Manila Standard - 2022 July 31 - Sunday

Vol. 36

n

No. 165

July 31, 2022

3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES

18 .00

IN MET R MANILAO

ECO-FRIENDLY BEAUTIES.

Candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2022 ride an e-trike as they greet their supporters at Araneta City in Cubao ahead of tonight’s coronation event. Danny Pata

NCR Alert Level 1 till Aug. 15

PH stays ‘low-risk’ for COVID despite daily increases in infections

M

ETRO Manila and several other areas will remain under Alert Level 1 from August 1 to 15, the Department of Health said Saturday.

This as the DOH said the country remained under “low risk” classification for COVID-19 despite increases in the number of new cases amid the presence of Omicron subvariants and waning immunity.

On Saturday, the country logged 3,996 new cases, bringing the total

active infections to 33,509.

The new areas that were placed under Alert Level 1 are as follows: Barbaza, Antique; Bato, Leyte; Tabontabon, Leyte; Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay; Braulio E. Dujali, Davao

Del Norte; Maitum, Sarangani; Pilar, Surigao Del Norte; Calanogas, Lanao del Sur; Marogong, Lanao del Sur; and Tagoloan II, Lanao del Sur. The DOH said these areas maintained their case classification and total bed utilization rates at “low risk” and have reached or neared the vaccination thresholds for the target

CONTINUED ON 3A

Apolinario claims IBO title with 1st round knockout

SOME residents in earthquake-hit Abra have yet to receive aid, Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo said, amid damaged roads and rains brought by the southwest monsoon (habagat) and tropical depression “Ester.”

Because of this, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council started mapping its next steps to carry out relief operations in areas hit by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Northern Luzon.

NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Tim-

CONTINUED ON 3A

WORLD TITLE. Dave Apolinario, surrounded by his team, wears the IBO world flyweight title on his shoulders after knocking out South African Gideon Buthelezi in South Africa. Facebook page of Sanman Boxing

Tax-exempt for poll gratuity nixed

I

N

S

I

D

THE Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. has cautioned against home isolation for suspected monkeypox cases after the Department of Health confirmed the country's first case, with at least 10 close contacts.

“Monkeypox cases should be isolated in one area and not be under home isolation,” PHAPI president Dr. Jose Rene de Grano said.

“If that is really monkeypox, if

the inequity in the country’s tax system and negate the progressivity of the reforms introduced under Republic Act 10963 or the TRAIN (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion) law.

Moreover, the studies of pertinent government agencies on the revenue loss is too substantial an impact to be foregone,” the President said.

The bill aimed to make the honoraria, travel allowance, and other benefits granted to poll workers exempt from tax as well as to exclude poll workers’

CONTINUED ON 3A

Acuzar named head of housing settlement dep’t

CONTINUED ON 3A

4A 1B 3B 4B

NEWS | 2A

CONTINUED ON 3A

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. shakes the hand of his Housing Secretary, Jerry Acuzar, after administering his oath of office.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed entrepreneur Jose “Jerry” Acuzar as the new head of the Department of Housing Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

Acuzar is the brother-in-law of Paquito Ochoa, the executive secretary of the late former President Benigno CONTINUED ON Aquino III.

CAAP to upgrade 7 more airports to be night-rated

bal said the agency discussed “preparations for the possible impact of rains to the earthquake-affected areas.”

In particular, local DRRM offices in the affected regions were directed to coordinate with the authorities to provide water supply augmentation in Bangued, the capital of Abra.

Tulfo, for his part, urged residents to head to the municipality or to the barangay office for faster coordination of aid.

HOUSING CZAR.

E

Business..................................................................

Sports...........................................................................

Entertainment..........................................

Pets....................................................................................

possible, don't go for home isolation as this may lead to a rise in cases,” he added.

On Friday, Health Undersecretary Beverly Ho said the patient, who had prior travel to countries with monkeypox cases, arrived in the country on July 19 and was only tested for monkeypox on Thursday, July 28.

The patient has been discharged

‘Ester’ hampers giving out of aid, repair of infra in quake-hit areas

THE Philippines has a world boxing champion once again after unbeaten Dave Apolinario claimed the International Boxing Organization (IBO) flyweight title following a crushing first-round knockout of South African champion Gideon Buthelezi on Friday (Saturday in Manila).

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vetoed two enrolled bills seeking tax exemption for the election honoraria of poll workers and the creation of a Philippine Transportation Safety Board (PTSB).

In his veto message, Marcos said the bill exempting from income taxation the honoraria, allowances, and other financial benefits of poll workers contradicts the objective of the government’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program.

“The measure runs counter to the objective of the government’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program to correct

Hospital group warns of home isolation for monkeypox cases

PNP tightens border controls in Lamitan NEWS | 2A

Elon Musk fires back at Twitter in court WORLD | 3A

JULY 31, 2022

PNP boosts Lamitan security amid shaky peace and order

T

HE Philippine National Police (PNP) has strengthened security measures in Lamitan City, Basilan amid heightening tension following the slaying of the father of a suspected shooter during the Ateneo de Manila University graduation ceremonies last Sunday (July 24).

Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. said more policemen were dispatched to man checkpoints set up around Lamitan.

“We adhere to the mandate of Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and to prevent the possible escape of the gunmen,” Danao said in a statement.

He also sought the public’s cooperation in informing law enforcers of any suspiciouslooking persons in their community, but to refrain from making assumptions.

“Let the probe take its course. We need

concrete proof to establish the motive of the crime,” Danao said.

Abalos on Friday directed the PNP to tighten security in Lamitan City after Rolando Yumol, 69, a retired policeman, was gunned down in front of his house last Friday.

Yumol’s son, Dr. Chao-Tiao Yumol, is currently detained in Camp Karingal, Quezon City, while charges of multiple murder were being prepared against him for the killing of former Lamitan Mayor Rose Furigay; her executive assistant Victor Capistrano; and campus security guard Jeneven

Bandiala inside the Ateneo compound along Katipunan Ave. in Quezon City.

“I call on the public to cooperate with police investigators. If anyone has any information that may help the PNP solve the case, I ask you to please come forward,” Abalos said in a statement.

The elder Yumol was reportedly four times in the back outside his residence Barangay Maganda, Lamitan City. Probers recovered three empty shells of 45 caliber pistol from the scene.

With no arrests made as of press time, “the case is still under investigation, we are still collecting information,” said Lamitan police chief Lt. Col. Tadzhabel Managola.

Furigay’s daughter Hannah, who was supposed to graduate on Sunday, was also wounded in the shooting incident and was still recuperating at a hospital.

Speaker assures passage of Nat’l Land Use bill SPEAKER Martin Romualdez on Friday gave assurances on the approval of the National Land Use Act by the end of 2022, and support to other bills for the development of the real estate sector.

“We share with the President a common desire to craft a unified framework that will govern the use of land resources in the country. We need to harmonize and integrate conflicting laws, policies, principles and guidelines on land use and physical planning. Our policy experts noted that there are around 30 overlapping environmental and ecological protection laws and policies on the use of water and land management,” Romsualdez said in his remarks during the National Real Estate Association (NREA) meeting in Makati City.

President Ferdinand Marcos, in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday, stressed the inclusion of a comprehensive land use policy in his legislative agenda, particularly the National Land Use Act. “We in the House of Representatives are committed to approve the National Land Use Act the soonest time possible.

We expect to approve this measure on third and final reading before the year is over,” Romualdez said.

He also urged the NREA to study and submit position papers on other legislative measures pending in Congress that have impact on the development of the real estate sector.

“We will not pass any law affecting your sector without hearing you first,” Romualdez stressed, as he recognized the valuable contributions of the real estate industry to the country. Maricel V. Cruz

CULTURAL PERFORMANCE.

DSWD chief bares 4Ps list: 2m families in, 1.3m going out n By MARICEL V. CRUZ DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Erwin Tulfo on Saturday said some two million Filipino families have been put on the wait list for the government's cash assistance called the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Meanwhile, a party-list lawmaker on Saturday urged the DSWD to prioritize farmers and fishermen as eligible 4Ps beneficiaries.

Tulfo made the statement to allay apprehensions by some groups that they might be excluded from the 4Ps list.

"Nananawagan ako dito sa 4Ps beneficiaries, lalo na sa opisyales ng samahan na mga sir at mga ma'am hindi lang ho ang mga miyembro ninyo ang miyembro na tumatanggap. Meron pa po akong nasa listahan na two million na naghihintay makapasok," Tulfo said in a radio interview.

"Kung di po tayo mag-aalis paano naman po itong two million na may nag-aaral sa elementarya may nagaaral sa high school na ilan taon na pong maghihitay ... Paano naman po sila na wala ring source?"

Tulfo said that out of the 4.4 million families, 1.3 million beneficiaries will be removed from 4Ps because they are no longer qualified, or have already reached the maximum seven years of stay in the program.

But he said t these families would not be kicked out of the program immediately, and would be notified weeks before being delisted.

"Ang paliwanag ko sa kanila hindi naman kayo automatic na tatanggalin," Tulfo said, "Tatanggalin kayo sa listahan pero aabisuhan kayo, for example, kung kayo'y tatanggalin sa listahan sasabihan na ho kayo ... 'Ngayong Agosto na, ma'am ... Last po ninyong matatanggap ay September.'"

A Filipino-Chinese student performs a Chinese folk song and dance as part of an exhibited by the Chinese embassy in the Philippines. Danny Pata

CAAP to upgrade 7 more airports Think tank urges SEC to probe Binance operations starting this year A THINK tank group has called on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to exercise its regulatory powers to clamp down on the cryptocurrency exchange’s activities in the country.

Former congressman and Infrawatch PH convenor Terry Ridon made the call after filing a letter-complaint urging the SEC to investigate the Binance firm’s operations in the country.

“Aside from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the other main regulator of virtual currency exchanges is the Securities and Exchange Commission. It has served

the public well by banning unscrupulous online lending services. It should similarly do the same for unregistered and unregulated cryptocurrency exchanges in the country,” Ridon said.

Ridon said Binance has been operating in the Philippines for several years without the required government permits and licenses.

“Based on reports, Binance has no office in Manila and only uses third-party companies that employ Filipinos for its technical and customer support services.

In fact, former Finance Secretary Carlos

Dominguez himself said that Binance has no records with the SEC and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP),” Ridon said.

He also said Binance has been offering financial products, such as spot trading, margin trading, futures contracts, options, crypto loans, P2P trading, despite being unregistered with the SEC. “We believe these products are in the nature of securities, which under SEC rules, may “not be sold or offered for sale or distribution within the Philippines without a registration statement duly filed with and approved by the SEC.” Maricel Cruz

Cops nab 3, seize P3.4-m shabu in P’que

FELLOWSHIP. Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association (USPAA) chairman and House Speaker Martin Romualdez (center, seated) and members of the USPAA Batch 1985 flash the victory sign during a fellowship dinner in Makati where they committed to raise funds to help the victims of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Northern Luzon this week. Ver Noveno

POLICE have arrested three suspected drug dealers and seized more than P3.4 million worth of shabu late Friday night in Paranaque City.

Apprehended were Eduardo Arciaga Ocampo, alias Allen, 47; Mike Chavenia, 24; and Almer Aguiliña Gula, 33, all residents of Parañaque City and tagged by the authorities as high value targets.

Seized from the suspects were 505 grams of shabu worth P3.4 million, a hand bag, a sling bag and the cash and boodle money used in the buybust operation.

A composite team from the Southern Police District - Drug Enforcement Unit, District Intelligence Division, District Mobile Force Battalion, and the Paranaque

City Police Sub-Station 2 conducted the entrapment at Puyat Compound in Barangay Tambo around 10:30 p.m.

The anti-narcotics operation was also conducted with the help of personnel from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Police believed the suspects are members of a drug syndicate operating in the southern part of Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

The suspects are now in police custody and will be charged with violation of Sections 5 and 11 under Art II of Republic Act 9165 (Dangerous Drugs Act) while the seized illegal drugs were turned over to SPD Forensic Unit for chemical analysis. Joel E. Zurbano

THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) eyes seven more airports in the country to be night-rated beginning this year.

CAAP acting director general Capt.

Manuel Antonio Tamayo said the agency intends to pursue efforts to enable more regional airports to accommodate night-time take-off and landing, thereby increasing their flight frequencies on account of longer operating hours.

Tamayo said the CAAP supports the commitments of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. In his first State of the Nation Address on July 25, Marcos vowed to upgrade provincial airports and create more international ones to boost the domestic tourism industry.

“We will first and foremost make basic developments such as road improvements for easier access to tourism spots.

We will also upgrade our airports and create more international airports to help decongest the bottleneck in the Manila airport,” Marcos said.

Tamayo said in line with the government’s vision to enhance the aviation sector, the CAAP has completed the night rating of 23 major and commercial airports, with 11 airports being successfully night-rated over the last six years.

The agency said starting this year, seven more airports would be equipped with the necessary facilities to accommodate night-time flights.

Joel E. Zurbano

DAR gives away lands to 215 farmers in Bicol region n By MARICEL V. CRUZ AT least 215 more farmers in the Bicol region now own the land they till as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) distributed electronic land titles (e-titles) or certificates of land ownership award (CLOA) to agrarian-reform beneficiaries (ARBs) last week of July.

The 215 formerly landless farmers come from five towns in Sorsogon and Camarines Sur. The area distributed to them totaled 344.8695 hectares.

In Sorsogon, seven farmer-beneficiaries from Juban town were given their e-titles covering 18.9407 hectares. This was followed by the CLOA distribution to 64 ARBs with a total land area of 68.0892 hectares in Ocampo, Camarines Sur. Another 67 beneficiaries from Bangon, Lupi, Camarines Sur, received their land titles that covered 89 hectares, while 77 more farmers were given CLOAs and c-titles covering 168.8396 hectares in Caramoan and Garchitorena.

DAR Bicol Region Assistant Re-

ManilaStandard

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandard.net

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

gional Director for Operations Romulo Britanico said that the land titles that were distributed to the farmer-beneficiaries involved lands that were covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

"The titles are symbols that you are now the owners of the land you are tilling. It is also a symbol that we, in DAR, have done our job well and honestly," Britanico said.

He also advised the beneficiaries to cultivate the land and make it productive and reminded them of their obligations on their awarded lands.

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

SPAGHETTI WIRES. A cable company technician does a routine check amid the messily-areanged wires in Cubao, Quezon City. Manny Marcelo

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

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

Associate Editors News Editor City Editor

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

WORLD

JULY 31, 2022

VAX ROLLOUT.

Healthcare workers with New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene work at intake tents where individuals are registered to receive the monkeypox vaccine on July 29, 2022.

The World Health Organization has now declared that the monkeypox outbreak is a global emergency.

AFP

LGBTQ community confronts monkeypox virus and its stigma T HE spread of the monkeypox virus and its prevalence among gay men has raised widespread fear, growing anger and a number of uncomfortable questions for a community still scarred by the early years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

While there is still widespread public confusion about the precise nature and spread of the disease, it is a fact

that the overwhelming majority of monkeypox patients in the United States identify as LGBTQ and are male.

For some, the situation evokes dark parallels with the 1980s, when HIV/AIDS was stigmatized as a “gay plague,” hospitals and funeral homes turned away patients and victims, and White House officials either cracked homophobic jokes or simply ignored the new virus.

At a meeting this week in West Hollywood, a hub for Los Angeles’ LGBTQ community, actor Matt Ford received a standing ovation as he spoke openly about the “excruciating” symptoms he had endured when he contracted the disease – an experience he has also shared online.

Afterward, he told AFP that he “definitely had doubts before coming out publicly about my experience.”

“I was pretty on the fence prior to tweeting due to the potential for social stigma and people being cruel – especially on the internet –but thankfully the response was mostly positive,” he said.

What pushed Ford to speak out was the urgent need to warn others about the disease in the days leading up to West Hollywood’s major LGBTQ Pride celebrations.

While monkeypox has not so far been labelled a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and can infect anyone, the group currently most affected is men who have sex with men.

Spreading through skin-to-skin

contact, the disease is most often transmitted through sexual activity, and the World Health Organization this week urged gay and bisexual men to limit their sexual partners.

“At the end of the day, it’s not homophobic to say that certain groups are disproportionately impacted by the monkeypox outbreak,” said Grant Roth, who is part of a network that collects information about the disease in New York.

“And right now it’s about the queer community.”

While the notion of monkeypox affecting mainly the LGBTQ community raises fear of homophobia and stigmatization, it has also prompted anger that the US government is not taking the disease seriously enough. AFP

US judge orders Libya strongman to compensate families of victims A US judge Friday ordered the military chief of eastern Libya, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, to compensate Libyan plaintiffs who allege he ordered the torture and extrajudicial killings of their family members.

The federal judge in the state of Virginia, where Haftar lived before returning to Libya, ruled that he had not cooperated with the court and that by “default” was ordered to pay damages to the families.

Haftar, a dual US-Libyan citizen whose name is spelled “Hifter” in American legal documents, can still appeal the decision, and future hearings will need to be held to determine the level of compensation.

Nonetheless, Friday’s ruling represents a major setback for the military

leader.

“Justice has prevailed. Hifter will be held responsible for his war crimes,” said Faisal Gill, one of the lawyers spearheading the cases, in a statement shared with AFP. Filed in 2019 and 2020, the civil lawsuits argue that Haftar, as head of the eastern-based Libyan National Army, authorized the indiscriminate bombings of civilians during his unsuccessful 2019 campaign to take Tripoli, resulting in the death of the plaintiff’s family members.

They are suing Haftar under a 1991 US law, the Torture Victim Protection Act, which allows for civil lawsuits against anyone who, acting in an official capacity for a foreign nation, commits acts of torture and/or extrajudicial killings. AFP

FromtheFRONTPAGE

airflow,” said DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire.

In a separate statement, the DOH said the country logged an average daily attack rate (ADAR) of 2.52 per 100,000 population as of July 28.

“Even with the observed increase in cases, it is more important that our bed and ICU (intensive care unit) utilization rates stay low – meaning our hospitals stay open and not overwhelmed,” the Health department said.

“Nationwide – as of July 28, 2022 – we are still at low risk case classification with an average daily attack rate of 2.52 cases per 100,000 population and a bed and ICU utilization rate of less than 29% and 24% respectively,” it added.

NCR... population and target A2 (senior citizens) priority group.

Apart from Metro Manila, the following remain under Alert Level 1: Abra, Apayao, Baguio City Kalinga, Mountain Province, Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, Santiago City, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Lucena City, Rizal, Marinduque, Puerto Princesa City, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Naga City, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Aklan, Bacolod City, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo Province, Iloilo City, Cebu City, Siquijor, LapuLapu City, Mandaue City, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Ormoc City, Southern Leyte, Tacloban City, Zamboanga City, Cagayan de Oro City, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Iligan City, Camiguin, Davao City, Davao Oriental, South Cotabato, General Santos City, Surigao del Sur, Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte, Agusan Del Sur, and Cotabato City.

The rest of the Philippines is under Alert Level 2.

“Our continued compliance with the minimum public health standards keeps us safe – wearing the best-fitting mask, isolating when sick, doubling up protection through vaccines and boosters, and ensuring good

APOLINARIO... Apolinario’s stunning victory allowed Filipinos to gain a piece of the alphabet soup of global boxing titles once again after the country’s last world champion, Mark Magsayo, lost the World Boxing Council featherweight strap to Mexico’s Rey Vargas on July 10.

A monstrous left straight from “Doberman” Apolinario sent Buthelezi crashing to the canvas, and the hometown champion was unable to beat the count, ending the fight with 10 seconds left before the end of the threeminute Round 1.

The new Filipino champ improved his perfect record to 17-0 with 12 knockouts, while Buthelezi fell to 23-6 with five KOs as he tasted defeat at the International Convention Centre in East London, South Africa.

Elon Musk fires back at Twitter in court battle ELON Musk on Friday filed claims against Twitter as he fights back against the tech firm’s lawsuit demanding he be held to his $44 billion buyout deal.

Musk’s counter-suit was submitted along with a legal defense against Twitter’s claim that the billionaire is contractually bound to complete the deal he inked in April to buy Twitter, the Chancery Court in the state of Delaware said in a notice.

The 164-page filing was submitted as being “confidential,” meaning the documents were not accessible by the public, the notice indicated.

Rules of the court, however, require Musk to submit a public versionof the filing with trade secrets or other sensitive information redacted.

A judge has ordered a five-day trial over Twitter’s lawsuit against Musk to begin on October 17.

The Tesla boss wooed Twitter’s board with a $54.20 per-share offer, but then in July announced he was “terminating” their agreement on accusations the firm misled him regarding its tally of fake and spam accounts.

Twitter, whose stock price closed at $41.61 on Friday, has stuck by its estimates regarding accounts run by software “bots” rather than people, and argued that Musk is contriving excuses to back out of the contract. AFP

INBRIEFS

Nokor: No COVID cases for the first time since outbreak NORTH Korea reported zero fever cases on Saturday for the first time in more than two months since it confirmed its first COVID-19 infections in May. “There were no new fever patients reported” over a 24-hour period from Thursday evening, the staterun Korean Central News Agency said, marking the first time the isolated country had reported no new cases since it began tallying numbers in May. While it has maintained a rigid coronavirus blockade since the start of the pandemic, experts have said that massive Omicron outbreaks in neighbouring countries meant it was only a matter of time before COVID snuck in.

North Korea has recorded nearly 4.8 million infections since late April, KCNA said, adding “99.994 percent” of them had fully recovered with just 204 patients under treatment.

Apparently due to a lack of testing capacity, North Korea refers to “fever patients” rather than “COVID patients” in case reports. AFP

COVID-hit Macau reopens beaches but bans swimming

TOOTH-CUTTING CEREMONY. More than a hundred Balinese-Hindus

participate in a mass tooth-cutting ceremony at the Jala Siddhi Amertha Temple in Sidoarjo on July 30, 2022, as a symbol of maturity. AFP

HOSPITAL... but is undergoing strict isolation and monitoring at home, Ho said, adding that the DOH has recorded 10 close contacts who were in the same household and have not manifested any symptoms yet.

De Grano said private hospitals are ready should there be additional monkeypox cases that will be detected.

“The Department of Health said the preparations needed are the same as those for COVID-19. So the protocol is almost the same. We will isolate suspected cases showing these symptoms,” he said.

However, since there is no available treatment yet for monkeypox in the country, patients who test positive will be treated according to their symptoms, De Grano said.

“The treatment will be supportive, based on what the patient needs. If the patient needs to be given dextrose, he or she will be given one. If the patient has fever, he or she will be given medicine for fever. If he or she has body pains, then he or she will be given medicine for that,” he said.

As this developed, Spain and Brazil reported their first monkeypox-related deaths on Friday, marking what are thought to be the first fatalities linked to the current outbreak outside of Africa.

Spain is one of the world's worst-hit countries, with 4,298 people there infected with the virus, according to the health ministry's emergency and alert coordination center. AFP ‘ESTER’... All of Abra’s 27

municipalities were badly hit by the quake, Tulfo said.

The NDRRMC reported on Saturday that the number of families affected by the earthquake has climbed to 62,024, or equivalent to 228,238 persons living in 639 villages in the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, and Cordillera.

The NDRRMC said 46 evacuation centers are sheltering 1,910 families or 6,490 individuals, while the rest are being aided by families and friends.

The Department of Public Works and Highways, for its part, reported the partial cost of damage to roads, bridges, and flood-control structures at P596.7 million as of Saturday.

DPWH - Cordillera recorded initial damage to infrastructure at P491,170,138.76.

ACUZAR... Acuzar’s appointment came after Marcos, during his first State of the Nation Address, directed the DHSUD to coordinate with the Department of Social Welfare and Development to improve the implementation of the government’s Emergency Shelter Assistance Program for calamity victims.

The DHSUD is the primary government agency in charge of the management of housing, human settlement, and urban development.

Its attached agencies include the National Housing Authority, the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund), the Social Housing Finance Corporation, and the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation.

Acuzar is the chairman of the real estate company New San Jose Builders Inc. which

MACAU beachgoers were left high and dry as the Chinese gambling hub reopened two beaches on Saturday but banned swimming and water sports, citing coronavirus concerns.

The city is gradually recovering from its most serious outbreak to date, which earlier this month led officials to shutter casinos and most businesses for nearly two weeks.

As temperatures reached 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday, Macau residents were allowed to “enter the beach for walks and relaxation” but officials drew a line in the sand by banning water-based activities. AFP worked on projects such as residential and commercial condominiums, as well as the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, the largest indoor arena in the world.

Hailing from Balanga, Bataan, he also owns the heritage town Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in the province’s Bagac town.

TAX-EXEMPT... honoraria and

allowances from their gross income.

Marcos said the measure would be “inequitable to other persons performing similar activities and/or services.”

“Moreover, providing additional support to any sector is best addressed through targeted budgetary spending rather than through the tax system,” the President said.

He urged Congress to enact measures that are “consistent with the thrust and commitment” of the administration toward national economic recovery.

On the measure proposing the creation of the PTSB, Marcos said the proposed functions are already being undertaken by different agencies under the Department of Transportation, which include the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Land Transportation Office, Philippine Coast Guard, Aircraft Accident Investigation Inquiry Board, and Maritime Industry Authority.

The Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation also perform the same functions, Marcos said.

JULY 31, 2022

Lam siblings

Lam siblings construct a legacy

T one.

HE Lam siblings remember their childhood as a busy

“During the holidays, our friends would leave town, and we’d be working. Truth be told, back then, there was resentment.

Why did we have to work?” recalled Aimee.

What the trio didn’t realize was that they were part of a family legacy. Their parents are Joey and Herminia Lam, the husband-wife power duo who founded Fighter Lock Philippines Corp. in 1986, one of the country’s leading distributors of hardware, construction and electrical materials.

While their peers were enjoying

the simple joys of childhood, Alvin, Aimee and Alrich were training to take on the keys of the family business.

The journey wasn’t easy. Unlike other COOs or children of owner, they had to start from the bottom, as their parents wanted them to learn.

As early as grade school, the siblings were asked to man the stores, make deliveries and learn the behind-the-scenes nature of their homegrown company.

Alvin, the firstborn, was the first to find his footing within FLPC. “He was a bit of a wild child,” Aimee said with a laugh. As a way to deal with his rowdiness, Alvin was sent to China to learn Mandarin.

It wasn’t long before he was homesick.

The eldest son begged his parents to let him come back to the Philippines, promising that he would finally shape up. He kept his word, and soon began running the business’ daily operations.

Aimee had a similar journey. She went to Canada to study, as a way of escaping the dullness of a daily routine. Although she was looking to do something entirely different, she realized her heart belonged back at home.

“They told us time and time again, that this was our bread and butter. They frequently told us their rags to riches story. I felt that it was such a waste to throw this opportunity away if we didn’t continue it.” She moved back home, ultimately taking her place as the company’s head of finance.

A TECHNOLOGY provider company aims to reach a wider market in the food and beverage industry using cloudbased management solutions.

Mosaic Solutions offers services to ease day-to-day operations of F&B businesses such as food chains and restaurants. It provides solutions in inventory management, data analytics, point of sale and consumer purchasing.

Company founder and chief executive Brett Doyle considers the Philippines an ideal destination for Mosaic because of the country’s thriving F&B industry. He believes that a dedicated centralized operating system is necessary for F&B groups.

“When looking for an initial market to start within Southeast Asia, I wanted to target a market that had a large F&B sector and placed an importance on F&B. The Philippines certainly hits both marks, with over 90,000 registered F&B outlets and total annual spend amounting to 25 to 30 percent of overall consumption,” said Doyle.

Data from Statista show that the gross value added of the services in the F&B industry reached P223.02 billion in 2021, after experiencing a downturn in 2020 at the onset of the pandemic.

Doyle called for continued investment in internet and technology infrastructures

to facilitate a more widespread use of online and app-based ordering which, he said, has become a significant contributor to the industry’s overall sales.

“This omni-channel approach will get to the point that restaurants will not really be targeting the digital space at all, but just targeting customers more efficiently wherever they might be,” Doyle said.

“This adoption of new technologies will continue to help drive the rebound of the F&B industry and is here to stay,” he said.

Mosaic said the Philippines’ internet economy, as measured by gross merchandise value, “grew 93 percent to $17 billion last year, underpinned by a 132-percent expansion in e-commerce”. It is expected to reach $40 billion by 2025.

The company capitalizes on cloud technology, which simplifies functions such as data collection, remote monitoring of the business and employee performance and other aspects in managing F&B operations for efficiency and accessibility among users.

Doyle said that consumer-wise, cloud technology paves the way for fast and easy transactions such as contactless payments and online orders, as their services are easily accessible through internet-connected devices.

“Companies like Mosaic that can create a central operating system to help improve operations, simplify usage of

By Darwin G. Amojelar

Mosaic Solutions founder and CEO Brett Doyle technology and build up an ecosystem of apps as part of this central OS, will help drive this adoption and make F&B companies more sustainable,” he said.

Established in Manila in 2016, Mosaic Solutions has worked with well-known companies including The Moment Group which manages Manam, Oma, 8Cuts and Din Tai Fung.

It also provides services to well-known brands such as WildFlour, Barcino, Single Origin, Bo’s Coffee, Mary Grace, Contis, ArmyNavy, Pan de Manila, Grab, Kraver’s Canteen and SM Malls.

German firm builds PH center to train construction workers

By Othel V. Campos KNAUF, a German company, opened the first gypsum board training center in the Philippines to upgrade the skills of construction workers.

The “Knauf Academy“ is a facility is envisioned to fill the gap for more skilled workers in the Philippine construction industry, said Knauf Philippines managing director Mark Sergio.

“The intent of the training center is twofold: we want to make sure that we can improve the capability, the workmanship quality and skills of Filipino installers. We also want to make sure that because of this, we’re able to deliver the best customer experience for our architects, developers and contractor-partners,” he said.

The academy’s opening is a big milestone for Knauf in the Philippines, being the first gypsum board training center in the country.

Sergio said the other objective is to be able to help improve the employability of Filipino skilled workers in the construction industry, particularly on gypsum board installation.

“Most of our installers in the Philippines actually learned the trade on the job, and they later became foremen themselves and eventually owners of their own small contracting businesses. We want to make sure that we improve their livelihood as well,” he

Knauf Philippines executives open the first gypsum board training center in the country.

said.

Acting deputy head of mission of the German Embassy in the Philippines Alexander Schmidt said the German government is proud that a German company, in cooperation with the German Investment and Development Corporation or DEG, will further foster good economic relations between Germany and the Philippines.

The Knauf Academy can accommodate a maximum of 18 participants in a classroom setup where trainees learn the theoretical side of gypsum and other standard drywall and ceiling installation techniques.

The reception and showroom area is fitted with a small snack bar where trainees

perspectives, which became instrument in the company’s continuous growth.

As a trio, Alvin, Aimee and Alrich brought FLPC into the modern age.

The three put their minds together to build a professional image as well as streamline operations that propelled the company from a small family business to a thriving corporation.

Under their watch, FLPC expanded from being more than a distributor, but also the creator of their own brands: LAMCO (plumbing needs), Aimee (locks and keys) and Kantt (LED lighting).

The Lam siblings are certain that they are where they’re supposed to be. “We can do anything when we’re together,” Aimee said.

Agfa, Mondial team up to brighten PH healthcare

Food industry goes to the Cloud

By Stephanie Caesar and Lee Gabriel Seril

Their youngest sibling, Alrich, also felt a sense of resentment as a child because he was asked to work early on. Growing up around his older siblings and seeing them contribute to the company’s success, he came on board after college, handling the FLPC’s marketing department.

“I realized, all the experience we had mattered, because it helped us become who we are today,” Alrich said.

Another important lesson instilled in them by their parents is that they are all equal. While many traditional Chinese families believed that the eldest should be the most respected, the Lams rejected that dogma.

Because of this, they were able to challenge each other’s

can lounge around during breaks, while the workshop area is where trainees can apply what they learned in theory into actual use through the various mock dry wall installations and where their capabilities will be assessed.

The academy’s training modules will help equip learners on both theoretical knowledge and practical skills of standard drywall and ceiling installation. The 16-hour session will instill the fundamental knowledge and practical skills of interior wall and ceiling system installations to help secure employment and hopefully, strengthen Filipinos’ skills set to make them more attractive targets among construction industry players.

Once training is completed, trainees should already be oriented with basic safety protocols, determine the different types of gypsum boards and their proper applications, familiarize themselves with the components of a standard drywall partition and ceiling system, understand the methodology of drywall and ceiling installation, detail connections and techniques, learn the fast and easy way to repair gypsum boards, and avoid damages and wastages through proper gypsum board handling and storage.

Sergio said they made sure that the facility itself and the modules not only follow the Knauf standards, but also adapts to the Philippine context.

BELGIUM-BASED Agfa Group has teamed up with Mondial Medical Technologies to expand its medical imaging market in the Philippines.

Under the partnership, MTT will be the distributor of Agfa’s Digital Radiography products in the Philippines.

Touted as a new force in mobile direct radiology, the DR100s extends its patient-centered benefits in Philippine hospitals and clinics.

The DR100s is a mobile digital radiology system that is flexible and efficient. It features excellent DR image quality that enables “first-time right” imaging at low radiation dose that allows for faster workflow in the department, better patient care and diagnosis.

“The total DR business in the Philippines is estimated at $1.2 billion, and that includes mobile x-rays, floor mounted, ceiling mounted, DR Retrofits and digital RF,” said Agfa Healthcare’s country business development manager for the Philippines Edison Laserna.

“Our team from Agfa, together with Mondial, will be touring around the Philippines to show the product to our customers,” Laserna said.

Mondial Medical Technologies sales director Arlene Navarro said, “the Mobile D100s will be offered to both private and government hospitals in all regions of the country to provide our radiologists and technicians with the best imaging quality, enabling faster diagnosis and treatment.”

Mondial Medical Technologies managing director Angel Yrastorza is “very confident with the Agfa Mobile DR100s, as our debut product to the rest of the AGFA healthcare line”.

“Its technology is cut above the rest of the competition which Mondial looks for in all its offerings as we aim to be at the forefront of the industry,” he said.

The machine is very mobile and can be maneuvered even in small spaces with its Zero Force Technology. Its agility enables staff members to easily do imaging, in the bedside, wards, ICU and operating rooms. Equipped with Agfa’s gold standard intelligent Musica image processing technology, it provides the highest image quality while using the lowest possible patient radiation dose.

MFT Group chief executive Mica Tan, the holding company of Mondial Medical Technologies, sees substantial potential in the launch.

Cancer detection AI developer opens office in Ortigas INTERVENN Biosciences Philippines opened an office in Ortigas Center to expand its footprint in Southeast Asia and introduce proven methods of cancer detection.

The company, headquartered in San Francisco, California, uses AI technology developed mostly by Filipino engineers to detect early signs of cancer.

“InterVenn has made significant progress in early cancer detection thanks to the brilliant and dedicated Filipino engineers we have on board. They help build and maintain the front end, back end, and cloud infrastructure of our next-generation liquid biopsy, as we all work together to reach a world where no one should ever be blindsided by disease,” said Intervenn co-founder Aldo Carrascoso.

The new office takes its design inspiration from leading companies’ state-of-the-art facilities to create a fun and collaborative environment. It integrates its different teams, from product management to marketing and web development, in an open and casual productive workspace.

The design pays homage to Filipino culture and historical innovators who have

InterVenn Biosciences Philippines co-founder Aldo Carrascoso paved the way for the technology that they are utilizing. Each room is named after classic Filipino comedians which the leadership believes to be the ultimate embodiment of Pinoy ingenuity, creativity and love for fun while artwork for scientific pioneers such as Galileo Galilei can be found adorning its pillars.

Located at the Podium West Tower, Intervenn office in the Philippines will expand the local team’s roster of developers and engineers that form the backbone running the proprietary AI technology used in the company’s research. Othel V. Campos

T

HIS has to be told.

Philippine football is reaching new grounds, on and off the battlefield.

Not long after winning a historic ASEAN football crown by the women’s national football team, the Philippine Football Federation is making another historic first.

Yes, the PPF is bound to be the only national sports association that will have its own building.

Led by its president Mariano Araneta, Jr. and general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes, the PPF held the groundbreaking on the future site of the new PFF headquarters on Saturday in Carmona, Cavite.

A five-story building, which is funded under the FIFA Forward Programme, will rise in the 4,231 square meter lot which was acquired by PFF through the AFC President’s Development Infrastructure Initiative.

In attendance were FIFA officials Sanjeevan Balansingam and Niko Nhovannasak, PSC Executive Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy, Jr. Carmona Mayor Hon. Dahlia Loyola, PFF Board of Governors, and PFF Regional Football Associations presidents and representatives.

For the PPF, 2022 is shaping as a milestone year.

It began with the national team sealing maiden qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, a feat that seemed barely believable for many just a few short years ago. Now firm foundations have been put in place to secure the future of the nation’s football, with PFF celebrating the commencement of their new headquarters with a ground-breaking ceremony taking place on Saturday.

Supported with significant funding from the FIFA Forward Programme, the new headquarters will provide spacious offices with modern facilities replacing the current premises - also a FIFA-funded project built in 2007.

The new facility, based in Carmona, around 40 kilometers away from the capital Manila, sits on 4,231-square meters of land that was procured through the AFC President’s Infrastructure Initiative Programme in 2020. It is located within walking distance of the national training center – an area that has a fullsized FIFA-funded artificial pitch and two mini-pitches – enabling the PFF to house its core football facilities close together in a single location.

In addition, the new five-storey building will provide PFF with sufficient space to expand its administration in a modern high-quality working condition, a major issue at the current headquarters for the expanding national body.

As football gains increasing popularity in the Philippines, this development marks a new dawn for the southeast Asian country which boasts a population of over 110 million.

“Today is a historic day for the Philippine Football Federation – and I con-

JULY 31, 2022

Architect’s perspective of PFF (Philippines Football Federation) new headquarters

HOBBIES & COLLECTIONS

PH Football dreams come true Gracing the groundbreaking ceremony were dignitaries including Hon. Dahlia Loyola, Mayor of Carmona, Atty. Guillermo Iroy, OIC and Executive Director of Philippine Sports Commission, PFF President Mariano V. Araneta, Jr., PFF General Secretary Atty. Edwin B. Gastanes and FIFA delegates headed by Sanjeevan Balasingam, Director Member Associations Asia & Oceania. gratulate you as you break ground on the construction of your new headquarters,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a video message. “Your new home will allow your staff to relocate to a modern, spacious and state-of-the-art space.

“I am particularly happy to note that you have worked so closely with FIFA to reach the point you arrive at today, and this is exactly the aim of the FIFA Forward Programme: to provide tailor-made support to all 211 Member Associations, with more investment, more impact and more oversight.”

DREAMS COME TRUE The new headquarters will provide PFF with desperately needed facilities as

they aim to further develop the beautiful game in their country – a nation where sports such as basketball, volleyball, and boxing have traditionally dominated.

“The project was once a dream for us,” said PFF President Araneta Jr., paying tribute to FIFA’s support. “But with the cooperation between the PFF, FIFA and AFC, we are seeing it come to life. Our space in the current headquarters is limited which poses a huge challenge for even the current personnel.

“With plenty of space, the new headquarters will make it a more conducive working and learning environment for our staff, coaches, referees and players as it would have several modern lecture and

PH chessers open Olympiad campaign with a bang THE Philippines blanked Oman in the men’s division and Guam in the women’s side Friday night to open its 44th World Chess Olympiad campaign with a bang in Chennai, India.

Grandmasters Mark Paragua, John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo, and International Master Paulo Bersamina delivered the wins on the men’s side while WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, Woman FIDE Master Shania Mendoza, WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego, and WIM Kylen Joy Mordido provided the triumphs in the women’s.

The pair of impressive wins launched the country’s bid to improve on its finish of 37th place in the men’s and 67th in the women’s in the last over-the-board edition of the biennial event in Batumi, Georgia four years ago.

While the GM Jayson Gonzales-mentored women’s squad had it easy, there were some anxious moments in the GM Eugene Torre-coached men’s side, particularly in the game of

Paragua, who fought his way back from an inferior position in outlasting an upset-conscious FM Amer Al Maashani.

Paragua’s escape sealed the 52nd-seeded Filipinos’ place in the 92-country logjam at first that included 76 that posted 4-0 shutout wins.

They play sixth pick Azerbaijan, an all-GM team that is expected to field in World No. 10 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov after resting him in its 4-0 blanking of Algeria, in the second round at press time.

GM Banjo Barcenilla will suit up on this one after an opening day breather in place of Laylo.

The Filipinas, ranked 39th, for their part, shared the lead with 78 others including 69 other nations who had the same score as them.

They battle No. 78 Nicaragua, which smashed Somalia, 4-0.

PH blasts Indonesia in men’s 3x3 wheelchair basketball

SURAKARTA, Indonesia – Banking at the gold medal. heavily on Alfie Cabanog’s inside “We didn’t see our Indonesian oppogame, the Philippines came from nents until we saw them on the floor. behind to stun Indonesia 15-10 in But when I saw Alfie was taller than the men’s 3x3 wheelchair basketball them, I drew up plays to feed him the event for the country’s first win in the ball inside the paint,” said national coach 11th ASEAN Para Games at the GOR Vernon Perea of the strategy that led his Sritex Arena Saturday. charges to victory. If we beat Cambodia Down 0-2 early in the game, the tomorrow then we are assured of facing Filipinos rallied through the sterling Thailand in the finals,” said the bespectapost-play of Cabanog, who then cled coach. combined with Kenneth Tapia in “Masayang-masaya po kami at binigay a pivotal 6-1 run in the stretch that namin ang best para matalo ang Indonebroke a 9-all deadlock on the way to sia,” said Cabanog, a native of Montawal their initial triumph in the four-team, Maguindanao, North Cotabato, who had single-round series. eight big points or virtually half of the The win softened somewhat the team’s output. early exit of their women’s counterThe player credited Perea’s patient Kenneth Tapia (second from right) battles two parts, who absorbed back-to-back coaching for his vast improvement since losses to Thailand and Laos by scores Indonesian players for the rebound as teammate joining the national team in the 2017 Alfie Cabanog looks on (left). of 0-11 and 1-6, respectively.

ASEAN Para Games in Kuala Lumpur, Thailand crushed Cambodia Malaysia.

16-4 and Indonesia 18-2 in sucWith the Filipinos gaining the cession to seize the top spot in men’s play and assured itself upper hand, the hosts tried to stall for time in questioning of a ticket in the championship match where the top two the height of Cabanog’s wheelchair, prompting technical squads battle for the gold while the remaining teams dispute officials to stop the match for a couple of minutes to re-meathe bronze medal. suring it. But this lull could not stop the momentum of their rivals as Tapia, who had seven points, saw the opening he The Filipinos take on the Thais at 11:30 a.m. (12:30 p.m. in needed as Cabanog was double-teamed in putting the game Manila) Sunday before facing the Cambodians at 1 p.m. (2 p.m. in away with his clutch drives.

Manila), with a victory over the latter ensuring themselves a crack The PLDT High Speed Hitters relish their victory over the Cignal HD Spikers for their first semis appearance since winning the Reinforced Conference crown in the defunct Shakey’s V-League in 2015.

conference rooms. It is also very near to the PFF National Training Centre which is the hub of our on-field activities.”

The new headquarters are the headline project in FIFA’s ongoing support for football development in the country, following the launch of the FIFA-funded PFF Women’s League in 2018.

In addition to Philippines’ breakthrough qualification for the world’s greatest football stage, the national team underlined their heightened status just a fortnight ago, as Alen Stajcic’s charges won the AFF Women’s Championship for the first time.

And with the women’s game having made enormous progress over recent

years, the new project brings fresh hopes as PFF General Secretary Gastanes pointed out.

“It [construction of the new headquarter] could not have come at a better time,” he said. “There is a heightened momentum right now for Philippine football, following the success of our women’s national team. The Filipinas’ success story is not only remarkable, it also inspires future players.

“For those in the federation, it moves them to serve the football stakeholders more. A spacious and modern headquarter will help us realize our goals, with a more productive administrative and technical staff.” (Story from FIFA)

Registration for ‘Dynasty Warriors’ until Aug. 7 Registration for the The Dynasty Warriors: Overlords is until Aug. 7, 2022.

THE Dynasty Warriors: Overlords e-sports competition has started the pre-registration period and will run until August 7.

Follow the Pre-Registration event here: https://bit.ly/dynastywarriorsvng , and get a chance to win the Grand Prize in the form of an ASUS ROG 5s, GCash Wallet Credits, and in-game items that will strengthen your character.

Dynasty Warriors: Overlords is the mobile version of the legendary hack and slash game Dynasty Warriors. In this mobile game, you can experience the same Dynasty Warriors game as the console version, where you will be involved in the war of the Three Kingdoms to defeat thousands of enemies and dozens of powerful Generals that you must conquer.

The various Generals of the three kingdoms that you can collect in Dynasty Warriors: Overlords come from the kingdoms of Shu, Wei, Wu, Jin and others.

There will be many famous Generals such as Zhao Yun, Liu Bei, Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, Cao Cao, Sun Quan, Sun Ce, Diao Chan, to Lu Bu. The number of Generals offered is much more complete than in the previous Dynasty Warriors version.

In Dynasty Warriors: Overlords, there are lots of PVE and PVP modes with various levels of difficulty and will provide a thrilling gaming experience. To be featured are the following: Blossom: PVE solo mode in the form

of dungeons that can be completed to get rewards every day.

Storm: a competition to defeat as many enemies as possible within a predetermined time limit.

Lightning: A mode that has 4 chapters with 5 stages each. Players must complete the stage to move to the next stage and chapter.

Fighter Skills: PVE solo mode with SSR General Fragments rewarded. Choose a General to use and to complete the stage.

Great Competition: Solo PVE mode with SSR General Fragments reward. Players can compete with other players for the Boss.

Combined War: Form a team and aim to defeat enemy Generals.

BOSS War - Beast: Choose up to 5 Generals to beat the Dungeon Boss. Strange Beast Mode will end when all Generals or Dungeon Bosses are defeated Army Advisor Activities: Clear stages of varying difficulty to get various materials.

Other than the PVE feature and PVP mode, for the first time in Dynasty Warriors history, Generals can engage in a Karma system between one General and the other and will get a powerful skill called Synergy Musou. We will thoroughly explore this feature in the next article. So make sure you follow the latest news regarding Dynasty Warriors: Overlords which will soon start the pre-download period.

High Speed Hitters thump HD Spikers to bag semis slot PLDT Home Fibr swooped on a badly-depleted Cignal HD side in the early going but needed to toughen up in the stretch before hammering out a 25-19, 25-20, 21-25, 25-22 decision for the third semifinal berth in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan yesterday.

In full force against a team which showed up with just seven players, the High Speed Hitters took full advantage of their edge in manpower, dominating the first two sets but wavered in the third after securing the coveted slot. Dragged into

an extended set, they leaned on the HD Spikers’ miscues at the end of the fourth to formalize their semis entry.

The one-hour and 55-minute victory thus tied them at second with their victims at 4-2 at the close of their elims campaign.

Creamline finished on top of the seven-team field with a 5-1 slate following a 25-20, 25-22, 25-16 romp over Army Black Mamba earlier.

That leaves Army and Choco Mucho to dispute the last slot in the semis to be spiced up by the KingWhale of Taiwan and Kobe Shinwa of Japan starting Tuesday.

The two foreign squads, however, won’t

see action until Aug. 8.

Choco Mucho was playing with ousted Petro Gazz at presstime, needing a 3-0 or 3-1 win to tie Army at 3-3 and snatch the last semis seat via tiebreak.

The Lady Troopers received no points from their straight-set defeat to the Cool Smashers and remained with 9 points, which the Flying Titans would match with a sweep or a four-set win over the Angels.

In that case, the tie will be broken via the number of sets won with Army finishing with 11 while Choco Mucho would finish with 12, netting the Flying Titans the coveted slot.

Life Editor: Nickie Wang

JULY 31, 2022

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

Heart appreciates the items’ color palette because it matches her current personal style

Heart Evangelista browsing the wares at Max Mara

Style icon Heart Evangelista spotted at Max Mara Philippines ACTRESS and fashionista Heart Evangelista was recently seen at the new Max Mara store in the Philippines, located at Greenbelt 3 mall.

The store in Manila has the latest collections including Max Mara, ‘S Max Mara, and a selection

of accessories.

Max Mara is a worldwide well-known brand and the collection has been worn by celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, Gigi Hadid, Katie Holmes, and Blake Lively to

Heart admiring a little black dress

royalty like Kate Middleton.

During her visit, Heart took her time looking around, browsing through Max Mara’s latest collections. She appreciated every single item of the whole collection: the little black dress, the suits,

Short stories to lull you on rainy days

and the Max Mara Coat are her favorite items.

Also, the palette of the colors, from neutral, pink to black, reflects her current personal style perfectly.

The store presents the main Max Mara collections, including an assortment of Accessories.

A fitness trainer’s quick guide to staying healthy amid crises

Body strengthening involves lifting weights to strengthen and build up the muscles

By Julian Cardenas

NO SHELF CONTROL

BY JENNY ORTUOSTE

A

S RAIN drums on our roofs and soaks our gardens and city pavements, it’s best to stay indoors curled up on a comfy couch with a hot drink and a good book. For the busy ones, short stories are a good option to fill those few quiet moments snatched from between work and chores.

Here are a couple of interesting collections that will make your rainy day.

Ongpin Stories

This slim volume by R. Kwan Laurel, who has taught literature and creative writing in various universities, is a collection of tales set in the Binondo area that tell us more about the lives and preoccupations of Chinese in the Philippines.

Laurel has a facility for dialogue. His stories are composed of conversations that move the storyline along and sometimes impart wisdom and truths gained, as most such lessons are, through experience and hard knocks.

The characters in Laurel’s Ongpin are marked by racism, on their part and that of Filipinos who consider them the ‘other;’ the sorrow of having lost loved ones in China due to war and sickness; the ache of trying to find their place in a country that is not theirs; and their strong resilience, patience, and determination to make new lives.

Giat Co, newly arrived in Quezon, muses about the first time he saw a Mass being said: “I did not understand. I must admit that I still do not. But I do not ridicule what I do not understand. It may take years, I had told myself, but one day I will understand this country. This is what I believed in: to achieve in life you must keep trying.”

These stories are small slices of life taken from the narratives of a community that has for centuries survived and suffered the fortunes and misfortunes of the Philippines. It gives a clear look at the “enclave that is Binondo,” at the unshakeable influence of China over the immigrants who “came to the Philippines because they said the streets here were paved with gold,” and their love-hate relationship with

‘Ongpin Stories’ by R. Kwan Laurel is a collection of tales set in the Binondo area

the country that is their new home and eventually claims the loyalties of their children and grandchildren.

Revelatory and authentic, these stories are couched in clear language that pulls the reader in and offers them a cup of tea as these familyoriented, homely narratives unfold.

Selected Short Stories by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

In these stories written and published over several decades, Brainard, a native of Cebu who migrated to the U.S. over half a century ago, explores her life experiences as a Filipino and Filipino American, as well as the entangled history of

Some of the stories are intertwined and make me wonder, what if they had been expanded into a novel-ofstories? Part 1’s “Woman with Horns,” “Trinidad’s Brooch,” and “The Balete Tree” are stories that feature the same characters but focusing on a different one each time, giving wide and resonant perspectives of the lives of the people in that time and community.

In Part 2, the lush details of “Vigan” and “The Rice Field” bring to life an ancient town and old ways of living amid the Marcos era. From the latter, it’s information like this, scattered throughout the stories in this book, that brings tradition alive: “…she led me to the kitchen where she took out an antique copper chocolate pot. She rummaged in the cupboard for chocolate tablets…made from the fattest cocoa beans.[…] She melted the chocolate, whipped in fresh milk and sugar, and she poured two cups…” Doesn’t this remind you of the “chocolate eh, chocolate ah” passage in Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere?

What a comforting thing to read on a rainy day.

Brainard’s deft handling of human emotion and responses to events and people is apparent in these stories that are like time machines as they are set in different periods of Philippine history, from the Spanish colonial to World War II and after. Mostly threaded through with themes of love and longing, they end with a melancholy coda that leaves a bittersweet taste.

Well-written and hypnotic, these tales are a grand display of Brainard’s storytelling and word-weaving skills that only get better with time.

‘Selected Short Stories’ by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard explores her life experiences as a

both countries.

This collection of 39 stories is grouped into three sections: Part 1 is set in her fictional world of Ubec, which mirrors Cebu; Part 2 is located in Manila, Vigan, Sagada, and Negros Oriental; Part 3 is set in Paris, the U.S., and other parts of the world.

COVID-19 came and spread throughout the world like wildfire, prompting strict lockdowns to prevent the further spread of the disease. These restrictions disrupted the life that many people knew and forced everyone to adapt to a “new normal” to survive.

Athletes and fitness enthusiasts are no exception.

Due to the lockdowns, they began working out at home by doing pushups and other basic cardio workouts to maintain their mental and physical health.

Eventually, the restrictions eased, and gyms reopened, but they aren’t out of the woods yet with the arrival of monkeypox and the recession that’s scaring everyone. With these looming threats, people continue prioritizing their health and wellbeing to continue living their lives to the fullest.

Filipinos have different methods of staying healthy. Some follow a rigorous diet, while others exercise as much as possible. Among all the available exercises, how can Filipinos find the ideal one suitable during health crises?

Chris Escorel, a fitness coach and health consultant at Slimmers World, suggested a health plan and a workout routine for individuals to prepare for the times ahead.

“The best workout, especially for those staying home, is cardio exercise. Examples [of that] are jumping jacks, high knees, squats, lunges, etc., because cardio exercise helps your body properly circulate the blood. It also helps our brain to function more properly as it releases the happy hormone so that we feel more relaxed

and happier despite what is happening in our country,” he said.

He added these exercises work best if partnered with proper sleep and a diet that avoids high sodium and sugar foods to keep the body healthier.

If a gym is accessible, Escorel stated that a routine of body strengthening, cardio, and core fit exercise should get the most out of the individual during their time in the gym.

Body strengthening involves lifting weights to strengthen and build up the muscles. Meanwhile, cardio gets the proper heart rate and blood flow to make the body fluid. Some examples include boxing, jogging, and running. Lastly, the core fit is a workout routine that helps develop the speed, power, agility, balance, and coordination of the body, examples of this are Trx Training, squats, and planking.

Investing in the appropriate equipment for these exercises at home can make the suggested workout routines more efficient and safe. In the meantime, others prefer working out in gyms yet must adhere to the health protocols.

“We can’t do anything about it, hence why we need the vaccine. In the gym, for example, we can’t avoid making contact with other people as it’s our job as fitness trainers. The best way to avoid it is to sleep and eat well, exercise and be mindful of our surroundings,” he said.

He added that homes and workplaces shouldn’t be an exception to these practices as they secure the well-being of everyone involved.

Simply, it’s all about being responsible for one’s mind and body to keep one healthy. And during a crisis, it’s always best to look out for oneself.

For comments and feedback, you may reach the author on Facebook and Twitter: @DrJennyO

Ongpin Stories

By R. Kwan Laurel 2021, 104 pgs, pb, Milflores Publishing Selected Short Stories

By Cecilia Manguerra Brainard 2021, 266 pgs, tpb, UST Publishing House

Trx training is a form of suspension training that uses particular equipment

JULY 31, 2022

Do you want to score tickets to Cha Eun Woo fan meeting in Manila?

Multi-talented South Korean artist Cha Eun Woo

SMART Prepaid, in partnership with PCCW’s leading pan-regional OTT video streaming service, Viu is powering up the K-Life experience of subscribers with Cha Eun Woo’s much anticipated 2022 Just One 10 Minute <Starry Caravan in Manila> fan meeting at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on August 6.

Smart Prepaid subscribers can get a chance to join the live event by simply using their points on the GigaLife App and subscribing to Smart Prepaid promos to redeem and claim a ticket on a first-come, first-served basis.

To redeem and secure tickets, subscribers can follow these simple steps:

1. Log in to the Smart GigaLife App. Tap GigaPoints then ‘Redeem Rewards’ then ‘CHA EUN-WOO tickets’. Tap the Redeem button on the pop-up screen to confirm redemption.

2. Subscribers can redeem tickets in exchange for a corresponding number of points: 1. CHA EUN-WOO Just One Ten Minute <Starry Caravan in Manila> - Two (2) VIP tickets - 6,000 points 2. CHA EUN-WOO Just One Ten Minute <Starry Caravan in Manila> - Two (2) Upper box tickets - 3,000 points 3. CHA EUN-WOO Just One Ten Minute <Starry Caravan in Manila> - Two (2)

Box (Orange) tickets - 1,500 points 3. Subscribers will get an SMS notification upon successful redemption. To claim their tickets, subscribers must head to the Smart store in Gallery Mall and present their redemption notification and active subscription to Smart Prepaid promos, such as PowerAll 99 or 149 or Giga K-Video 99 and up.

Cha Eun Woo is known for his roles in K-Dramas My ID is Gangnam Beauty and True Beauty, variety shows showing his charms in All the Butlers and Handsome Tigers, which are all available for his fans to enjoy streaming on Viu. Smart and Viu have been collaborat-

ing to enable subscribers with the best video experience so that they can power up their K-Life with the latest shows, unlimited downloads, and access to all content on Viu. Earlier this year, Smart gave fans a chance to spend a special day with Cha Eun Woo through a Smart Hallyu Hangouts virtual session, where fans were able to interact and get to know their idol.

Filipino fans can power their K-Life experience with PowerAll 99, which comes with 8 GB for all sites and apps, Unlimited TikTok, and Unlimited Texts to All Networks valid for seven days for only P99.

Five binge-worthy shows for a cozy stay-at-home bonding WITH the weather getting cooler, it’s the perfect time to cozy up on the couch and find comfort in binging a good show. You can access a variety of content via SKY Fiber’s affordable internet plans and cable-bundled services that carry both SD and HD channels for a complete home entertainment experience.

Once you have a reliable internet or cable connection and some snacks ready, the last thing you’ll need is a show to watch. If you’re having a hard time deciding on one, here’s a list of new and exciting shows you can check out via SKY. ‘SpongeBob Squarepants: Bikini Bottom Bash’ on Nickelodeon Kids can join in Nickelodeon’s Bikini Bottom Bash to celebrate the birth month of their favorite yellow fellow, SpongeBob Squarepants. Catch back-to-back shows of SpongeBob Squarepants and its fun spin-offs Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years and The Patrick Star Show during weekdays at 5:00 p.m. for a non-stop underthe-sea adventure.

‘Flower of Evil’ on Viu Get in on the trending thrill from the Philippine adaptation of the Korean drama, Flower of Evil. This Viu Original Adaptation begins with Iris and Jacob, a perfectly normal married couple, but as the story unfolds, several secrets do too.

Jacob seems to have a dark past connected to a murder case his detective wife has been investigating. Will Iris uncover the truth? Find out what other mysteries will be unraveled by streaming it on Viu, which releases new episodes every week.

‘Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin’ on HBO GO A, the masked killer of Pretty Little Liars, is back with a renewed vengeance in Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin. This time, a new generation of Liars will face A’s eerie riddles and dark punishments as payment for grave sins of the past.

This chilling series just premiered on HBO GO so make sure to add it to your watch list.

‘90-day Fiancé’ on TLC 90-day Fiancé offers a different flavor to reality television, as it features United States (US) citizens with foreigner fiancés who applied for a K-1 visa. This visa allows the foreigner fiancé to stay in the US for 90 days only, with the sole purpose of getting married to their partner.

This fast-paced setup brings out different amusing and wild stories. Tune in to the colorful romance of the couples in the latest season, airing on TLC every Saturday and Sunday at 9:55 p.m.

‘F1’ on Premiere Sports Sports and adrenaline lovers can fuel their need for speed while keeping up with the latest F1 races on Premiere Sports. As the competition intensifies, don’t miss the Hungarian Grand Prix and stay updated on succeeding races via Premier Sports’ full F1 calendar.

When you subscribe to SKY Fiber, you can get a treat to go with your binge-watch party. All subscribers who apply online to a SKY Fiber 50Mbps Plan or higher can get up to P400 free Greenwich e-GCs until September 30.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry are twin assassins in ‘Bullet Train’

The duo share an off and onscreen chemistry that helps drive their relationship

(From left) Brad Pitt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Brian Tyree Henry

AARON Taylor-Johnson (Avengers: Age of Ultron, upcoming Kraven The Hunter) and Brian Tyree Henry (Marvel’s The Eternals) star as lethal assassins called The Twins in Columbia Pictures’ new action-thriller Bullet Train, in Philippine cinemas August 3.

Bullet Train brings together seven characters, all with connected, conflicting, and at times, confusing objectives. “Fate brings these people onto this train, and their energies combine in the craziest, most gonzo way possible,” says producer Kelly McCormick.

The Twins, Tangerine (Taylor-Johnson) and Lemon (Henry), aren’t actually twins.

(No kiddin’.) In fact, though they are seemingly a disparate pair, they are lifelong brothers in arms. Tangerine is a Savile Row-suited killer with slicked back hair and flashy gold jewelry – not exactly subtle. Lemon, meanwhile, possesses a guileless demeanor and moral compass that he has honed entirely from the lessons from “Thomas the Tank Engine” – but he is nevertheless just as talented Aaron TaylorJohnson (left) and Brian Tyree Henry play The Twins in ‘Bullet Train’

a hitman as his twin.

Taylor-Johnson and Henry say that their offscreen chemistry drove the onscreen relationship (and vice versa).

“Tangerine and Lemon go hand in hand and really rely on each other,” says Taylor-Johnson. “There’s a love between them, a deeply rooted partnership that goes back years and years. That kind of bond needs to be supported by an instant connection and chemistry for us both, and Brian brought the energy, fire, and passion every day. I fed off of his energy, bounced off of his enthusiasm and his charisma. He’s one of the best actors around, without a doubt.”

Henry, well-known for his roles in The Eternals and Atlanta, says he was able to tap into the fun odd-couple nature of their characters’ pairing.

“Lemon is incredibly genuine. He is the most genuine, childlike, joyous psychopath you’ll ever meet in your life,” Henry says. “He enters a room and you can’t miss him, but at the same time, he has a real ease about him. That’s why pairing him with Aaron’s Tangerine is so perfect.

Tangerine is crazy, and there’s a finesse that Aaron has when he steps into the role. He’s that fine wine of sociopaths.”

“The two of us together is so eclectic and fun and we’re just the oddest pairing, but at the same time, it works so well,” he ended.

‘Hot Maria Clara’ is a dance-able song that highlights the strength of modern Filipina women ‘Maria Clara,’ for Sanya, is a woman who knows how to fight for herself

SANYA LOPEZ

celebrates empowered women in debut single

By Patricia Taculao

A

FTER starring in GMA Network’s highly-anticipated and successful series First Lady, actress and television star Sanya Lopez is out and about to experience new firsts in her flourishing career.

Her recent endeavor is releasing her first single under GMA Music, “Hot Maria Clara.”

The actress shared during an online media conference for the single that GMA Music offered her the song, asking her to lend her talents. At first, Sanya thought if the network was sure of choosing her. Eventually, she saw the offer as another blessing, and since she’s grateful for them, Sanya just keeps accepting every opportunity that comes her way.

“Sabi ko nga sa sarili ko, ‘Hindi, binigay sa akin ito kasi alam kong kaya ko at alam nilang kaya ko,’” Sanya said.

Njel de Mesa composed the song and directed its music video. He intended it to be a dance-able song that puts the spotlight on modern, empowered Filipinas. It’s appropriate then that Sanya sang the song as she’s a prime example of a modern Filipina who’s confident enough to chase after her goals.

“Ang ganda nung lyrics. Ang ganda nung meaning ng song. Gusto ko sana talaga kapag kinanta maramdaman ng bawat kababaihan na ganyan kami, ganito kami, dapat ganito kami,” Sanya shared.

Moreover, the Kapuso star dedicates the song to modern “dalagang Filipinas” and the next generations of women. Sanya considers the distinction of “hot Maria Clara” applicable to all Filipina women who are not afraid to fight for what’s right and pursue their goals. She also said that “Maria Clara” symbolizes women who can stand up for themselves.

“Yung song na ‘to pinapakita na dapat meron tayong boses. Pag kailangan lumaban, lumaban tayo. Pag naagrabyado tayo, lumaban tayo ng tama,” she added.

In the music video, Sanya dances along to the song in several settings, including a gym, garage, and club, to show that women are strong and are more than their looks. Sanya also sports a glittering pink outfit in the first half of the music video and transitions to a modern gold Filipiniana, complete with an abanico.

Before shooting the stunning visuals for her first single, the network asked Sanya what concepts she liked best. Sanya replied with some of her favorite pop performers like South Korean girl group BLACKPINK and American singer-songwriter Ariana

Sanya Lopez sports a pink glittering outfit in the ‘Hot Maria Clara’ music video

The Kapuso star also dons a modern gold Filipiniana in the music video Grande.

“Wala akong idea talaga sa kung anong gagawin ko talaga. And then on that day, si Direk Njel de Mesa na lang nagsabi sa akin na ‘May kukuhanin tayo dito. Kung ano yung sayaw ni ni-rehearse mo, yun yung gagawin natin dito,” the Kapuso star said.

Although it’s Sanya’s first single, as a go-getter and modern Filipina on the

go, she’s willing to do it alongside her acting career.

“Kung bibigyan ng pagkakataon at kung gugustuhin din ng GMA na ituloy-tuloy ko ito, tatanggapin ko. Isa rin naman yung pagkanta sa mga pangarap ko. Pangarap ko talaga na magkaroon ng sarili kong single,” she said.

“Hot Maria Clara” has been available to stream on all media platforms since July 15.

JULY 31, 2022

Black kittens are beautiful.

Debunking common misconceptions about cats

By Rowena David

W

HEN I was I child I used to believe that rubbing a cat’s face with its own poop would prevent that cat from pooping anywhere in the house. It was only when I adopted my first rescued cat that I found out that the solution to the poop problem was a cat litter box.

This misconception has been passed down from generation to generation and it’s about time that we debunk some misconceptions about our feline companions.

Fish bones are good for cats. Everyone is familiar with the stereotype of a cat eating a fishbone so some people think that feeding their cats fish bones is okay. The fact is fish bones can be harmful to cats as they can choke the

cat and cause injuries to their digestive system. Cat parents can still give fish bones to their cats, just remember to take out the fish bones first.

Cats have nine lives. This is probably the most popular misconception

Wesley (dog) and Zoey. Dogs and cats do get along.

By Mariana Burgos MY DAUGHTER recently requested if she may purchase a particular video game if we have extra cash in the coming weeks. She showed me the advertisement for the video game when I asked her what kind of game it was. It was a game wherein the player assumed the position of a stray cat and attempted to live the perilous and challenging existence of a stray cat in the streets of a bustling city with a largely indifferent human population.

I must admit that I thought the game was excellent for young people, including my daughter. By playing it, the player would gain knowledge of the situation of stray animals, and it is likely that this knowledge will encourage them to help stray cats and inspire in them the much-needed empathy for such creatures. It will also hopefully establish moral ideals in the minds and hearts of young people.

What are ‘strays’ and why are there ‘strays’?

Animals such as cats and dogs need people to meet their basic requirements such as food, water, housing, veterinary treatment, and love. However, many animals throughout the Philippines as well as in other countries are without a guardian to look after them or even a cozy place to curl up at night. Such animals are called “strays.”

Because there aren't enough good homes, many strays suffer and die on the streets or must be put down. Animal homelessness is a complicated problem, but there is a straightforward solution: adopt animals instead of purchasing them from breeders or pet stores, and always have your companion animals spayed or neutered to stop unwanted animals from being born.

Many strays are animals often abandoned by the people they depend on to care for them. When left to fend for themselves, cats and dogs frequently suffer and die on the streets after being hit by cars, being mauled by other animals, due to excessive heat

about cats. Hundreds of memes are circulating on social media, for amusement purposes, of course, about cats and their nine lives. The saying "a cat has nine lives" has been around for generations, although no one is sure where it came from. The fact is, just like any other animal, cats have only one life.

Cats can drink cow’s milk. Most cats are lactose-intolerant. They lack the enzyme needed to digest the sugar in milk in their intestines. What happens when a cat drinks cow’s milk? The same with lactose-intolerant people. They may experience vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain after consuming it. So just to be on the safe side, always choose milk products that are specifically made for cats.

Cats and dogs are mortal enemies. This isn’t always true. The fact is

Be sure to provide your cats with litter box to prevent them from peeing and pooping anywhere in your house.

cats and dogs can get along, or at the very least tolerate, one another. When they were still alive, my parents had cats and a dog – all indoor pets, and if my memory serves me right, humans, felines, and a canine lived harmoniously in one household. I have several cats and one dog living with me and they all get along most of the time.

Cats are nocturnal. Cats are not considered nocturnal animals like bats. They are, however, crepuscular, which means they are most active during dawn and twilight. For outdoor cats, this is the perfect time to hunt for food because there is adequate light for them to see clearly.

Cats always land on their feet. We have seen many videos where cats fall from high buildings but manage to land on their feet, uninjured. While it is true that cats are very agile animals, they can get injured if they fall the wrong way. High-rise syndrome is the term used by veterinarians to describe feline fall injuries. According to the American Medical Center, “High rise syndrome refers to the common set of injuries that cats may sustain when they fall from high places.” These injuries could include breathing problems, bone fractures, and sprains.

Cats purr when they are happy.

True, cats purr when they feel happy or contented, but there are also some other reasons why cats purr. According to an article by Lisa Fields on pets. webmd website, cats also purr when they’re hungry, need to calm themselves, or are in pain. So the next time

Seeing Life Through the Eyes of a Stray or extremely cold temperatures, hunger, infectious diseases, and other perils. Numerous stray animals are poisoned, shot, cut up, tortured, set on fire, or in killed in other cruel ways.

Why are there so many homeless animals?

For one, there are just not enough good homes for all the homeless dogs and cats. For another, breeders and the pet trade are major causes of this problem.

Many of the dogs and cats bred by breeders will either become homeless themselves or fill homes that could have gone to animals languishing in shelters.

Puppies and kittens acquired from breeders or pet stores are frequently separated from their mothers at just a few weeks old, thus they are traumatized, not socialized, and develop health problems. Many people who bought the puppy or kitten may experience physical and mental health concerns themselves as a result.

Another reason animals become strays is because they got lost. They got out when the gate was left open or they were not adequately housebroken. They also do not have identification so that humans who may have found do not have a way of contacting the owner.

Animal homelessness is partly the fault of pet owners who fail to spay or neuter their animal companions.

Some people might believe that allowing a cat or dog to have "only one litter" is not a huge concern, but if the offspring from that litter go on to have their own kittens or pups, and so on, then that "one litter" can soon lead to hundreds or even thousands of animals. (11 Facts About Animal Homelessness, Do Something.org)

The ‘stray situation’ in third world countries

There are a lot of stray dogs and cats in poor nations.

Adopt a rescued stray dogs like animal welfare advocate Maricel Mondejar and her mother Anita Mondejar to help solve the problem of increasing homeless animal population in the country. The mother-daughter animal lovers adopted (from left) stray pup JAC who was walking aimlessly inside the U.P. campus in Diliman, Quezon City, INCA who was to be cooked for appetizer because her owner who is a security guard left the subdivision, CHOCO who was surrendered by her owner during the Taal eruption in 2020, and stray Mama KEIRA and daughter AMARA from Coastal, Paranaque.

Due to poor waste management and a rising human population, more exposed garbage is now available to homeless animals as food.

Public health issues may arise where there is a large stray dog and cat population, if sanitary measures are not put in place. People who live in locations where there are a lot of stray animals run the danger of contracting diseases including rabies, leptospirosis, cat scratch fever, and others.. To prevent dog attacks and bites and to avoid the spread of harmful diseases, it is crucial to reduce the number of stray animals. (Deb Jarrett, Stray Animals: The Why and the How, Dharamsala Animal Rescue, 26 June 2018) These can be prevented by vaccinating dogs and acts against diseases and keeping homes and spaces of humans clean, and spaying or neutering dogs and cats to control animal population.

We also frequently overlook the effects of pet overpopulation on wild animal populations. A non-native species' invasion can have a severe effect on fragile ecosystems by causing pollution and the spread of disease. Because stray animals are typically not immunized, rabies and other deadly diseases can spread to other animal populations. Internal parasites can spread through an afflicted animal's feces as well, endangering local species when the feces pollute food and water sources. (Arianna Pittman, How Stray Cats and Dogs are Harming Native Wildlife and What You Can Do About It, 2016)

How can we help solve the problem of ‘strays’?

In order to reduce the population, several municipal organizations either slaughter or relocate large numbers of strays. These methods might have been effec-

Doggos Daryl and Jac are not allowed to go out unsupervised to follow the ordinance of the city prohibiting dogs from roaming without a harness and leash, and their owners. Some of the stray dogs are pets who got lost, or were allowed to roam unsupervised.

you hear your cat purr, better check whether it’s a happy purr, which is good, or something else.

Black cats bring bad luck. Nothing could be farther from the truth. It is unfortunate that due to this misconception, black kittens are sometimes difficult to get adopted. I have a rescued black cat named Shadow, and he’s the most affectionate of all my cats. He loves to knead my tummy and give head butts.

A cat eating grass is a sign that she is ill. This is not always true. There are other reasons why cats eat grass, such as to accelerate bowel movements or induce vomiting. Or the cat simply wants to take advantage of the vitamins contained in the grass. Folic acid, a vitamin found in grass, aids in the bloodstream's ability to transport oxygen.

Declawing is good for cats. Sadly, there are cat parents who declaw their cat, believing that this is good for the cat… and for their furniture. What these cat owners must realize is that the negative effects of cat declawing far outweigh the positive ones. There are other ways that cat parents can do to prevent their cats from scratching household furniture. Trimming the cat’s claws and providing scratching posts or mats are just some of them.

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.

tive in the past, but they are harsh and unsuitable for a developing nation for a variety of reasons.

First, stray animals can quickly replace the animals that were killed by breeding. Second, the new population must also be immunized in order to prevent the spread of additional diseases and the risk of rabies.

Third, the exposed trash that the stray animals eat is still a plentiful supply of food and will keep the population alive (something that governments should really do something about).

Mass sterilization and vaccination, followed by returning the animals to their natural territory or adoption, are the most practical and successful ways to reduce the number of stray animals.

Keep your pets properly housed. Do not let them roam around freely beyond your residence. Doing this will spare you a lot of painful abuses or deaths (due to accidents or intentional maltreatment from ill-minded people) for your animals as well as for yourselves as their owners.

Also, shopping at pet stores that do not buy puppies from puppy mills is one strategy to counteract puppy mills. Boycott pet stores who sell puppies from puppy mills.

However, adoption is always the best course of action.

By having our animal friends spayed or neutered and always adopting animals rather than purchasing them from pet stores or breeders, each of us can contribute to the realization of the day when every animal can have a loving, permanent home. And urge everyone you know to follow suit! Before bringing a new animal into the family, it's crucial to think about our ability to commit to caring for it for its entire life.

Try to see life through the eyes of a stray and, perhaps, by doing so, you will have a better understanding of what responsible pet ownership should be.

About the Author: Mariana Burgos is a freelance artist.

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

Former stray dogs (from left) Ally, Cindy and Pretty were spayed after they were rescued by Save ALL - Save Animals of Love ad Light Inc. and treated for serious illnesses. Spaying a female dog means the dog will no longer give birth to pups, most of whom will not find homes and will end up as strays.