Manila Standard - 2022 February 15 - Tuesday

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NCR Alert Level 2 till Feb. 28

Metro mayors push for extension even as PH logs lowest daily cases

By Vito Barcelo and Joel E. Zurbano

The Philippines is now classified as “low risk” of COVID-19 ESPITE a decline in COVID-19 transmission, the Department cases, Metro Manila will remain of Health said Monday. Health under Alert Level 2 until Feb. 28, Secretary Francisco Duque III told President Duterte the country the Palace said Monday. recorded a negative two-week growth rate of -74% and a lowActing presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles risk average daily attack rate of said the 17 mayors of Metro Manila’s local govern5.26 per 100,000 individuals.

D

ments signed a resolution recommending the national government’s coronavirus task force extend the Alert Level 2 status in the Nation- al Capital Region until

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VOL. XXXV • NO. 365 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 •TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

BLACK HEARTS DAY. Health workers from various public and private hospitals hold a ‘Black Hearts’ Day Protest’ in front of the Department of Health in Sta. Cruz, Manila, blasting the administration’s ‘continued and outright negligence of their safety, protection, rights and welfare by implementing anti-health workers’ policies.’ Teachers hold a similar protest on Monday at the Department of Education over the ‘heartless’ denial of their overtime pay. Norman Cruz

Govt eyes company clinics as vax sites to ramp up inoculation drive

VELARDE NOD FOR MARCOS ‘PERSONAL’

By Willie Casas, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Joel E. Zurbano

COVID-19 vaccination sites.

At present, the country has about 7,400 active vaccination sites, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said Monday.

HEALTH officials plan to tap the clin“We plan to add more. We are also ics of private companies as additional thinking of holding vaccinations at the

clinics of big companies.,” But some 2.5 million senior citizens and Cabotaje, who chairs the National 220,000 people with comorbidity have not Vaccination Operations Center, said in yet been inoculated, Cabotaje said. an online briefing.

The government last week launched About half of the country’s 109 million the third run of a nationwide vaccination population have been fully vaccinated.

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NEWS / A4

HER DAY IN COURT.

Quarantine skipper Gwyneth Anne Chua (right) arrives at the Office of the City Prosecutor’s Office at Makati City Hall on Monday along with her counsel to attend the preliminary investigation against her and eight others for breaching health protocols. Chua famously skipped her mandated quarantine at Berjaya Makati Hotel, went home, and partied at a nearby bar in Barangay Poblacion the day after.

Danny Pata

NATIONAL ARTISTS STUMP FOR LENI NEWS / A4

PING: DON’T VOTE FOR MORE ‘THIEVES’ NEWS / A4

ISKO COUNTS ON ‘JUAN DELA CRUZ’ NEWS / A4

Laylo Report shows winning track of BBM, Sara

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rey E. Requejo THE Laylo Report continues to underscore the strength of the tandem of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas standard-bearer Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

and vice-presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, as both saw their survey leads widen ahead of the May 9 elections, their respective camps said Monday.

The leadership of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats expects their

chairperson, Duterte-Carpio, to sustain and even widen her runaway lead over her rivals leading to her anticipated landslide win in the national elections.

Meanwhile, in the latest pre-election presidential preference survey done by Next page

Four presidential ‘SNOWBALLING’ candidates forego FOR PACQUIAO Quiboloy TV forum NEWS / A4

BINAY EYES MORE GOV’T WORKERS NEWS / A3

FOUR presidential candidates – Senators Panfilo Lacson and Emmanuel Pacquiao, Vice President Leni Robredo, and Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso – have said they would not attend the presidential debates today hosted by the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) of controversial Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

In a tweet, Lacson said he and his running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, would skip the debates as Quiboloy already endorsed other candidates for the coming elections.

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Poll watchdog reports issues of vote buying THE Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting claims it is receiving information that huge amounts of money are being offered to buy votes in the 2022 elections, with its chairman Myla Villanueva saying in an interview on ANC the cheating is now happening.

“We hear a lot of issues about votebuying and it’s very difficult for PPCRV to catch that and report it. We’re hearing a lot of big numbers being offered to people and families in fact,” she said Monday.

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3,639,942 2,730

76,609

55,094

164

3,508,239

7,456

(As of 4 PM, February 14)

Oil price hike by as much as P1.20 per liter

By Alena Mae S. Flores

TOURISTS RETURN. A pair of young women see through an airplane porthole the sparkling lights on the ground as it descends to the runway of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 from Boracay Airport in Aklan, which has seen an influx of travelers as of late, on Monday. Danny Pata

THE country’s oil firms raised pump prices by as much as P1.20 per liter effective 6 a.m. Tuesday to reflect the movement of prices in the world market.

The firms raised gasoline by P1.20 per liter, diesel by P1.05 per liter, and kerosene by P0.65 per liter.

“PTT Philippines to implement the following price adjustments effective Next page

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News

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Groups eye prov’l buses on EDSA T

RANSPORT groups say provincial buses—kept out of Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare throughout the pandemic— should be allowed to drive through EDSA again.

“It’s really a matter of public service,” added Hernandez, who is designated as Pasada’s first nominee should it get enough votes to win a congressional seat.

Hernandez said he believes that the current ruling on provincial buses plying back and forth from Metro Manila amid the pandemic, in which only 10 percent are allowed to operate, is taking a financial toll on the provincial bus companies.

He said the bus companies could not even make a profit at 50 percent capacity due to the high fuel costs.

He said allowing more provincial buses on EDSA would reduce crowding in bus terminals.

Former senator Nikki Coseteng said the provincial bus companies’ struggles should be addressed urgently.

“I think the buses should be allowed to operate tomorrow,” Coseteng said.

She also lashed out at the strict sanctions on bus violators, recalling an instance somewhere along Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City recently where bus companies were fined as much as P1 million per bus for certain violations that could even lead to the drivers’ arrest.

City and Romblon in Region IV-B; Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Naga City and Sorsogon in Region V Visayas -- Aklan, Antique, Bacolod City, Capiz and Negros Occidental in Region VI; Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor in Region VII; and Ormoc City, Tacloban City, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Western Samar, Biliran and Southern Leyte in Region VIII Mindanao -- City of Isabela, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay in Region IX; Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental in Region X; Davao City, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental in Region XI; General Santos City, North Cotabato, Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat in Region XII; Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Butuan City and Dinagat Islands in Region XIII (CARAGA); and Basilan, Maguindanao, Sulu, TawiTawi, Cotabato City and Lanao del Sur in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Under Alert Level 2, the second lowest in the new alert level system, certain establishments and activities are allowed at 50 percent capacity indoors for fully vaccinated adults (and minors, even if unvaccinated), and 70 percent capacity outdoors.

Under Alert Level 3, several establishments are allowed to operate at 30 percent indoor venue capacity but exclusively for fully vaccinated people, and 50 percent outdoor venue capacity as long as employees are fully vaccinated.

In-person classes, contact sports, fun fairs, and casinos are among the activities and establishments that are prohibited under Alert Level 3.

In cautioning against the lowering of restrictions, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said some 2.5 million senior citizens and 220,000 people with comorbidities are not yet fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Perhaps we should take it slow. People might forget the minimum public health standards if we go to Alert Level

1,” Cabotaje said in Filipino.

“We need to raise figures for booster doses in NCR because these will offer added protection,” said Cabotaje, who heads the National Vaccination Operations Center.

Philippine Medical Association president Dr. Benito Atienza noted only 69,800 out of 15.8 million children ages 5 to 11 have received one vaccine dose as of Friday.

“What we need is to vaccinate everyone first,” he said when asked about a possible shift to Alert 1.

He said authorities should also exercise caution over calls to scrap the alert level system.

“We do not know the enemy, we do not know if there will be a new variant,” Atienza said.

Also, Malacañang on Monday said the IATF approved an earlier recommendation for recognition of the national Covid-19 vaccination certificates of Malaysia and the Republic of Ireland.

Nograles, also the Cabinet Secretary, said the IATF signed Resolution No. 161 to approve the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to recognize vaccination certificates of the two countries “for purposes of arrival quarantine protocols, as well as for interzonal/intrazonal movement.”

“This is in addition to other countries/ territories/jurisdictions whose proof of vaccination the IATF has already approved for recognition in the Philippines, and without prejudice to such other proofs of vaccination approved by the IATF for all inbound travelers,” he said in a statement.

Nograles said the IATF directed the Bureau of Quarantine, the Department of Transportation - One-Stop-Shop, and the Bureau of Immigration to recognize proof of vaccination of nationals from the two countries.

The IATF earlier approved the recommendation of the DFA to recognize the national Covid-19 vaccination certificates issued by Slovenia, Bahrain, Qatar, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Brazil, Israel, South Korea, and Timor Leste.

The highly transmissible Omicron variant in January drove a surge in infections in the Philippines.

Cases have since fallen to around 3,000 a day, while around 60 million of the country’s 109 million people have been fully vaccinated.

Quiboloy had endorsed the candidacy of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte for the May 2022 polls – both frontrunners in different pre-election surveys done by legitimate companies.

Pacquiao also declined to join the debates because of Quiboloy, who faces charges in the United States and is wanted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“As much as I would like to participate in every debate and public forum related to my bid for the presidency, I am compelled to decline the invitation of SMNI, which is owned by Apollo Quiboloy, who, according to the US

government, has molested and abused children,” Pacquiao said in a statement.

He refrained from saying Quiboloy has not been convicted.

“I cannot, in good conscience, be part of any activity organized by a man wanted for detestable crimes and who unconscionably used the name of the Lord in vain for religious scams,” added the evangelical Christian.

Pacquiao also said he had a pending cyber-libel complaint against Quiboloy. It would thus be better if he did not attend the debates organized by his network.

On the other hand, Robredo’s spokesperson lawyer Barry Gutierrez said the Vice President “has a longstanding commitment to meet with leaders and supporters in Panay Island on the date this event was scheduled.”

“Leni Robredo has a proven track

record of attending debates and interviews regardless of the personal histories or affiliations of its sponsors ... She will be unable to attend this privately sponsored event, but will definitely be present for all the upcoming Comelecsponsored and accredited debates,” Gutierrez said in a statement.

In the case of the Manila chief executive, Lito Banayo, his campaign manager told GMA News Online: “Yes, he is not going to the SMNI debate. We are on a swing of the Samar provinces today and [tomorrow], returning on Wed the 16th.”

“Isko is also on a nostalgic visit to his late mother’s hometown of Allen in Northern Samar tomorrow,” he added.

But presidential aspirant and labor leader Leody de Guzman agreed to participate in the debate that would be held at Okada Manila in Parañaque.

the 1st District of Leyte predicted that Duterte-Carpio, Lakas-CMD chairperson, who is running in tandem with Marcos, would further break away from their respective rivals who have been consistently lagging behind as the campaign heats up.

“I am convinced that Mayor Duterte will not only sustain her lead over her rivals, but will gain further, now that we are in the official campaign season where the vice-presidential candidate could bring her and the UniTeam’s platforms directly to the people and expound on them,” he said.

“Add the fact that she’s already going around the country for her campaign, sealing off support from folks and poli-

ticians alike,” Romualdez added.

He was speaking after the release of the results of the survey conducted across the country by the Laylo Research, which showed Duterte was the vice president of choice by 60 percent of the respondents compared to the 19 percent of her closest rival, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. Duterte also topped the latest Pulse Asia survey conducted from January 19 to 24 where she got 50 percent of the respondents with 29 percent picking Sotto.

The Laylo Report showed DuterteCarpio not only led in demographics, but even in age, gender, and economic classes of voters.

At the start of the campaign, DuterteCarpio barnstormed key areas in the Visayas and Mindanao through her “Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas Ride” where she notched the support and backings of political leaders, various groups, and grassroots organizations.

Even in Bicol region, the supposed bailiwick of a presidential candidate, Duterte got assurances of support and endorsements from key political leaders in the region, including Camarines Sur Gov. Migz Villafuerte, Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte, Camarines Norte Edgardo “Egay” Tallado, and Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda.

Duterte has also initially campaigned in Central Luzon, particularly in Nueva

“You really feel the struggles of commuting from Point A to Point B,” said Dom Hernadez of Pasada, a transport group seeking a place in Congress as a party-list group.

With the pandemic endgame approaching, Hernandez told a forum, it is time that provincial buses be allowed on EDSA again.

Public transport advocate Robert Siy,

who was at the same forum, agreed.

“We need to prioritize higher-capacity vehicles and public transport in all our major roads,” he said.

Siy is a part of the Move As One Coalition, which describes itself as “a coalition of Filipino organizations and individuals advocating for a safer, more humane, and more inclusive public transportation system in the Philippines.”

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From A1

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Villanueva said the council needs more volunteers to better monitor the conduct of elections.

Earlier, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged the public to report incidents of vote buying as the campaign season for this year’s national and local elections officially started.

Meanwhile, the Metro Manila Development Authority has advised supporters of political parties to avoid littering during campaign rallies.

Meanwhile, nine party-list organizations succeeded in getting at least the 2-percent voter preference they need to secure a congressional seat if elections were held today, based on a Pulse Asia survey released Sunday.

According to the survey, among the 177 party-list groups, the nine were: ACT-CIS - 10.4 percent; AKO BICOL - 5.6 percent; 4PS - 4.3 percent; Senior Citizens Partylist - 3.3 percent; Malasakit@Bayanihan - 3.3 percent; Magsasaka - 2.3 percent; An Waray - 2.3 percent; Gabriela - 2.1 percent; and Kabayan - 2.1 percent.

Progressive groups such as Bayan Muna and ACT Teachers, meanwhile, each got 0.8 percent voter preference while youth organization Kabataan got 0.6 percent, according to the survey.

The survey also found that 62 percent of its respondents were aware of the party-list system, while 38 percent said otherwise.

The nationwide Pulse Asia survey had 2,400 respondents aged 18 and above, with a ± 2 percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level. It was conducted from Jan. 19 to 24, 2022.

The same survey also showed that Marcos Jr. remained the most preferred presidential candidate in the elections.

Analysts have said election surveys are mere “snapshots of the moment” and do not necessarily predict the outcome of the polls.

Twenty percent of the seats in the House of Representatives are reserved for party-list representatives.

In the elections, voters are allowed to choose only one group among those running under the party-list system.

Meanwhile, some protocols meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19 were violated in campaign rallies that started last week, the Philippine National Police and a group of doctors said Monday.

While the campaign period that kicked off last Tuesday was generally peaceful so far, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said police observed violations of the health and safety protocols set by the IATF. Fajardo did not elaborate but said these violations had been reported to the Commission on Elections.

“If we need to file cases, we will coordinate that with the Department of Health, and of course, the Comelec,” she told a public hearing.

Philippine Medical Association president Dr. Benito Atienza also said his group noticed a lack of physical distancing in some campaign events. Vito Barcelo

the end of February.

Nograles said 47 areas in Luzon, 20 in Visayas, and 31 in Mindanao were likewise placed under Alert Level 2.

The Palace official also said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) placed seven areas under Alert Level 3 until Feb. 28 – Iloilo City and Iloilo Province; Guimaras; Zamboanga City, Davao de Oro; Davao Occidental; and South Cotabato.

This developed as the Philippines on Monday logged 2,730 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest daily tally so far this year, bringing the total to 3,639,942, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

Metro Manila tallied just 467 new cases on Monday, compared to 558 on Sunday, 562 on Saturday, 486 on Friday, and 600 on Thursday, February 10, the OCTA Research Group Reported.

The national positivity rate has declined to 10.7 percent, based on test results of samples from 28,620 people on February 12, the DOH reported.

Of the newly reported cases nationally, 2,627 or 96 percent occurred within the recent 14 days. Aside from Metro Manila, Calabarzon (330 cases) and Central Visayas (283 cases) were the top regions with cases in the recent two weeks.

The DOH reported 76,609 active cases across the country. This is the lowest number of active infections since Jan. 6 when 56,561 were reported.

Other areas under Alert Level 2 from February 16 to 28 are: Luzon -- Abra, Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province in the Cordillera Administrative Region; Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan in Region I; Batanes, City of Santiago, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino in Region II; Bulacan, Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales in Region III; Cavite, Rizal, Batangas, Laguna, Lucena City and Quezon Province in Region IV-A; Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Puerto Princesa

Laylo...

From A1 Laylo Report, Marcos Jr. appeared at the top of the pack with 64 percentage points, way ahead of Vice President Leni Robredo’s 16 percent or a wide margin of 48 percent.

This came after the Laylo Report did its most extensive face-to-face pre-election polling – from January 10 to 26, with plus-minus 0.8 margin of error – with 15,450 respondents from 80 provinces, 38 highly urbanized cities, 1,319 municipalities and 3,090 barangays.

House Majority Leader and LakasCMD President Martin Romualdez of

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From A1 drive that aims to administer 5 million COVID-19 shots until Feb. 18.

The “Bayanihan, Bakunahan 3” program has given 1.5 million jabs as of Sunday, Cabotaje said.

“We are thinking of various strategies. We might hold it monthly, limit it to specific areas or specific targets.

We need to raise the vaccination of our senior citizens a bit,” she said.

Some local governments offer house-to-house vaccination to bedridden senior citizens, she said.

“We will bring the vaccination sites closer to our senior citizens. We will make it easier for them to register. For our immunocompromised, we will ramp up coordination with hospitals,” she added.

On Monday, the government expanded its rollout of vaccines to children ages 5 to 11 on a nationwide scale.

The rollout will run in parallel with the third round of the Bayanihan Bakunahan program, which was extended until Friday, the Department of Health (DOH) said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the government has opened 482 vaccination sites for children ages 5 to 11, with 84 in Metro Manila.

The DOH Region 1 started its pediatric vaccination on Monday, targeting 25,000 children aged 5 to 11.

“I strongly advise parents to accompany their own children during the vaccination. We will not be giving vaccines to those with incomplete requirements,” said Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco.

She also said it is important to show parent’s consent. He also assured parents they should not be worried about the vaccines because they are giving Pfizer vaccines approved by the FDA. The vaccine, she said, will provide children with protection against serious illnesses caused by the coronavirus.

She said the regional office has established 16 vaccination sites strategically located in various provinces where parents and guardians may bring their children ages 5-11 years old for vaccination from Feb. 14 to 18.

In Ilocos Norte Province, eligible residents for vaccination may go to Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, Laoag City Health Office, Dingras Rural Health Unit and at the Ilocos Norte Provincial Health Office.

For Ilocos Sur, parents may proceed to Vigan City Health Office and Tagudin RHU. Vaccination sites in Pangasinan are located at the Dagupan City People’s Astrodome, Conrado Estrella Trauma and Medical Center, Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital, Urdaneta District Hospital, Bayambang District Hospital, San Jacinto, Bani, Umingan Community Hospital and SM Rosales, For La Union, the vaccination center will be at the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center.

Oil...

From A1 6 a.m. Tuesday, February 15, 2022: Gasoline increase by P1.20 per liter and diesel increase by P1.05 per liter,” the company said in its advisory.

Seaoil Philippines, PetroGazz, Chevron, and Cleanfuel also raised pump prices, while others are expected to follow.

This is the seventh consecutive weekly oil price hike on the back of tight global oil supply versus increasing demand. Tensions between Ukraine and Russia, which could affect global oil supply, put pressure on oil prices last week.

Meanwhile, demand in Asia continues to improve further as economies tide over the Omicron wave of COVID-19.

On February 8, the oil companies implemented a price increase in domestic oil products. Gasoline increased by P1.05 per liter, diesel by P1.20 per liter, and P1.25 per liter for kerosene.

Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya, and in the National Capital Region where she got the endorsements of political leaders and support of various groups and even ordinary folks.

“We will not only sustain the lead, but we will veer away,” said Romualdez of Duterte Carpio’s chances in the elections, as he noted the sustained endorsements and pledges of support even

by Church-based groups and congregations, including El Shaddai.

El Shaddai leader Mike Velarde recently endorsed Duterte-Carpio and Marcos where he also echoed UniTeam’s call for unity. “It’s time for us Filipinos to be united,” he said (see related story on A4 – Editors).

News

TUESDAY, FEBUARY 15, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Binay wants village workers to become full gov’t employees

IN BRIEF TikTok user in ‘kill BBM’ to take lie detector test

By Joel E. Zurbano SENATORIAL candidate Jejomar Binay on Monday said if elected, he will push for all barangay workers to become salaried government employees with full benefits.

“This time of the pandemic, we saw the importance of our barangay officials and workers. They deserve to get the benefits of a regular government employee,” Binay said.

Binay said that he had been pushing for barangay workers to become salaried government workers since he was Makati City mayor.

“Sadly, with the present policy, they receive no benefits when they retire,” he said.

Binay said like government employees, barangay officials, and workers should also get mandatory benefits, including membership in Pag-IBIG Fund, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

“Our barangay officials, health workers, tanod, street sweepers, and other barangay workers as public servants should be given that kind of benefits,” he added.

At present, barangay officials and workers only receive incentives or honorariums for their services.

Barangay chairpersons receive a minimum of P1,000 while Sangguniang Barangay members, the barangay treasurer, and the barangay secretary receive a minimum of P600.

Barangay watchmen (tanods) and members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa receive honoraria authorized by law or barangay, municipal or city ordinance.

Barangay health workers, meanwhile, receive allowances and other benefits under a separate law. Binay served as Makati City mayor from 1986 to 1998, and from 2001 to 2010.

VALENTINE SCENES. (Clockwise from top right) Couples and lovers pose before a gigantic heart display made of silicon lead neon lights inside the Quezon City Memorial Circle to mark Valentine’s Day. Meanwhile, some 79 couples and residents of Manila exchange vows and kisses during a mass wedding at the newly redeveloped Arroces Urban Forest Park, while couples mark Hearts Day at the Luneta Park’s Lover’s Lane in Manila on Monday. Manny Palmero, Danny Pata and Norman Cruz

Typhoon Odette-hit regions get boost from SSS, GSIS aid T HE Social Security System (SSS) is extending its assistance to victims of typhoon Odette, announcing that the contribution payment deadline for selected months in 2021 is extended to February 28 for members living in areas declared under a state of calamity due to the typhoon.

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for its part, also made an announcement for typhoon-hit regions, assuring that it will hasten the release of insurance claims from government agencies whose properties were damaged in the calamity.

The SSS said based on Circular No. 2022004 dated February 9, contribution payments included in the extended deadline are the months of November and December 2021 of business and household employers; and October to December 2021 of coverage and collection partners, self-employed, voluntary, non-working spouse members; and land-based overseas Filipino workers in Region IV-B (MIMAROPA); Region VI (West-

ern Visayas); Region VII (Central Visayas); Region VIII (Eastern Visayas); Region X (Northern Mindanao); and Region XIII (CARAGA).

SSS president and CEO Aurora C. Ignacio said the agency saw the “adverse effects” brought by the typhoon and through the payment extension, the SSS “aims to alleviate the worries” of members in the affected regions. The SSS said for employers with approved installment proposals, post-date checks that fall due in December 2021 and January 2022 will be deposited on or before February 28.

Normally, the contribution payment deadline of business employers is set every last day

of the month, while for household employers and self-employed members, the deadline is every last day of the month ollowing the applicable month or calendar quarter.

The contribution payment deadline for land-based OFW members for the applicable months of January to September of a given year is every December 31 of the same year, while for the applicable months of October to December of a given year, it is every January 31 of the succeeding year.

The GSIS Insurance Group meanwhile dispatched third-party adjusters and coordinated with government agencies including the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to monitor and assess the damages in airports and properties of affected regions.

The GSIS said as of December 21, a total of 16 airports in Antique, Kalibo, Roxas, Bacolod, Caticlan, Iloilo, Mactan, Bantayan, Dumaguete, Tagbilaran, Ubay, Siquijor, Panglao, Tacloban, Siargao, and Surigao were damaged.

Sotto urges NTC to probe use of text messages for black propaganda

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATE President Vicente Sotto III yesterday urged the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to look into the persistent use of text messaging or “black propaganda.”

Sotto said text messaging was used to relay that he and Sen. Richard Gordon pressured their colleagues to sign the report issued by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee finding President Duterte guilty of betrayal of public trust in con-

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nection with his actions related to the government’s multi-billion-peso contracts with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation.

He said this is being used as a tool to spread lies and fake news to smear the integrity of personalities or groups.

The circulating text message state: “No to Gordon & Sotton pressuring other senators to sign their blue ribbon sham report.

Continuing their TRIAL BY PUBLICITY IN AID OF ELECTION! MGA EPAL!” The NTC, Sotto said, must exercise its

regulatory power over the country’s telecommunication firms and order them to hit the brakes on the continued use of text messaging as an instrument to spread disinformation.

He said it is the job of the NTC to ensure the integrity of our telecommunication industry. He called on the NTC to immediately act and determine how to stop the spread of similar scams.

“The people or groups behind text scams are able to access the mobile phone numbers of individuals. How can

they text phone numbers of different telcos? How did they get the phone numbers? Are they in cahoots with insiders?

Is this an internal job. when will the NTC and telcos answer us,” said Sotto, who is running for vice president in the May 9 elections.

Aside from the President, the committee also recommended plunder, graft and other criminal and administrative charges against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, former government officials, and Pharmally executives.

Caloocan City holds V-day contest for couples on Facebook CALOOCAN City Councilor Vince Hernandez gifted 31 couples a at the recently concluded “ConVINCEd Army V-Day Love Vlog Contest” as part of the city’s Valentine’s Day celebrations.

The winners of the contest received a grocery bag containing food and personalized couple t-shirts. It was a contest made on Facebook social media where contestants showed how their relationship started through a video.

Tagged as a “Milenyal na Konsehal,” Hernandez thanked the residents of Caloocan District 1 for their support in the said contest.

Hernandez promised that many more plans will be made for the residents to be happy. It will be recalled that in 2020, Hernandez also led the “May Forever” contest, a recognition given to grandparents in the celebration of Valentine’s Day. Jun David

Senate holds arrest order vs. Pharmally exec’s wife

VAX DRIVE FOR KIDS. Metro

Manila Development Authority (MMDA) officer-in-charge Atty. Romadon Artes with her wife Minnie accompany their daughter Biatrix Chloe Artes, 10 years old, to get a vaccine against COVID-19. Artes also led the launch of the MMDA’s pediatric vaccination program at the MMDA head office in Makati. Mayor Jerry Treñas attended the launching of “Resbakuna KIDS” at St. Paul’s Hospital in Iloilo City. Manny Palmero and Iloilo City Mayor’s Office.

SENATE Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson Senator Richard J. Gordon announced that the committee has allowed, for humanitarian reasons, the 10day abeyance of the arrest order against Pharmally-linked Rose Nono Lin following her camp’s request as she is currently confined in a hospital for a “surgical procedure.”

“If Rose Nono Lin is indeed ill and needs to have surgery in a hospital, we are not heartless people to not allow such required procedure to be performed on her,” said Gordon.

Lin is running for representative in Quezon City’s 5th District. She is the wife of Lin Weixiong, identified as the financial manager of Pharmally who never showed up in any hearing.

The Lins are also business associates of former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang, the Chinese businessman

alleged to be the backer of Pharmally.

The small company was questioned for bagging billions of pesos worth of government supply contracts with no track record and insufficient capital.

On Jan. 29, Senate security personnel tried to arrest Lin but her lawyer said she was under quarantine, but did not disclose the location. Four other Pharmally-linked people could not be found in their known addresses.

However, the senator emphasized that the investigation will go on as necessary until the whole truth of the scandal is uncovered and the perpetrators are brought to justice.

“Rose Nono Lin’s husband remains outside of the country despite her being supposedly ill with COVID-19 and other maladies. This goes to show that he would rather be absent and far from his wife even during these times. It tells us that

Murder raps vs Sison in minors’ killing MURDER charges and violations of International Human Rights Laws (IHL) awaits Jose Maria Sison anew and other Communists Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army - National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) leaders in light of the brutal killing of two minors and the serious wounding of two other civilians by NPA fighters in Northern Samar on February 8.

At the weekly virtual forum of the National Task Force to End Local Communists Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), Brigadier Gen Joel Nacnac, Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s Center for Law of Armed Conflict said Sison along with top officials of the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) are liable as principals over the IHL principle of command responsibility being members of the hierarchy of the CPPNPA-NDF.

THE social media account owner who allegedly warned of an assassination plot on presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has agreed to undergo a polygraph test to prove his innocence.

Suspect Ruel “Bong” Ricafort has turned over his mobile phone for forensic examination, according to National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cybercrime Division chief Victor Lorenzo on Monday.

“He agreed to turn over his gadget, a cellphone, last week,” Lorenzo told the media via text message. “(He has) agreed (to a lie-detector test) but we are yet to schedule it.”

Ricafort surrendered to the NBIAnti Organized and Transnational Crime Division on February 9 but claimed his account on the video platform TikTok was accessed without his knowledge.

He said he wants to file charges against those who wrongfully used his account and posted “we are meeting everyday to plan for BBM’s assassination. Get ready” last month.

Despite the threat, Marcos and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, continue to go around the country for their campaign sorties which started in a kickoff rally at Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on February 8.

On Sunday, Marcos was in Mandaluyong City, the bailiwick of his campaign manager, recently resigned Metro Manila Development Chair Benhur Abalos and in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan on Monday.

The CTG leaders are also liable under the Republic Act (RA) 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, aside from the murder charges for the death of two minors, a 12-year-old boy who died on the spot and another 13-year-old boy while being treated at the hospital.

Nacnac added frustrated murder and attempted murder could also be slapped against the CTG hierarchy over the victims who survived the NPA attacks.

Col. Perfecto Peñaredondo, 803rd Brigade Commander, on the other hand, narrated that the incident happened when Army troopers were sent in the outskirt of Barangay Roxas in Catubig, Northern Samar in the afternoon of February 8, 2022, to check on a reported extortion activities of CTGs in the area.

his evasion of Senate summons is more important than providing succor to his spouse,” Gordon pointed out.

“It must also be emphasized that Rose Nono Lin is not exempt from appearing in the continuing investigation nor will her supposed illness exempt her from justice,” he stressed.

In a Pasay City Regional Trial Court hearing on Friday, counsel for Lin sought the issuance of a temporary restraining order and injunction seeking to prohibit the Senate from enforcing an arrest order issued against her for contempt due to her failure to attend two hearings despite the subpoena issued by the committee.

Aside from being currently hospitalized, Lin’s camp has requested not to have the arrest order against her be implemented for 10 days while the counsels undertake to study the cases further.

Macon Ramos-Araneta Manila

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Standard COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS

TODAY

ANNOUNCEMENT President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (CA) for the confirmation of the ad interim appointment of: Armed Forces of the Philippines WILBUR C. MAMAWAG

to the rank of MAJOR GENERAL

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

RESTORING POWER. NGCP workers have completed and energized the two special towers of the Ubay-C.P. Garcia 138kV Line toppled by typhoon “Odette.” A temporary by-pass line was constructed to restore the interconnection of Bohol to Leyte, six days ahead of schedule. The permanent restoration of these towers is ongoing using a new tower design with a higher wind rating to increase its ability to withstand stronger typhoons. These new and sturdier towers are targeted to be completed by April 2022.

For the schedule of the public hearings, the CA Secretariat can be reached through telephone numbers 8834-2713, 8831-1824, 8831-0527, 8832-9830, 88342706 and 8551-1989.

14 February 2022.

HECTOR A. VILLACORTA Secretary (MS-FEB. 15, 2022)

News

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022 E-mail: mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Nat’l Artists, poets, actors support Leni for president

UniTeam calls for disposal of medical waste

By Rey Requejo PRESIDENTIAL candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio have called on the government to ensure the proper management and disposal of medical wastes.

The UniTeam tandem said improper disposal of medical wastes could abet the spread of various life-threatening diseases, including the still prevalent and dangerous COVID-19.

Marcos and Duterte-Carpio made the call after receiving reports about an incident in Virac, Catanduanes where eight children got infected with COVID-19 after playing near an area where a diagnostics laboratory was dumping its hazardous wastes.

“If we don’t dispose of medical wastes properly, there is a risk that communities living near dumpsites will be exposed to viruses and other pathogenic microorganisms, such as what happened in Virac. It could trigger another surge of infections,” the tandem said in a statement.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently warned the vast amount of waste produced in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic posed a threat to human and environmental health, adding that the tens of thousands of tons of extra medical waste have put a huge strain on healthcare waste management systems.

The international health agency issued the warning as it reported that safe management services for healthcare waste were lacking even before the pandemic added further pressures.

According to a 2019 data, one in three healthcare facilities globally did not safely manage healthcare waste, and in the least-developed countries, two in three facilities did not have a basic healthcare waste management service.

ILOCANO SUPPORT. Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and his daughter Kathrina endorse presidential aspirant Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. during a grand rally held at Tuguegarao, Cagayan.

EL SHADDAI ADVISER INSISTS:

Velarde’s endorsement of BBM-Sara ‘personal’ T

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

HE spiritual adviser of El Shaddai said the Catholic charismatic group has not endorsed any presidential and vice presidential candidates for the May 9 polls.

Bishop Teodoro Bacani said the endorsement of Bro. Mike Velarde of the tandem of former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio was “personal.”

“Let me be very clear: It was not the endorsement of El Shaddai that Bro. Mike extended,” Bacani said in a radio interview.

“That is not El Shaddai – that should be clear. That is Bro. Mike Velarde,

who is head of El Shaddai, but it is not the opinion of the body,” he added.

As a Catholic group, Bacani said El Shaddai members are free to choose their candidates.

“Followers cannot be obligated to vote for one candidate or the other. Part of the freedoms enjoyed by Catholics is the freedom to choose who to vote for according to their conscience and informed opinion. There is no command

Isko: Critical support from ‘Juan dela Cruz’ PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso remains unperturbed by supposed endorsements given to his rivals by various organizations and religious groups because he believes he is on his way to getting the most important endorsement of all – that of the Filipino people.

“The most important endorsement I want to get is from the ordinary Juan dela Cruz, Petra, Maria, the people on the street, the people at home, the people who will actually join to install their president,” Moreno said.

“So that’s the endorsement I want —the people’s endorsement. I am not bothered [by rivals getting endorsed], as long as the people are there [for us], the silent majority is there. We feel them and we are happy,” he added.

The 47-year-old Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer made the statement when asked about his reaction after the leader of the religious group El Shaddai endorsed the presidential bid of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Domagoso noted how, since Day 1 of the official campaign period, he has been mobbed by droves of people— from all ages and all walks of life.

“You see I am thankful the people themselves spend when we motorcade. They give us food, water, rosary, religious items, flowers – they really spend. So, very heartwarming,” Domagoso said.

“As long as we continue, no one will give up, the fight will continue, and we will find real solutions and quick action that will benefit the people,” he added.

Domagoso said he is open to all kinds of support he can get, including endorsements from any group, due to the enormity of the challenges that his campaign faces, including being an underdog and a candidate without a political pedigree to speak of.

Rey E. Requejo

vote for El Shaddai,” Bacani added.

Velarde on Sunday urged Filipinos to unite behind Marcos and DuterteCarpio.

“It is time for us Filipinos to unite.

After all, we have already given the rivals of Marcos the chance to govern for so many years. These two might do something good for the country. That’s why I have chosen them,” Velarde said.

Meanwhile, Velarde also endorsed senatorial aspirant Mark Villar, who is part of the Marcos-Duterte slate.

“I thank El Shaddair and Brother Mike Velarde for their support. We in the BBM-Sara UniTeam are one in pushing for unity,” said Villar, a former Public Works Secretary.

LOVE FOR ALL AGES.

Senatorial candidate Gen. Guillermo Eleazar brings Valentine’s Day joy to grandparents in Tanza, Cavite.

Pacquiao sees ‘snowballing’ support in Vis-Min areas DESPITE being ranked third in almost all pre-election presidential surveys, Sen. Manny Pacquiao said he remains optimistic as there is “a snowballing of support in the Visayas and in Mindanao.”

“I am fighting to fight for the future of our country, especially the poor,” said the PROMDI standard bearer.

“Our support has bedn increasing everyday. We have solid ground support. We

are seeing that our support is becoming stronger,” he added.

Pacquiao said he hopes to solidify all Visayan voters, being the only Visayan candidate among the presidentiables.

“We are also positively received by our kababayan in Luzon,” he said.

He conceded that he is facing a tough battle, but said it would be tougher if nobody would take a stand to fight for the poor.

In the latest Pulse Asia survey, Pacquiao was statistically tied with Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso for the third place at 8 percent each.

Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. led the pack with 60 percent, followed by Vice President Leni Robredo with 16 percent.

Senator Panfilo Lacson got 4 percent while labor leader Ka Leody got 0.02 percent.

ON Valentine’s Day, five National Artists led a roster of poets, actors, and other artists in expressing their heartfelt support for the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo at an event aptly named “Pusuan ang Sining at Kultura: State of the HeART.” National Artists Ben Cab (Visual Arts), Alice Reyes (Dance), Ramon Santos and Ryan Cayabyab (Music), and Virgilio Almario, also known as Rio Alma (Literature) headlined the event held at the Miriam College Covered Courts.

Reyes recalled how Robredo became Vice President and fulfilled her job “against all odds.”

“She needs us, we need her. Let us do all that we can [to make her win] for the love of this country,” Reyes said.

Almario presented the Arts and Culture Kartilya (guidebook) to Robredo, which enumerates commitments such as promoting a free, creative and transformative culture and pushing for democratic education that elevates literacy across the country, among others.

In response, Robredo said: “I am very thankful that our country has the likes of you. What you have sacrificed, what you have contributed-that is more than enough, but here you are again ready to contribute for the future of our children.”

Robredo also gave her commitment to the “kartilya,” saying her team would sit with the group of artists and work on “weaving” the guidelines into her program of governance should she be elected President.

The book “100 Pink Poems for Leni,” published by San Anselmo Press, was also launched and a copy was given to the Vice President.

Ping: Don’t elect bets who plunder public coffers

By Macon Ramos-Araneta PARTIDO Reporma standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who has spent most of his legislative career crusading against corruption, said he is hoping his efforts to save billions of public funds from going into the pockets of thieves would bear fruit with Filipinos giving him a chance to be their next leader.

“This is what baffles us – and we always talk about it, too – all of us are scared to be robbed of something, right? Who among us doesn’t have that fear? No one, everyone [is afraid of being robbed]. But every election, we are the ones who keep electing the thieves,” Lacson said during a political rally held at the Lorenzo National High School in Mawab, Davao de Oro over the weekend.

“This May, I guess some of us would still vote for someone to rob us again. That is the huge difference between what we refer to as the ordinary thief and the political thief who is in government,” he added.

Lacson said he and running mate, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III are willing to offer Filipinos a better alternative in terms of leadership, one that would restore their faith in a government that would ensure public funds are used appropriately to deliver essential services for them.

“Ordinary thieves choose their victims and only get what they want to steal because it’s targeted. But the thieves in government, we are the ones who choose them to steal from us. And what hurts, what really hurts,” he said.

Tingog opens Pampanga headquarters

By Maricel V. Cruz TINGOG party-list Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez has led the inauguration of Tingog-UniTeam headquarters at Kingspire Business Centre in San Fernando City, Pampanga.

Romualdez, chairperson of the House committee on the welfare of children, said the opening of the headquarters will boost the unity message being espoused by Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) presidential candidate, former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice presidential bet Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

She was joined by Tingog nominees Jude Acidre and actress-host Karla Estrada in the event that was attended by

former President and ex-Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Also in attendance were Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, Vincent Marcos, youngest son of Marcos; and local officials of Pampanga.

The Arroyos hailed Tingog for its programs championing the people’s welfare such as medical and burial assistance.

It also facilitated cash-for-work programs for displaced workers under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) in partnership with Labor Sec. Silvestre Bello III. Tingog has also been very active in holding feeding programs that benefited many people to help alleviate hunger and reduce micronutrient deficiency in the country.

FACING THE PRESS. Aksyon Demokratiko chairman Ernest Ramel (center),

Princes Abante of the 6th district of Manila and Jong Isip of the 3rd district answer questions from the media during a press briefing on Monday, February 14, 2022, at the Media Center of the Isko Moreno for President Campaign Headquarters in Intramuros.

Danny Pata

Opinion Worst economic downturn took place under Marcos the Filipino people - and the international community - concluded that the Opposition leader had been assassinated with the knowledge of Malacanang. The Filipino people and the world reacted with horror, dismay and disgust.

You’ve got to be kidding, BBM.

THE DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) and FDA (Food and Drug Administration) should ask the namesake and heir of President Ferdinand E. Marcos if he is duly licensed to sell the product ‘Amnesia’ to Filipinos who will be voting in the coming election. It’s virtually certain that BBM (Bongbong Marcos) does not have the required DTI and FDA licenses.

The product that BBM is hawking is intended to make Filipino voters experience amnesia about all the bad things that happened in this country between September 21, 1972 and February 25, 1986 - the violations of the Constitution, the political prosecutions, the confiscations of properties, the abuses of human rights, the cronyism and nepotism, and so on. Ingesting his product Amnesia, Mr. Marcos Jr. wants Filipino voters to suddenly have no recollection of all those nasty things.

BBM is very ambitious. He has been going beyond trying to make Filipinos forget every bad thing that happened between the day that his father placed this country under martial law and the night that he, his parents and his siblings were unceremoniously bundled off to Hawaii by the U.S. military; he has been telling the people of this country that the martial-law regime ran by Ferdinand E. Marcos was a golden age.

Golden age? BBM obviously does not know the meaning of that phrase, for there was nothing golden about what happened to the Philippine economy from August 21, 1983 to the overthrow of his father’s regime two and a half years later.

On that day began the worst downturn that the economy of this country has experienced in the post-World War II era - worse, even, than the 9.4 percent GDP (gross domestic product) decline sustained by the economy in 2020.

August 21, 1983 was, of course, the day on which former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., returning from a three-year exile in the U.S., was assassinated as he disembarked at the airport that now bears his name. Since the detail that escorted Sen. Aquino from his plane was composed of soldiers,

The Philippine economy immediately went into a tailspin. Fearing flight of capital out of the contrary and of runaway inflation as Filipinos engaged in a pre-emptive buying spree, the CBP (Central Bank of the Philippines), then headed by Jose “Jobo” Fernandez Jr., launched a liquiditymopping-up operation that saw the benchmark Treasury bill rate rise to an unprecedented 42 percent. With panic-buying, the decline in producer confidence and skyrocketing of interest rates occasioned by the ‘Jobo bills,’ inflation rose to as high as 65 percent.

Externally, the fallout from the Aquino assassination consisted of severe rebukes from international organizations - especially the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and the World Bank - and the turning off of credit flows from the foreign banking community. Not only did many banks suspend lending to the Philippine government.

Those that maintained their lending did so on the basis of sharply higher interest rates. The Marcos regime had become a pariah with a capital P. With inflation raging, unemployment much higher and the economy running short of foreign exchange, things looked really grim during the days and months immediately following the butchery of Senator Aquino. And they were to remain pretty much in that state until the Filipino people, deciding that enough was enough, overthrew the overstaying Marcos regime in four days of peaceful and determined action along the stretch of EDSA. The World Bank was heard to say, subsequently, that the long recession triggered by Senator Aquino’s assassination pushed millions of Filipinos below the poverty line.

The worst recession in the post-World War II history of the Philippine economy took place squarely within the period of the Marcos regime.

Martial law was a golden-age time for the Philippines? You’ve got to be kidding, BBM.

Work is not a cup of coffee

“ANYONE who claims to work 18 hours a day is either lying or stupid.”

This statement, in a video that Sen. Imee Marcos appeared in, seems to be a dig at Vice President Leni Robredo, who told journalist Jessica Soho in an interview that she works an average of 18 hours a day. “Kasi on the average, mga anim na oras ‘yung tulog ko,” Robredo said.

In the video, Marcos spoke about a worker named “Len-Len” who fainted after working 18 hours straight. The senator said the solution was simple: “Time management ‘yan, eh.”

She added that a person should consider the amount of work that they can do in a day: “Ang pagtatrabaho ay parang pag-inom ng kape. ‘Pag nagtimpla ka, dapat tantsa mo: Kaya ko ba ‘tong ubusin?”

What was likely a dig at a political rival inflamed workers across the nation, who excoriated Marcos for her arrogant presumption that it’s just as easy as “time management” for all workers.

People from all walks of life shared on social media their experiences of long days at work using the hashtag #AkoSiLenlen.

Here are just a few examples: Veteran journalist Alma Anonas-Carpio wrote: “I’ve worked as a journalist for a bit over a quarter century. Long days were the norm. I’d usually put in between 10 and 16 hours on the work clock, not including the after-hours work that took the form of tracking down sources, research material, vetting data I’d gotten, looking for leads on stories that were difficult to put together…Len-Len ba kamo? Proudly so. And I am no liar, nor am I stupid.”

Rappler editor Joel Pablo Salud praised his wife, novelist and editor Che Sarigumba, for putting in long days on career, family, and personal projects.

His favorite story is about how Che, a few hours after giving birth to their child, rose from her bed to edit her share of news stories for the day.

I myself worked 12- to 14-hour days, seven days a week, for several months last year under a contract of service at a government media agency under this administration. Because I was the only editor trusted to vet all online content, I was on board from morning till night, every day. I repeatedly asked for another editor to be hired, but my request was ignored until I broke down, went on medical leave, and said I would resign, in view of

my health. (An associate editor was hired within a couple of weeks. Puwede naman pala.)

Work is not just a cup of coffee. Time management? Tell that to the demanding bosses in the government and private sectors. Tell that to the patients who need care in the face of healthcare worker shortage. There are many occupations, many reasons, many life circumstances that Senator Marcos, having lived in the lap of luxury all her life, does not understand.

*** FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

ManilaStandard

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EDITORIAL

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Winner take all

S WE hurtle toward the May elections, we could all benefit from a pause to look beyond the feel-good promises and the social media image building— and acknowledge that the country faces some real, daunting challenges ahead.

It is not enough that candidates offer hope or a vision for a better future. That is a requirement, to be sure, but they also need to tell us specifically how they will deal with the substantial problems that this administration will leave behind—including government corruption and the illegal drug trade.

Beyond these legacy problems, our next leader will also have to deal with the enormous debt that this administration incurred—some of it justified, to be sure—to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the start of lockdowns in 2020, the government raised $25.8 billion in loans and grants from multilateral lenders, development partners and foreign currency denominated global bonds for its pandemic response The country had P11.73 trillion in outstanding debt as of the end of 2021, growing 19.7 percent year on year, preliminary data from the Bureau of Treasury shows. Will the next administration pay for these debts with

higher taxes? This early, voters need to know.

The country had P11.73 trillion in outstanding debt as of the end of 2021, growing 19.7 percent year on year.

In a commentary Friday, JP Morgan said the next president will have to deal with a growing budget deficit and a widening account deficit as foreign exchange transactions with the rest of the world increase.

JP Morgan economist Nur Raisah Rasid said fiscal spending during the COVID-19 pandemic led to record deficits, with government debt soaring to 59.1 percent of gross

domestic product (GDP) at the end of 2021, and possibly rising to 62.3 percent of GDP by the end of this year.

On the other hand, the country’s current account balance improved during the pandemic because people were simply not investing.

“However, we expect the economy to head into another twin deficit episodes this year as the next administration likely will pursue an expansionary fiscal policy to support the ongoing recovery, with the corollary decline of external balances, raising concerns over fiscal and monetary policy management,” she said.

The country’s budget deficit reached P1.33 trillion in November, up 24.63 percent from a year earlier. On the other hand, the current account deficit was at $2.63 billion as of September, a reversal from the $7.79 billion surplus a year earlier.

The new administration should manage the expected twin deficits this year while keeping in mind domestic financial conditions, debt management and budget execution, JP Morgan said.

Whoever is elected president in May wins a mandate to govern for the next six years—but it is a game of winner take all— and that includes all the problems its predecessors left behind.

Love and elections TO THOSE who experienced, either by direct participation or vicariously by watching television, listening to the radio, or reading newspapers, the four glorious days of the EDSAPeople Power Revolt will forever be associated with images of unarmed multitude facing tanks and armed soldiers loyal to the dictator, strangers sharing food and other provisions to others and even to soldiers loyal to the regime.

What drove ordinary people to go to EDSA and put their lives and limbs at risk? The answer is simple - It was no other than a burning desire to change the state of affairs, seen as abusive and repressive by ousting a dictator and his rapacious regime. It was love of country that drove unarmed civilians to EDSA and put themselves in harm’s way, mindful of the possible dangers that they would be facing. The military coup may have provided the spark that ignited an avalanche of support for the rebels but the overriding factor that decisively tilted the tide in favor of the plotters and the people was love of country.

Dr. Jose Rizal who made the ultimate sacrifice

for his beloved people once said, “I want to show to those who deprive people the right to love of country, that when we know how to sacrifice ourselves for our duties and convictions, death does not matter if one dies for those one loves – for his country and for others dear to him.” Surely, it is one’s willingness to give up things that are important to him for the sake of the beloved that we can measure the extent of that love. How far are we willing to give up something precious to us for the sake of our family, for others or even for our country?

Another Filipino patriot, Ninoy Aquino, expressed this love by saying “We must transcend our petty selves, forget our hurts and bitterness, cast aside thoughts of revenge, and let sanity, reason, and above all, love of country prevail during our gravest hour.”

To Ninoy, our individual agenda must take a backseat to his love of country, even during the most trying times. Over the centuries and even most recently, especially during the pandemic, many havesacrificed themselves for the sake of their fellow human beings and ultimately for the country. The frontliners reported for work, despite the dangers, in order to save others, and bring the country back to its feet.

This love may be expressed by choosing the leader that is best for the country, one that is not tainted by corruption, a leader whose moral integrity and competence is beyond reproach.

My favorite authorAntoine De Saint-Exupery wrote: “Only he can understand what a farm is, what a country is, who shall have sacrificed part of himself to his farm or country, fought to save it, struggled to make it beautiful. Only then will the love of farm or country fill his heart.”

Website: tonylavina.com Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs Full version on www.manilastandard.net

Why Bongbong shuns debates

The statement backfired spectacularly.

People who have the sort of extreme privilege she has have maids to do the housework and secretaries and aides for the mundane office work, so they afford to lean back and concentrate on the bigger picture. Marcos has the option to exercise “time management” and choose to do only the tasks that fit in her day.

Her video was elitist in attitude, tone deaf, and insensitive to the 99.99% of Filipinos who do not have legendary gold hoards to make their lives easier. If she was trying to take a potshot at Robredo and gain public approval, it backfired spectacularly. But it’s not the first time Marcos manifested her privilege and entitlement.

Here’s an example: in June 2019, the Cordillera People’s Alliance (CAP) criticized her for saying, “Siguro magpapatawag ako ng mga Igorot namin kasi kailangang basbasan ‘yung office ko. Kay Sen. Trillanes ata ‘yung nabunot eh” (this was after she, as a neophyte senator, was assigned the former senator’s office in a raffle).

The CAP said in an official statement: “We take great offense on Imee Marcos’disrespect to Igorots and our indigenous rituals to hurl insults at her political enemies… Igorots, in our historical struggle for rights and self-determination, should not let this simply pass. Marcos has no right to objectify nor act as if she owns us… To use [our rituals] out of context is a great dishonor.”

To refer to “their’ Igorots is offensive, but Marcos didn’t realize that before the words came out of her mouth. Same with this “18 hours” video, which will go down in PR history as an example of “what not to do when trying to build a good brand.”

Her brother Ferdinand Jr., who is running for president, has repeatedly called for unity. But how to do that when his own sister inadvertently sabotages, so it seems, their own efforts at burnishing their image?

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022

HERE I am, still pounding my old Olympia manual after almost a month’s absence. My wife and I were down with a moderate case of COVID-19 and had to be treated at a hospital, Santa Banana!

Just how we got infected remains a mystery since my wife and I never go out of the house and never see outsiders. But I know, after reading a lot about the COVID-19 pandemic, that the virus is everywhere and you can get infected by asymptomatic people.

••• Here we are with all aspirants from the president, pice president and senators having 90 days of campaigning until May 9, 2022, Election Day. Nothing much is significant with aspirants having had their proclamation rallies in their respective bailiwicks. All except Bongbong Marcos and teammate Sara Duterte-Carpio – they had their proclamation rally at the Iglesia ni Cristo’s Philippine Arena in Bulacan. How else can any of the aspirants except BBM get that advantage?

Given that the rallies are happening with COVID-19 still around, the DOH is worried because it could trigger another surge of COVID-19 cases.

In any case, the non-attendance of Bongbong in political debates and other political forums, in my personal opinion, is a smart thing for him.

Bongbong is already the frontrunner in all surveys.Any other aspirant that engages him will just have additional exposure for political advantage.

If it would be a one-on-one fight between Bongbong and an oppositionist, the presence of Bongbong in political debates could work. But an aspirant like BBM is now beyond gravity, as a columnist described the race to Malacanang. The rest of the aspirants are all trailing behind.

But what if the rallies trigger another surge of COVID-19 cases on May 9, 2022. Will this mean elections have to be postponed?

Will there be no elections if this happens?

In fact, even the Senate has come out with a scenario that in case there will be no election as sched-

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

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

uled, the Senate, which will still have its 12 members as holdovers until 2025, has adopted urgency measures for this eventually. It decided to elect a holdover Senate President in case the May 9, 2022 polls does not happen. With these holdovers, 12 senators will choose their Senate president.

He’s way ahead of his opponents, anyway.

Personally, I don’t think it will be a “No El” scenario. That would be very dangerous considering the fact that Filipinos could have a chance for a new president and vice-president. The worst thing that can happen in case there is a “No El”is that there could be civil unrest to force an incumbent President to declare Martial Law to restore peace and order.

In any case, the less talk of a “No El,” the better.

To my mind, the worst thing that could happen is to postpone the elections, especially the counting and canvassing of votes. Note that in many places, ballots have to be transported from precincts. Canvassing is another problem. Let us hope and pray that the May 9 elections will be honest, clean and peaceful.

The Comelec should assure the people that the elections will proceed as scheduled. It will be a victory on the part of the enemies of the state and democracy if “No El” prevails on May 9!

••• There has been a study that no less than 78 political dynasties exist nationwide – even though the 1987 Constitution bans political dynasties. Along this line, there have been attempts to amend the Charter and to do away with political dynasties.

But let me ask first – are political dynasties good or bad in a democracy?

Personally, I believe that political dynasties are not evil per se. They serve some purpose. It all depends on what kind of political dynasties they are. In my experience as a journalist, I know of some political dynasties, where the members of

the family is a President and sons are also elected time and again, one is a senator whose wife is also a senator. Another member of the family was also elected and the daughter-in-law is an undersecretary of a department. Time and again, my gulay, this family is in control of a city’s or province’s political future, and time and again the people elect them.

I also know for a fact that there are political dynasties that continue getting elected because they rule a province or a city with a mailed fist. There was also a political dynasty in Mindanao that was like the mafia that controlled illegal drugs and killed people who opposed them. It was fortunate that the Chief of Police was able to break up this political dynasty by having the family killed and some of its members jailed.

This is what I mean by it depends on what kind of political dynasty rules that area. ** A hard look at the lineup of senatoriables will show that name recall plays a big part in the election of the so-called “Magic 12 of winning senatoriables.

As I see it, the “Magic 12” winnables are incumbents, comebacking senators topping the list.

The new aspirants like former DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, former Vice President Jojo Binay and former Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro are said to be winnables.

Among the incumbents are Senators Migz Zubiri, Win Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva and Dick Gordon and among returning senators are Chiz Escudero, Loren Legarda, Jinggoy Estrada, Alan Peter Cayetano and with the last four placers are also said to have a “statistical” chance of making it.

Personally my wishlist for the Magic 12 are the following: Former VP Jojo Binay, former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, former Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, former Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro, Migz Zubiri, Chiz Escudero, Loren Legarda, Jinggoy Estrada, Dick Gordon, Win Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva and Risa Hontiveros.

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

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

B2

World

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Nations to review harrowing catalogue of climate impacts PARIS -- Nearly 200 nations kick off a virtual UN meeting Monday to finalise what is sure to be a harrowing catalogue of climate change impacts -- past, present and future.

Species extinction, ecosystem collapse, mosquito-borne disease, deadly heat, water shortages, and reduced crop yields are already measurably worse due to global heating.

Just in the last year, the world has seen a cascade of unprecedented floods, heatwaves and wildfires across four continents.

All these impacts will accelerate in the coming decades even if the carbon pollution driving climate change is rapidly brought to heel, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report is likely to warn.

A crucial, 40-page Summary for Policymakers—distilling underlying chapters totalling thousands of pages, and reviewed line-byline -- is to be made public on February 28.

“This is a real moment of reckoning,” said Rachel Cleetus, Climate and

ROCKETS READY. Servicemen of Ukrainian Military Forces move US-made FIM-92 Stinger missiles, a man-portable air-defense system that operates as an infrared homing surface-to-air missile, and the other military assistance shipped from Lithuania to Boryspil Airport in Kyiv on February 13, 2022. AFP

energy policy director at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

“This not just more scientific projections about the future,” she told AFP. “This is about extreme events and slowonset disasters that people are experiencing right now.”

The report will also underscore the urgent need for “adaptation” -- climatespeak which means preparing for devastating consequences that can no longer be avoided, according to an early draft seen by AFP in 2021.

In some cases this means that adapting to intolerably hot days, flash flooding and storm surges has become a matter of life and death.

“Even if we find solutions for reducing carbon emissions, we will still need solutions to help us adapt,” said Alexandre Magnan, a researcher at the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations in Paris and a co-author of the report, without commenting on its findings. AFP

Germany seeks to calm Russian threat

K

YIV—German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lands in Kyiv on Monday before visiting Moscow to try to head off a “very critical” threat of a Russian invasion that could spark the worst crisis since the Cold War. The German leader visits the two capitals in reverse order from that taken last week by French President Emmanuel Macron in his bid to quiet the drumbeats of war echoing across eastern Europe.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has surrounded Ukraine from nearly all sides with more than 100,000 soldiers in a high-stakes standoff with the West over NATO’s post-Soviet expansion into countries once under the Kremlin’s

domain.

The West has remained united and defiant in the face of Putin’s demands for binding security guarantees that would see NATO roll back its forces and rule out Ukraine’s potential membership of the alliance.

But US intelligence officials worry that weeks of crisis talks have given Russia the time to prepare a major offensive -- should Putin make the ultimate decision to attack Ukraine.

Washington reaffirmed its warning Sunday that Russia was now ready to strike at “any moment” with an assault that would likely start with “a significant barrage of missiles and bomb attacks”.

US President Joe Biden briefed Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday about his hour-long phone call with Putin the previous day. Biden’s talks with Putin broke no new ground, the White House said.

- Invitation to Biden US officials said Biden and Zelensky had “agreed on the importance of continuing to pursue diplomacy and deterrence” in their call.

The Ukrainian presidency said Zelensky had also urged Biden to visit Kyiv

“in the coming days” in a show of moral support.

The White House made no mention of the invitation in its readout of the 50-minute call.

But Germany’s Scholtz sounded firm in his resolve to support Ukraine and hit Russia “immediately” with punishing sanctions if it went to war.

“In the event of a military aggression against Ukraine that threatens its territorial integrity and sovereignty, that will lead to tough sanctions that we have carefully prepared and which we can immediately put into force,” Scholz said on the eve of his departure.

“We assess the situation as very critical, very dangerous,” a German government source added. AFP

COVID-pass protest convoy heads for banned Brussels demonstration BRUSSELS―Hundreds of cars, campervans and trucks taking part in a Canada-style protest convoy against Covid regulations were preparing to enter Brussels Monday where Belgian officials have already banned a demonstration following a weekend attempt in Paris.

Around 1,300 vehicles from across France had arrived near the French border town of Lille by late Sunday, according to police.

The protest is one of several worldwide inspired by the truckers’ standoff with authorities in Canada.

Camped at a parking lot near Lille, protesters brandished French flags and chanted “We won’t give up” and “Freedom, freedom.”

“We’ll go to Brussels to try to block

it, to fight against this policy of permanent control,” said Jean-Pierre Schmit, an unemployed 58-year-old who came from Toulouse.

For Sandrine, 45, who came from Lyon, the government’s response to the Covid crisis had revealed that “we’re losing our freedoms bit by bit, in an insidious way.”

The latest self-proclaimed “freedom convoy” comes after 97 people were arrested at the weekend in Paris where thousands of demonstrators defied a ban on attempting to blockade the French capital.

In France, the demonstrators took aim at the “vaccine pass” required to enter restaurants, cafes and many other public venues implemented as part of President Emmanuel Macron’s inoculation drive. AFP

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 105, QUEZON CITY Email: rtc2qzn@judiciary.gov.ph Tel. No. 8-568-5773

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiffs, -versus-

CRIM. CASE NO. Q-06-139580

MARI BUENA AMON, Accused. x--------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE (Real Property) WHEREAS, by virtue of the Writ of Execution dated December 1, 2020, issued by the Hon. Gerlyn S. Turingan - De Los Reyes, Acting Presiding Judge of Regional Trial Court, Branch 105, Quezon City in the above-entitled case, for the recovery by the plaintiff Ronie R. Bauto from the accused Mari Buena Amon the sum of Php 310 000.00 as actual damages (representing the balance of the jewelry sold by the accused plus interest thereon at 6% per annum computed from 22 February 2005 (date of last demand), until the principal obligation is fully paid, all in Philippine Currency, LEVY was made on execution on December 17, 2020 by the undersigned Sheriff upon all the rights, titles, interests and participations which the accused has or might have in and over the following real property, which is more particularly described as follows, to wit: TCT No. T -45166 ”IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that certain land situated in the Bo. of Bato, Mp. of Palauig, Province of Zambales, more particularly bounded and described as follows: Lot 1194, Cad. 364-D Beginning at a point marked “1” of Lot No. 1194, Cad. 364-D, being S. 22-36 E., 3244.22 m. from BLLM No. Cad. 364-D, thence S.16-58 E., 20.21 m. to point 2; S 48 -54 E., 71.80 m. to point 3; S. 25-30 W., 54.36 m. to point 4; S 74- 08 W., 84.20 m. to point 5; N. 45-01 W., 42.80 m to point 6; N. 05-10 W., 68.30 m. to point 7; N. 89-48 W., 28.66 m. to point 8; N DUE WE 5.19 m. to point 9; N. 08-51 W., 66.24 m. to point 10; N. 25-23 E., 3.92 m. to point 11; N. 14-04 W., 24.27 m. to point 12; N. 5-10 E., 72.58 m. to point 13; N. 62-14 E., 72.36 m to point 14; N.42.14 E., 18.43 m. to point 15; S. 47-58 E., 152.10 m. to point 16; S. 81-40 W., 34.04 m. to point 17; S. 40-20 W., 38.06 m. to point 18; S. 31-55 W., 40.07 m. to point 1; point of beginning Containing an area of THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FOUR (37,774) SQUARE METERS.” NOW THEREFORE, by virtue of the said Writ of Execution and in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 15, Rule 39 of the Rules of Civil Procedure of the Philippines, the undersigned Sheriff, hereby gives notice to all interested parties and announces to the public in general that on the March 31, 2022 at 10:00 o’ clock in the morning or soon thereafter at the Lobby Main Entrance (inside of the waiting area) of the Hall of Justice Bldg., Annex, Diliman, Quezon City, he will sell at public auction to the highest bidder for CASH and in Philippine Currency, the above-described real property including improvements existing thereon, if any, in order to partially or fully satisfy the said writ of execution, together with the lawful fes and expenses in connection with this sale.

The Notice of Sheriff’s Sale will be published in the “Manila Standard”, a newspaper of general circulation in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks, the first publication to take place at least twenty (20) days before the date of auction sale.

Prospective bidders or buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-45166 of the Registry of Deeds, Zambales, situated in the Bo. of Bato, Mp. of Palauig, Province of Zambales of the said real estate property and the encumbrance thereon, if any there be.

Quezon City, Philippines, February 2, 2022.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND M. PERALTA Sheriff IV WARNING: It is absolutely prohibited to remove, deface or destroy this Notice of Sheriffs Sale on or before the date of Auction Sale under penalty of the law.

Copy furnished: ATTY. JOSE MAÑACOP Mission Garden Condominium 59 Scout Ybardolaza Street, South Triangle, Quezon City

ATTY. FRANCIS M. EGENIAS 3F Adamson Centre 121 Leviste Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City (MStandard - Feb. 15, & 22, 2022)

MASKED AND SWADDLED. A child is comforted before having a medical

check-up at an integrated services post in Banda Aceh, Indonesia on February 14. AFP

Saudi coalition blasts Yemen capital after drone attack

RIYADH―The Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed rebels in Yemen destroyed a communications system on Monday used for drone attacks and located near the telecoms ministry in Sanaa, it said in a statement.

Riyadh intervened in the Yemeni civil war in 2015 to support the government against the Houthi rebels, who control a large part of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa.

“We have destroyed a communication system used to operate drone control stations,” the coalition was quoted as saying by the official Saudi news agency SPA. “The Houthis are using the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology in Sanaa for hostile operations,” it added.

An AFP correspondent in Sanaa confirmed coalition air strikes had targeted several areas of the capital around the ministry.

It was not immediately possible to determine if there were any casualties.

It was the first time the coalition has targeted a civilian ministry, having so far only attacked the defence ministry.

The coalition said the raids were in response to a drone attack Thursday on a Saudi airport near the border which left 12 injured by falling debris after the Saudi military blew up the “bombladen” projectile.

The coalition had warned it would strike positions from which the Huthis launch drones in Sanaa and asked civilians to leave civilian areas used for military purposes.

“The Houthis are using state ministries to launch hostile operations,” the coalition said.

Yemen’s Huthis have frequently launched drone attacks at targets in the kingdom including airports and oil installations.

The conflict has seen an escalation in recent months as the coalition has stepped up anti-Houthi offensives.

For their part, the rebels have also increased attacks on Saudi Arabia and its fellow coalition member the United Arab Emirates.

Yemen’s civil war broke out in 2014 when the Huthis seized Sanaa, prompting the Saudi-led coalition to intervene the following year to prop up the internationally recognised government. AFP

Key US-Canada border crossing opens to traffic WINDSOR, Canada―A major USCanada border crossing reopened late Sunday almost a week after it was forced shut by truck driver-led protests against coronavirus restrictions, prompting police to quell the demonstration with a series of arrests.

The blockading of the Ambassador Bridge, which handles an estimated 25 percent of trade between the two countries, had disrupted business in the world’s largest economy and forced automakers in both the United States and Canada to halt or scale back production.

The demonstrations, which have also paralyzed the Canadian capital Ottawa, have sparked similar movements in France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand. Some US truckers are considering a protest for March.

“The Ambassador Bridge is now fully open, once again allowing the free flow of commerce between the Canadian and U.S. economies,” the Detroit International Bridge Company said in a statement.

In a tweet, Canadian Border Services confirmed the reopening but said “non-essential travel is not advised.”

Police had begun clearing the bridge to the US city of Detroit on Saturday, successfully removing trucks from one major intersection.

But some demonstrators remained, extending the protracted standoff and preventing traffic from flowing.

By Sunday, police said between 25 and 30 protesters had been arrested.

“There will be zero tolerance for illegal activity,” police in Windsor, Ontario tweeted.

Warning of “serious consequences” for the US economy, Washington had applied pressure on the Canadian government, asking it last week to use “federal powers” to end the blockade.

As police moved to clear the protest over the weekend, US officials praised the “decisive” action.

Speaking before the bridge resumed operations, White House national security advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall said US and Canadian officials recognized “the imperative of taking swift, strong action and deterring future blockades.” AFP

Cambodia steps up opposition voice surveillance via new internet gateway PHNOM PENH―Cambodia is powering up its new National Internet Gateway, a move activists say will allow the government to further silence the country’s embattled opposition voices.

UN rights experts warn the gateway, which will funnel all web traffic through a state-controlled entry point from February 16, will have a “devastating” effect on privacy and free speech.

It is the latest move by authoritarian ruler Hun Sen to clamp down on dissent in a country that has arrested dozens for online posts in recent years, critics say.

Hip-hop artist Kea Sokun, whose

lyrics about injustice and corruption have struck a chord with Cambodia’s disaffected youth, was among those jailed.

As his music clocked up millions of views on YouTube, plainclothes police came knocking in September 2020.

“They kept asking who was backing me?” Kea Sokun told AFP. He was arrested and convicted of incitement, spending a year behind bars, and now fears the new gateway will lead to more people suffering the same fate.

“It will be difficult to freely express opinions,” he said. AFP

HOME TEMPLE. Aerial view of the Bahai Temple of South America located in the Andes mountain range in Santiago, Chile on February 13. AFP

Business

B3

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks rally; Bloomberry, Jollibee up PSEi February 14, 2022

TOP GAINERS

1 BRN 2 OPM 3 WLCON

LAST PRICE CHANGE 0.93 0.08 0.013 0.001 28.7 2.2

% CHANGE 9.41% 8.33% 8.30%

4 5 6

PHA LBC MREIT

0.66 23.5 21

0.05 1.75 1.52

8.20% 8.05% 7.80%

7

KPH

6.8

0.4

6.25%

8 9 10

VUL SPNEC BKR

0.97 2.19 2.1

0.05 0.11 0.1

5.43% 5.29% 5.00%

T

HE stock market bounced back on Monday after Friday’s hefty losses on prospects of further economic reopening as daily COVID-19 cases continue to decline.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index surged 90.79 points, or 1.2 percent, to 7,361.15 on a value turnover P14.2 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 113 to 85, with 48 issues unchanged.

Bloomberry Resorts Corp., the casino operator owned by port tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., advanced 4.3 percent to P6.09, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the largest fast-food chain, climbed 3.8 percent to P249.

Globe Telecom Inc., the second-biggest

telecommunications firm, rallied 3.5 percent to P2,784, but noodles maker Monde Nissin Corp. sank 6.4 percent to P17.

The rest of Asian markets sank and oil prices rallied Monday after the United States warned Russia could attack Ukraine within days as diplomatic efforts to prevent a war appeared to fail, while fears over inflation were also keeping traders on edge.

The losses matched a sell-off in New York and Europe on Friday as Western

powers prepare for a conflict in eastern Europe after Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed calls by US counterpart Joe Biden and others to pull back.

Governments have told their citizens to leave Ukraine and US national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned last week that an invasion could begin “any day now” and would likely start with “a significant barrage of missiles and bomb attacks.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was preparing to visit Kyiv and Moscow to try to head off the crisis.

The prospect of a conflict compounded the gloomy mood on trading floors after data Thursday showed US inflation hit a forecast-busting 7.5 percent in January, ramping up pressure on the Federal Reserve to hike interest rates by

UK economy rebounds by record 7.5% from COVID

TOP LOSERS

1 KPHB 2 CSB 3 EMP

LAST PRICE CHANGE 6.31 -1.69 6.84 -1.56 20.15 -2.35

% CHANGE -21.13% -18.57% -10.44%

4 5 6 7

CAB MFIN MM CNVRG

45.3 2.2 2.18 27.1

-4.7 -0.2 -0.17 -1.85

-9.40% -8.33% -7.23% -6.39%

8

MONDE

17

-1.16

-6.39%

9 10

APC ATNB

0.234 0.7

-0.014 -0.04

-5.65% -5.41%

MOST ACTIVE

1 MONDE 2 GLO

VOLUME 72,260,500 255,385

VALUE (PHP) 1,206,173,628 707,589,010

3 4

ICT BDO

2,042,890 2,930,630

426,104,268 402,076,289

5

CNVRG

14,157,100

387,176,610

6 7 8 9

SMPH JFC BLOOM SM

9,823,700 1,385,210 55,906,400 359,040

368,431,070 341,009,680 340,505,564 334,514,510

10

EMP

15,940,500

318,362,569

Vietnam lifts virus curbs on foreign tourists starting today HANOI, Vietnam—Vietnam will lift coronavirus restrictions on international flights for fully vaccinated passengers from Tuesday, the country’s aviation authority said in a statement.

The communist nation has virtually closed itself to the world since March 2020 due to the pandemic, dealing a severe blow to its vital tourism sector.

Authorities have slowly eased the curbs in recent months, with visitors trickling in under a bubble arrangement since November.

Starting Tuesday (1700 GMT Monday), “Vietnam will lift restrictions on passenger carriage on scheduled flights and non-scheduled flights,” the civil aviation authority said.

The statement, released Sunday, did not say how many flights would be allowed to enter, but indicated arrivals could be permitted to return to prepandemic levels.

Anyone wanting to enter Vietnam must be fully vaccinated and will have to observe a three-day quarantine, either at home or in a hotel, according to regulations.

Travelers must still abide by existing entry-exit regulations and prepandemic healthcare requirements, the authority said.

More than 90 percent of adults in the country have received two COVID-19 vaccine doses. The government is considering inoculating young teenagers as it accelerates the rollout of booster shots.

Vietnam is currently reporting around 20,000 new daily cases, and has recorded more than 2.5 million infections with nearly 39,000 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

AFP

more than expected.

After sharp Wall Street losses on Friday, the dip continued in Asia.

Tokyo and Mumbai each shed more than two percent, while Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, Jakarta, Wellington and Taipei were at least one percent down. Singapore and Bangkok were also off, though Sydney rose.

A “flight to safety for all markets will be the first order” if Russia invades, said Wai Ho Leong, a strategist with Modular Asset Management in Singapore.

“The impact on inflation will go beyond oil and gas,” he warned. “For the rest of the world, it is potentially a massive food shock—as Ukraine is a major exporter of grain—mainly corn and wheat.” With AFP

A customer shops for fruit and vegetables at a greengrocer’s shop in Walthamstow, east London on February 13, 2022. UK annual inflation struck 5.4 percent in December, stoking fears of a cost-of-living squeeze as wages fail to keep pace. AFP

Switzerland votes to ban nearly all tobacco advertising GENEVA, Switzerland—The Swiss voted on Sunday to tighten their notoriously lax tobacco laws by banning virtually all advertising of the hazardous products.

Nearly 57 percent of voters and 16 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons backed the near-total tobacco advertising ban, final results showed.

“We are extremely happy. The people understood that health is more important than economic interests,” Stefanie De Borba of the Swiss League against Cancer, told AFP. Switzerland lags far behind most wealthy nations in restricting tobacco advertising—a situation widely blamed on substantial lobbying by some of the world’s biggest tobacco companies headquartered in the country.

Currently, most tobacco advertising is legal at a national level, except on television and radio, and when specifi-

cally targeting minors.

Some Swiss cantons have introduced stricter regional legislation and a new national law is pending, but the campaigners who forced the issue to a vote under Switzerland’s direct democracy system demanded far tighter rules.

Opponents of the initiative, which include the Swiss government and parliament, argued that it goes too far.

“Today we are talking about cigarettes, but we will soon be talking about alcohol and meat,” warned Philippe Bauer, a parliamentarian with the right-wing Liberal Party, decrying “this dictatorship of the politically correct, where everything has to be regulated.”

His concerns echo those voiced by Philip Morris International (PMI), the world’s largest tobacco company, which, like British American Tobacco

and Japan Tobacco, is headquartered in Switzerland and has helped fund the “No” campaign.

“This is a slippery slope as far as individual freedom is concerned,” a spokesman for PMI’s Swiss section told AFP. He decried Sunday’s result and urged parliament to show “moderation and measure” when drafting the decision into law.

Jean-Paul Humair, who heads a Geneva addiction prevention centre, hailed Sunday’s win as “a very important step” in the battle against tobacco use, and flatly rejected the industry’s arguments.

“This is not a question of freedom...

It is an illusion of freedom,” he told AFP, pointing out that tobacco use creates severe dependency.

“There is no other consumer product that kills half of all users.” AFP

LONDON, United Kingdom—Britain’s economy grew by a record 7.5 percent last year on easing COVID curbs after a pandemic-driven collapse, official data showed Friday, but analysts warned that sky-high inflation clouds the 2022 outlook.

The expansion, which was the fastest since records began in 1948, followed a record 9.4-percent slump in 2020, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) added in a statement.

Economies across the world were slammed in 2020 by the deadly pandemic, which sparked lockdowns and other public health restrictions that have since been largely removed.

The ONS added Friday that the UK economy increased by 1.0 percent in the fourth quarter despite the emergence of the Omicron Covid variant, matching its expansion in the third quarter.

However, gross domestic product dipped 0.2 percent in December on fallout from the rapid spread of Omicron—which is widely regarded as less dangerous than previous variants but hit the travel sector.

“GDP fell back slightly in December as the Omicron wave hit, with retail and hospitality seeing the biggest impacts,” said ONS director of economic statistics Darren Morgan.

“However, these were partially offset by increases in the Test and Trace service and vaccination programmes.

“Despite December’s setback, GDP grew robustly across the fourth quarter as a whole with the NHS (National Health Service), couriers and employment agencies all helping to support the economy,” added Morgan.

December activity held at its February 2020 level, before COVID struck.

Yet the fourth quarter of 2021 was slightly below that of the same period in 2019. AFP

Rising sea turns Brazilian resort town into apocalyptic landscape

By Eugenia Logiuratto ATAFONA, Brazil—Vultures roam the sand in the Brazilian resort town of Atafona amid the ruins of the latest houses destroyed by the sea, whose relentless rise has turned the local coastline into an apocalyptic landscape.

The Atlantic Ocean advances an average of six meters (nearly 20 feet) a year in this small town north of Rio de Janeiro, which has long been prone to extreme erosion—now exacerbated by climate change.

The sea has already submerged more than 500 houses, turning the once idyllic coastline into an underwater graveyard of wrecked structures.

One of the next to lose his home will be Joao Waked Peixoto.

Walking through the jumbled rubble of what was once his neighbors’ house, he looks at what is left: a fragment of a blue-painted room strewn with tattered magazines, a bicycle and other remnants of life.

“When will we have to leave? That’s an unknown,” he says.

“The sea advanced three or four meters in 15 days. Our wall might not last until next week.”

Waked Peixoto’s grandfather built the house as a vacation home, a beachfront getaway with large rooms and a garden.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Waked Peixoto and his family moved in full-time.

But it now looks inevitable the house will be swallowed by the sea.

“It will be a shame to lose this house,

Businessman Joao Waked Peixoto, 49, walks to check a house that fell beside his home, at Atafona beach, Atafona neighborhood, in Sao Joao da Barra, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on February 7, 2022. AFP

because it holds so many memories of my whole family,” he says.

Extreme erosion Atafona, a town of some 6,000 people, has long suffered from extreme erosion. It is part of the four percent of coastlines worldwide that lose five meters or more every year.

The problem is being exacerbated by global warming, which is causing sea levels to rise and making currents and weather patterns more extreme, says geologist Eduardo Bulhoes of Fluminense Federal University.

But Atafona has had a “chronic problem” for decades, he says.

The Paraiba do Sul river, whose mouth is in Atafona, has shrunk because of mining, agriculture and other activities that drain it upstream.

“In the last 40 years, that has drastically reduced the river’s volume, meaning it transports less sand to Atafona,” says Bulhoes.

With less sand, the town’s beaches have stopped regenerating naturally, ceding ground to the sea.

Construction on the coast has only made the problem worse, by stripping away sand dunes and vegetation, the beaches’ natural defenses.

The result has been disastrous for the

tourism and fishing industries.

“Large boats can’t come through the river delta anymore... and the money disappeared along with them,” says Elialdo Bastos Meirelles, head of a local fishermen’s community of some 600 people.

“The river is dead.”

‘Abandoned’ Local authorities have studied several plans to curb the erosion, including building dikes to reduce the force of the ocean’s waves and hauling sand from the river delta to the beach.

Bulhoes, the geologist, proposed the latter, which is modeled on similar initiatives in the Netherlands, Spain and the United States.

But the projects exist only on paper so far.

The county under-secretary for the environment, Alex Ramos, told AFP no one had yet come up with a definitive solution, and that any plan would have to gain environmental regulators’ approval first.

In the meantime, the county has launched a social assistance program that pays 1,200 reais ($230) a month to more than 40 families who lost their homes to erosion.

But critics accuse the local government of a lack of political will.

“We keep hearing promises,” says Veronica Vieira, head of neighborhood association SOS Atafona.

“But this town has been abandoned. It’s an apocalypse. It makes you want to cry.” AFP

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

B4

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022

Beeinfotech opens largest data center with 3,000 servers

By Darwin G. Amojelar BEEINFOTECH PH said Monday it is ready to accept global “hyperscalers” with the opening of its first data center in the Philippines.

Dubbed “The Hive,” it is the largest operating telco-neutral data center facility in the country, with three floors capable of housing at least 3,000 server racks of up to 45U rack height.

The Hive is ready to answer the colocation needs of hyperscalers expanding global footprint and enterprises undergoing digital transformation, it said.

“With the increased demand for digital services under the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the recent efforts to improve the nation’s connectivity and IT infrastructure, now is the perfect time to welcome hyperscalers and other large-scale partners to the Philippines,” said Beeinfotech PH president and chief executive Reynaldo Huergas.

“Telco-neutral data centers with significant and flexible rack space such as The Hive are suitable colocation facilities for hyperscalers since they enable enterprises to quickly scale resources and establish a local footprint without the arduous and time-consuming process of building a DC from scratch,” he said.

First announced in August 2021, The Hive’s arrival follows the growth of the data center market in the Philippines, which is becoming one of the most preferred nations in the APAC region to host data centers.

A report from Research and Markets predicted that the Philippine data center market would experience a compound annual growth rate of 11.40 percent between 2021 and 2026, with investments reaching up to $535 million.

The expansion in the country is in line with the Asia-Pacific region’s considerable growth in data center spending, with the market research firm expecting that the region will spend around $9 billion by 2027.

Business Qatar food firm investing $500m in PH dairy facility

By Othel V. Campos

T

HE Philippines teamed up with Qatarbased Baladna Qatar Public Shareholding Co. to establish a $500-million integrated dairy facility, the Department of Agriculture said Monday.

“The DA, through the National Dairy Authority, fully supports and welcomes this new initiative as this will help jumpstart catalytic investments in the Philippine dairy industry to contribute to food security, local milk production and processing leading to agri-industrial development,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar, who was in the UAE for Expo 2020 Dubai.

The project will increase local milk production by 120 million liters from the current production of 26.71 mil-

lion liters. This will bring Philippines’ total milk production to 146.71 million liters, although it would still be a long way from supplying the local demand of 2,927.04 million liters.

“The investments will be able to generate 2,000 new jobs during the initial phase of its first full year of operations, providing significant opportunities for domestic employment,” said Dar. The DA identified five possible locations for the Baladna project as it awaits the arrival of the Baladna representatives in the next few weeks for a site visit.

“DA will continuously provide the needed support to fast track the implementation of this project in coordination with DTI and other partner agencies,” Dar said.

Baladna QPSC expressed its interest in setting up a large-scale and fully-integrated dairy facility in the country designed to be climate-independent using world-class management systems.

Baladna is into raising livestock and production of dairy products

including milk, yogurt, cheese, labneh, cream, dessert, juices and animal fertilizers.

The company is Qatar’s largest locally-owned food and dairy producer, supplying over 95 percent of the country’s fresh dairy products. The firm owns more than 24,000 Holstein cows on its 2.6 million square-meter facility with 40 state-of-the-art barns.

It has the capacity to produce 450 metric tons of fresh milk and juice products on a daily basis, and employs more than 1,650 workers.

Baladna said its main consideration for supporting the Philippine government is to level the playing field and foster domestic dairy production.

The Board of Investment agreed to assist the Qatar firm on availment of incentives under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises law.

The Department of Trade and Industry and the DA agreed to work together in looking at measures that will level the playing field such as implementing proper labelling of fresh milk.

PH-UAE TIEUP.

Revitalized business relationships between the Philippines and the Middle East in the construction sector take off during the Philippines -United Arab Emirates High Level Construction and Related Engineering Services roundtable meeting at Kempinski Hotel Mall of Emirates, Dubai. Attending the event are (from left) Public Works Secretary Roger Mercado, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry secretary general Hamid Mohammed Bin Salem and Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar.

LandBank’s profit grew 27% to P21.75b in 2021 on higher deposits

By Julito G. Rada LAND Bank of the Philippines said Monday net income grew 27 percent in 2021 to P21.75 billion from P17.14 billion in 2020, on the back of lower cost of funds and provision for losses.

The bank said in a statement assets rose 9.5 percent year-on-year to P2.586 trillion from P2.362 trillion driven by deposits that expanded 8.4 percent to P2.269 trillion, mainly from the increase in deposits of government and private accounts.

Capital increased 23.4 percent to P207.68 billion from P168.31 billion in 2020, attributed to the P27.5-billion equity infusion from the national government in February 2021 and the increase in retained earnings from annual net income.

“LandBank’s robust financial performance to close 2021 is a testament to resiliency and the capacity to thrive amid another challenging year,” LandBank president and chief executive Cecilia Borromeo said.

“We will build on this momentum

First Gen subsidiary says restoration of Avion natural gas plant completed

By Alena Mae S. Flores PRIME Meridian Powergen Corp., a subsidiary of First Gen Corp., said Unit 1 of the 97-megawatt Avion open-cycle natural gas-fired power plant in Batangas City is now available after the successful testing and commissioning.

First Gen said it was advised by PMPC that GE, the original equipment manufacturer, completed the recommissioning and testing activities of Unit 1 of the Avion Power Plant using both natural gas and liquid fuel.

“The unit is now commercially available on both natural gas and liquid fuel,” First Gen said.

The Avion power plant is owned

by PMPC and located within the First Gen Clean Energy Complex in Batangas City. In December, PMPC found damage to the compressor of one of two gas turbines of the Avion

power plant.

The Avion power plant features two units that utilize General Electric LM6000 PC dual fuel aero-derivative gas turbines/generators.

Avion Unit 2, which was previously damaged in August and subsequently brought back to service

by GE in October 2021, was not affected.

The power plant started commercial operations on Sept. 26, 2016 and has the capability to run on either natural gas or diesel, and its turbines have the flexibility to ramp up quickly and to do unlimited daily starts and stops, making it the ideal merchant peaking plant in First Gen’s portfolio of assets.

The plant’s flexibility allows it to provide ancillary services which is integral to ensure the stability and reliability of the power grid.

as we continue to take on an expanded role and a more holistic approach in supporting key development sectors and the nation at large,” she said.

The bank said it posted an above-industry average return on equity of 11.57 percent. Return on assets improved to 0.88 percent from 0.78 percent in 2020, while net interest margin was 2.86 percent.

A strong financial base placed it in prime position to support the whole agriculture sector and other development industries.

It said total loans translated into the

delivery of various basic services and infrastructure facilities. These included the construction and improvement of 303 kilometers of farm-to-market roads, 33 hospital buildings, 1,954 hospital beds, 9 school buildings, 96 classrooms and 18,303 households connected with potable water.

Borromeo said the bank strived to strike a successful balance in fulfilling its social mandate of promoting national development while remaining financially viable, making it unique among universal banks in the country.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Monday, February 14, 2022 90.79 PTS. 7,361.15

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

1,189,584,657 107,712

TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES DECLINES

14,185,027,517.18 85 113

UNCHANGED

48

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

51.3290

Japan

Yen

0.008671

0.4451

UK

Pound

1.356300

69.6175

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128207

6.5807

Switzerland

Franc

1.081315

55.5028

Canada

Dollar

0.785238

40.3055

Singapore

Dollar

0.742721

38.1231

Australia

Dollar

0.712900

36.5924

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652872

136.1693

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266553

13.6819

Brunei

Dollar

0.739973

37.9821

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.030600

1.5707

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.9762

Euro

Euro

1.134000

58.2071

Korea

Won

0.000834

0.0428

China

Yuan

0.157376

8.0780

India

Rupee

0.013277

0.6815

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.238777

12.2562

New Zealand

Dollar

0.664100

34.0876

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035838

1.8395 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

PH, Japan officials to hold infra meeting

FILIPINO and Japanese officials will hold a high-level meeting on Wednesday to discuss the substantive accomplishments made by the Philippines-Japan High Level Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation on big-ticket projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program.

The Department of Finance said in a statement Monday that Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III would chair the Philippine side, while Mori Masafumi, the special advisor to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, would lead the Japanese delegation in the meeting.

Included in the discussions are the Metro Manila Subway Project, North-South Commuter Railway project, rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3, Dalton Pass East Alignment Road, Central Mindanao Highway and the Parañaque Spillway.

This will be the 12th meeting between the two sides. The first meeting of the high-level committee was held in March 2017 in Tokyo. It was part of the commitment made two months earlier by then-Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to provide one trillion yen (about $9 billion) in financing support to the Philippines over the next five years. Julito G. Rada

DTI secures $580m investments from UAE

THE Philippines signed $580 million worth of investment prospects with Dubai-based industries during the Philippine National Day in the United Arab Emirates, an important leg of the Expo 2020 Dubai.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the freshly-signed investment pledges would generate 3,920 jobs in the Philippines.

“Several UAE companies have signified strong interest to invest and explore business opportunities in the Philippines by signing letters of intent and memoranda of understanding,” he said.

Signed over the weekend were one MOUs and three LOIs signifying the interest of Dubai industries to explore retail of medical equipment and other consumer goods. Dubai investors are also eyeing investments in dairy production, theme park development and renewable energy projects, Lopez said.

The DTI and the Board of Investments brought Making it Happen in the Philippines, the Philippine investment forum, to Expo Dubai 2020 in search of fresh investments.

Othel V. Campos

SEC revokes permit of Suhail Medical

THE Securities and Exchange Commission said Monday it revoked the registration of Suhail Medical Center Inc. for illegal solicitation of investments from the public.

The SEC’s Enforcement and Investor Protection Department said it found that the company headed by Jesser Cordova was publicly offering and selling securities without the necessary secondary license from the SEC. Based on the investigation, Suhail Medical Center was soliciting investments from the public worth P1.06 million for the co-ownership seat in its supposed hospital in Calamba, Laguna. Investors also have the option to purchase half a seat worth P550,000.

The company promised investors returns in the form of quarterly revenues based on the hospital’s performance, free laboratories and check-ups for the co-owners and their next of kin and lifetime income.

Suhail Medical Center was reportedly offering securities, particularly an investment contract, whereby a person invests his money in a common enterprise and is led to expect profits primarily from the efforts of others, according to the EIPD. Jenniffer B. Austria

Bangko Sentral plans to continue monetary support for recovery THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is keen on maintaining its policy support to sustain economic recovery from the impact of the global health crisis, Governor Benjamin Diokno said.

“The BSP’s accommodative mone-

tary policy and extraordinary measures ensured adequate liquidity in the financial system that accelerated domestic economic activity amid the pandemic,” Diokno said in a presentation during the recent J.P. Morgan Philippine Confer-

WATER DONATION.

Manila Water Foundation and its partners send more than 70,000 liters of drinking water and over 300 cases of P&G hygiene products to displaced families in Cebu, Bohol, Southern Leyte, Siargao, Dinagat Islands and Surigao City. In coordination with the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard, Manila Water transported the items to Odetteravaged communities. The initiative is under Manila Water Foundation‘s Agapay program, which aims to immediately address the water supply and sanitation needs of the typhoon victims.

ence 2022.

The BSP’s liquidity-easing measures in response to the pandemic amounted to P2.3 trillion, equivalent to about 12.03 percent of gross domestic product.

The gross domestic product grew by 7.7 percent in the fourth quarte, resulting in a 5.6-percent full-year growth in 2021.

This exceeded the government’s most recent projection of 5.0 percent to 5.5 percent for the year and partially offset the 9.6-percent contraction in 2020, the worst GDP performance since World War 2.

Based on the BSP’s latest inflation baseline forecasts, inflation is projected to settle at 3.4 percent in 2022 and 3.2 percent in 2023, within the government’s official target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

“Meanwhile, the current level of gross international reserves, which stood at $109 billion, is more than sufficient to withstand adverse external shocks,” Diokno said.

The country’s external payments position could also be further strengthened by structural flows from overseas Filipino remittances and foreign direct investments, he said. Julito G. Rada

Sports Asa Miller with friend Shannon Ogbnai Abeda (Asa Miller IG)

Miller learns from mistake, promises to stick to plan YANQING, China—Asa Miller admitted on Monday that he learned a bitter lesson from his DNF (Did Not Finish) result in the giant slalom event Sunday morning at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Saying that he lost his focus for waiting long enough to take his turn to start, Miller was aggressive from the get go as he went for five gates as fast as he can.

He skied for only 15.9 seconds before crashing out.

“I just have to stick to my plan for the next race,” said the 21-year-old Miller, whose campaign is fully supported by the Philippine Sports Commission headed by Chairman William Ramirez.

Miller, however, avoided blaming the weather—it snowed for the first time in weeks at the Ice River on Saturday and Sunday—in the first run that saw 32 of the 84 participants also getting DNFs in the results list.

“I’d kind of lost my focus when I got into the gate for so long waiting, and forgot what I want to think about, so I need to make sure to stick to my plan for slalom on Wednesday,” he said.

Miller’s American coach Will Gregorak observed right after the race that Miller skied not to finish “but to run” and go for a strong result.

The two-time Filipino-American Olympian expressed his frustration by leaving right away for the Olympic Village and skipped a request for an interview at the Mixed Zone.

On Monday, he appeared in a good mood as he watched the giant slalom medal ceremony where Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt received his first Olympic gold medal. Slovenia’s Zan Kranjec clinched silver and France’s Mathieu Faivre bagged bronze.

“I’m pretty bummed about that [DNF], but I went out skiing my hardest and I went fast,” Miller said. “Ski racing is a hard sport. A lot of the best skiers struggled yesterday [Sunday], and a lot of people didn’t finish so I’m happy that I put my best out there and laid it on the line.”

TUESDAY, FEBUARY 15, 2022

C1

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

Ravena, Ramos getting familiar with Reyes’ new Gilas 5 system

By Peter Atencio

T

HIRDY Ravena, Dwight Ramos and the younger members of the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team are now familiarizing themselves with the system of returning national coach Chot Reyes.

Getting used to the dribble drive motion offense that Reyes usually runs in his games is one of the new systems that they are familiarizing with.

“It’s my first time with coach Chot, it’s something new that I’m trying to pick up on as soon as I could,” said Ravena, a few days after he returned from Japan to rejoin Gilas with Dwight Ramos.

Ravena and Ramos discussed their return to the national squad, which is set to see action in the FIBA World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers’ February

window in two weeks’ time. They took their time to discuss their participation with Gilas during the weekly program, “Power and Play.”

Both took a break from their stints with their respective club teams in the B.League back in Japan, with Ravena playing for SanEn Neophoenix and Ramos being part of the Toyama Grouses.

The dribble drive system is a guardoriented offense focused on players spreading out the floor and attacking the rim with a dribble.

Under this system, the player attacking the defense seeks to make multiple defenders go after him.

Members of Gilas rarely ran this play during Tab Baldwin’s time as coach.

So far, Ramos said they have not discussed their roles with the team as they spent time learning Reyes’ system since they joined the team practices.

Gilas is now practising with Marc Pingris returning as well to the Gilas squad, but this time as an assistant coach.

The team also saw the addition of Robert Bolick Jr. Bolick re-signed with NorthPort Batang Pier over the week.

Gilas will meet South Korea on February 24, before facing India on the 25th, New Zealand on the 27th and South Korea again on the 28th.

All games will be held behind closed doors at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK. Matthew Wright once again rose to the occasion as Phoenix Super LPG pulled off a 93-92 escape act against the TNT Tropang Giga behind his runaway game-winner in the PBA Governors’ Cup Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Wright’s heroics completed an all-around outing of 27 points, 10 assists, four rebounds and three steals to earn himself the Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week award for the period Feb. 11 to 13.

PSA Foum to tackle PH Super League, women’s meet RETIRED PBA great Marc Pingris joins officials and players of the FSD Auto Insurance WNBL 3x3 Season 2021-22 in Tuesday’s virtual session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.

Talking points for Pingris will be the inaugural Pilipinas Super League, where he has recently been appointed as commissioner.

Pingris appears in the first part of the 10 a.m. public sports program presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

The other half of the session will have the second leg of the WNBL 3x3 2021-22 season featuring commissioner Haydee Ong, executive committee chairman Kat Quimpo, and players Alyssa Villamor of Leg 1 champion Uratex Dream and Callie Paguigan of Sureviewd.

The Forum is livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page fb.com/PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and also officially shared by Radyo Pilipinas 2 Facebook page.

The session will be the final one before the Forum goes on a month-long break to give way to the holding of the annual SMCPSA Awards Night slated on March 14 at the Diamond Hotel.

Lady pro boxers excel in MMA, muay thai

By Randy Caluag ELITE pro boxers Gretel De Paz and Florivic Montero relied on their heavy hands polished through years of experience in the ring to dispose of separate rivals in professional muay thai and mixed martial arts bouts held recently at the Quirino Stadium in Bantay, Ilocos Sur. De Paz scored a convincing unanimous decision win over an equally tough foe in Rosemarie Recto, after three rounds of muay thai action in the fight promotion that featured various combat disciplines.

It was a mighty display of striking skills by De Paz and Recto, who were not strangers to each

other as they both tried out for a slot in the national kickboxing team and lived together for a couple of weeks in a bubble kickboxing training camp in La Trinidad, Benguet last December.

A native of Biliran, Leyte, De Paz was a former Philippine bantamweight boxing champion, and last fought in the ring in February 2020, before the Covid-19 pandemic put a halt to the staging of professional combat sports.

Montero, who won the Philippine flyweight boxing title in July 2019 before going stagnant, proved to be the more dominant striker in her MMA tussle with Mary Glyde Salazar, scoring a knockout win with 26 seconds left

in the 2nd round.

From boxing, they tried and proved to be a force to reckon with in other disciplines.

The Games and Amusement Board-sanctioned event was dubbed Bakbakan sa Ilocos, which was part of the provincial government’s celebration of Kannawidan 22 supported by Gov. Ryan Singson.

Montero and De Paz train under Elorde Southbox owned by promoter Cucuy Elorde.

They are both being considered to be part of the national team by the Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas, which will conduct its final selection in March for the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games in May.

Gretel De Paz’s right hand is raised after her unanimous victory over Rosemarie Recto. (De Paz FB Page)

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Sports

TUESDAY, FEBUARY 15, 2022

Russian teen Valieva allowed to skate again at winter games

Mobile Legends PH Season 9 goes offline starting week 3 THE Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League—Philippines Season 9 got the green light from Games and Amusements Board to go offline from the third week of the regular season up to the playoffs.

GAB initially confirmed the approval to have the games onsite from Week 5 onward.

During the period, strict health and safety protocols will be implemented such as having swab tests and limiting the number of personnel entering in the venue.

There will also be a roving safety officer to ensure everyone follows the rules. Safety and sanitation kits will be shared with all attendees and potential cases will be isolated.

The venue will be limited to players, casters, and staff for safety purposes.

There will also be no audience during the games, but fans can stream the matches at the comfort of their homes through MPL-PH’s official social media platforms - Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.

For more information, follow MPL PH on its Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok channels.

Established in 2014, MOONTON is a global video game company dedicated to gaming development, publication and esports. With more than 900 employees worldwide, the company operates offices in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and mainland China. It has successfully launched a number of high-profile mobile games globally and has built long-term relationships with governments and esports organizations in more than 30 countries around the world. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is its current star game and the leading mobile multiplayer online battle arena game worldwide.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is the most popular mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game worldwide that brings communities together through teamwork and strategy.

With over one billion installations and 100 million active monthly users, the award-winning game is among the top 10 most played in over 80 countries. With an extensive reach across the Asia Pacific region, the multiplayer is available in 139 countries with an expansive global esports presence.

Cooper Kupp #10 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20. AFP

Kupp, Donald star as Rams whip Bengals in Super Bowl

L

OS ANGELES—Cooper Kupp scored two touchdowns and Aaron Donald spearheaded a fearsome defensive display as the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 to win the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Kupp scored a decisive touchdown with 1min 25sec remaining to give the Rams the lead at SoFi Stadium before Donald grabbed the Rams’ record-equalling seventh sack of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow to seal a blockbuster victory.

Donald’s sack of Burrow was the dramatic final act of a gripping contest between the star-studded Rams and the Bengals, whose bid to win a first-ever Vince Lombardi Trophy fell agonizingly short.

“I’m just so happy,” said Rams defensive star Donald. “I wanted this so bad. I dreamed this.”

“One play and we’re world champs,” Donald added of his crucial late sack of Burrow. “Any way to get to him. We made it.”

Wide receiver Kupp was named the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player three years after missing the Rams’ prior appearance

in a Super Bowl through injury.

“It is unbelievable,” Kupp said. “To be able to experience this with my family. It has been such a fun ride. Up and down but fun.”

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, meanwhile, paid tribute to his team’s never-say-die approach.

“I’m so proud of this team,” Stafford said. “There are so many guys on our team that deserve this, so many guys who gave their heart and soul to this team.

“That game today is the story of our season. It’s up and down it’s tough. We’re a tough team. We showed up late and got it done.”

The Bengals had stormed into a 20-13 lead early in the second half after a controversial Tee Higgins touchdown and an Evan McPherson field goal.

Higgins raced for a 75-yard score but

replays showed he grabbed Rams’ safety Jalen Ramsey’s facemask before breaking clear -- an infringement that should have led to a penalty.

‘Stars came to life’ But the Rams, who had struggled to build momentum on offense after a game-ending injury to Odell Beckham Jr. in the first half, clawed their way back into the game thanks to their rampant defense led by Donald.

Burrow was sacked repeatedly at key moments to prevent the Bengals from extending their lead.

Matt Gay’s field goal pulled the Rams back to 20-16 heading into the fourth quarter.

Stafford then led a 15-play, 79-yard drive that benefited from three crucial Bengals penalties near the goal line before Kupp plucked a one-yard pass in the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown.

“Stafford and Kupp came to life,” said Rams head coach Sean McVay -- who becomes the youngest ever head coach to win the Super Bowl at the age of 36.

“Our best players shined the brightest when they had to and that’s why we got it done.” AFP

Cali Love: Dre, Snoop lead ‘Super’ show; Eminem takes knee NEW YORK—For the first time hiphop headlined the Super Bowl halftime show, starring Dr. Dre and proteges Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and Eminem, who invoked a racial justice protest by taking a knee on music’s biggest stage.

Buzz had been building for weeks over the ‘90s lovefest that also included Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent onstage midway through Sunday’s game, which had the Los Angeles Rams taking on the Cincinnati Bengals.

The show saw the field transformed into a giant map of Los Angeles, which is hosting the National Football League championship for the first time in nearly three decades.

Dre and Snoop opened the ode to gangsta rap with their hit “The Next Episode,” before paying tribute to Tupac Shakur with “California Love.”

East Coast made a cameo as 50 Cent dropped down from the ceiling while launching into the early 2000s favor-

ite “In Da Club,” before Blige kicked the show up a notch with her superhit “Family Affair.”

Donning all white and sequins, R&B star Blige then sang “No More Drama,” ahead of Lamar’s performance of “Alright” in front of the stage, surrounded by men donning all black complete with “Dre Day” sashes.

Detroit rapper Eminem emerged with his Grammy and Oscar-winning smash “Lose Yourself”—before taking a knee, a move that invoked the social justice protest by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and set social media alight.

Kaepernick began kneeling during national anthems in 2016 to protest police brutality and racial injustice, triggering controversy for years.

Eminem, wearing a black hoodie, held his head in his hand and knelt, in a move that appeared to reference Kaepernick after performing his smash during music’s most visible gig.

Legendary music mogul Dre then sat

US rapper Eminem kneels on stage as he performs with US rapper Dr. Dre during the halftime show of Super Bowl LVI between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. AFP

Cricket ‘fairy tale’: PH amateurs chase World Cup berth

By Allison Jackson THE Philippines is better known for boxers than batsmen and its cricket team has not played for three years, but the side of amateurs hope to make their mark in T20 World Cup qualifiers.

As the lowest-ranked side in the eight-team qualifying tournament taking place this month in Oman featuring the likes of Nepal, Ireland and United Arab Emirates, few are more surprised than the Philippines to be pulling on the pads at global level.

“It’s like a fairy tale,” said skipper Jonathan Hill, a high-school teacher in Jervis Bay in Australia’s New South Wales, where he plays club cricket.

The Philippines team is made up of mainly Indian expats in Manila and Filipino-Australians based in Australia who take time off from their day jobs to train and play.

Preparations for the biggest fixtures of their lives have been “far from ideal”, Hill said.

The last time the Philippines played a match

was three years ago -- a victorious, rain-soaked five overs against Vanuatu in a regional qualifying tournament in Port Moresby which unexpectedly secured their berth in Oman.

After the Covid pandemic hit and competitions were cancelled, players were left mostly to train alone as lockdowns and border closures made it impossible to gather in one place.

When the 14-strong squad assembles in Oman this week for Friday’s opening clash against Canada, it will be the first time some of the players have met.

“We’re definitely heavy underdogs,” said Hill.

“But at the end of the day cricket is still a game.

“It’s bat versus ball and the thing I love most about it is that it’s not just skill level or fitness level or even intellect -- so much of cricket is about heart and that’s something we’ve always played with.”

- Fundraising appeal The top two teams in Oman will book spots in the T20 World Cup in Australia

later this year.

“We will try our best,” said 42-year-old offspinner Vimal Kumar, who took a break from his lending and trading business in Manila recently to join a rare practice session in the Philippine capital.

“It’s an unpredictable game, you never know who is going to win.”

The players are paying a heavy price to get to Oman.

While the global governing body, the International Cricket Council, covers the cost of flights and accommodation for the Philippines, other expenses are left to the players to shoulder. AFP Sivamohanreddy Busireddy of the Philippines national cricket team bats during a team training session at the United Club pitch in Paranque City in suburban Manila. The team is made up of mainly Indian expats in Manila and FilipinoAustralians based Down Under, who take time off from their day jobs to train and play. AFP

BEIJING—Russian teenage figure skater Kamila Valieva can compete again at the Beijing Olympics after sport’s top court said on Monday that she should not be suspended for failing a drugs test.

In a case that has rocked the Games, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that the prodigious 15-year-old could take part in the women’s singles event that begins on Tuesday.

The young Russian will be favourite to win but she has not been cleared of doping and could still face punishment at a later date.

CAS said it had rejected appeals by the International Olympic Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Skating Union to have the suspension reinstated after it was lifted

by Russian anti-doping authorities.

The court cited “exceptional circumstances”, including Valieva’s status as a “protected person”—in other words, a minor.

Matthieu Reeb, CAS director general, said: “The panel considered that preventing the athlete to compete in the Olympic Games would cause her irreparable harm in these circumstances.”

CAS also emphasised that “there were serious issues of untimely notification” of the result of the test.

Valieva took the test on December 25 but the result was only produced last week, after she had led Russia to team gold.

“Such late notification was not her fault, in the middle of the Olympic Winter Games,” the ruling said.

The Russian Olympic Committee hailed the decision, saying: “Tomorrow the whole country will support her and all our wonderful female skaters in the individuals competition.”

The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee though said it was “disappointed by the message this decision sends”.

“This appears to be another chapter in the systemic and pervasive disregard for clean sport by Russia,” it said in a statement.

Six-week delay Valieva tested positive for trimetazidine, which is used to treat angina and vertigo but is banned because it can increase blood flow efficiency and help endurance for athletes.

It took six weeks for the result of the test to be processed by a WADA-accredited laboratory in Stockholm. AFP at the piano to drop the iconic opening notes of his hit “Still D.R.E.,” before all of the performers joined together to close the rap spectacular.

Anderson .Paak also notably made a cameo on drums.

It was the third straight Super Bowl performance produced by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, which was enlisted by the NFL to “amplify the league’s social justice efforts.”

The first show Roc Nation produced was a celebrated performance from Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, with the Weeknd putting on an impressive pandemic-era show last year.

The 2022 edition comes three years after the NFL faced sharp criticism for choosing pop-rock band Maroon 5 to lead the coveted gig -- whose audience usually tops 100 million -- in Atlanta, long seen as America’s hip-hop capital.

Prior to Sunday’s kickoff, country star Mickey Guyton, donning a sleek royal blue gown and backed by a gospel choir, delivered a stirring rendition of the US national anthem.

The pre-game show also featured a performance from Jhene Aiko, who sang “America the Beautiful” accompanied by a harpist. AFP

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022

A ‘sweetcom’ for everyone

Catch (from left) Pepe Herrera, Pia Wurtzbach, and Piolo Pascual in ‘My Papa Pi’

Vice Ganda, Ion Perez ‘tie the knot’ in Vegas

By Patricia Taculao FEBRUARY indeed is the season of love. Just a day away from Valentine’s Day, Kapamilya star Vice Ganda finally confirmed speculations about his relationship with long-time partner Ion Perez.

Although the couple is reportedly married since late last year, the comedian-host posted a 14-minute long video on his YouTube channel to give fans a glimpse of what happened during the couple’s trip to Las Vegas.

Per the video’s art card, their intimate ceremony happened on Oct. 19, 2021, at the Little Vegas Chapel.

The video opens with a scene in the couple’s hotel room. As the camera slowly captures a peek of Vice and Ion’s clothes and rings for the special day, the scene shifts to the curtains opening with the Las Vegas skyline in view.

Vice then comments on what a beautiful day it is as Ion comes into view with the comedian-host. Both couldn’t seem to contain their excitement for the big day as smiles lit up their faces, and they showered each other with affection.

Eventually, the couple showed how they prepared for their special day. Ion wore white long sleeves with a pair of ripped jeans while Vice wore a simple, white long-sleeved dress.

After several quick shots of their preparation phase, Vice and Ion exited their hotel to ride a chauffeured limousine towards their chapel.

Along the way, they both shared hearty conversations.

For their vows, Ion began by saying, “Nandito ako na buong-buo ‘yung loob ko na makasama ka. Wala akong ibang masabi kundi mahal na mahal kita.”

To which Vice replied his

happiness to share this relevant moment with Ion, along with other events in their lives. He added that one of his constant prayers is to have Ion beside him today, tomorrow, and always.

Vice then continues to profess his deep love for Ion as he completes his vows.

Unlike usual vows, Vice also promises to love and care for himself to keep Ion from worrying too much about him.

“Mag-iipon pa akong maraming, maraming, maraming pagmamahal sa puso ko para makaya ko pang mahalin ang sarili ko at para makaya ko pang mahalin ka—pati yung mga mga mahal natin sa buhay,” he said.

One of the lines from Vice’s vow that made people’s hearts aflutter is when the comedian-host said “Sa lahat ng gagawin ko sa buhay ko, isa ka sa magiging inspirasyon ko. You will be one of the best reasons for all of my achievements. And I promise, na isa ka sa magiging dahilan kung bakit gusto ko pang mabuhay ulit bukas at sa mga susunod na araw.”

After their vows, the couple exchanged wedding rings and happily sealed the deal to their happily ever after.

Love indeed wins every time. As the couple embarks on this new journey in their lives, both their colleagues and fans went on social media to congratulate and wish the couple well, even though it’s been almost four months since they wed.

Vice and Ion first confirmed their relationship in 2019 and have kept fans updated through v l o g s on their YouTube channel.

Vice and Ion officially wed on October 19, 2021

Kanye West documentary-maker ‘disappointed’ by Netflix editing row THE director of Netflix’s new Kanye West documentary was left disappointed — though not surprised — by the controversial rapper’s last-minute demand to recut a movie decades in the making, he told AFP. Clarence “Coodie” Simmons started following his friend West with a camera in 2001, curious to see how far the ambitious young music producer from Chicago could go, and eventually amassed 320 hours of behind-the-scenes footage o f his journey t o international stardom.

The first part of sevenhour movie jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy will be released by Netflix on Wednesday, but the famously perfectionist West last month took to Instagram demanding “final edit and approval” on the project, in order to “be in charge of my own image.”

“I told Kanye he had to have 100 percent trust in this film ... he said he trusted,” said Simmons. “So when I seen that Instagram, I was a bit disappointed.”

As recently as last week, West — now known as Ye — continued to issue demands, such as having fellow rap superstar Drake take over the narration.

Ironically, Simmons had gone to significant lengths to

ensure West was happy, scrapping plans to first release the footage back in 2005 because West “said he wasn’t ready for the world to see the real him.”

The pair later grew apart and Simmons had little access to West for the next decade or so.

But in a seeming reconciliation, West showed up at a Hollywood screening of the documentary Friday, hugging Simmons and telling the audience that “people try to cancel us and we all run away from each other and scatter or we be not talking to each other, not communicating.”

The documentary touches on West’s mental health issues, including a bi-polar disorder, which led to him being hospitalized in 2016 and came under renewed spotlight during his bizarre run for the US presidency in 2020.

The controversy surrounding West’s demands for creative control over “jeenyuhs” has undoubtedly drawn more publicity t o the documentary.

But Simmons and codirector Chike Ozah hope that showing West’s more vulnerable and sometimes embarrassing moments during his rise to greatness will help the world reassess a figure known for frequent arrogant and egocentric outbursts. AFP Kanye West performing in Las Vegas, Nevada last September 2015

ACTOR Piolo Pascual will be joined

by Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach and comedian Pepe Herrera in a series helmed by blockbuster director Cathy Garcia-Molina.

Set in the fictional Mapag-Asa street, My Papa Pi revolves around the lives of Pipoy (Pascual), a single dad who wants a better future for his daughter, his twin brother Popoy (Herrera), a popular tumbong maker and owner of “One More Tumbong,” and Tere (Wurtzbach), a woman with a golden heart who happens to be Popoy’s one great love but has feelings for Pipoy.

Adding zest to their story are other characters in Brgy. Gintong Tupa to be played by the star-studded ensemble of Joross Gamboa, Alora Sasam, Hyubs Azarcon, Katya Santos, Daisy Lopez aka Madam Inutz, and breakout stars

Anthony Jennings and Daniela Stranner from the movie Love at First Stream.

My Papa Pi is one of ABS-CBN’s much-awaited 2022 offerings as this is Pascual’s first ABS-CBN series since 2020. Dubbed as a “sweetcom,” the show will bring smiles and romance to viewers who are looking for something fresh and new this 2022.

“It’s a nice breather. We have a solid cast and a fun director,” Pascual said of the new show.

This is also the first series of its kind for Garcia-Molina, who is more known for her box-office films and well-loved television series.

“Piolo is the main reason why I’m doing the series. I really want to work with Piolo.

The last time we worked together was in Lobo. It’s been a decade since we worked together,” the director said.

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After showcasing her talent in the Star Cinema film My Perfect You and in hosting via World of Dance Philippines and the award-winning lifestyle show Pia’s Postcards, Wurtzbach is ready to return to acting in My Papa Pi. “I think the project is perfect for me kasi malalabas ko ‘yung kulit ko…So, it’s a great way to come back. Sobrang grateful ko po na ako yung napili,” she said.

Herrera, meanwhile, continues to make a name as one of the country’s premier and versatile comedians, having starred in numerous shows and films in both leading and supporting roles such as Princess Dayareese, Jhon En Marsha, Hoy, Love You, and The Killer Bride.

My Papa Pi premieres on March 5, 7:00 p.m. on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z, iWantTFC, and TFC.

GMA NETWORK

solidifies presence with launch of 11th regional station

GMA Regional TV and Synergy First Vice President and Head Oliver Victor Amoroso (center) with anchors and news producers of GMA Batangas.

G

MA Network’s regional arm is expanding its reach in Southern Luzon by launching its 11th regional station GMA Batangas and introducing its latest flagship newscast, GMA Regional TV Balitang Southern Tagalog.

GMA Regional TV Balitang Southern Tagalog is anchored by Ivy SaunarGasang with Ace Medrano as local news co-anchor.

It is the seventh flagship newscast from GMA RTV following the successful launches of local newscasts GMA Regional TV Balitang Amianan (North Central Luzon), GMA Regional TV Balitang Bicolandia (Bicol), GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak (Central and Eastern Visayas), GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas (Western Visayas), GMA Regional TV One Mindanao GMA Batangas, which can be (North, Central, South Central, and accessed by viewers via GMA TV 12 Southern Mindanao), and its flagship on free TV and GMA Affordabox, is national newscast Regional TV News.

“With GMA Batangas, we further GMA Network’s fourth regional station in Luzon after GMA Dagupan, GMA strengthen the reach of the country’s Ilocos, and GMA Bicol. It also makes leading network to more viewers available GMA Network’s local and in Batangas, Quezon, and Laguna. national programs in Batangas, Quezon, GMA Regional TV Balitang Southern Laguna, and the rest of CALABARZON. Tagalog, in turn, stays true to our motto To complement this new regional ‘Local news matters.’ It brings viewers station, GMA Regional TV is proud to in Southern Luzon the latest news present the latest addition to its roster and information that are close to their of award-winning and top-rating local hearts,” said GMA Regional TV and newscasts: “GMA Regional TV Balitang Synergy First Vice President and Head Oliver Victor Amoroso.

Southern Tagalog.”

Amoroso also expressed his gratitude Now airing weekdays at 5:00 p.m.,

to the GMA Network management for supporting this latest milestone.

“We are grateful to GMA Network Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon and GMA President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr. for trusting GMA Regional TV through the years.

We are with them in their goal of giving back to our true bosses–our viewers,” he added.

In 2021, amidst the global pandemic, the Kapuso Network thru GMA RTV, successfully launched its local weekday newscast in Bicol, GMA Regional TV Balitang Bicolandia, and opened its fourth regional TV station in Mindanao, GMA Zamboanga. With GMA Batangas, GMA Network further cements its strong presence in the regions.

Catch GMA Regional TV Balitang Southern Tagalog weekdays at 5:00 p.m. via GMA TV-12 Batangas on free TV and GMA Affordabox.

All the freshest news, events, and updates about GMA Regional TV are now available via GMA RTV’s official website www.gmaregionaltv.com and @gmaregionaltv on YouTube. Follow GMA Regional TV on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram via @GMARegionalTV.

Walk down memory lane with ‘Truefaith Tuesday’ at Winford Manila LUXURY hotel Winford Manila Resort & Casino (WMRC) invites music lovers to witness a concert special featuring multiaward-winning OPM band Truefaith as they take the stage for three consecutive Tuesdays on Feb. 15 and 22, and March 1, at WMRC’s Hippodrome Bar & Lounge.

Take a walk down memory lane as frontman Medwin Marfil and his group perform some of their greatest hits that span four decades, cementing their reputation as one of the country’s most iconic acts since breaking into the local music scene in 1993 with their seminal hit, “Perfect.”

Throughout the years, Truefaith have released numerous albums, earned countless accolades, performed local and international gigs, and produced classics such as “Kung OK Lang Sa’Yo,” “Huwag Na Lang Kaya?,” “Alaala,” “Paano Ka Magiging Akin?” and “Dahil Ikaw.”

Their most recent single, “Refriend,” was released just last year on streaming platforms and taken from their upcoming studio album from Viva Records,11.

General admission to this new normal

concert experience is free, with VIP seating near the stage also available for a minimum spend of PHP 500.00, inclusive of food and drink.

WMRC is a proud recipient of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Safety Seal Certification, the highest distinction awarded to accommodation establishments that strictly comply with health standards set by local authorities.

Hippodrome Bar & Lounge is WMRC’s signature entertainment venue and is

located on the second floor of the 22-story resort.

Visit www.winfordmanila.com for more information or call the hotline at +63 (2) 8528-3600 for inquiries. You may also follow Winford Manila Resort & Casino on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates on special events and promotions.

OPM band Truefaith

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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Life

At Horizon Terraces Garden Villas, starter families get to live in townhouses with expansive balconies and a terrace that looks out onto a vivid montage of nature’s masterpiece.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022

H

ORIZON Terraces Garden Villas, a prime residential and recreational enclave in Tagaytay Highlands is redefining the concept of open spaces in residential projects as we gradually ease into a ‘better normal’.

At Horizon Terraces, families get to live in townhouses with capacious balconies and terraces that look out onto a stunning vista—the scenic Taal Lake and mystical Mt. Makiling. Residents wake up to these soul-soothing views on the horizon or get some sun as they sip their favorite brew.

As studies show, appreciating beautiful nature views promotes better mental health and a more positive outlook in life, property seekers are manifesting a growing preference for flexible homes with their own garden or ample backyard space.

Closer to home and only a few steps away is the expansive one-hectare Central Garden where residents may relish tranquil mornings or afternoons relaxing at its Garden Courtyard, which features a Sundial, and the Sensory Garden where children can frolic in the sun.

Meantime, avid golfers can stroll over to nearby Midlands Golf Course on weekends or go straight from weekday remote work mode to its fine fairways.

Horizon Terraces dedicates over 70 percent of its land area to recreational garden spaces, the development is an ideal alternative primary home for families looking to reboot and reenergize, post-pandemic. Still, while the health situation in the metro remains fluid, families will find Horizon Terraces a safe haven to stay.

Horizon Terraces Garden Villas offers cleverly designed three-bedroom townhouse units of 136 to 168 square meters.

Each cluster of villas is made up of only seven units, ensuring utmost privacy and security for residents who may stay ‘isolated’ while enjoying the picturesque outdoors through their homes’ openfloor plans.

While Horizon Terraces inspires leisurely pursuits sans the distractions of social media, it is situated near everything an engaging lifestyle needs: sports facilities, resort-inspired swimming pools, specialty restaurants that serve various cuisines, gourmet delights, and the Tagaytay Highlands Country Club. World-class championship golf courses are also part of the exclusive benefits enjoyed by Tagaytay Highlands homeowners, their fam-

Horizon Terraces Garden Villas are changing the way homes are designed—with improved home landscapes that incorporate the picturesque outdoors in its open floor plans.

The Central Garden blends beautifully with the natural landscape and lets families indulge in a holistic lifestyle with nature’s beauty all around.

Lush verdant greens are nature views to behold at the Garden Villas of Horizon Terraces.

Flexible homes with picturesque views

ilies, and their guests.

As Tagaytay Highlands continues to adapt to new norms, prospective buyers may take a 360° Virtual Walkthrough of its Horizon Terraces Garden Villas’ Glendale model unit. With just a few clicks of the mouse, this immersive virtual tour allows one to check out all rooms and living spaces in the model home as if they were actually standing there. To experience this immersive walkthrough, visit Tagaytay Highlands’ official website at https://www.tagaytayhighlands.com/glendale-360/.

Complementing the 360° Virtual Walkthrough is the Virtual Tour Guide which provides potential buyers with a warm, personalized service through an experiential journey featuring the exclusive lifestyle lived at a Garden Villas home. Take this virtual tour guide via Tagaytay Highlands’ official YouTube channel at Glendale Model Unit Walk Through AVP - YouTube.

Tagaytay Highlands is committed to providing safe and secure facilities for all its members, residents, guests and staff.

It has been awarded the Safety Seal of

the City Government of Tagaytay.

Recently, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development hailed Tagaytay Highlands’ developer Highlands Prime, Inc., a subsidiary of SM Prime Holdings, as one of CALABARZON’s 2021 Outstanding Developers for Open Market Projects.

Also, Tagaytay Highlands’ personnel ensure strict adherence to sanitation procedures and safety protocols in all facilities, including disinfection, hand sanitation, wearing of face masks, and social distancing.

Property Management has also shown efficiency in its compliance with health and safety precautionary measures and in its delivery of quick crisis response during adverse natural and high-risk events.

For prospective property buyers, Tagaytay Highlands offers flexible payment terms for Horizon Terraces’ Garden Villas. To learn more about Tagaytay Highlands, you may visit its official Facebook and Instagram (@tagaytayhighlandsofficial) pages. You may also check out the Tagaytay Highlands official website.

Fortune feasts at The Podium

Paris at the Shang Shangri-La Plaza takes inspiration from the French city of love and the arts this February

THIS February, Shangri-La Plaza takes inspiration from the French city of love and the arts, putting together a curated experience in time for Valentine’s Day and National Arts Month that “Emily in Paris” would absolutely enjoy.

Step into a Parisian plaza. Paris is brimming with picturesque town squares called places including popular ones like Place Vendôme, Place de la Sorbonne, and Place de la Concorde. And the Shang is transforming the Grand Atrium into one.

Lounge by the center fountain while people-watching and eating from the selection of quaint stalls featuring delicious pastries from Edsa Shangri-La Bakeshop, dishes from Duck & Buvette and Cibo, and pretzels from Auntie Anne’s. Get fresh bouquets or unique floral creations from shops like Holland Tulips, Ester Flowershop, Floral Creation by Lynn, Royal, and Dutch Delight to keep or gift to someone special. Then browse and shop for pretty items and nifty knick knacks at brands like Rustan’s Department Store and Daiso.

Dress like the French. Emily isn’t Parisian, but she sure can dress as fashionably as one. There’s a certain je ne sais quoi in the way the French dress, having mastered the art of looking effortlessly put together. They may dress to impress but never look like they do.

At the Shang, one can truly emulate this coveted style with iconic French labels to complete the chic aesthetic. The ever-popular pique polos from Lacoste and elegant and contemporary designs from Daniel Hechter (touted the world’s first fashion label to bring affordable luxury to the high street) should always take up space in one’s wardrobe. And agnes b. is the place to go for stylish leather handbags and cheeky accessories.

When in France, eat as the French do.

Dine the Parisian way and enjoy a lovely meal with an equally lovely view. In the tradition of French outdoor cafes and bistros terraces, the Shang has enhanced its Dine Al Fresco at the Ledge Level 6 to reflect a decidedly City of Lights style. To add more joie de vivre to everyone’s dining experience, buskers serenaded diners there as well as at the House of Wagyu, Streetscape, Corazon, and The Coffee Bean and Tea Guests can emulate the Parisian vibe at Leaf on Valentine’s Day. Shangri-La Plaza

Paradise Dynasty located at The Podium’s 2nd level lets diners experience the exquisite flavors from northern and southern China.

THE Podium’s restaurants and Chinese bakeries have created well-curated fortune feasts for family and friends for the whole month of February.

Experience modern Chinese dining inspired by cosmopolitan Shanghai at Shanghai Saloon at the Ground Level of The Podium. Aside from its mouthwatering Chinese cuisines, Shanghai Saloon offers Yam Cha and High Tea Afternoons.

Kee Wah Bakery, known as one of

Experience modern Chinese dining inspired by cosmopolitan Shanghai at Shanghai Saloon at the Ground Level of The Podium.

Enjoy a hot pot meal with family, friends, or co-workers at Healthy Shabu Shabu Primeat The Podium’s 5th Level.

Hong Kong’s Finest Chinese bakeries, has delightful premium and top-quality pastries and delicacies including cookies, shortcakes, rolls, and biscuits to enjoy during the New Year or any time of the year. Bring prosperity to your table and get a free limited edition New Year tote bag when you buy the Chinese New Year set.

Indulge in Paradise Dynasty’s exclusive Chinese Lunar Year lunch and dinner menu specials including their signature 8-flavored xiao long bao, poached beef, and steamed glutinous rice stuffed in red dates. Or enjoy a hot pot meal cooked your own way at Healthy Shabu Shabu Prime and get 10 percent off from your total bill when you use your privilege card.

There are also unlimited dumplings

Kee Wah Bakery at The Podium’s Ground Level offers pastries and delicacies including premium cookies, shortcakes, rolls, and biscuits.

Feast Bay Tian Li located at The Podium’s 5th level specializes in authentic Chinese cuisines which are perfect to welcome the 2022 Year of the Tiger.

and family sets from authentic Chinese restaurant Feast Bay Tian Li; as well as family feast sets of dumplings, buns, noodles, fried rice, and more from Taiwanese restaurant Shi Lin, which are good for four to six persons.

The Podium makes personal shopping easy with The Podium Concierge.

It offers assistance to customers such as mall inquiries, personal shopping, and al fresco table reservations. To those who want to celebrate the Chinese New Year at the comfort of their own home, enjoy free delivery for a minimum spend of P5,000.

To find out more about The Podium stores and restaurants, contact The Podium Concierge at 0915 096 4007 or visit The Podium website at thepodium. com.ph.

Taiwanese restaurant Shi Lin located at The Podium’s 5th Level, offers dumplings and noodle dishes that are fresh and cooked to high standards.