Manila Standard - 2022 July 17 - Sunday

COFFEE CULTURE.

A woman passes by a huge and colorful 238-square-meter Amedeo Coffee and Heritage Mural along Crisanto M. De Los Reyes Avenue in Cavite. Amadeo is Cavite’s largest coffee producer with about 4,508 hectares of land dedicated to coffee production. Danny Paata

Vol. 36

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No. 151

July 17, 2022

2 SECTIONS 8 PAGES

18 .00

IN MET R MANILAO

BBM: Revive railway deals DOTr told to talk to China again, look for other loan options

n By VINCE LOPEZ

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RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Transportation to renegotiate the loan agreements signed by the previous administration with China for three three big-ticket railway projects, DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Cesar Chavez said in a statement released by the Palace on Saturday.

Chavez said the three railway projects – the P142-billion Philippine National Railways South Long-Haul Project, the P83-billion Tagum-Davao-Digos segment of the Mindanao Railway Project and the P51-billion Subic-Clark Railway Project – was to be funded under China’s official development assistance (ODA).

“There was a policy discussion on three China ODA Rail Projects in last

Tuesday’s Cabinet Meeting during which the President commented that as a matter of policy, we should encourage more investments in rail and that we should focus more on rail transport,” Chavez said.

Aside from the order to “go back to the negotiating table,” Chavez said other funding options are also being considered for the three railway projects, such as the possibility of opening it for the private sector since

the government thrust is towards public-private-partnerships (PPP).

He said the loan agreements with China for three railway projects are now considered “withdrawn” after Beijing failed to act on the funding requests by the former Duterte administration.

Chavez recalled that then Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III tried following up on the Philippines’ loan

CONTINUED ON 2A

About 22k cops to secure SONA Alert Level 1 stays for most parts of PH n By JOEL E. ZURBANO

ing agencies and peacekeeping partners.

“Toward this end, the previous deployment figure was beefed up to a larger number as extensive planning develops,” said NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad.

Carrying of firearms outside residence will also be suspended within Metro Manila from July 22 to 27.

Aside from the gun ban, Natividad said the no permit, no rally policy will also be in effect.

Natividad said those who will

THE Philippine National Police is sending more cops to secure the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 25.

The National Capital Region Police Office announced on Saturday that 21,853 policemen will now be deployed, up from the previous 15,000-strong security team.

These include 16,964 organic NCRPO personnel, 1,905 men from PNP support units and 2,974 personnel from coordinat- CONTINUED ON 2A

Pinoy tourist assaulted in New York A FILIPINO tourist from Cebu was “violently assaulted” near the Philippine Center in Manhattan, the Philippine Consulate General in New York reported Saturday.

Consul General Elmer Cato said the 18-year-old was walking with three other Filipinos near the corner of 6th Avenue and 46th Street Wednesday when he was attacked.

He sustained “facial injuries” from the assault while the suspect was eventually “subdued and turned over” to authorities. CONTINUED ON 2A

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MORE than half of the Philippines, including Metro Manila, will stay under the most lenient Alert Level 1, pending the review of the alert level classifications and a meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Department of Health OIC Maria Rosario Vergeire on Monday.

“Pursuant to the alert levels on COVID-19, the President will be conferring with DOH OIC Vergeire on Monday (July 18) for any action thereon. Meanwhile, the IATF will continue to monitor the status of the pandemic,” Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said in a statement yesterday.

A total of 85 of 121 provinces,

highly urbanized cities (HUCs), independent component cities (ICCs), as well as 166 of 744 other component cities and municipalities, have been placed under Alert Level 1.

The OCTA Research group on Saturday noted COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila could peak within seven days, as the numbers continued to rise but with a lower growth rate at 28 percent.

OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said the 28 percent growth rate from July 9 to 15 was lower compared to the 41 percent from the previous week.

"With the current rate of decrease, the peak in

UP AND ABOUT.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ended his isolation period Friday after earlier testing positive for COVID-19. He presided over the swearing in of Ambassador Manuel Antonio Teehankee who was retained as the country’s Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization.

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Business........................... 4A Sports................................ 5A Entertainment...............................7A Pets.........................................................................8A

Marcos keeps Teehankee as PH envoy to WTO NEWS | 2A

the NCR could happen within seven days," he said.

The DOH earlier warned COVID-19 cases may surge to 17,105 daily by the end of July on the back of lax compliance to health protocols and slow vaccine booster uptake.

The DOH based its projections on the FASSSTER model on the assumption that a 21 percent decline in minimum public health standard (MPHS) compliance is maintained.

If compliance improves to 20 percent, the DOH projects daily cases to hit the low estimate of 12,451 by the end of the month.

If compliance deteriorates CONTINUED ON 2A

Deployment to Sri Lanka put on hold THE Department of Foreign Affairs raised Alert Level 2 for Filipinos in Sri Lanka on Saturday due to the security situation in that country but clarified that there is no evacuation plan yet.

Under Alert Level 2, there will be no new deployment of overseas Filipino workers to Sri Lanka, and only those with existing employment contracts are allowed to return to the country, the DFA said.

“The Department, in coordination with the office of the Philippine Honorary Consul General in Colombo, will be providing the needed assistance to Filipinos severely affected by the crisis. The Department would like to emphasize that there are no plans yet to evacuate Filipinos from Sri Lanka at this time,” it said in an advisory.

DFA data showed there are more

CONTINUED ON 2A

JULY 17, 2022

DOJ mulls transfer of Bilibid maximum security to Mindoro J USTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla mulls the transfer of the maximum security of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City to Occidental Mindoro, but admitted it would not be easy considering the time and the money needed to do it.

“If possible, let’s transfer the maximum security prison to a farther place so that they (prisoners) could not do any harm here. We don’t want them mixing with the population,” Remulla said in the latest episode of The Mangahas Interviews.

“Just the other day, someone was caught with shabu inside the Bilibid. It only goes to show that we have a prob-

lem. If such (illegal) trade can enter the prison, what will happen to our security as a people?” Remulla noted.

Remulla said he has visited the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro, which can accommodate around 10,000 maximum security prisoners currently at the NBP. While he aims to work on the projected transfer in his first 100 days in

office, he acknowledged that “it will take time” and budget to do it.

“Muntinlupa should no longer be the jail that it used to be,” he said.

The Justice chief said he also wants higher conviction rates for prosecutors.

“We will issue a policy statement in the next few days,” Remulla said.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said earlier it would work with a former inmate-turned international criminology expert to craft plans to introduce reforms to the country’s penal system.

“SOJ (Secretary of Justice Jesus Crispin) Remulla met with Prof.

Raymund Narag, a former detainee of seven years turned recognized international criminology expert. Together,

they aim to introduce reforms to the corrections system in the Philippines,” lawyer Mike Clavano from the Office of the Secretary told reporters.

“It is uncertain in what capacity Prof.

Narag will come in, but the two shared opinions and compared notes on the changes they seek to make,” Clavano said.

Narag spent more than six years at the Quezon City Jail when he, along with 10 other fraternity members from the University of the Philippines-based Scintilla Juris fraternity, were charged in 1995 with the death of a rival fraternity member, Dennis Venturina of the Sigma Rho Fraternity during a brawl.

DILG chief vows more aggressive anti-drug war DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. has expressed his support to the anti-narcotics campaign of local chief executives, and promised to strengthen the war on drugs during his term.

“The local government units should dictate what their needs are and that will be the basis of their budget,” Abalos said during the 88th League of Vice Governors of the Philippines (LVGP) National Assembly in Pasay City.

Abalos also highlighted the significance of fourth, fifth, and sixth-class municipalities in local governance, adding that managing LGUs is all about balance.

The DILG chief emphasized the effective mechanisms in addressing issues of illegal drugs, saying the rule of witnesses in assisting cases should be given more importance.

Abalos said that for most cases, investigations were deterred as there were no witnesses to assist in the cases. He said that in every illegal drugs confiscated, there should be at least three witnesses: a representative from the media, the Department of Justice, and a barangay official.

Abalos commits to sustain the gains attained in the anti-illegal drug campaign; fill up gaps to improve policies in other major programs of his agency; and “bring people power against social ills.”

Facing the DILG workforce, Abalos commended the “fantastic job” former DILG Secretary Eduardo Año has accomplished for the past years while citing best practices in Mandaluyong City that can be “injected and emulated to improve the department’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.”

FromtheFRONTPAGE BBM:...application with China in February this year.

In January, the contract for the P142-billion PNR South LongHaul Project, also called the PNR Bicol Express, was awarded to the joint venture of China Railway Group Ltd., China Railway No. 3 Engineering Group Co. Ltd., and China Railway Engineering Consulting Group Co. Ltd. The P83-billion Tagum-DavaoDigos segment of the MRP, on the other hand, failed to proceed after China was unable to submit a shortlist of contractors for its design-build contract.

Meanwhile, the contract for the construction of the P51-billion Subic-Clark Railway Project was awarded to China Harbour Engineering Co. in December 2020.

Earlier, Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda said if China would not fund the projects, other countries might.

“Japan has just provided the trains for the new North-South Commuter Railway Project a few months ago. And our countries are closer than ever. I think Japan will be very happy to take over financing a project that China has vacated,” Salceda said.

“The next step is not to try to persuade China to back us up

RICE BUMPER IT ISN’T.

The huge pile of sacks of rice in the background notwithstanding, the Philippines’ supply of the staple is quite disparaging in the very near future. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for instance, has revised its forecast for Philippine rice imports in 2022 and 2023 upwards of 100,000 metric tons (MTs) from the estimated 3.1 million MTs, citing the continued strong Philippine demand for rice from Vietnam as a reason for the adjustment.

The USDA also predicts that Philippine rice production for this year will decrease due to lower consumption of fertilizers whose prices continue to rise in the global market.

Norman Cruz

DENR: Manila Bay’s water quality has improved n By MARICEL V. CRUZ THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - Environmental Management Bureau– National Capital Region (EMB-NCR) has cited a significant improvement in the water quality of the Manila Bay, owing to the continuing rehabilitation efforts in all river systems and tributaries within the bay region.

Citing data of the EMB-NCR as of June 2022, the DENR regional director Michael Drake Matias said fecal coliform level at the Manila Bay beach again, but to simply look for other funders. Our development should not be used as diplomatic leverage among supposed friends. If they want to finance our development projects, they are welcome to, at the right terms. But if they don’t want to, we can always find others,” the lawmaker added.

ALERT...further to 22 percent,

daily cases may hit the higher estimate of 22,197.

The FASSSTER model considers vaccine effectiveness, mobility of the population, minimum public health standards and isolation protocols compliance, and the entry of imported cases.

The DOH also warned that more COVID-19 patients could be hospitalized by the end of August or the start of September as immunity wanes.

Fir his part, President Marcos on Saturday reiterated the importance of COVID-19 vaccination and boosters, which he said were key to his recovery after contracting the virus for a second time.

“This is the second time I tested positive for COVID. And were it not for the vaccine and booster, I’m sure my condition would have been worse,” the 64-year-old Marcos said.

He said the virus did not reach his lungs nor did it become complicated.

Marcos, however, clarified he is

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nourishment station near the United States Embassy in Manila has decreased to 2,400 most probable number per 100 milliliters (MPN/100mL) from 7,100 MPN/100mL in 2021.

Two water quality monitoring stations near the Dolomite Beach also registered lower fecal coliform levels The four Metropolitan Environment Offices also reported a significant decrease in fecal coliform levels within their respective areas.

Matias said fecal coliform levels have dropped in the Malabon-Navotas-Tullahan-Tinajeros River System.

“We have seen remarkable gains in Manila Bay based on the water quality monitoring results. Rest assured that we will not stop here and will continue our work as part of the Manila Bay rehabilitation project.”

Although the readings show that the current levels are still far from the fecal coliform standard of 100 MPN/100mL to restore Manila Bay’s water quality to Class SB level, Matias said the goal is a big challenge, but attainable through the collaboration of both local and national governments and the public.

not making booster shots mandatory.

“We do not need to mandate this because we are free to choose for our own health,” he said.

months of protests, culminating in his humiliating escape abroad.

“I have contributed my utmost for the country and in the future too, I will contribute for the country,” Rajapaksa said in the letter, read to MPs by parliament’s Secretary-General Dhammika Dasanayake.

It was not clear whether he was signaling an intention to remain involved in politics from exile.

“It is a matter of personal satisfaction for me that I was able to protect our people from the pandemic despite the economic crisis we were already facing,” Rajapaksa insisted.

The virus claimed more than 16,500 lives and infected over 660,000 in the nation of 22 million, where Rajapaksa refused to institute a lockdown in the initial wave and told doctors: “Don’t panic.”

One of his cabinet ministers said Sri Lanka did not require foreign vaccines and that local remedies from shamans were more than adequate.

Rajapaksa claimed Sri Lanka’s reserves were already low when he took office in November 2019 and the subsequent pandemic devastated the economy. AFP

ABOUT... conduct mass assem-

blies in places other than designated freedom parks must first secure a permit from the local government before holding their activities and programs.

Natividad said road rerouting plans have been laid down by the MMDA to pave the way for essential vehicles to freely utilize portions of Commonwealth Avenue, the main thoroughfare leading to the House of Representatives and where zipper lanes will be set up.

DEPLOYMENT...than 500 Filipinos in Sri Lanka.

The department also reminded Filipinos in the conflict-torn country to stay in their residence as much as possible, avoid areas where there are protests, and refrain from joining the mass action for their safety and well-being.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s ousted president did his “utmost” to avoid an economic catastrophe but the coronavirus pandemic derailed his efforts, he said in his resignation letter read out to parliament Saturday.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s brief note, sent from the safety of a safe haven in Singapore, blamed COVID-19 for the financial meltdown that triggered

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

PINOY...“In view of this incident, the Consulate reminds members of the Filipino Community, as well as kababayan visiting New York to exercise the necessary precautions while on the streets or in the sub-

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

BBM retains Teehankee as PH permanent envoy to WTO n By VINCE LOPEZ PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reappointed Ambassador Manuel Antonio Teehankee as the Philippines’ permanent representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Marcos, who finished his isolation after he tested positive in an Antigen test for Covid-19 last July 8, administered the oath to Teehankee at the Palace Study Room on Friday.

“Pagkatapos ng ating Isolation period, tayo ay nakipag-usap kay Ambassador Manuel Antonio Teehankee at pinangunahan ang kaniyang panunumpa bilang Philippine Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization.” According to the statement posted by President Marcos from his Official Twitter page.

(After my isolation period, I had a dialogue with Ambassador Manuel Antonio Teehankee. I also led his Oath-taking as Philippine Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization) "During the courtesy call, President Marcos Jr. received the report of Ambassador Teehankee on the outcome of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference held at the WTO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland on June 12 to 17, 2022," a Palace statement said.

Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Lagdameo Jr., and Presidential Management Staff Secretary Maria Zenaida Angping, were also present during Teehankee’s courtesy call.

Solon files bill reviving local salt industry A PARTY-list lawmaker seeks to revitalize the local salt industry in a bid prevent the country’s full dependence on imported salt.

Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo filed House Bill 1976 in "pursuit of a comprehensive plan for the development of the local salt industry and the grant of incentives to salt farmers and exporters."

He lamented that the country imports much of national salt requirement.

“The Philippines used to be salt self-sufficient. Today, it is a huge importer of salt. Import is estimated at around 550,000 metric tons of salt every year which constitutes around 93 percent of the country’s salt requirement. This is ironic considering that the Philippines has 36,000 kilometers of shoreline – the fifth longest shoreline in the world – which can be utilized for massive salt production,” Salo explained.

“Thus, unless the government undertakes immediate steps to address this sad state of the salt industry, the Philippines will soon be completely dependent on imported salt,” Salo stressed.

Maricel V. Cruz ways,” Cato said.

This is the 41st incident since last year involving a Filipino who was either a victim of a hate crime or a criminal act, Cato said. Most of these incidents occurred in New York.

“The Consulate is in touch with the New York City Police Department to get more information on the incident. It is unknown at this point if the incident was anti-Asian-hate-related,” he added.

Last month, a Filipino lawyer who was shot on the way to a Philadelphia airport succumbed to his injuries John Albert “Jal” Laylo and his mother, Leah, were onboard an Uber on their way to the airport to catch their flight to Chicago when still unknown suspects shot their vehicle from behind. Leah survived the attack Forbes.com earlier released a report that 22 mass shootings have taken place in the US this year as of June 10.

A massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas on May 24 was the deadliest so far with 19 children and two teachers killed.

Mass shootings of any kind also experienced a peak in 2021, with 77 recorded by Gun Violence Archive, Forbes wrote.

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

Associate Editors News Editor City Editor

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

WORLD

JULY 17, 2022

GAZA BURNS. Fires are seen following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza city on July 16, 2022.

Israeli warplanes struck a weapons manufacturing facility in the Gaza Strip, the military said. The exchange of fire came hours after US President Joe Biden visited Israel and the occupied West Bank. AFP

‘G20 finance meeting to end without a joint communique’

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TWO-DAY meeting of G20 finance ministers in Indonesia is expected to end Saturday without a joint communique, two officials said, after Russia’s war in Ukraine overshadowed proceedings.

During talks on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, finance chiefs from Western nations accused Russian technocrats of complicity in the invasion.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Australian Treasurer Jim Chalm-

ers on Friday blamed the invasion for sending a shockwave through the global economy.

In place of a formal communique will be a statement by Indonesia, which holds the G20 presidency, said one official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Another source at the meeting said the host would summarise the talks in a declaration that would not fall under the G20 banner.

Indonesian officials did not respond to a request for comment.

At the beginning of the second day of talks, Indonesian central bank governor Perry Warjiyo called on ministers and global finance leaders to concentrate on recovery in a world economy still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is important that we remain

focused on what we have planned to achieve this year, as this will also send a positive message to the global community on the G20’s role and efforts to support global recovery,” Warjiyo said.

But the talks have been under the shadow of the Ukraine war – which Russia calls a “special military operation” – after it roiled global markets, caused rising food prices and added to breakneck inflation.

It has left the forum unable to agree on a text with Russia disagreeing with Western nations over its invasion of Ukraine being the cause of the global economic headwinds.

The Kremlin instead blames subsequent Western sanctions for blocked food shipments and rising energy prices.

“Russia tried to say that the world

economic situation had nothing to do with the war,” a French delegation source told AFP on Friday.

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko participated virtually in the meeting.

Russian Deputy Finance Minister Timur Maksimov attended the talks in person.

He was in the room as Western officials expressed their condemnation, according to a source present at the talks.

Marchenko said the Russian invasion “clearly marks the end of the existing world order”, and called for “more severe targeted sanctions” against Moscow.

Members will also discuss sustainable finance, cryptocurrencies and international taxation on Saturday. AFP

Russia shelling from Europe’s largest nuclear plant—agency RUSSIA is using Europe’s largest nuclear power plant as a base to store weapons including “missile systems” and shell the surrounding areas of Ukraine, an official with Kyiv’s nuclear agency has said.

Located on the Dnipro river in southeastern Ukraine, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant has been under Russian control since the early weeks of Moscow’s invasion, though it is still being operated

by Ukrainian staff.

The president of Ukrainian nuclear agency Energoatom said Friday in a televised interview that the situation was “extremely tense,” with up to 500 Russian soldiers controlling the site.

“The occupiers bring their machinery there, including missile systems, from which they already shell the other side of the river Dnipro and the territory of Nikopol,” Petro Kotin said, referring to the city across the water.

“They physically control the perimeter.

The occupiers’ heavy machinery and trucks with weapons and explosives remain on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,” he said. AFP

China COVID outbreak grows with millions under lockdown CHINA on Saturday reported its highest number of coronavirus cases since May, with millions in lockdown this weekend as authorities persist with their zero-COVID policy.

Using snap lockdowns, long quarantines and mass testing, China is the last major economy still pursuing the goal of eliminating outbreaks, even as the strategy takes a heavy toll on the economy.

China reported 450 local infections on Saturday, up from 432 a day earlier.

Most cases were asymptomatic.

The rising wave of cases led to fresh restrictions this week in some parts of the country.

Lanzhou, the capital of northwestern Gansu province, ordered its 4.4 million residents to stay home starting Wednesday, and a county in Anhui province went into lockdown from Friday. AFP

JULY 17, 2022

Former Senator Manny Pacquiao (left) and Maharlika Pilipinas founder and CEO Jefferson Catimbang

Pacquiao, restaurateur team up

to bring PH cuisine to global scene

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OXING legend and former presidential candidate Manny Pacquiao teamed up with a 38-year-old restaurateur to bring the best Filipino dishes to the global scene.

“Senator Pacquiao believes in our vision and mission. We would like to enhance people’s lives and at the same time bring the Filipino cuisine to the international market,” Jefferson Cayetano Catimbang, the founder and chief executive of Maharlika Pilipinas Restaurant, says in an interview.

Catimbang and his team are scouting for the best location of the first MP Restaurant overseas in Los Angeles, which would be followed by stores in Dubai and Singapore.

The restaurant will showcase not only modern Filipino cuisines, but also the country’s culture and talents as exemplified by Pacquiao’s feats in the boxing arena. Pacquiao agreed to become a partner and lend his paraphernalia for the restaurant’s marketing and promotion.

“Senator Pacquiao allowed us to use his paraphernalia. So we also aim to become a sort of tourist destination,” says Catimbang, who operates the Maharlika Pilipinas Hotel, Restaurant, Spa and Events Place in Alfonso, Cavite.

Catimbang says “Maharlika”, a word that describes Filipino nobility,

aptly encapsulates their mission of showcasing the best of Filipino dishes, culture and talents.

Rad Pelayo, who handles the local expansion of Maharlika Pilipinas, says the idea is to be the first semi-fine dining Filipino restaurant internationally. “We would like to be known as a go-to place in the cities we are in,” he says.

Pelayo says the second Maharlika Pilipinas restaurant in the Philippines will rise in Quezon City. “It is very modern and not the typical native restaurant that other Philippine-themed restaurants are known for,” he says.

Catimbang says they are in talks with three well-known Filipino chefs to lead the first international branch of MP in Los Angeles and with a culinary school for the preparation of the menu.

“Before we launch internationally, we make sure we have the best team, and we have the best kitchen. We will be bringing the best dishes from the Philippines. We aim to make our foreign customers say ‘wow’, once they taste our food,” he says.

He says the plan is to establish an all-around restaurant, cafe and bar serving breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as wine and whisky. It will also have a conference room for events and gatherings.

Catimbang, who is also the master franchisor of Babaylan Spa and a co-founder of Tribu Babaylan Restaurant in Quezon City, says they will hire Filipino talents, including dancers and musicians as performers and beauty titlists as receptionists in the first LA restaurant.

Catimbang who studied Marketing at the Far Eastern University worked as a medical representative at United Laboratories Inc. before venturing into business. “There, I definitely learned and met a lot of people. Through all these undertakings, I slowly saw facets of my persona taking shape,” he says.

“During my first year in the corporate world, I suddenly fell in love, immediately got married and put up a family of my own. In all my endeavors, my parents and family were very supportive.

My family became my ultimate inspiration, and I decided to focus more on business,” he says.

“I put up a bar, coffee shop, food carts in the university belt area. This was replaced by a laundry shop that boomed.

When I was assigned in Palawan, it was there that I realized how truly beautiful the Philippines is. I admire the beautifully-crafted products from its many artisans,” says Catimbang.

“Being in sales, starting up a new family and putting up a business is absolutely stressful. That’s why my wife and I decided to put up a spa business.

Hence, Babaylan Spa was born. It is a Filipino-themed spa that promotes the indigenous ‘hilot’ massage,” says Catimbang.

With the success of the first Sampaloc branch, he opened another in Quezon City. The spa concept grew and expand-

Flash Express launches ‘delibilis’ campaign

3D technology improves PH construction

By Stephanie Caesar JCV & Associates, a project and construction management firm, has teamed up with Digiscript, an information technology company, to introduce 3D technology in the local construction sector.

JCV & Associates founder and president Jason Valderrama said in a virtual forum that innovations helped his company improve operations.

Valderrama said technological platforms now provide “enhanced safety, greater transparency, cost efficiency and fast turnaround times”.

The company’s partnership with Digiscript, which has more than 15 years of experience in 3D visualization, maximizes technology to enhance construction operations by introducing ‘Reality Capture’ which uses three-dimensional scanning to digital representation.

“Reality Capture to put it simply, is using high-end sensors, cameras, lasers to basically capture the built envi-

ronment and create a digital representation of the real-world conditions,” said Digiscript founder and president Conrad Alumpay.

Alampay said project management becomes more efficient as 3D representation provides a better and more accurate portrayal of the environment where the construction takes place in real-time.

He said 3D scanning prevents further construction mistakes by giving an actual picture of the site and initial structure, and this minimizes risks and safety hazards.

Digiscript and JCV and Associates will work with Openspace, a tech-based provider from San Francisco which specializes in 360-degree construction photo documentation.

Valderrama’s company is the first local construction project management firm to roll out Openspace in the country.

About three projects of the construction firm already used Openspace’s technology which features open source

Digiscript president and CEO Conrad Alampay (left) and JCV and Associates founder and president Jason Valderrama

visualization software.

Alampay said clients who used Openspace technology found it cost-effective as issues are easier to detect, preventing health and safety hazards among workers.

Valderrama said the use of such technology as an investment is generally positive because of the benefits it provides.

Provincial condo developer rolls out Calamba sales office LEADING property developer Bria Homes continues its rapid expansion in Southern Luzon with the opening of its condo sales office in Calamba, Laguna.

The move follows the successful groundbreaking in March of Bria Condo in Calamba. The consistent uptick in sales of its units is driving Bria to expand in the Calabarzon region, proving the real demand for the developer’s trademark value-for-money housing.

Bria Homes also expanded its sales team and manpower. The new sales office is expected to help maximize the company’s resources and accommodate aspiring homeowners in Laguna and other areas.

The new Bria Condo Calamba sales office welcomes real estate buyers and sellers.

The inauguration of the sales office welcomed real estate buyers and sellers on June 25, 2022.

ed to Cebu, Palawan, Cavite and Davao.

It was rebranded B Spa and later as Tribu Babaylan—a spa, bar and restaurant concept in one.

Then the pandemic disrupted the services sector, including Catimbang’s spa, hotel and restaurant businesses.

The first Maharlika Pilipinas restaurant is located at a hotel bearing the same name in Alfonso, Cavite. The one-hectare property has a magnificent view of Taal Lake.

Among the dishes served in the restaurant are chicken pyanggang from the Tausug tribe, poqui poqui pie from Ilocos, bacon bagnet from Ilocos, sizzling sisig, bulalo and bangus ala pobre. Catimbang says they will add more dishes from different provinces to provide a complete representation of Filipino cuisine for the international market.

Catimbang says they had to be creative to sustain the hotel and restaurant’s operations despite the pandemic.

“So instead of our commissary inventory going to waste, we cooked meals

for frontliners. In turn, this gave us an opportunity for patronage from frontliners who loved our food. So food delivery was made possible. This is one scenario where adversity provided opportunity,” he says.

“Our employees are long-staying.

They’ve been with us even during the height of the pandemic. It’s hard to find loyal employees to work for you. During this trying time, I had to talk to our loyal partners to hold on and wait for the sunshine after the rain,” says Catimbang.

“Luckily, I’ve met Sen. Manny Pacquiao. We’re able to convince him to join and be part of our company. But the process of formalizing the agreement took a year doing the rounds of legalities,” he says.

Catimbang says he first met Pacquiao during a billiards game. When invited by the senator to play pool in General Santos City, he did not think twice and flew to Mindanao. That is where he broached his business proposal, which Pacquiao turned over to his team of legal and business consultants.

The business proposal had to wait because of the pandemic and Pacquiao’s presidential campaign. It was only after the election period that the proposal was revived.

Catimbang says Pacquiao’s patriotism and business knowhow helped develop the concept for Maharlika Pilipinas.

“As per suggestion by the senator and the people’s champion, replacing Tribu Babaylan as its new business brand and concept, Maharlika Pilipinas or MP encompasses everything good about the Philippines and its people,” says Catimbang.

“The Maharlika Pilipinas project is a holistic concept that will encapsulate the Filipino acumen by showcasing the very best of its natural and man-made wonders and thereby bring the Pinoy identity to greater heights,” he says.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

“Bria Condo’s new sales office is the next logical step in our drive to provide Filipinos with modern, compact, but comfortable living spaces in walk-up condominiums that only Bria Homes can provide,” says Bria Homes division head Eduardo Aguilar.

“With the opening of this sales office, prospective customers in Laguna can look forward to competent service and smoother transactions from us,” he says. “We’re 100-percent ready to take on the challenges in this progressive region and meet its housing demands in the post-pandemic world.”

FLASH Express emerged as the fastest-growing logistics and courier company in the Philippines, as it expands its operations covering 90 percent of serviceable areas nationwide to meet Filipino consumers’ logistics demands in less than a year since its launch in August 2021.

Flash Express Philippines continues to provide fast and reliable services to local micro, small and medium enterprises as it sets new plans and projects to improve customer experience. The logistics and courier service company recently announced its #Delibilis campaign where it highlights Flash Express being expeditious when it comes to deliveries.

Flash Express public and media relations manager Reginald Rex Pumihic said the company recorded a sudden spike in its daily delivery transactions, which it is equipped to accommodate as it continues to boost its operations alongside business units like Flash Home and Flash Shop.

“With the excellent strategic plan of adding more hubs and distribution centers across the country, simultaneously, the company was able to establish and start acquiring Flash Shops and Flash Home partners making our services easily available to our customers reaching the company’s expansion plan beyond target at 90-percent serviceable areas nationwide in just less than a year,” Pumihic said.

Flash Shop is another business unit of Flash Express that is strategically located inside business establishments such as malls and retail stores, allowing customers to send parcels easily. Flash Home allows Filipino entrepreneurs or business owners to maximize their businesses by utilizing a spare room in their homes or any available commercial space as delivery drop-off sites.

Flash Home marketing supervisor Rechelle Capua (left) and Flash Express public and media relations manager Reginald Rex Pumihic attend the opening of Flash Home branch in Caloocan City.

Flash Home marketing supervisor Rechelle Capua said the Flash Home partnership program managed to open 600 branches countrywide and plans to add 400 more branches this year.

“We were able to partner with MSMEs all over the Philippines and we are able to open 600 branches as of June, driven to provide Filipinos with a low-cost, high-profit logistics business. We have already lined up various plans and campaigns which are committed to ensuring the success of our Flash Home partners and clients,” Capua said.

Flash Express PH is responding to the sudden surge in logistics needs of the Filipino consumers by boosting its services by guaranteeing speedy delivery, fast pick up, responsive customer service and 365 nationwide delivery points.

Pumihic said the abrupt spurt in customers and parcels was overwhelming.

He said while the courier company encountered some difficulties, it took the opportunity to improve and further innovate its services.

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GAMES TODAY (Rizal Memorial Stadium) 4 p.m. - Myanmar vs. Vietnam 7:30 p.m. – Thailand vs. Philippines

JULY 17, 2022

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HE over-achieving Philippine women’s football team needs that one final cheer from the hometown crowd as it tackles Thailand today (Sunday) in what promises to be an epic rematch for the 12th Asean Football Federation Women’s Championship trophy at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

“Certainly we are going to need that last bit of oxygen and energy. The more the Filipinas feel that love (by the fans), the better they will be able to perform,” said Filipinas coach Alen Stajcic.

Sharing his sentiments was ace striker Sarina Bolden, who emerged as the event’s top scorer with seven goals after her sterling attacking performance against Vietnam.

“As always we thank you (the fans) so much. We see the numbers growing and growing (in the crowd attendance),” Bolden said.

“We can’t wait for you to come out and support us for this finals match.

Let’s see if we can make history and we’re going to give you guys a great performance,” she vowed.

After the Filipinas’ masterful 4-0 conquest of defending champion Vietnam last Friday in the semis, the Filipinas hope to avenge their only loss in the 11-nation competition against the Thais when they collide at 7:30 p.m. before an anticipated huge hometown crowd at the heritage-rich arena.

The humbled Vietnamese try to salvage their remaining pride as they face Myanmar, a 0-2 loser to Thailand in the other semifinal match, in the battle for third place earlier at 4 p.m.

With the win, the hosts attained another historic milestone in becoming the first Philippine football squad to reach the final of a major international competition, a significant feat that was not lost on Filipinas coach Alen Stajcic.

“To make the first final in history (by a Philippine football team) is a massive occasion. It is a special moment,” Stajcic noted at the post-match press conference last Friday night.

“It was a complete performance, probably it was the best performance that the Philippine women’s team had in international football,” he stressed of the dominant display that his wards had against the vaunted Vietnamese.

Before entering the semifinal match, the Philippines was consid-

ered a longshot against a Vietnam squad it had never won in seven previous matches in the tournament.

There was also the memory of the close 1-2 setback to the visitors in the group stage of the 31st Vietnam Southeast Asian Games women’s football meet only last May. CONFIDENT But playing with supreme confidence and egged on by their fans, the World Cup-bound Filipinas more than held their own in dethroning the reigning Southeast Asian women’s football queens.

They were led by veteran defender Hali Long, who uncorked a beautiful header off another superb corner kick by skipper Tahnai Annis in the 31st minute that started the ball rolling, and the stadium rocking.

The do-it-all Annis added her own marker tally in the 50th, calmly converting a penalty kick, before letting striker Sarina Bolden finish off the demolition job with a brace, both headers in the 61st and 70th minutes, respectively.

In just one night, the Vietnamese, who had not conceded a goal in their four previous matches, gave up the most markers against an inspired Philippine squad.

But Stajcic won’t allow his players to rest on their laurels because “ultimately there’s the big one left,” referring to the rematch against the Thais, who tripped the Filipinas 1-0 last Tuesday in the group stage for their only setback in the competition.

“This win is just a stepping stone in setting a new milestone. We look forward to the final and taking revenge (against Thailand) after beating us earlier. I’m greedy and hungry more for more,” disclosed the Aussie tactician in a rare display of his own personal feelings.

This was why he urged Filipino fans anew to come over to the Rizal Memorial Stadium for one final time to cheer and spur the home team to victory.

HOBBIES & COLLECTIONS

Filipino fans are urged to troop to the Rizal Memorial Stadium once again to support and provide one big lift for Team Filipinas (Images courtesy of Philippine Football Federation)

ONE FINAL CHEER Filipinas battle Thais for AFF Women’s Championship title

Sarina Bolden is expected to deliver anew for Team Filipinas

Expect the Filipinas to go all-out as they aim for revenge against the Thais

HD Spikers trump Crossovers to wrest solo lead Games Tuesday 2:30 p.m. – Choco Mucho vs Army 5:30 p.m. – PLDT vs Petro Gazz

Ces Molina spikes another Cignal HD romp vs Chery Tiggo with a 16-hit effort

RANGED against a winless rival, unbeaten Cignal HD rode out a first-set test and went on to fashion out a 25-23, 25-16, 25-18 romp over Chery Tiggo and regain the solo lead with a third straight victory in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the Filoil Flying V Centre last night.

After pulling off a steal of a win in the opener, the HD Spikers re-asserted their might and won the next two with plenty to spare, breaking away midway through in both frames through their sustained firepower aided by the Crossovers’ erratic outing.

Ces Molina stayed in attack mode, firing away 16 hits after a 20-point and 17-point showing in a four-set win over Army and a five-set escape over Choco Mucho, respectively Earlier, Creamline also walked off with a breeze of a win as it smothered PLDT Home Fibr, 25-22, 25-16, 2521, but slipped to solo second after a week of high-pressure action in the mid-season conference of the league

Rizal, Caloocan prevail in OKbet-MPBL RIZAL Xentro Mall got back on track with a 96-76 thrashing of Laguna on Friday in the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season presented by Xtreme at the Caloocan Sports Complex.

Derailed by Pasig, 87-79, on July 9, the Golden Coolers made sure not to play catch-up again and sped away by halftime, 51-34, en route to their fourth win against 3 losses in the single round-robin elimination phase of the 22-team tournament.

Powered by Alvin Capobres, Laurenz Victoria and Keanu Caballero, Rizal sealed the outcome with just a minute gone in the fourth quarter

when it built a 78-50 spread on a 3-pointer by Edgar Charcos.

Capobres wound up with 15 points plus 5 rebounds, Victoria 13 plus 3, and Caballero 10 points, 11 assists, 4 steals and 3 rebounds as Rizal thrived even if starting guard Jolo Mendoza did not play.

Charcos finished with 10 points plus 4 assists while veteran Mark Benitez contributed 10 points and 5 boards for Coach Jonathan Banal.

Laguna, which fell to 1-6, got 15 points from Sean Laban, 12 from Paolo Pontejos, 11 from Lawrence Mallari and 10 points plus 9 rebounds from Floyd Dedicatoria.

Caloocan Victory Liner prevailed over Mindoro, 71-63, in the nightcap to check a 3-game skid and improve to 2-4.

Jomar Santos sparkled for Caloocan with 18 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists, followed by Damian Lasco with 15 points, Jhygruz Laude with 13 and Joseph Penaredondo with 11.

Mindoro only has Dominic Panlilio and Khen Osicos in double digits with 13 and 10, respectively, as the Tams tumbled to 1-8.

Bataan Camaya Coast subdued Imus, 74-67, in the opener to extend its winning run to 4 and climb to 5-1.

Nietes vows to carry on after loss to Ioka LOS ANGELES--Donnie Nietes will shake off the disappointment of his world title defeat to Kazuto Ioka and rebuild towards another shot at the super flyweight crown.

Nietes was trying to reclaim the WBO world junior bantamweight title in Tokyo on Wednesday night but was defeated on the scorecards, with all three ringside judges awarding the fight to Ioka.

Ioka was given the win with scores of 120-108, 118-110 and 117-111 after 12 rounds at the Ota-City Gymnasium, in what was a rematch of 2018’s clash between the pair, which was won by Nietes.

The Filipino hero, 40, says he could have no complaints about the result but was left frustrated that Ioka, who had promised to be ‘aggressive’, was not prepared to stand and trade punches more often.

Nietes, a former four-weight world

champion, still has plenty left in the tank and plans to work his back into title contention as soon as possible to add another chapter to his storied career.

“I lost the fight on points, and I felt that Ioka did not want to try and deliver a knockout win for his fans and was just happy to win the fight on the scorecards,” Nietes told Probellum.com “I was not able to put as much pressure on Ioka as I would have liked. I was waiting for Ioka to move in and throw his shots so that I could hit him with my big counters, but it didn’t happen often enough.

"I was defeated but, without question, I can still fight for world titles again.”

Nietes was not only bidding to win back the WBO title he vacated but also to join an exclusive list of fighters who have won world titles in their 40s.

Against Ioka, the man known as

‘Ahas’ showed flashes of the quality that has seen him win titles at four weights, and despite the setback he still believes he can become world champion again.

“There is no doubt in my mind that I can challenge once again, and I see myself probably having one or two more fights at world level before I hang up my gloves inside the ring," Nietes added.

organized by Sports Vision.

The HD Spikers blew an early lead in the first set but charged back from 13-18 down behind Molina and Roselyn Doria while pouncing on the Crossovers’ slew of attack errors, the last by Mylene Paat that shattered the 23-all count.

Arielle Estranero closed out the set with an ace.

Coach Clarence Esteban had used probably every trick in the book to motivate his wards, to no avail as the Crossovers struggled on their set-up plays, net defense and reception, imperiling their semifinal bid with a third straight loss in the seven-team field fighting for the top four slots in a single round robin elims.

The Crossovers closed to within, 13-16, in the third frame but Angeli Araneta sparked a fiery Cignal surge with a hit and back-to-back aces, leading to another 6-0 run for the victory that primed up the HD Spikers for their keenly awaited duel with the Cool Smasher in Sta. Rosa, Laguna next Thursday.

Chery Tiggo actually saved four match points from 14-24 but the 10-point deficit proved too much of a hurdle for the Crossovers to overcome as Klarisa Abriam finished them off on a joust.

Coo, Farr reign supreme in PhilCycling BMX tilt PATRICK COO was a class act while John Derick Farr transitioned with ease and potential in the PhilCycling National Championships for BMX on Saturday at the Tagaytay City BMX Track.

Coo took the Men Under 23 gold medal with plenty to spare.

He clocked 34.470 seconds to win by more than six seconds at the International Cycling Union-standard track that was used for the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019.

“I prepared hard for these championships,” said the Oregon-based Coo who won gold as a junior rider in the 2019 Asian championships.

Amir Christian Duller finished 6.547 seconds to settle for the silver medal while Anderson Lamada was another six seconds further back for the bronze.

“Finally, we’re racing on the UCIManila BMX track,” beamed PhilStandard Cycling and Philippine Olympic TODAY Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

“Sooner or soon, these track will be full of BMX riders. This is the start of something big for the discipline.”

Farr, the SEA Games 2019 gold medalist and 2022 bronze medalist, showed he’s as good on the smaller BMX bikes as he is in the bigger and double-suspension downhill bikes by ruling the Men Elite category in 38.240 seconds.

Nino Martin Eday, also a downhiller, crossed after a second for the silver medal and Karlo Elen Acdol was four seconds further behind for the bronze medal.

Nino Christian Duller clocked 44.694 to win gold in Men Junior, followed by Benedicto Simbulan IV (4.337 seconds behind) and Kolin Avel Sumagui 4.882), son of PhilCycling secretary general Atty. Billy Sumagui.

Shagne Yaoyao, a crosscountry MTB rider, meanwhile, set a women’s standard of 49.873 seconds on the track that has a brand new roof, the first of such BMX facility in Southeast Asia.

URGENT HIRING: ACCOUNTANT/ ACCOUNTING STAFF Donnie Nietes

LICHEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Unit 1403 Prestige Tower Condo., F. Ortigas Jr. Road Ortigas Center, Pasig City Tel. No. 86330094/86378209

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Life Editor: Nickie Wang

JULY 17, 2022

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

Shawn Mendez is reborn in new global fashion campaign FASHION powerhouse Tommy Hilfiger has unveiled the Classics Reborn campaign video introducing the brand’s newest collaboration with Shawn Mendes. The multifaceted global partnership “Play it Forward” kicked off in Summer 2022 with various collaborative efforts that include custom-made styles for Shawn’s Wonder: The World Tour, Tommy Hilfiger will donate $1 million to offset the environmental impacts of the world tour, and a co-designed capsule collection will be launched in Spring 2023 featuring quality reimagined styles with circular design while scaling material recycling innovations.

Paying homage to the brand’s music history, the video shows Shawn Mendes playing guitar and singing a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s mid-80s dance-rock anthem, “Dancing in the Dark,” which has been recorded exclusively for

this project.

The video launches the new Classics Reborn campaign, featuring items from Tommy Hilfiger’s classic 1985 collection, now being produced with more sustainable materials. Shawn wears the classic Tommy Hilfiger colors of red, white, and blue, inspired by the brand’s Americana heritage. These statement-making colors are also subtly integrated into the visuals and set design.

In the Philippines, Tommy Hilfiger is exclusively distributed

by Stores Specialists, Inc., and is located at Central Square in Bonifacio High Street Central, Alabang Town Center, Ayala Center Cebu, Marquee Mall, TriNoma, Mall of Asia, Greenbelt 5, Newport Mall, Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La, Tommy Jeans Robinsons Place Manila, Tommy Hilfiger Rockwell, and online at Trunc.ph, Rustans.com, Zalora, and Lazada.

The pop singer pays homage to the brand’s music history in the video campaign

Shawn Mendez in Tommy Hilfiger’s Classics Reborn campaign

Discover remarkable The Marahuyo Design Camp features farm-to-table dining and a farm forest

ways to cope with

Asia Young Designer Awards

recognizes Filipina student’s proposal THE prestigious Asia Young Designer Awards (AYDA) recently recognized Marahuyo Design Camp, the only entry of the Philippines, at the recent Asia Young Designer Summit.

Themed “Forward: Amplifying Empathy Through Design,” the competition gathered 11 sole architecture and interior design representatives from across the region to generate innovative, creative, and socially involved design implementations.

Philippine representative and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Interior Design student Moira Kayla Ramiro conceptualized the Marahuyo Design Camp, which nurtures creativity and offers a refreshing and enlightening experience for the artistic soul.

The venue is envisioned to house diverse crafts and design studios, villa suites, and exhibition halls to achieve mental restoration, foster artistic inspiration, and promote cultural preservation. It likewise features farm-to-table dining and a farm forest.

“It seeks to establish emotional depth with connections that captivate and focus healthy attention for people by indulging with nature,” Ramiro shared.

Named after marahuyo, which means “a state of enchantment and attraction” in Tagalog, the design camp was envisioned with the Attention Restoration Theory (ART) in mind. “ART proposes that nature can

help replenish a human’s mental state, attentional stability, and attain cognitive restoration in the environment,” the young innovator explained.

“The brain can easily become overwhelmed by the pressures of everyday life, making it tough to stay focused and mentally healthy. A simple way to counter the conflict of this attention is to take a break,” she continued.

She proposed to develop the site in Mabitac, Laguna, known for its arts and crafts industry. She utilizes the wonders of nature and natural resources to help with physical health and psychological comfort.

Ramiro is the recipient of Interior Design recognition for the 2021 Nippon Paint Asia Young Designer Awards (NYPDA) Philippines, where her adviser Benildean instructor Candice Arboleda was named Best Mentor.

Founded in 2008, AYDA has provided a platform for future-proof ideas and has since gathered thousands of young creators from Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam.

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Interior Design student Moira Kayla Ramiro

A dreamy beach town for entrepreneurs THE freedom to take one’s business wherever one goes is a perk of entrepreneurial life. The pandemic has even fast-tracked the new norm to take the office wherever one opts to park his laptop. If working from anywhere has become the lifestyle of choice of entrepreneurs, where else can they work other than the seaside paradise of CaSoBe (Calatagan South Beach), one CaSoBe a thriving creative, of Landco’s latest Beachbusiness, and tech community Towns in Batangas.

Luckily for entrepreneurs, tal, public market, pharmacy, school, and the 15-hectare CaSoBe chapel are likewise easily accessible. progresses towards completion. The All the lots at CaSoBe are literally master-planned development offers within steps to the long stretch of powmix-use residential and commercial lots dery white sand beach. The property’s situated in the rising business hub and blue pavements are pleasing to the eye beach tourist destination. The developand in harmony with the environment of ment features wide open spaces and expansive clear skies and azure waters. beautiful promenades, with parks and There are tree-lined bike lanes and pathretail landscapes. ways parallel and leading to the shores.

Setting it apart from other beach Transforming the landscape of Calataproperties, CaSoBe elevates the resort gan, entrepreneurs can invest in a proplifestyle with inviting details such as erty along the retail row and wear the hat blue roads, street art, and creative of aspiring hoteliers or restaurateurs when lamp posts. Hospitality amenities are they establish their bed and breakfast or already fully operational and managed cozy little café or restaurant to cater to the

by Millennial Resorts. The 300-capacity tourism market. They can also put up a event space called Canopy was recently shop for art workshops and yoga retreats, opened to serve the growing tourism or a business for water sports enthusiasts. market of Calatagan.

CaSoBe is also poised to be a The sprawling beach town is only thriving creative, business, and tech three hours away from Metro Manila and is complete with a strong wifi con- community. Startup companies can engage in a collaborative and forwardnection, modern infrastructure, and thinking environment. resort amenities.

One can network and hustle by day, The development is close to numerand live the vacation life with family and ous golf courses, polo fields, and tourist friends in between breaks, by night, and attractions which earned Calatagan the on weekends in the postcard-perfect setmoniker of being the playground of the ting of CaSoBe, with its stunning sunsets. affluent. Local facilities such as a hospi-

NO SHELF CONTROL

BY JENNY ORTUOSTE

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chronic illness, gain healing

RE you looking for ways to improve your physical health? Perhaps you have been struggling for a long time with an undiagnosed malady or a disease that needs to be managed, or have a loved one who does.

Editor and writer Meghan O’Rourke’s latest book tells us how to understand and cope with chronic illness, which more of us are facing as we deal with the long-term impacts of COVID-19 that are only now being confronted and understood.

A 'silent epidemic'

O’Rourke was at her wits’ end. She had been suffering from symptoms that were seemingly mild – a strange rash, unexplained fatigue, dizziness, daily hives. Starting gradually after college, they became more intense until they prevented her from functioning and feeling as well as she had before.

She went to many doctors who could not explain her symptoms and could not find anything wrong with her.

She felt “trapped in a body that wasn’t working” and met with “cutting skepticism” from friends, colleagues, even doctors who didn’t believe she was ill.

But as she felt worse over time, she pushed for answers from physicians, healers, and researchers, until she was diagnosed with a form of autoimmune disease. Over the years, she suffered others, while bearing almost daily pain, nerve shocks, and brain fog, among other symptoms.

Such illnesses are often unseen and undiagnosed; sufferers might brush them off as inconsequential, a part of aging, or something to power through. O’Rourke calls these “invisible” and “marginalized” illnesses, and they cover autoimmune diseases, post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, and long COVID. Autoimmune diseases haven’t been much on the radar of Filipinos, but are now more in the public eye after Kris Aquino revealed that she is suffering from one. Her drastic weight loss and other symptoms concerned her fans.

Whatever she is suffering from seems to not have been well understood here and she had to travel abroad for more tests and treatments.

Aquino uses social media to update fans about her condition and treatments.

O’Rourke wrote a book, interspersing narrations of her own experiences with medical information, interviews with doctors, patients, and researchers, and references to illness in literature. She read works on illness by writers such as Virginia Woolf and Susan Sontag as she sought to find ways to cope with chronic pain and fatigue.

Writing to understand

Both Aquino and O’Rourke are using the power of the written word to analyze and navigate their feelings and experiences and document their journeys. “My own illness’s meaning… derives also from all the ways it was not allowed to mean until I wrote this account of its meanings,” O’Rourke writes.

This is why her book is valuable – it helps others find the words to articulate and validate their own experience of chronic illnesses, and discover ways to help them-

‘The Invisible Kingdom’ brings awareness and knowledge of chronic illness

selves or their loved ones to heal.

“What does it mean for a chronically ill patient to heal?”

O’Rourke asks. “In some cases, it may mean a remission of disease. But in others, it means the patient is now able to manage the illness with some degree of integrity.” Her journey toward getting a proper diagnosis and reaching a point of management took decades. Along the way, she learned some factors that are scientifically proven to contribute to healing, among them an environment close to nature, fresh, dry, air, and sunshine.

O’Rourke points out that we need to think of health as something that is “beyond the mere curing of disease.”

She quotes the World Health Organization’s definition of health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” We need to engage with this definition, she says, if we want to do better and feel better, particularly when it comes to chronic illness.

Written with candor, courage, and erudition, The Invisible Kingdom brings awareness and knowledge of chronic illness, what it feels like, and how to cope with and manage it.

It’s a clear and sympathetic resource for sufferers and their loved ones, and an eye-opening read for those who want to learn more about this timely topic. As O’Rourke writes, referencing John Donne: ‘Being ill is a social experience… [it is] impossible to understand without thinking of the self in relation to others.”

For comments and feedback, you may reach the author on Facebook and Twitter: @DrJennyO The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness

By Meghan O’Rourke 2022, 324 pgs., tpb, Riverhead Books

Editor and writer Meghan O’Rourke shares tips to cope and understand chronic illness

n Entertainment Editor: Nickie Wang

P-Pop rising boy group BGYO

email: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

JULY 17, 2022

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BGYO makes the world stop with new single, music video P-POP rising boy group BGYO makes hearts swoon anew with its electric new song “Tumitigil Ang Mundo,” the first single off the group’s upcoming sophomore album.

“Tumitigil Ang Mundo” accentuates the perfect blend of Gelo, Akira, JL, Mikki, and Nate’s vocals over an upbeat and vibrant melody that encapsulates the song’s romantic theme. It also brings out intense “kilig” through its lyrics that illustrate how falling in love and being with the right person can magically feel like everything in the world just stops.

The song was composed and produced by several musicians and producers from local

sound production house FlipMusic and released under Star Music.

Meanwhile, the music video for “Tumitigil Ang Mundo” has also been released, which shows the boys having fun in a theme park. They also perform the endearing and bubbly choreography for the track, which will surely brighten up the day of their fans.

Prior to its drop, BGYO’s loyal fandom ACEs made sure to share their anticipation for the song on social media, landing “Tumitigil Ang Mundo” among the top 5 trending topics on Twitter Philippines.

“Tumitigil Ang Mundo” follows the P-Poy boy group’s recent single “Best Time,” which serves as the theme song of He’s Into Her season 2.

On Friday, BGYO heated the stage up with its sibling group BINI and other P-Pop groups at the Tugatog Music Festival at the MOA Arena. They will also perform at the Be You benefit concert on July 22.

BGYO’s “Tumitigil Ang Mundo” is now available on various digital music platforms.

A scene from BGYO’s latest music video for ‘Tumitigil Ang Mundo’

It’s Showtime’s ‘Sexy Babe’ finalist in Miss Philippines Earth 2022

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ANADIAN-BORN Jasmine Paguio took the risk to leave her family in Toronto to pursue her childhood dreams of acting and becoming a beauty queen in the Philippines. The 23-year-old, pre-law student at York University is one of the 40 contestants in the ongoing Miss Philippines Earth 2022.

Herlene Budol pays homage to hometown through national costume

By Lara Nadine Balderama

“Some may call it risky, but I believe the worst is the risk not taken, where I look back in my life and regret not pursuing what I dreamt about as a child,” said the aspiring AMP-ABS-CBN Star Magic member.

“I’m taking up law and if given a chance, I’d like to help legislate and introduce law on environmental protection, I would like to focus on the total eradication of plastics in the environment,” Paguio said at a recent meet-and-greet event.

Paguio is preparing for the finals under the guidance of beauty-queen maker Rodgil Flores and is being managed by Rams David of Artist Circle.

The 5-foot-6 beauty won as daily and weekly finalist in It’s Showtime’s Sexy Babe 2022 last March. A dead ringer for Maja Salvador, Paguio said she would like to portray the role of superwoman Darna if given the chance.

“Now that I’ve moved here in the Philippines, I hope to reconnect more with my roots and learn more about our Filipino culture and traditions. I’m just so grateful and honored to be representing the Filipino community of Toronto, Canada,” said the aspiring actress with roots in San Pablo City.

Miss Philippines Earth 2022, with its theme focusing on the protection and preservation of fauna in the Philippines, will have its Coronation Night on August 6 in Coron, Palawan.

••• Aliwan Fiesta Digital Queen - Year 3 search launched The 2022 Aliwan Fiesta Digital Queen search was launched for the third year with the annual Aliwan Fiesta & Festival Queen (Reyna ng Aliwan) pageant still not happening this year due to the threat of COVID-19.

Promising to be the biggest this year, Aliwan Fiesta Digital Queen pageant is virtually presented by the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) featuring beauties representing the different festivals in the country. The reigning queen is Shanyl Kayle Hofer of Minglanilla, Cebu.

The official candidates will compete in various segments, including the Launch & Pride of Place (Introduction video), Talent & Skills competition, Queens for a Cause, and Evening Gown Competition & Q&A before the Awarding & Coronation Night set on October 22.

Open to Filipinas, 16 to 28 years old, applicants can visit the aliwanfiesta.com official Facebook page for complete details. Deadline for applications is on August 7.

Canadian-born Jasmine Paguio is preparing for Miss Earth 2022 finals

JUST a few days before the most-awaited Binibining Pilipinas coronation night, Herlene “Hipon Girl” Budol reveals her Higantes Festival-inspired national costume, which pays homage to her hometown Angono, Rizal.

In a recent Instagram post, the TV comedian appears wearing a beaded body suit made of orange and gold crystals, which symbolize her “Hipon Girl” brand, matched with a handcrafted cape, presenting a painting inspired

by Angono’s cultural history.

The Binibining Pilipinas 2022 candidate poses with a massive ‘higantes’ on her background. This giant paper-machè puppet on parades during the Higantes Festival celebrates the myth that there were giants who once walked over the land of Angono.

Budol’s national costume resembles Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray’s “lava gown,” which is known to be inspired by the festivity of the beauty queen’s hometown. In 2018, Gray also honored her province by wearing the Mayon-inspired gown during the Miss Universe pageant.

On the other hand, a national costume fashion show took place on Saturday, July 16, at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City.

Budol is among 40 candidates competing for Binibining Pilipinas 2022 on July 31.

Reigning Aliwan Fiesta Digital Queen Shanyl Kayle Hofer

Herlene Budol in her Higantes Festivalinspired costume

A song about loving without reservation

Kim De Leon’s ‘Safe With Me’ is about loving someone without reservations

SPARKLE’S resident boynext-door Kim De Leon makes his fans trust in love again with his first-ever single under GMA Playlist, “Safe With Me.” Composed by Natasha Correos, the song is about loving someone without reservations.

It’s about being patient and giving

reassurance to the one you love.

A reminder that someone is willing to stay and be part of your healing process until you’re ready to open your heart once more.

Kim admitted that he very much relates to the song, “As an overthinker, I want to listen to the song intently kasi nakakapagpakalma siya sa akin whenever I worry about something.

Nakaka-relate ako kasi kailangan ko rin nang may magsasabi na ‘you’re safe with me and don’t worry.’”

Meanwhile, he shared that he’s open

to collaborating with other Kapuso singers. “Garrett Bolden is my topof-mind singer to have a collaboration with. First of all, our genre and style are completely different. Since nakaclose ko na rin siya at palagi kaming magkasama sa dressing room ng AllOut Sundays, pag nagkakantahan kami doon, sobrang nagagalingan ako sa kanya at saka sobrang bait niya. Napag-usapan na namin yun na open siya sa mga collab, sa mga ginagawa niyang song.”

When asked for his next plans,

“Another single. Well sana pero we’ve been working on another song.” Right now he’s mostly excited with his first single and he’s hoping that Kapuso listeners will truly appreciate the song.

Kim’s “Safe With Me” was also chosen to be one of the official soundtracks of GMA Public Affairs’ mystery-romance series Love You Stranger, where he plays Diego.

“Safe With Me” is now available on digital streaming platforms worldwide.

JULY 17, 2022

8A

Which species knows the meaning

A family of elephants. (Photo from iStock royalty free images.)

of 'family' better?

A family of lions.

(Photo from iStock royaltyfree images.)

By Mariana Burgos

T

HE tight social ties that exist between members of a species' family and their friends are not unique to humans. The close bonds that many animals have with other members of their species—from primates to cetaceans and rodents—help them find love, friendship, safety, and joy.

Humans still have a lot to discover about animals. We overlook the fact that certain animals are likewise capable of carrying out the majority of our activities; we only fail to notice them since they might act in a different way.

Based on their own domesticated animals or pets, many people believe that all animals exhibit conscious behavior. Others oppose animal consciousness because it makes it simpler for humans to treat animals cruelly than it would be if we knew they were sad and suffering.

When you learn to know wild creatures, what you observe is significantly different from a chance encounter. Would you believe that all there is to humans is running around and drinking water if that's all you saw them doing? You observe individuals differently if you know who is consuming the water or moving about.

Here are some creatures that demonstrate the depths to which animal relationships may go.

Elephants

Elephants are renowned for their sharp minds, extensive memories, and strong familial ties. Between eight to one hundred elephants make up each herd, which is led by the matriarch, which is the oldest and typically largest female. She guides the other elephants to water and food using her vast expertise, which comes in very handy when there is a drought.

Male offspring typically depart the group between the ages of 8 and 13 when they reach puberty.

Females from several generations work together to defend and raise the young. Elephants have been observed returning to the scene of a friend's death

and even touching the bones, exactly like humans do when a loved one passes away.

Wolves

The exceptionally social grey wolves live in tiny packs. A male and female pair and all of their offspring are present in each pack. The lead pair is typically the sole couple in the pack, and they frequently remain partners for life.

The majority of packs are tiny, with five to nine members. Wolves cooperate with one another and instruct their young how to hunt and avoid danger within their pack. Additionally, they use vocalizations to discuss whereabouts and alert other members of the pack to danger.

Orcas

In the world of orcas, sticking close to mom is the norm, unlike some creatures who leave the nest as soon as they can. In actuality, orcas live their entire lives with their family. The pod sizes of the black and white cetaceans can range from five to fifty individuals. Similar to elephants, rearing offspring is a communal endeavour in which the adolescent females assist in taking care of the young. Parents of orcas educate their kids on how to hunt and divide their catch among the pod.

Dolphins

Dolphins are a species with deep social ties that show compassion for other members of their own species and non-dolphin species. They have also aided seals and whales in need. They have also saved humans from shark attacks and drowning. According to the BBC, the first time

A dolphin family. ( Photo from iStock royaltyfree images.)

dolphins were seen trying to save another dolphin in trouble was in 2013, when five of them used their bodies to create a raft to hold a sick dolphin above water while 10 others took turns doing the same.

Lions

Of all the wild cat species, lions live in prides and are the most gregarious. Males live a rougher life as they age, but according to The Big Cats, old ladies, even those who have lost teeth, are cared for and fed. Male lions rub their heads together and lionesses lick each other to enhance their social ties.

Chimpanzees

Within chimpanzee troops, there is an established social structure. The bond between a mother and her children is so deep that it will persist even when they reach adulthood. Chimpanzees socially groom one another to keep

each other's bodies clean, but they also do it to reassure one another and keep their friendships strong, much like how lions reinforce their social ties. Similar to human civilization, chimpanzees live in groups called communities with a variety of sub-groups. To become the dominant male in the group, a male chimp must win the support of the other males.

(Visala Kantamneni, 6 Animal Species with Strong Family Bonds, January 2022) Animals experience life very vividly. Many times, they are aware of who they are. They are aware of their friends and competitors. They aspire to a higher position. They compete.

Similar to how our lives unfold, theirs do as well.

We both make an effort to remain alive, obtain food and shelter, and rear some offspring for the coming generation. Animals are similar to humans in that regard, and I believe their presence on Earth is incredibly enriching.

When you know the end is near, be there for your pet I LOST four senior dogs this year: three were rescued and one was my beloved pet. Before they died, I built my world around their needs at this stage of their lives, and spent as much time as I can knowing they will cross the rainbow bridge anytime. I wanted to be there for them, to feel they are loved till the end. It was not easy.

But for humans, being there brings a positive closure. It is healthy for our mind and heart to be there for our pet at the end. There will be less regrets, less what ifs, less guilt.

But of course it is the most difficult part of furparenting. But you can not avoid death. It will come. If you are afraid, so is your pet. The ultimate act of love is to be there for your pet.

Thus, I have the utmost respect and admiration for Fiona Apple who cancelled a concert to be with her furbaby Janet during the last days of her life.

Brad Keeling posted in Facebook on June 24 the letter of Fiona Apple. He said: “This is a beautiful letter from Fiona Apple explaining to her fans why she must postpone a concert date. I am impressed at the way she was instantly able to make the decision to choose love over her career. Indeed, the world needs more of this.

Enjoy the story...”

The letter

“It's 6pm on Friday, and I'm writing to a few thousand friends I have not met yet. I'm writing to ask them to change our plans and meet a little while later.

Here's the thing.

I have a dog, Janet, and she's been ill for about 2 years now, as a tumor has been idling in her chest, growing ever so slowly.

She's almost 14 years old now. I got her when she was 4 months old. I was 21 then — an adult, officially — and she was my kid.

She is a pitbull, and was found in Echo Park, with a rope around her neck, and

Chacha was rescued in 2016 by Save ALL -Animals of Love and Light Inc. She was paralysed due to a fall from the second floor while locked with another dog. For three months, she just lay down wherever the owner placed her while pregnant. Her baby died inside here womb. She was able to walk again through therapy. She later developed a debilitating bone disease that was mercifully free of pain due to paralysis in the spine. She also had heart problem. We gave her food through syringe and did all we can to make her comfortable in the last months of her life. She crossed the rainbow bridge on March 14. bites all over her ears and face.

She was the one the dogfighters use to puff up the confidence of the contenders.

She's almost 14 and I've never seen her start a fight, or bite, or even growl, so I can understand why they chose her for that awful role. She's a pacifist.

Janet has been the most consistent relationship of my adult life, and that is just a fact. We've lived in numerous houses, and joined a few makeshift families, but it's always really been just the two of us.

Sassy is such a sweet, playful dog. She was rescued by Save ALL in Olongapo City in 2017 while walking disoriented and fearful.

We suspected she was abandoned by the owner because she was sick: she had a big lump in her belly which turned out to be hernia. She was with another small dog we named Mags who was walking ahead of her and looking back at her as if saying."

Come on, you can do it. Let's find us a new home." They were full of ticks and positive for erlichia. Sassy had been suffering from bronchial problems a few months prior to her death.

She slept in bed with me, her head on the pillow, and she accepted my hysterical, tearful face into her chest, with her paws around me, every time I was heartbroken, or spirit-broken, or just lost, and as years went by, she let me take the role of her child, as I fell asleep, with her chin resting above my head.

She was under the piano when I wrote songs, barked any time I tried to record anything, and she was in the studio with me, all the time we recorded the last album.

The last time I came back from tour, she

Gaia died on March 4, 2020. I was holding her paw when she took her last breath. For more than a month, she fought erlichia and we made sure we were there for her.

We asked a vet to let her come home with us with the IV fluid with medicine because we knew she might not survive as she had other medical issues. We fed her through syringe. The vet visited and changed the bottle every other day. She was rescued

by Save ALL from being killed and being cooked for appetizer in 2018 . was spry as ever, and she's used to me being gone for a few weeks, every 6 or 7 years.

She has Addison's Disease, which makes it more dangerous for her to travel, since she needs regular injections of Cortisol, because she reacts to stress and excitement without the physiological tools which keep most of us from literally panicking to death.

Despite all this, she's effortlessly joyful & playful, and only stopped acting like a puppy about 3 years ago. She is my best friend, and my mother, and my daughter, my benefactor, and she's the one who

taught me what love is.

I can't come to South America. Not now.

When I got back from the last leg of the US tour, there was a big, big difference.

She doesn't even want to go for walks anymore.

I know that she's not sad about aging or dying. Animals have a survival instinct, but a sense of mortality and vanity, they do not. That's why they are so much more present than people.

But I know she is coming close to the time where she will stop being a dog, and start instead to be part of everything. She'll be in the wind, and in the soil, and the snow, and in me, wherever I go.

I just can't leave her now, please understand. If I go away again, I'm afraid she'll die and I won't have the honor of singing her to sleep, of escorting her out.

Sometimes it takes me 20 minutes just to decide what socks to wear to bed.

But this decision is instant.

These are the choices we make, which define us. I will not be the woman who puts her career ahead of love & friendship.

I am the woman who stays home, baking Tilapia for my dearest, oldest friend.

And helps her be comfortable & comforted & safe & important.

Many of us these days, we dread the death of a loved one. It is the ugly truth of Life that keeps us feeling terrified & alone.

I wish we could also appreciate the time that lies right beside the end of time. I know that I will feel the most overwhelming knowledge of her, and of her life and of my love for her, in the last moments.

I need to do my damnedest, to be there for that.

Because it will be the most beautiful, the most intense, the most enriching experience of life I've ever known.

When she dies.

So I am staying home, and I am listening to her snore and wheeze, and I am revelling in the swampiest, most awful breath that ever emanated from an angel. And I'm asking for your blessing.

I'll be seeing you.

Love, Fiona”