost died in clashes with troops loyal to the government. In 1989, he was hit by a Sikorsky helicopter gunship and was brought to the morgue of the Quirino Labor hospital where he was mistaken for dead until a doctor saw his PMA bullring and his little finger twitched. He was with other lifeless bodies and had cardiac arrests three times before reaching the AFP Medical Center at V. Luna.

At V. Luna’s Surgical ICU, Ariel saw his future wife, Dra. Loreta Cercenia. She was a member of the three surgical teams that did a 13hour surgery to repair his ruptured pancreas and liver whose left was damaged, and cut 6 feet of his small intestines. When he opened his eyes, Dr. Cercenia was dressing his wounds.

The mutiny of 1989, the bloodiest ever, failed and Querubin and his co-coup plotters were detained. They were granted amnesty by President Fidel Ramos (June 1992-June 1998) who succeeded Aquino.

After his amnesty, Querubin re-entered the military. In 1994, he was credited with the neutralization of Barahama Sali, which led to the eventual release from captivity of Catholic priest Fr. Cirilo Nacorda who had been kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan. He was also involved

in the 2002 operation that killed the terrorist kidnap group Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Sabaya.

In 2000, Querubin, by then a lieutenant colonel, was conferred the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ highest honor, the Medal of Valor for conspicuous courage, gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty during a 24-hour March 18-19, 2000 firefight against 300 fully armed separatist guerillas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MNLF), in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte. His capture of Camp John Mack resulted in the neutralization of the MILF’s most strategic staging area for operations and, more importantly, liberated the residents along the coastal municipalities of Lanao del Norte from the oppressive MILF revolutionary collection estimated at P 38 million yearly.

On Feb. 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a state of emergency after her government foiled a coup plot called Oplan HACKLE. Fourteen junior military officers had been arrested two days earlier, Feb. 22, 2006. On Feb. 26, 2006, Major General Renato Miranda, the Philippine Marine Corps Commandant, was relieved from his post. Colonel Querubin protested his removal and some Marines started a vigil at Fort Bonifacio. Querubin stated that they would wait there for the people to protect them.

Meanwhile, other government security forces loyal to Arroyo locked down Fort Bonifacio, sealing in the protesting Marines. The standoff was resolved the evening of Feb, 26, 2006.

Querubin was detained at Camp Aguinaldo to face court martial.

In 2010, President Benigno Aquino granted amnesty to military personnel linked to the 2003 Oakwood mutiny, the 2006 Fort Bonifacio standoff, and the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege.

Having left the military and been granted amnesty, Querubin worked as an internal security consultant for San Miguel Corporation.

Ariel resigned his commission from the AFP to run for Senate seat under the Nacionalista Party in the 2010 elections. He lost after garnering 6.5 million votes, 19th in the race.

Only 12 Senate seats were at stake.

Querubin had two children with his first wife, Dr. Loreta Cercenia-Querubin (who died in 1994 at age 31) -- Alfred Benjamin and Francesca Eufrosina, and three with his second wife, Pong Azcaraga -- Jose Ariel, Ariel, and John Ariel.

Palawan, Siargao and Southern Leyte.

Project partners for this endeavor were the Philippine Coast Guard, P&G Safeguard Philippines and other business units of Manila Water namely Boracay Water, Clark Water and Laguna Water. Meanwhile, Maynilad President Ramoncito S. Fernandez deployed Maynilad MTPs along with the manpower to operate these MTPs that can produce a total of 43,000 gallons of water per day for typhoon-affected areas. It also donated Php6.5 million cash aid through the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation and One Meralco Foundation for typhoon Odette survivors.

Leading the charge for Maynilad timely assistance to typhoon affected areas was Maynilad VP for Corporate Communication Marie Antonette De Ocampo who made a round-the-clock trip to the Visayas on New Year’s Eve via PAL/PAL Express.

In her FB post on December 31, 2021, De Ocampo wrote: “Mission accomplished for Maynilad and our kapatids in the MVP group of companies Marge Macasaet Barro of the Makati Med Foundation and Jeffrey O. Tarayao of One Meralco Foundation after we turned over our donation earlier today for the communities affected by typhoon Odette to the Office of Presidential Assistant for the Visayas

(OPAV), represented by Undersecretary Anthony Gerard Gonzales.Huge thanks to PAL / PAL Express for this partnership.

Sleepless at Mactan Airport yet big smiles behind the masks.”

Around 10,000 bottled water were also sent to the provinces of Bohol. Cebu, Palawan and Surigao del Norte. For her part, MWSS Administrator Leonor “Bobby” Cleofas ordered the deployment of the agency’s mobile water treatment plant was first dispatched to Talibon, Bohol, the hardest hit municipality in the province.

The author has published numerous coffee table books.

commanders in 1983, the NPA commander known as “Ka Ninong” and MNLF commander Racquel Carreon, both in 1988.

He led in the rescue of Hans Kunzli, a Swiss national kidnapped by a group led by a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front.

He is the most decorated soldier in the Philippines.

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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B2

World

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

WHO warns of ‘vast amount’ of COVID-19 medical waste GENEVA—The World Health Organization warned Tuesday that the vast amount of waste produced in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic posed a threat to human and environmental health.

The tens of thousands of tonnes of extra medical waste had put a huge strain on healthcare waste management systems, the WHO said in a report.

The extra waste is “threatening human and environmental health and exposing a dire need to improve waste management practices”, the UN health agency said.

As countries scrambled to get personal protective equipment (PPE) to cope with the crisis, less attention was paid to disposing of Covid-19 health care waste safely and sustainably, the WHO said.

The report looked at the 1.5 billion units—approximately 87,000 tonnes —of PPE procured between March 2020 and November 2021 and shipped

out to countries via the United Nations system—a small fraction of the global total.

Most of this equipment has likely ended up as waste, the WHO said.

“It is absolutely vital to provide health workers with the right PPE. But it is also vital to ensure that it can be used safely without impacting on the surrounding environment,” said WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan.

Furthermore, over 140 million test kits have been shipped, with the potential to generate 2,600 tonnes of mainly plastic, non-infectious waste and 731,000 liters of chemical waste.

Approximately 97 percent of plastic waste from tests is incinerated, the report said.

And the first eight billion Covid-19 vaccine doses administered globally produced 144,000 tonnes of additional waste such as syringes, needles, and safety boxes. AFP

COVER UP. A traditional Thai statue is pictured wearing a face mask at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok on February 1, as Thailand resumes its quarantine free-travel scheme for vaccinated travellers. AFP

US, Russia envoys to talk over Ukraine

W

ASHINGTON—Washington’s and Moscow’s top diplomats will hold fresh talks Tuesday on the Ukraine crisis as Western officials say Russia continues to build a massive military force on the ex-Soviet state’s border.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is to speak by phone with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, a day after the two sides lashed out at each other in a heated discussion on Ukraine at the UN Security Council.

The two are expected to speak midmorning Washington time, a State De-

partment official said.

Ahead of the call late Monday, Moscow sent a letter to Washington on its views, in response to written communications laying out the two sides’ positions that were exchanged over the past two weeks.

A State Department spokesperson

confirmed Moscow’s letter.

“It would be unproductive to negotiate in public, so we’ll leave it up to Russia if they want to discuss their response,” the official said.

“We remain fully committed to dialogue to address these issues and will continue to consult closely with our Allies and partners, including Ukraine.”

Letter exchange The call between Lavrov and Blinken comes as Western officials say Russia continues to add to the more than 100,000 troops and a wide range of war-making equipment already in place

on Ukraine’s borders, including inside Moscow ally Belarus.

US officials say Moscow is set up to invade Ukraine, though a final decision has not been made by President Vladimir Putin.

US President Joe Biden said Monday that Russia faces “swift and severe consequences” if it does so.

“Today in the United Nations, we laid out the full nature of Russia’s threat to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as (to the) core tenets of the rule-based international order,” Biden said in the Oval Office.

“We continue to urge diplomacy as the best way forward, but with Russia continuing its build-up of its forces around Ukraine, we are ready no matter what happens.”

The call Tuesday will be the first time that Lavrov and Blinken speak directly since the United States and NATO handed over their written responses to Russia’s demands last week.

Both rejected Moscow’s demand for a guarantee that Ukraine will not join the US-led NATO alliance, and rebuffed its insistence that the United States remove its strategic weapons from Europe. AFP

Myanmar shops close, defy junta orders on 1st anniversary of coup

GOOD BOI.

YANGON—Streets emptied and shops shuttered across Myanmar on Tuesday as people defied junta orders to go about their business with a silent strike on the first anniversary of the military coup.

The junta that ended the Southeast Asian country’s brief democratic interlude and toppled civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has triggered mass protests and a crackdown on dissent.

Struggling to contain the backlash and contending with daily clashes, the military has killed more than 1,500 civilians, according to a local monitoring group.

Swathes of the country are under the control of anti-coup fighters.

The junta had ordered shops to stay open Tuesday, following activist calls for a “silent strike” on the anniversary.

But the streets of commercial hub Yan-

An Ukrainian Military Forces serviceman strokes a dog in a snow covered trench on the frontline with the Russia-backed separatists near Verkhnetoretskoye village, in the Donetsk region on January 31. AFP

UK PM Johnson sorry for ‘partygate’ but vows to plough on LONDON—British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday apologised after his government was criticized for “failures of leadership and judgment” in allowing lockdown-breaching parties at his offices.

Johnson’s position has been hanging by a thread because of the steady drip of revelations since late last year, but he has in the last week been given a lifeline as police stepped in.

“I’m sorry for the things that we simply didn’t get right and also sorry for the way this matter has been handled,” Johnson told MPs in parliament.

He vowed “to get on with the job” despite widespread political and public anger and calls for him to quit or be forced out.

“I get it and I will fix it,” he added, promising sweeping changes to his Downing Street operation following criticism about lack of accountability and managerial oversight.

The police probe meant that senior civil servant Sue Gray was forced to avoid going into detail in a long-awaited report about 16 events held in 2020 and last year, so as not to prejudice the Scotland Yard inquiry.

But Gray still managed a stinging rebuke to the prime minister’s authority, contrasting government officials’ behaviour with the sacrifices made by the public during the pandemic.

“Too little thought” had been given about how appropriate boozy events were and would be seen as others stuck to the rules, unable to comfort sick and dying loved ones with Covid.

“There were failures of leadership and judgment by different parts of No 10 (Downing Street) and the Cabinet Office at different times,” Gray wrote in her 12-page report. AFP

Heavy S. America rains kill 24 in Brazil, 11 in Ecuador’s worst flood FRANCO DA ROCHA, Brazil—Knee-deep in the mud left by a horrific landslide in southeastern Brazil, dozens of rescue workers and volunteers raced Monday to find any remaining survivors before it was too late.

Floods and landslides triggered by torrential rains have killed at least 24 people, including eight children, since Friday in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil’s industrial hub and home to 46 million people.

In the city of Franco da Rocha, where a landslide killed at least eight people, residents said they could still hear victims stuck in the mud calling out for help Sunday.

But their cries could no longer be heard on Monday, turning the search for 10 people who are still missing increasingly desperate.

Meanwhile, at least 11 people were killed and 32 injured on Monday after the heaviest flooding to hit Ecuador in nearly two decades triggered a massive landslide in capital Quito, authorities said.

Torrents of water carrying stones and mud swept down an avenue in the Ecuadorian city, washing away cars and flooding houses and streets, according to images released by the emergency services. AFP

JUST CHILE-ING. A demonstrator sits under an umbrella while blocking an access route to Iquique, Chile, during a regional strike called by different organizations against illegal immigration, on January 31. The city of Iquique, in the north of Chile and near the border with Bolivia, experienced a second day of agitation Monday with blockades at its entrance roads and the closure of its airport, in protest against the increase in crime that some associate with the illegal immigration. AFP

gon began emptying at 10 am, AFP correspondents said, a scene that repeated in second city Mandalay and southern Tanintharyi region.

Mandalay’s famous jade market opened, but saw little traffic, a resident told AFP. “No one is going out on the streets around my area and security forces are patrolling.”

“I’m staying at home playing online games to participate in the silent strike.”

A similar strike in December emptied the streets of cities and towns across the country.

But on Tuesday morning, local media did show isolated flash mobs in Yangon and Mandalay, where protesters unfurled pro-democracy banners and set off flares. AFP

Japan parliament passes rare bill on China rights raps TOKYO—Japan’s parliament on Tuesday passed a rare resolution expressing concern about rights issues in China, including the treatment of its Uyghur Muslim population and Hong Kong, days before the Beijing Olympics open.

The wording of the resolution proposed by a bipartisan group was reportedly watered down after lengthy discussions, avoiding directly accusing Beijing of rights abuses.

But it comes at a time of increased focus on China’s rights record as the country prepares to host the Beijing Winter Olympics this month.

Tokyo has sought to walk a careful line in its approach to China, balancing the pressure put on Beijing by close ally Washington. The United States and China are Japan’s biggest trading partners.

A majority vote in the lower house approved the resolution, which expresses “serious concerns over the human rights situations” in China’s Xinjiang region, Tibet, Hong Kong, and Inner Mongolia.

The resolution also calls on Japan’s government to engage constructively on right issues in China.

Beijing has long denied accusations over its treatment of the Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic people, including a US allegation it committed genocide.

Experts have estimated that more than one million people are incarcerated in camps in the Xinjiang region home to the minority.

Likewise, Beijing has denied claims that Tibetans live under strict surveillance with the threat of jail or abuse for any signs of a non-Chinese identity, including possessing images of the Dalai Lama, their exiled spiritual leader. AFP

Business

B3

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Asian markets climb on Wall Street rally H TOP GAINERS ONG KONG, China—Asian markets rose in limited trade Tuesday following another strong lead from Wall Street fueled by a rebound in tech firms, while comments from Federal Reserve officials eased concerns that it will embark on an aggressive phase of policy tightening.

US equities rallied for a second day with plenty of support coming from Apple’s blowout earnings report last week, while the current reporting season has proved fruitful despite concerns about inflation and central banks withdrawing financial support.

The Wall Street surge came at the end of a volatile month characterized by speculation over the Fed’s plans to get a grip

on runaway prices, with fears that its new hawkish tilt could see it hike borrowing costs as much as seven times this year with a 50 basis point move in March.

Comments from some leading figures at the bank at the weekend added to expectations the policy board would go hard and fast, though some were out on Monday trying to play down such a move.

Atlanta Fed boss Raphael Bostic said

he was not in favor of such a big hike next month, having told the Financial Times at the weekend that his colleagues had not ruled it out.

Meanwhile, Kansas City Fed President Esther George said it was in “no one’s interest to try to upset the economy with unexpected adjustments”, and the head of the San Francisco arm, Mary Daly, added that measures “have to be gradual and not disruptive”.

The Nasdaq soared more than 3 percent, paring losses for January to nine percent, having at one point been down almost 15 percent during the month, while The S&P 500 and Dow also chalked up healthy gains.

And the positive energy continued in Asia, with Tokyo, Wellington, Mumbai

and Bangkok all up.

Sydney also ended in positive territory as the Australian central bank decided against hiking interest rates to battle inflation, instead just announcing the end to its bond-buying stimulus from next week.

However, business was thin across the region owing to the Chinese New Year break that saw Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Seoul, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta closed.

There was also hope that the rally could indicate markets are finding a bottom after the recent sell-off.

“The back-to-back consecutive rise in US stocks has got some thinking whether the trough has passed,” said National Australia Bank’s Tapas Strickland. AFP

Sri Lanka food inflation hits record 25% as shortages bite COLOMBO, Sri Lanka—Food inflation in crisis-hit Sri Lanka hit a record 25 percent in January, the statistics office said Tuesday, with crop failures and difficulties in financing imports leading to widespread shortages.

The island nation’s economy has tanked since the onset of the pandemic, with the collapse in tourism revenue leaving traders unable to finance purchases of essential goods from abroad.

The government last year banned the import of agricultural chemicals in a desperate attempt to shore up foreign currency reserves, drastically lowering crop yields and prompting many farmers to leave their fields bare.

Supermarkets have rationed rice, lentils and other essentials, while power companies unable to pay for imported fuel have been forced to impose rolling blackouts.

January’s food inflation figure was the fourth consecutive record rise and nearly double October’s figure of 12.8 percent.

Overall inflation measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index was also a record 14.2 percent in January.

The government lifted its agrochemical import ban in October after intense protests by farmers, but banks are still short of dollars to finance imports.

Sri Lanka was banking on a postpandemic recovery in tourist arrivals to help replenish its foreign exchange coffers.

But a resurgence of the coronavirus in the form of the highly contagious Omicron variant has dashed those hopes, with authorities now forecasting just over one million foreign holidaymakers this year.

International rating agencies have downgraded Sri Lanka over expectations it may not be able to service its $35 billion foreign debt. AFP

1 SFIP 2 SPM 3 RLT

LAST PRICE CHANGE 1.98 0.48 2.39 0.24 0.21 0.02

% CHANGE 32.00% 11.16% 10.53%

4 5 6 7

GEO X SGI EMP

0.208 0.465 1.16 23.75

0.019 0.035 0.08 1.45

10.05% 8.14% 7.41% 6.50%

8 9 10

I MAC ATNB

0.83 5.4 0.78

0.05 0.3 0.04

6.41% 5.88% 5.41%

TOP LOSERS

1 MJIC 2 OPM 3 PHR

LAST PRICE CHANGE 1.11 -0.25 0.012 -0.001 0.74 -0.06

% CHANGE -18.38% -7.69% -7.50%

4

PRF3B

1052

-78

-6.90%

5 6 7 8

ACE STR VUL MG

1.5 3.6 0.82 0.139

-0.08 -0.18 -0.04 -0.006

-5.06% -4.76% -4.65% -4.14%

9 10

APX GLO

1.66 3110

-0.07 -130

-4.05% -4.01%

MOST ACTIVE

LUNAR NEW YEAR. Traditional Chinese lion dancers perform at a shopping mall in Bangkok on Jan. 31, 2022 ahead of Lunar New Year on Feb. 1, which marks the start of the Year of the Tiger. AFP

Australia to end stimulus but holds rates despite price surge SYDNEY, Australia—Australia’s central bank moved to end multi-billiondollar pandemic stimulus Tuesday, but kept interest rates at a record low despite rising inflation.

As the economy shows signs of recovery from the Covid-19 crisis, the Reserve Bank of Australia said it would wind up its unprecedented Aus$350 billion ($250 billion) bondbuying program on Feb. 10.

But it did not fully slam the breaks on stimulus, holding off on an interest rate rise for now.

Borrowing will remain unchanged at 0.1 percent “until actual inflation is sustainably within the two to three

percent target range”, bank chief Philip Lowe said Tuesday.

The bond-buying program, launched in late 2020, saw the RBA pour Aus$4 billion into government bonds each week to prop up the stalled economy during the pandemic.

In deciding to end the scheme, Lowe cited Australia’s strong employment figures and other domestic indicators.

He also noted that monetary policy by other central banks was moving away from quantitative easing as inflation surges globally.

Canada’s central bank was the first to end its program in October, while

the US Federal Reserve began tapering its own in November.

Over the 12 months to the December 2021 quarter, Australia’s consumer inflation rose 3.5 percent with home buyers leading the jump.

But Lowe signaled the inflation spike may be short-lived as the “supply-side problems” that have plagued Australia during the pandemic—from empty supermarket shelves to vital medical supplies— are resolved.

With a federal election looming, the RBA is expected to hold off on any interest rate rise until later this year at the earliest. AFP

Traditional sweet factory in central England enjoys global sugar rush DUDLEY, United Kingdom—Edward Gray sweet factory in central England evokes a bygone age where brass cauldrons steam with molten sugar and workers wrestle with huge chunks of gooey treacle, but its handmade produce now enjoys a global demand.

The company—also known as “Teddy Grays”—dates back to 1826 when John Gray went house-to-house in a horse and cart buying homemade sweets, before selling them to retailers.

But it was his son Edward, an entrepreneur in the mold of Willy Wonka and Colonel Sanders, who built the business’s name.

The small factory in Dudley now makes around five tons of boiled sweets a week, with products including rhubarb and custard, pineapple rock, strawberries and cream, pear drops, toffee and chocolate-coated coconut ice.

But the jewel in the crown is its “Herbal Tablet”, a menthol sweet that it claims has provided relief from “cold nights and mornings” for more than 100 years.

“It’s an acquired taste, but with COVID now, it relieves coughs and colds,” explained Dave Healy, the company’s marketing manager.

Secret recipe The secret recipe is locked in a vault in a nearby bank. Two descendants of the founder are the only people alive aware of its contents.

“They wouldn’t tell me because I talk in my sleep,” joked Healy. “It’s all down to the blending, if you don’t get the blend correct, you get an oily taste.”

PSEi January 31, 2022

‘Sugar Boilers’ employed at the traditional sweet manufacturer Edward Grays of Dudley, or better known locally as ‘Teddy Grays’, make Grays Herbal Tablets in their factory in Dudley, central England. The factory evokes a bygone age where brass cauldrons steam with molten sugar and workers wrestle with huge chunks of gooey treacle, but its handmade produce now enjoys a global demand. AFP

The sweet was only really known in the surrounding area, known as the Black Country because of the smoke and soot of its industrial past.

But the fashion towards local and artisan produce, coupled with endorsements from celebrities such as actor and writer Stephen Fry, has seen its fame spread.

“When COVID kicked in we opened an online sweet shop... just to basically generate some sort of movement of the stock,” said Healy.

“But we’ve had requests from America, Korea, Japan, Australia.”

A lot of the interest comes from those

who moved long ago out of Dudley, some 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of Birmingham, and who are yearning for a taste of nostalgia.

“They say in their emails they used to live in Dudley, used to love the smell of the factory,” he said.

Fine mess Despite the incessant demand, the factory has no plans to expand, preferring to maintain its intimate feel and traditional ethos.

“Because the old-fashioned machines only go so fast, the only way you’re speeding up is by putting on a smaller cog so it spins faster.

“But you can’t expand the factory because it’s in a residential street.

It is a museum-status factory..., you couldn’t develop it.”

Healy warned that counterfeit herbal pills were on the market, and to look out instead for the logo of a Wirehaired Fox Terrier on the packet.

The logo harks back to Edward “Teddy” Gray, who was also a champion dog-breeder and once won the world-renowned Crufts dog show.

“In them days, the old Mr. Gray was very much like a celebrity in his area,” said Healy.

“They were proper well-to-do, mixing with the stars like Laurel and Hardy,” he added.

“Apparently, the story goes that Laurel and Hardy actually stopped at the factory.

“There’s a house in the middle of the factory. When Laurel and Hardy came to perform at the Hippodrome, Ted Gray offered them somewhere to stop for the night.”

While having to sleep overnight in a sweet factory might sound like a preamble to one of their calamitous adventures, the pair reportedly had a pleasant time and “wrote to say thank you for being such a wonderful host”.

Soaring costs Although demand is soaring, the firm is suffering from the current supply chain issues and soaring inflation.

“We had terrible problems getting the sugar in October, then it went from sugar to glucose in December,” explained Healy. AFP

1 BDO

VOLUME 3,398,050

VALUE (PHP) 458,633,957

2 3 4

GLO ALI AP

143,615 10,307,500 9,907,100

457,943,750 366,879,665 345,900,340

5

MONDE

20,138,800

329,677,018

6

MBT

4,874,670

287,136,752

7 8 9 10

SMPH ICT SECB SM

8,127,000 1,337,330 2,370,090 259,840

285,606,815 267,885,221 256,323,557 246,621,035

Facebook’s crypto project Diem sold to Silvergate for $182m SAN FRANCISCO, United States— The Facebook-backed digital currency project Diem announced Monday the winding down and $182-million sale of its technology, capping a years-long initiative that drew significant concern from regulators.

Facebook’s announcement in 2019 of plans to design a cryptocurrency and payment system raised immediate red flags for global finance officials, who expressed a barrage of criticism about the security and reliability of a private network.

“The idea of Facebook doing a cryptocurrency was a bridge too far for regulators,” said analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group.

“They have made it clear they don’t trust Facebook with what they are doing now, so sure as heck were not going to let it go into the money business.”

Diem Networks’ US CEO Stuart Levey said in a statement that the initiative made progress, but “it nevertheless became clear from our dialog with federal regulators that the project could not move ahead.”

“Over the coming weeks, the Diem Association and its subsidiaries expect to begin the process of winding down,” the association’s statement said.

The technology was bought by Silvergate Capital Corp. in California that is a go-to for crypto projects, and which put the sale price at $182 million.

Silvergate bought development, deployment and operations infrastructure, as well as tools for running a blockchain-based payment network for payments as well as cross-border wire transfers. AFP

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022

Mixed outlook pervades real estate industry

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippines’s real estate market is expected to move with cautious optimism in 2022, as mixed outlook pervades some of the domains of the market despite an improvement in market sentiment and leasing performance, a real estate consultancy said Tuesday.

“We also expect new supply or significant supply expansion in 2022 on office, retail, hospitality and residential to exert pressure in terms of real estate market performance,” said JLL Philippines head of research and consultancy Janlo de los Reyes.

JLL said while the office market performance was stabilizing, it could experience subdued leasing activity in the first half of 2022.

“For the office market, we’re seeing signs of market stability. For Q4 2021, what we saw was a moderate take-up of 75,713 square meters in gross leasing volumes. While the number is lower than previous quarters, there is still improved sentiment in the market,” de los Reyes said, citing compliance concerns, rightsizing and halt in vacancy uptick as key factors for the fourth-quarter figures.

“In terms of elections, we see that leasing activities may slow down in the first half of 2022 as more investors and occupiers postpone their leasing decisions as they wait and see where policies might change,” he said.

The information technology-business process management industry remains a key driver of the market with 62.5 percent take-up of 2021, compared to corporate occupiers with 36.6-percent take up, specifically those that cater to the healthcare, financial services, e-commerce and engineering industries.

De los Reyes said the rental market was firming up, with the gap between headline and transacted rents narrowing from 19.9 percent in the third quarter to 4 percent in the fourth quarter.

Top Filipino doctors see vape bill ending smoking epidemic THE enactment of the bill regulating vaporized nicotine products such as electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products will end the smoking epidemic in the Philippines, according to prominent Filipino doctors who are directly involved in treating diseases linked to smoking.

“Cigarettes are the real enemy,” said Dr. Christian Luna, medical director of the Tulay Lingap Ni Padre Pio Surgicenter. He said vapor products are less harmful alternatives that can help end the use of cigarettes in the country.

“All of us in the medical community are united in our fight against smoking and seeing the end of the smoking epidemic for good. Thus, the government should regulate, and not ban, alternatives to cigarettes that are proven to be less harmful whether it is a nicotine patch, nicotine gum, vapor products or heated tobacco products. I think this is what the Vape Bill aims to do and hence, I express support to this measure,” said Luna.

Leading medical professionals in the Philippines acknowledged the growing scientific consensus including that from the UK’s Public Health England which found vapor products to be less harmful than cigarettes.

Dr. Fernando Fernandez, secretary general of the Asia Pacific Dental Federation and the past president of the Philippine Dental Association, said vapor products would save the lives of 16 million Filipino smokers or at the very least reduce their health risks.

“Therefore, regulation and not prohibition is key. This is what the vape bill seeks to do. The Vape Bill is clearly a big win for public health. Those who would like to ban vaping may indirectly be supporting smoking. We don’t want that,” said Fernandez, an oral and maxillofacial surgery expert and an anti-smoking advocate who has personally seen what smoking does for patients who develop oral cancer.

Fernandez also disputed the alleged misinformation spread by some medical professionals who are against the vape bill and said their personal beliefs do not represent the opinion of all medical associations and doctors in the country. In fact, those who push for a vape ban may unwittingly be supporting smoking, he said.

Business Local economy on the way to recovery from pandemic

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE Philippine economy is on its way to recovery from the debilitating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, based on the latest economic data released by the government, according to economists from First Metro Investment Corp. and University of Asia & the Pacific.

Economists, in the “Market Call” report released Tuesday, cited the better-than-expected gross domestic expansion of 5.6 percent in 2021 and promising figures on employment, manufacturing, government spending, inflation and remittances.

“Fresh economic data released in December and early January 2022 bolster the hope of the Philippine economy on the mend. Fiscal year 2021 GDP was reported at 5.6 percent. This should accelerate by another 1 percentage point at least with the growth momentum in place, reinforced by heavy election spending in

the first half of 2022,” they said.

November employment figures provided the biggest boost to this optimism as it added 1.6 million jobs to reach a record employment of 45.5 million, according to the report.

“While a slight correction may occur in December, the excited reopening of businesses and consumer spending seen in malls and restaurants should provide the needed impetus for the economic recovery gaining traction,” they said.

The official release on industrial output again showed a hefty 25.4-percent year-on-year increase in November, a

tad faster than in October, they said.

“Besides, IHS Markit’s Manufacturing PMI again showed a further expansion and should lead the sectoral growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2021,” they said.

The Purchasing Managers’ Index points to the prevailing direction of economic trends in the manufacturing and service sectors.

Economists said that while national government spending showed only a slight acceleration in November to a 10.4-percent year-on-year growth compared to 9.6 percent in October, “a deeper dive into the data depicted a much better picture.”

“National government disbursements for current and capital outlays [excluding interest payments, allotments to LGUs, subsidies, etc.] actually climbed by 16.2 percent year-on-year as infrastructure spending continued to hum,” they said.

All imports of equipment categories showed positive growth, while capital goods imports soared by 18.8 percent yearon year-in November, representing the eighth consecutive month of increase.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Monday, January 31, 2022

109.68 PTS. 7,361.65

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

1,281,988,598 87,777

TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES DECLINES

7,418,691,817.00 123 77

UNCHANGED

40

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, JANUARY 31, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

51.2730

Japan

Yen

0.008675

0.4448

UK

Pound

1.340200

68.7161

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128340

6.5804

Switzerland

Franc

1.074691

55.1026

Canada

Dollar

0.783331

40.1637

Singapore

Dollar

0.738171

37.8482

Australia

Dollar

0.698500

35.8142

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652661

136.0099

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266539

13.6663

Brunei

Dollar

0.735456

37.7090

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.029940

1.5351

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

13.9598

Euro

Euro

1.114700

57.1540

Korea

Won

0.000827

0.0424

China

Yuan

0.157011

8.0504

India

Rupee

0.013327

0.6833

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.238777

12.2428

New Zealand

Dollar

0.654400

33.5531

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035923

1.8419 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF Hot money posted $574-m outflow in 2021 FOREIGN portfolio investments or hot money posted net outflows of $574 million last year, lower by 86.5 percent than the net outflows of $4.24 billion in 2020, as the pandemic continued to impact global financial markets, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

The 2021 figure also missed the $1.5-billion net inflows target for the year set by the BSP. The BSP said that in December, foreign portfolio investments yielded net outflows of $4.38 million, lower than the $524-million net outflows a year ago.

“The net outflow transactions in December 2021 resulted from the $1.336-billion gross outflows and $1.332-billion gross inflows for the month. This is a reversal from the $110-million net inflows recorded in November 2021 but is lower compared to the $524-million net outflows recorded in December 2020,” the BSP said in a statement.

The BSP expects hot money to post a $5.7-billion net inflow in 2022.

Julito G. Rada

Negros Oriental lauded for backing renewables

Dyna Drug’s ISO. Dyna Drug Corp., a recognized leader in the wholesale of over-the-counter pharmaceutical products and consumer and allied products, receives its ISO 9001:2015 Certification from TUV Nord Philippines Inc., after the company passed its two audits. Attending the awarding of the ISO certification are (from left) Romeo Solamillo of TUV Nord Philippines, Dyna Drug quality management and regulatory affairs manager Aidylita Reyes, managing director Gary Lee, TUV Nord Philippines sales and marketing supervisor Ian Emmanuel Bumanglag Jr., Dyna Drug chief of credit and collection Karen De Guzman and ICT manager Jackson Dy.

DITO Telecom says business remains viable, sustainable

By Darwin G. Amojelar DITO Telecommunity Corp. said Tuesday its business remains “viable and sustainable” despite the deferment of a fundraising activity by its major shareholder.

DITO chief administrative officer Adel Tamano said it is “inappropriate” for the company to comment directly on the deferment of the stock rights offering by DITO Communications Media and Entertainment because the two companies are “separate and unique”.

DCME, which holds a controlling stake in DITO Telecom, dropped its P8-billion SRO over tepid market conditions. The bulk of DCME’s SRO proceeds will be used to fund DITO Telecommunity’s expansion nationwide.

Besides telecom, DCME’s portfolio

includes media, entertainment and information technology.

“That said, we are confident that DITO Telecommunity shareholders are in a position to ensure the operation of the company given the strong showing of DITO—the milestones it has achieved from the network rollout to the audit results, the number of commercial touchpoints, and most especially the number of subscribers since our commercial launch, a mere ten months ago,” Tamano said.

The Philippine Stock Exchange said Tuesday it lifted the trading suspension on DITO CME even as the issue on the deferment of its stock rights offering remained hanging. DITO CME shares will resume trading on Feb. 2 at 10:30 a.m.

“We wish to emphasize that the lifting of the trading halt should not be

construed as an approval by the exchange of the deferment of the offering and is without prejudice to any regulatory action that the exchange may pursue in order to ensure full compliance with the applicable rules and for the protection of the investing public consistent with the mandate of the exchange, as a self-regulatory organization, to maintain a fair and orderly market,” the PSE said.

The bourse lifted the trading suspension after DITO CME submitted additional information regarding its decision to defer the rights offering.

DITO CME said the decision was a long thought-out process with extensive discussions between the company’s the majority shareholder Udenna Corp. and China Bank Capital Corp., the sole underwriter for the offering. With Jenniffer B. Austria

CLEAN energy companies welcomed the renewable energy ordinance issued by the provincial government of Negros Oriental, incentivizing incoming RE investors through carbon credits and banning the construction of coal-fired power plants in the province.

Almana Power Corp., a 100-percent Filipino-owned business committed to providing clean, renewable, sustainable and costeffective power in the country, is the first entity to apply and avail of the tax incentives under the code.

Energy Development Corp. subsidiary Green Core Geothermal Inc., a licensed green energy option program provider, also welcomed the ordinance.

The RE code encourages eligible institutions and companies to avail of the government’s GEOP that allows power consumers with monthly consumption of at least 100 kilowatts to get electricity from a renewable energy source directly from licensed GEOP providers. “We are one with Governor [Roel] Degamo and the rest of the Negros Oriental local government in our commitment to preserving your green province,” said EDC president Richard Tantoco.

Alena Mae S. Flores

LRT 1 to upgrade signaling system LIGHT Rail Manila Corp. said Tuesday it is set to deliver a faster and more reliable railway after upgrading LRT Line 1 signaling system.

“We are happy to inform you that we have reached another milestone at LRMC as we have successfully migrated to the new Alstom signaling system. We have carefully planned these works to also improve the total traffic control system of LRT-1 while the operation was suspended on three Sundays,” said LRMC chief operating officer Enrico Benipayo.

“We would like to thank our passengers for their understanding and patience as this initiative will surely result in a more modern and reliable system at LRT-1,” he said.

LRT-1 adopts advanced communication and modern technology to continuously control and monitor the operation of trains.

The upgrading of signaling system will improve capacity and performance across the line, enabling more trains with better connections and greater reliability.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Mine operator upgrades environmental control plan RIVERBEND Consolidated Mining Corp. and operator Arc Nickel Resources Inc. constructed an additional 13 settling ponds, started building two mega dams and installed silt curtains in strategic points in Davao Oriental to prevent silt from going to the sea.

The companies initiated zero discharge of wastewater by suctioning of impounded water in response to the order by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau for Riverbend/ANRI to enhance environment control systems to prevent a repeat of the discoloration and siltation incident in the Mapagba and Pintatagan rivers in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental.

Inspection teams from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Environmental Management Bureau, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office and Community Environmental and Natural Resources Office visited the site to monitor the ongoing cleanup and the construction of new infrastructure to improve the mining site’s capacity to handle exceptional rainfall volume.

“Upon discovery of the unfortunate incident, we immediately implemented measures to address the discoloration and siltation of the Mapagba and Pintatagan rivers. And with the prescribed environmental control improvements already in place, we are seeing significant progress in the cleanup and rehabilitation efforts and are confident similar occurrences won’t happen again,’ said Josue Lapitan, president and chief executive of ANRI. Riverbend/ANRI also immediately provided food assistance to the affected residents. A cash-for-work program is ongoing, with members of affected families hired to help in the cleanup efforts and the planting of bamboos along the sides of the rivers and other strategic areas to prevent erosion.

“We would like to express our sincere apologies to all those in the affected communities and we assure them that their welfare is of utmost importance. We are working as fast as we can to clean up the affected rivers and thus lessen the inconvenience to them,” said Lapitan.

BSP’S CALL. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno calls for the immediate passage of the Financial Consumer Protection Act which he says will provide ‘an armor of protection to all financial consumers.’ During a recent Senate deliberation, the governor explained before the Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies that the FCPA will authorize financial regulators like the BSP to enforce prudent, responsible and customer-centric standards of business conduct.

Under the proposed measure, financial regulators will have adjudicatory authority to conduct hearings on consumer complaints, reducing the need to go through the legal system.

Sports

Filipinos an inspiration to Miller in winter games YANQING, China—Asa Miller got the feel of Chinese snow on Tuesday morning hoping to get acclimatize and shake off jet lag the soonest as his competitions in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics loom in 12 days.

Miller tried out a section of the slopes of Xiaohaituo Mountain with his dad Kelly and immediately had his patriotic blood f lowing with excitement.

“I’m certainly inspired by all the people that I represent so I hope I can represent them with all the best I can,” the 21-year-old two-time Winter Olympian Miller said.

“I’m very, very proud to be representing the Philippines once again.

I hope to embody all the values that our country brings and share that with the people I meet here,” said the 5’8” Miller, who’s seeing action in his second straight Winter Games.

Miller’s campaign in giant slalom is set on February 13, while the slalom is three days later.

Miller wound up in 70th place among 110 skiers in giant slalom in his Winter Olympic debut in Pyeongchang 2018. He’s focused on improving in these Games.

“We will have training sessions everyday starting today [Tuesday] to learn more about the snow and the hills,” he said. “My skiing has improved and I think I will do better than before.”

The National Alpine Skiing Centre is a breathtaking venue and to get to the top of the mountain, one has to take a half-hour cable car ride. Athlete will take seven runs on steep snowcovered slopes covering a distance of 9.2 kilometers with a vertical drop of 900 meters.

Miller is the country’s lone athlete in these Winter Games but is no stranger in international competitions.

He was a lanky 16 year old when he first competed overseas at an International Skiing Federation competition at the Perisher Ski Resort in Australia in 2016. He placed a modest 25th.

The Millers arrived here on Monday morning and are bound to make the most out of the 14 day window before the competitions. AFP

Massive ‘22 in works for ONE with 24 fight cards THERE will be no shortage of action for ONE Championship in 2022.

Fresh off two big events last January in ONE: HEAVY HITTERS and ONE: ONLY THE BRAVE, ONE announced on Monday that they will be holding 22 more events for this coming year - easily the busiest stretch in the organization’s decade-long run in the business.

This comes after a massive 2021 where they broke barriers - making their live US television primetime debut, dominating social media, and continuing to hold live events despite the continuous threat of COVID-19.

“We are thrilled to announce our 2022 live event calendar for ONE Championship. We have 24 blockbuster events scheduled so far, with more to come,” Sityodtong said.

“We will continue to showcase the absolute best in World Championship talent, martial arts skill, and entertainment value.”

Looking at the organization’s first quarter schedule, it’s really bound to be a big year.

Longtime ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes will finally be going face to face with bitter rival and top contender John “Hands of Stone” Lineker when the organization returns on February 11 with ONE: BAD BLOOD. Soon after, it will be a battle of champions when two-division titleist Reinier “The Dutch Knight” de Ridder puts his ONE Middleweight World Title at stake against current Welterweight World Champion Kiamrian “Brazen” Abbasov at ONE: FULL CIRCLE on February 25.

March will be opened with a showdown between ONE Featherweight World Champion Thanh Le and second-ranked contender Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon in the main event of ONE: FULL CIRCLE on March 11.

But that is only an appetizer for the massive ONE X show, which is set for March 26.

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022

C1

Asa Miller tries out a section of the slopes of Xiaohaituo Mountain in Yanqing, China.

PH Malditas to join 3 major tourneys before World Cup

T

HREE major tournaments are in the schedule of the Philippine women’s football team as part of its preparations for the FIFA World Cup, set July 20 to August 20 next year in Australia and New Zealand.

paign ever, the PFF also has to deal with the stint of coach Alen Stajcic’s in the team.

The 48-year-old Aussie mentor’s contract with the national squad is expiring by the end of the AFC meet.

“We have to talk to coach Alen because of course, he has brought the team to where it is now,” said Araneta in the same Forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, Unilever, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and social me-

Following the lady booters’ stint in the AFC Asian Cup, Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta said the team is headed to the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, the ASEAN Football Championships in Manila, and the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China next.

“These are the three tournaments lined up for our team as part of the preparations for the World Cup,” said Araneta in the virtual Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday, where he was joined

by PFF secretary general Ed Gastanes.

The lady booters made history on Monday when they clinched a first ever berth in the World Cup after pulling off a dramatic 1-1 (4-3) win over favored Chinese Taipei via penalty shootout during the quarterfinals of the ongoing AFC Asian Cup in Pune, India.

Other than organizing the training preparation the lady booters have to undergo for their biggest cam- Mariano Araneta

dia and webcast partner Prime Edge.

“We want him to continue until probably the World Cup next year,” added the PFF prexy. “Whatever it takes for us to get him.”

Gastanes noted how competent Stajcic is, pointing out the two-time World Cup mentor has a complete staff composed of a fitness coach, analytics, assistant, a video coordinator, and a ground coach currently doing their thing in the Asian Cup. “Gusto natin ‘yung makuha pa rin ‘yung serbisyo ng kanyang team. Hindi siya biro. He is one of the best women coaches in the world,” said the PFF official.

The PFF is not getting ahead of the story though, and knows there’s still a job to be done in the AFC meet where the women’s team is in the semifinals for the first time.

The Filipina booters will be up against regional power South Korea in the semis scheduled on Thursday.

“We have to be realistic with our chances against Korea,” admitted Araneta, noting the Koreans stunned Australia in the quarterfinals, 1-0.

“Pero iba na ‘yung usapan ngayon because you know of what happened. ‘Yung level nila, ‘yung confidence nila that they can compete with the best, nandiyan na. So nandiyan ‘yung confidence ng team, and ‘yung morale nila na that they are in the World Cup will give them the extra motivation to play harder and go to the finals,” said Araneta.

Bolden’s bold move: I hit winning goal with conviction

By Peter Atencio FOR Sarina Bolden, it was a magical moment when she scored the final penalty shot that allowed the Philippine Malditas national women’s football team to book a place in history with its first-ever stint in the World Cup. The 25-year-old Bolden left all her frustrations behind and just focused on the ball, struck it with a lot of grit and lifted the Philippines to a 4-3 (1-all) beating of Chinese Taipei via penalty shootout.

“I hit it with conviction into the corner.

That kinda got me through. When I took the PK, I was not focused on anything other than the ball and just kicking it. I’m just happy I scored,” said Bolden a day

after their quarterfinal win in the 2022 Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup at the Shiv Chatrapati Sports Complex in Pune, India.

Bolden expressed her thoughts a day after their memorable win in a post-game Zoom huddle with Filipino scribe and in the presence of teammate and goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel.

Going into the penalty shootout, Bolden was getting exasperated after nine of her attempts in the first and second halves and in the first extra time all missed their marks.

But the heroics of McDaniel, who made goal before Bolden did and had two crucial saves, sort of lifted her spirits up.

And so did the words of team skipper

Hali Long, who spoke to Bolden before she took her final shot. Long’s reminder was also something that got her going as she settled down afterwards.

“Hali, our team skipper, spoke to me and said, ‘Hey, you just need to pick a spot and commit to it.’ With all that in my head and the weight of the pressure of everything in the moment, and giving it a thought, and I just thought of hitting it with conviction,” added Bolden, a Filipino-American booter, who hails from Santa Clara, California.

Bolden described the situation that was going on with the team in the final moment of the game and how much her teammates have grown following their training camp in Irvine, California.

Sarina Bolden

More Filipino entries in next Winter Olympics seen SLALOM racer Asa Miller’s forthcoming stint at the Beijing Winter Olympics should open the doors for more Filipino athletes making it to the Games.

“Definitely, in the next Winter Olym-

Bones Floro

pics, we will have more entries,” said Bones Floro, chef-de-mission of the lean Philippine delegation in Beijing where temperature has plummeted to -10 to -15 degrees this week.

Floro said the Philippine Ski and

Snowboard Federation, headed by Jemuel Apelar, is trying very hard to further promote winter sports among Filipinos, who broke the ice in 2014 when figure skater Michael Martinez vied in the Sochi Winter Olympics.

“Dumadami na,” said Floro, referring to Filipinos taking up winter sports, during Tuesday’s online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.

“In snowboard, from one athlete they have around eight to 10 now. They’re getting there. We also have speed skaters now,” added Floro, now in the Chinese capital making sure Miller remains in peak condition.

“He’s in very high spirits. He’s training now in the mountains as we speak.

He’s very positive and very passionate and very proud,” said Floro during the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska

Restaurant, Unilever, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and social media and webcast partner Prime Edge.

The 21-year-old Miller, an alpine skier born in Portland, Oregon, saw action during the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. He competed in the giant slalom event and finished 70th among 110 entries.

Floro said Miller is determined to do better this time.

“He’s been excited for the last four years. He prepared for four years. He’s more prepared now. He has grown and he has matured. He said his equipment is first-rate,” said Floro.

Miller, whose mother is from Sta. Cruz, Manila, will see action in two events this time—the giant slalom and slalom on Feb. 13 and 16. Both events will have over 100 participants.

“That’s why Asa is so excited,” said Floro.

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Sports

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022

Novak still No. 1 despite Aussie Open absence PARIS—Rafael Nadal’s recordbreaking 21st Grand Slam singles title in winning an epic Australian Open final frustrated Novak Djokovic’s hopes of being the first to do so, but the Serb remains world number one in the rankings released Monday.

The 34-year-old was unable to play in the first Grand Slam of the year after being deported from Australia over Covid-19 vaccination issues but he extended his recordbreaking run as number one to 358 weeks.

Nadal’s beaten opponent in the Melbourne final, Daniil Medvedev, stays second but the Russian moves to within 1,000 points of Djokovic.

Djokovic will keep the points he earned from winning his ninth Australian Open title last year till February 21 as last year’s tournament was played at the later dates of February 8-21.

Nadal remains f ifth in the rankings despite his recordbreaking title and the only movement in the top 10 sees Italy’s Matteo Berrettini—who lost to the Spaniard in the semi-finals in Australia—rise one place to sixth.

Spain’s Pablo Carreno and Taylor Fritz of the United States enter the top 20 in 17th and 20th respectively.

Rankings 1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 11015 pts; 2. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 10125; 3. Alexander Zverev (GER) 7780; 4.

Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 7170; 5. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 6875; 6. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 5278 (+1); 7. Andrey Rublev (RUS) 4830 (-1); 8. Casper Ruud (NOR) 4065; 9. Félix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 3923; 10. Jannik Sinner (ITA) 3705; 11. Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 3336; 12.

Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 2930 (+2); 13. Cameron Norrie (GBR) 2865 (-1); 14. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 2640 (-1); 15. Aslan Karatsev (RUS) 2633; 16. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 2553 (+4); 17. Pablo Carreño (ESP) 2475 (+4); 18. Christian Garín (CHI) 2420 (+1); 19. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2385 (-1); 20. Taylor Fritz (USA) 2310 (+2)

Spain’s Rafael Nadal poses with the winner’s trophy during a media photo shoot the morning after his victory in the men’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. AFP

Nadal now ahead of Federer, Djokovic in ‘greatest’ debate

L

ONDON—The numbers do not lie. Rafael Nadal stands alone on 21 Grand Slam titles, breaking a tie with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the race to be crowned the greatest male tennis player of all time.

The number of major titles is not the only factor used to determine where players sit in the pantheon but it is increasingly used as the go-to metric.

Nadal played down his astonishing achievement following his gruelling five-set win over Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final in the early hours of Monday.

The 35-year-old Spaniard said he did not care much whether his 21st title made him the best player in history or not.

But many fans are captivated by the debate about who will ultimately emerge from the golden age of men’s tennis on top, with each of the “Big Three” supported by their own phalanx of die-hard supporters.

Swiss great Federer was out on his own as the sport’s alpha male when he overtook Pete Sampras’s record of 14 Grand Slam wins at Wimbledon in 2009, with Nadal trailing on six majors and Djokovic on just one.

As the rush of big titles began to slow for Federer from 2010, his two great rivals stepped on the accelerator, consistently winning Grand Slams over the following decade, even though Federer returned to winning ways in 2017 and 2018.

Nadal pulled level on 20 Slams after winning the French Open in 2020 and Djokovic joined the party after scooping three majors during a stellar 2021 season.

But the Spaniard is now out on his own after what he called “the biggest comeback of my career” to complete a 2-6, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 win in Melbourne.

Nadal now has 58 “Big Titles”, defined by the men’s ATP Tour as a trophy at a Grand Slam championship, ATP Finals, Masters 1000 tournament or an Olympic singles gold medal.

He is the fourth man in history to capture at least two trophies at all four Grand Slams, a feat also achieved by Djokovic.

Federer has won the most overall ca-

reer singles titles of the three, with his tally of 103 only bettered by American Jimmy Connors, who won 109.

Djokovic is out on his own in terms of time spent at number one, notching 358 weeks at the top so far, with Federer on 310 and Nadal on 209.

The Serbian, who lags behind his two major rivals in the popularity stakes, also boasts a winning record in head-to-head matches against both, although Nadal edges Djokovic in their Grand Slam meetings.

Battle for immortality So what next in the battle for tennis immortality?

Nadal did not have to confront either of his great rivals in Melbourne.

Federer was absent injured and Djokovic, unvaccinated against coronavirus, was deported on the eve of the tournament after Australia cancelled his visa.

The future of Federer, 40, is the biggest unknown as he works his way back from a persistent right knee injury that restricted him to just five tournaments last year.

He does not expect to be in action again for months and has said it is unlikely he will be fit for Wimbledon, where he realistically has his best chance of winning another major. AFP

Sixers slip past Grizzlies; Curry lifts Dubs over Rockets LOS ANGELES—Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris combined for 64 points as the Philadelphia 76ers won their fifth straight game with a 122-119 overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in a clash between two of the hottest teams in the NBA on Monday.

Maxey scored 33 points and Harris finished with 31 points for the Sixers, who won despite being without their leading scorer Joel Embiid.

“Our motto tonight was don’t let them punk us,” said Maxey.

Maxey, who also had eight assists and four blocked shots, scored the go-ahead basket with 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter in front of a crowd of 20,400 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Ja Morant led the Grizzlies with 37 points and Desmond Bane added 34, including five points in overtime.

The Sixers and the Grizzlies have been two of the best teams in the league since Christmas.

Embiid has been the catalyst for Philadelphia during the surge which has seen them win 15 of their last 18 games.

He did not play against Memphis on Monday because the team wanted to give him the night off.

Tobias Harris produced 31 points and Andre Drummond had 16 points and 23 rebounds in the win.

Jaren Jackson tallied 18 and Steven Adams grabbed 12 rebounds for Memphis, who had their three-game winning streak snapped.

The Grizzlies have won 12 of 15 in January but their difficult schedule finally caught up with them against the Sixers.

Maxey, who went to the University of Kentucky, says he enjoys the challenge of going up against an elite guard like Bane, who played college at Texas Christian University.

“You circle some of these games on the calendar because it is a marquee match-up,” Maxey said. “Bane is a great player. He came out of my class. Today I wanted to get the win and put the world on notice as well.”

Elsewhere, Stephen Curry scored 40 points, including 21 in the final quarter, as the Golden State Warriors won their sixth straight contest with a 122-108 blowout victory over the mistake-prone Houston Rockets.

Curry also had nine assists and five rebounds and made seven three pointers en route to posting his sixth 40-point game of the season. AFP

Brady still mulling over his NFL future LOS ANGELES— \Tom Brady says he will “know when the time is right” but for now he taking his future “dayby-day” and hasn’t made up his mind about retiring from the National Football League.

Brady said plans for a quiet weekend at home with the family watching the NFL playoffs was shattered when reports came out Saturday that he would retire after 22 seasons and seven Super Bowl rings.

“I was trying to enjoy a nice weekend,” Brady told a US-based SiriusXM podcast ‘Let’s Go!’ “It didn’t quite turn out that way because my phone got really busy, but that’s just part of being in the situation I’m in.”

American sports broadcaster ESPN cited unidentified sources saying that Brady would retire. The report did not say when Brady planned to make an announcement.

Brady reiterated on Monday that he is still mulling over his future.

“Sometimes it takes some time to really evaluate how you feel and what you want to do,” he said. “I think when the time’s right I’ll be ready to make a decision one way or another, just like I said last week.

“I think for me, it’s literally day to day. I’m just trying to do the best I can every day, evaluate things as they come, and I’m trying to make a great decision for me and my family.”

Asked about the timing of a decision, Brady said: “I don’t know. I’ll know when the time is right. Like I’ve always said, I’m very blessed to play as long as I have.

As things have gone on in the later parts of my career ... there’s a lot of interest in when I’m going to stop playing. I understand that. When I know, I’ll know. When I don’t know, I don’t know. I’m not going to race to some conclusion about that.”

Brady said he wasn’t pleased that his retirement speculation ended up being a distraction from the playoff games on the weekend.

“There were some very important games on the weekend,” Brady said.

“The focus should be on those great games.” AFP

Tom Brady hasn’t made up his mind yet. AFP

Manila to stage Rock ‘n’ Roll run series THE Rock ‘n’ Roll Series adds another milestone to its enduring collection of road running events as it hits the Manila roads on June 19, marking the first time that the series known for lining up race routes with live bands, cheer teams and themed water stations will be staged in Southeast Asia.

“We are excited to add the City of Manila to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series as the first new host city in Southeast Asia,” Jeff Edwards, managing director of the Asia Region for The IRONMAN Group, announced yesterday. “The City of Manila provides exciting opportunities for both our runners and our brand. We are proud that we can be a part of showcasing and highlighting what the city has to offer the runners and their support crews who travel to the area.”

Events on tap are the marathon, half-marathon, 10K and 5K races with ASICS serving as the event’s title partner. Registration will open shortly. For details, visit www.runrocknroll.com/manila.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno (second from left) takes a groupie shot with (from left) Bea Jalandoni, Marketing Specialist of Sonak Corp., official distributor of Asics, Princess Galura, President and General Manager of The Ironman Group, Sonak Corp. Footwear Division head Filipina ‘Bhaby’ Lorenzo, Sonak Corp. president Kabir Buxani, Manila Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and Manila Councilor Yul Servo during the launch of the Asics Rock ‘N Roll Running Series Manila at Bulwagan Rodriguez at Manila City Hall recently.

Race week will kick-off on June 17 with the Health and Fitness Expo, featuring the latest products from ASICS and trends in the running i ndust r y. Ru n ners i n all levels will then take center stage on June 19.

“We are very happy and excited to host the Rock ‘n ’Roll Running Series in the streets of Manila. We are proud to be the first city in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia to stage the event. This event marks the conclusion of our 450th founding anniversary celebrations on June 24,” said Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso.

The event is the world’s largest running series annually held in various countries around the world. Put up in 1998, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series’ simple idea of making running fun has transformed both the US and global running landscape by infusing the course with live bands, cheer teams and entertaining water stations, creating a block-party atmosphere for participants and spectators alike.

“This new event will feature the historic city and music, making the City of Manila the perfect venue for the newest Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series event. We look forward to the race creating a participant experience focused on running, music and community,” added Edwards.

ASICS, title sponsor for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Manila event, is the leading brand for performanceenhancing footwear and apparel, developing sports footwear and apparel for over 50 years.

The races will fire off infront of the Rizal Park and will pass through streets, buildings, churches and parks, including the National Museum, the Manila City Hall, Kartilya ng Katipunan, and the walled city Intramuros, before eventually making their way to the finish line with the musicallythemed event to be amped up by on-course bands and DJs. For more information on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series, visit www.

RunRocknRoll.com.

Entertainment VERY WANG

L

Guji Lorenzana

NICKIE WANG

ISTENING to music for some people is a form of therapy.

It can also make your life situations easy to cope with.

There are songs that can awaken intense emotions or bring us back to the memorable times in the past.

For singer and actor Guji Lorenzana, music can save lives.

The 41-year-old artist spoke to Manila Standard Entertainment during the press launch of his new single, “This Beat Will Save You,” which he described as a reminder that people should keep on working despite being confronted by

The beat that saved

Guji Lorenzana Guji Lorenzana’s song ‘This Beat Will Save You’ shares a message of hope

difficult situations.

“This song is very apt for this depressing season of the pandemic as its message is about not losing hope,” Lorenzana told the author.

“I was in the crossroads of my life when I wrote it. I was trying to decide whether to go on with showbiz or not. Gusto pa ba nila ako kahit I’m already 41, married with kids? And the song says that despite whatever is happening in your life, just go with the flow. Don’t get brokenhearted.

Life is like music and if you’d let the music lead you, there will always be a happy ending for you,” he carried on and noted that the song was influenced by the works of Michael Jackson and Gary Valenciano.

“This Beat Will Save You” got Lorenzana through COVID. It’s an alltoo-familiar story we’ve heard of this past two years.

The singer-actor caught the bug so to speak, and if that wasn’t enough, his whole family caught it, too.

“Yeah, that was a worrying time for us,” said Lorenzana.“But me and my wife Cheska worried more for our kids Cassidy (2) and Brielle (11months).”

After finding out though, Lorenzana resolved to be positive. “We isolated and just did everything to stay healthy.”

Luckily, just before getting the virus, Lorenzana was able to release the new single which, coincidentally enough, is titled “This Beat Will Save You.” And saved him it did, because the track reminded him to be productive.

“Staying in isolation for a month meant

Guji Lorenzana with his wife Cheska and their two kids

that I had time to do the things that interests me. And that’s doing (music) covers, vlogs and just being a creator. I used the time to be creative because that was the healthy thing to do while recovering from COVID.” Sure enough, Guji was able to produce a music video for “This Beat Will Save You” during the time he was recovering.

The music video, which he worked on with other creators, whose theme mirrors his recent experience, will premiere on YouTube next weekend. Guji also mentioned that besides music and being a creator, he is also slated to do a movie with Viva in the coming weeks. “I’m just waiting for the day when we finally will

get the green light to go out again. Then I can work again on the movies that I signed on with Viva,” Lorenzana said, adding, “Keeping busy with what I love doing most, in many ways, really did save my life.”

“This Beat Will Save You” was actually written by Lorenzana back in 2018. Waiting for the time to put it out, he eventually found the moment when he joined the YouTube creator camp NextUp Philippines.

The track found its way to getting used as the accompanying music for his NextUp project. Guji was one of the big winners of the competition wherein he won P100 thousand worth of equipment of his choice.

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021

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Beauty pageants ‘devastated’ by suicide of Miss USA 2019 ORGANIZERS of the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants said Monday they were “devastated” by the suicide a day earlier of former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst, who had often spoken out about stress and mental health.

In a statement sent to AFP, the Miss Universe and Miss USA organizations said they were “devastated to learn about the loss of Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst.”

“She was one of the brightest, warmest, and most kind people we have ever had the privilege of knowing, and she lit up every room she entered,” the statement said.

A police source in New York confirmed late Sunday that Kryst’s body had been found around 7:00 a.m. (1200 GMT), at the foot of a skyscraper on 42nd Street in Manhattan, as first reported by the New York Post.

“According to the preliminary investigation, she had jumped from an elevated position,” the police source said, adding that her death “appears to be a suicide.”

The New York Post said Kryst, 30, jumped from a terrace on the 29th floor of the Orion Condominium tower where she lived.

A few hours before her death, Kryst posted a photo of herself on Instagram captioned: “May this day bring you rest and peace.”

US media obituaries her rise to fame from her birth in the US state of Michigan in 1991. Kryst, who was mixed-race, grew up in North Carolina before earning a law degree.

Her mother was crowned Miss North Carolina in 2002, before Kryst herself hit the runways and was crowned Miss North Carolina and then Miss USA in 2019 at age 28, the oldest contestant to win the pageant.

The same year, she came 10th in the Miss Universe pageant.

Although she left no explanation for her apparent suicide, The New York Times published several texts and statements Kryst had made since 2019 in which she addressed her own psychological health, work stress, pressure, and the challenges of aging.

“Turning 30 feels like a cold reminder that I’m running out of time to matter in society’s eyes -- and it’s infuriating,” she wrote in March in Allure magazine. AFP

The last post of Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst on Instagram

DZBB’s ‘Ikaw Na Ba?’ interviews presidential, vice presidential bets GMA Network’s flagship AM radio station Super Radyo DZBB launches its award-winning election information and advocacy program Ikaw Na Ba? The Presidential Interview and Ikaw Na Ba? The Vice Presidential Interview.

Anchored by senior broadcasters Melo Del Prado and Kathy San Gabriel, the one-hour special program aims to give the presidential and vice presidential candidates the opportunity to be heard, present their platforms, discuss issues, and answer questions as the country gears up for Eleksyon 2022.

Ikaw Na Ba? first aired during the 2010 presidential elections and consequently garnered positive feedback and support from radio listeners and TV viewers.

Ikaw Na Ba? The Presidential Interview and Ikaw Na Ba? The Vice Presidential Interview airs Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 9:00 a.m., from until Feb 4, on Super Radyo DZBB 594 kHz and Dobol B TV on GTV. It is simulcast on all Super Radyo stations nationwide – DYSS Super Radyo Cebu, DXGM Super Radyo Davao, DYSI Super Radyo Iloilo, DYSP Super Radyo Palawan, Barangay FM Super Radyo General Santos, and Barangay RU Super Radyo Kalibo – and is heard as well on DZBB relay stations in Bacolod, Dagupan, Zamboanga, and Iligan.

Filipinos abroad can also catch Ikaw Na Ba? on GMA’s international channel, GMA News TV. Visit www. gmanetwork.com/radio/dzbb for the latest updates.

DZBB’s ‘Ikaw Na Ba?’ puts the spotlight on the presidential and vice presidential candidates in a series of interviews.

Digital personalities, mainstream stars lead 7th Push Awards nominations ABS-CBN’s entertainment website PUSH.com.ph continues to honor top online Filipino personalities and digital stars who spread love, generosity, and

Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano

fun amidst these challenging times as it marks the seventh year of the fan-voted Push Awards.

Fandoms have the chance to support their idols by voting for them in seven categories on push.abs-cbn.com/vote until Feb. 27. The winners will be announced in a virtual awarding ceremony on March 4.

The popular tandems of Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano (DonBelle), Seth Fedelin and Andrea Brillantes (SethDrea), Kyle Echarri and Francine Diaz (KyCine), Karina Bautista and Aljon Mendoza (KarJon), and Kobie Brown and Andi Abaya (KoDrea) are nominated in the Push Popular Love Team of the Year category for making an impact in the online world thanks to their undeniable chemistry.

Personalities whose trending vlogs and livestreams gave viewers relief and entertainment, such as Kim Chiu, Ivana Alawi, Alex Gonzaga, Madam Inutz, and Zeinab Harake, are vying for the Push Content Creator of the Year

award.

Fans can also choose the Push Social Media Personality of the Year among Vice Ganda, Nadine Lustre, Darren Espanto, Heart Evangelista, and KC Concepcion, who used their strong social media influence to spread good vibes and positivity.

Maymay Entrata, Gigi De Lana, and P-Pop groups BINI, BGYO, and SB19 are competing in the Push Music Personality of the Year category for continuing to entertain their fans with their inspiring music and performances.

The Push Favorite On-screen Performance of 2021, meanwhile, recognizes actors who won the hearts of netizens with their stellar performances. Competing in this category are Jodi Sta. Maria (Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin), Yassi Pressman (FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano), JM de Guzman (Init Sa Magdamag), Andrea Brillantes (Huwag Kang Mangamba), and Erich Gonzales (La Vida Lena).

Artists who continue to be on top of their game by producing creative and

viral TikTok videos will be honored in the Push Trending TikToker of 2021 category, where Andrea Brillantes, Niana Guerrero, AC Bonifacio, AJ Raval, and Esnyr Ranollo are nominated.

Fans can also vote for the Push Celebrity Mom of the Year nominees, namely Anne Curtis, Elisse Joson, Janella Salvador, Andi Eigenmann, and Dimples Romana, who continue to inspire fellow mothers and netizens with their stories of parenthood.

The Push Inspiration 2021 special category, the only award which is not fan-voted, will be recognizing an individual who served as a face of empowerment by bringing pride to the country with their achievements and boosted the morale of Filipinos amid these trying times.

The 7th Push Awards aims to honor the biggest stars and online personalities and to empower and engage fans through active digital participation. It is one of the digital initiatives of ABS-CBN as it rapidly transi-

tions into an agile digital company with the biggest online presence among all media companies, and a growing list of digital properties.

Seth Fedelin and Andrea Brillantes

Life

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022

Sailing towards sustainable Philippines

S

USTAINABLE PH is now becoming a forerunner in sustainable living and “greenovation” in the Philippines.

Founded by its president Koleen Davila - Palaganas, a known international sustainability advocate, together with other volunteers including her sister, Karen Davila, they work together to strengthen their NGO to serve as a community for sustainability champions who advocate for a Sustainable Philippines, anchored on biblical principles of stewardship.

January is now a very integral month for sustainability and vegan advocates around the globe as they have set the month as an awareness month called Veganuary.

Artist on a mission Kristine Lim is one of those who boldly and passionately push for such movements. Being an Edenic Living advocate and the Director for Culture and Arts of Sustainable PH, she is always geared on efforts to put her causes in the limelight and to further educate everyone for the benefit of future generations.

Last Dec. 4 was the first Sustainable PH, Sustainability Leader-

ship Awards. Lim was the one tasked to design the official trophy for Sustainable PH’s Sustainable Leadership Awards that was called Lawig.

According to Lim, Lawig was scrupulously forged from scrap metals forming a paraw resting on top of a rock. This modernly concretizes the time in the story of Noah when the flood had subsided and the Ark found its way on top of Mount Ararat.

Quoting Lim on her statement on what Lawig is about: “This is our salute to the winners for being the forerunners of change toward a more sustainable future. This is our gratitude to them for taking the leap Artist Kristine Lim with the Lawig trophy in the foreground. others would dare not. This is our way to honor them for standing on the gap for a better tomorrow for those which will serve as an inspiration to him and to his constituents; to who will come long after us. Their efforts hold the truth that our make his dream to be president a reality.

Rock can and will sustain us. In our obedience and willingness, we Lim, who is becoming a well-known name when it comes to doing live freely from His victory to eternity. “ portraits of prominent individuals, was once again chosen to paint With the humble beginnings of Manila Mayor, Isko Moreno - his portrait. It was privately given to the mayor in his office at the Domagoso, to where he is now, his political allies and supporters Manila City hall. The Mayor’s supporters aim to bring this portrait strongly believe that he deserves to be given a portrait of himself to Malacanang should he win this coming election.

Culture of luck Outside Chinese New Year, there are many things we believe to be lucky or unlucky. Every country has its own practices and beliefs on what they consider lucky, and what can bring misfortune.

Let’s start with dates and numbers. In the Philippines

BY GLAIZA LEE and some countries, 13 is an unlucky number. Double whammy if it is Friday the 13th, and more potent if it hapTHERE are two things I alpens during the Ghost Month. ways look forward to when In Korea, four is the unthe Chinese New Year aplucky digit. I often wondered proaches. why there isn’t a button with Firstly, eating tikoy. I number 4 in their elevators. remember we would alA Korean friend explained ways receive boxes of tikoy it is because the word four back in the days. To enjoy sounds like death. the glutinous rice cake, we Eight is a lucky number. In would cut it into thin recChina, the 8th of the month tangular slices, dip it in is considered an auspicious beaten eggs, fr y it, and eat day. In Western cultures, it right off the pan. three is lucky, often associIn time, I learned through ated with Holy Trinity and experimenting on different Little red envelopes or ang paos contain monetary gifts such. What can I say, third ways to best enjoy this Chi- that are believed to bring luck. time is a charm. nese New Year’s treat. (But Some cultures believe that that’s another story to tell). him this sticky cake. crossing paths with black cats, Secondly, reading the Chinese There’s also the Yu Sheng (Yee walking under the ladder, and putzodiac horoscope. I do enjoy read- Sang in Malay Chinese) or the ting your bag or purse on the f loor ing the astrological predictions Prosperity Toss Salad. This salad bring bad luck. that always come up during this is not ordinary one. You can’t just In Russia, cockroaches are good time. I don’t give much credence put things together to make it. omen. So is finding a four-leaf to them but I do like to find out Each ingredient represents ausclover in Western cultures. The which signs would be lucky in life picious symbols – fish for abunconcept of luck has been ingrained and lov dance, pomelo for luck, radish for in our culture. We say luck for Yesterday was the start of the prosperity, carrots for blessings of things that are beyond our control.

Lunar Year, 2022 is the Year of the good luck, and noodles for long It has that sense of unpredictabilWater Tiger, the king of all beasts life, among others. ity. We look at circumstances and based on Chinese culture. This One has to recite greetings of opportunities that fall on our lap animal sign symbolizes strength good luck and prosperity while by chance. and braveness. It’s also known for adding each ingredient. When While there is no harm in folexorcising evils. it is served, the people gathered lowing or believing these pracThis year, the luckiest signs are around the table have to toss the tices and beliefs, I do believe that the Ox and Goat. It is also good salad. The higher the toss, the hard work, doing good deeds, and for those born under the Rabbit, bigger the luck. Don’t mind the sticking to your values can cataDragon, Horse, and Rooster signs. mess. lyst a change in your life.

Meanwhile, the Rat, Snake, MonOf course, we can’t forget ang As for luck, well, a little luck key, Pig, and Dog have to work pao (hong bao) or that little red won’t hurt. Just don’t go chasing afdoubly hard to enjoy a smooth life envelope. Obviously, receiving ter the pots of gold at the end of the and bring in some luck. these pockets for monetary gifts rainbow all your life.

In celebrating Chinese New brings luck. But words of caution: Year, there are many things some if you’re single and younger, don’t The color people do to bring in luck and even think about givred and ward off bad luck. ing one, especially to roundTake, for instance, eating tikoy older people. By doshaped brings luck. The Chinese term of ing this, you are givfruits are this favorite treat, nian gao, is ing away your own considered a homonym for growth (“higher luck. This is okay lucky in the year”). Its stickiness also symbol- if you’re attending a Chinese culture izes strong bond. wedding and giving Based on a Chinese tale, people gift to the couple. would offer this sticky cake to the ••• Kitchen God, who reports to the Jade Emperor on how they are living their lives.

These reports became the basis for whether their lives would be shortened or lengthened. To keep the Kitchen God’s mouth shut, they would give

GLAZING LIFE

(From left) Councilor Uno Lim, Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, Artist on a Mission Kristine Lim, and her husband Hon. Jasper Lim

Italian Fazioli Piano shines in the CCP Special Concert Series

Aidan Baracol performs on the CCP’s Fazioli piano

By Michele T. Logarta AT THE upcoming Special Concert Series of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (Feb. 9 to 13), five young virtuoso pianists will share the spotlight with a sixth and equally bright star.

This is none other than the CCP’s Fazioli piano — the instrument that each artist will play to showcase their musicality and pianistic skills.

The CCP Fazioli piano is one of a few existing in the country today. Made in Italy and purchased in 2015, it has been used and played at concerts featuring sought-after musicians, including Dr. Raul M. Sunico, Mary Anne Espina, and PPO pianist harpist Madeline Jane Banta.

Sunico, who was former CCP president and the host of the upcoming SCS, describes the Fazioli as “an exceptional piano with a full and brilliant sound without being metallic.”

“It is quite sympathetic to the needs of the player as far as touch is concerned,” he adds.

According to Sunico, leading pianists of today have chosen the Faziolis for their most important concerts.

These include jazz legend Herbie Hancock, multiawarded Back specialist Angela Hewitt, and leading French pianist Louise Lortie.

He recalled that the recent Chopin International Piano Competition had a number of winners and finalists who chose to play on Raul M. Sunico the Fazioli brand.

“There are no Fazioli artists, only artists who play the Fazioli,” Sunico quotes the makers of the piano.

According to the Fazioli website, the company has been producing grand and concert grand pianos since 1981, the year it was founded by the engineer and pianist Paolo Fazioli.

The company states: “Passion for music, great artisanship, continuous technological research, and strict material selection: these are the elements required for building a Fazioli piano.”

The list of Fazioli piano owners is a glittering one. Fazioli pianos are found in the hallowed halls and stages of the Juilliard School of Music in New York, Teatro La Fenice in Venice, the Palace of Arts in Budapest, the Beijing Grand Theatre, the Colburn School, the Paris Conservatory and the Universities of Vienna, Graz, and Salzburg.

Sunico is annotator and scriptwriter for the upcoming SCS. The concert series, which will be a Valentine’s offering of the CCP, will feature Nathan Samuel Gemina, Michael Angelo Valenciano, Aidan Ezra Baracol, Inna Montesclaros, and Ella Gabrielle Gaw—all award-winning artists.

These five pianists, the youngest of whom is nine-yearold Gaw, are an exceptional lot, according to Sunico.

The concert series, which was prerecorded at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, will be streamed on the CCP YouTube channel and Facebook page.