ICC presses drug war probe Says suspended inquiry ‘unjustified,’ Palace blasts move as political
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n By JOEL ZURBANO, VITO BARCELO AND MARICEL CRUZ
HE International Criminal Court’s prosecutor \said he intends to resume his probe into the Philippine’s deadly drug war, saying a request by Manila to defer the probe was unjustified.
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Karim Khan, the prosecutor at the Hague-based court, had suspended the ICC investigation in November 2021 after the Philippines said it would look into the allegations itself. “I have concluded that the deferral requested by the Philippines is not warranted, and that the investigation should resume as quickly as possible,” Khan said in a statement from The Hague. Khan said he had asked judges at the court for authorisation to restart the probe. CONTINUED ON 3A
PRIDE COLOR. A member of the LGBTQ community clad in a colorful half-unicorn costume draws a crowd at a Pride March event at the Quezon Memorial Circle on Saturday, June 25, 2022. Danny Pata
China ready to talk with Marcos DOH ranks 5 NCR areas under ‘moderate risk’ on oil, gas exploration in WPS CHINA said it is prepared to revive stalled negotiations on joint oil exploration and development with the Philippines under the incoming administration of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “China stands ready to work in concert with the new Philippine government to advance negotiations on joint development and strive to take early substantive steps so as to deliver tangible benefits to both countries and peoples,” Chinese Foreign
Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said. He described the joint offshore oil and gas development as the “right way” for the two countries to move forward despite maritime differences to achieve mutual gain. He said the memorandum of understanding on cooperation signed by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his state visit to the Philippines in November 2018 is the basis for both parties to “negotiate on an CONTINUED ON 3A
THE Department of Health on Saturday classified five areas in Metro Manila under “moderate risk” for COVID-19 after logging a “sudden” increase in cases and a growth rate of over 200 percent. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the risk level was escalated in Pasig, San Juan, Quezon City, Marikina, and Pateros based on the two-week growth rate, average daily attack rate, and hospital utilization rate. This does not mean, however, that Metro Manila will be placed under Alert Level 2 as the data do not indicate the
need yet for escalation. “They were classified as moderate risk because of the sudden rise in cases, but this is because they started at few cases and their growth rate increased by more than 200 percent,” Vergeire said in a press briefing. “That’s only the computation and there is no cause for panic, but we should always be vigilant,” she added. Vergeire said an increase in transmission is expected since COVID-19 is infectious. The DOH, however, monitors hospital admission for severe and critical
cases more closely. Of the five areas, only one recorded an increase in hospital utilization rate, Vergeire said, while the rest are “less than 50 percent.” “For now, we do not see yet an escalation to Alert Level 2, although we cannot say if by next week we see a sudden increase, then that’s the time that we are going to decide and it’s going to be the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) to decide,” she added. CONTINUED ON 3A
US leads 5-nation Pacific alliance THE United States, Japan, Australia, Britain and New Zealand on Friday launched a new initiative to step up engagement with Pacific island countries amid China’s efforts to boost its influence in the region. In launching the Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP) mechanism, the five countries vowed to pursue “more effective and efficient” ways to deal with challenges, including “growing pressure on the rulesbased free and open international order.” “As our countries—Australia, Japan,
New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States—continue to support prosperity, resilience, and security in the Pacific, we too must harness our collective strength through closer cooperation,” they said in a statement. “This new initiative builds on our longstanding commitment to the region. Australia and New Zealand are of the region and members of the Pacific Islands Forum; Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States are founding Dialogue Partners.” CONTINUED ON 3A
‘NTC can’t just block websites’
LIFE-LIKE. Dakila, an animatronic crocodile for the television show ‘Lolong,’ was spotted in the various areas in Antipolo, Marikina, Pasig and Mandaluyong on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
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THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Saturday said the National Telecommunications Commission does not have the authority to block news websites tagged as having links to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front. "To take down the websites is to muzzle their owners. Such a drastic move can't be
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US Supreme Court strikes down the right to abortion WORLD | 3A
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anchored on statements that in court would be treated as hearsay," the IBP said in a statement. The group said NTC's decision to restrict access to news websites based on the request of National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. was a “shortcut” and a "drastic" move. CONTINUED ON 3A
MMDA bares traffic reroute for inaugural NEWS | 2A
JUNE 26, 2022
Diesel prices to go up anew next week, small cut for gas
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UMP prices of diesel are expected to go up again next week, while gasoline may go down by a minimal five to 20 centavos per liter.
An industry source said the prices of diesel might increase by P1.10 to P1.30 per liter due to movements in the peso-dollar exchange market. Unioil said diesel prices for June 28 to July 4 might go up by P1.20 to P1.40 per liter, while the cutback for gasoline would likely be P0.10 to P0.20 per liter. Lawyer Rino Abad, director of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) oil industry management bureau, said there may be an increase in the prices of diesel and kerosene next week due to the Philippine peso’s current performance against the US dollar. Gaso-
line prices, meanwhile, may remain the same or be rolled back a bit, he said. Last Tuesday fuel companies hiked gasoline prices by P0.80 per liter, diesel by P3.10, and kerosene by P1.70, marking the third straight week of fuel price upticks. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said that in the past four days, the softening of the peso has resulted in about P1 per liter increase for diesel and kerosene, but said gasoline prices might actually decline. The peso weakened to about P54.98 to the US dollar on Friday. During the June 13-17 trading
days, the peso depreciated week-on-week against the US dollar by P0.44, or to P53.36 from P52.93 the previous week. Abad said pump prices would have declined next week were it not for the peso depreciation. He said world oil prices declined by about $3 per barrel due to concerns that the US interest hikes would affect economic growth. “Unfortunately, instead of a rollback, there will be a slight increase due to the impact of the softening of the peso against the dollar,” Abad said. On June 21, the oil companies raised the price of gasoline by P0.80 per liter, diesel by P3.10 per liter, and kerosene by P1.70 per liter. These resulted in a net increase of P29.50 per liter for gasoline, P44.25 per liter for diesel, and P39.65 per liter for kerosene since the start of the year.
MMDA bares traffic reroute for BBM inaugural n By JOEL E. ZURBANO THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Saturday it will impose road closures and traffic rerouting during the inauguration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who will take his oath as the country’s 17th President on June 30. The inauguration will be held at the historical National Museum of the Philippines in Manila. In an advisory, the MMDA said the road closure would be enforced starting at 12:01 a.m. of June 26 to 11 p.m. of June 30 on Padre Burgos Avenue, Finance Road, Ma. Orosa St., (from TM Kalaw to P. Burgos, and General Luna St. (from P. Burgos to Muralla St.). Also on June 30, Ayala Blvd. and Victoria St. (from Taft Ave. to Muralla St.) would also be closed from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m, while Roxas Blvd. (from Buendia to P. Burgos) would be closed to traffic from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists on the northbound lane coming from Roxas Blvd. should turn right at United Nations Ave. or Kalaw Ave., then turn left at Taft Ave. to reach the point of destination. Those on the eastbound lane coming from Roxas Blvd. should turn left at Kalaw Ave. or U.N. Ave., then turn right at Taft Ave. to reach the point of destination. All northbound trucks coming from South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) must take Osmeña Highway, turn left at Quirino Ave. then turn right at Roxas Blvd., go straight to Bonifacio Dr. going to the point of destination.
US destroyer sunk in WWII found in deep PH seabed A US Navy destroyer sunk during World War II has been found nearly 7,000 meters (23,000 feet) below sea level off the Philippines, making it the world's deepest shipwreck ever located, an American exploration team said. The USS Samuel B Roberts went down during a battle off the central island of Samar on October 25, 1944 as US forces fought to liberate the Philippines—then a US colony—from Japanese occupation. A crewed submersible filmed, photographed and surveyed the battered hull of the "Sammy B" during a series of dives over eight days this month, Texas-based undersea technology company Caladan Oceanic said. Images showed the ship's three-tube torpedo launcher and gun mount. "Resting at 6,895 meters, it is now the deepest shipwreck ever located and surveyed," tweeted Caladan Oceanic founder Victor Vescovo, who piloted the submersible. "This small ship took on the finest of the Japanese Navy, fighting them to the end," he said. According to US Navy records, Sammy B's crew "floated for nearly three days awaiting rescue, with many survivors perishing from wounds and shark attacks". Of the 224 crew, 89 died. The battle was part of the larger Battle of Leyte, which saw intense fighting over several days between US and Japanese forces. Sammy B was one of four US ships sunk in the October 25 engagement. The USS Johnston, which at nearly 6,500 meters was previously theworld's deepest shipwreck identified, was reached by Vescovo's team in 2021. In the latest search, the team also looked for the USS Gambier Bay at more than 7,000 meters below sea level, but was unable to locate it. It did not search for the USS Hoel due to the lack of reliable data showing where it may have gone down. The wreck of the Titanic lies in about 4,000 meters of water. AFP
No monkeypox THANK YOU AND GOODBYE. detected in PH DTI urged to probe ‘unlicensed’ crypto corporation so far—DOH Workers embellish the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, Manila for Sunday’s thanksgiving and send-off ceremonies for President Rodrigo Duterte who formally steps down on June 30. Norman Cruz
n By MARICEL V. CRUZ AN infrastructure-oriented think-tank has asked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to inquire on the world’s largest crypto-currency exchange’s local promotion offers without the required permits. In his letter-complaint to DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, Infrawatch PH convenor Terry Ridon said; “We would like to bring to your immediate attention the illegal sales promotion of Binance which presumably have been launched without
the necessary DTI permit considering the absence of a DTI permit number in the promotional advertisements and the general lack of applicable license and registration of Binance in the Philippines.” Earlier, Ridon urged the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to clamp down on Binance, an online platform for virtual asset trading, for operating in the Philippines without any license from the government. His group filed a six-page letter-request to BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno calling for the conduct of motu proprio proceedings on Binance operations in the
country. Ridon, a former legislator, maintained that Binance was illegally doing business in the Philippines. “As you may be aware, Binance, an unregistered entity in the Philippines, has been offering its services in the country for several years already. Their unregistered activity allows Filipinos to buy and sell crypto-currencies and with wanton disregard of Philippine regulations, they perform the functions of a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) through an unregulated platform,” he added.
BOC seizes P75-M meat from China n By JOEL E. ZURBANO
MURAL FOR THE SUBLIME PARALYTIC. Motorists can’t help but notice this huge mural of Apolinario Mabini set up at the Nagtahan Bridge connecting Sta. Mesa and Paco districts in Manila. Although handicapped, Mabini became a revolutionary leader, educator, lawyer, and statesman who first served as a legal and constitutional adviser to the revolutionary government, then as the first Prime Minister of the Philippines upon the establishment of the First Philippine Republic. Joey O. Razon
CUSTOMS agents have seized shipments of frozen pork meat, chicken thighs and wings, pork spareribs, and Peking ducks worth P124-million reportedly smuggled into the Philippines from China. Agents of the Manila International Container Port-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (MICP-CISS) intercepted the cargo consigned to Daniry Consumer Goods Trading and Jeroce Consumer Goods Trading. Daniry had P75 million worth of agricultural products in its containers, while Jeroce Consumer Goods Trading had P49 million worth of consignment. Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Raniel Ramiro said both consignees will face appropriate legal sanctions and cases, citing the shipments contain frozen poultry products, which were not in
the original declaration. Daniry declared its shipment for hotpot balls, while Jeroce Consumer Goods Trading said its shipment contained steamed buns. “Derogatory Information received by Intelligence Group and CIIS that above-mentioned shipments were suspected to contain misdeclared agricultural products,” said CIIS director Jeoffrey Tacio. He added the shipments were placed under 100 percent examination on June 21 and 23 when they discovered the undeclared food products. MICP District Collector Romy Allan Rosales has issued the corresponding warrant of seizure and detention, and ordered the filing of anti-smuggling cases against the importers in violation of Section 1400 (misdeclaration) in relation to Section 1113 of the Customs odernization and Tariff Act and other related laws and regulations.
THE Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday said there has been no confirmed case of monkeypox in the Philippines so far. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, during the regular Laging Handa briefing, said local government units continue to submit samples from “suspect cases” to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for verification. “As of today, we don’t have a confirmed case of monkeypox yet,” she said. The World Health Organization (WHO) in May 2022 reported outbreaks of monkeypox in non-endemic countries. Between January to June 15, 2022, a total of 2,103 confirmed cases and one death due to the virus have been logged in 42 countries, including those where monkeypox is endemic. The WHO said the risk at the global level is moderate “consideringthis is the first time that many monkeypox cases and clusters are reported concurrently in many countries in widely disparate WHO geographical areas, balanced against the fact that mortality has remained low in the current outbreak.” Based on its latest data, more than 90 percent of the cases have been reported from May up to June 15, 2022. A World Health Organization committee of experts met Thursday to decide whether the monkeypox outbreak constitutes a global health emergency. The outcome of the in-private meeting will be issued on Friday at the earliest, the WHO said. AFP
Group to BBM: Rethink jeepney modernization plan A TRANSPORT reform advocacy group on Saturday asked the incoming Marcos administration to reevaluate what it described as "the sudden and unjust implementation" of the jeepney modernization program. At the same time, The Passenger Forum (TPF) called on the new administration to assess the implementation of the program by conducting consultations with affected sectors. “One of the things that this crisis has taught us is that mass transport options like jeepneys and buses are essential in our transport system. While we recognize that we have to modernize, we should think of how to implement just transi-
tion from our current fleet of traditional jeepneys to the so-called modern ones. The last thing our jeepney drivers and operators need is a program that does not take their livelihood and rights into consideration, TPF convenor Primo Morillo said in a statement. Just like how the COVID-19 pandemic was used to advance phasing-out of traditional jeepneys, Morillo said, adding that his group was concerned that the current crisis would be used to further implement the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization (PUVM) program. “The best evidence on the importance of mass transportation is the situation of
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commuters on our roads today. The PUVM Program under the current Department of Transportation (DOTR) has failed to consider the social costs and it resulted in injustice not just to drivers and operators but to commuters as well," he said. Morillo said there were several ways to make the modernization just such as eliminating the cash-out part of operators-drivers, prioritizing the deployment of modern jeeps in new routes to prevent unfair competition with traditional jeeps, priority employment for displaced drivers, and implementing difference in price points in routes where both modern and traditional jeeps serve.
Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida
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LOOK, MA. NO TRAFFIC. The southbound lane of the Kamuning flyover is temporarily closed to vehicular traffic starting Saturday, June 25, for month-long repair works. Danny Pata
Rolando G. Estabillo Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Jimbo Owen Gulle
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WORLD
INBRIEFS JUNE 26, 2022
Indonesian cops nab six for ‘blasphemy’ INDONESIAN police arrested six people on charges of blasphemy over a bar chain’s free alcohol promotion for patrons named Mohammed, officials said late on Friday, in a case that has sparked outrage in the Muslim-majority country. In a now-deleted social media post, the Holywings bar had offered a free bottle of gin for men named Mohammed and women named Maria – a popular figure in the Bible – every Thursday if they presented their ID cards. Alcohol is considered forbidden under Islamic law and while drinking is not prohibited for any religion in the secular country’s bars, the act itself is frowned upon by conservative Muslims. The post caused fury online, and several youth organisations reported the management to police for allegedly committing blasphemy, while other groups threatened to raid the bar chain’s locations. AFP
PROTEST. Abortion rights activists hold a ‘My Body My Choice’ sign as they protest at the Federal Courthouse Plaza after the overturning of Roe vs. Wade by the US Supreme Court in Austin, Texas. AFP
US Supreme Court strikes down the right to abortion T HE US Supreme Court on Friday struck down the right to abortion in a seismic ruling that shredded five decades of constitutional protections and prompted several right-leaning states to impose immediate bans.
Protests broke out almost immediately in Washington and elsewhere, with dozens of demonstrations under way or planned across the country Friday evening. The conservative-dominated court overturned the landmark 1973 “Roe v. Wade” decision enshrining a woman’s right
to an abortion, saying individual states can restrict or ban the procedure themselves. “The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion,” the court said in a 6-3 ruling on one of America’s most bitterly divisive issues. “The authority to regulate abortion is
returned to the people and their elected representatives.” A somber President Joe Biden called the ruling a “tragic error” stemming from “extreme ideology” and said it was a “sad day for the court and the country.” “The health and life of women in this nation are now at risk,” Biden said, warning that other rights could be threatened next, such as same-sex marriage and contraception. The Democratic president urged Congress to restore abortion protections as federal law and said Roe will be “on the ballot” in November’s midterm elections.
The United Nations called the ruling “a huge blow to women’s human rights and gender equality.” “Access to safe, legal and effective abortion is firmly rooted in international human rights law and is at the core of women and girls’ autonomy and ability to make their own choices about their bodies and lives,” UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said in a statement. “This decision strips such autonomy from millions of women in the US, in particular those with low incomes and those belonging to racial and ethnic minorities, to the detriment of their fundamental rights.” AFP
Chinese leader Xi Jinping to attend HK celebration CHINESE President Xi Jinping will attend a ceremony in Hong Kong celebrating 25 years of the city’s handover to China, state media Xinhua News Agency reported on Saturday. Xi will also attend the inauguration of the next Hong Kong administration, Xinhua said, in a trip that would mark his first time leaving the Chinese mainland since the pandemic began. “President Xi Jinping will attend a meeting celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland,” Xinhua reported. “Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will also attend the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,” it added. His last visit to the former British colony was in 2017 to swear in city leader Carrie
Lam and it is customary for Chinese leaders to travel to Hong Kong for key handover anniversary dates. But coronavirus outbreaks in both mainland China and Hong Kong have prompted doubts over whether Xi would risk travelling to the city as Beijing remains committed to a zero-Covid strategy. Two top officials in the incoming Hong Kong administration tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday and had to go into quarantine. Daily case numbers in Hong Kong have climbed to nearly 2,000 though hospitalisations have remained low, with outgoing city leader Carrie Lam earlier reassuring the public that the situation was “not an alarm bell.” Hong Kong has its own version of zero-Covid, which has kept the international business hub isolated for much of the pandemic, but it is less strict than what is practised in the mainland. AFP
FromtheFRONTPAGE
and systematic attack on civilians. Rights groups said Duterte created a climate of impunity and estimated that tens of thousands have been killed by police, hitmen and vigilantes, even without proof they were involved in drugs. The ICC, which only gets involved if member states are unable or unwilling to investigate, suspended the probe two months later after Manila said it was looking into the alleged crimes. But Khan said on Friday that most of the details provided by the Philippines “do not seek to establish criminal responsibility and therefore cannot warrant deferral of the ICC’s criminal investigation.” Proceedings mentioned by the Philippines also “fail to sufficiently mirror the authorized ICC investigation,” he said. Militant lawmakers on Saturday welcomed Khan’s request to resume the probe. “We are glad that the ICC Prosecutor eventually concluded what we have been pointing out before that the so-called domestic accountability mechanism as far as this bloody war is concerned is clearly functioning and even is a big farce,” Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite said. Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas said the request “sustains the hope of Filipino women who were widowed under the ‘Tokhang’ operations.”
ICC...“In short, the deferral of the ICC investigationrequested by the Philippines is not justified,” he added. The announcement drew sharp rebuke from the Palace. “For nth time, we express exasperation on the request of ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, even as it was suspended on the request of the Philippine government,” acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said in a statement. “After all, reciprocity is a key principle in the methods of work of the ICC. To veer away from this principle will only reveal the politicization that has infiltrated the ICC’s ranks,” he added. Andanar stressed that the Duterte administration “has undertaken, through the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Philippine National Police, among others, investigations of all deaths that have arisen from lawful drug enforcement operations.” He also argued that while the ICC cited the report of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights in its call for intervention, the CHR did not imply a need for a direct external investigation. “Surely, the CHR knows the implications of such intervention on State sovereignty, and we expect the ICC, especially Mr. Khan, to know that as well,” Andanar added. Khan’s announcement came days before outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte steps down after six years in power. The ICC authorized a full-blown investigation into the Philippines anti-narcotics campaign in September 2021, saying it resembled an illegitimate
DOH...Meanwhile, the DOH has expanded the administration of booster shots to kids ages 12 to 17 a week after approving this only to those who are immunocompromised. “The approval was given for the rest of the population ages 12 to 17. Hopefully we will see in the coming
BEAUTIFUL IN HER EYES. Jeneda Benally reacts to the announcement that her dog, Mr. Happy Face, won the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest in Petaluma, California on June 24, 2022. Mr. Happy Face, a 17-year-old Chinese Crested saved from a hoarder’s house, takes home the $1,500 prize. AFP weeks an increase in the booster uptake,” Vergeire said. The department earlier allowed the use of Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots for the age group following at least 28 days after the second dose. A total of 9.5 million children ages 12 to 17 have received their primary doses, the DOH had said.
CHINA...accelerated basis arrangement
to facilitate oil and gas exploration and exploitation.” Earlier this week, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. revealed the Philippines has abandoned joint oil exploration talks with China amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea “The President [Rodrigo Duterte] has spoken. I carried out his instructions to the letter. Oil and gas discussions are terminated completely... Three years on and we have not achieved our objective —developing oil and gas resources so critical for the Philippines, but not at the price of sovereignty. Not even a particle of it,” Locsin said. Locsin said he “got as far as it is Constitutionally possible to go” in hammering out a deal with his Chinese counterpart as he likened the task of holding foreign intruders accountable to drawing “a blood-red line in the WPS.” “It remains with the new administration to protect our sovereignty all the way... but now I can rest. The irreducible template of what is Constitutionally possible is there in black-and-white,” he said. “Surrender of any portion of Philippine sovereignty is not an option. Not for love. Not for money,” Locsin added. Last month, Marcos Jr. said he would not
allow “a single millimeter” of the country’s coastal rights to be trampled upon. “We have a very important ruling in our favor and we will use it to continue to assert our territorial rights. It is not a claim. It is already our territorial right,” he said. “We’re talking about China. We talk to China consistently with a firm voice…. We cannot go to war with them. That’s the last thing we need right now,” the President-elect added.
US...“We are united in our shared determination to support a region that benefits the peoples of the Pacific. We are also united in how we realize this vision—according to principles of Pacific regionalism, sovereignty, transparency, accountability, and most of all, led and guided by the Pacific Islands,” they added. The United States said it plans to invite related foreign ministers later this year to review progress on the PBP. Earlier this month, Australia pushed back against China’s new security pact with Solomon Islands, saying the Pacific region has no need of outside help to protect itself. Foreign Minister Penny Wong delivered the message on a one-day visit to the capital Honiara, the latest destination in a South Pacific travel blitz to parry China’s diplomatic and security maneuvers in the region. “Australia’s view does remain that the Pacific family should be responsible for our security,” she said after meeting with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. “The Pacific family is more than capable of providing that security,” said Wong. The security pact had fed fears in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Japan that China may establish a military presence in Solomon Islands, less than
Two killed, 14 hurt in Oslo ‘terror’ attack TWO people were killed and 14 others wounded, several seriously, in shootings near bars in central Oslo, Norwegian police said Saturday. Police said a suspect had been arrested following the shootings, which occurred around 1:00 a.m. (2300 GMT Friday) in three locations, including a gay bar, close together in the centre of the Norwegian capital. Police reported two dead and 14 wounded, and said two weapons had been seized. “Now everything indicates that there was only one person who committed this act,” police official Tore Barstad told a press briefing. Police said they were treating deadly shootings tas a “terrorist attack.” Police received the first reports at 1:14 am and the suspect was arrested five minutes later, he said. The shootings happened near the London Pub gay club, the Herr Nilsen jazz club and a takeaway food outlet. AFP
Macron’s tense, last-gasp Putin call on eve of Ukraine invasion “VLADIMIR, firstly one thing!” says President Emmanuel Macron as he seeks to make a point to his Russian counterpart. “Listen Emmanuel,” interjects the Russian leader. One of the final calls between the presidents of France and Russia, just four days before Putin issued the order for Moscow to invade Ukraine, is filled with tension, occasional expressions of respect and moments of the bizarre. With Europe’s peace in question, it even ends with Putin saying that he was supposed to be playing ice hockey and was conducting the conversation from a sports hall. In a hugely unusual glimpse into a confidential telephone call between heads of state, Macron and his team were filmed at the Elysee taking the call and the footage will now be broadcast as the centrepiece of a documentary “A President, Europe and the War” on the French president’s handling of the Ukraine war to be broadcast Thursday on France 2 TV. The call took place on the morning of February 20 as the French leader made what turned out to be a fruitless attempt to stop Russia from going to war. He also proposed a summit with US President Joe Biden that Russia would turn its back on. AFP 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) from Australia.
‘NTC..."Neither may it extend the scope of the Anti-Terrorism Council's designation order to 'affiliates' at the barest invocation of terrorism,” the IBP said. "The letter-request, bereft of legal basis, only serves to embarrass the outgoing administration...The Supreme Court has already affirmed the constitutionality of [Anti-Terrorism Act's] designation process. The NSC is encouraged to use the fruits of this victory and file the proper cases and requests for designation instead of resorting tocensorial shortcuts." The NTC order covered almost 30 websites, including those of alternative media Bulatlat and Pinoy Weekly. Esperon earlier defended his request to have the websites blocked, which he said have sowed “enmity and discord” through misinformation to the CPPNPA-NDF, which the government has declared as terrorist groups. "Misinformation remains to be one of the nation’s greatest enemies and is in fact a powerful tool used by the communist terrorist group to sow enmity and discord – dividing Filipinos from objectivity and truth,” Esperon said, after his decision drew heavy fire from human rights groups and leftist lawmakers. Esperon pointed out that upholding and promoting the truth is a national security responsibility imbued with public interest. He said some websites like the independent Bulatlat and Pinoy Weekly have been using their platforms to spread information on causes important to communist ideology.
JUNE 26, 2022 Quicksilver director Vinci Roxas says one of the key essential infrastructure components or any sort of economic development or investment management outside urban areas has to do with connectivity, which is why Quicksilver was founded years ago.
By Darwin G. Amojelar
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ILIPINO technology startup Quicksilver Satcom Ventures, funded by social impact venture firm Ignite Impact Fund—seeks to increase internet penetration in far-flung and underserved areas in the country through the use of satellite technology. Endorsed by the Philippine national government as a satellite provider, Quicksilver styles itself as a “boutique connectivity firm” that utilizes various connectivity solutions depending on what a certain geographical area requires. “One of the key essential infrastructure components or any sort
Local startup uses satellite to provide Internet services of economic development or investment management outside urban areas has to do with connectivity, which is why we started Quicksilver years ago,” said Quicksilver director Vinci Roxas. Quicksilver believes that establishing basic connectivity in far-flung rural areas, which is especially challenging due to the Philippines’ archipelagic nature, is a major step in providing underserved communities more advanced necessities, which can make their lives easier. The company’s mission is to work with local governments and private clients to set up service areas and then help leverage internet connectivity into greater economic development. “Once you set up connectivity, you can do online banking, microfinance and e-commerce,” Roxas said. “The local businesses can connect to the local economy, and then you can do things like imports and exports. It’s connectivity as an enabler for economic development,” he said. One example of an early Quicksilver installation is the establishment of
internet services in a leading microfinance company’s school in San Pablo, Laguna. With the company’s help, the school managed to enjoy consistent internet that helped them digitize their operations, power remote online learning sessions and remote consultations for clinics that benefited many people in the city. It is Quicksilver’s potential economic benefit that attracted Ignite to it, as its goals were in line with the venture capital fund’s own social impact targets of eliminating extreme poverty in the Philippines. “Well into the 21st century, the world has recognized a good internet connection as a basic human right. Quicksilver’s goals of providing not only free and accessible, but also consistent and reliable internet connectivity goes a long way toward alleviating poverty among the poorest of Filipinos,” Ignite co-founder Maoi Arroyo said. Ignite has invested in a wide variety of startups and business ideas that make meaningful social and environmental impacts in the Philippines.
Ignite co-founder Maoi Arroyo says the world has recognized a good internet connection as a basic human right.
Palafox taps QLO to provide salary loans for employees
Homonym leads Home Credit brand refresh with Sonic strategy ANALYZING the songs that are heavily rotated in playlists and using audio data will show a clear picture of what the company’s sonic identity can be. This marketing is called Sonic Branding. Homonym, an agency that specializes in end-to-end music marketing and innovative audio solutions, advocates for Sonic Branding as a marketing strategy that can help make a greater impact to any project or campaign. “Marketing strategies have turned to visual messaging these past two years and now, marketers are on the lookout to explore other senses that can work. This is where Sonic Branding comes in. It is a strategic, purposeful and consistent use of sound and music in branding and marketing to shape perception and b e h a v i o r, ” said Homonym founder and chief executive Mike Constantino.
Cebu warehouse
Great Deals, Lazada guarantee faster shipping time in the south
LEADING Philippine e-com- and Mindanao to reach a bigger por- dling everything from digital content, merce enabler Great Deals tion of our Filipino consumers,” said web design, analytics, chat support, E-commerce Corp. further Great Deals E-commerce founder and warehousing and fulfillment to logisenhanced its logistics effi- chief executive Steve Sy. tics, broke its own record in 2019 as ciency with the launch of The hyperlocalized strategy helps it processed 233,038 orders in a day. fulfillment centers in the brands set themselves up in major “We look forward to onboarding major cities of Cebu and locations to reach customers in near- more brands in this new project, and Davao. by areas faster and more efficiently. It we are grateful for the continued supThe partnership with Laza- brings a better online shopping expe- port of Lazada for making this happen da enables customers in the rience to the Visayas and Mindanao by as Great Deals is constantly looking for Visayas and Mindanao to re- providing a seamless customer expe- ways to improve customer experience ceive parcels as fast as three rience with a shorter delivery time and with our brands and consumers and days after placing an order. lower shipping fee costs. to be there to assist them to penetrate Previously, deliveries could “Building these fulfillment centers is local markets nationwide, reduce shiptake five to seven days, a testament to our commitment in pro- ping fees, and shorten delivery time,” which has been one of the viding a better customer experience. Sy said. online shopping pain points We are always looking to help our kaGreat Deals, a multi-million-dollar along with costly shipping babayans experience online shopping valued company, continues to develHomonym founder and CEO Mike Constantino fees. not only in the major cities but also in op its IT infrastructure, warehouse The building of fulfillment key urban or rural areas,” Sy said. capabilities, technology research and With the pilot launch of Great Deals’ capital expenditures as it aggressiveHome Credit’s brand refresh with centers in Cebu and Davao showcases Moira singing her heart out to the Lazada and Great Deals’ advanced lo- fulfillment center in Cebu, customers ly expands its presence in the country, iconic lyrics of “Para sa Home, Para sa gistics, warehousing and fulfillment ca- who placed an order on Lazada were aiming to be the Philippines’ very own Life’’ that was revealed this month, is pabilities, pioneering hyperlocalization able to receive their parcels in three “Alibaba” and “Baozun.” “Customer experience is our utmost Homonym’s latest campaign that uses in terms of using nationwide geomap- days and pay lower shipping fees. ping technology in the country’s online Lazada’s partner brands will also soon priority, and through these fulfillment sonic branding. be brought closer to their customers centers, we wish to reach more Filipinos By using studies that provide insight shopping industry. “Lazada supercharged the way Fil- in Mindanao, as Great Deals is set to and let them experience the power of into the music habits of Filipino consumers, Homonym was able to deter- ipinos shopped in Luzon, particularly open a fulfillment center in Davao in online shopping. We are at the forefront of the online shopping experience. We mine Home Credit’s brand essence in Metro Manila, even at the height of July this year. Great Deals, an e-commerce enabler are constantly looking for local solutions and fine-tuned it with preferences of the pandemic in 2020. Now, we want to the target market to produce a melody help replicate and bring that to Visayas that offers end-to-end service, han- to our local problems” said Sy. that portrays a positive vibe and the feeling of trust and respect. “As a reliable financial partner of Filipinos, Home Credit has a greater mission of helping its consumers better manage their finances and THE construction of the Bataan-Cavite Inis home to multiple industrial companies. promote financial inclusion. With muterlink Bridge is expected to speed up travReal estate developer Bria Homes finds sic as a huge part of our lives, we at el—from five hours down to just 40 minitself in the right place at the right time Home Credit saw the value of building utes—between Bataan and Cavite. with strategically located housing projects our sonic identity and communicating The enormous savings in time spell conin both provinces that benefit local resiour messages through music to make venience for those engaged in business dents and migrant workers. Bria presents and trade in the region and ensure susthe most attractive options to prospective more people relate to the message of tained economic growth for both provinchomeowners—its wholesome residential hope and trust that we are trying to es. communities in Bataan and Cavite. convey,” said Home Credit Philippines Bataan and Cavite are known for their Located near bustling economic cenchief marketing officer Sheila Paul. robust economic growth, given the industers, these property developments are enHomonym believes in the effective trial and economic zones in the two provvisioned to offer a modern, safe and secure combination of sight and sound, giving inces. environment to Filipinos looking for an idylThe Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge speeds birth to the company’s Rhyme & ReaBataan established the first economic lic provincial lifestyle while staying close to up travel—from five hours down to just 40 son messaging.
PALAFOX Associates Inc. tapped Quick Loans Online or QLO, operated by MRACC Credit Corp. to provide salary loan to its employees. A partnership with QLO is a win-win situation for employers and employees as QLO shoulders the loan expenses, making it almost cost free for employers while their employees can enjoy more freedom and flexibility with their finances. Among companies that teamed up with QLO is Palafox—a multi-disciplinary firm with teams consisting of more than a hundred architects, urban planners, environmental planners, interior designers, engineers, consultants and other professionals. “Circumstances when employees have sudden cash requirements can occur anytime, especially during these times. Through QLO, we offer our employees another kind of protection,” said Palafox general manager Rubiliza Mendoza. “They don’t have to worry about loan access when they need it. We believe this can have a positive impact on their welfare and satisfaction,” she said. QLO is a loan facility under MRACC Credit Corp. Launched by MFT Group of Companies, the venture has enabled partner companies to give their employees access to quick, hassle-free salary loans through immediate access to cash to address urgent financial needs. QLO’s partner companies need not worry about allocating more money for the employee loans. These loans are fully funded by QLO and are payable through convenience of salary deduction. Partnering with QLO has also proven to be hassle-free. From the process of signing up as a partner company, the quickness and almost 100-percent approval rate of employee loans, to the easy monitoring of these employee loans, QLO has focused efforts on seamless and nofuss processes. Darwin G. Amojelar
Bataan-Cavite bridge seen to boost real estate projects
minutes—between Bataan and Cavite.
zone in the Philippines in 1972, while Cavite
the heart of the action.
Comfort, style and functionality at value-for-money prices define Bria’s quality homes of choice. These come with an array of amenities such as multipurpose halls for social gatherings, covered basketball courts for sports enthusiasts, open green spaces for leisurely strolls and playgrounds for young children. The thriving communities are secured by perimeter walls, guarded entrances, 24/7 CCTV coverage and solar lights. Residents and homeowners are assured of a competent property management team, reliable internet connectivity and digital payment options.
TOYCON PH 2022 all set for ‘grand homecoming’ The TOYCON PH 22, dubbed the biggest pop culture event in the Philippines, makes a grand return on July 8-10 at Megamall (Image from TOYCON PH Facebook)
FOR long-time TOYCON fans, it’s no secret that Voltes V holds a special place in the heart of this convention and its followers. This iconic robot has never missed a spot among the collage of colorful characters on its poster since the very start, and on special milestone years, it has even become the central symbol of the show, with the huge Voltes V statue in 2016 when it first moved the convention to the SMX in Pasay, the fleet of Voltes V ships gracing its 2017 merchandise, and TOYCON’s launch of the Tamashii Nations Super Electromagnetic Machine VOLTES V, Bandai Spirits DLX Soul of Chogokin in 2020. It’s been too long since the community of pop culture fans and collectors have come together since the pandemic struck. For many, this long drought without gathering to celebrate the common love for all things creative, innovative, and collectible has gone on way too long. And so with the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic winding down, organizers cannot wait to see its loyal fans and community to finally come home to a very familiar, yet whole new playground. Welcome to TOYCON PH 2022 set July 8-10, 2022 at the Megatrade Halls, 5/F of the SM Megamall Bldg. B in Pasig City. The event is organized by VLAC Event Management Inc. and co-presented by Lazada and Smart Signature. This year, our 19th year of putting on an onsite convention, Voltes V takes center stage again as part of a promise made by the convention’s event partner, Quiccs, back in 2019 to launch the trademark TEQ-63 in unmistakable Voltes V style only at TOYCON. And this year, in partnership with TOEI Co. Ltd. Telesuccess, everything is set for the launch. At the heart of the Voltes V story is a tale of a divided family, struggles suffered and surpassed, but ultimately a reunion of love. Which is really what TOYCON is all about It is a yearly reunion, and for this year, a homecoming, it returns to the place where it all started. TOYCON started as a gathering of people of like minds, and this year as it has been every year, it is a collaboration of many to put together the biggest pop culture event in the country and in Southeast Asia. It is an alliance, which this year,
goes back to its roots. EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS This year’s event highlights include: • The biggest Voltes V Licensing and merchandise exhibit in collaboration with Telesuccess Productions Inc. • Surprise celebrity appearances • Funko Funatics Philippines release of exclusives and celebrity signings • Top toy studios and designers from the region on exhibit • TOYCON Creator’s Alley – co-organized by the Bulletpunk Network where the top Filipino toy creators meet the up-and-coming young upstart creators • Artist Alley – co-organized by Komiket with some of the Philippines’ top comic book artist/s assembled for signing and sketching • The TOYCON Collectors Gallery c/o the Philippine Toy Groups Association • Toy Art and Toy Customizing competition • ToyClick and Cosclick Photography contest • The TOYCON Cosplay Competition and the World Cosplay Summit • Collectors and Customizers Panel discussions • The Pinoy Pop Culture Icon Awards • And the Biggest collectibles retail floor of more than 250 booths What’s new for this year’s convention? There will be online selling seminars, live auctions and livestreams sponsored by Lazada; VIP access, NFT workshops and Bulletpunk BitWars art brought to us by Smart Signature. TOYCON PH 2022 is also supported by Telesuccess Productions, MaxiCollector, Great Toys Online, Legendary Beasts Studios, EC Collectibles, Filbars, Toy Empire, Bully Boy Collectibles, and DHL and held in cooperation with Vans, Yori, Funko Funatic Philippines, Warner Brothers, and The Linden Suites With media partners, ABS-CBN, 106.7 Energy FM and FPS PH. And event partners Anime Alliance, Ex-Link Events, Komiket, PICOF and the For event details go to: www. toyconph.com or Like ToyConPh on Facebook and Twitter. Tickets are available online at SMTickets.com and the TOYCON 2022 store on Lazada. (From TOYCON PH Facebook)
Foreign bets spice up Sun Life 5150 triathlon THIRTY foreign triathletes keen on doing short distance but challenging races on a world-class course gear up for spirited duels with the local bets in various age categories when the Sun Life 5150 Triathlon returns to Bohol on July 10. Veteran campaigners Michael Davies of the United Kingdom, Michael Rudolf of Germany, and French Romain Thibert, and Aussie-based Briton Darren Thomas, who has vied in a series of ultra-adventure races, head the merry mix of athletes clashing in the 1.5 kmswim, 40 km-bike and 10 km run held under an Olympic-style setup. The Bellevue Resort on Panglao Island, which has staged IRONMAN events since 2014, is all set for another successful hosting after a two-year hiatus due to the global Covid-19 pandemic with the race routes all spruced up for the event sponsored by Sun Life. Davies, Rudolf, and Thomas banner the men’s 50-54 age division while Thibert and Singapore’s Haythem El-Ansary lead the 40-44 category of the event which also features clashes in the 25-29 age group, headed by Vietnam’s Dinh Anh Duc, in 30-34 led by India’s Pranav Haldar, in 35-39 spearheaded by Norway’s Steinar Aasheim, Malaysia’s Chitchen Then and Francesco Berre of Italy, and in 45-49 headed by American Javon Ross. Meanwhile, Korean Jinho Shin
and Dutch Jelle Beekma lead the 55-59 cast while Swiss Roman Menz and Briton Nick Cudmore head the 60-64 and 65-69 divisions, respectively, of the event organized by the IRONMAN Group/Sunrise Events, Inc. and backed by venue host The Bellevue Resort, the Province of Bohol, the Municipality of Panglao, Finis, the official swim cap partner, Rudy Project, Sante, Active, the official registration partner. Also on tap are the men’s and women’s relay competitions and the Sunrise Sprint race. For details, visit www.ironman. com/5150-bohol with social media accounts at Sun Life 5150 Bohol (Facebook) and 5150bohol (Instagram). For the Sunrise Sprint, log on to www.goforgold.sunrisesprint. com. But the Filipino bets, including those bracing for bigger triathlon races, are also all primed up for the event, supported by media partners Manila Bulletin, Crosstrain.PH, MBody.PH and Tempo, and official hotels Amorita and Bluewater. They include Triathlon Bohol’s Rey Estrosos (25-29), Raymond Uy (35-39) and Val Uy (40-44), Team Pastor’s Remus Velano and Rider Omega’s Justice Sousa (20-24), Triad’s Seth Sabuga (35-39), Trion’s Irwin Ramas (40-44) and Who Tribe’s Jean-Michel Pedroso (45-49), among others.
JUNE 26, 2022
HOBBIES & COLLECTIONS
Hustle Basketball skills lab offers world-class program
I
N the middle of the vast expanse of Florida Blanca in Pampanga can be found a basketball camp that offers Euro and American basketball programs for all ages—from children to aspiring varsity or professional players.
Inside the fenced, two-hectare Hustle Basketball Skills Lab is a covered basketball court, jogging path, mini-gym, sandlot for strength and conditioning, ice bath facility for muscle recovery, dining area, and air-conditioned sleeping quarters good for 40 people. The facility, which is aimed at developing basketball players using the more advanced learning techniques, was built by power couple coach John Ross “JR” Dela Cruz and his wife Kristine. Hustle offers a combination of programs adopted by top basketball academies in the United States and Europe. Handling the technical part is JR who was a former collegiate and Philippine Basketball League standout. He was part of the Mapua Red Robins and the Far Eastern University Tamaraws that won back-to-back titles. “May binuo kaming signature programs here at Hustle. The intensive skills training with periodized strength and conditioning, specifically for basketball players and yung Players Optimization,’ said Kristine, who serves as Hustle’s program coordinator. The Intensive skills, which is catered to beginners to intermediate players, is a camp-style program and or one-on-one or both. Even before the camp was built in November last year, the couple already conducted the program in various venues in Metro Manila. High school students from La Salle, Ateneo, Xavier, San Beda, Don Bosco, San Sebastian, UST were some of the students that availed of the program. “Their goal is makapasok sa varsity team at so far , maraming nakapasok sa schools through our program. Thankful naman kami sa mga parents na nag meme-message at nagpapasalamat,” said Kristine. SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM The Skills Development Program is adopted by the Euro Basketball Academy where students are housed from one to three months before plunging into action in the collegiate or the professional league. Kristine said they want to “address the gap for those amateurs wanting to go pro. Gusto natin na may ma experience silang program tulad nito. Sa Europe kasi may ganitong program kaya umaangat yung players nila. Kristine quoted former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy saying “Filipinos are good basketball players but not great athletes.” What did he mean by this? Filipinos have inherent skills but they need to enhance their knowledge of basketball knowlege if they want to be world-class athletes and cope with the advances in global basketball. “Kasi walang development program. Kumbaga, from barangay (or ligang labas) pwede ka na pa draft. From school pwede na din. Wala kasing sustainable training program. Some schools like Ateneo, yan na ngayon ang ginagawa.” One of Hustle’s recent students was Momodou Faye, an 18-year-old, 6-10
Coach JR Dela Cruz tests the offense of Momodou Faye, an 18-year-old, 6-10 project from Senegal.
Coach JR with basketball agent Arch. Rey Punongbayan
Coach JR and students doing sand training
project from Senegal. He stayed for a week at the camp and trained with coach JR. Faye will try his luck as import in collegiate teams. Rey Punongbayan, Faye’s agent, said his ward has “natural mobility, quickness, dribbling skills and shooting touch. All he needs right now is to be developed and engaged in more competitive games like what he experienced last week when I brought him to DLSU.” Punongbayan said he believes that Faye, with more constant training at Hustle under coach JR, son of Crispa legend Virgilio “Bong” Dela Cruz, will improve tremendously. “Hustle helped improved Faye’s shooting. In only a week, his footwork, dribbling, and Basketball knowledge and confidence have improved.” PLAYER’S OPTIMIZATION PROGRAM The Players Optimization program is intended for players aspiring to become professional and to current professional players who want to improve their game or prolong their career in the pro league. One of the most notable products of this Europe-developed concept is NBA’s Most Valuable player Giannis Antetokoumpo. Antetokumpo underwent an intensive one-year player optimization program in Spain. The result was a dramatic transformation from a lanky, beanpole of a player to a stronger and faster bulky MVP contender. “One year niya ginawa yun with only Sunday as rest day. After ng program, nag bulk up siya pero hindi siya bumagal, bumilis pa siya. Pinag aralan ko sa Player Optimization ung ginamit na program sa kanya and pwede natin gawin dito yun sa mga Filipino players,” said JR. Then are those aging pros who want to prolong their playing career. “Ito yung skills development, training load management, and injury prevention. We’re aiming for sustainability,” JR added. “We provide training load for certain age brackets. For example, yung age late
30s or 40s, iba ung trainng load nila sa mas bata. Yung skills nandiyan na e, kaya dapat kaya dapat player optimization na yan. Titingnan sa age mo no yung bagay sayo na conditioning. Prone ka na ba sa injury? Hindi na sya more on technical, but more on how to prolong career na lang,”Kristine explained. HOW IT STARTED Sometime before the pandemic, JR was planning to get back to basketball either as a player or coach, but he got injured and was forced to sit in a wheelchair for a long period. Then came an offer to join a basketball coaching seminar in the United States, but since was confined to a wheelchair, he needed someone to join him on the trip and reluctantly Kristine joined him and also registered as a coach. She also fell in love with the nitty-gritty of the sport as she had no choice but also join in closed-door sessions where the name “hustle” popped up. “Sa isang session, may narinig kami na sumisigay ng “hustle, hustle” so we adopted it as the brand for our camp. Sa simula sana maliit lang e, pero here we are now with a big facility.” The facility was completed in the middle of the Covid 19 pandemic, phase by phase. But there are more to come, according to the couple. PACKAGES AND FUTURE They plan to develop more coaches by conducting coaching conferences and certification programs. It offers a team-building facility for basketball teams and soon to other team sports and other disciplines. “Soon, baka isunod natin volleyball din. We want to perfect the system first kasi ngayon lang talaga nag oopen after the pandemic. Dahan dahan lang namin ineexpand.” The couple also plans to have their own basketball league so the player’s development can be sustained and applied in their own tournament.
Palo, Cua shine in PPS Aqua Verde netfest JOSE Kael Palo pulled off a two-title romp in boys’ play while Dhea Cua extended her domination of the girls’ 14-and-under class as the Kidapawan City bets stamped their class in the PPSPEPP Aqua Verde national age-group tennis tournament in Bangkal, Davao City last Friday. The top-seeded Palo, 14, ran off three lopsided victories in the upper half of the full-packed 64-player draw then repelled No. 2 Jeson Battad of Davao del Norte, 4-6, 6-1, 10-6, in the finals to rule his age division. He then bucked the odds in the 16-U category, escaping with another three-setter, 6-3, 0-6, 10-5, over Clayton Neri in the semis before
trouncing local bet Nathan Agus, 6-3, 6-1, to complete a double victory in the Group 1 event presented by Dunlop at the Aqua Verde courts. Cua, on the other hand, extended her win run in the 14-U category, blasting Tagum City’s Faith Lazaro, 6-1, 6-2, but the talented youngster fell short of her bid in the 16-U finals, bowing to Cotabato’s Djoanna Natano, 4-6, 4-6, in the week-long event put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro and which drew a record over 300 participants in eight age categories. Other winners in the country’s longest-running talent search supported by ProtekTODO, PalawanPay, the Unified
Tennis Philippines and UTR (Universal Tennis Rating) were Herald Aton, also from Kidapawan, Andrei Otoc from Pigcawayan, Cotabato, Digos City’s Juliana Carvajal and Reighm Maglana from Maragusan, Davao de Oro. Aton subdued Derek Napala from Gen. Santos City in a duel of unranked bets, snaring a 3-6, 7-5, 10-4 victory for the boys’ 18-U crown; Otoc held off Xhyrus Lozano, also from Maragusan, 7-6(6), 6-1, for the 12-U diadem; the second seeded Carvajal routed Mae Palac from Davao, 6-1, 6-1, for the girls’ premier title; and Maglana trampled Maragusan’s Angela Casanova, 6-2, 6-1, for the girls’ 12-U trophy.
Caption: ‘Arsenic and Adobo’ tells how the main character, Lila Macapagal, became anaccidental sleuth
Life Editor: Nickie Wang
JUNE 26, 2022
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
Michael Kors debuts 2022 capsule
Michael Kors celebrates pride with new pieces in its Pride 2022 capsule
NO SHELF CONTROL
BY JENNY ORTUOSTE
A
FICIONADOS of cozy mysteries are in for a treat with Mia P. Manansala’s Tita Rosie’s Kitchen series starring a Filipino-American main character, the inadvertent sleuth Lila Macapagal. Set in the small fictional town of Shady Palms, Illinois, two hours outside Chicago, the series revolves around Lila’s adventures solving the murders that come her way, with the help of her network of nosy aunts – Tita Rosie and Ninangs April, Mae, and June; her barista best friend Adeena, and her trusty dachshund Longganisa. Like quite a few cozy series, this one focuses on food – specifically, Filipino cuisine – and the mentions of adobo, halo-halo, and other local favorites will make the reader’s mouth water. Take this excerpt from Arsenic and Adobo: “Lola Flor pointed to the suman, saying, “Sweet sticky rice cooked in coconut milk and steamed in banana leaves. The banana leaves give the rice its distinctive flavor. They’re garnished with latik. Caramelized coconut curds… In the bowl is ginataang bilo-bilo. Chewy rice balls, tapioca pearls, jackfruit, purple yam, and saba banana cooked in sweet coconut milk.” Now that sounds pretty authentic, and delicious. In between working and eating soul-satisfying food at her Tita Rosie’s restaurant, Lila solves mysteries as an accidental sleuth. In Arsenic and Adobo, the series debut, her ex-boyfriend, food critic Derek, falls face down into a bowl
Michael Kors’ adds rainbow logo charms on relaxed apparel and accessories like this simple yet stylish backpack
FASHION line Michael Kors announces the launch of a Pride 2022 product capsule, including a special-edition Pride tote bag and wristlet to benefit OutRight Action International. The 16-piece Pride 2022 capsule consists of women’s, men’s, and gender-neutral pieces that offer a bright way to show off your individual style while sharing your Pride all year long. With rainbow logo charms featured on relaxed apparel, footwear, and accessories, plus a rainbow-faced watch, the capsule celebrates inclusion, diversity, and the vibrancy of the community that lies at the heart of Pride. The special-edition canvas tote bag and wristlet feature a rainbow MK charm logo on an optic white background. Both are available in stores
and online with the Pride tote retailing for $198 and the wristlet for $128. During the month of June in the U.S., and from June through September in Europe, all profits from the sale of these two accessories will be donated to OutRight Action International, a leading global human rights organization. OutRight works at the international, regional, and national levels to research, document, defend, and advance human rights for LGBTIQ+ people around the world. As the only LGBTIQ+ organization with a permanent presence at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, they are dedicated to improving the lives of people who experience discrimination or abuse on the basis of
Add color and pride to any ensemble with Michale Kors’ rainbow-faced watch and rainbow bracelet
their real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. In the Philippines, Michael Kors is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc., and is located at Central Square in Bonifacio High Street Central, Greenbelt 5, Newport Mall, Power Plant Mall, Rustan’s Makati, and Shangri-La Plaza Mall, and online at Trunc. ph and Rustans.com.
Your perfect summer reads
‘Homicide and Halo-Halo’ is the second book in the mystery series and shows Lila’s improvement as a sleuth
of ginataan – dead. The incident is likely to make the whole town avoid the restaurant. On top of that, Tita Rosie’s has been failing for some time, and the landlord wants them out so he can resell the store space. To get the business – and their lives – back on track, Lila helps Detective Park look for clues to help solve the mystery – particularly after he locks her up for murder and supposed drug pushing. But it’s an unlikely person who’s the murderer, in a twist the reader won’t see coming, and Lila risks her life to bring the perpetrator to justice. Manansala pens another heart-
Social issues in exhibition spaces discussed in free online lecture EXHIBITION Design: diversity, strength, and Narrative Spaces, Conexperience of interwoven journeys. nectivity, and Social EnWith a Bachelor of Arts gagement, a free online in Comparative Culture lecture on possibilities from Sophia University in to transform exhibition Tokyo, Japan, and a Masspaces into a platform for ter of Arts in Exhibition underrepresented and difDesign from the Corcoran ficult social issues, will be College of Art+Design in discussed by certified RegWashington, DC, she is an istered Graphic Designer (RGD) Rina Alfonso via Studio Aorta Founder Adjunct Associate ProfesZoom on Thursday, June and Creative Director sor at the Master of Fine Arts in Museum Exhibi30, at 3:00 p.m. Rina Alfonso, RGD tion Planning and Design Alfonso will speak on how exhibition design utilizes objects, Program at the University of the Arts graphics, and multi-dimensional spac- in Philadelphia. Exhibition Design: Narrative es. She will also talk about merges in curatorial practice, graphic design, and Spaces, Connectivity, and Social programmatic spatial design in deliv- Engagement is the latest program ering these stories. under MCAD Platforms of the MuseShe will elaborate on how design um of Contemporary Art and Design in itself can help the audience gain a (MCAD) of the De La Salle-College of broader perspective and understand- Saint Benilde. MCAD Platforms is an avenue to ing of the different important social and historical narratives. promote contemporary art and deAlfonso, whose experience spans sign through workshops, lectures, and working in diverse organizations, mu- events to a diverse and wide range of seums, and design and architectural audience through the power of techfirms, is the founder and owner of nology. Studio Aorta, a certified women- and For more information, visit Benilminority-owned business enterprise de MCAD at https://www.facebook. (WMBE) in Washington, DC, which com/MCADManila or email mcad@ creates captivating spatial experiences benilde.edu.ph. through the synergy of compelling narInterested participants may register ratives, thoughtful design, and artistic expression. This is all while ensuring for the free webinar through https:// that their works promote and celebrate forms.gle/g8J1jueJXLVRtuko8.
‘Arsenic and Adobo’ tells how the main character, Lila Macapagal, became an accidental sleuth
warming story in Homicide and Halo-Halo, the second book in the series. Lila’s hitherto moribund love life is starting to show signs of resurrecting with two bachelors giving her their attention. But she’s still down in the dumps after the events recounted in the first book, and her spirit isn’t quite up to the soft opening of her Brew-ha Café that she’s setting up with Adeena, their friend Elena, that combines Filipino, Pakistani, and Mexican culture in their offerings of food, beverages, and herbal remedies. In this book, Detective Park has more faith in Lila’s investigative abilities, and he enlists her help to find
out about a threat made against one of their town’s most important events, the Miss Teen Shady Palms beauty pageant. Lila was a winner of that same contest, having gotten her good looks from her beauty queen mother. Things get more serious when the pageant’s head judge is murdered. Now it’s up to Lila and her cousin Bernadette – with whom she’s been rivals since they were kids – to solve the case before one of them gets killed too. I love food and books with copious references to food, so here’s another excerpt, this one from Homicide and Halo-Halo: “I sipped at the creamy, sweet liquid, rolling it over my tongue
to get the full flavor of the drink. The light, floral sweetness of the pandan simple syrup played surprisingly well with the coffee, considering what a delicate flavor pandan had. It’d be a winner even without the coconut milk, but that extra touch brought a sense of decadence without heaviness.” That’s well described; Manansala has the creative gift of writing about food in a way that engages the imagination and sets the tastebuds tingling. Manansala’s style is better than some cozy mystery authors I’ve read who go off tangent or can’t seem to keep the threads of the stories in their hands. The events of the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen stories flow logically and take that formulaic but satisfying path from finding clues (and red herrings) to finally cracking the case that has mystery fans coming back for more. One important aspect of successful detective stories is the ‘puzzle’ factor, and Manansala has the ability to construct well-structured whodunits and intertwine them with relatable and interesting narratives that center around family, friends, home, and community. Another thing that makes Manansala’s stories unputdownable is the wit, heart, and humor that go into them. Her characters are well-fleshed; the heroine likeable and attractive, with a strong core of self-awareness about her own flaws while remaining confident in her knowledge, skills, and capacity to get things done. Both books end with recipes, a delightful bonus for readers. There are how-to’s for making ube crinkles, salabat-spiced banana bread, minatamis na bao, and halo-halo ice candy, to name some of them. (Yes, Manansala is generous with sharing her recipes!) In addition to these two that I’ve read, Manansala’s publisher will release this October her third book in this series, Blackmail and Bibingka. If you love mysteries and appreciate stories with hefty references to food and Filipino culture, then these books are the perfect summer reads. For comments and feeback, you may reach the author on Facebook and Twitter: @DrJennyO By Mia P. Manansala, from Berkley Prime Crime Arsenic and Adobo (2021, 316 pages, pb) Homicide and Halo-Halo (2022, 279 pages, pb)
Stay safe from smishing scams with these Smart tips HAVE you received a text message from an unknown number containing a suspicious link? There’s a big chance it is an attempt at smishing, a phishing attack executed through mobile text messaging and mobile messaging apps. The term “smishing” combines “SMS” (short message services or texting) with “phishing,” in which cyber criminals send fraudulent emails to trick the recipient into clicking a malicious link. As smishing happens via text or messaging apps, victims are deceived into giving sensitive information to a disguised attacker, which the latter will use to steal money or commit other types of fraud. There are two common methods that cybercriminals use for smishing. First is by sending the recipient a link to download malware (malicious software disguised as a legitimate app) on their smartphone, wherein the victim might type confidential information which will be sent directly to the attacker. Second is by sending a link that will lead to a fake website in which the victim might also be scammed into keying in personal data. In other words, smishing relies on the exploitation of one’s trust by posing as a credible individual or organization. Attackers might customize the message to make it seem like it’s from
someone you know, or prey on your emotions to force you to take action. These scams can be disguised in many forms such as a contact tracing form, fake job opportunities, financial services, free products, invoice or order confirmation, customer support, and more. Smishing poses a real threat to all mobile users, and this is why mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has come out with these three simple and smart tips to keep your prepaid or postpaid account safe at all times. 1. Block numbers that send spam. Immediately take yourself out of the attacker’s range by blocking unknown numbers with suspicious messages and links. 2. Never share your password or one-time pin (OTP) as a reply to a random message. Be very suspicious of calls, e-mails, SMS, o social media messages asking for this information. Moreover, only input your password or OTP in official and legitimate websites and platforms. 3. Don’t click links that are suspicious. Always be wary of links that you receive via text from unknown numbers. Cybercriminals are everywhere and are constantly finding ways to hack the system to scam whomever they
can, so it’s important to stay vigilant and keep your guards up. For more tips, visit https://blog. smart.com.ph/tips-to-protect-yoursmart-prepaid-and-postpaid-acand follow counts-at-all-times Smart’s official accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest offers, promos, and services.
Smishing is a real threat to all mobile users and should be addressed accordingly
JUNE 26, 2022
A male version of Sushmita Sen
Khurana showing off his toned physique in a bahag
Awarded Maharlika Gandang Filipina 2022 were Bb. Pilipinas International 2021 Hannah Arnold, Miss Philippines Universe Charity 2022 Pauline Amelinckx, and Star Shining Queens like Mrs. Face of Beauty International 2019 and Mrs. Philippines International 2021 Leona Luisa Andersen. Actors Yasmine Kurdi, James Blanco and Julia Clarete, singers Richard Reynoso, Jessa Zaragoza and Dingdong Avanzado, and director Joel Lamangan were honored in the field of music, film and television. MMG Queen of Hearts Foundation, Inc. headed by Mitzie Go-Gil, Mrs. Philippines International headed by Maan Cuerto Aris, and the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines (FDAP) were named outstanding NGOs while Aura Beauty and Wellness was awarded Maharlika Filipino Brand of the Year. Robert Requintina of Manila Bulletin and this writer were among the honorees in media.
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NDIAN actor Aditya Khurana was crowned Man of the World 2022 after besting 20 other candidates during the finals held at the Baguio Convention Center on June 18. Ukraine’s Vladimir Grand was named first runner up while the Philippines’ Nadim Elzein was second runner up.
Aditya Khurana wins the Man of the World 2022 title during the finals at the Baguio Convention Center
Completing the winner’s circle are Netherland’s Tjardo Vollema and Vietnam’s Nguyen Huu Anh who finished third and fourth runners-up, respectively. Khurana won the judges over with his wit, great smile, and strong stage presence striking many as the male version of Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen. The 22-year-old singer and actor is a native of Pune, Maharashtra. He starred in the recent Indian film The Rage. “The Philippines for me is a country of love. Everyone that I meet is very friendly, loving, and protective. So, all of you who want to experience that should go to the Philippines,” Khurana said with a smile. “If you want to survive in this world, you need to have an education. If you don’t have the right education, you have no lifetime,” said Khurana who advocates education.
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Philippine bet off to Korea for Mrs. Universe 2022
Mrs. Universe Philippines, Foundation, headed by national director Maria Charo Calalo, recently held a send-off party for its departing queens competing in Mrs. Universe 2022 in South Korea on June 30. Calalo said she has high expectations for her queens that include Mrs. Universe Philippines 2021 Claudeline Cuntapay Molero, Mrs. Universe Philippines Luzon (representing Mrs. North Pacific Asia) Marissan Belangel-Conche, and Mrs. Pearl of the Orient (representing Mrs. Pacific Continental) Rosemarie Dumadara Koerner, who is based in the USA.
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Stars, beauty queens honored in Maharlika Filipino Awards 2022
A star-studded “Maharlika Filipino Awards 2022” was held successfully at the Grand Ballroom of Okada Manila, recently which recognized exemplary contributions of Filipinos in the field of entertainment, fashion, beauty, media, business, and social service. A fashion show dubbed “Filipiniana and Barong Collection,” showcasing the collection of Zyrill Jane Jacinto, and fashion competition “Likha: Modern Filipiniana Design Competition,” added glamour to the awards show.
Meet ‘Tomorrow’ star Ro Woon in the flesh
Indian actor Aditya Khurana is a native of Pune, Maharashtra
(From left) Mrs. North Pacific Asia 2021 Marissan Belangel-Conche, Mrs. Universe Philippines Foundation National Director Maria Charo Calalo, and Mrs. Universe Philippines 2021 Claudeline Cuntapay Molero
The grand spectacle of Zyrille Jane Jacinto at Maharlikang Filipino Awards 2022
Ro Woon is a South Korean singer who also stars in the Netflix series ‘Tomorrow’ WE celebrated all things hallyu at the Kamsahamnida Festival last month and got thrilled by Kim Seon Ho at his debut as a KmmunityPH ambassador. Now, get ready for more excitement as Globe’s ultimate K-culture community continues its third anniversary celebration with another special surprise: actor Ro Woon’s Live in Manila. Catch the leading star of the Netflix series Tomorrow live today, June 26, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, where Ro Woon will have a fan meet event exclusive to New Globe One App subscribers, made possible by KmmunityPH. Ro Woon’s fan meet is part of KmmunityPH’s daebak surprise as it celebrates its third year anniversary. “KmmunityPH members can expect more in the months to come!” says Pia Gonzalez-Colby, Globe Marketing head. Launched in 2019, Kmmunity PH is a multi-channel community group for customers who love everything K—music, films, dramas, food, beauty, fashion, merch, and, most especially, idols. Through events such as the Kamsahamnida Festival and Ro Woon’s upcoming fan meet, Globe hopes to support Pinoys’ passion for K-culture and continue providing a safe space for them to share all their passion for everything and anything Korean. “K-culture isn’t just a passion point for Filipinos, but is also a means to connect and be part of a larger, like-minded community,” says Colby. “At Globe, we want to empower this community and take their K-experience to the next level!” Download the New Globe One app at glbe.co/NewGlobeONE today for more details.
Parokya Ni Edgar’s ‘Your 7 tips to overcome heartbreak according to ‘How to Move On in 30 Days’ Song’ surpasses 100 million streams on Spotify
OPM band Parokya Ni Edgar is responsible for several hits, including ‘Your Song’ IT SEEMS a lot of listeners find themselves coming back to Parokya Ni Edgar’s gem of a track “Your Song” because right now, it just surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify and still continues to rack up more streams. The song, which was off the band’s 2003 record Bigotilyo is PNE’s first song to ever hit the said Spotify milestone. Time and time again, the band has been very thankful for all the love this simple
Julie Anne San Jose also has her own rendition of ‘Your Song,’ which now has over 50.5 million streams on Spotify
love song of theirs has been getting over the years. What’s also surprising is the fact that “Your Song” was never released as an official single by the band during their Bigotilyo era. The song, clocking in at less than three minutes and was written and sung by guitarist Gab Chee Kee organically rose to popularity during the mid-2000s. Since the song gained massive mainstream popularity, Parokya Ni Edgar decided to include “Your Song” on their Inuman Sessions Vol. 2 setlist back in 2012. Likewise, actress and singer Julie Anne Jose was able to do a rendition of “Your Song” as it became included on her 2018 album Breakthrough. Her own version now has over 50.5 million streams on Spotify and counting. Julie Anne’s Wish Bus performance of “Your Song” on the other hand has over 40.1 million views as of this writing on YouTube.
VIEWERS are gushing over Maris Racal and Carlo Aquino’s ‘hugot’ and ‘kilig’filled love story as the series How to Move on in 30 Days approaches its exciting finale. The ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube exclusive series is packed with useful tips and relatable love advice that will definitely help anyone overcome heartache and allow them to give love another shot. In the last few episodes, Jen (Maris), with the help of the ever-reliable “Break App” and her charming fake boyfriend-turned-real suitor Franco (Carlo), has made significant progress in moving on from her ex, Jake (Albie Casiño). However, she is still torn on whether she’s ready to open up her heart to Franco or if she’ll give Jake another chance. Here’s a list of insightful “moving on” tips that we can all learn from based on Jen’s experience in the series: 1. Focus on your selfgrowth ‘Balik-alindog’ is the way to go. Be like Jen and start mending your broken heart by freeing yourself of the stress and sadness. Going to the gym and exercising actually boost endorphins, which give us happy and positive vibes. Plus, a “revenge body” is always one way to make us feel good about ourselves. Who knows, you might even run into “the one,” just like how Jen ran into Franco during one of her workout sessions.
Closure allows people to stop overthinking about what went wrong in their relationship and move on rapidly
2. Be willing to meet new people Don’t be afraid to get back into the dating scene. Jen followed the “Break App’s” advice by going on numerous blind dates. Although most of these dates were not how she envisioned them to be, Jen was able to let loose, meet new people, and be comfortable talking about herself again. 3. Learn to let go of the past What’s the use of holding on to something if it is now a part of your past? With the encouragement of her friends Anton and Sara (Kyo Quijano and Jai Agpangan), Jen decided to burn all of the items given to her by Jake. In doing this, Jen felt as if she was washing away all the negative vibes associated with her bad breakup with Jake. Letting go of items that were once valuable in your life also gives you a fresh start. However, the “Break App” suggests that in order to avoid bitter feelings, it is best to keep just one item from your ex that reminds you of your happy memories together. 4. Be open to new possibilities Be civil with your ex because you never know what the future holds - in short, “‘wag maging war freak.” Jen’s journey perfectly teaches us how to live a carefree life even with an ex meddling in our affairs, since she was forced to work with Jake and his girlfriend Anastacia (Sachzna Laparan). Although it was difficult for
Free yourself from negative emotions by focusing on your self-development
Jen at first, she had to swallow her pride in order to prove to Jake that she is no longer affected by their breakup and that she is indeed better off without him. 5. It’s perfectly okay to cry No matter how hard we try to put on a brave face, we are still human beings who have real emotions. Jen realized that crying isn’t always a sign of weakness, but it could always be an effective coping mechanism. With the help of Franco, Jen found a shoulder to lean on as she shared the reasons behind her heartache and what’s keeping her from completely moving on. 6. Celebrate what’s beautiful Do not dwell on “forgetting about your ex” because this might actually delay your moving on process. Instead, be the best version of yourself - what’s important is to celebrate the beautiful things and small victories in your life, just like what Jen learned to do. Jen pre-occupied herself with what she enjoyed doing the most and this allowed her creative juices to flow. 7. Accept closure It’s always good to settle your differences and set the record straight with your ex in order to free your mind from all the “what ifs” and “what could have beens.” In the series, the “Break App” tells Jen that closure will speed up her moving on the process since she wouldn’t have to overthink what went wrong in her relationship with Jake.
Letting go is hard but it’s definitely cathartic
JUNE 26, 2022
4B
Do LGBTQ Animals
Get Discriminated Too? By Mariana Burgos
W
HEN I was a kid, we had a male cat who refused to have a female companion. His testicles were extremely small despite the fact that he had never been neutered. It didn't seem right. We dubbed him 'Hang Ten' after the clothes company. I'm not sure how we came up with the nickname for him, but he quickly became accustomed to hearing it. He was a loving cat. But he enjoys "making lambing-lambing" (showing affection) with any male species in the house, be it a person, a cat, or a dog. We discovered he was a gay cat in this manner. All of our other pets, on the other hand, seem to react to him in an ‘awkward' but tolerable way. We have had several pets in the past who appeared to have gay or lesbian characteristics. When they insist on indulging in sexual activities with our other 'straight' pets, the 'straight' ones get annoyed. However, they are rarely troubled by them. The homosexual pets that we had either grew old single or even-
tually mated with the opposite sex. For most of them, it turned out to be simply a phase they were going through. Rarely did we have a spinster or bachelor for life for a pet in the family. Although, nowadays, our pets (especially those with families in urban areas) don't really have a choice, do they? Several non-human animal species display homosexual or bisexual behaviour. Same-sex animal pairings may engage in sexual activity, courtship, affection, pair bonding, and parenthood. This can be seen in various forms in every major geographic region and animal group. Non-human animals' sexual activity can take various forms, even within t h e same species;
however, gay conduct is most wellknown in social animals. Although hundreds of animal species have been documented to have same-sex encounters including genital contact, just a handful, including humans, do so on a regular basis.
The 'homosexual' term
Behaviour is constantly used to infer animal preferences and motivations. In the case of wild animals, researchers will almost always be unable to map an individual's whole existence. They will have to make assumptions based on the frequency of single behaviour observations. When an animal demonstrates homosexual or even same-sex sexual conduct, it is correctly referred to as homosexual. In most cases, homosexual conduct is assumed to constitute a minor component of the animal's overall sexual behavioural repertoire, hence classifying the animal as "bisexual" rather than "homosexual" as the terms are typically understood in humans. In 1868, the Hungarian writer and campaigner Karl Maria Kertbeny invented the term homosexual to describe same-sex sexual desire and conduct. Its usage in animal studies has been contentious for two reasons: animal sexuality and driving factors are poorly understood and remain so, and the term has strong cultural connotations in Western civilization that are irrelevant to animals other than humans. As a result, gay activity has been labelled with a variety of names across time. According to Bruce Bagemihl, the term homosexual is favoured above gay, lesbian, and other terms now in use when describing animals because these are perceived as even more
"Partners" is also an Illustration by Yumi Burgos.This is how Yumi sees homosexuality among animals.)
'Pride Flags' is an illustration by Yumi Burgos. This is her interpretation of homosexuality among animals.
linked to human homosexuality. (Wikipedia, Homosexual Behavior in Animals, 18 June 2022)
(Wikipedia, Homosexual Behavior in Animals, 18 June 2022) Another theory is that homosexuality is a stage in a person's development. Basis of homosexual behaviour Robin Dunbar is an evolutionary psyWith regards to the physiological chologist at the University of Liverpool in basis, researchers in the field have yet the United Kingdom. "This is comparable to agree on a definitive physiological to the idea of play in young animals to explanation or justification for gay beget their brain and muscles to operate haviour in animals. Various researchers properly and together, and there's a pobelieve that different quantities (either tential that as a result of the social milieu higher or lower) of sex hormones in the they grow up in, you might get individuanimal, as well as the size of the animal's als trapped into this phase for the rest of gonads, play a direct effect on the their life," he said. He does clarify, though, animal's sexual behaviour and desire. that homosexuality does not have to Others contend that when comparing serve a purpose. It could be a side effect animals of a single species that exhibit or byproduct of something else, with no homosexual behaviour exclusively to evolutionary significance. (James Owen, those that do not, there is no evidence Homosexual Activity Among Animals to support these conclusions. In the Stirs Debate, 23 July 2004) end, both theories have empirical supUp to this point in time, nobody knows port from large-scale endocrinological what truly causes homosexuality among research. humans or with non-human animals. Research investigations into the It's difficult not to draw parallels genetic and neurological origins of between humans and other animals, homosexuality features in animals particularly primates, whether it's an have revealed possible but not conidea to naturally accept or not. The clusive causes. fact that homosexuality does exist in The establishment of bonds and mu- nature will almost certainly be used tual social benefit to animals is one sug- against those (people) who argue gestion for the adaptive role of homothat such behaviour is "unnatural and sexual conduct. Studies show that these should not be tolerated". Thus, justifyM-M pairs are extremely successful at ing the act of such groups of people defending their territory and resources, with their discrimination towards and they keep their offspring alive for 80 such individuals or species. But in the per cent of the time, compared to only animal world, as I have said above, 30 per cent for M-F pairs. this (homosexuality) is not really a big Studies on homosexual behaviour deal to them. Some species of animals in birds revealed a negative relationeven see it as more beneficial for them ship between relative parental invest- than not. ment and F-F homosexual behaviours, So, yet again, animals seem to have indicating that females that invested more to teach humans on 'harmonimore time and care in their young ous relations' rather than the other compared to males had fewer homoway around. sexual encounters. According to the study, releasing children from parenAbout the Author: About the Author: tal care, which is a very energy-intenMariana Burgos is a freelance artist. She sive investment, permits homosexual is a solo parent for 15 years now because behaviours to be displayed, while she is wife to a desaparacido. She and her higher parental care inhibits homodaughter are animal lovers and are active sexual behaviours from occurring due in advocating not only human rights but to the energy cost of the behaviours. the rights of animals as well.
Help! My Cat has Bad Breath By Rowena David HAVE you ever experienced cuddling with your cat then your cat opens his mouth to yawn and a bad smell invades your nostrils? Just like humans, cats can also suffer from occasional bad breath. It’s normal for cats’ breath to stink especially after they’ve eaten smelly food but prolonged bad breath can be cause for concern. According to International Cat Care, a cat welfare organization that battles cruelty, ignorance, and misunderstanding to improve the lives of cats, it is estimated that up to 85 per cent of cats over the age of three have some form of dental disease. What makes a cat’s breath smell bad?
Food Stuck in the Mouth
Sometimes the cause of your cat’s halitosis is as simple as food getting stuck in between his teeth. I once fostered a rescued kitten named Athena who had severe halitosis. He was also constantly drooling and refused to eat. I took him to the vet and the vet removed small pieces of hard food in between the poor kitten’s teeth. The kitten recovered after a week or two of soft diet and has since been adopted by a friend of mine.
Doby showing his fangs. (Photo by Charlene Lacanares-Arevalo)
Zoey’s wide yawn. (Photo by Rowena David)
Loki showing his healthy teeth. (Photo by Charlene Lacanares-Arevalo)
Rescued kitten Athena at the vet to have her mouth examined. (Photo by Rowena David)
make your cat’s breath stink because it sticks to a cat's teeth. Most of my cats prefer wet food, so I feed them boiled fish two or three times a week.
tals.com says that an infected cat will go through an incubation period of 2-10 days after being exposed to the infection. The infection will normally last 7-10 days if it is uncomplicated, while symptoms may continue up to 21 days in severe cases.
a veterinarian at the Feline Veterinary Hospital, a cat suffering from liver disease has foul-smelling breath. The cat may also exhibit symptoms of lethargy, poor appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and drinking and urinating more than normal.
· Try dental treats and chew toys for cats · Give your cat a proper diet to prevent bad breath · Visit the vet regularly
Gingivitis
According to petmd.com, gingivitis is ”the inflammation of the gingiva, or gums.” Some plaque is present in the early stages of gingivitis, and the gums are mildly reddened. Food, debris, germs, dead skin cells, and mucus build on the teeth, forming plaque. Some of the common causes of gingivitis are old age, crowded teeth, soft food, open-mouth breathing, bad chewing habits, and lack of dental health.
Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
Diet Cats with upper respiratory tract illBad breath is frequently caused by the nesses, such as bacterial or viral infecfood your cat eats. Wet and cat food can tions, may have bad breath. vcahospi-
Kidney Disease
Bad breath can sometimes indicate a health issue that is not related to the mouth. Waste products build up in the cat's blood when renal function declines. As a result, the cat's breath may smell like urine or ammonia.
Diabetes Mellitus
If your cat's breath has a fruity odor, it could be a sign that your cat is suffering from diabetes, which is a potentially fatal illness.
Liver Disease
According to Dr. Marcia Landefeld,
Gastrointestinal Trouble
Vomiting can be associated with smelly breath in cats. It can be quite normal in cats as long as it does not happen too frequently. Continuous vomiting can cause feces-smelling breath, especially if there is a bowel obstruction.
How to Prevent Bad Breath in Cats
oxyfresh.com/offers these tips on how to prevent cat halitosis: · Brush your cat’s teeth with felinespecific toothpaste, if not daily, then three times a week
How to Treat Cats with Bad Breath
Dental disorders in cats can go unnoticed for a long time before suddenly worsening. If your cat's bad breath persists, it's time to consult a veterinarian. A healthy mouth is often a sign of a healthy cat. AS cat parents, we must maintain our cat’s dental health to help them stay generally healthy. About the author: Rowena David is faculty member at College of Computer Science in the University of Makati, is a freelance writer (Tagalog short novels), admin of Philippine Pet Lovers Society Facebook page, an animal rescuer and animal welfare advocate.