Manila Standard - 2022 April 24 - Sunday

Vol. 36

n

No. 73

April 24, 2022

2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES

18 .00

IN MET R MANILAO

DIA DEL LIBRO. A mother guides her daughter

through a picture book while others browse through books written by Spaniards and Filipinos in the Spanish language sold at affordable prices on Saturday. This was part of ‘Dia del Libro’, a oneday celebration on books and poetry opened at the Instituto Cervantes in Intramuros, Manila. The program, in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain, included hand-copying of Miguel de Cervantes’ novel Don Quixote and an online poetry reading of major Fil-Hispanic poems. Diana B. Noche

Pinay DH wins big HK case H

Landmark ruling a victory for 340k migrant workers, not just OFWs ONG KONG—A Hong Kong judge ruled Friday the police had “prematurely curtailed” their investigation of a Philippine domestic worker being exploited by her employer, a biting assessment of the city’s failure to protect victims of human trafficking.

The landmark ruling marks a rare victory for migrant worker activists, who have long argued that the city’s 340,000 domestic workers—mostly women from the Philippines and Indonesia—are acutely vulnerable to various forms of abuse and exploitation.

Last year, Brian Apthorp, a British permanent resident, was convicted of committing indecent assault against his domestic helper—referred to in legal documents as “CB”.

After her win in court, she mounted another legal challenge in July 2021—this time against the government for failing to properly investigate her more serious accusations of trafficking and forced labor.

High Court judge Russell Coleman on Friday ruled in CB’s favor, saying that authorities had “prematurely curtailed” their investigation into her case.

He also called it “manifestly irrational and unsound” for the police to dismiss the CONTINUED ON 3A

BARMM, Bulacan leaders back UniTeam n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

WITH barely 16 days left before the May 9 elections, governors, mayors, and traditional leaders of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have assured presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and vice presidential bet Sara Duterte of a landslide victory in their region, even as they

also vowed to protect the UniTeam tandem’s votes.

In a simple program Friday night at the Manila Hotel, the local officials of BARMM also signed an oath of commitment to show their full support for Marcos and Duterte.

With their command votes, the local officials assured that the majority of the almost two million voting population of BARMM would

give the landslide victory to Marcos and Duterte in Mindanao.

Nineteen incumbent mayors and several mayoralty candidates from Bulacan province also assured presidential survey frontrunner Marcos Jr. that he would win by landslide in their respective areas in the upcoming national elections.

The mayors gave their assurance CONTINUED ON 3A

Impact Hub: Sofitel snafu ‘incomplete’ BBM IN MANILA. A huge crowd of supporters gives a warm welcome to presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the UniTeam grand rally in Bustillos, Manila on Saturday. Ver Noveno

DOH: 690k with comorbidities set for 2nd COVID booster shot

HOMAGE TO LUMBERA. The Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts lead the nation in paying homage to the late National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera in a necrological tribute on Saturday. Lumbera passed away on September 28, 2021, at the age of 89. A state funeral followed the event in the afternoon at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Danny Pata I

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Some 690,000 adults with health risks are eligible to get a second COVID-19 booster shot, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Saturday.

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said the agency was expected to immunize up to 13,000 people with comorbidities— the priority sector for this booster campaign—beginning on Monday.

Second booster shots will be administered at least three months after the first one, according to the health department.

The National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) on Saturday said it is expecting at least 7,000 immunocom-

promised individuals to take their second COVID-19 booster doses during the first day of its rollout.

“During the first day, we are seeing around 7,000 to 13,000 immunocompromised persons who will take their second booster. We will roll it out throughout the whole country,” said Cabotaje, also NVOC chair, at the Laging Handa briefing.

The rollout of the second COVID-19 booster for immunocompromised persons is set to begin on April 25 nationwide, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire announced on Friday.

CONTINUED ON 3A

IMPACT Hub Manila, the company tapped by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to mount its series of presidential and vice-presidential debates ahead of the May 9 polls, has described its failure to pay Sofitel Philippine Plaza for hosting the events as a "misunderstanding" and "miscommunication".

In a statement on Saturday through its lawyer, the company said reports “as to the cause of the miscommunication were incomplete."

The company said it will discuss "privately" its payment mess with Sofitel "and other stakeholders".

"Unfortunately, the initiative between the two private companies encountered some misunderstandings.

While there have been incomplete reports as to the cause of the miscommunication, Impact Hub Manila will refrain from publicly divulging these matters and will endeavor to discuss them with Sofitel CONTINUED ON 3A

Hopes wane for Ukraine Easter Sara visits Bulacan for 5th Barangay Ginebra: truce; Russia presses campaign time, rallies local leaders Never-say-die, indeed WORLD | 3A

NEWS | 2A

SPORTS | 1B

APRIL 24, 2022

Sara visits Bulacan for 5th time, rallies local leaders

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n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

LARIDEL, Bulacan—LAKAS Christian-Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice-presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte visited Bulacan Saturday, her fifth trip to the vote-rich province since the election campaign started on February 8.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter said he was out to get more support for her and the UniTeam standard-bearer, former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. “Because isa ito sa mga lugar na marami pang puwedeng ma-convert at makumbinsi na bomoto sa akin, ang Bulacan,” Duterte told reporters in an ambush interview in San Jose del Monte City, when asked why she kept on returning to

Ping, Tito pin hopes on ‘last minute’ swings INDEPENDENT presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III are optimistic last-minute swing votes from discerning voters would weigh in their favor.

“People can change their minds in a split second. Even after entering the polling booth and before shading the ballots, you can still change your mind.

That's why we keep telling voters to be discerning and look at who is the most qualified and experienced," Lacson said.

For his part, Sotto said "anything can swing" in even three to four days because of technology, and the 24/7 nature of news.

"People can change their minds quickly. A double-digit difference can be overcome in a matter of days," he said.

One of the recent surveys showed that in the presidential race, Lacson got a seven-percent share, while in the vice presidential derby, Sotto got 40 percent of voter support, second to 51 percent for Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Lacson also maintained that he was willing to debate with anyone on who among the current tandems is the most qualified and competent to lead the country.

"I am willing to debate with anyone if they want to argue who is the most qualified and competent among all of us," he said.

The two lawmakers reiterated that a day's wrong decision can haunt the country for the next six years. Joel E. Zurbano

this province several times.

According to the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) latest data for May 9 presidential polls, Bulacan has 2,007,523 registered voters.

San Jose Del Monte City Rep. Rida Robes assured the victory of Marcos and Duterte in the city. “[Mananalo] because in our survey BBM is 58 [percent] Inday is 53 [percent]. They al-

ready reached 50% walang duda ‘yun at alam ko ramdam ng mga tao dito samin, ang ating mga kababayan ay talagang they support the UniTeam headed by BBM and Mayor Inday,” said Robes in a separate ambush interview.

“Kung ilan ang boto namin ganun karami, 80% are voting here so ganun kalakas ang botante dito sa lungsod, talagang naniniwala sila kina BBM at Sara,” Robes added.

Duterte met Saturday morning with local officials and community and sectoral leaders during the “Sara para sa Barangay” Saturday morning at Don Caesareo San Diego Gym Poblacion here.

She was accompanied by Plaridel Mayor Anastasia “Tesie” Vistan and her daughter, mayoralty candidate Jocell Vistan, a former mayor here.

SARA IN MARILAO.

Lakas-CMD/HNP vicepresidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte flashes the ‘Tibay at Puso’ sign with local officials of Marilao, Bulacan led by Mayor Ricky Silvestre (inset, 2nd from left) and his councilor slate during a program with relocatees at Northville Area A Covered Court in Lambakin, Marilao.

Ver Noveno

Comelec calls NTC execs to answer poll ‘violations’ n By VITO BARCELO THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has subpoenaed three officials of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), telling them to submit their counter-affidavit on the case filed against them for alleged violations of the Fair Election Act and the Omnibus Election Code.

Through its Law Department, the poll body ordered NTC chief of adjudication division Nilo Lozada, chief of radio spectrum planning division Roberto Tolentino, and head of regulation branch Imelda R. Walcien to answer the case filed against them.

They allegedly violated the sections of the Election Code on the limitations on the expenses of candidates and other related election offenses, with just 16 days left before the May 9 general polls.

“You are hereby noticed that a complaint has been filed against you for alleged violation of Section 100 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, as amended by Republic Act. No. 7166, in relation to Section 262 of the Omnibus Election Code,” the subpoena said.

“Accordingly, and in compliance with Comelec Resolution No. 10673, you are hereby directed to submit the digital/scanned copy of your duly notarized Counter-Affidavit and other supporting documents or affidavits or witness/es if any in PDF on or before May 13, 2022, thru electronic email,” it added.

The poll body also warned that failure to comply with the subpoena shall be considered as waiver of their rights to present their defense, with the case to be submitted for resolution.

Holistic solution to hike tourism Bello says DMW chief can’t write his own IRR output sought LABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III clarified on Saturday that a transition committee has the duty of formulating the implementing rules and regulations (IRRs) pertaining to the newly created Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) which has yet to be operational.

The Labor chief issued the clarification following reports that DMW Secretary Abdullah Mama-o has drafted his own IRRs for the DMW, thus creating some confusions among the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), industry players and stakeholders, as well as pertinent agencies.

The law is clear that the IRR should be

crafted by the transition committee, Bello stressed.

Bello directed all officers operating under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to maintain the status quo, adding that the DMW would not be fully operational until next year.

“Under Section 23 of the law, maliwanag na the Department of Migrant Workers will be fully constituted only after or when there is already an implementing rules and regulations, mayroong budget at mayroong staffing pattern,” Bello said in a televised briefing.

“Hanggang hindi naku-comply iyong tatlo na iyan, iyong DMW is still in a tran-

sition period. Hindi pa fully operational,” he noted.

The POEA this week said the committee would release the staffing pattern by June 3. It will also craft the new agency’s budget to be included in the 2023 government spending.

Meanwhile, Bello clarified that the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the International Labor Affairs Bureau, and the National Reintegration Center for OFWs were still operating under the present setup. Vito Barcelo

Alan eyes 2-track tack to curb inflation

NATURE HIKE. Manila Water employees and the firm’s partner agencies celebrate Earth Day by conducting a ‘Lakbay Kalikasan Hiking and Biking for Nature’ at the La Mesa Nature Reserve along Quirino Highway in Quezon City on Saturday. Manny Palmero

TAGUIG City Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano on Saturday reiterated his call for a twopronged approach to address the country’s record-high inflation.

Cayetano, who is running for senator in the May 9 election, hinted that reigning in inflation would involve suspension of excise taxes on fuel and mandating a five-percent savings across all government agencies to make up for the ensuing revenue shortfall.

“The focus right now should be on mitigating rising fuel prices to contain potential runaway inflation, which hit a six-month high of four percent in March,” Cayetano said.

He also said the runaway prices of fuel cause a domino effect on all other commodities.

To enable the government to withstand the loss of revenue from suspended fuel

excise taxes, Cayetano called for the imposition of a mandatory savings of five percent among all state agencies to free up P250 billion out of the P5.04-trillion national budget for 2022.

Cayetano said any attempt to address inflation through the suspension of taxes would provide insufficient relief to vulnerable sectors such as transportation and agriculture without some form of financial assistance.

Cayetano and his allies in Congress filed House Bill 10832 or the Mandatory Savings Bill on March 31, 2022 which proposes a five percent mandatory savings to generate a projected amount of P250 billion “to fund assistance to our countrymen who are in dire need to recover from the adverse effects of the present pandemic.” Maricel V. Cruz

A QUEZON City lawmaker has cited the local tourism industry’s robust performance amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, but at the same time, underscored the need to provide “adequate assistance” to enable the industry players to “fully bounce back.”

Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas also lauded Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat for steering the tourism sector through the difficulties of the economic lockdown.

“After more than two years of virtual inactivity, our tourism sector is raring to welcome back local and foreign tourists.

But many of our tourism stakeholders need adequate assistance to fully bounce back,” Vargas stated in a resolution filed at the House of Representatives.

Vargas maintained that public and private stakeholders should further work together towards the full recovery of the embattled tourism sector.

He said Puyat did a commendable job in mitigating the adverse impact of the pandemic.

“The Department of Tourism (DOT) now needs all the help in bringing the tourism sector back on its feet,” he said.

Vargas said the government needs to reinforce its commitment to help affected Filipinos regain their livelihood, but it needs to consider the inputs of all stakeholders towards a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society” solution.

“We owe a lot to our countrymen in the tourism industry, not only for their contributions to our economy, but also for their promotion of our culture, historical sites, natural wonders, and our heritage,” Vargas said in a statement.

Maricel V. Cruz

MMDA hails Marikina, Taguig anti-smoking drives THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has cited the cities of Marikina and Tausig for enforcing stringent anti-smoking measures attuned to the national government’s similar campaign to protect the people from lung cancer and other tobacco-related diseases.

MMDA chairman Romando Artes said his agency recognized the relentless drive

by Marikina and Tausig to protect the public from the continuing danger posed by smoking, include the use of vapes and e-cigarettes.

The two cities strictly implement ordinances banning smoking in public spaces, government buildings, schools, hospitals,

and in public vehicles and transport terminals.

Some of the initiatives made by the local governments included posting of the copy of ordinance in barangay bulletin boards, public awareness campaign by utilization of public address system, development of barangay maps showing the points of reference like schools, playgrounds, among others.

Village officials and members of the Barangay Security Force were deputized to enforce their smoke free policy.

The authorities warned that tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke were dangerous to human health.

Meanwhile, two separate deputation

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trainings were jointly conducted by the MMDA—Action on Smoking and Health Philippines and Health Justice Philippines in March and April.

The facilitators oriented the participants on the harmful effects of tobacco and vaping both to the user and those exposed to its emissions, enforcement mechanisms including proper use of citation tickets, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, among others.

“The purpose of the training is to equip enforcers with knowledge and skills that will help them in the implementation of their local ordinances focusing on a smoke-free environment,” Artes said. Joel E. Zurbano

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

BIG HAUL. Customs Intelligence Officer Alvin Enciso inspects P250 million worth of fake luxury items in Las Pinas City. Counterfeit Jo Malone, Versace, and Lanvin perfumes were among those seized by the joint operation of CIIS-MICP and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Danny Pata

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

Rolando G. Estabillo Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Jimbo Owen Gulle

Associate Editors News Editor City Editor

Publisher Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

WORLD

INBRIEFS APRIL 24, 2022

Hopes wane for Ukraine Easter truce; Russia presses campaign

Z

APORIZHZHIA, Ukraine— Hopes for a weekend truce in Ukraine to celebrate the Orthodox Easter faded with talks between Moscow and Kyiv stalled as Russia said it aimed to take full control over the east and south of its neighbor.

SAMBA’S BACK.

Revelers from the Tom Maior samba school perform during the first night of carnival at Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on April 22.

AFP

The war enters its third month on Sunday, but a senior Russian military officer said “the second phase of the special operation” -- as Moscow terms its invasion of Ukraine -- had just begun.

“One of the tasks of the Russian army is to establish full control over the Donbas and southern Ukraine,” Major General Rustam Minnekaev said on Friday.

Russian forces, which withdrew from around Kyiv and the north of Ukraine after being frustrated in their attempts to take over the capital, already occupy much of the eastern Donbas region and the south.

Minnekaev said their focus was now to “provide a land corridor to Crimea,” which Russia annexed in 2014, and towards a breakaway pro-Russian region of Moldova, Transnistria, where the general claimed Russian-speaking people were “being oppressed”.

Ukrainian authorities have vowed to fight on and drive the Russian troops from their land, but they also sought an Easter pause.

“Unfortunately, Russia rejected the proposal to establish an Easter truce,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday.

In his regular Friday night address, Zelensky said the Russian general’s comments were a clear articulation of Moscow’s goals.

“This only confirms what I have already said multiple times: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was intended only as a beginning,” he said.

“We will defend ourselves as long as possible... but all the nations who, like us, believe in the victory of life over death must fight with us.”

Ukraine’s government, emboldened by an influx of Western weaponry, said its beleaguered forces were still holding out inside a sprawling steelwork plant in the razed port city of Mariupol.

The Kremlin has claimed the “liberation” of Mariupol, which is pivotal to its war plans nearly two months after President Vladimir Putin ordered the shock invasion of Russia’s Western-leaning neighbor.

- Humanitarian appeal In a phone call to Putin, EU chief Charles Michel appealed for humanitarian access to Mariupol, which has been largely destroyed by weeks of intense Russian bombardment.

“Strongly urged for immediate humanitarian access and safe passage from Mariupol and other besieged cities all the more on the occasion of Orthodox Easter,” Michel tweeted. AFP

FUKUSHIMA ANNIVERSARY.

People take part in a candle vigil in memory of earthquake and tsunami victims in Mitaka, on the outskirts of Tokyo on March 11, on the 11th anniversary of the 9.0 magnitude earthquake which triggered a tsunami and nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan. AFP

FromtheFRONTPAGE PINAY...possibility of forced labor.

“The police’s investigation did not set (out) to discover a case of forced labor, but instead targeted a case of indecent assault because that was the only charge which could have been brought,” he said.

Currently Hong Kong uses a patchwork of criminal offences to target trafficking and forced labor, without tackling it under a single piece of legislation—which Coleman said does not adequately protect victims of forced labor and called for more specific laws.

Charging Apthorp with indecent assault—instead of the more serious charges of trafficking and forced labor — meant the prison sentences are capped at shorter lengths.

CB’s case also involved relatively senior law enforcement officers, which highlighted a “systemic problem”, the judge said, calling abuse against domestic workers a “disturbing but notorious fact” in Hong Kong.

He ordered for an investigation into her case to be reopened.

A Department of Justice spokesman said they will study the judgement and “consider the way forward”.

CB said she was “very happy” that the court recognized the need to revise the laws and called on the government to take immediate steps to do so.

“I hope the police will be more aware of the everyday exploitation of helpers...

In my case, there were too many lapses, and they did not see the wider picture,” CB said in a statement via her lawyers.

Since 2020, the US State Department have said Hong Kong was not doing enough to tackle human trafficking, keeping it on its “Tier Two Watchlist” ranking alongside countries such as Belarus, Liberia, and Thailand.

The Hong Kong government has called the report “biased and unreasonable”. AFP

BARMM,..during a face-to-face meet-

ing with the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer at his headquarters in Mandaluyong on Friday.

The Bulacan mayors also formally handed their signed manifesto of support for Marcos and his running-mate, “Inday” Sara Duterte.

This developed as a dominant Islamic group in Mindanao on Saturday presented Vice President Leni Robredo what could probably be the best gift for her 57th birthday—a commitment of support to her presidential candidacy.

Meanwhile, Robredo also categorically denied allegations linking her to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Jose Ma. Sison, CPP founder, also issued a statement on Friday saying there is no truth to a report linking the Vice President to the communist group.

“I have not been advising Leni Robredo although I think that she is a far more qualified candidate for president than Ferdinand Jr. who has no qualification but to campaign with too much money from the bureaucratic loot of the late unlamented fascist dictator, Ferdinand Sr.,” Sison posted on his website.

“I have not been consulting with Barry Gutierrez, the spokesman of Robredo,” he

Israel closes crossing to Gazans from Strip JERUSALEM—Israel said it will close its only crossing from the Gaza Strip for workers on Sunday in response to overnight rocket fire, stopping short of conducting retaliatory strikes in an apparent bid to ease tensions.

The rocket attacks on Friday night and Saturday morning followed days of clashes at Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and a month of deadly violence.

The unrest—which comes as the Jewish festival of Passover overlaps with the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan—has sparked international fears of conflict, one year after similar violence led to an 11-day war between Israel and Gaza-based militants.

“Following the rockets fired toward Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip last night, it was decided that crossings into Israel for Gazan merchants and workers through the Erez Crossing will not be permitted this upcoming Sunday,” COGAT, a unit of the Israeli defense ministry responsible for Palestinian civil affairs, said in a statement on Saturday.

Two rockets were fired from Gaza at southern Israel on Friday night, one of them hitting the Jewish state and the other falling short and striking near a residential building in northern Gaza, Palestinian and Israeli sources said. AFP

Gunman found dead in Washington village WASHINGTON -- A lone shooter who wounded four people in an upscale Washington neighborhood killed himself before being apprehended, the city’s police chief said Friday evening.

The Connecticut Avenue-Van Ness neighborhood of the US capital -where multiple schools and embassies are located -- was swarmed by law enforcement and locked down after gunfire erupted in the area Friday afternoon.

Assistant police chief Stuart Emerman said three people had been taken to the hospital -- two adults who were in critical but stable condition and a 12-year-old girl with a minor gunshot wound.

Another individual with a graze wound to the back was treated at the scene, Emerman added.

“The suspect that we believe is responsible for this is now deceased,” Washington Police Chief Robert Contee said at a news conference Friday night. AFP

10 missing in 2nd coal mine mishap

‘So much joy’: Brazil holds first carnival since COVID RIO DE JANEIRO -- Rio de Janeiro’s carnival, a glittering, sequin-studded festival of the flesh, exploded back to life Friday with the first famed samba school parades since Covid-19 hit Brazil.

After two long years of face masks, social-distancing and death, a sparkling sea of dancers, drummers and multi-storey floats reclaimed the “Sambadrome,” the iconic beach city’s carnival parade venue, which had been turned into a drive-through vaccination center at the height of the health crisis.

The all-night parades by the city’s top samba schools Friday and Saturday are added.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) and its political party, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), formally endorsed Robredo’s presidential bid, saying she rose to the occasion when they needed her.

For the first time ever, the MILF-UBJP would participate in forthcoming May 9 local and national elections since the passage of Republic Act No. 11054, also known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

In choosing Robredo, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Chief Minister and MILF chairman Al-Hadj Murad Ebrahim underscored her unwavering support for the Bangsamoro people.

“At certain points, when we needed allies in Congress, and as Vice President of the Philippines, Leni Robredo was there for us. She was there for Marawi. She makes time for the Bangsamoro. And in the many engagements with her, on specific concerns of the Bangsamoro, we feel her compassion and support. Leni Robredo is not just talk; she acts,” Ebrahim said.

However, incumbent Guiguinto Mayor Ambrosio “Boy” Cruz Jr., president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Bulacan Chapter, said: “Sa amin po iisa lang ang message. Panalo na, kaya lang di tayo puwedeng matulog. At the end of the day bantay pa rin.”

[For us, we have one message: we have won, but we cannot sleep. At the end of the day, we must stay on guard.]

Among the mayors in attendance with Marcos Jr. were Christian Natividad of Malolos, Vergel Meneses of Bulakan, Amboy Manlapaz of Hagonoy with his wife and mayoral candidate Flordeliza Manlapaz, Ferdinand Estrella of Baliuag, Francis Albert Juan of Bustos, and Henry Villarica of Meycauayan.

the first since February 2020, marking a turning point for hard-hit Brazil, where Covid-19 has claimed more than 660,000 lives -- second only to the United States.

“I’m just so happy. I think a lot of people are going to cry... including me,” said Ana Vieira, a 48-year-old geography teacher, who was wearing a giant, glistening white costume to parade for the Imperatriz samba school.

“Carnival is life. You can see the happiness on people’s faces after two long years staying home and missing it,” Vieira, who has been parading for 20 years, told AFP. AFP

IMPACT..and other stakeholders

privately," it said.

Comelec was not a party to the contract between Impact Hub Manila and Sofitel, the company added.

Impact Hub also thanked Comelec for allowing it to be its production partner for the last three episodes of the 2022 presidential and vice presidential debates.

In a document obtained by ABS-CBN News this week, Sofitel Philippine Plaza threatened to "suspend all its remaining deliverables under the event contract" unless Impact Hub remits P14 million as partial payment for their services.

In its demand letter dated April 20, Sofitel said Impact Hub's CEO Celeste Eden Rondario repeatedly issued them bouncing checks.

Sofitel Philippine Plaza was the venue for the March 19 and 20 and April 3 debates. The last leg of the Comelec debates was initially set this weekend.

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia on Friday said the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) would be their new partner in mounting the last two debates on April 30 and May 1, instead of April 23 and 24.

Several high-ranking Comelec officials are also being asked to explain their participation in the allegedly "grossly disadvantageous" partnership with Impact Hub Manila.

In an internal memorandum obtained by ABS-CBN News, Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay flagged several possible irregularities with the poll body's deal with Impact Hub, which is allegedly financially incapable in staging projects of such scale.

"Why was Impact Hub chosen as the

WARSAW -- Ten people were missing Saturday after an accident at a coal mine in southern Poland, the pit owner said, the second such incident to strike in just days.

“Rescuers are without contact with 10 people,” at the mine in Zofiowka, the JSW company said in a statement.

A tremor shook the mine at 3:40 am (0140 GMT), sparking a methane leak, the company said.

In 2018, five miners were killed in an earthquake that struck the same mine.

JSW is also the owner of a mine in Pniowek some 230 kilometres (140 miles) south, where an accident on Wednesday killed five and left seven missing.

The search for the seven was called off on Friday because conditions in the pit were too dangerous for rescuers, JSW said.

Analysis of the situation “has forced us to abandon the rescue operation undertaken to evacuate the seven miners” still trapped, JSW company chief Tomasz Cudny told reporters on Friday, after a blast ripped through the pit, injuring 10, as rescuers were trying to install a new ventilation duct. AFP

DOH:.. Cabotaje said earlier in the day

on Dobol B TV that the country’s supply of COVID-19 vaccines will be enough for the second booster shots of the immunocompromised.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Saturday said the government is assuring that the vaccines to be used for the second booster doses are safe.

“We are assuring that the vaccines are safe before these will be used for the second booster dose against COVID-19 since these are still under emergency use authorization,” Duque said in Filipino in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB. Meanwhile, the country is averaging at around 200,000 persons a day in vaccination.

“If we maintain about 250,000 a day until the end of April, we will look at about 1.5 to 2-M [individuals]. Our current 67.4 million fully vaccinated individuals will reach around 69 million,” Cabotaje said.

The Philippines on Thursday registered a marked decrease in the number of daily coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tally in almost two years since the declaration of a pandemic with 134 new infections.

“We know there is no certainty whether the cases will rise or not. We have assumptions, those included in our considerations are the minimum public health standards and our vaccine coverage,” she said.

While there is no common factor on the increase of COVID cases in the mentioned areas, Cabotaje said this might be due to influx of tourists, as well as campaign sorties ahead of the May 9 general elections.

APRIL 24, 2022

Glow Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics founder and CEO Joven Rita Pascual explores possible sites in the Philippines.

Filipina beauty entrepreneur makes US customers ‘glow’

J

OVEN Rita Pascual was born in the US to Filipino migrants.

She studied and worked hard at a young age to prove her worth as a lady entrepreneur from an Asian background, and now she runs two highly popular surgery and aesthetics centers manned by more than 50 healthcare professionals in the Washington D.C. and Virginia area.

“My goal here is really to just inspire women—Asian women and Filipinas— to really pursue their goals. You don’t have to play it safe,” says Pascual, the 35-year-old founder and chief executive of the Glow Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics, which plans to open another center in the Philippines and branches in the West Coast and South America soon.

Her parents—Gregorio and Luzviminda—encouraged her to pursue her business goals. “They are my inspiration. We didn’t come from a lot. It was harder in the States, if you are not white.

You have to prove to them that you are good enough. It was a journey for me, especially for an Asian woman, to do this.

It was tough,” Pascual says in an interview during her visit to the Philippines to explore possible sites for the new center.

Glow Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics, considered as the premiere medical spa and plastic surgery clinic in the D.C. Metropolitan area, provides head-to-toe surgical and non-surgical treatments and services. It continued to attract customers through the pandemic, as people sought beauty treatments and weight loss procedures after spending most of their time at home.

The center became known for celebrity hair restoration, but more services were added soon as Pascual built her team of highly-skilled surgeons and doctors. Plastic surgery services now include liposuction, facelift, hair transplant, brow lift, chin augmentation, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, Brazilian butt lift, fat transfer, otoplasty, vaginal rejuvenation and blepharoplasty.

Among the aesthetic services are laser hair removal, microblading, lymphatic massage, skin rejuvenation, dermal fillers and botox, laser tattoo removal, non-surgical hair restoration

Joven Rita Pascual (left) and her team at the Glow Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics in the US and IV therapy.

Pascual also teamed up with top Filipino surgeons to bring Glow’s services to Metro Manila in the next couple of months. Her visit was meant to scout the best site for the Glow center that would tap the local market.

She credits her team for the success of the Glow brand as well as the Pascual Surgery Center which are both based in the D.C. area.

“I am 35. I launched my business at 29 or 30. I had to understand and learn the business side and perfect my craft to jump out there. Those were my struggle days. I was working three jobs all the time, going to Baltimore, going to D.C. and running another practice.

That was my life from a young age. And finally now, I can really breathe. It took this long for me to be here. Now, I have

my staff that can support me. I have a great team back home,” says Pascual, who has a Master’s degree in business.

“My father would always randomly say ‘aim high’ in every conversation that we have. He is into the whole entrepreneurial thing. My mom, I look at her beauty and she got me into the whole beauty entrepreneurship. She always gives back and is caring. I really got a lot from my parents,” she says.

Her entrepreneurial journey started when she was 15 years old. “While I was in school, I was actually working part-time, and I was learning the ins and outs of the front desk and clinical billing, so I really I understood how to run a practice. I was into cosmetology, so I was really into aesthetics, whether it was makeup or hair. While I was

doing that, I evolved, I learned and I got my Associate’s, my Bachelor’s and my Master’s in business,” she says.

She focused on medical and aesthetics business. “I actually never got out of that.

I learned how to do surgical and non-surgical hair restoration. Hair restoration has always been my passion, and I did that since 2006,” says Pascual.

“While I was doing that, I was managing and doing independent contract to work with physicians. I did hair transplant with them. I was constantly learning the game. I was perfecting my craft in hair restoration and then five years later, I did aesthetics on my own and offered services,” she says.

“Then, two years later, I ended up branching out and opened up a surgery center and named it after my dad which

is called the Pascual Surgery Center, and we offered plastic surgery. I have about 10 plastic surgeons who worked for me, and we have two locations.

Now, the third, hopefully, will come soon,” she says.

“I was into aesthetics. I went to school for business. I really worked my way up to really understand the game and the industry. Now, I created this formula, and I am just so excited to be back here to really open something up here. This one means a lot to me,” says Pascual, whose parents are from Pasay City and Nueva Ecija.

“I want to educate people even in the States about our culture and our country.

Hopefully, I can try to brand it, so it is a tool for biz,” she says.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

Cebuana Lhuillier lauded as 2021 Service Champion UBX and Oh Crop! teams

UBX, Oh Crop! launch sustainable agri financing UBX, the leading open finance platform in the Philippines, and Oh Crop!, the country’s top Adlai rice brand, teamed up to democratize access to agricultural value-chain financing for rice farmers nationwide.

Through the first-of-its-kind partnership, SeekCap, the digital lending marketplace venture of UBX, will extend sustainable agri financing to Oh Crop!

Adlai rice farmers to expand their operations and gain higher yields.

Founded and led by chief executive Rose Tolentino, chief operating officer Trinidad-Mendoza and co-owner celebrity chef Marvin Agustin, Oh Crop! assists rice farmers—from choosing the right seeds to plant to selling them to a wider marketplace—in shifting to farming Adlai.

“Our partnership with UBX allows us to provide rice farmers with a suite of technology-based services starting from seed selection to sustainable agri value-chain financing. Adlai has become a popular alternative to our staple rice and we expect the demand will continue to grow. Our partnership will enable rice farmers to shift to Adlai and empower existing ones to expand their operations,” Tolentino said.

Introduced at the height of the pandemic in 2020, Oh Crop! has become the leading Adlai rice brand in the country, being present in major online marketplace platforms as well as having retail stores in malls in Metro Manila.

“With UBX as our partner, we are confident that we will be able to further accelerate our growth. By joining hands with the leading open finance platform

in the Philippines, we can strengthen initiatives that empower farmers with the right tools and knowledge, while giving them wider access to financing,” Trinidad-Mendoza said.

Oh Corp! recorded a whopping 1,000 percent growth in sales in 2021, benefiting more than 50 farmer partners (individuals, groups and their families) throughout the country.

“Our goal at UBX has always been to include everyone and we believe that this partnership will Oh Crop! advances that purpose by bringing financial services— initially through SeekCap—closer to farmers, one of our nation’s unsung heroes,” UBx managing director for banking and lending services Anne Yosuico said.

SeekCap, which was named as the Best SME Loan Product at The Asian Banker: 20th International Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards in 2021, simplifies the processing of business loans through its digital platform.

Business loans may be processed in as fast as 24 hours, significantly faster than the minimum 30-day approval time for most banks.

In 2021, SeekCap processed over P6 billion in loans from more than 22,000 MSMEs nationwide.

“For us at UBX, equipping MSMEs, including our farmers, with financial tools and services is vital in economic growth and recovery — that is why we continuously implement strategies that democratize access to finance in many parts of the country through our pioneering open finance platform,” Yosuico said.

CEBUANA Lhuillier, one of the leading micro-financial service providers in the Philippines, received the 2021 Service Champion Award from the Customer Service Institute of America, the world’s leading customer service institute.

The award was bestowed to Cebuana Lhuillier for its efforts to provide millions of clients unhindered access to its micro-financial services despite the challenges of the ongoing pandemic.

“We are honored to receive a distinction from the Customer Service Institute of America once again. This recognition affirms Cebuana Lhuillier’s full commitment to the continuous delivery of service excellence through innovative solutions,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, president and chief executive of Cebuana Lhuillier.

“While excellence has always been at the core of how we operate the business, the agility and ingenuity that emerged from the company during the pandemic ensured that our clients had access to financial services through

Cebuana Lhuillier president and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier receives the 2021 Service Champion Award trophy from the Customer Service Institute of America

several digital platforms,” said Marissa Ancog, first vice president and group head for planning and quality management said.

Cebuana Lhuillier’s quick response of the company to adapt to the rapidly changing environment impressed the judges. This secured the award for the company and gained them a spot in the elite roster of winners of the 2021 International Service Excellence Awards.

The company bagged the award for the various digital platforms launched at the onset of the pandemic, successfully bringing micro-financial services into the digital space: eCebuana app, the company’s digital banking app; Cebuana From Home, a web-app designed to process pawning services online; and Cebuana Lhuillier Jewelry, an online jewelry marketplace.

Since 2010, Cebuana Lhuillier has been officially accredited as a Certified Customer Service Organization by the CSIA.

North-South Commuter Railway expected to help new communities THE single most important factor that drives value appreciation of a property is location, which is also its biggest selling point.

Most trusted home builders are aware of the pivotal role that location plays in selling houses and condominium units.

Apart from building projects within driving distance or easy commutes to key lifestyle destinations, Bria Homes considers the site’s proximity to neighboring towns and cities, especially to the metropolis and its suburban neighborhoods.

Bria is building well-designed, value-for-money homes in communities across the Philippines that not only boast of vital facilities such as power, water, digital and telecom services, but also infrastructure projects in the works.

“We know that the government’s ongoing infrastructure projects not only benefit real estate properties through value appreciation, but also spur the economic growth of a place.

Accessibility opens doors to multiple opportunities in tourism, manufacturing, business, etc. With time as a valuable asset, we want Bria homeowners to savor their proximity to everything that makes daily life easy and convenient,” said Bria Homes division head Eduardo Aguilar.

The North-South-Commuter Railway is one such project that is set to provide these advantages to residents in Bria developments such as those in Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac and Laguna.

The North-South-Commuter Railway is a 148-kilometer urban rail transit system that will link Metro Manila to New Clark City in the north and to Calamba in the south, benefiting homeowners in Bria properties in Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac and Laguna.

S

ON the bench in the closing minutes of Friday’s game at the Big Dome, Barangay Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua was seen punching the air, full of emotion, in each highlight play heading to a triumphant finish.

They were a few moments away from reaching the pinnacle for the fourth time in the last five editions of the PBA Governors’ Cup. Each championship had its peculiarity, as each one was special.

But Chua was convinced this one’s easily the hardest, the scariest, and in the end the sweetest as they survived a tough, tough test that in the process kept their reign in the season-ending, import-spiced conference.

“Pinakamahirap ito,” said Chua of the fourth of their four-of-four feat versus Governors’ Cup archrival Meralco.

The Ginebra top official wasn’t referring just to the challenge put up by the Tony Bishop-led Meralco team in the finale but the tough adversity and tall odds they faced all tournament long.

“It was a little bit shocking for us because we were so far down at one point and reached the bottom of the barrel,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone of their struggle in the elimination round.

“Kinabahan ako kasi kulang sa bala.

Injured sina Stanley Pringle, Jared Dillinger, Aljun Mariano at Japeth Aguilar, at si Justin (Brownlee) late na nag-pick up ang game,” said Chua.

The Kings did make the quarterfinals but, just as the sixth seed, faced the tough task of needing to win two in a row to beat No. 3 seed and Philippine Cup titlist TNT Tropang Giga.

“Tumaas ang kumpinyansa noong tinalo ang TNT,” said Chua of their 104-92 and 115-95 triumphs over the Tropang Giga.

LAST DANCE Then finally, the Kings enjoyed some odds on their side versus the NLEX team that lost a lot of spunk on the exit of original import KJ McDaniels. The Kings got past the Road Warriors, 3-1, in their semis series.

Then came the Ginebra-Meralco IV Last Dance that the Kings had to attend with Aguilar joining Pringle, Dillinger, and Mariano on the sidelines.

“Nag-improve ang Meralco, kami naman napilay ng husto,” said Chua.

“Nakita kong kaya noong nanalo sa Game 2.”

The Gin Kings evened up at onegame apiece on their 99-93 decision in Game 2, and their morale and confidence soared higher when they pulled even again at 2-2 on a 95-84 win in Game 4.

Brownlee and his teammates refused to stop from there, beating the Bolts three in a row to repeat their back-to-back Governors’ Cup title runs in 2016 and 2017.

“We’re a team that doesn’t quit. We have that legacy and it’s always an honor and a curse to live up to that.

APRIL 24, 2022

JUSTIN BROWNLEE

Barangay Ginebra passed one of the toughest championship tests in the Philippine Basketball Association (pba. ph).

Barangay Ginebra:

Never-say-die, indeed It’s very hard but these guys have been finding a way to do that,” said Cone.

BEST IMPORT At the center of the Ginebra’s victorious toast is best import Justin Brownlee.

After bagging the Governors’ Cup Best Import award, the 33-year-old Brownlee powered the Kings to a back-to-back championship in the season-ending tournament.

To top it all, Brownlee is now part of the Top 5 all-time scoring list among imports following his 24-point, 16-rebound, six-assist stats line in the closed-out game.

The charismatic import surpassed fellow Ginebra legend Billy Ray Bates at no. 5 as he now totaled 4,539 points in his PBA stint that began in 2016.

Bates, the explosive former Portland Trailblazers stalwart who steered the Ginebra franchise to its first-ever league championship in 1986, fell at sixth spot with 4,523.

The ever-humble person that he is, Brownlee felt great being mentioned in the same breath as Bates and Norman Black, the Meralco Bolts coach who leads the all-time scoring list with 11,329.

“It’s always great to be mentioned

with those guys and Norman Black. It’s great. Great feeling,” said Brownlee.

“I definitely did my history on the imports that have played here.

I know he is a great import and he has a lot of success. He is one of the best, if not the best, to play here,” Brownlee added, pertaining to the legendary Bates.

No. 2 in the import scoring list behind Black is the late seven-time Best Import winner Bobby Ray Parks with 8,955, grand slam champion Sean Chambers with 8,225, and scoring great Lou Massey with 5,386.

“It feels great to be in the company

of things in the league. I feel like this is a great league, very established, has a lot of history, has a lot of players, import and local players. It feels great to keep accomplishing things in this league because it means a lot,” said Brownlee.

This is the fifth time Brownlee moved on the leaderboard among the top-scoring imports, initially being at no. 11 before the start of the conference.

He had since moved past the likes of Byron ‘Snake’ Jones and Billy Ray Robinson, Donnie Ray Koonce, Larry McNeil, Francois Wise, and Bates. (pba.ph)

Ateneo fends off NU for 37th straight win Mapua halts San Beda, ATENEO de Manila University shrugged off National University’s fourth-quarter surge, taking an 89-75 win, to move three wins away from an elimination round sweep of the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament, Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Blue Eagles also extended their UAAP winning streak to 37 outings, going undefeated since 2018.

The Blue Eagles went on a 29-12 rampage to start the game before dropping 32 points in the second frame to build a 25-point advantage at the half, 61-36.

Down by 29 heading into the fourth frame, the Bulldogs dropped an 18-3 bomb to pull within 14 with 4:10 to go, 6781, but that would be the closest they could get.

Dave Ildefonso went 5-of-11 from behind the arc to get 17 points with nine rebounds, three assists, and a steal for Ateneo.

Ange Kouame was 4-of-5 from the field and 7-of-10 from the free-throw line, while SJ Belangel delivered nine points and seven assists.

Janjan Felicilda did it all for NU with 12 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Figueroa had 12 points as well.

The Bulldogs lost for the fourth consecutive outing, falling to 4-7, good for just the sixth spot.

Ateneo will go for 12-0 on Tuesday against Adamson University at 4:30 pm. Meanwhile, NU will look to get out of its slide against University of Santo Tomas at 7 pm.

The Scores: ATENEO 89 -- Ildefonso 17, Kouame 16, Belangel 9, Chiu

9, Verano 8, Mamuyac 8, Andrade 6, Tio 6, Koon 5, Lazaro 5, Padrigao 0, Gomez 0, Daves 0.

NU 75 -- Felicilda 12, Figueroa 12, Clemente 10, Gaye 9, Ildefonso 7, Torres 7, Minerva 5, Malonzo 4, Mahinay 4, Galinato 3, Joson 2, Enriquez 0, Manansala 0, Yu 0.

Ange Kouame of Ateneo powers his way past National University defenders

Brooks-Pacio ONE showdown inevitable SECOND-RANKED strawweight contender Jarred Brooks continued his meteoric rise through the division with a spectacular submission of no.

1-ranked Bokang Masunyane on Friday night in the ONE Championship at the Singapore Stadium.

“The Monkey God” immediately met “Little Giant” at the center of the Circle, locked him up in the clinch, and quickly transitioned to take the back.

From there, the American rode Masunyane’s back with a body triangle in place and then secured a deep rear-naked choke to squeeze the consciousness out of the South African.

The dominant win secured Brooks the next shot at ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua Pacio.

In the main event, Regian Eersel willed himself through heavy fire, defeating Arian Sadikovic to retain his ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title for the fourth time.

Regian Eersel utilized his superior

length and athleticism early, punishing the challenger with a plethora of flying knee attacks.

However, Sadikovic dialed up the intensity in round two, knocking “The Immortal” down for the count with a flying knee of his own. The defending World Champion survived and proceeded to dominate rounds three and four behind a steady stream of strikes from the outside.

In the final stanza, it was anybody’s game, but a busier Eersel outworked Sadikovic en route to a hard-earned victory on the scorecards. With his 19th consecutive win overall, Eersel remained unbeaten in ONE Super Series and took home a US$50,000 performance bonus.

In the co-main event, 17-year-old Swedish phenom Smilla Sundell entered the record books against Filipina-American star Jackie Buntan and became the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Cham-

pion.

Buntan was methodical to start the contest, connecting on sharp counters from range. But the relentless aggression from Sundell quickly took over, as the teen sensation pressed forward behind fast and powerful combinations.

After five rounds, the damage on Buntan’s face was evidence of the “The Hurricane’s” handiwork, and the lanky Swedish fighter scored a clearcut unanimous decision.

With the victory, Sundell became the youngest ONE World Champion in history and took home a US$50,000 bonus for her effort.

Liam Harrison and Muangthai PK. Saenchai went to war in a ONE Super Series bantamweight Muay Thai contest, and the one-round battle was pandemonium from start to finish.

Both men came out guns blazing at the opening bell, but it was Muangthai who took an early lead.

keeps Final 4 bid alive PAOLO Hernandez produced a double-double effort in a reserve role as Mapua stalled San Beda’s march to the Final Four with a 68-54 victory Saturday in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the La Salle Greenhills Gym. Dealing the Red Lions their first loss while keeping the Cardinals’ hopes of advancing to the Final Four outright alive, Hernandez provided the needed spark off the bench with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

“Lagi akong ready, mapa-first stringer or second-stringer man,” said Hernandez, who also had two assists and two steals in 29 minutes of action.

As Mapua holds the tiebreaker over San Beda in case both teams end up tied at No. 2 at the end of the elimination round, Hernandez hopes that his troops will sustain the same energy against Lyceum of the Philippines University on Wednesday.

“Same mentality. Hard work pa rin. Lahat ng teams dito, contender.

Walang mahina, lahat malakas,” said Hernandez.

Posting their third consecutive win,

the third-running Cardinals moved up to 6-2, trailing the Lions (6-1) by just half a game.

“Sarap ng feeling na talunin ang nasa top team,” said Mapua captain Warren Bonifacio, who contributed 13 points, four boards and three blocks.

“Sobrang saya kasi lahat ng pagod, lahat ng pinaghirapan sa ensayo, nagbunga.”

Toby Agustin also played big for the Cardinals with a game-high 15 points.

It was San Beda’s worst loss since dropping a 72-91 decision to Arellano University on Oct. 1, 2015.

James Kwekuteye led San Beda with 14 points and 11 rebounds while Ralph Penuela added 13 points, three assists and two steals.

The scores: First Game Mapua (68) -- Agustin 15, Hernandez 14, Bonifacio 13, Pido 8, Nocum 8, Lacap 5, Gamboa 5, Salenga 0, Mercado 0.

San Beda (54) -- Kwekuteye 14, Penuela 13, Amsali 6, Andrada 5, Gallego 4, Bahio 3, Sanchez 3, Alfaro 2, Ynot 2, Cuntapay 2, Abuda 0, Villejo 0.

Jarred Brooks shows why he is called “The Monkey God”

Life Editor: Nickie Wang

APRIL 24, 2022

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

Young Filipina fashion designer promotes upcycling through own clothing line AS THE pandemic rages on, an inspiring Filipina wishes to leave a mark on the fashion industry through her upcycled fashion line, with hopes to influence the public to veer away from fast fashion.

Born and raised in San Pedro, Laguna, Alyanna Ferrer’s genuine curiosity contributed to her approach to taking inspiration from the mundane and honoring timeold classics. And thus, after obtaining her bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, she established her eponymous fashion brand, Alyanna Ferrer.

She recently released The Remake Collection, which explored the evolution and recollection as the DNA of unwanted materials were preserved as they were reborn into different garments.

Alyanna Ferrer sources all of its materials from Humble Sustainability, a community that collects and distributes materials from households and businesses for reuse and recycling, all for circular living.

These old school uniforms, worn-out jeans, discarded upholstery covers, and linen sheets, all now take the form of resurrected, stylish, comfortable, and environmentally-responsible garments, all with a new lease on life.

“The economic and consecutive environmental catastrophes proved to us that we lack accountability. Prior to the pandemic, it is already known that the human and environmental costs have grown dramatically because of fast fashion’s unethical practices – cheap labor, waste accumulation, exploitation,” she stated.

“As a brand, we are committed to

Alyanna Ferrer lounging at her garage which doubles as her creative space. (Inset) The Remake backstage with Celine Reyes (right) and Thian Dinglasan wearing The Remake piece No. 03 (chore jacket made from old car seat covers)

taking part in rewiring the industry by creating a more responsible line in collaboration with our local artisans,” she added.

A former collection, The Reissue, likewise talked about “a movement towards breaking the ‘take-make-dispose’ fashion cycle, teaching consumers the discipline of utilizing clothes and other resources.”

“This pandemic gave us a lot of realizations - from valuing life to maximizing the digital platforms for health, livelihood, education, and more. One of the greatest lessons I learned during this time is to have a heart of flesh. We need to extend our kindness and challenge ourselves to become a vessel of hope,” she shared.

Looking to the future, Alyanna Ferrer aims to expand her network as she gears up for an e-commerce partnership later in the year.

‘Assembling Alice’

A tour-de-force of memory and history Head-turner Kendrick Abarquez steals hearts in NCAA Season 97 Kendrick Abarquez from San Sebastian College-Recoletos

By Paolo Manuel C. Fule THE ongoing NCAA Season 97 Men’s basketball showcases talents from all over the archipelago, and the Cebuano hunk Kendrick Abarquez from San Sebastian College-Recoletos is ready to see the action on the hardcourt.

The Marco Gumabao deadringer was born on May 13, 2001 in Cebu City. The 6-foot-4 San Sebastian College-Recoletos student is now taking up BSBA-BM and playing as a power forward for the San Sebastian Golden Stags.

Asked about how he manages to balance his studies and sports, the 20-yearold cager admitted that it’s all about setting priorities and living by his mantra “play hard, study harder.”

“It’s always 50 percent basketball and 50 percent studies because basketball will not always be there. I need to finish my studies and for me to have a second plan

in life,” says Kendrick.

His most unforgettable game was when he was in Leyte in a semifinals game and he got to block the winning shot of their opponent and passed it forward to his teammate and got the shot for the win.

Apart from playing basketball, he also loves playing volleyball and table tennis.

This biker also loves playing video games and listening to music.

He lists Michael Jordan and June Mar Fajardo as his basketball heroes.

“I like MJ because he is the greatest of all time (GOAT) and I like June Mar Fajardo because he is a humble player,” Kendrick explains.

Kendrik’s big goal is to play in a professional league but his ultimate ambition is “to be a successful man in the future and build a happy family and I also want to pay back or help my parents and live a financially stable life.”

Kendrick Abarquez from Cebu City is the power forward for the San Sebastian Golden Stags

I

T’S always difficult to bring the past to life, especially when one doesn’t have any written documents to draw on, only stories told within the family circle and passed on from one generation to the next. Yet Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta manages to do this admirably in her new novel Assembling Alice.

In an interview for Penguin SEA, Katigbak-Lacuesta says the book is about her “maternal grandmother, one of the first female Filipino journalists. She grew up during the Commonwealth period. She survived the Japanese occupation, the Second World War, and the aftermath of the liberation of Manila.

“Essentially, these are stories I grew up hearing and I tried to tell it as coherently as I could by weaving a clear narrative through all the anecdotes I’ve heard over the years,” she says.

The ‘Alice’ of the book’s title is Alice Feria, a hazeleyed pianist who aids the resistance during the war and suffers loss, deprivation, and sorrow. But it is also a story of love, and the three men who loved Alice – Haruki, a Japanese spy; Burt Winn, an American soldier; and Ding Obordo, a member of the Philippine basketball team in the 1936 Olympics.

Alice first meets Haruki at the home of her friend Linang, where he is a gardener. He loves her from afar but hesitates to approach her; he has a bigger game to play. There is a touching scene where they complete a haiku together.

Later, as a Japanese officer, he saves Alice from certain death in a dungeon, and leaves her life completely.

Linang, who has her eye on Ding, invites Alice to a gathering he’s also invited to. Unfortunately for Linang, Ding falls in love with Alice, they marry, and adopt a son. Father and son die in a fire set by the Japanese; only Alice survives after a young neighbor pulls her out.

She is a grieving widow playing piano for wealthy friends when Burt meets and falls for her, hard.

Other characters tell their stories in a

otherwise unlike things or to convey a larger meaning, such as for social commentary.”

In the case of ‘Alice,’ the protagonist is actually the historical person, and the social commentary is related to nationbuilding, which is important to Alice and impels her to become a journalist after the war. Several of her editorials written for the magazine The Filipino Home Companion are included in the book.

NO SHELF CONTROL In the book’s epilogue, Katigbak-LacuesBY JENNY ORTUOSTE ta relates her fascination with the grandmother she never met. The novel is the complex weaving of perspectives: Salva- author’s brave and determined project to cion, Alice’s aunt who is a mother to her; bring her grandmother back to life, to build Felix, her absent father; Zipper, conductor a world in which Alice still breathes, lives, of the orchestra for which Alice plays; and and loves -- Alice who survived a Japanese others whose diverse viewpoints give a officer’s wrath, Alice who was pulled from a comprehensive view of Alice, her life, and burning house, Alice who went on to have children and grandchildren, among them her environment.

Through it all, we see the figure of Al- the author herself.

Katigbak-Lacuesta’s use of language is ice, steadfast in her love of country and masterful. The author of several family, willing to sacrifice her life to upbooks of poetry, she brings a hold the prinlyrical quality to her prose that makes this book a tremendous delight to read. Consider this paragraph about Burt Winn assessing Alice’s appearance: “He sees looseness in her dress, but they have all been through hunger and do not quite belong to their clothes.

This time, he does not see that morning’s blue softly shrouding her. He sees her hazel eyes, the thin arcs of her brows, her hair falling to just below her nape. Alice smiles at her hosts abstractedly. She is here but she isn’t here, Burt thinks to himself.”

In Assembling Alice, Katigbak-Lacuesta not only succeeds in telling a charming and engaging tale, she also creates a touching work of historical fiction that portrays in warm and loving detail the lives of real people. This is memory fleshed and animated by imagination, to create an entirely new tale that in turn will create memories for readers.

This novel is precious on many levels. I believe it is destined to become a Filipino modern classic.

For comment and feed‘Assembling Alice’ by Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta talks about the back, you may reach the author’s grandmother, one of the first female Filipino journalists author on Facebook and Twitter: @DrJennyO ciples she holds sacred.

Katigbak-Lacuesta has described her work as “biofiction,” a term defined by Kevin Coss, writing for the University of Minnesota, as “literature with a protagonist named after a real-life person, and the author fictionalizes that historical figure in order to show a common theme between

ASSEMBLING ALICE

By Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta 228 pages, Penguin Random House SEA P995.00 for pre-order at Good Intentions Books (Facebook page); also available at major bookstores.

The understated elegance of Han So Hee THROUGH Penshoppe’s new campaign for its curated line of neutral pieces, the Soundtrack #1 star makes her debut as the latest addition to the top fashion brand’s roster of world-renowned ambassadors.

Embodying the understated elegance of the collection, Han So Hee sports the perfect minimalistic looks, timeless styles, and breathable pieces that come in earth tones and muted hues.

The Penshoppe Group’s (GOLDEN ABC) VP for Brand Management, Jeff Bascon, welcomes Han So Hee to Team Penshoppe noting that he classic beauty and vibrant personality match not only the brand’s latest collection but also its over all branding.

“We are excited to showcase Han So Hee’s versatile ability to pull off any style, as we’ve seen her do with every role she plays,” Bascon said.

Han So Hee is known for pairing her elegant visuals with whatever ensemble the occasion calls for – whether it’s high-fashion or a laid-back look featuring her favorite tracksuits. Each time, she serves and delivers, and she explains how her new role as the brand’s ambassador encourages her to keep doing so.

“It’s such a thrill to work with Penshoppe. My personal style is very much aligned with the Penshoppe branding, so I get to dress up in clothes I love. At the same time, Penshoppe’s wide range of offers allows me to experiment with different styles, and it’s exciting to know that I can count on its versatility for my own fashion endeavors,” the Korean star stated.

The My Name actress looks forward to paying her Filipino fans a visit, and experiencing more of

the country’s culture.

“I hope to meet my Filipino fans soon, and personally thank them for the love and support they have shown me and my work over the past years,” she said. “I also know that a uniquely vibrant culture awaits me - I’ve had a glimpse of it through Penshoppe, and I can’t wait to experience it in full.”

Han So Hee joins Penshoppe’s roster of worldfamous ambassadors, including Nevertheless costar Song Kang, BLACKPINK’s Lisa, Astro’s Cha Eun-woo, actor Nam Joo-Hyuk, former 2NE1 member Sandara Park, top models Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner, and more.

Rising to Hallyu fame with her roles in the hit Korean series such as My Name and The World of the Married, she currently plays the role of Lee Eun-soo in the ongoing Disney+ series Soundtrack #1.

Han So Hee is a vision of grace and elegance as Penshoppe’s ambassador

APRIL 24, 2022

Sofia Pablo fulfills dream in new mermaid series n Entertainment Editor: Nickie Wang

Sofia is excited to play the lead role of a mermaid The heartwarming fantasy series, which encourages people to overcome their personal battles while realizing the importance of genuine support and love from friends and family, is headlined by no other than Sparkle Sweethearts Sofia Pablo as Raya and Allen Ansay as Gavin.

The seven-part mini-series follows Raya (Sofia) as she returns to Casa Elena resort where she first turned into a mermaid. She has learned a great deal from that experience as she becomes a more loving daughter and a good friend to Gavin (Allen), the son of their resort’s caretaker.

Sofia ‘Raya Sirena,’ starring Sofia Pablo, is a heartwarming fantasy series

Allen Ansay

Elias Point

Ayeesha Cervantes

G

MA Network and Regal Entertainment continue to bring positive vibes and inspiration this 2022 with the launch of the weekly afternoon mini-series Raya Sirena beginning today.

shares her excitement with the return of Raya Sirena, “I felt a little pressure when it was first offered to me because of the trust they gave me in playing the lead role. I’m really hoping and praying na sana maging successful ito katulad nung unang napanood ng tao ‘yung Raya Sirena sa Regal Studio Presents na one episode lang pero maraming nanood, maraming tumutok and nagtrending ng ilang araw. Sana ganun din yung impact ng Raya Sirena na mini-series.”

Meanwhile, Allen is happy because Kapuso viewers will get to witness the new adventures of their characters in the mini-series, “Happy po kami na yung Raya Sirena ay ginawang miniseries. Alam po natin dati na isang episode lang po ito at minahal din po talaga siya ng viewers natin. Sobrang excited po kami kasi mas pinaganda talaga ‘yung kwento niya, at mas binigyang lalim po.”

Jana Taladro

Joining Sofia and Allen in the program are Shirley Fuentes as Helga, Raya’s cunning and scheming aunt; Mosang as Nay Matet, the mother of Gavin, and caretaker of the family resort; Gerald Pesigan as Buknoy, one of the funny friends of Gavin; Shecko Apostol as Poknat, the other quirky friend of Gavin; Jana Francine Taladro as Thea, the younger daughter of Helga; Ayeesha Cervantes as Chriselle, the eldest daughter of Helga; Reins Mika as Lua, mermaid friend of Ape; Juan Carlos Galano as Bulan, Moon God and guardian of the sea; Elias Point as Otep, cousin of Gavin; and Saviour Ramos as Ape, a merman and Raya’s guide in the sea.

GMA First Vice President for Program Management Department Jose Mari Abacan reveals how they decided to produce the sevenpart mini-series, “When we did the Regal Studio Presents: Raya Sirena,

Mika Reins

Top female gamers unite for star-studded GIGA Arena video MOBILE services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has pulled off an ambitious crossover moment as it brought together top gaming celebrities for a star-studded video for GIGA Arena, the first all-in-one esports platform for Filipino mobile gamers.

The one-minute video features Alodia Gosiengfiao, Dexie Diaz, Christine Samson, and Nix Gaming, who are among the most prominent Filipino streamers today.

Alodia rose to international fame for her elaborate cosplays and streaming and is now the co-founder of Tier One Entertainment, which aims to revolutionize the esports landscape in the country.

Like Alodia, Christine Samson is both a cosplayer and streamer and dabbles in commercial modeling and TV hosting.

On the other hand, both Dexie Diaz and Nix are among the country’s top Mobile Legends streamers today with 6.6 million and 4 million Facebook followers, respectively.

In the video [https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=5FpNkhsvGDA], these top gamers were transported to the various dimensions of the GIGA Arena and its featured tournaments for Call of Duty Mobile, PUBG, League of Legends: Wild Rift and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang to immerse in their favorite games and train for greatness together Like Alodia, Dexie, Christine, and Nix

ISLAND Records Philippines began life in the middle of a pandemic, and for the first time, it held a party in a gig venue on April 10. The reason for the celebration was Juan Karlos’s Drop 1, the new EP that dropped at the end of March on major digital platforms.

The place for the launch party was Social House in Circuit Makati, which in the past has seen musicians and music lovers gather to celebrate the art and craft of making memorable melodies and lyrics.

Now that (hopefully) things are coming

Juan Carlos Galano

wakasan talaga siya so we didn’t know na may clamor na sundan siya ng medyo mahaba-haba. So, nung pinaguusapan namin gagawa ba tayo ng Raya Sirena 2 within Regal Studio Presents? Nag-usap kami ni Roselle Monteverde, tingnan natin baka pwede natin gawin na seven-part series para hindi nagmamadali. Pag nag work ito, sana araw-araw na.”

COO & Vice President of Regal Entertainment Inc. and Regal Multimedia Inc., Roselle Monteverde, in turn, highlights the secret behind the success of Sofia and Allen’s loveteam, “They look so cute together and iba ‘yung chemistry nila on and off screen.

Sa tingin ko, hahaba naman talaga ang journey nitong dalawa nating young stars kasi they are very passionate sa career nila, nakikita ko naman yon.”

Directed by Crisanto Aquino, Raya Sirena premieres today at 3:05 p.m. right after GMA Blockbusters.

Saviour Ramos

Shecko Apostol

(From left) ‘Bola Bola’ stars KD Estrada, Akira Morishita, and Francine Diaz

Six lessons on young love, body positivity in ‘Bola Bola’ Some of the top gamers in the country in the Smart GIGA Arena video Gaming, Filipino gamers and esports enthusiasts looking to test their skills and train for greatness can step inside the Smart Giga Arena.

No matter what the game is, whether it’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, League of Legends: Wild Rift, PUBG Mobile, or Call of Duty Mobile, gamers can find top personalities slugging it out in the trenches with you as they train for greatness in the daily, weekly, and monthly tournaments.

The best part is interested players don’t even have to be the best or high-ranking to get a chance to play — the Smart GIGA Arena trains them to be the best and lets them hone their skills with others who may be more experienced with no discrimination.

To join Smart GIGA Arena, subscribers can simply go to gigaarena.smart and create an account using their Smart or TNT mobile number. To join ongoing tournaments, users need to use Giga Arena tickets, which they can earn and accumulate every time they register to GIGA Games data packs on the GigaLife App or by dialing *123#.

Aside from enabling users to compete in live tournaments with real cash prizes, the all-in-one platform also comes with innovative features that allow mobile gamers to stream live competitions, play arcade games, purchase e-load, and conveniently link their e-wallet to secure their tournament winnings via GigaPay with PayMaya, among others.

Juan Karlos celebrates new music the island way

Juan Karlos at the Social House in Circuit Makati

email: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

back on track, Juan Karlos’ fellow artists crowd with their musical talent, infectious and music fans got together at last for a energy, and a knack for catchy pop-punk memorable night. that got everyone on their feet.

The night began with an astounding Finally, Juan Karlos took the stage to performance by JMara, who was joined play his music live, especially his songs by a live band and by his fellow Morobeats from Drop 1, and his supporters and friends members. One Click Straight played next, were not disappointed. He told us before and the energy and melodic prowess were the single dropped that his music spoke in full force that night. differently to different listeners. As everyone It is no surprise that a band responded in their own enthusiastic way approaching their music the same way to the music, we could sense an energetic opened for Juan Karlos that night. Over exchange between him and the crowd October has been one of those bands in the room. This is what the live music on everyone’s radar for experience is really the longest time since like for everyone who’s its earliest days playing part of it, and that is venues like the late, why music aficionados love being in the room lamented Route 196. where it happens.

Before Juan Karlos As the Diegos played, the audience prepared to spin their got the chance to vinyl records to wrap see CHNDTR live up a long evening. after learning about Juan Karlos made his their story a few days way out of the room ago. They were not shortly after his set disappointed with how JK (right) with the vocalist of they impressed the CHNDTR ended.

ORIGINAL iWantTFC series Bola Bola comes to self-love after her confession about series is filled with a lot of ‘kilig’ and cute loving herself first.

4. Don’t let negative opinions hinder moments as Thea (Francine Diaz) is chased by three charming suitors played your personal growth Any form of rejection is never easy to

by KD Estrada, Akira Morishita, and handle but we should never let it hinder us Ashton Salvador.

Viewers can relate to the feel-good from growing as a person - this is one of the series, which is currently streaming for free lessons that Thea’s mom (Arlene Muhlach) in the Philippines on iWantTFC, as it also instilled in her. Thea slowly became insecure sheds light on important lessons when it about her body because she was constantly bashed and made fun of. comes to body positivity and rejection.

However, she came to a realization that Here is a list of lessons on love and body positivity that viewers can pick up from the the opinions of others do not matter and what’s important is her self-worth. Thea series: 1. Accept everyone no matter their made a promise to protect her happiness and brushed off naysayers with her “haters body weight Thea, a 220-pound high school student, gonna hate” attitude.

5. Don’t sacrifice your health to got her heart crushed when Lucas (Akira), her ultimate childhood crush, blatantly please others Eating good food was Thea’s way of rejected her because he “doesn’t date big girls.” It took Lucas a while to realize coping after her father (Lito Pimentel) abandoned their family when she was that his harsh statement really hurt Thea’s a kid. Thea was only affected by feelings and worse, he failed to her big size when she suddenly appreciate her sincere kindness felt uncomfortable in her own just because she was fat. skin and at the same time, Despite Lucas’ treatment, she also felt peer-pressure Thea knew in her heart that whenever her figure was her body weight does not criticized. define who she is as a person Josh (Ashton), Thea’s because she truly believes that friend and gym instructor, beauty comes from within. was quick to remind her that 2. Be confident to confess she should not lose weight your feelings to your crush Self-love should just because others are We’ve all been scared to confess our true feelings to always be a priority telling her to do so, but only because she wants to do it a crush at one point in our lives. Julian (KD), Thea’s best friend, can for herself. Thea slowly learned that she definitely relate! Julian has had suppressed should start making healthier choices and feelings for Thea ever since they were that shedding a few pounds is a process.

6. Love has its ups and downs young. However, thanks to their friend Love could be extremely sweet and Issa’s (Analain Salvador) ‘real talk’ and encouragement, Julian realized that he’ll bitter at the same time, and the series never know how Thea feels about him if he underscores a lot of lessons when it comes never admits his love. Julian was willing to to this. First, Thea learned to love herself take a risk for love and eventually, he felt a more after Lucas’ rejection. Second, Julian sense of relief knowing that he was brave learned how to handle his relationship with Thea after she put him in the “best enough.

3. Self-love should always be a priority friend zone.” Lastly, Josh gained a better The series highlights different types of appreciation of Thea’s company when he love - puppy love, love for family and friends, realized that she loved someone else.

All of these instances in the series teach and most importantly - self-love. After Lucas’ rejection, Thea vowed to love herself more viewers that although love isn’t all about by losing weight and by prioritizing her ‘kilig,’ we have to learn how to embrace it happiness. With the help of Julian, Thea so that we could feel the true essence of gained a deeper understanding when it being in love.

APRIL 24, 2022

Are Animals

Conscious Beings like Humans?

Part 1 of 2

By Mariana Burgos

"M

GA hayop lang naman yan.Wala naman silang mga isip gaya ng tao." (They are just animals. They don't have minds like humans.)

Animals have shown consciousness. Togo, a husky sled dog, saved hundreds of human lives when he led the Nome Serum Run to get vaccines for diptheria victims in 1925. He is listed as one of the top 10 heroic animals in the world. (From the Time article "Top 10 Heroic Animals")

apart from other living beings on this planet. This is also the reason man thinks he has the sole right to control and dominate everything else that has life in it.

Do animals have souls?

the world and everything in it, including himself.

From Aristotle to St. Thomas Aquinas; to Descartes; to Hobbes, and to Kant, all five share the same position that dominated the traditional (primitive) view of how animals should be treated. The position was based on two claims: (1) Human beings have a special attribute that makes them distinct from all other animals (a factual claim) and (2) having this special attribute makes human beings objects of direct moral concern (a moral claim).

The special attribute was rationality, and in particular having language and being able to engage in ethical thought. The traditional Christian view incorporated an additional distinction, namely that animals did not have immortal souls (Duncan I.J.H., « Animal Welfare: A Brief History » [PDF file], In: Hild S. & Schweitzer L. (Eds), Animal

Philosophers and theologians, through centuries, have presented each of their own theories on conI often hear this statement from is why scientists, famous philosophers sciousness and morality that contribcommon folks when they are trying and theologians said that we are far uted to shaping man's general view of to brush off the guilt in taking the lives of animals for whatever reason.

They do this when they are referring to animals used as food, as a tool for livelihood, a source of raw material, for clothing, or accessories, for entertainment, even as pets (when some owners maltreat their pets). They say this because they see animals' as beings of lower value than humans. But are they really? Are animals mindless and purely instinctive?

The expression "having a mind of your own” means having a sense of self-awareness or, what others may say, having consciousness--- you are aware of what and who you are and your purpose in life. You are able to analyze things around you and the different situations you are in, and you are able to decide for yourself after considering everything around you. It means you do not act based on pure instinct of which self-preservation is the ultimate goal. It also means you do not rely on dictations or commands alone for you to be efficient and effective not just for your own sake, but for the sake of the world you live in as well. Now, isn't being aware and being conscious a huge responsibility?

For thousands of years, man was Statues of Togo (left) and Balto, famous Serium Run dogs, were displayed in the exhibit Polar Bear Garden: The Place Between Alaska and believed to be the only living being in Russia at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center on March 10, 2017. (Photo by Erik Hill/ADN as posted in the article "Togo was the this world that has consciousness. That true hero dog of the serum run; it’s about time he got his due" in Anchorage Daily News online on March 2, 2020.

Welfare: From Science to Law, 2019, pp. 13-19).

Do animals suffer?

Then came the period of "the Enlightenment" which gave way to the "Utilitarian" theory of Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. Bentham said it is the consequences of actions that are important. When it came to animals, he rejected the claims of the five philosophers above. He said that rationality is not the relevant matter. "The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? But, Can they suffer?" (Bentham, 1823). And then, John Stuart Mill developed Bentham's ideas. He said, "Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness". Happiness is defined as pleasure and the absence of pain; unhappiness is defined as pain and the privation of pleasure (Duncan I.J.H., « Animal Welfare: A Brief History » [PDF file], In: Hild S. & Schweitzer L. (Eds), Animal Welfare: From Science to Law, 2019, pp. 13-19).

Animal welfare

In 1965, Ruth Harrison wrote about all the horrifying methods used by animal meat-intensive production systems in England. Her writings caused a huge public outcry that forced the government to to form a Committee of Enquiry under the chairmanship of Prof. Rogers Brambell. The report of this committee was known as the 'Brambell Report' and it concluded that there was, indeed, a cause for concern about animals in such production systems. It is stated in the report, "Welfare is a broad term that embraces both the physical and mental well-being of the animal.

Any attempt to evaluate welfare, therefore, must take into account the scientific evidence available concerning the feelings of animals that can be derived from their structure and functions and also from their behavior" (Command Paper 2836, 1965; Duncan I.J.H., « Animal Welfare: A Brief History » [PDF file], In: Hild S. & Schweitzer L. (Eds), Animal Welfare: From Science to Law, 2019, pp.13-19).

(To be continued next Sunday)

Cheese and dogs

We always get a cake with no cheese for Summer and our other dogs every year.

YOU can give cheese to your dog but please, do not give too much too often.

Randa Kriss, in “Can Dogs Eat Cheese?​ In the Americal Kennel Club website published Aug,. 29, 2021, said, “Yes, dogs can eat cheese. In fact, cheese is often a great training tool, especially for puppies. But should dogs eat cheese? While some dogs can eat cheese, and most dogs love it, many dogs can be intolerant of cheese. Even for dogs that are able to tolerate cheese, it is probably best fed in moderation.”

Health Benefits

Summer celebrates her birthday every year. We try to give less food with cheese and salt. But Dentastix is one of her favorite treats. To make sure she does not get too much salt in the body, we give her only one stick even on her birthday. This coming Thursday, Summer will turn 17.

Cheese has health benefits as it contains protein, calcium, vitamin A, essential fatty acids, and B-complex vitamins, said Kriss.

“Most dogs love cheese, and trainers often use it for treat-motivated dogs.

This snack is also a good way to conceal pills for dogs that require medication,” Kriss said.

How to feed cheese safely to dogs

Kriss warned that cheese is high in fat.

Thinking of what to put in what I call the "dog's buffet bowl" every year is a challenge. While we do not put cheese on their spaghetti, we can not avoid not getting them their favorite lasagna with a little cheese on it (middle of the bowl). We thus give lots of water and avoid salty food (aside from the dog food we have to give) as much as we can after.

Thus, feeding too much to your dog can lead to obesity. Worse, your dog might develop pancreatitis, a serious and potentially fatal illness.

“In addition to the problems presented by the high-fat content, some cheeses contain herbs or other products that are toxic to dogs, such as garlic, onions, and chives, “ Kriss said.

Thus, Kriss strongly suggested you feed your dog low-fat cheeses, like mozzarella, cottage cheese, or a soft goat cheese.

“Cottage cheese is lower in fat and sodium than other cheeses, helping reduce the risk of obesity. Cottage cheese is also lower in lactose, thus reducing the likelihood of intestinal upset, “Kriss added.

Lactose Intolerance

There are dog who do not digest cheese well.

Kriss said: “…while cheese contains

little lactose when compared to whole milk, dogs with severe cases of lactose intolerance may have adverse reactions to cheese, even in small quantities. Observe your dog closely for signs of intestinal upset after feeding cheese for the first time, and consult your veterinarian with any questions you may have about adding cheese to your dog’s diet.”

Salt content

Our vet warned against giving too much cheese to dogs and to not give it often to dogs because of the salt content.

Too much salt can lead to kidney problems, our vet reminded us. Aside from developing stones in the kidneys, the dog can also develop chronic kidney disease. Our vet reminded us that manufactured dog food – dry or wet (in cans) – also have salt to preserve the food. Thus giving too much cheese too often and feeding manufactured food to your pet can lead to accumulated salt in the dog’s body which can lead to kidney problems.