Manila Standard - 2022 May 22 - Sunday

Vol. 36

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No. 95

May 22, 2022

2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES

18 .00

IN MET R MANILAO

LEISURELY WALK. Local tourists stroll inside Paco Park in

Manila on Saturday, May 21, 2022. Named this year as a sanctuary for Philippine history and heritage, the park is celebrating its 200th anniversary with a focus on highlighting its strong historical significance, rich cultural heritage, and natural beauty. Danny Pata

DA warns of big rice shortfall Says incoming govt needs P40b to avert the impending grain crisis

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TOP official of the Department of Agriculture said the incoming administration needs to earmark as much as P40 billion to avert an impending supply shortage of rice as he warned the country is facing not just a food crisis but a global food catastrophe.

“The food crisis might be felt towards the end of the year...We are giving a warning to the next administration, we do not know if the supply of rice in the second half of the year will be enough… If we do not give aid to farmers for fertilizer there might be a problem,” said Agriculture

Undersecretary Fermin Adriano in a radio interview Saturday.

“World leaders are discussing that this is not only a looming food crisis but a food catastrophe,” he said, pointing to the supply disruption triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Adriano said that there might be a contraction of 1.1 million metric tons in palay output.

“We will need around P30 billion to P40 billion to ensure that the supply of rice in the country would be sufficient,” Adriano said.

CONTINUED ON 3A

Mixed oil prices up next week: Salceda: High prices top concern for BBM Gas P4 hike, diesel P2.20 cut n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

hike implemented on May 10 where the oil firms increased the price of gasoline and diesel by P4.20 per liter and kerosene by P5.85 per liter.

These resulted in the year-todate adjustments to stand at a net increase of P22 per liter for gasoline, P34.50 per liter for diesel, and P29.75 per liter for kerosene.

GASOLINE prices are expected to go up by as much as P4 per liter next week as the price of diesel may roll back by P2.20.

Based on Unioil Petroleum Philippines’ forecast for the May 24 to 30 trading week, motorists may expect a mixed movement in the pump prices of petroleum products.

Diesel may go down by P2 to P2.20 per liter while gasoline prices may increase by P3.80 to P4.00 per liter.

On May 17, oil firms cut pump prices by as much as P3.10 per liter for diesel, P2.10 per liter for kerosene, and P0.40 per liter for gasoline.

The recent oil price rollback was a reversal of the oil price

Pinoy lifter wins gold, sets three new records in SEAG Only 18 years young, Sarno showed that her future is bright in the sport that Diaz earned her legend as she needed only one attempt at 124 kgs, a new SEAG record at the time of the lift, in the clean and jerk to assure herself of the gold medal.

But the teenager wasn’t through humiliating the field.

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n By RIERA U. MALLARI HANOI—Vanessa Sarno blew away the competition in the 71-kg weightlifting women’s finals of the 31st Southeast Asian Games with a gold and three new records shattered in a mighty show of strength that may have earned her the tag as Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz’s heir apparent.

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AN ELEVATED inflation, the need to arrest unemployment, and the challenge to achieve economic growth amid the pandemic are the “all-important” concerns for the first one hundred days of presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., a House leader said Saturday.

These, according to Albay Rep. Joey

Salceda, are exacerbated by the country’s international debt that has ballooned to P12 trillion, giving the next administration tight room for borrowing.

"The most immediate problem is inflation that continues to go up. This is a global phenomenon that resulted from the war in Ukraine.

Inflation has

Pinoy traveler from M. East positive for Omicron variant THE country has detected a case of the Omicron subvariant BA.4, considered a variant of concern which can either spread faster or cause more severe illness by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.

The Department of Health said the Filipino who flew in from the Middle East arrived on May 4.

GOLDEN LIFT.

4A 1B 3B 4B

“He was asymptomatic,” the department said, adding that the man’s positive test result for the subvariant was collected on May 8.

“DOH has been coordinating with the concerned LGUs [local government units] since confirmation of the case to rapidly implement detection and isolation activities.”

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Monkeypox tightens border controls

Vanessa Sarno bags her first gold in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in record-breaking style.

THE Philippines is tightening its border control measures as an official of the World Health Organization in Europe warned the transmission of the monkeypox virus could accelerate, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Saturday.

“We have instructed the Bureau of Quarantine to intensify its surveillance of passengers coming from countries with known cases of monkeypox,” the Health chief said.

“Symptom screening had also been

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resulted in high prices. The situation was exacerbated by the global logistical imbalance due restrictions brought about by COVID-19,” Salceda said.

In a separate statement issued Saturday, Salceda warned that “it is increasingly looking like this decade will be a decade of elevated inflation.”

“That’s not just a local issue. In many ways, the Philippines looks much better than much of the rest of the world. The US, for example, looks like it’s in stagflation.

The global inflation rate was 9.2 percent last quarter, while the Philippine rate was just 4.0 percent during the same period.”

“But it’s still going to hurt, because the CONTINUED ON 3A

US Navy to name destroyer after heroic Filipino sailor NEWS | 2A

Moscow says battle in Mariupol at its end WORLD | 3A

heightened for inbound passengers, among other control measures,” Duque added.

However, Dr. Ted Herbosa, National Task Force Against COVID-19 special adviser, said there is no need to close the country’s borders over the monkeypox spread.

“It is not a new sickness. It is not a mystery illness that would require us to close our borders. We know how to treat it and how it spreads,” Herbosa said.

“As an adviser, I will not recommend CONTINUED ON 3A

PH sweeps golds in 10-ball singles SPORTS | 1B

MAY 22, 2022

NBI reinforces all-out crackdown vs. e-sabong T n By JOEL E. ZURBANO

HE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) joins the Philippine National Police (PNP) in going after illegal online cockfighting or e-sabong operations.

Reports reaching the office of Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año showed that at least seven e-sabong outfits continue to operate without a license or permits in violation of President Duterte’s directive stopping the online game.

“DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año has directed the PNP Directorate for Operations, the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group and all PNP units nationwide to put a stop to these illegal e-Sabong opera-

tions that reportedly sprouted after the President shut down the PAGCOR-licensed operators,” said DILG Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya.

Malaya said a similar directive was issued to local government units to stop all e-sabong operations in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

He said the DILG has also enlisted the help of the NBI’s anti-cybercrime division in stamping out the e-sabong.

“These illegal e-sabong outfits are operating without licenses or franchises from the national or local governments and are not remitting a single peso in revenue to the state,” he added.

“We urge the public to immediately contact your nearest police station if you know where the studios of these illegal e-sabong operations are so we can put a stop to it. If you also know who the operators are, please contact your nearest police station or CIDG office,” Malaya said.

He also warned the public against betting on e-sabong, saying it is unregulated, hence, it is uncertain if the bettors would get their winnings.

“Because it is illegal, you don’t know where your money goes or if there is fraud,” Malaya stressed.

The DILG, through its regional and field offices, earlier conducted the survey with respondents in every city and municipality across the country.

DepEd probes milk poisoning in Negros town THE Department of Education (DepEd) on Saturday said it is looking into apparent cases of food poisoning believed caused by contaminated milk fed to school children in Negros Oriental.

"The Department of Education (DepEd) is investigating a suspected food-borne illnesses involving elementary students in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental, due to alleged contaminated milk distributed in schools in the area under the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP)," DepEd said in a statement posted on Facebook.

The department said it has coordinated with the local government unit of Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental, as well as the National Dairy Authority, and concerned agencies for the investigation and analysis of the milk samples.

Some100 students in Sta. Catalina were reportedly hospitalized after drinking fresh milk given by the DepEd, according to a report on the State of the Nation program on Friday.

Based on the initial police investigation, the municipality's district supervisor said the victims vomited and some were rushed to the hospital hours after consuming the milk from the Negros OrientalSchool Division Office.

"Based on the field report, majority of the affected learners experienced mild illnesses, including dehydration and nausea. They were treated in nearby hospitals and were discharged later on," the DepEd said.

n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

A1, A2 citizens in Las Piñas to get 2nd booster shots Local officials said A1 (healthcare workers) and A2 (senior citizens) who can be given the second booster will receive a text message telling them to find the place and time of their inoculation.

Vice Mayor Aguilar also proposed that community sites at Verdant Covered Court, Golden Acres Covered Court, Almanza Uno Covered Court, San Antonio Covered Court, Bambusetum Covered Court, Gatchalian Covered Court and T.S Cruz Covered Court be reopened as additional vaccination sites.

In addition, the local government was

also preparing for the Chikiting BakuNation to be held from May 30 to June 10, 2022. This program targets to vaccinate babies up to 23 months old.

Vaccines that can be given to infants are BCG or TB vaccine, Penta-hib or 5in1, Oral Polio and measles vaccine.

Vice Mayor Aguilar instructed the city health office to conduct a house-to-house vaccination drive.

The local government encouraged residents to participate in the program to further increase their protection against the disease. Joel E. Zurbano

Dinagat gets LTO agency n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

CELEBRITY FIST BUMP. House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez (left) and Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr (center) congratulate newly proclaimed Senator Jinggoy Estrada (right) during a Thanksgiving Party Friday night at Emar Suites roof deck in Mandaluyong City. Ver Noveno

PRESIDENT Duterte has signed a law that gives the island-province of Dinagat a Land Transportation Office agency.

The LTO agency is the first new government office to be established in Dinagat Islands after the devastation of Typhoon Odette in December 2021.

“We in Dinagat Islands welcome the passage of Republic Act 11745, establishing a local Land Transportation Office (LTO) in our legislative District,” said Rep. Alan Ecleo, the recently-reelected Representative of the Lone District of Dinagat Islands.

“We are happy that our first term is bookended with the establishment of a government service office which will provide convenience and support to

our fellow Dinagatnons,” Ecleo said.

Last December, Typhoon Odette crippled the functioning of government services in Dinagat Islands after the supertyphoon leveled the whole Province, destroying much of its public infrastructure, including government offices, schools, and hospitals.

“We are not only building back better, we are building back more,” Ecleo stressed. “In an Island Province such as ours, bringing the government closer to the people cannot be realized without national agencies having their own offices here.”

According to Ecleo, the building will put an end to the necessity of “suffering long hours of seafaring and land travel to Surigao in order to get access to LTO services” for residents of the Island Province.

US Navy to name ship after heroic Filipino sailor UNITED States Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro has announced that a future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer will be named USS Telesforo Trinidad (DDG 139) in honor of a Filipino sailor who rescued two crew members when their ship caught fire more than a century ago.

"My first time learning about Petty Officer Trinidad’s story was as a midshipman at the Naval Academy and since being sworn in as Secretary, I have wanted to honor his heroic actions by naming a ship after him," said Del Toro.

"This ship and her future crew will be a critical piece in strengthening our maritime superiority while also emphasizing the rich culture and history of our naval heritage."

Born November 25, 1890 in Aklan, Trinidad showed extraordinary heroism when a boiler exploded on board the USS San Diego in January 21, 1915.

Trinidad was driven out by the explosion but immediately returned to rescue a fellow sailor, Fireman 2nd Class R. W. Daly, who had been

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TWO more regional wage boards have approved a increases in the existing minimum wage rates in Region 4-B (Mimaropa) and Region 12 (Soccsksargen).

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) spokesman Rolly Francia announced that the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) for Regions 4-B, granted a P35-raise in the prevailing minimum wage rate in Mimaropa, thus bringing the rate to P329 a day for private sector workers in establishments with less than 10 employees, and P355 a day for those working in companies with 10 or more employees.

Francia said the RTWPB also granted a monthly increase P1,000 in the take-home pay of domestic workers in Region 4-B, bringing their mandated monthly salary to P4,500.

On the other hand, the wage board for Region 12 ordered a P32-minimum wage hike to be given in two tranches, the first half of P16 to take effect upon approval of the order, and the second half of P16 to be given on September 1, 2022.

With the salary adjustment, the new minimum wage rate in Region 12 is now P368 for the non-agriculture sector, and P347 for agricultural establishments.

Meanwhile, the RTWPB 2 also granted a P1,000 raise for domestic workers in the monthly wage of domestic workers or kasambahay in the Cagayan Valley.

Earlier, the RTWPBs in the National Capital Region (NCR), Regions 1 (Ilocos Region), 2 (Cagayan Valley), 6 (Western Visayas), and Region 12 (Caraga) have also approved increases in the salaries of minimum wage workers in these areas.

DOH, FDA urged to expand 2nd booster criteria

ANTI-US PROTEST. Elements of the Manila Police Department’s anti-riot and crowd dispersal unit face off with a group of militants protesting United States President Joe Biden’s visit to South Korean and Japan and in front of the US Embassy on Roxas Blvd., Manila. AFP

FRONTLINE healthcare workers (A1) and senior citizens (A2) in Las Piñas City will start receiving their second booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday.

Last Friday, Vice Mayor April Aguilar met with the City Health Office (CHO) team headed by Dr. Julie Gonzalez in preparation for the second booster vaccination of senior citizens and health workers.

The Vice Mayor told the CHO team that Mayor Imelda Aguilar wanted a concrete plan for the administration of the second booster shot.

Mimaropa, Soccsksargen workers get pay increase

injured, taking him to safety.

"As he was carrying Daly through the No. 4 fireroom, an explosion of No. 3 boiler hit Trinidad, which burned him in the face," the US Navy said.

Despite his injury, Trinidad assisted in the rescue of another injured shipmate from the No. 3 fireroom.

For his bravery, the U.S. Navy awarded him the Medal of Honor, becoming the first and only Asian-American thus far to receive the highest possible recognition in the US naval force.

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

A PARTY list congressman on Saturday urged the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) to expand the eligibility criteria for the second booster shots of Covid-19 vaccine to persons having comorbidities.

Rep. Rodolfo Ordales of the Senior Citizen party-list group said expanding the eligibility for the second booster will improve the protection of those in the A3 category “because of their varying medical conditions.”

He asked that eligibility for the second booster shot be expanded to include the adult children, as well as grandchildren to seniors in the A3 category.

“I also ask the FDA to approve the best of the COVID vaccines which still have only emergency use authority (EUA). Full approval will mean issuance of the certificate of product registration, thereby making the COVID vaccines more widely available. Their inoculation will be under the direct close supervision of doctors at the hospitals and clinics,” Ordales said in a statement.

The process, he said could start with vaccines which already have the full approval in the United States for adults.

“Full approval will result in a jump in vaccination rates because of the wider and easier availability. Nasa 68 million plus pa lang ang fully vaccinated,” he added.

This developed as the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) lauded a decision of the DOH to expand the national rollout of the 2nd Covid-19 booster shot to include seniors and health care workers.

NAVAL RELIEF AND REHAB EFFORTS. The

Philippine Navy ship BRP Tausug unloads in Baybay, Leyte 30 tons of ordnance for its Naval Forces Central and an equal amount of relief goods for victims of a recent typhoon that left a wide swathe of destruction in Leyte island and other parts of Eastern Visayas.

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

MAY 22, 2022

A PAW-SOME RIDE!

Passengers hold up their dogs on a shinkansen bullet train ride from Tokyo to the resort town of Karuizawa on May 21, 2022. On Japan’s bullet trains, dogs usually have to travel in a carrier, but on May 21, they could stretch their paws and enjoy the scenery on a special pet-friendly express. AFP

‘Mariupol battle now at its end, Ukrainian defenders surrender’

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USSIA has declared victory in its months-long operation to capture the strategic port of Mariupol after Ukraine ordered the last of its troops holed up in the city’s Azovstal steelworks to lay down their arms.

Moscow’s flattening of Mariupol has drawn multiple accusations of war crimes, including over a deadly attack on a maternity ward, and Ukraine has begun a legal

reckoning for captured Russian troops.

The first post-invasion trial of a Russian soldier for war crimes neared its climax in Kyiv on Friday, after 21-year-old sergeant Vadim Shishimarin admitted to killing an unarmed civilian early in the offensive.

The verdict is due Monday.

Shishimarin told the court he was “truly sorry.” But his lawyer said in closing arguments that the young soldier was “not guilty” of premeditated murder and war crimes.

Since Ukrainian forces fended off the Russian offensive around Kyiv both eastern Ukraine and Mariupol in the south have borne the brunt of a remorseless ground and artillery attack.

The fighting is fiercest in the eastern region of Donbas, a Russian-speaking area that has been partially controlled by pro-Kremlin separatists since 2014.

“Attempts to attack Donbas continue.

They completely ruined Rubizhne, Vonokvakha, just as Mariupol,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly

video address late Friday, adding the Russians were “trying to do the same with Severodonetsk and many other cities.”

In the eastern city of Severodonetsk, 12 people were killed and another 40 wounded by Russian shelling, the regional governor said.

Zelensky described the bombardment of Severodonetsk as “brutal and absolutely pointless,” as residents cowering in basements described an unending ordeal of terror.

The city forms part of the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance in Lugansk, which along with the neighbouring region of Donetsk comprises the Donbas war zone.

Moscow on Friday said the battle for the Azovstal steelworks – a symbol of Ukraine’s dogged resistance since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion on February 24 – was now over.

Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenko said 2,439 Ukrainian personnel had surrendered at the steel-

works since May 16, the final 500 on Friday.

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had informed Putin of “the end of the operation and the complete liberation of the (Azovstal) industrial complex and the city of Mariupol,” Konashenko added.

Ukraine hopes to exchange the surrendering Azovstal soldiers for Russian prisoners. But in Donetsk, pro-Kremlin authorities are threatening to put some of them on trial.

In Washington, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said all prisoners of war should “be treated in accordance with the Geneva Convention and the law of war.”

President Joe Biden has cast the Ukraine war as part of a US-led struggle pitting democracy against authoritarianism.

The US Congress this week approved a $40-billion (38-billion-euro) aid package, including funds to enhance Ukraine’s armoured vehicle fleet and air defence system. AFP

Tokyo lodges protest with Beijing over East China Sea construction JAPAN has lodged an official protest with China after discovering what it claimed were efforts by Beijing to develop gas fields in disputed waters in the East China Sea. Tokyo’s foreign ministry said Friday it had confirmed that Beijing was building in the area—where the two countries’ exclusive economic zones (EEZ) overlap —and submitted a complaint to the Chinese embassy.

Japan “strongly urged an early resumption of negotiations over the implementation” of a 2008 bilateral agreement regarding the development of resources in the East China Sea, it added.

That agreement saw Japan and China agree to jointly develop undersea gas reserves in the disputed area, with a ban on independent drilling by either country.

But negotiations over how to imple-

FromtheFRONTPAGE DA..Under the Rice Tariffication Law, rice import duties are used to finance the P10 billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund for farmers to cover farm mechanization, seed development, propagation and promotion, credit assistance, and extension services.

“By removing quantitative restrictions, we are able to address both the needs of consumers for a lower retail price of rice and use the tariff revenues to fund the RCEF and provide even more assistance to farmers with excess tariff revenues,” Socioeconomic Planning and NEDAchief Karl Kendrick Chua said.

Chua described the law, which many farmer groups have blamed for declining palay prices and lower local production, as “the best model that we have to help both farmers and consumers.”

“Last year, we collected P18.9 billion from rice tariff collections.

We gave all that back to rice farmers.

Those calling for the removal of the RTL risk taking away what we are giving to farmers to improve their productivity.

Further lowering the price of rice for all Filipinos is really possible if we help farmers improve productivity.

That is exactly what the RTL is doing by providing them with mechanization, seeds, and other support,” Chua said.

Earlier, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the looming food crisis is due to the expected increases in the prices of farm inputs during the second semester of 2022, aggravated by the effects of the pandemic and rising fuel prices.

“But we’re prepared to handle this.

ment the deal were suspended in 2010.

“It’s extremely regrettable that the Chinese side is unilaterally proceeding with development in the waters,” the ministry said.

“The borders of the economic exclusive zones and the continental shelf are yet to be settled in the East China Sea,” it added.

Japan has long insisted the median line between the two nations should mark the limits of their respective EEZs. But China insists the border should be drawn closer to Japan, taking into account the continental shelf and other features of the ocean.

Tokyo has accused China of positioning 17 suspected drilling rigs close to its de facto maritime border with Japan.

The rigs are on China’s side of the border, but Tokyo fears gas on the Japanese side can also be extracted. AFP We have a directional plan to handle these big challenges,” he said.

The plan is part of a proposed P250 billion budget that the DA aims to forward to the transitional camp of presumptive president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. To alleviate the effects of fuel spikes, Dar said the DA has doubled the fuel subsidy allotted to farmers and fishermen to P1.1 billion. The subsidy will benefit corn farmers as well as the fishing communities.

But the country’s biggest food group – the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc. (PCAFI) – said food production recovery for the Philippines was not within sight, at least for the next eight years, due to challenges in the local agriculture sector.

The Department of Trade and Industry, for its part, said it could not keep the prices of some commodities low because the cost of raw materials had increased.

“We cannot stop the price from moving because the price of raw materials also increased. These are the products’ major ingredients,” Trade Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said.

Castelo said only the prices of 82 basic necessities and prime commodities in the suggested retail price bulletin had an increase out of their 212 stock keeping units.

Dar urged the public to help increase food production in the country by trying urban farming methods.

“We must be prepared, each Filipino, if possible, let’s all plant, raise, fish, here in urban areas. If there’s a way to increase the production of our farmers and fishers, let’s do it. We also have to do it, we, as citizens,” he said.

SALCEDA:...average inflation over

the past ten years is just under 3 percent.

WAR CRIME TRIAL. Russian Sergeant Vadim Shishimarin stands and listens to a translator’s words in the defendant’s box during his trial on charges of war crimes for having killed a civilian at the Court of Appeals in Kyiv on May 20, 2022. The lawyer for the first Russian soldier on trial in Ukraine said in closing arguments Friday that his client was “not guilty” of premeditated murder and war crimes. Shishimarin has admitted in court to killing a 62-year-old civilian in the early stages of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. AFP The average over this decade is going to be closer to 5 percent or more per year. And, other than doing no more harm, there’s not much we can do about it, since most of the price increases are from external prices such as petroleum prices. Commodities will have high prices over this decade. That’s going to be a global trend,” he added.

Salceda said the next administration should be able to come up with sound policies that will halt the momentum in price increases, create strong and well-paid jobs, and maximize the country's gross development product growth potential.

Marcos, he said, should take advantage of the highest mandate given him as shown in the last election results to come up with modern policies.

"The next administration should take advantage of its massive political capital, having been elected with the highest mandate since 1961 that it should use to implement laws or enact new ones to ease inflation,” he said.

PINOY...“BA.4’s faster transmission is likely because of its ability to evade immune protection induced by prior infection and/ or vaccination, particularly if this has waned over time. While the ECDC has not observed any change in severity for BA.4 compared to other Omicron subvariants, we must be careful because faster transmission will lead to a spike in cases that could overwhelm our hospitals and clinics,” the department added.

On Tuesday, the Health department said it had detected local transmission of the Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, however, said local transmission is not the same as community transmission.

“This is not a community transmission

where the infection is already so widespread that linkages cannot be traced anymore,” she said.

The government recently announced that it has detected 17 cases of Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1, two of them in Metro Manila.

The subvariant is said to be 27 percent more transmissible than BA.2, the dominant Omicron subvariant in the Philippines and the rest of the world.

MONKEYPOX...closing our borders

just because there are 85 reported cases of monkeypox,” he added.

The DOH earlier said no case of the monkeypox virus has been detected in the Philippines.

On Friday, the WHO said that there are about 80 confirmed cases of monkeypox so far, and 50 pending investigations across 11 countries, including several parts of Europe, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Duque, however, said the WHO “has not classified monkeypox as a threat to public health as of now.”

“We are guided by their latest advisory,” he said.

WHO regional director for Europe Hans Kluge on Friday said that “as we enter the summer season... with mass gatherings, festivals and parties, I am concerned that transmission could accelerate.”

The virus, which causes distinctive pustules but is rarely fatal, has previously been seen in central and west Africa.

The health official warned that transmission could be boosted by the fact that “the cases currently being detected are among those engaging in sexual activity,” and many do not recognize the symptoms.

Biden, Yoon considering more drills in response to Nokor threat US President Joe Biden and South Korea’s newly sworn-in President Yoon Suk-yeol said Saturday they will consider stepping up joint military exercises in response to the “threat” from North Korea, while also offering to help the isolated dictatorship face down a COVID-19 outbreak.

After meeting in Seoul on Biden’s first trip to Asia as president, the two leaders said in a statement that “considering the evolving threat posed by” North Korea, they “agree to initiate discussions to expand the scope and scale of combined military exercises and training on and around the Korean peninsula.”

Reaching out to Pyongyang, the statement said the two leaders also “express concern over the recent Covid-19 outbreak” there and “are willing to work with the international community to provide assistance” to North Korea to help fight the virus.

Yoon said the offer of Covid aid was being made according to “humanitarian principles, separate from political and military issues” with Pyongyang.

The two presidents are committed to North Korea’s “complete denuclearization,” he said, adding that “nothing is more important than a strong deterrence against the North.” AFP

INBRIEFS

Russia halts gas supplies to Finland RUSSIA on Saturday stopped providing natural gas to neighboring Finland, which has angered Moscow by applying for NATO membership, after the Nordic country refused to pay supplier Gazprom in rubles.

Following Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has asked clients from “unfriendly countries”—including EU member states—to pay for gas in rubles, a way to sidestep Western financial sanctions against its central bank.

Gazprom said in a statement Saturday that it had “completely stopped gas deliveries” as it had not received ruble payments from Finland’s state-owned energy company Gasum “by the end of the working day on May 20.”

Gazprom said it had supplied 1.49 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Finland in 2021, equal to about two thirds of the country’s gas consumption. AFP

Counting begins in Australia’s polls THE first polls closed and counting was under way on Saturday in Australia’s fiercely fought national election that could end a decade of unbroken conservative rule.

Election frontrunner Anthony Albanese asked voters to give his centre-left party a “crack” at running the country, and urged people to spurn “divisive” Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Albanese, the 59-year-old Labor Party leader, said he was “very positive” about the outcome as Australians went to the polls in their millions.

The long and often bitter campaign has focused on the character of the two leaders, with policy largely put on the back burner.

Morrison—behind in the pre-election polls—has been buoyed by a resurgent post-lockdown economy and a 48-yearlow jobless rate.

He has painted his rival as a “loose unit” who is unfit to steer the economy, but has been plagued by low personal approval ratings, accusations of dishonesty and of putting spin before substance. AFP Most initial cases of the disease have been among men who have sex with men and sought treatment at sexual health clinics, Kluge said, adding “this suggests that transmission may have been ongoing for some time.”

Symptoms of the disease include fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion and a chickenpox-like rash on the hands and face.

Monkeypox usually clears up after two to four weeks, according to the WHO. With AFP

PINOY LIFTER...Sarno beat the record she set twice, at 130 and then at 135 kgs in her second and third tries, respectively, to end with a whopping 239kg total, also a new SEAG mark.

Thai runner-up Siriyakorn Khaipandung only had a 223-kg total output, while third placer Indonesian Restu Anggi got the bronze with a 212-kg total.

The Asian Weightlifting champion Sarno also had 104 kgs in the snatch, the first of her three new records in the competition.

“Sobrang saya po, kasi isa po ako sa mga naka-gold for the Philippines sa SEA Games. Grabe po ang preparasyon ko, masasabi ko talaga na handa ako, kaya confident ako sa lahat ng buhat ko,” said Sarno, who got words of encouragement from her idol Diaz during the competition at the Hanoi Sports Training and Competition Center. “Sabi niya, sports ang magbabago sa buhay ko, kaya lagi ko po nasa isip ‘yan.”

Sarno’s win was the Philippines’ fourth gold for the day, leaving the Filipino contingent tied in gold-medal production with Singapore at 47.

Galaxy Racer PH team

G

ALAXY Racer, the largest esports, gaming and lifestyle organization in the world, teamed up with Tyronne Escalante Artist Management to establish its presence in the Philippines.

Esports, an organized competition using video games, is the fastest growing segment of the entertainment industry, and Galaxy Racer believes that the Philippines and Southeast Asia provide large opportunities that have yet to be fully tapped.

“Esports is something we’re very keen on expanding with in Southeast Asia as we’ve established our roots in Europe at the moment. Like any other entertainment facet, sports needs digital innovation, and fans need to be engaged in better ways by molding both old and new together to add more value towards audience engagement,” Galaxy Racer Southeast Asia operations chief executive Mitch Esguerra says in an email interview.

“We’re already at the cusp of a new emerging future as our youth take over the region’s purchasing power, and with their more complex nature, both traditional and new-age businesses need to adapt, and adapt fast. With this, the future is shaping up to be extremely exciting with a lot of new innovative things coming from all fronts,” says Esguerra, formerly the managing partner of DreamFyre Group Inc., a startup gaming talent management agency.

The Philippines esports market has more than 43 million active gamers and has been growing by 12.9 percent annually since 2017. Galaxy Racer Philippines is investing in the country with plans to expand its engagement with competitive esports teams through sponsorships, tournaments and merchandise.

Galaxy Racer Philippines is led by country manager Marcia Guillermo, an experienced brand marketer with over 10 years of experience. “The esports and gaming market in the Philippines definitely shows vast potential, just based on the sheer number of esports audience, active gamers, and the projected growth of gamers at 12.9 percent annually,” she says.

The largest component of revenue for esports and gaming industry comes from sponsorship followed by advertising and media rights. As esports has

MAY 22, 2022

Global esports firm unveils PH expansion a predominant digital distribution, brands utilize it as a medium to reach out to a different market segment, mainly the millennials and Generation Z who are highly tech-savvy and digitally advanced.

“Over the past years, we see non-endemic brands trying to enter and establish their presence in the gaming space by investing in advertising efforts or community-building platforms. As we see the lines blur between lifestyle and gaming, the overlaps have resulted in potential opportunities for Galaxy Racer and our stakeholders,” says Guillermo.

She says that considering how quickly Filipinos evolve in consuming content, “our plans will be focused on building partnerships that will help establish GXR’s credibility in lifestyle and gaming content production. We value forging relationships that will develop talents and provide opportunities, creating a positive impact on all facets of the industry and the community”.

“Currently, our plans for the Philippines would focus on our partnership with TEAM. This partnership is part of our efforts to further expand on our content creation pillar and through this partnership, TEAM and Galaxy Racer Philippines will mutually support each other’s rosters of content creators to create a new breed of talents,” she says.

TEAM is a talent agency that manages new, promising celebrities in the industry that have made a difference in film, television, advertising and entertainment. With the partnership, TEAM

will support Galaxy Racer’s efforts by providing expertise in acting and training sessions for the gaming content creators, while Galaxy Racer serves as TEAM’s esports and gaming arm to guide film and entertainment artists in expanding their digital presence into the online gaming venturing into livestreaming games as a way to grow their influence to a wider audience, and solidifying their interaction with fans.

With its plan to lead the Southeast Asia region, Galaxy Racer Philippines is set to launch its own merchandise and music record label verticals this year—GXR Limited and GXR Records, respectively. GXR Limited will release a collaboration collection with Galaxy Racer’s exclusive content creators Kristine Satamena and Tukomi Twins.

Meanwhile, GXR Records will kick off by collaborating with local producers to plan for the music release featuring other Galaxy Racer exclusive artists.

GXR is also looking at expanding to collegiate esports by producing grassroots leagues and programs that would support and develop student-athletes, and provide scholarship opportunities through esports.

“Overall, having created partnerships and engagements throughout the ecosystem will help us in our journey to being the world’s largest transmedia powerhouse for the digital-native audience across region,” says Guillermo.

Meanwhile, Esguerra says Galaxy Racer has been hard at work to build its foundations across the major markets of

Southeast Asia. “This is primarily because we know and understand that Southeast Asia is a key emerging market with a strong youth population with a combination of Gen Zs and Millennials,” he says.

“Due to this controlling youth population within the regional scope of this consolidated market, Southeast Asia will be poised for substantial explosive growth in the coming years. Esports is not just about the tournaments and leagues, but more so affects other industry sectors heavily that contribute to economic growth through tourism, technology, infrastructure and many more,” he says.

Esguerra says advertising spend on influencer marketing is expected to grow substantially as the youth population go to their chosen influencers for purchase decision recommendations as trust and confidence is more established between them. This will potentially create in the long-term a stronger middle class population across Southeast Asia.

“The Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam will be the key market drivers for the region in this regard, while all other Southeast Asian countries will reap the ripple effects of this as well,” he says.

“As this industry and all other industries involved with it, such as retail, music, sports, events, and video production will pave the way towards Southeast Asia’s complete digital revolution in the coming years,” says Esguerra.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

MTek forms unit MGI accelerates business revolution with world-class commissary to bring health technologies closer to Filipinos

By Darwin G. Amojelar MANILA Healthtek Inc. launched a new subsidiary called GenAmplify Technologies Inc. to bring health-related technologies closer to Filipinos.

GTI, named after one of MTek’s flagship products, will manufacture and distribute high-quality, accurate kits and devices related to diagnostic testing for communicable and non-communicable diseases.

These include MTek’s Biotek-M Dengue Aqua Kit, a gold medalist at the 46th International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva, Switzerland in 2018, and the Philippines-developed GenAmplify Coronavirus 2019 RT-PCR test kit.

It will also market the GenAmplify African Swine Fever PCR Detection Kit, a testing platform for ASF. Aside from marketing products developed by MTek, the company is also looking at sourcing from manufacturers outside the country quality rapid diagnostic kits that would respond to the needs of the country.

Atty. Marlo Destura, chief executive of GTI, said the firm’s main goal is to make diagnostics products both affordable and accessible to all. This is a mission it carries from parent company, MTek. “The cost of molecular diagnostics is currently very prohibitive in the country. As clinicians’ partners in delivering much-needed tools to make precision diagnostics and deliver personalized treatments, we must always strive to find ways of fulfilling this,” he said.

One strategy the company is looking at is helping to expand the services of specialized COVID laboratories that have sprung throughout the country during the pandemic by including testing for other diseases.

FOR years now, Max’s Group Inc. has consistently shown its ingenuity and resolve to be more than just a restaurant operator—even with its stature as the country’s largest casual dining group, operating such beloved brands as Max’s Restaurant, Pancake House, Yellow Cab Pizza Co. and Krispy Kreme.

In the early stages of the global health crisis, the group took the appropriate time to reflect on the changes it needed to make and quickly responded in addressing new consumer and business needs. A fitting representation of these efforts is its year-old No Bia Food Manufacturing and Distribution Center envisioned to future-proof the group’s forward ambitions.

“After squeezing three years of transformation into three quarters of business revolution, we are confident in the momentum we’ve built and are excited to see the fruits of our labor rewarded as we are primed to go beyond our anticipated renewal,” said MGI president Ariel Fermin.

Occupying almost 20,000 square

meters of land, the group’s billion-peso commissary is flexible in capability and designed to handle a wide variety of affordable and premium products, with different processing requirements at a high capacity.

From meats, sauces and bakery lines, initial numbers have shown that it can manufacture up to nearly 2,000 metric tons of food each month—leapfrogging MGI’s previous levels by more than triple the scale. With this and its nationwide warehousing and distribution points, the commissary is able to support the group’s 600-plus local store network in the Philippines, as well as its growing retail and manufacturing partners that have since come into play.

As the name behind some of the most iconic restaurant brands in the Philippines, expanding its business-to-business model was a natural adjacency for MGI’s evolution and growth in a food industry that has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

From having a literal zero presence at the start of last year, current and

Max’s Group Inc.’s No Bia Food Manufacturing and Distribution Center in Carmona, Cavite

new menu items from MGI’s beloved brands are now present under the newly-launched Max’s Group Kitchen imprint in over 300 retail partner stores including both the physical and digital channels of notable players such as SM Markets, Robinsons Group, WalterMart, Shell Select, AllDay Supermarket, Puregold, Gaisano Market, Lazada, Shopee, MetroMart and GrabMart.

“More than just serving customers at our restaurants, we have now expanded our product lines to include restaurant-quality ready-to-cook meals and ready-to-eat products that are easily accessible through a phygital commerce network that has opened new doors for us. Every day, we are fueled by innovation and our new commissary plays an integral role in helping us realize our vision as an operator, manufacturer, and distributor, and merchant,” said Fermin.

“Additionally, our comprehensive food line capabilities have helped us secure contracts to supply the different baking goods, meats, and sauces of other known local brands. Now, more than ever, we’ve seen the importance and positive impact that being part of an ecosystem can do and we are proud that we’ve been able to work together with our peers from the food industry as they look to expand as well. We advocate for others to follow suit if they are serious about growing and evolving their business,” he said.

World-class More than manufacturing existing products of partners, MGI’s new commissary also has the capability to create and develop new innovations for either house or co-branded product lines. The No Bia Food Manufacturing and Distribution Center was also built for quality with a design that is in line with the global standards established by the World Health Organization, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the US Food and Drug Administration.

Isuzu names new president for PH operations

By Othel V. Campos ISUZU Philippines Corp. announced a change in corporate leadership as it welcomes new president Noburo Murakami after Hajime Koso bid farewell after seven years of serving the Philippine operations.

Murakami assumed his role as IPC president on May 17 to oversee domestic operations and development of dealer network nationwide. He previously served as general manager of Isuzu Motors Limited.

“I’ve always been intrigued by the market dynamics of the ASEAN region.

The Philippines has become one of the best emerging markets when it comes to automotive, seen in the numerous models being introduced year after year, so it really makes me excited to start working in this country,” Murakami said.

He extended gratitude to his predecessor for successfully driving Isuzu Philippines as one of the top brands in the Philippines.

Isuzu Philippines Corp. president Noburo Murakami “I know I have very big shoes to fill, as Koso san has done numerous milestones during his stay, especially in the past two years, but I am confident that with the support of my colleagues in IPC, we will be able to meet or maybe even surpass the past seven years that we had,” he said.

Murakami joined IML in 1995, in charge of international sales. From 2003 to 2011, he worked under IML corporate planning before his assignment to Isuzu North America Corp. as vice president in 2014.

In a span of two years, he was promoted executive vice president of INAC and later on as company president and chief executive from 2018 to 2020 before moving back to Japan to serve as IML general manager for international sales.

With his long and extensive career both in sales and management, Murakami promises to continue IPC’s dominance in the truck category.

“Being on top puts more challenge to us. We cannot be complacent with what we currently offer. As always, our key is to listen to our customers, if there is anything to improve it has to be aligned with our customer’s needs and business requirements. Satisfying these needs at every touchpoints, whether for sales or aftersales will pave our way towards achieving ultimate ‘Customer Success,” Murakami said.

Aside from maintaining its leading position in the truck market, IPC also announced that in celebration of its 25th inaugural anniversary this year, the company is working towards a more sustainable path.

“As the number one truck brand, we have an even bigger responsibility to the society. For IPC, sustainability is no longer choice but rather our way forward. We understand that as a social obligation, our company must put priority into protecting the environment without compromising customer success, if we want to continue doing business in the future,” said Murakami.

“This movement should not only be reflected in our products but also from within, meaning changes in our values, operations and the way we do business moving forward. This is something that we want to instill to our team members and dealer network starting this year, a shift in mindset and priority towards a ‘greener’ era for IPC,” he said.

MAY 22, 2022

Marlene and William Morrison Jr.

H

n By RIERA U. MALLARI

ANOI— Throwing coach Arniel Ferrera sat at the sidelines in silence as his wards William Morrison III raised his arms in triumph and Albert Mantua, writhing in pain and covering his face, was carried off the My Dinh Stadium on a stretcher.

When asked what transpired at the shotput finals of the 31st Southeast Asian Games here, Ferrera, still a hulking figure at 6-foot flat despite his retirement from athletics’ throwing events, wept as fellow coach Emerson Obiena comforted him.

“I’m so happy, but mixed emotion,” said Ferrera, pausing for a minute before gathering himself again. “Dalawang medal dapat.

Ganoon talaga ang laban. Historic day, kasi 19 years ago, dito ako unang nag-gold.”

Ferrera has been a throwing legend for the Philippines, a four-time hammer throw king in the SEA Games, starting in 2003 in Vietnam.

With four golds in his resume, he is tied with long jumper Marestella Torres-Sunang, sprinter Isidro del Prado, legendary javelin thrower Erlinda Lavandia and marathon man Eduardo “Vertek” Buenavista.

And so it was easy to understand the raw emotions Ferrera displayed, the sentiments of a coach, who wanted only the best for his wards. He wanted his throwers – both Morrison and Mantua -- to feel the pride he felt when he won a SEAG medal, right at the heart of where his legend began.

But alas, it was not meant to be.

Like a diesel engine that became more powerful by the minute, Morrison threw the metal ball at distances of 17.84 and 17.97, before clinching the gold at 18.14 meters.

Mantua, who beat Morrison at the Singapore Open before the SEA Games, was no slouch either at 16.77 and 16.96, before disaster struck in his fifth throw, when he suffered a severe right ankle sprain, forcing him out of the competition. As Morrison comforted his fallen teammate as he was being carried out of the stadium, Ferrera was a look of concern, a father figure, whose best-laid plans for his “children” didn’t pan out as expected.

“Before siya (Morrison) nag-compete sa

William Morrison III embraces his mother Marlene

Coach Arniel Ferrera weeping at the sidelines

The faces of joy in the SEA Games William Morrison III carries the PH flag Singapore Open, 16.86 siya. Sa Singapore, somewhere 16.6 lang siya, tinalo siya ni Albert na nag-set ng personal best niya, 17.33. Noong nasa Baguio kami, nag 17.04 siya sa National Open. Then, balik kami Baguio, maganda naging progression namin.

So hayun, nag 18.40 ulet siya. ‘Yung progress niya, nangyari sa Baguio. Gustung gusto niya ang Baguio.

‘Yun ang kagandahan na dalawa atleta natin, kasi hindi naman natin hiningi katulad ng nangyari, kung sakali hindi pumalo ang isa, may backup tayo.

So, it’s a mixed emotion talaga,” said Ferrera.

Supportive Mom Some 50 feet away, a petite Filipina woman

in her 60s, was jumping for joy, screaming her lungs out with a motley crew of well-wishers.

The woman, Morrison’s Filipina mom Marlene, came down the gallery as her son climbed up the railings as they shared a bear hug to the cheers of the crowd.

“I am always proud. I just have to support him, no matter what. Win or lose,” said Marlene, who flew all the way from the United States to rally behind her son. “We flew from Colorado, then to Singapore, and then here in Vietnam.”

PH sweeps golds in 10-ball singles HANOI – Rubilen Amit bagged her second gold at the expense of Chezka Centeno while Carlo Biado got back at Johann Chua as the Philippines capped its campaign in the 31st Southeast Asian Games here by sweeping the 10-ball singles titles Saturday at the Ha Dong Gymnasium.

Amit, the World 10-ball champion in 2009 and 2013, beat Centeno for the distaff gold 7-5, cementing her status as perhaps the best female cue artist in the history of the biennial games.

“Natutuwa ako dahil Philippines versus Philippines sa finals. Walang pressure na mapunta sa ibang bansa ang gold,” said Amit, who also bagged the 9-ball singles

Letran aims to remain perfect, put a lock on NCAA title LETRAN braces for a Mapua fightback today as it seeks to complete a perfect season in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre Sunday.

A victory in the 3 p.m. match will also complete a perfect 12-0 campaign for the Knights in the shortened season. Letran’s long-time rival San Beda was the last team to produce an undefeated season, posting an 18-0 record in 2010.

Claiming a back-to-back championship - and the 19th overall - won’t be easy for the Knights, as coach Bonnie Tan remains concerned about the fitness of the team’s heart and soul as they seek to close out the Cardinals.

Abando went down with a left foot injury after a highlight putback dunk in the third period of Letran’s 68-63 victory over Mapua in last Sunday’s Finals opener and his status remains uncertain.

The Cardinals were leading most of the way until the Knights led in the final 45 seconds with Jeo Ambohot leading the charge.

Letran’s championship experience keyed Game 1’s win victory which hopes to bring into handy when it eyes to delivering the killer blows.

PHILIPPINE Sports Commission William “Butch” Ramirez yesterday reiterated his call to sports leaders and the general public alike to look at the bigger picture regarding the country’s participation in the 31st Vietnam Southeast Asian Games.

“We must remind everyone that our taking part in the Vietnam SEA Games has a bearing in our build-up to our competing in bigger international competitions such as the Asian Games and Olympics.

Let us look at the bigger picture,” Ramirez said.

“Let us not make any judgments or criticisms of our athletes who are still competing in Vietnam. Let us not discourage them and continue to support them all the way,” the PSC honcho said. “There will be a time and place for that.”

“We will continue to pray for their safety and

gold earlier this week.

The win was Amit’s 10th in the SEA Games since winning her first two gold medals in the Manila 2005 Games.

Centeno, a two-time SEA Games winner in 10-ball, settled for the silver after crashing out early in the 9-ball singles.

Biado, 39, avenged his finals loss to Chua in 9-ball singles with a 9-3 victory in the 10-ball singles finals, their every shot lapped up by a full and appreciative crowd.

It was a memorable stint for the Philippine team here, its members led by legend Efren “Bata” Reyes going home with four gold, four silver and two bronzes, one of them courtesy of the 67-year-old icon.

In the 2019 Philippine Games, the team had a 4-3-5 medal haul.

health, whatever their performance.

We are very happy and proud of our athletes and coaches who fought hard for our country and people,” he stressed.

“Keep the fighting spirit alive as our Filipino athletes show their resilience in achieving their goals for our beloved country.”

The PSC chief, who has been closely monitoring the national team’s progress in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi and surrounding areas, cited the national judo team as a prime example of overcoming challenges even before they headed for Vietnam.

The Pinoy judokas were without the services of Kiyomi Watanabe and Mariya Takahaski, who won gold medals in the 2019 Philippine SEA Games, because of injury and academics, respectively.

Sibol closes in on 3rd esports gold HANOI – Philippines-Sibol dominated Game 4 of its best-of-five League of Legends semifinal series with Malaysia, 24-9, on Saturday in the 31st Southeast Asian at the Vietnam National Convention Center to zero in on a third gold medal in esports.

David Emmanuel Tapang came through with big kills in the opening minutes to help carry the Philippines to the finals against the winner of the other semifinal clash between Vietnam and Singapore.

The Philippines, which won three golds, a silver, and a bronze medal during esports’ debut in the games in the 2019 Philippine edition, has already produced two titles here, courtesy of world champion Blacklist in

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang on Friday and all-female team Grindsky Eris in Wild Rift on Wednesday.

It is still in contention in the PUBG Mobile team event, where the Filipino gamers are running first and third place with 3 Maps to go, even as Sibol dropped its best-of-three series, 0-2, to Vietnam in the SEA Games Crossfire.

The Malaysians took Game 1, 24-8, but the Philippines went on to sweep its next three matches, after equalizing in Game 2 at 21-11.

In Game 3, it was the Troll King’s turn to take the lead with its 6-1-8 slate, with Tapang emerging unscathed with his five kills and nine assists.

Marlene would go on to explain that she travels with her son in most of his competitions ever since he became a full athletic scholar at Indiana University.

“I and his father William (Morrison Jr.) always support him,” said Marlene of the Fil-American thrower’s father, a retired US Navy.

“His win in the SEA Games brings us so much pride.”

Those were the two faces of happiness in the 31st Southeast Asian Games – one, a mix of joy and pain, the other of pure delight -- but both, were eternally grateful.

Gilas teams a win shy of gold medals HANOI – The Philippine basketball teams moved a victory away from claiming the 31st Southeast Asian Games golds following victories yesterday (Saturday) at the Thanh Tri Gymnasium.

Gilas Pilipinas Men leaned on Thirdy Ravena’s early attack to beat Malaysia, 8744, for their fifth win in as many games.

Gilas Pilipinas Women, meantime, defeated Singapore, 88-61, to win its fourth game and stay unbeaten in the competition, a round-robin format tournament with the team that finishes first at the end of play today (Sunday) taking the gold medal.

The men’s team will face Indonesia in the battle for the gold at 3 p.m. (4 p.m. Philippine time).

As of press time, Indonesia was undefeated after four games entering their game against Vietnam last Saturday night.

The women’s squad goes up against Malaysia at 9 a.m. (10 a.m. Philippine time) and like the men’s team, aims for a sweep of the tournament. Malaysia holds a 2-1 winloss record as of press time and still has a shot at the gold with a win over Vietnam.

Both coaches, however, felt they played flat in the contest which they hope to address for their final game of the SEA Games.

“We really treated this game as preparation for tomorrow’s match against Indonesia,” said Gilas Pilipinas Men coach Chot Reyes. “Our focus was just to make sure to keep our level high. Unfortunately, we didn’t start off that way. It wasn’t the good start that we wanted.”

Gilas Women coach Pat Aquino said: “We played lackluster today. Siguro pagod na rin. For the past how many games, todo ‘yung mga bata. We try to adjust and take ‘yung mga kailangan naming pagbutihan against Malaysia.”

Ravena had 17 points (12 in the first half), seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals in the match-up. Roger Pogoy had a near double-double of nine points and 10 rebounds.

Clare Castro led Gilas Women with 15 points, as her team continued to wax hot from threes with 12 in the match.

Life Editor: Nickie Wang

MAY 22, 2022

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

Youngest PH Cybersecurity CEO

continues to teach aspiring professionals

T

WENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD Allan Jay “AJ” Dumanhug, the youngest CEO of a Philippine cybersecurity company, despite his hectic schedule, still finds the time to impart his knowledge to young students.

Nature lovers will love Hong Kong’s Wetland Park

10 times Hong Kong proved to be the most Instagrammable city in Asia MANY travelers today intention6. Repulse Bay Beach located in ally visit ‘IG-worthy’ spots to create the Southern part of Hong Kong is a unique travel content against colorful 300-meter-long beach stretch surmural walls, iconic skyscrapers, flashy rounded by rows of trees and buildneon lights, busy pedestrian walk- ings, malls, and restaurants that give ways, and scenic mountain peaks. tourists the best of both worlds.

Only a few hours away from the 7. Luxurious yacht rides around Philippines by plane, Hong Kong is Hong Kong allows tourists to apprecihome to countate Hong Kong’s less Instagrammany beaches, ismable attraclands, and coves tions such as the from a different new M+ museperspective. Day um, Xiqu Centre, and night, the and K11 Musea.

360-degree view Read on to diswill definitely cover other spots serve as a great you should defibackdrop in any nitely bookmark photo taken. for your next trip 8. Hong Kong to Hong Kong.

Wetland Park 1. The Ocean The Hong Kong Space Museum has a distinct recreates the hemispherical-shaped external structure Terminal is a perfect wildlife great stop in beenvironment tween shopping for animals and sprees in Harbirds not too far bour City as it offrom the hustle fers spectacular and bustle of the views of Victoria city. Definitely a Harbour and the stop nature lovSouth China Sea, ers will truly enideal for OOTDs joy. (outfit-of-the-day) 9. The Streets and fashion shots. of Tsim Tsa Tsui 2. The Hong The Flower Market is one of the most colorful is known as a shopping and Kong Space places in Hong Kong nightlife district in Museum is disKowloon packed tinctly known for its uniquely textured and hemispher- with neon-lit signages —the perfect ical-shaped external structure. The background for that snazzy Instaspiral staircase is a favorite photo gram shot.

10. Flower Market, which is lospot for many tourists.

3. Lok Wah South Estate Garage cated in Mong Kok, Kowloon, is one Rooftop is a highly photogenic stop of the most colorful places in Hong in Hong Kong, allowing Instagram- Kong where travelers can find a vamers and photographers alike to riety of exotic flowers, blossoms, and play with different angles, shadows, houseplants. It is definitely a pictureposes, and perspectives through its perfect spot to add a little pop of color to your Instagram feed. unique circular structures.

Hong Kong is truly a photographer 4. Hong Kong Museum of Art is the best stop to learn about Hong and content creator’s haven. From naKong’s art and culture, housed in an turescapes to cityscapes, from food iconic architectural building against to nightlife, from shopping to adventure—Hong Kong has it all. Travelers the backdrop of Victoria Harbour.

5. Lion’s Rock Mountain is known will never run out of things to discover for its spectacular view from the peak and rediscover in Asia’s World City.

Learn more about Hong Kong and which allows hikers to see Hong Kong’s skyscrapers from Kowloon to plan your next visit at discoverhongHong Kong Central from a different kong.com and @DiscoverHongKong on Facebook. perspective.

Hong Kong’s Ocean Terminal offers spectacular views of Victoria Harbour and the South China Sea

The head of Secuna, the first and the only crowdsourced cybersecurity Testing Platform in the country, is a Certified Cybersecurity Professional and Professional Ethical Hacker.

Although his self-founded company was his first professional job, Dumanhug served as a full-time consultant for almost three years for the University of the Philippines System under UP Information Technology Development Center (ITDC).

Currently, he is a cybersecurity mentor for startups through Ideaspace Philippines, a Highly Technical Consultant for the National Privacy Commission.

He is likewise a part-time Infosec Training Instructor at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School for Professional and Continuing Education (SPaCE).

Dumanhug delves into the undertaking to assist corporations, organizations and even the government secure their digital assets.

“I am delighted to be the CEO of Secuna at a critical time when companies need to embrace cybersecurity at the core level of their businesses,” he said.

“As a co-founder, I’ve had the privilege of seeing firsthand how Secuna’s innovation is responding to organizations’ cybersecurity needs with its unique penetration test approach tapping the best ethical hackers across the globe. As demand to protect corporate and essential data escalates amid an evolving

threat landscape, Secuna is the best penetration test platform to address these challenges,” he continued.

If his students had one lesson to take away from his teachings, he confessed it would be “the fundamentals of Cybersecurity and data privacy.”

Furthermore, beyond his huge role in Secuna and his other commitments in teaching and consultancy, Dumanhug likewise finds the time to further spread his expertise. “I share my knowledge in cybersecurity and data privacy with various organizations such as the Department of Information and Communications, the National Privacy Commission, and several Non-Government Organizations through seminars and webinars.

Allan Jay “AJ” Dumanhug is the youngest CEO of a Philippine cybersecurity company

Embracing the art of style SUMMERTIME marks the beginning of a season of long evenings, beach trips, and much-awaited time spent with family and friends. Specialty retailer the SSI Group, brings to life its masterful craftsmanship through an Ode to Summer.

Filled with the sights and vibes of the season, patrons are sure to resonate with the ethereal beauty of summer, the power of nature, and the warmth of home entertaining through its summer edits. Indulge in exciting offers and rewards to live the SSI life throughout the sunny season.

Celebrate sun-filled days with a selection of outfits that reflect the warm and cheerful colors. Find the season’s best from the latest collections of Armani Exchange, Cortefiel, MAX&Co., Montblanc, Zegna, Burberry, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Hogan, Tod’s, Marc Jacobs, Polo Ralph Lauren, Furla, Michael Kors, Kate Spade New York, Charriol, and more.

Zegna lays out modern essentials for the seasonal wardrobe. Anchored on being evolutional and fluid, this collection highlights muted hues that shine on an experience of effortless comfort. Shop the Triple Stitch Sneaker, simple or zipped card cases, and the technical fabric reversible zip-up jacket in this season’s collection and be remarkably stylish in the summer heat.

Simplicity and style go hand in hand with Armani Exchange’s summer slate. Featuring outfits in white and black colors, A|X wardrobe essentials emit comfort without sacrificing elegance. Men and women can also complete their summer looks with bags, socks, and shoe products that complement the collection.

Meanwhile, Montblanc continues to deliver elegance with its highlighted items for the. Montblanc Muses Elizabeth Taylor Special Edition ballpoint pen is coated with platinum with a ring-shaped clip on the cap top that is decorated with a Montblanc emblem in precious resin.

Additionally, the collection features the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere UltraBlack watch, a limited-edition, unisex timepiece that is suitable for everyday use. Purchase Montblanc items at Greenbelt 5.

Celebrate summer with the right outfit from the latest collections

Enjoy lounging poolside with an eye-catching bikini

Finally, dare to go out in style with Cortefiel. Go out with flair and wear basic everyday pieces, coupled with equally dainty clothing accessories like a fashionable bag, shoes, and scarf. With Cortefiel’s pieces, life begins and love never ends.

Invent a perfect summertime experience with SSI’s Spring Summer 2022 lineup. Enjoy daily activities with breezy summer apparel and footwear, essential skincare items for that summer glow, and home lounging collections to brighten up long summer days ahead. Shop these collections and more through The Specialist, SSI’s At Home Concierge.

Wearing patterns during summer also adds to the warmth and vibrancy of the season

n Entertainment Editor: Nickie Wang

email: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

MAY 22, 2022

The Big Dome hosts PH’s first live international concert in two years NCT Dream

ALICE

T

HE Big Dome is opening its doors once again to foreign acts as it hosts the country’s first live international show in two years with Begin Again: KPOP Edition.

Happening on May 29 at 5:00 p.m., the concert will feature South Korean artists NCT Dream, SHINee’s Key, WEi, and ALICE in a night that starts the return of live K-Pop entertainment in the Philippines.

Headlining the show is the group NCT Dream, which has just released its latest album Glitch Mode, and sold 2 million copies. The concert marks the group’s return to Manila after the g r o u p ’ s February 2020 concert at the New Frontier Theater —

making them the last KPOP act to hold a show in the country before the pandemic. Five members of the band – Renjun, Jeno, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung – will return to Araneta City to perform one more time before their excited Filipino fans.

Also joining the concert are Key (the lead dancer and rapper of K-Pop band SHINee), the six-member boy group WEi (which recently released its fourth mini-album Love Pt.1: First Love), and the seven-member act ALICE (which was named best rookie group at the

2018 Korean Entertainment Arts Awards).

Fans are in for an entertainment treat as they would have the chance to interact and see their beloved K-Pop idols face to face once again in this spectacular event.

Catch these four talented K-Pop acts in this much-awaited entertainment event, and be part of the historic return of live international entertainment at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Begin Again: KPOP Edition 2022 by CDM Entertainment is in partnership with BRODYWORKS. Tickets are available online at https://ticketnet.com.ph and at all Ticketnet outlets nationwide.

WEi

SHINee’s lead dancer and rapper Key

K-Drama star Hwang In Youp to hold BINI, BGYO to perform alongside Red Velvet in-person fanmeet in Manila in ‘Be You’ benefit show South Korean star Hwang In Youp

TRUE Beauty Hwang In Youp is visiting Manila on June 19 to meet his Filipino fans at the New Frontier Theater in Araneta City in Quezon City.

Known for his striking looks and edgy personality, Hwang In Youp initially pursued modeling before making his acting debut with the lead role in the webdrama, W.H.Y. After which, he has appeared in a number of television dramas including Freshman (2019), The Tale of Nokdu (2019), and 18 Again (2020). He gained further recognition in True Beauty (2020), which is based on the Line Webtoon of the same title.

The hallyu star continues to rise with his latest series, The Sound of Magic (2022), which is unsurprisingly gaining popularity on Netflix and a pivotal role in Why Her? (2022) that is set to premiere this coming June.

In September last year, BYS Philippines

P-POP sibling groups BINI and BGYO will showcase Filipino talent as they are set to perform at the upcoming Be You benefit show on July 22 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

BINI’s Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna, and Sheena and BGYO’s Gelo, Akira, JL, Mikki, and Nate will appear at the event, which was described as an “extraordinary celebration for people with special needs.”

Presented by the In Purpose International Training Institute Inc. (IPITI), Be You: The World Will Adjust will also feature popular K-Pop girl group Red Velvet along with other local artists to be announced soon.

Details on how to purchase tickets are yet to be posted.

A week before the Be You event, both BINI and BGYO are likewise set to showcase their talent alongside other P-pop groups at the highly-anticipated Tugatog Filipino Music Festival happening on July 15 also at the MOA Arena.

Meanwhile, BINI gave their fans an exclusive look into the members’ fun adventure with the premiere of

BINI

BGYO BINI Roadtrip Adventures. The series features the members going around reintroducing various places in the country like Binondo, Intramuros, Luneta, and National Museum in Manila, Pateros, Marikina, and Baguio while also going on food trips, taking on challenges, and performing.

The boys of BGYO have also had their hands full recently as they performed at the mall show for He’s Into Her season 2, where they sang the theme song “Best Time.” BINI Mikha, who stars in the series as Elle, likewise performed at the show where other BINI members went to support her first solo stint.

signed on Hwang In Youp as its endorser and headlined the #UncoverTrueBeauty campaign that coincided with the launch of the Skin

by BYS Minis.

Join the fun at Hwang In Youp’s BYS Fun Meet in Manila by simply purchasing BYS products via TicketNet. com.ph.

Singaporean EDM artist Myrne pushes creative boundaries in new record ELECTRONIC Dance Music star Myrne, in collaboration with the National Arts Council (NAC), invites the public to an exploration of the artist’s latest four-track EP release through an immersive virtual reality experience.

Entitled MYRNEscapes, the EP was designed to take the audience on a journey of vast, scenic landscapes — heavily inspired by stunning “otherworldly” graphics often seen

on world-building video games — to explore themes of contemplation and introspection. Each track from the EP is brought to life with a world of its own featuring images, icons, and themes carefully curated to encapsulate the raw emotions and origins of each of the four tracks.

The journey reels take listeners into a multi-sensory experience unlike any other to evoke a deeper form of expression by revolutionizing the

interaction with Myrne’s brand new music.

“It’s going to be a very interesting audiovisual experience, and I wanted to give people a sense of the place and worlds I imagined when I’m listening to these songs. It’s a great overlap between my love for music and my love for big, open-world games, and I think the team at Metamo really knocked it out of the park,” says Myrne.

One of the finest electronic artists to emerge from Singapore, Myrne has graced the stages of international music festivals and garnered over 80 million streams on Spotify to date.

MYRNEscapes is now available on the popular digital distribution platform, Steam. Access to explore and interact with the worlds of MYRNEscapes requires a Steam user account which can be created for free.

EDM star Myrne

Jackson Galaxy and his cat.

(Photo taken from Feline Behaviour Advice from Jackson Galaxy, The Conscious Cat, Ingrid King, July 21, 2011)

MAY 22, 2022

If your pets could talk, they’d say...

By Mariana Burgos

D

O YOU talk to your pets? I do. And I get laughed at by some friends and relatives whenever they see me do so. Then, they would tell me that I was being ridiculous in thinking that animals can understand me. I would laugh secretly at them for laughing at me.

We can say it is based on personal belief whether or not animals could understand us and vice versa. We don't really have evidence yet to prove we can completely understand the language of animals, or they can understand ours. But there have been some cases of people who appear to understand animals and the animals, in turn, understand the humans.

St. Francis of Assisi was known to be one of those very few humans who had an ability to communicate with animals. The animals, in return, do seem to really understand him. The witnesses' accounts of St. Francis talking to animals, and how these animals reacted to him after, proved that he had something going on there that was not out of the ordinary at all.

Many of these accounts are written in one article I have read. It is not common for birds to suddenly keep quiet

when they are told off by a human. But St. Francis was able to do that. It is not common for animals of all sorts to go near a human when they see him just to listen to what he has to say. Animals approached St. Francis in that way.

It was truly remarkable how he was able to instantly tame a savage wolf just by calmly talking to it. If this is not mysticism, I don't know what it is. (St. Francis and The Animals, Monastery Icon {Windows Into Heaven}, retrieved from: https://www.monasteryicons. com/product/Saint-Francis-and-theAnimals/did-you-know).

There are other saints who have had experiences similar to what St. Francis experienced with animals.

But their experience were not as often as that of St Francis.

Another famous character who is known to have the ability to extraordinarily communicate with animals

A sketch of St. Francis as he speaks to the wolf the townspeople were all afraid of.

(Photo taken from the article, 'Christ, the Good Shepherd, and Graciously Welcoming the Wolf', by Daniel Potter, November 27, 2021)

Ceasar Millan training a dog with its female owner. (Photo taken from Ceasar Millan's Understanding of Dogs is Wondrous to Behold, Media Post, 7/30/2021)

is Dr Dolittle. But he is just a fictional character from a children's storybook.

However, did you know that there is a real Dr. Dolittle now? Her name is Ruthy Bradshaw or Ruthy Dolittle as she is popularly known online. She claims to understand animals and they understand her, too. But she also says that in fact, animals can understand us most of the time. They only act unfavorably towards humans when we do not understand what they are trying to tell us in their own ways. And that ismost of the time.

This got me wondering—who is the more advanced species then? Ruthy says that everyone can do what she can with animals if only we would be open and willful enough to learn to do so. That is why not only does she offer mediation between humans and their animals, but she also offers education and training to people to be able to do the same thing she does. But she has one more talent that I think is unique to her: the ability to talk to animals who have already crossed the rainbow bridge. I do not think everyone could learn that easily. (Meet the Woman Who Claims She Can Talk to Animals and Communicate with Them from Beyond the Grave, VT, June 13, 2018) Nowadays, this ability to communicate with animals have other forms that is based more on logic, the scientific type kind of thing. “Animal whisperer” is what these animal commuicators call themselves. They develop this skill through intensive research and continuous training in dealing with a specific type of animal, applying what they have learned from their research through trial and error. The

Dr. Ruth Bradshaw, said to be the real Dr. Dolittle, who can reportedly talk to animals. (Photo from "Woman claims she is the real life Dr Dolittle after ‘curing’ animal stress" by Jess Young from swns.com.)

aspect of spirituality in connection with their ability, I think (just my own opinion here), is not much of a factor for them. I have mentioned before in my past articles that my favorites are dog whisperer Ceasar Millan and cat whisperer Jackson Galaxy.. Both have displayed amazing skills that sometimes, you would think that there is something more to their ability other than science and logic.

In some way, I kind of agree with Ruthy Bradshaw (Ruthy Dolittle) on what she says about us being able to do the same thing she does--- communicating with animals and understanding them. I have watched some of her videos on Youtube about this and I must say she makes sense when she described the process because that happened and is still happening to me, too. I kind of hear my pets talk to me in my mind sometimes, just like a telepathy kind of thing.

There are times that I actually have to utter words when talking to them, but there are also times that I do not need to say anything because I already talked to them using my mind.

I know they understand me because of the obvious obedience they exhibit most times. But just as Ruthy says, each animal has their own unique personality just like humans, and if you get to encounter a hard-headed one, you would certainly have a hard time making him or her obey you.

That is my personal proof anyway.

When I was still a kid, communicating with animals was more of a natural thing for me. As I grew older and so much skepticism was put in my head by grown-ups around me, I

kind of forgot most of that. I began to think the same as most do about talking to and understanding animals. It was only when I decided to regain strength with my spirituality a few years back that, little by little, it started coming back to me.

It is true that in communicating with animals, there is a percentage that is based on intuition, and some parts are based on obvious logic and common sense. But there is also a big part that is based on faith or belief in the spirituality of things. I mean, if you do not believe what is said in the Bible about everything being connected, then you would certainly have a hard time communicating with other forms of God's creation. That is if you have even the slightest curiosity about wanting to communicate with them. But if you totally have no interest whatsoever, then you really will not have the slightest capacity to do so because you simply do not believe in it. But to say that this statement of unbelief on this topic is what makes humans more advanced than animals, well, for me, it is a ridiculous thought. If we, humans, say that we are the most advanced species, how come we ca not easily understand animals when they seem to easily understand us (just like what Ruthy Dolittle said)? It is simple logic if you really think of it well.

About the Author: Mariana Burgos is a freelance artist. She is a solo parent for 14 years now because she is wife to a desaparacido. She and her daughter are animal lovers and are active in advocating not only human rights but the rights of animals as well.

The yummy, healthy benefits of wet food for dogs DOGS easily become bored eating the same rific way to mix things up for your pet, especially thing daily and some owners have to deal with if you notice it's rejecting meals it used to enjoy.” dogs who are finicky eaters. When this happens, Maintains hydration level pet owners might want to consider experimentAnother key benefit of wet food is that it hydrates ing with a new flavor, or adding wet food in their dogs that do not drink enough water on a daily badog’s meal. sis. By providing it, your dog will improve and mainHealthy tastes boring – says who?

Dr. Saza Curaming, Scientific Communications tain hydration levels without having to worry about Manager of Mars Pet Nutrition for Philippines, In- it being dehydrated, especially during summer.

As it helps improve proper kidney donesia, Malaysia, Singapore, says: function and contains proteins “Wet food does not only contain 70 in their original state, Dr. Saza to 80 percent more vitamins and says, “Since it is high in moisture minerals that your pet requires, it content, it helps dogs maintain a is also high in protein, providing healthy urinary system. To ensure a complete and nutritionally bala well hydrated dog, it is still necanced meal. More interestingly, its essary to always provide clean and consistency is very appealing to fresh water every day.” most dogs.”

Wet food offers 38 essential nuAids weight loss trients to strengthen your dog's imWet food’s main component is mune system and keep them happy protein, which has fewer carbs. As and healthy. It comes in cans and a result, it has lower calorie density pouches, and there are a number and even helps to promote satisof flavors to select from such as beef, faction for dogs. “Incorporating it chicken, and liver that are absolutely to your dog’s meals will prevent delicious for our paw friends.

Pedigree Wet Food “For puppies, Pedigree offers Nutri Pouch delivers tasty and excess calories from being absorbed while still providing sufficient nourDefense that gives them DHA and fifull nutrition for your ishment,” explains Dr. Saza. ber to support their immune system,” dogs with Waltham's “Some pet parents feed their dogs Dr. Saza says. She adds: “It is also an worldwide knowledge and high-quality with homemade food and that can excellent meal for puppies since it helps to strengthen their teeth and standards to add texture lead pets to gain weight and have loose ensures the pet parents that their and yumminess to spice stools,” she adds. “But with feeding wet up your pet's food. food or a mix of wet and dry to your dog, dogs will get adequate nutrition as it can produce smaller and firmer stools.” they grow.”

Including wet food in your dog’s meal gives Dental-disease friendly them varied tastes and textures, making mealIn addition, since it is composed of chunks that times even more enjoyable for your fluffy pets.

For mixed feeding, dog owners might add it as a are soft, it is a good choice for dogs with dental topper on the dry food. Dr. Saza says, “It is a ter- disorders, gum problems or reduced senses. De-

Dr. Saza Curaming together with her dog, Matchi, a five-year old Mini Schnauzer`

Up to 80% of wet food contains more vitamins, minerals, and proteins that will provide a complete and nutritionally-balanced meal for your dog. By giving your dog wet food, you help them stay hydrated, which is important especially during the hotter months. Wet food is also beneficial for kidney function and urinary system in dogs because of its high moisture content.

More interestingly, wet food’s sensory characteristics such as aroma, flavor, and texture makes it very appealing to most dogs. Ready to spice up your dog’s food? For more information about Pedigree Wet Food visit https://www.pedigree.com.ph/

perts and veterinarians from the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, Pedigree Wet Food is a great option for owners aiming to give their dogs the vetrecommended mixture of wet and dry food.

To spice up your pet’s food, grab a pouch for your dog today! For more information about Pedigree wet food Pedigree Wet Food visit https://www.pedigree.

Give your dogs’ diet a yummy, healthy boost with com.ph/ or go to supermarkets and grocery Pedigree Wet Food. Created with pet nutrition ex- stores nationwide. pending on the comfort levels, the amount of wet food to mix with dry food can be varied.

Dr. Saza highlights that “Pet owners may easily combine wet dog food with dry dog food and home-cooked food, or simply use it as a topping.”